Keyboard Shortcuts

Mastering keyboard shortcuts dramatically speeds up transcript editing. This guide provides a complete reference of all available shortcuts in the Scriptix transcript editor.

Viewing Shortcuts in the Editor

Keyboard Shortcuts Modal

Access the built-in shortcuts reference:

How to Open:

• Click the Info button (ℹ️) in the toolbar
• The keyboard shortcuts modal appears

Modal Contents:

• Function column - General functions like playback and navigation
• Edit Options column - Text formatting shortcuts
• Two-column layout for easy scanning

Closing:

• Click the "Close Window" button
• The modal provides a quick reference while learning

Complete Shortcuts Reference

General Navigation & Playback

These shortcuts control playback and general editor functions:

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac	Description
Play/Pause	Space or Ctrl + P	Space or Cmd + P	Toggle audio/video playback
Rewind 5 Seconds	Left Arrow or Ctrl + Left	Left Arrow or Cmd + Left	Jump back 5 seconds
Forward 5 Seconds	Right Arrow or Ctrl + Right	Right Arrow or Cmd + Right	Jump forward 5 seconds
Increase Speed	Ctrl + + or Ctrl + =	Cmd + + or Cmd + =	Increase playback rate by 0.5x
Decrease Speed	Ctrl + -	Cmd + -	Decrease playback rate by 0.5x
Open Find	Ctrl + F	Cmd + F	Open search/replace panel and focus search input
Undo	Ctrl + Z	Cmd + Z	Undo last change
Redo	Ctrl + Y	Cmd + Y	Redo undone change

Important Notes:

• Space key works globally for play/pause (does not require editor focus)
• Arrow keys for rewind/forward work without Ctrl/Cmd modifier
• Play/pause also supports multimedia keys: F8, F5, F10, F11, Media Play/Pause, and ThinkPad-specific keys

Text Formatting

Apply formatting to selected text:

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac	Description
Bold	Ctrl + B	Cmd + B	Toggle bold formatting on selection
Italic	Ctrl + I	Cmd + I	Toggle italic formatting on selection
Underline	Ctrl + U	Cmd + U	Toggle underline on selection
Strikethrough	Ctrl + S	Cmd + S	Toggle strikethrough on selection

Important:

• Select text first, then apply formatting
• Press the same shortcut again to remove formatting (toggle behavior)
• Ctrl + S applies strikethrough, NOT save
• There is no keyboard shortcut for saving—use the Save button in toolbar

Utterance Management

Shortcuts for managing utterances (speaker turns):

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac	Description
Split Utterance	Ctrl + Shift + Down	Cmd + Shift + Down	Split current utterance at cursor position

Note: Add and delete utterance operations do not have keyboard shortcuts—use the UI buttons.

Standard Text Editing

Common text manipulation shortcuts (browser/OS provided):

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac	Description
Select All	Ctrl + A	Cmd + A	Select all text in current utterance
Cut	Ctrl + X	Cmd + X	Cut selected text
Copy	Ctrl + C	Cmd + C	Copy selected text
Paste	Ctrl + V	Cmd + V	Paste from clipboard
Delete	Delete	Delete	Delete selection or next character
Backspace	Backspace	Backspace	Delete selection or previous character*

*Note: Backspace is blocked at the start of an utterance to prevent cursor navigation errors.

Cursor Movement

Navigate through text efficiently (standard browser behavior):

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac	Description
Move Left	←	←	Move cursor left one character*
Move Right	→	→	Move cursor right one character
Move Up	↑	↑	Move cursor up one line
Move Down	↓	↓	Move cursor down one line
Line Start	Home	Cmd + ←	Move to beginning of line
Line End	End	Cmd + →	Move to end of line

*Note: Left arrow is blocked at the start of an utterance to prevent navigation into speaker field.

Important: The transcript editor prevents certain navigation behaviors to avoid crashes when moving into the speaker label area.

Text Selection

Select text using keyboard (standard browser behavior):

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac	Description
Select Left	Shift + ←	Shift + ←	Extend selection left
Select Right	Shift + →	Shift + →	Extend selection right
Select Up	Shift + ↑	Shift + ↑	Extend selection up
Select Down	Shift + ↓	Shift + ↓	Extend selection down
Select to Line Start	Shift + Home	Cmd + Shift + ←	Select to beginning of line
Select to Line End	Shift + End	Cmd + Shift + →	Select to end of line

Note: Word-level and document-level selections use standard browser/OS shortcuts and are not specifically handled by the editor.

Shortcut Usage Tips

Learning Strategy

Start with Essentials:

1. Play/Pause (Space) - Most used shortcut
2. Undo/Redo (Ctrl/Cmd + Z / Y) - Essential for editing
3. Find (Ctrl/Cmd + F) - Frequently needed
4. Bold/Italic (Ctrl/Cmd + B / I) - Common formatting

Then Add: 5. Rewind/Forward (Left/Right or Ctrl/Cmd + Left/Right) - Playback navigation 6. Cut/Copy/Paste (Ctrl/Cmd + X/C/V) - Text manipulation 7. Speed Control (Ctrl/Cmd + +/-) - Playback efficiency

Finally Master: 8. Split Utterance (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Down) - Advanced editing 9. Selection shortcuts - Advanced text manipulation

Muscle Memory

Practice Techniques:

1. Common Patterns

• Ctrl + key for functions (Windows)
• Cmd + key for functions (Mac)
• Shift + key for selections
• Arrow keys for navigation

2. Mnemonics

• Bold = Ctrl/Cmd + B
• Copy = Ctrl/Cmd + C
• Find = Ctrl/Cmd + F
• Italic = Ctrl/Cmd + I
• Underline = Ctrl/Cmd + U

Workflow Integration

Example Editing Workflow with Shortcuts:

1. Space → Start playback
2. Hear error → Space → Pause
3. Click word → Jump to audio position
4. Select word (double-click or Shift + arrows)
5. Type correction
6. Space → Resume playback
7. Click Save button → Manual save

Example Formatting Workflow:

1. Double-click word to select
2. Ctrl/Cmd + B → Make bold
3. Right arrow → Move past word
4. Continue typing

Example Split Utterance Workflow:

1. Position cursor at split point
2. Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Down → Split utterance
3. Adjust speaker labels as needed
4. Continue editing

Platform-Specific Shortcuts

Windows/Linux

Key Modifiers:

• Ctrl - Primary modifier for functions
• Shift - Extend selections
• Alt - Not used in transcript editor

Special Keys:

• Home / End - Line navigation
• Arrow keys work standalone for rewind/forward

Mac

Key Modifiers:

• Cmd (⌘) - Primary modifier for functions (replaces Ctrl)
• Option (⌥) - Not used in transcript editor
• Control (⌃) - Not used in transcript editor
• Shift - Extend selections

Special Keys:

• Cmd + ← / Cmd + → - Line start/end
• Arrow keys work standalone for rewind/forward

Mac-Specific Notes:

• Cmd replaces Ctrl for most functions
• Some shortcuts may conflict with system shortcuts (e.g., Cmd + Space for Spotlight)
• Use meta modifier in code for cross-platform compatibility

Multimedia Key Support

Extended Play/Pause Keys

The transcript editor supports a wide range of multimedia keys for play/pause:

Supported Keys:

• F8 - Standard play/pause key
• F5 - Dell laptops
• F10 - HP laptops
• F11 - Some keyboards
• Media Play/Pause - General multimedia key
• Play - ThinkPad-specific
• Pause - ThinkPad-specific
• Audio Play - ThinkPad-specific

Implementation: See src/utils/providers/transcript-hotkey-context.tsx:36-60

Troubleshooting Shortcuts

Shortcut Not Working

Issue: Pressing shortcut doesn't perform expected action

Possible Causes & Solutions:

1. Browser Conflicts

• Ctrl/Cmd + F - Should focus Scriptix search, not browser find
• Solution: Click in editor first; Scriptix should override browser behavior

2. Operating System Conflicts

• Mac's Spotlight uses Cmd + Space
• Solution: Use Space alone or Cmd + P for play/pause

3. Focus Not in Editor

• Play/pause (Space) works globally
• Formatting shortcuts require selection in editor
• Solution: Click in the transcript first

4. Wrong Modifier Key

• Using Ctrl on Mac instead of Cmd
• Solution: Use Cmd (⌘) on Mac, Ctrl on Windows/Linux

5. Trying to Save with Ctrl+S

• Ctrl/Cmd + S applies strikethrough, not save
• Solution: Use the Save button in toolbar

Prevented Shortcuts

Some shortcuts are intentionally prevented by the editor:

Blocked at Utterance Start:

• Backspace - Prevents navigation errors
• Left Arrow - Prevents cursor entering speaker field

Reason: Prevents crashes when cursor tries to move into the speaker label area.

Platform-Specific Issues

Windows:

• Arrow keys alone work for rewind/forward (no Ctrl needed)
• Standard Windows text editing shortcuts apply

Mac:

• Some Cmd shortcuts may conflict with system features
• Cmd + Space opens Spotlight by default
• Arrow keys alone work for rewind/forward (no Cmd needed)

Linux:

• Desktop environment shortcuts may interfere
• Standard Ctrl shortcuts work as expected

Shortcuts Not Available

The following common shortcuts are not implemented in the transcript editor:

Expected Shortcut	Actual Behavior	Alternative
Ctrl/Cmd + S	Applies strikethrough formatting	Use Save button in toolbar
Ctrl/Cmd + Enter	No action	Click Add Utterance button
Ctrl/Cmd + Delete	No action	Click Delete Utterance button
Ctrl/Cmd + H	No action	Use Find (Ctrl/Cmd + F) instead
Ctrl/Cmd + A	Selects all in current utterance only	Not document-wide

Important: The modal shows "Save: Ctrl s" but this is incorrect—Ctrl + S applies strikethrough.

Productivity Workflow

Speed Editing with Shortcuts

Fast Review Workflow:

1. Ctrl/Cmd + F → Open search
2. Type term to find
3. Navigate matches (Next/Previous in search panel)
4. Make corrections
5. Esc or click X → Close search
6. Ctrl/Cmd + Z → Undo if needed
7. Space → Play to verify

Format-Heavy Workflow:

1. Double-click word
2. Ctrl/Cmd + B → Bold
3. Shift + Right arrow × 3 → Extend selection
4. Ctrl/Cmd + I → Also italicize
5. Ctrl/Cmd + U → Also underline
6. Click elsewhere → Deselect

Audio Verification Workflow:

1. Click word → Jump to audio
2. Space → Play
3. Left arrow (or Ctrl/Cmd + Left) → Rewind if needed
4. Space → Pause
5. Make edit
6. Space → Resume
7. Right arrow (or Ctrl/Cmd + Right) → Skip ahead

Advanced Combinations

Select and Replace:

1. Double-click word → Select
2. Ctrl/Cmd + C → Copy
3. Ctrl/Cmd + F → Open find
4. Ctrl/Cmd + V → Paste search term
5. Type replacement
6. Click Replace All

Multi-Step Formatting:

1. Select text
2. Ctrl/Cmd + B → Bold
3. Keep selected
4. Ctrl/Cmd + I → Add italic
5. Keep selected
6. Click highlight color in popup

Quick Reference Card

Print or bookmark this quick reference:

Essential Shortcuts

PLAYBACK
Space              Play/Pause
Left / Ctrl+Left   Rewind 5 sec
Right / Ctrl+Right Forward 5 sec
Ctrl + +           Speed up
Ctrl + -           Slow down

EDITING
Ctrl + Z           Undo
Ctrl + Y           Redo
Ctrl + F           Find
Ctrl + B           Bold
Ctrl + I           Italic
Ctrl + U           Underline
Ctrl + S           Strikethrough (NOT save!)
Ctrl + Shift + ↓   Split utterance

TEXT MANIPULATION
Ctrl + A           Select All (current utterance)
Ctrl + C           Copy
Ctrl + X           Cut
Ctrl + V           Paste

Mac Users: Replace Ctrl with Cmd (⌘)

Frequently Asked Questionså

Why doesn't Ctrl + S save the document?

Ctrl + S applies strikethrough formatting. This is by design in the current implementation. Use the Save button in the toolbar.

What if shortcuts conflict with my browser?

Most Scriptix shortcuts should override browser defaults when the editor has focus. If not, try clicking in the editor first.

Are shortcuts the same on all browsers?

Yes, Scriptix shortcuts are consistent across browsers.

Can I see shortcuts while hovering over buttons?

Some buttons show tooltips. The Info modal (ℹ️) provides the complete list.

Do shortcuts work on mobile devices?

External keyboards on tablets support shortcuts. Touchscreen devices rely on buttons and gestures.

What's the fastest way to learn shortcuts?

Start with the 5 most frequent: Space, Ctrl/Cmd + Z, Ctrl/Cmd + F, Ctrl/Cmd + B, and Left/Right arrows.

Why doesn't Space scroll the page?

When the editor is focused, Space triggers play/pause instead of scrolling. This is intentional.

Next Steps

Apply shortcuts to your editing workflow:

• Edit Text - Use shortcuts while editing
• Search & Replace - Combine with find/replace
• Audio/Video Playback - Master playback shortcuts
• Editor Interface - Understand the full interface

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Start practicing! Choose 3 shortcuts to focus on today and use them exclusively instead of mouse clicks.