# Developer Guide to Keyboard Accessibility

Version: 1.0 | Date: June 16, 2006

## Contents

· Overview

· Eclipse Keyboard Navigation

· Cycling Between the Diagram Editor and Palette

· Palette Item Navigation

· Diagram Navigation

· Shape Navigation

· Connection Navigation

· Properties View Navigation

## Overview

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This document describes how the GMF user interface is navigable using the keyboard.

## Eclipse Keyboard Navigation

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For tips on keyboard navigation within Eclipse, including cycling between editors, views, and perspectives, see Navigating the user interface using the keyboard in the Eclipse Documentation.

## Cycling Between the Diagram Editor and Palette

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Current State | Keyboard Key(s) | Description | New State
--- | --- | --- | ---
Diagram Name In Focus | Tab | Navigates to the Palette | Palette in Focus
Palette in Focus | Tab | Navigates to the Palette minimize button. | Palette Minimize Button in Focus
Palette Minimize Button in Focus | Tab | Navigates to the palette items. | Palette Item in Focus
Palette Item in Focus | Tab | Navigates to the Diagram Editor and focus is placed on any selected item. | Diagram Editor in Focus
Diagram Editor in Focus | Shift+Tab | Navigates to the palette items. The last palette item used is selected otherwise defaults to the "Select" option | Palette Item in Focus
Palette Item in Focus | Shift+Tab | Navigates to the Palette minimize button. | Palette Minimize Button in Focus
Palette Minimize Button in Focus | Shift+Tab | Navigates to the Palette | Palette in Focus
Palette in Focus | Shift+Tab | Navigates to the Diagram Editor. | Diagram Name In Focus

## Palette Item Navigation

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Current State | Keyboard Key(s) | Description | New State
--- | --- | --- | ---
Drawer in Focus | Spacebar | Collapses or expands the selected drawer in the Palette | Drawer in Focus
Palette Item in Focus | Spacebar | Selects the current palette item in focus | Palette Item in Focus
Palette Item in Focus | Up/Down Arrow | Moves the focus between the palette items | Palette Item in Focus
Shape Palette Item in Focus | Enter | Creates a new shape on the diagram. | New Shape Selected in Diagram
Connection Palette Item in Focus | Enter | Creates a new connection between the two selected items in the diagram. | New Connection Selected in Diagram
Palette Item in Focus | Tab+Escape | Tab - Navigates to the Diagram Esc - Deselects the Palette Item | Diagram Editor in Focus with "Select" Palette Tool Enabled
Stack Palette Item in Focus | Alt+Down Arrow | Stack popup list appears. | Stack Popup List in Focus
Stack Popup List in Focus | Up/Down Arrow | Navigates between the available palette tools on the stack. | Stack Popup List in Focus
Stack Popup List in Focus | Enter | Selects an item from the popup list. | Selected Palette Item

## Diagram Navigation

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Current State | Keyboard Key(s) | Description | New State
--- | --- | --- | ---
Selected Diagram | ALT+Down Arrow | Selects shape in diagram. | Selected Shape
Selected Diagram | Arrow Keys | Cycles through the shapes that exist in the selected diagram. A shape is selected when the 8 side and corner size handles are shown. | Selected Shape
Selected Diagram | Shift+Arrow Keys | Multi-selects shapes on the diagram. | Selected Shapes
Selected Diagram | Shift+F10 | Invokes the context menu for the shape | Diagram Context Menu

## Shape Navigation

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Current State | Keyboard Key(s) | Description | New State
--- | --- | --- | ---
Selected Shape | Shift+F10 | Invokes the context menu for the shape | Shape Context Menu
Selected Shape | . (Period) | Cycles through the following handles: Position Handle / 8 Side and Corner Size Handles / Position Handle. Clockwise rotation | Selected Shape Handle
Selected Shape | Shift+. (Period) | Cycles through the following handles: Position Handle / 8 Side and Corner Size Handles / Position Handle. Counter clockwise rotation | Selected Shape Handle
Selected Shape | / | Selects any available connection Navigates clockwise among the existing connections | Selected Connection
Selected Shape | \ | Selects any available connection Navigates counter-clockwise among the existing connections | Selected Connection
Selected Shape | Alt+Down Arrow | Selects the shape compartment. | Shape Compartment Selected
Selected Shape | Ctrl+Spacebar | Deselects the selected shape by showing the shape in an outline. | Shape Outline
Selected Shape Handle | Arrow Keys | Changes shape size or position A shaded shape is displayed showing the new size or position. | Shaded Shape
Selected Shape Handle | Ctrl+Arrow Keys | Changes shape size or position respecting the aspect ratio. A shaded shape is displayed showing the new size or position. | Shaded Shape
Selected Shape Handle | Shift+Arrow Keys | Changes shape size or position respecting the shape's center. A shaded shape is displayed showing the new size or position. | Shaded Shape
Selected Shape Handle | Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Keys | Changes shape size or position respecting the aspect ratio and shape's center. A shaded shape is displayed showing the new size or position. | Shaded Shape
Selected Shape Handle | Escape | Deselects the selected shape handle. | Selected Shape
Selected Shape | Enter | Accepts current shaded shape | Selected Shape
Selected Shape | Escape | Reverts back to the original shape size or position | Selected Shape
Selected Shape | Alt+Down Arrow | Selects a compartment within the shape. | Compartment Selected
Compartment Selected | Up/Down Arrow | Navigates between the available compartments | Compartment Selected
Compartment Selected | Alt+Down Arrow | Selects the shape compartment items The first compartment item is selected | Compartment Item Selected
Compartment Selected | Alt+Up Arrow | Deselects the compartment and selects the shape. | Selected Shape
Compartment Item Selected | Alt+Up Arrow | Deselects the compartment item and selects the compartment. | Compartment Selected
Compartment Item Selected | Up/Down Arrow | Navigates between the available compartment items | Compartment Item Selected

## Connection Navigation

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Current State | Keyboard Key(s) | Description | New State
--- | --- | --- | ---
Selected Connection | Shift+F10 | Invokes the context menu for the connection | Connection Context Menu
Selected Connection | Alt+Down Arrow | Cycles through all the connection labels. A connection label is selected when the 4 corner size handles are shown. Connection labels are navigable in the same way that shapes are. | Selected Connection Label
Selected Connection Label | Alt+Up Arrow | Deselects the connection label and selects the connection. | Selected Connection
Selected Connection | Arrow Keys | Deselects the connection and selects the shape. | Selected Shape
Selected Connection | Ctrl+Spacebar | Deselects the selected connection by showing the connection in an outline. | Connection Outline
Selected Connection | . (Period) or Shift+. (Period) | Cycles through the endpoints, bendpoints, and midpoints of a connection. | Selected Endpoint, Bendpoint, or Midpoint
Selected Endpoint | Arrow Keys | Allows the connection endpoint to be moved to a new shape. | Selected Connection
Move Cursor over Bendpoint | Arrow Keys | Moves the connection bendpoint. | Selected Bendpoint
Move Cursor over Bendpoint | Enter | Accepts current location. | Selected Connection
Move Cursor over Bendpoint | Escape | Reverts back to the original location | Selected Connection
Add Bendpoint Cursor | Arrow Keys | Moves the new bendpoint. | Selected Bendpoint
Add Bendpoint Cursor | Enter | Accepts the new bendpoint. | Selected Connection
Add Bendpoint Cursor | Escape | Removes the bendpoint. | Selected Connection

## Properties View Navigation

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To navigate to the Properties View

- press CTRL+F7 and choose the Properties View, or
- select "Show Properties View" from the context menu of a diagram, shape, or connection.

Current State | Keyboard Key(s) | Description | New State
--- | --- | --- | ---
Selected Properties Field | Shift+Tab | Cycles through the fields in the property section and eventually highlights the currently active properties tab. Shift+Tab cycles through the UI of the Properties View. | Properties Tab Highlighted
Properties Tab Highlighted | Tab | Cycles through the fields in the property sections of the active tab. Tab cycles through the UI of the Properties View in the opposite direction of Shift+Tab. | Selected Properties Field
Properties Tab Highlighted | Up/Down Arrow | Move focus among tabs in properties view. | Properties Tab Highlighted

Copyright (c) 2006 IBM Corporation and others. All Rights Reserved.