Keyboard Shortcuts

Overview

Keyboard shortcuts help you work faster in Thea by reducing the need to click through menus and buttons.

Global Shortcuts

These shortcuts work throughout the app:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl/Cmd + K	Open timeline search (when viewing a timeline)
Ctrl/Cmd + ,	Open settings
Ctrl/Cmd + /	Show this shortcut reference
Ctrl/Cmd + S	Save current work (auto-save also works)
Esc	Close dialogs and panels

Note: Ctrl on Windows/Linux, Cmd (⌘) on Mac

Timeline Navigation

When viewing a timeline:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl/Cmd + K	Open timeline search
Ctrl/Cmd + F	Open timeline search (alternative)
Ctrl/Cmd + E	Add new event
M	Add marker or range
V	Toggle between views (Category Rows, Unified, List)
Z	Zoom in
Shift + Z	Zoom out
Ctrl/Cmd + 0	Reset zoom to fit all events
← / →	Pan left/right (in visual views)
↑ / ↓	Navigate between events

Event Management

When working with events:

Shortcut	Action
Enter	Open selected event details
Ctrl/Cmd + E	Edit selected event
Ctrl/Cmd + D	Duplicate selected event
Delete / Backspace	Delete selected event (with confirmation)
Escape	Close event drawer/dialog
Tab	Move to next field in event form
Shift + Tab	Move to previous field in event form

Filtering & Search

While searching or filtering:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl/Cmd + K	Open timeline search
Ctrl/Cmd + F	Open timeline search (alternative)
Tab	Go to next search result
Shift + Tab	Go to previous search result
Enter	Close search (stay on focused event)
Escape	Close search / clear search

List View Shortcuts

In List View:

Shortcut	Action
↑ / ↓	Navigate between rows
Enter	Open selected event
Ctrl/Cmd + A	Select all visible events
Shift + Click	Select range of events
Ctrl/Cmd + Click	Add/remove event from selection
Ctrl/Cmd + C	Copy selected events

Timeline Editor

When editing timeline details:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl/Cmd + Enter	Save and close
Escape	Cancel and close
Tab	Next field
Shift + Tab	Previous field

Feedback Panel

In the conversational feedback panel:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl/Cmd + Enter	Send message
Ctrl/Cmd + B	Attach file
Escape	Close panel
↑	Edit last message (if applicable)

Project Navigation

In the project view:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl/Cmd + N	Create new project or timeline
Ctrl/Cmd + U	Upload documents
1	Switch to Timelines tab
2	Switch to Documents tab

Export

When preparing exports:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl/Cmd + P	Open export dialog
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + E	Quick export to PDF

Accessibility Shortcuts

For screen reader and accessibility features:

Shortcut	Action
Alt + 1	Skip to main content
Alt + 2	Skip to navigation
Tab	Focus next interactive element
Shift + Tab	Focus previous interactive element
Space	Activate button or toggle

Browser Shortcuts

Standard browser shortcuts also work:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl/Cmd + R	Refresh page
Ctrl/Cmd + +	Zoom in (browser zoom)
Ctrl/Cmd + -	Zoom out (browser zoom)
Ctrl/Cmd + 0	Reset browser zoom
Ctrl/Cmd + W	Close tab
Ctrl/Cmd + T	New tab

Platform Differences

Windows/Linux

• Uses Ctrl key for most shortcuts
• Alt for alternative commands
• Right-click for context menus

Mac

• Uses Cmd (⌘) key for most shortcuts
• Option (⌥) for alternative commands
• Two-finger click or Control + click for context menus

Keyboard Layouts

• Shortcuts are optimized for QWERTY keyboards
• Some shortcuts may vary on international keyboard layouts
• Check the in-app shortcut reference (Ctrl/Cmd + /) for your configuration

Customization

Coming soon: Ability to customize keyboard shortcuts to match your workflow.

Tips for Efficiency

Combo Workflows

Combine shortcuts for maximum speed:

1. Quick event creation:

   • Ctrl/Cmd + E → Type details → Ctrl/Cmd + Enter to save

2. Fast search and navigation:

   • Ctrl/Cmd + K → Type search term → Tab to jump through matches → Enter to close

3. Event review:

   • ↓ to move to next event → Enter to open → Escape to close

4. Search within filtered view:

   • Apply category filter → Ctrl/Cmd + K → Search within filtered events

Learning Approach

• Start with 3-5 shortcuts you'll use most
• Add more as they become muscle memory
• Keep the shortcut reference open (Ctrl/Cmd + /) while learning
• Practice on a test timeline before using on important work

Context Awareness

Some shortcuts only work in specific contexts:

• Timeline shortcuts require a timeline to be open
• Event shortcuts require an event to be selected
• Panel shortcuts require that panel to be open

Pay attention to what's in focus.

Shortcut Conflicts

If a shortcut doesn't work:

• Browser extensions might intercept shortcuts (try disabling)
• OS shortcuts take priority over app shortcuts
• Input fields may not respond to all shortcuts while typing
• Dialog boxes may override some shortcuts

Remembering Shortcuts

Visual Cues

Thea shows shortcuts in several places:

• Tooltips: Hover over buttons to see shortcuts
• Menus: Shortcuts appear next to menu items
• Dialogs: Action buttons show shortcuts in parentheses
• Help overlay: Press Ctrl/Cmd + / to see all shortcuts

Most Used Shortcuts

Focus on learning these first:

1. Ctrl/Cmd + K - Open timeline search
2. Tab / Shift+Tab - Navigate search results
3. Ctrl/Cmd + E - Add event
4. Escape - Close panels/dialogs
5. ↑/↓ - Navigate events
6. Enter - Open/confirm

These cover 80% of common actions.

Mobile and Touch

Note: Keyboard shortcuts are designed for desktop use. Touch gestures are available on mobile devices:

• Tap to select
• Long press for context menu
• Swipe to navigate
• Pinch to zoom (in visual views)

Next Steps

• Timeline Views - Navigate efficiently between views
• Working with Events - Use shortcuts for event management
• Filtering & Search - Speed up filtering with shortcuts
• Settings - Configure your preferences