Hot Keys

Freeplane allows to assign hot keys (aka keyboard shortcuts) to any action available in the menu, as well as to icons.

It is most apparent in View->Controls->F-Bar.

By default Preferences…->Keystrokes->Commands for the program->Ignore unassigned F-Keys is off, therefore a click on (usage of) an unassigned F-Bar key will display a prompt to "click on the desired command in the menu" to "create a new keyboard shortcut".

Hot Keys for Actions

Let's say that you want to use INSERT to add new child nodes, instead of the default TAB.

Method 1
You can go to Tools->Assign hot key, a pop-up window will appear with the message "To create a new keyboard shortcut, click on the desired command in the menu". Once you click on Insert->New node->New child node, a pop-up will prompt you to use your new hot key and click OK.

Method 2
Go to Insert->New node->New child node, hold Ctrl and click.
Alternatively, hover your mouse cursor over the menu item New child node and press Ctrl+Return.
A pop-up will prompt you to use your new hot key and click OK.

Method 3
You can launch the Command Search via Help->Command Search or its hot key Ctrl+F1.

  1. Make sure Menu items is checked.
  2. Type new child in the search bar.
  3. Select (using the arrow keys) Insert->New node->New child node (Tab) and press Ctlr+Enter.
    Alternatively, hold down Ctrl and double-click Insert->New node->New child node (Tab).
    A pop-up will appear, where the new hot key can be assigned.

Bonus
In step 3, when you select Insert->New node->New child node (Tab) and press Ctrl+C, the visible text is copied to the clipboard. It can be pasted e.g. in a Discussions post.

Hot Key Reassignment

It's possible to reassign an already used hot key to a different action or icon. The procedure is as described above, with the addition of a confirmation window.

Let's say you want to change the hot key for Command Search from the default Ctrl+F1 to Ctrl+Shift+A. Once you follow one of the three methods, you'll be presented with the confirmation pop-up

Hot Key Unassignment

You can clear a hot key, unassigning it from an action/icon. Just follow any of the methods in Hot Keys for Actions, and in the "Enter new key" pop-up window choose the button Clear and confirm OK.

Hot Keys for Icons

Similarly, a hot key can be assigned to an icon. It can be done using one of the methods described in Hot Keys for Actions, i.e. (for the "Home" icon):

  1. Tools->Assign hot key then Insert->Icons->Icon by category...->Miscellaneous->Home
  2. Insert->Icons->Icon by category...->Miscellaneous->Home then Ctrl+click
  3. Help->Command Search and checkbox Icons and type "home" then Ctrl+double-click

Additionally, in Insert->Icons->Icon from table… (Ctrl+F2) you can Ctrl+click on an icon to assign it a ctrl key, i.e. a hot key which works only in this window and uses Ctrl as its (first) modifier. Shift can be used as the second one.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl+C

Beyond the usual functionality of copying selected text or copying a node (branch), Ctrl+C copies the selected item's text in the following places:

  • Command Search - Help->Command Search
  • Filter composer - Filter->Compose filter
  • Attributes table - Edit->Node properties->Edit attribute in-line (Alt+F9)
  • Find and replace - Edit->Find->Find and replace… (Ctrl+Shift+F)
  • FInd and replace in all maps - Edit->Find->Find and replace in all maps
  • Mange reminders - Tools->Manage tasks and reminders…
  • Past reminders - Tools->Show past reminders…

Mouse Actions with Keyboard Modifiers

Alt

  • You can change the width of a node under the cursor (or several selected nodes) by Alt+scroll

Ctrl

  • You can create a copy of a node (branch) by Ctrl+drag of a node onto another node
  • You can change Distance between children (in View->Controls->Tool panel > Node layout) by Ctrl+drag of a node handle away or towards the center of node's stack of siblings
  • You can follow a link by Ctrl+click, if Preferences…->Behaviour->Open node link on simple mouse click is off

Shift

Ctrl+Shift

  • You can create a connector to another node by Ctrl+Shift+drag of a node onto another node