# BPMN keyboard shortcuts

The BPMN editor's shortcuts are few, and the ones below cover normal modelling.

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## Worth knowing

* The editor has to have focus for any of these to work.
* On macOS, Cmd replaces Ctrl throughout.
* Escape cancels whatever you are in the middle of.

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## Shortcuts

| **Shortcut**          | **Does**                                |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Ctrl+A                | Select all                              |
| E                     | Direct edit the selected element's name |
| Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V       | Copy and paste elements                 |
| Delete or Backspace   | Delete the selection                    |
| Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Shift+Z | Undo / redo                             |
| Ctrl+scroll           | Zoom                                    |
| Space+drag            | Pan the canvas                          |
| Escape                | Cancel the current action               |
| Arrow keys            | Nudge the selection                     |

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## A few things that catch people out

* Direct editing a name is faster than the properties panel for bulk naming.
* Copy and paste keeps element configuration, which saves reconfiguring similar tasks.
* Nudging with arrow keys is how you fix layout the auto-layout got slightly wrong.

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## Related

[Save a BPMN diagramDebounced changes, flushed on save.](https://help.gocapable.com/diagrams/save-a-bpmn-diagram.html)

[Fix BPMN editor problemsEmpty canvases, import warnings, and AI.](https://help.gocapable.com/diagrams/fix-bpmn-editor-problems.html)

[BPMN editorBack to the editor overview.](https://help.gocapable.com/diagrams/bpmn-editor.html)

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_Simulate it before you publish it._