Toggle Elements Library Shortcut not possible on most QWERTZ keyboards

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#1

HI!

The pipe symbol on most QWERTZ keyboard languages is a secondary symbol with the letter W. As such, as far as I know, it cannot be used for the intended purpose in Pro.

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However, its position next to the left Shift key is ideal. That position is being occupied by < symbol on most QWERTZ keyboards, and it appears that it does nothing in Chrome and Firefox in combination with CTRL(CMD) and SHIFT.

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qwertz799Ă—262 35.2 KB

Perhaps you could map the Toggle Elements Library shortcut to CTRL(CMD) + SHIFT + < as well, so it works both on QWERTY and QWERTZ keyboards?

Also, this would solve only most of the languages, with many still not being covered. The ability for the users to map their shortcuts would be an ultimate solution to cover all languages.

Thanks!

EDIT: I don’t know if this is technically possible in a browser or not, but I see something even better for the elements library: why not just start typing while no element is selected and it brings the element we are searching?

So technically, if we click anywhere outside the content, that could deselect the content. So it would be enough to start typing and that opens the Elements library and searches for the element we want. That would be super UX cool. :slight_smile:

#2

I can’t actually get the element toggle working at all, and untul I saw your post had no idea what the element toggle should be

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#3

Hey @Misho and @scotbaston, just to make sure we’re all on the same page here, the command is a capital letter I, not a pipe symbol. When I do CMD + SHIFT + I on my computer it’s coming up fine. That being said, obviously I see how this could be confusing potentially. Can you both:

  1. Confirm when you use CMD + SHIFT + I (or whatever Windows variant there is on your machines if you’re using that) that it works) and…
  2. Provide any potential alternatives you’d like to see used for the library toggle? I’m thinking maybe CMD + SHIFT + L for “library” since CMD + SHIFT + E is already taken to toggle the whole workspace in and out.

Let me know when you have a chance! Also, @Misho, while the idea of typing to bring it up is cool, I can see this being potentially frustrating for users who are not intending for this to happen or type something on accident and now a screen is popping in without their foreknowledge. I think opting in via a shortcut is best as the search is focused right after and you can just start typing right after that.

#4

Hi @kory,
I can confirm the CMD SHIFT I (Captial i) works for me… I don’t get a tool tip showing what the shortcut is though

re 2: I would prefer a shortcut that is possible with just the left hand as otherwise I need to take hand off the mouse/tablet to action a shortcut which will be used very frequently… maybe shift control ~ as that is very easy to reach. maybe not as nice as I for insert or E for elements but from a day to day usage

Actually looking at Misho’s keyboard layout maybe Shift Ctrl A (Add) could work for everyone?

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#5

HI @kory

Wow, it didn’t even crossed my mind that this could be an I.

The reason that I didn’t took I into the consideration is because I wouldn’t expect such shortcut not to be one-handed. :slight_smile:

To me the best option would be CTRL(CMD) + Shift + (that thing above the Tab key). But I’m not sure if this would work on all languages.

@scotbaston, CTRL + SHIFT + A is taken by Chrome unfortunately.

#6

@Misho and @scotbaston, I am leaning towards CMD / CTRL + SHIFT + A for this shortcut as I think it makes sense from an “Add Element” standpoint (even though it’s technically a way to toggle the pane on / off). @Misho, how does Chrome use CMD / CTRL + SHIFT + A on your end? I’ve looked at my Chrome and tried it a few times but it doesn’t seem to be doing anything. I’d prefer this as it is doable with the left hand only and feels like it makes the most sense…let me know on that when you have a moment @Misho.

@scotbaston, regarding the keyboard shortcuts, they will not show up as a tooltip anywhere. They are available as a list under Menu → Keyboard Shortcuts. Once you’re there, you can see anything that is available to navigate the tool or perform various actions.

#7

In Safari, Command + Shift + A is the shortcut for form autofill.

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#8

Thanks, @devinelston. I completely overlooked that as it was grayed out on my end.

I think we’re running out of options if we’re trying to make it all work the left hand, haha. Does CMD / Ctrl + Shift + X work for everybody across browsers?

#9

It’s that or maybe CMD / Ctrl + Shift + ~ (tilde) above the tab key…I think that’s what @Misho was mentioning earlier, eh? Thoughts between that and my previous proposition?

#10

@kory, given those options, I personally prefer X as the modifier. I find the tilde key more awkward to reach than using two hands on the keyboard.

But thinking about it a bit more, when you define keyboard shortcuts within the builder, it takes precedent over the browser defaults, right? If so, I actually don’t see a huge conflict with the CMD Shift A despite the overlap with AutoFill (there is rarely - if ever - a need to autofill within the builder itself).

I thought there was a conflict when I tried it earlier because an autofill interface popped up – but I see that other shortcuts you use in the builder do different things when Pro doesn’t have focus. So it might not be a problem…

#11

@kory I saw a movement when I was clicking CTRL + SHIFT + A, so in a hurry I have assumed it was taken by Chrome. Apparently it isn’t: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179. In Firefox it toggles the Addnons manager.

The movement I saw was inside the Content builder. it is actually already assigned to “Toggle Advance Mode”, which is perfectly ok to reassign, since this can be a two handed shortcut.

CTRL + SHIFT + X works nicely. To me personally, a tilde is easier, but I understand that more people would find it more awkward to reach like @devinelston has mentioned. I guess I was “trained” by CTRL + SHIFT + Esc from Windows. :slight_smile: Anyway, Tilde is a secondary symbol with number 1 on many QWERTZ keyboards, so this would work only as a multi assignment, particularly to the ¸ symbol.

I think X seems perfect for now.

#12

I’m cool with X as well

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#13

Howdy @devinelston, @Misho, and @scotbaston!

Thanks for all your feedback on this! So @Misho, the “Toggle Advanced Mode” shortcut isn’t even something that should be live, that’s just for us when we’re developing locally so we can test some things quickly, so that will be leaving, haha.

After thinking this all through a bit more, I have a few questions and hopefully we could settle on something that makes the most sense everywhere.

Currently CMD / Ctrl + Shift + E is used to toggle the app chrome closed to “preview” the site in a fullscreen context. I’d honestly prefer that to be used for the Elements pane so that the shortcut somewhat matches the content it’s triggering, and then I’m thinking of moving the toggle app chrome action to CMD / Ctrl + Shift + X. I think the X there kind of makes more sense from a “close this thing out” standpoint…but maybe that’s just me. Does that make sense? So my final proposed solution would be:

  • CMD / Ctrl + Shift + E: Toggles elements
  • CMD / Ctrl + Shift + X: Toggles app chrome

Does that work for everybody?

2 Likes
#14

Works for me.

#15

It would take some time to get used to the new Toggle App Chrome shortcut, but that is not a problem. Some users would be surprised, but they’d get over it. :slight_smile:

#16

Works for me too… rather have a good elements shortcut than any of the others

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#17

:+1: Awesome sauce.

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