Keyboard Shortcuts

This page lists the shortcuts that can be used from your keyboard in xLights.

A list of keyboard shortcuts is also available by selecting File/Key Bindings within xLights.

The shortcuts listed here are based on a Windows computer. Other operating systems may vary somewhat.

Keyboard shortcuts are case sensitive. If you are not getting the desired effect, check your Caps Lock.

On occasion, the keybindings.xml file has been known to become corrupt and the keyboard shortcuts no longer function as intended. If this occurs:

• Close xLights

• Go into your show directory

• Delete the keybindings.xml file

• Restart xLights

When xLights restarts, it will regenerate the keybindings.xml file to the default settings and the keyboard shortcuts should function again.

The following are the default keyboard presets. These can be changed by the user by editing the keybindings.xml file if desired.

General

• F1

  • Brings up a Basic Content Window based on the currently open tab

• F9

  • Select Show Folder

• F10

  • Backup

• F11

  • Alternate Backup

• ALT-F4

  • Quit or Close xLights

• CTRL + c

  • Copy

• CTRL + o

  • Open Sequence

• CTRL + n

  • New Sequence

• CTRL + s

  • Save (for the currently selected tab)

• CTRL + v

  • Paste

• CTRL + x

  • Cut

• CTRL + y

  • Redo

• CTRL + z

  • Undo

• Esc (Escape)

  • Cancel Render

Layout Tab

• Arrow Keys

  • Move Model Left, Right, Up, Down

• CTRL + l (lower case L)

  • Lock Model

• CTRL + u

  • Unlock Model

• CTRL + g

  • Creates a new group from the selected models (on Layout Tab)

• CTRL + a

  • Select All Models

• Delete

  • Delete highlighted model or 3D object

• Mouse Wheel Click or Alt + Left Mouse (2D)

  • Pan House View

• Ctrl + Left Mouse

  • Select Multiple Models

Effects

• b (lower case)

  • Insert Bars Effect

• c (lower case)

  • Insert Curtain Effect

• d (lower case)

  • Insert Ramp Down/Fade (On Effect which goes from from 100% to 0%)

• f (lower case)

  • Insert Fire Effect

• F (upper case)

  • Insert Fan Effect

• g (lower case)

  • Insert Garlands Effect

• i (lower case - "I" not "L")

  • Insert Circles Effect

• m (lower case)

  • Insert Morph Effect

• n (lower case)

  • Insert Snowflakes Effect

• o (lower case)

  • Insert On Effect (with constant 100% intensity

• O (upper case)

  • Insert Off Effect

• p (lower case)

  • Insert Pinwheel Effect

• r (lower case)

  • Insert Ripple Effect

• R (upper case)

  • Insert a Random Effect

• S (upper case)

  • Insert Spirals Effect

• u (lower case)

  • Insert Ramp Up (On Effect which goes from 0% to 100%)

• w (lower case w)

  • Insert Color Wash Effect

• x (lower case)

  • Insert Text Effect

• y (lower case)

  • Insert Butterfly Effect

Effect Manipulation

• F5

  • Effect Update

• CTRL + SHIFT + Right Arrow

  • Expand Effect to Next Timing Mark or End of the Sequence

• CTRL + SHIFT + Left Arrow

  • Expand Effect to Previous Timing Mark or Start of the Sequence

• CTRL + l (lower case L)

  • Lock Effect

• CTRL + u

  • Unlock Effect

Sequence Grid

• Space

  • Toggle Play/Stop from currently selected position - will restart from the original selected location on the timeline

• Pause

  • Pause playback - pressing again will resume from that location

• Home

  • Go to the start of a sequence on the timeline

• End

  • Go to the end of a sequence on the timeline

• CTRL + 0 - 9

  • Jump to Timeline Tag

• CTRL + SHIFT + 0 - 9

  • Jump to 0%-90% through the song in the sequencer

• CTRL + SHIFT + Left Arrow

  • Expand Effect to Previous Timing Mark or Start of Sequence

• CTRL + SHIFT + Right Arrow

  • Expand Effect to Next Timing Mark or End of Sequence

• +

  • Zoom in

• -

  • Zoom out

• CTRL + . (period)

  • Mark Spot

• CTRL + /

  • Return to Spot

• CTRL + A (upper case)

  • Insert Layer below

• CTRL + a (lower case)

  • Select All effects but no timing tracks (on Sequencer Tab)

• CTRL + ALT +a (lower case)

  • Select All Effects and Timing Tracks (on Sequencer Tab)

• t (lower case)

  • Add timing mark at currently selected location on timeline

• s (lower case)

  • Split timing mark at currently selected location on timeline

• CTRL + I (upper case I)

  • Insert Layer above (on Sequencer Tab)

• CTRL + X

  • Toggle Element Expand (to show models in group, strands, nodes, etc)

Sequence Toolbar Windows

• ALT + 1

  • Change Effect Tool Icon Size to Small

• ALT + 2

  • Change Effect Tool Icon Size to Medium

• ALT + 3

  • Change Effect Tool Icon Size to Large

• ALT + 4

  • Change Effect Tool Icon Size to Extra Large

• CTRL + F1

  • Toggle Effect Window On/Off

• CTRL + F2

  • Toggle Color Selector Window On/Off

• CTRL + F3

  • Toggle Layer Settings Window On/Off

• CTRL + F4

  • Togle Layer Blending Window On/Off

• CTRL + F5

  • Toggle Model Preview Window On/Off

• CTRL + F6

  • Toggle House Preview Window On/Off

• CTRL + F7

  • Toggle Display Elements Window On/Off

• CTRL + F8

  • Toggle Effect Assist Window On/Off

• CTRL + F9

  • Toggle Effects Window On/Off

• CTRL + F10

  • Show Effect Presets Window

• CTRL + F11

  • Select Effects Toggle

• CTRL + F12

  • Perspectives toggle

• CTRL + ALT+ F8

  • Jukebox toggle