MICROSOFT PROJECT

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Microsoft Office Basics

Keyboard Access to the Ribbon

1. Press Alt.
The KeyTips are displayed over each feature that is available in the current view.
2. Press the letter that appears in the KeyTip over the feature that you want to use.
3. Depending on which letter you press, additional KeyTips may appear. For example, if the Home
tab is active and you press W, the View tab is displayed, along with the KeyTips for the groups on
that tab.
4. Continue pressing letters until you press the letter of the command or control that you want to
use. In some cases, you must first press the letter of the group that contains the command.
NOTE To cancel the action that you are taking and hide the KeyTips, press Alt.

Display and Use Windows

Press To Do This
Alt+Tab Switch to the next window.

Alt+Shift+Tab Switch to the previous window.

Ctrl+W or Ctrl+F4 Close the active window.

Ctrl+F5 Restore the size of the active window after you maximize it.

Move to a task pane from another pane in the program window

F6
(clockwise direction). You may need to press F6 more than once.

Move to a pane from another pane in the program window

Shift+F6
(counterclockwise direction).

Ctrl + F6 When more than one window is open, switch to the next window.

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 1/12

 Press To Do This
Ctrl+Shift+f6 Switch to the previous window.

Ctrl+F10 Maximize or restore a selected window.

Print Screen Copy a picture of the screen to the Clipboard.

Alt+Print Screen Copy a picture of the selected window to the Clipboard.

Move Around in Text or Cells

Press To Do This
Left Arrow Move one character to the left

Right Arrow Move one character to the right

Up Arrow Move one line up.

Down Arrow Move one line down.

Ctrl+Left Arrow Move one word to the left

Ctrl+Right Arrow Move one word to the right

End Move to the end of a line.

Home Move to the beginning of a line

Ctrl+Up Arrow Move up one paragraph.

Ctrl+Down Arrow Move down one paragraph

Ctrl+End Move to the end of a text box.

Ctrl+Home Move to the beginning of a text box.

Move Around in and Work in Tables

Press To Do This
Tab Move to the next cell.

Shift+Tab Move to the preceding cell.

Down Arrow Move to the next row.

Up Arrow Move to the preceding row.

Ctrl+Tab Insert a tab in a cell.

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 2/12

 Press To Do This
Enter Start a new paragraph

Tab at the End of

Add a new row at the bottom of the table
the Last Row

Access and Use Actions

Press To Do This
Alt+Shift+F10 Display the menu or message for an action. If more than one action is
present, switch to the next action and display its menu or message

Down Arrow Select the next item on the action menu.

Up Arrow Select the previous item on the action menu.

Enter Perform the action for the selected item on the action menu.

Esc Close the action menu or message.

Tips
• You can ask to be notified by a sound whenever an action appears. To hear audio cues, you must
have a sound card. You must also have Microsoft Office Sounds installed on your computer.
• You can download Microsoft Office Sounds from Office.com.

Use Dialog Boxes

Press To Do This
Tab Move to the next option or option group.

Shift+Tab Move to the previous option or option group.

Ctrl+Tab Switch to the next tab in a dialog box.

Ctrl+Shift+Tab Switch to the previous tab in a dialog box.

Move between options in an open drop-down list, or between options

Arrow Keys
in a group of options.

Perform the action assigned to the selected button; select or clear the
Insert
selected check box.

First Letter of an
Option in a Open the list if it is closed and move to that option in the list.
Drop-Down List

Alt+The Letter
Select an option; select or clear a check box.
Underlined an Option

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 3/12

 Press To Do This
Alt+Down+Arrow Open a selected drop-down list.

Close a selected drop-down list; cancel a command and

Esc
close a dialog box.

Enter Perform the action assigned to a default button in a dialog box.

Use Edit Boxes Within Dialog Boxes

An edit box is a blank in which you type or paste an entry, such as your user name or the path to a folder.

Press To Do This
Home Move to the beginning of the entry.

End Move to the end of the entry.

Left Arrow
Move one character to the left or right, respectively.
or Right Arrow

Ctrl+Left Arrow Move one word to the left.

Ctrl+Right Arrow Move one word to the right.

Shift+Left Arrow Select or cancel selection one character to the left.

Shift+Right Arrow Select or cancel selection one character to the right.

Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow Select or cancel selection one word to the left.

Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow Select or cancel selection one word to the right.

Shift+Home Select from the insertion point to the beginning of the entry.

Shift+End Select from the insertion point to the end of the entry.

Basic File Management

Press To Do This
Ctrl+F12 Open a project file (display the Open dialog box).

Ctrl+O Open a project file (display the Open tab in the Backstage view).

Ctrl+S Save a project file.

Ctrl+N Create a new project.

Ctrl+P Print a file (display the Print tab in the Backstage view).

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 4/12

 Use the Open and Save as Dialog Boxes

Press To Do This
Ctrl+F12 Display the Open dialog box.

Ctrl+O Display the Open tab in the Backstage view.

F12 Display the Save As dialog box.

Enter Open the selected folder or file.

Backspace Open the folder one level above the open folder.

Delete Delete the selected folder or file.

Shift+F10 Display a shortcut menu for a selected item such as a folder or file.

Tab Move forward through options

Shift+Tab Move back through options

F4 or Alt 1 Open the Look in list

Microsoft Project Quick Reference

Use a Network Diagram

Press To Do This
Arrow Keys Move to a different Network Diagram box.

Shift+Arrow Keys Add Network Diagram boxes to the selection.

Move a Network Diagram box.

Ctrl+Arrow Keys NOTE You need to set manual positioning first. Select the box you
want to move. Click Format, and then click Layout. Click Allow manual
box positioning.

Ctrl+Home
Move to the top Network Diagram box in the view or project.
or Shift+Ctrl+Home

Ctrl+End
Move to the lowest Network Diagram box in the project.
or Shift+Ctrl+End

Home or Shift+Home Move to the leftmost Network Diagram box in the project.

End or Shift+End Move to the rightmost Network Diagram box in the project.

Page Up
Move up one window height
or Shift+Page Up

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 5/12

 Press To Do This
Page Down
Move down one window height.
or Shift+Page Down

Ctrl+Page Up
Move left one window width.
or Shift+Ctrl+Page Up

Ctrl+Page Down
Move right one window width.
or Shift+Ctrl+Page

Enter or Tab Select the next field in the Network Diagram box.

Shift+Enter Select the previous field in the Network Diagram box.

Use OfficeArt Objects

Move OfficeArt Shapes

Press To Do This
Arrow Keys Nudge the shape up, down, right, or left.

Shift+Right Arrow Increase the shape’s width by 10%.

Shift+Left Arrow Decrease the shape’s width by 10%

Shift+Up Arrow Increase the shape’s height by 10%.

Shift+Down Arrow Decrease the shape’s height by 10%

Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow Increase the shape’s width by 1%.

Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow Decrease the shape’s width by 1%.

Ctrl +Shift+Up Arrow Increase the shape’s height by 1%.

Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow Decrease the shape’s height by 1%.

Alt +Right Arrow Rotate the shape 15 degrees to the right.

All+Left+Arrow Rotate the shape 15 degrees to the left.

Select and Copy OfficeArt Objects and Text

Press To Do This
Esc Select an object (with text selected inside the object).

Tab or Shift+Tab Until

the Object You Want Select an object (with an object selected).
Is Selected

Enter Select text within an object (with an object selected).

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 6/12

 Press To Do This
Press and Hold Ctrl
While You Click the Select multiple shapes
Shapes

Press and Hold Shift

While You Click the Select multiple shapes with text
Shapes

Ctrl+X Cut selected object.

Ctrl+C Copy selected object.

Ctrl+V Paste cut or copied object.

Ctrl+Alt+V Paste special

Ctrl+Shift+C Copy formatting only.

Ctrl+Shift+V Paste formatting only

Ctrl+G After You

Select the Items That Group shapes, pictures, or WordArt.
You Want to Group

Ctrl+Shift+G After You

Select the Group That Ungroup shapes, pictures, or WordArt.
You Want to Ungroup

Ctrl+Z Undo the last action.

Ctrl+Y Redo the last action

Ctrl+Click Add next object to a multi-selection.

Adds next object to a multi-selection; allows clicking on textbox text to

Shift+Click
add the textbox to the multi-selection.

Edit OfficeArt Text and Textboxes

Press To Do This
Esc Collapse selection.

Ctrl+A Select all text.

Ctrl+Backspace Delete one word to the left.

Ctrl+Delete Delete one word to the right.

Ctrl+Z Undo

Ctrl+Y Redo

Ctrl+Left Arrow Move one word to the left.

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 7/12

 Press To Do This
Ctrl+Right Arrow Move one word to the right.

Home Move to the beginning of the line.

End Move to the end of the line.

Ctrl+Up Arrow Move up one paragraph

Ctrl+Down Arrow Move down one paragraph.

Ctrl+Home Move to the beginning of the object’s text.

Ctrl+End Move to the end of the object’s text

Navigate Views and Windows

Press To Do This
F2 Activate the entry bar to edit text in a field.

F10 or Alt Activate the menu bar.

Alt+Hyphen
Activate the project control menu.
or Alt+Spacebar

Shift+F6 Activate the split bar.

Alt+F4 Close the program window.

F3 Display all filtered tasks or all filtered resources.

Alt+F3 Display the Field Settings dialog box.

Shift+F11 Open a new window.

Shift+Backspace Reduce a selection to a single field.

Shift+F3 Reset sort order to ID order and turn off grouping.

F6 Select a drawing object.

Shift+F2 Display task information.

Shift+F2 Display resource information.

Shift+F2 Display assignment information.

Shift+F8 Turn on or off the Add To Selection mode.

Ctrl+F9 Turn on or off Auto Calculate.

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 8/12

 Press To Do This
F8 Turn on or off the Extend Selection mode.

Move left, right, up, or down to view different pages in the

Alt+Arrow Keys
Print Preview window.

Outline a Project

Press To Do This
Alt+Shift+Hyphen or
Alt+Shift+Minus Sign
Hide subtasks.
(Minus Sign on the
Numeric Keypad)

Alt+Shift+Right Arrow Indent the selected task.

Alt+Shift+ =
or Alt+Shift+Plus Sign
Show subtasks.
(Plus Sign on the
Numeric Keypad)

Alt+Shift+*
(Asterisk on the Show all tasks.
Numeric Keypad)

Alt+Shift+Left Arrow Outdent the selected task.

Select and Edit in a Dialog Box

Press To Do This
Arrow Keys Move between fields at the bottom of a form.

Alt+1 (Left)
Move into tables at the bottom of a form.
or Alt+2 (Right)

Enter Move to the next task or resource.

Shift+Enter Move to the previous task or resource.

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 9/12

 Select and Edit in a Sheet View

Edit in a View

Press To Do This
Esc Cancel an entry

Ctrl+Delete Clear or reset the selected field.

Ctrl+C Copy the selected data.

Ctrl+X Cut the selected data.

Delete Delete the selected data.

Ctrl+Mnus Sign (On The

Delete row that has a selected cell.
Numeric Keypad)

Ctrl+D Fill down.

Ctrl+F or Shift+F5 Display the Find dialog box.

In the Find dialog box, continue to the next instance of the

Shift+F4
search results.

F5 Use the Go To command (Edit menu).

Ctrl+F2 Link tasks.

Ctrl+V Paste the copied or cut data.

Shift+Backspace Reduce the selection to one field.

Ctrl+Z Undo the last action

Ctrl+Shift+F2 Unlink tasks

Ctrl+Shift+M Set the task to manually schedule

Ctrl+Shift+A Set the task to auto schedule

Move in a View

Press To Do This
Alt+Home Move to the beginning of a project (timescale).

Alt+End Move to the end of a project (timescale).

Alt+Left Arrow Move the timescale left.

Alt+Right Arrow Move the timescale right.

Home
Move to the first field in a row.
or Ctrl+Left Arrow

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 10/12

 Press To Do This
Ctrl+Up Arrow Move to the first row.

Ctrl+Home Move to the first field of the first row.

End or Ctrl+Right Arrow Move to the last field in a row.

Ctrl+End Move to the last field of the last row.

Ctrl+Down Arrow Move to the last row.

Move in the Side Pane

Press To Do This
Ctrl+Tab
Move focus between the side pane and the view on the right side.
or Ctrl+Shift+Tab

Tab Select different controls in the side pane if focus is in the side pane.

Spacebar Select or clear check boxes and option buttons if focus is in the side pane.

Select in a View

Press To Do This
Shift+Page Down Extend the selection down one page.

Shift+Page Up Extend the selection up one page.

Shift+Down Arrow Extend the selection down one row.

Shift+Up Arrow Extend the selection up one row.

Shift+Home Extend the selection to the first field in a row.

Shift+End Extend the selection to the last field in a row.

Ctrl+Shift+Home Extend the selection to the start of the information.

Ctrl+Shift+End Extend the selection to the end of the information.

Ctrl+Shift+Up Arrow Extend the selection to the first row.

Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow Extend the selection to the last row.

Ctrl+Shift+Home Extend the selection to the first field of the first row.

Ctrl+Shift+End Extend the selection to the last field of the last row.

Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar Select all rows and columns.

Ctrl+Spacebar Select a column.

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 11/12

 Press To Do This
Shift+Spacebar Select a row.

Enter Move within a selection down one field.

Shift+Enter Move within a selection up one field.

Tab Move within a selection right one field.

Shift+Tab Move within a selection left one field.

Select and Edit in the Entry Bar

Press To Do This
Enter Accept an entry.

Esc Cancel an entry.

Backspace Delete one character to the left.

Delete Delete one character to the right.

Ctrl+Delete Delete one word to the right.

Shift+End Extend the selection to the end of the text.

Shift+Home Extend the selection to the start of the text.

Insert Turn on or off Overtype mode.

Use a Timescale

Press To Do This
Alt+Page Up Move the timescale left one page.

Alt+Page Down Move the timescale right one page.

Alt+Home Move the timescale to beginning of the project.

Alt+End Move the timescale to end of the project.

Alt+Left Arrow Scroll the timescale left.

Alt+Right Arrow Scroll the timescale right.

CTRL+ / (Slash on the

Show smaller time units.
Numeric Keypad)

CTRL+/ (Asterisk on
Show larger time units.
the Numeric Keypad)

www.SimonSezIT.com Microsoft Project Shortcuts - Simon Sez IT Page 12/12