Mathematica 9 is now available
THIS IS DOCUMENTATION FOR AN OBSOLETE PRODUCT.
SEE THE DOCUMENTATION CENTER FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
Mathematica > Notebooks and Documents > Notebook Basics > Selecting and Typing in Notebooks >
Selecting and Typing in Notebooks
Mathematica has many special features that optimize the entry and editing of both ordinary text and Mathematica input in notebooks.
Making Selections
double-click select a word or function name
triple-click select a function and its arguments
repeated clicking continue expanding selection
Ctrl+. expand selection within a cell or beyond
Ctrl+A select a whole notebook
    
Brackets & Syntax
Ctrl+Shift+B match brackets
HelpWhy the Coloring? find out why input is red or has other syntax coloring
Help & Command Completion
F1 search for help on the name selected, or to the left
Shift+F1 bring up a new instance of the help viewer
Ctrl+K complete a command name, character name, etc.
    
Entering Styled Text
Alt+Enter create a new cell of the same style as above
Alt+n pick a style for a cell (4 for section heading, 7 for text, etc.)
Alt+0 enter a style to use for a cell
Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I toggle bold, italic
Alt++, Alt+- make font larger, smaller
Esc name Esc enter hundreds of special characters by short names
(Ctrl+^ or Ctrl+6 ▪ (Ctrl+_ ▪ (Ctrl+/ ▪ ...
Ctrl+Space move out of a script position
Ctrl+Comma, Ctrl+Return create a 2D grid
Ctrl+(, Ctrl+) start, end an inline math cell in text, or text in math
    
Typing Shortcuts
Delete delete next character
Shift+, Shift+ extend selection back or forward
Ctrl+, Ctrl+ skip back or forward a word
Ctrl+Shift+, Ctrl+Shift+ extend selection back, forward a word
Cell Operations
, move down or up inside or outside of cells
Ctrl+Shift+M, Ctrl+Shift+D merge or divide cells
Ctrl+Shift+E toggle to unformatted expression form of a cell
Shift+Alt+n change cell style (4 for section heading, 7 for text, 9 for input, etc.)
TUTORIALS
MORE ABOUT
Ask a question about this page  |  Suggest an improvement  |  Leave a message for the team
Format:   HTML  |  CDF