Common Shortcuts (based on User Feedback)

[joreneng]

1. Redo

• The pop-up displays Ctrl+Shift+Z for Redo, but users on Windows expect Ctrl+Y.
  - The pop-up does not display Ctrl-Y right now - is this an intentional focus on cross-platform compatibility? (ref: blockly/#3873)

2. Run Code

• Currently mapped to Shift+R instead of Ctrl+Enter.
  - Was Shift+R chosen for a specific reason?

3. Open Dropdown: Alt + Down (often used in Windows applications)

[microbit-matt-hillsdon]

• The pop-up does not display Ctrl-Y right now - is this an intentional focus on cross-platform compatibility?

We fixed this in MakeCode's equivalent in-app docs based on similar feedback of it being more traditional/commonly taught on Windows (we do not use the plugin's shortcut dialog). I can open a PR for the same fix in the plugin if desired.

[joreneng]

That would be great, thanks Matt! I've filed it here: #647.

[rachel-fenichel]

Run Code
Currently mapped to Shift+R instead of Ctrl+Enter.

• Was Shift+R chosen for a specific reason?

We already use Ctrl+Enter for another purpose. We chose Shift+R to match "Run", but it can be remapped by the host application.

[rachel-fenichel]

Open Dropdown: Alt + Down (often used in Windows applications)

Some questions to help us figure out whether to implement this?:

• Which users expected this? (In particular: is this for new screenreader users or experienced screenreader users?)
• Is this a general pattern in all of Windows?
• Does it apply outside of Windows?

We use Enter to open field editors in general, so we'd like to avoid adding a special shortcut that only applies to one type of field.

[joreneng]

Hi Rachel, that's a good point! They were from experienced screen reader users who do specialize in Windows and work applications in particular.

• So no, it is a general pattern in Windows apps as far as applications used in a workplace, but would not apply outside of Windows.