In this post, I will share you some important Shortcut keys of Microsoft Expression Blend 4. If you are working with Expression Blend 4, this will definitely help you to improve your daily productivity work. Keep the list with you always to best use of the Shortcut keys in Blend 4 while designing your XAML page.
If you have more shortcuts, please share those to me and I will include them here as the key resource. Thanks for your support.
If you are a XAML developer and using Expression Blend 4, this post will really help you. You will be able to download the free eCopy of the List at the end.
Here is the list of important shortcut keys which can improve your productivity while working in Blend 4:
| Shortcut Key |
Description |
| F1 |
Open Expression Blend User Guide (Help File) |
| Ctrl + + |
Zoom in designer screen |
| Ctrl + - |
Zoom out designer screen |
| Ctrl + 0 |
Fit entire page to designer screen |
| Ctrl + 1 |
Zoom to Actual Size |
| Ctrl + 9 |
Fit selection to the designer screen |
| F9 |
Show Handles |
| Ctrl + Shift + H |
Show object boundaries |
| F11 |
Switch Active document view |
| F2 |
Edit text or Rename the selected control |
| Ctrl + E |
Edit control |
| Ctrl + Shift + ] |
Bring control to Front |
| Ctrl + ] |
Bring control Forward |
| Ctrl + Shift + [ |
Send control to Back |
| Ctrl + [ |
Send control Backward |
| Ctrl + G |
Group into a Grid control |
| Ctrl + Shift + G |
Ungroup an element |
| Ctrl + Shift + D |
Pin Active container |
| Ctrl + Shift + 5 |
Auto Size to Width |
| Ctrl + Shift + 6 |
Auto Size to Height |
| Ctrl + Shift + 1 |
Make width of selected controls to same |
| Ctrl + Shift + 2 |
Make height of selected controls to same |
| Ctrl + Shift + 9 |
Make size of selected controls to same |
| Ctrl + Shift + 3 |
Flip controls Horizontally |
| Ctrl + Shift + 4 |
Flip controls Vertically |
| Ctrl + 7 |
Make Clipping Path |
| Ctrl + Shift + 7 |
Release Clipping Path |
| Ctrl + 8 |
Make compound path |
| Ctrl + Shift + 8 |
Release compound path |
| Ctrl + L |
Lock Selected controls |
| Ctrl + Shift + L |
Unlock all controls |
| Ctrl + T |
Show selected controls in the designer |
| Ctrl + 3 |
Hide selected controls in the designer |
| Alt + Shift + R |
Add Reference to project |
| Ctrl + Shift + B |
Build project |
| F5 |
Run project in debug mode |
| Ctrl + F5 |
Run project without debug mode |
| F8 |
Make selected controls into a UserControl |
| Ctrl + Shift + T |
Create Annotation for the selected item |
| F6 |
Switch Active workspaces |
| Ctrl + Shift + R |
Reset current workspaces |
| F12 |
Show the Results pane |
| Tab, F4 |
Auto hide/show all panels |
| Ctrl + Tab |
Toggle between opened documents |
| Ctrl + . |
Open the Assets panel |
| Ctrl + N |
Add a new item |
| Alt + Drag |
Creates a copy of the selected control |
| Space + Drag |
Pans the Designer |
| Ctrl + I |
Add an existing item |
| Ctrl + Shift + N |
Add a new project |
| Ctrl + Shift + O |
Open existing project or solution |
| Ctrl + W |
Close document |
| Ctrl + Shift + W |
Close all documents |
| Ctrl + S |
Save current document |
| Ctrl + Shift + S |
Save all unsaved documents |
| Ctrl + Shift + P |
Save copy of Project as... |
| Ctrl + Q |
Exit from Expression Blend |
Kunal Chowdhury is a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) in Silverlight Technology, a Codeproject MVP & Mentor, DZone MVB (Most Valuable Blogger), Speaker in various Microsoft events, Author, passionate Blogger and a Software Engineer by profession.
He is currently working as a Software Engineer II in an MNC located at Pune, India. He has a very good skill over XAML, C#, Silverlight and WPF. He has a good working experience in Windows 7 application (including Multi-touch) development too.
He posts his findings in his technical blog. He also writes for SilverlightShow and Codeproject portal. Many of his articles were highlighted as "Article of the Day" in Microsoft sites.
He also has another website called Silverlight-Zone.com where he posts article links on Silverlight, Windows Phone 7 and XNA accumulated from various web sites to help the community grow on specified technologies.
You can reach him in his Blog : http://www.kunal-chowdhury.com
He is also available in Twitter : http://twitter.com/kunal2383
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