Many common commands can be invoked by typing "quick keys" for them. These quick keys are shown in the pulldown menus next to the item. For example, the New Cell... command (in menu Cell) has the quick key "Control-N". On the Macintosh, the menu shows "CMD-N", indicating that you must hold the command key while typing the "N"; on Windows and UNIX systems, the menu shows "Ctrl-N", indicating that you must hold the Control key while typing "N". There are also unshifted quick keys (for example, the letter "n" runs the Place Cell Instance command).
Figure 1.16

To change the bindings of quick keys, use the Key Bindings Preferences (in menu File / Preferences..., "General" section, "Key Bindings" tab). The dialog shows the hierarchical structure of the pulldown menus on the top, and lets you add or remove key bindings in the bottom area.

You can remove a quick key binding with the "Remove" button, and you can add a quick key binding with the "Add" button. The "Reset" button restores default quick key bindings. Change key bindings with caution, because it customizes your user interface, making it more difficult for other users to work at your computer.

You can get to EVERY menu command with key sequences. The keys to use are underlined in the menus. For example, the File menu has the "F" underlined, and the Print... command of that menu has the "P" underlined. This means that you can hold the Alt key and type "FP" to issue the print command.

The default key bindings are shown here (use the Show Key Bindings command in menu Help to see the current set). For information about alternate key binding sets that mimic Cadence, see Section 4-6-2.

Letter Control Plain Other
A Select All (see 2-1-1) Add Signal to Waveform Window (4-11-1)  
B Size Interactively (2-5-1)    
C Copy (6-1) Change (6-6)  
D Down Hierarchy (3-5) Down Hierarchy In-place (3-5) Shift: Down Hierarchy In-place to Object (3-5)
E Create Export (3-6-1)    
F Focus on Highlighted (4-4-1) Full Unit Movement (2-4-1)  
G Toggle Grid (4-7-1) Set Signal Low (4-11-1)  
H   Half Unit Movement (2-4-1)  
I Object Properties (2-4-2)    
J Rotate 90 Counterclockwise (2-6)    
K Show Network (6-9-1)    
L Find Text (4-9)    
M Duplicate (6-1) Measure Mode (4-7-4)  
N New Cell (3-2) Place Cell Instance (3-3)  
O Open Library (3-9-2) Overlay Signal in Waveform Window (4-11-2)  
P Peek (3-4) Pan Mode (4-4-2)  
Q Quit (1-10-9) Cycle through windows (4-3)  
R   Remove Signal from Waveform Window (4-11-2)  
S Save All Libraries (3-9-3) Select Mode (2-1-1)  
T Toggle Negation (5-4-2) Place Annotation Text (2-2-1)  
U Up Hierarchy (3-5)    
V Paste (6-1) Set Signal High (4-11-1)  
W Close Window (4-3)    
X Cut (6-1) Set Signal undefined (4-11-1)  
Y Redo (6-7) Outline Edit Mode (6-10-2)  
Z Undo (6-7) Zoom Mode (4-4-1)  

Key Control Plain Shift Other
0 Zoom Out (4-4-1) Wire to Poly (1-8) See All Layers (4-5-3)  
1   Wire to Metal-1 (1-8) See Metal-1 (4-5-3) F1: Mimic Stitch (9-6-3)
2 Pan Down (4-4-2) Wire to Metal-2 (1-8) See Metal-2/1 (4-5-3) F2: Auto Stitch (9-6-2)
3   Wire to Metal-3 (1-8) See Metal-3/2 (4-5-3)  
4 Pan Left (4-4-2) Wire to Metal-4 (1-8) See Metal-4/3 (4-5-3)  
5 Center cursor (4-4-2) Wire to Metal-5 (1-8) See Metal-5/4 (4-5-3) F5: Run DRC (9-2-1)
6 Pan Right (4-4-2) Wire to Metal-6 (1-8) See Metal-6/5 (4-5-3) F6: Array (6-4)
7 Zoom In (4-4-1) Wire to Metal-7 (1-8) See Metal-7/6 (4-5-3)  
8 Pan Up (4-4-2) Wire to Metal-8 (1-8) See Metal-8/7 (4-5-3)  
9 Fill Window (4-4-1) Wire to Metal-9 (1-8) See Metal-9/8 (4-5-3) F9: Tile Windows Vertically (4-3)
= Increase all Text Size (6-8-4)      
- Decrease all Text Size (6-8-4)      
DEL   Erase (2-3)    
&   Repeat Last Action (6-7)    
>   Show Next Error (9-1)    
<   Show Previous Error (9-1)    
SPACE   Switch Wiring Target (1-8)