XMetaL shortcut keys

Shortcut keys let you perform many routine actions with just two or three keystrokes.

The following table shows you the shortcuts that you can use to speed up your routine actions in the XMetaL editor.

If you have mapped any Windows CTRL+ALT shortcuts to use the key sequences shown here, the Windows shortcuts take precedence.

The key mappings shown in this table are the default. Your system may be set up differently. If you want, you can change key mappings through the Preferences dialog.

Note: Some shortcuts may conflict with other Eclipse plug-ins.
Feature Shortcut Toolbar button Other Access Description and comments
Accept change CTRL+ALT+A  
  • Right-click, then select Accept Change
  • XML Document > Reviewing > Accept Change
Accepts changes in the current line of revised text.
Attribute Inspector ALT+I   XML Document > View > Attribute Inspector Opens the view.
Change element CTRL+ALT+E  
  • Right-click, then select Change Element...
  • XML Document Change Element...
Opens the Element List with the Change option enabled.
Copy as reference CTRL+ALT+C  

Right-click, then select Copy > Copy Reference

Copies the document's document ID to the clipboard.
Find CTRL+F   Edit > Find/Replace Opens the Find and replace dialog.
Find next ALT+F3     Repeats the previous search.
Insert CDATA CTRL+D cdata icon XML Document > Insert > CDATA Section Inserts a CDATA section at the cursor position.
Insert comment CTRL+ALT+1   XML Document > Insert > Comment Inserts an XML comment at the cursor position.
Insert element CTRL+I Insert element icon
  • Right-click, then select Insert Element...
  • XML Document > Insert > Element...
Opens the Element List view with the Insert option enabled.
Insert entity CTRL+ALT+Y insert entity icon XML Document > Insert > Entity... Opens the Special Inserts view with the Entity option enabled.
Insert processing instruction CTRL+/ processing instruction icon XML Document > Insert > Processing Instruction Inserts a processing instructions into the current document.
Insert symbol CTRL+4 Insert Symbol icon

XML Document > Insert > Symbol...

Opens the Special Inserts view with the Symbols option enabled.
Insert table ALT+T Insert table icon
  • Right-click, then select Table > Insert Table...
  • XML Document > Table > Insert Table
Inserts a table into a topic.
Join element CTRL+ALT+J  
  • Right-click, then select Join element to preceding
  • XML Document > Join element to preceding
Joins an element to its preceding element.
Lock ALT+L  

Right-click, then select Lock

Locks the topic that's open in the XMetaL editor.
Next change CTRL+ALT+N  

XML Document > Reviewing > Next Change

Finds revised text within a topic.
Previous change CTRL+ALT+P  

XML Document > Reviewing > Previous Change

Finds revised text within a topic.
Reject change CTRL+R  
  • Right-click, then select Reject Change
  • XML Document > Reviewing > Reject Change
Rejects changes in the current line of revised text.
Release CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+R  

Right-click, then select Release

Releases the current topic.
Reload ALT+SHIFT+F5  

Reloads the current topic.
Remove tag CTRL+ALT+R  
  • Right-click then select Remove Tags
  • XML Document > Remove Tags
Removes the tag on the element that immediately surrounds the cursor location.
Select element CTRL+ALT+L  
  • Right-click, then select Select Element
  • XML Document > Select Element
Selects the current XML element together with its tags.
Set conditions ALT+C   Right-click, then select Set Conditions... Opens the Conditional Text dialog.
Spell check ALT+F7 spellcheck icon

XML Document > Tools > Spell Checker/Thesaurus... > Spell Checker

Opens the spell check facility.
Split element ALT+S  
  • Right-click, then select Split Element
  • XML Document Split Element
Splits one element into two identically tagged elements.
Validate document F9 validate all icon XML Document > Tools > Validate Document... Validates document's XML syntax.