IBM Integration Toolkit keyboard shortcuts

You can navigate all interfaces in the IBM® Integration Toolkit by using the keyboard.

The following table shows the general shortcut keys that are provided in the IBM Integration Toolkit.
Keyboard shortcut Result
Left, right, up, and down arrow keys Move in the direction shown on the key.
Tab Move the focus forward through the workbench.
Shift+Tab Move the focus backward through the workbench.
Esc Cancel the action.
Enter Commit the action.
Spacebar Select the object that currently has the focus.
Shift+F10 Open a pop-up menu.
Ctrl+F6 Open the Editors window. (Continue to hold down Ctrl to keep the window open. Use the up and down arrow keys to select a file. Release Ctrl. Press Enter.)
Ctrl+F7 Move between panes.

When you use the keyboard to navigate the toolbar of the Application Development view, use the Tab key to access the first icon on the toolbar, then use the arrow keys to access other icons. For example, use the Tab key to access the Hide Categories icon, then use the right arrow key to access the Collapse All icon.

For more information, see Workbench User Guide - Keyboard shortcuts for the Workbench, Java™ development tools, and the debugger.

Message Flow editor keyboard shortcuts

The following table shows keyboard shortcuts that are specific to the Message Flow editor:
Keyboard shortcut Result when the Selection tool is active Result when the Connection tool is active
Left, right, up, and down arrow keys

Select a node on the palette or on the canvas.

Use with Shift, or Ctrl+Spacebar, to select multiple nodes.

Select a terminal on a node.
slash (/)
and
backslash (\)

Press slash (/) to cycle forwards, or press backslash (\) to cycle backwards through the connections of the selected node.

Use with Shift, or Ctrl+Spacebar, to select multiple connections.

 
decimal key (.)
and
Shift+decimal key (.)

Press the decimal key (.) to cycle forwards, or press Shift and the decimal key (.) to cycle backwards through the move handles, or the resize handles, of the currently selected object on the canvas.

When a node is selected, use this shortcut to activate the move handles, then use the arrow keys to move the node. Press Enter to confirm the move.

When a connection is selected, use this shortcut to activate its resize handles, then use the arrow keys to create bend points in the connection. Press Enter to confirm the move.

  
Esc
  

Typically, pressing Esc cancels the previous action. When there is no previous action to cancel, and the Connection tool is selected, pressing Esc activates the Selection tool.
The following examples show how to use the Message Flow editor keyboard shortcuts.
Adding nodes from the palette to the canvas:
  1. If the palette is already open, go straight to step 2. If the palette is not already open, follow these steps to open the palette:
    1. Open the Editors window.
    2. Select the file that you want to use.
    3. Press Tab until the focus moves to the palette arrow.
    4. Press Enter, or Spacebar, to give focus to the palette.
  2. Press Tab to give focus to the palette arrow.
  3. Press Tab once to give focus to the drawers within the palette. (Note: There are no visual highlights to indicate the focus.)
  4. Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight the drawer required. Press Enter.
  5. Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight the node required.
  6. Press Alt+L to open the palette menu, and select Add Node to Canvas. Press Enter. The node is now on the canvas.
Moving nodes on the canvas:
  1. Press Tab to give focus to the palette arrow. (It does not matter whether the palette is open or closed.)
  2. Press Tab two times. The focus is now on the canvas. (Note: There are no visual highlights to indicate the focus.)
  3. Select a node on the canvas.
  4. Press the decimal key (.) to select one of the move handles around the node.
  5. Use the left, right, up, and down arrow keys to move the node to a new location.
  6. Press Enter to confirm the move.
Connecting nodes:
  1. Press Tab to give focus to the palette arrow. (It does not matter whether the palette is open or closed.)
  2. Press Tab two times; the focus is now on the canvas. (Note: There are no visual highlights to indicate the focus.)
  3. Select the node on the canvas from which you want to create a connection.
  4. Press Shift+F10 to open a pop-up menu.
  5. Use the arrow keys to select Create Connection. Press Enter. The Terminal Selection window opens.
  6. Press Tab until the focus is in the Select Terminal field. Use the arrow keys to select a source (output) terminal.
  7. Press Tab to select OK, press Enter to confirm your selection.
  8. Use the arrow keys to select the input terminal of the target node. Press Enter to confirm the connection.
Selecting a node connection:
  1. Press Tab to give focus to the palette arrow. (It does not matter whether the palette is open or closed.)
  2. Press Tab two times. The focus is now on the canvas. (Note: There are no visual highlights to indicate the focus.)
  3. Use the arrow keys to select a node that has a connection you want to select.
  4. Use the slash (/) and backslash (\) keys to cycle through the connections.
Creating a bend point:
  1. Select a node connection.
  2. Press the decimal key (.) until the midpoint of the connection is selected.
  3. Use the arrow keys to move the midpoint to a new location, and press Enter to confirm the move.
Reconnecting an existing connection to a new terminal:
  1. Select a node connection.
  2. Press the decimal key (.) until the end of the connection that you want to modify is selected.
  3. Use the arrow keys to select a new source (input) terminal, and press Enter to confirm your selection.