Reference Guide

Complete Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

The comprehensive reference for every keyboard shortcut in Captain's Deck.

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Navigation

ShortcutActionNotes
↑ / KMove cursor up
↓ / JMove cursor down
← / H / BackspaceGo to parent directory
→ / L / EnterEnter directory / Open file
Page Up / ⌃UPage up
Page Down / ⌃DPage down
Home / ⌥GJump to first item
End / ⇧GJump to last itemShift+G
` (backtick)Go to home directory
⌘/Go to root (/)
⌘GGo to path...With Tab autocomplete

Selection

ShortcutActionNotes
Space / InsertToggle selectionMoves cursor down after toggling
EscapeClear selection
⌘ASelect all
⌘⌥IInvert selection

Panes

ShortcutActionNotes
TabSwitch between panes
=Sync inactive pane to current path
⌘USwap panes

Tabs

ShortcutActionNotes
⌘TNew tabOpens in active pane
⌘WClose tab
⌘]Next tab
⌘[Previous tab

File Operations

ShortcutActionNotes
F5 / ⌘⇧CCopy to other pane
F6 / ⌘MMove to other pane
F7 / ⌘⇧NCreate new folder
F8 / ⌘BackspaceMove to Trash
F2 / RRename
⌘⇧RBatch renamePro feature
⌘CCopy to clipboard
⌘XCut to clipboard
⌘VPaste from clipboard
⌘ZUndo last operationPro feature
⌘⇧ZRedo operationPro feature

View

ShortcutActionNotes
F3View fileBuilt-in viewer
F4Edit fileOpens in external editor
⌘YQuick Look preview
⌘IGet Info
⌘RRefresh
⌘.Toggle hidden files

Archives

ShortcutActionNotes
⌘⇧ACreate archivePro feature
⌘⇧EExtract archivePro feature

Search

ShortcutActionNotes
/Quick filter (type to search)Filter current view
NNext filter matchWhen quick filter is active
⇧NPrevious filter matchWhen quick filter is active
⌘FFind in current directory
⌘⇧FFull search panelPro feature
EscapeClear filter / Cancel
⌘PQuick Open (command palette)

Terminal

ShortcutActionNotes
` / ⌘`Toggle terminal panelPro feature

Git

ShortcutActionNotes
⌘⇧GGit PanelPro feature

Connections

ShortcutActionNotes
⌘KConnect to SFTP ServerPro feature

Bookmarks

ShortcutActionNotes
⌘BShow bookmarks
⌘DAdd to bookmarks
⌘1-9Quick jump to bookmark 1-9First 9 bookmarks

Other

ShortcutActionNotes
⌘⌥SToggle split orientation
F1Show keyboard shortcuts help
EscapeClose overlay / Cancel

Function Keys Quick Reference

F1 Help F2 Rename F3 View F4 Edit F5 Copy
F6 Move F7 MkDir F8 Delete F9 Diff F10 Quit

Customizing Shortcuts

You can customize any keyboard shortcut:

  1. Open Settings (⌘,)
  2. Go to the Keyboard Shortcuts tab
  3. Click on any shortcut to record a new key combination
  4. Use Reset to restore default shortcuts

Your custom shortcuts are automatically saved and will be reflected in the F1 help panel.

Vim-Style Navigation

Captain's Deck supports Vim-style navigation keys:

  • h - Left / Go to parent
  • j - Down
  • k - Up
  • l - Right / Enter directory
  • ⌥G - Jump to first item
  • ⇧G (Shift+G) - Jump to last item
  • ⇧H (Shift+H) - Jump to top of visible screen
  • M - Jump to middle of visible screen
  • ⇧L (Shift+L) - Jump to bottom of visible screen
  • ⌃U - Page up
  • ⌃D - Page down
  • ⌃E - Scroll view down one line
  • ⌃Y - Scroll view up one line
  • zz - Scroll cursor to center of screen
  • zt - Scroll cursor to top of screen
  • zb - Scroll cursor to bottom of screen

These work alongside the standard arrow keys, so you can use whichever you prefer.

Retro Theme Column View Navigation

When using Norton Commander or Midnight Commander themes, files are displayed in a multi-column layout (top-to-bottom, then left-to-right). Navigation adapts to this column-based view:

ShortcutActionNotes
↑ / KMove cursor up within column
↓ / JMove cursor down within column
← / HMove to previous columnDifferent from standard view
→ / LMove to next columnDifferent from standard view
EnterOpen file / Enter directory
BackspaceGo to parent directory
Space / InsertToggle selection (then move down)
TabSwitch between panes
/Quick filter
⌥GJump to first item
⇧GJump to last item
Page Up / ⌃UPage up (move up by column height)
Page Down / ⌃DPage down (move down by column height)

Note: In column view, h/← and l/→ navigate between columns rather than entering/exiting directories. Use Enter to enter directories and Backspace to go up.

Using F-Keys on macOS

By default, F1-F12 control system functions (brightness, volume, etc.). To use them as standard function keys in Captain's Deck:

Option 1: Hold Fn

Hold Fn while pressing any F-key.

Option 2: System Setting

  1. Open System Settings -> Keyboard
  2. Click Keyboard Shortcuts...
  3. Select Function Keys
  4. Enable "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys"

Next Steps

Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet (Condensed) Understanding the Dual-Pane Interface