Blocks Keyboard Navigation Shortcuts in VEXcode AIM (Experimental)

The keyboard can be used to navigate and control all parts of VEXcode AIM Blocks. This article outlines the different types of keyboard navigation and provides reference tables for each shortcut.

Enable Keyboard Navigation

Shortcut Windows Mac
Enable/Disable keyboard navigation Ctrl+ Shift + K Control + Shift + K

Note: Your device may require certain accessibility settings to be enabled before you can use keyboard navigation.

Navigation Modes

There are three types of navigation modes when using the keyboard:

  • Cursor Navigation lets you choose where to place blocks by moving a cursor throughout the workspace.
  • Workspace Navigation allows you to navigate between stacks and isolated blocks in the workspace.
  • Stack Navigation lets you move through individual blocks within a stack or choose a position between them.

You can tell which selection mode is active by the appearance of the highlight outline in VEXcode as shown below.

Cursor Navigation Workspace Navigation Stack Navigation
A stack of blocks that begins with a when started block. An orange horizontal line appears above the top block

A stack of blocks that begins with a when started block. An orange outline surrounds the entire stack with space between the border and the blocks

Note: The highlight box will have a small gap around the blocks when it is in workspace navigation mode.

A stack of blocks that begins with a when started block. A tightly fitting orange outline surrounds the entire stack

Note: The highlight box will be directly against the blocks when it is in stack navigation mode.

Change Navigation Modes

Shortcut Windows Mac
Switch between navigation modes A / D A / D

Cursor Navigation

Cursor navigation lets you choose where to place a block anywhere in the workspace.

Shortcut Windows Mac
Move cursor position Shift + W / A / S / D Shift + W / A / S / D
Save cursor position Enter Return

Workspace Navigation

Workspace navigation allows you to select which block stack in the workspace to move or edit.

Shortcut Windows Mac
Scroll through block stacks vertically W / S W / S

Stack Navigation

Stack navigation allows you to select which block to edit or where to insert or detach blocks in a stack.

Shortcut Windows Mac
Enter stack D D
Navigate blocks within a stack W / S W / S
Save position Enter Return

Toolbox

Shortcut Windows Mac
Open toolbox T T
Scroll through toolbox S (W / S to scroll) S (W / S to scroll)
Begin block selection in toolbox D D
Add block to Workspace Enter Return

Note: If a position hasn't been saved while in Cursor or Stack Navigation mode, any block added to the workspace will be placed in the default location on the left side of the workspace.

Detach Blocks

To detach a block or a group of blocks from a stack, enter Stack Navigation and move the selection to just above the block you want to detach. That block and all blocks beneath it will be detached together.

Shortcut Windows Mac
Detach selected block(s) X X

Edit Block Parameters

Shortcut Windows Mac
Enter block from stack navigation D D
Exit from block parameters A A
Navigate between parameters W / S W / S
Enter  text parameter D x2 D x2
Exit parameter A A
Exit text parameter A x2 A x2
Begin editing parameter Enter Return
Scroll parameter options W / S W / S
Confirm parameter edit Enter Return

Project Controls

Action Windows Mac
Start project Ctrl + Enter ⌘ + Return
Stop project Ctrl + E ⌘ + E
Open help Ctrl + H ⌘ + H

For more information, help, and tips, check out the many resources at VEX Professional Development Plus

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