Docs · Reference
Keyboard shortcuts
Find the keyboard shortcuts for the app, the plasmid editor, entries and the assistant.
Use Ctrl on Windows and Cmd on a Mac where a row says Ctrl/Cmd. Alt is the Option key on a Mac.
Anywhere in the app
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl/Cmd+K | Open the command palette. Every tool and action is listed there. |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+F | Open the command palette |
| Alt+N | Open New plasmid |
| Ctrl/Cmd+O | Import a file into the Library |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+E | Open the Library |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+Space | Open the workspace switcher |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+1 through 9 | Switch to an available lab in the current workspace list order, outside editable/form fields |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+L | Open Alignment & Verification (outside an entry) |
The Library, Home and palette shortcuts do nothing while you type in a text field. The numbered workspace keys use the physical number row; Personal is separate. These shortcuts act when the browser delivers the chord to the app. OS and browser shortcuts can take priority.
Plasmid editor
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| F2 | Lock or unlock sequence editing |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+M | Switch between the circular and linear map |
| Ctrl/Cmd+F | Find in the sequence |
| Enter / Shift+Enter | Next or previous match, in the find bar |
| Esc | Close the find bar |
| Ctrl/Cmd+= | Zoom in on the map |
| Ctrl/Cmd+- | Zoom out |
| Ctrl/Cmd+0 | Reset zoom |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+S | Save a copy of the open plasmid under a new name |
Plasmids save as you edit, so you do not need a save shortcut.
Notebook entries
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
/ |
Insert a block, such as a table or Steps |
@ |
Link a plasmid, entry, person or other record |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+L | Ask AI about the selection, or the whole entry |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Alt+M | Comment on the selected text (lab entries) |
| Ctrl/Cmd+B | Bold |
| Ctrl/Cmd+I | Italic |
| Ctrl/Cmd+U | Underline |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+Z | Redo |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+C | Copy the whole live entry, including read-only entries, as HTML and plain text |
Ordinary Ctrl/Cmd+C still copies the selection. The whole-entry shortcut shares DevTools' inspect-element chord in Chrome and Firefox; OS/browser delivery with DevTools or OS shortcuts active still needs separate verification.
AI Assistant
These work while the chat panel is open.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Alt+S | Choose Auto |
| Alt+C | Choose Core |
| Alt+D | Choose Design |
| Alt+R | Choose Research |
| Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+A | Open the picker to add a plasmid, entry or file |
| Esc | Stop a reply while it is being written |
Something missing or wrong? Email [email protected].