Use commands, mobile controls, and accessibility

Editor v2 provides the same core editing actions through visible controls, keyboard commands, touch-aware layouts, and screen-reader-accessible selection actions. Choose the route that fits your device and input method.

The representative video demonstrates this exact workflow: Open the command palette with Control K and narrow it to one Insert rectangle result without executing the document command.

Verified result: The command palette contains the search value and exactly one Insert rectangle result. The canvas is unchanged.

Find a commandOpen the command palette with Control K and narrow it to one Insert rectangle result without executing the document command.Result: The command palette contains the search value and exactly one Insert rectangle result. The canvas is unchanged.

Transcript

1. Open the command palettePress Control K to open the command palette from the editor.
2. Find a commandSearch for Insert rectangle. The single matching result is ready, but do not run it in this overview.

Download the tutorial videoDownload English captions

Prerequisites

• Click or tap inside Editor v2 before using editor shortcuts.
• On a phone or tablet, use an up-to-date browser and leave browser page zoom at its normal value; zoom the canvas with Editor v2 controls instead.
• Connect a hardware keyboard when you want desktop-style shortcuts on a touch device.
• If you use a screen reader, enable it before opening the file so focus and selection changes are announced from the start.

Steps: use the command palette and keyboard

1. Choose the search action near the top of the left panel, or press Ctrl/⌘ + K.
2. Type the action you need, such as a tool, selection action, import route, or view command.
3. Review the full command name before running it. A command can act on the current selection.
4. Use the arrow keys to move through results, press Enter to run the highlighted command, and press Escape to close the palette.

Useful editing keys include:

• Ctrl/⌘ + Z to undo, and Ctrl/⌘ + Shift + Z to redo.
• Arrow keys to move a selected object in small steps.
• Delete or Backspace to delete an editable selection.
• Escape to leave the current tool, selection mode, menu, or dialog one level at a time.

When a text field is focused, its normal text-editing keys take priority. Return focus to the canvas before using object shortcuts.

Steps: work on a smaller touch screen

1. Tap an object to select it. Drag the selected object to move it.
2. Pinch on the canvas to change canvas zoom, and use the visible zoom controls when you need an exact command such as fit or 100%.
3. Open Layers or Properties from the compact controls. On a small screen, panels open as drawers over the canvas instead of permanently reducing its width.
4. Finish the panel task, then dismiss the drawer to return to the full canvas. Opening the other drawer replaces the current one.
5. Use visible rename, more, and menu buttons. Do not rely on hover, right-click, or a desktop tooltip on touch.
6. Scroll inside a toolbar, drawer, menu, or timeline when its actions do not fit. The page itself should remain anchored around the editor.

On a tablet, Editor v2 may keep the wider desktop arrangement while still showing touch-friendly affordances. Attaching a trackpad does not necessarily change that layout.

Steps: use screen-reader selection actions

1. Move focus into the editor and select an object through the available canvas or selection controls.
2. Listen for the selected object’s type, name, and relevant locked or hidden state.
3. Use the accessible Select next and Select previous actions to move through objects when direct canvas targeting is difficult.
4. Use the announced actions for delete, duplicate, group, ungroup, bring forward, send backward, or directional movement when they are enabled.
5. After an action, confirm the new selection announcement before continuing.

For a multi-selection, Editor v2 announces the selection count and relevant state summary rather than reading every geometry change during a live drag.

Recovery

• If a shortcut types into a field, press Escape or finish the field edit, then focus the canvas and try again.
• If the command palette does not open, use the visible search action in the left panel. On a compact screen, open the left drawer first if necessary.
• If a touch drag scrolls a panel, start the drag from the canvas object rather than from a scrollable drawer or timeline.
• If a menu or sheet covers the canvas, use its close control, backdrop, Escape, or browser Back once. Confirm that it closes before navigating away.
• If a screen-reader action is unavailable, check whether the file is read-only, the selection is empty, or the chosen action does not apply to that selection.
• If an object cannot be selected, check Layers for hidden, locked, or parent-locked content.

Current limitations

• Direct canvas graphics cannot expose every visual detail to a screen reader. Editor v2 provides a semantic selection summary and common actions, but some detailed styling still requires the Inspector.
• Connector authoring is currently read-only on touch-only input. Use a mouse or trackpad when you need to create or edit prototype connectors.
• Hover-only guidance is not dependable on touch. Use visible labels, menus, and help text instead.
• Browser, operating-system, screen-reader, and keyboard behavior varies. If a system gesture conflicts with an editor shortcut, use the equivalent visible control.