I use hot keys so frequently that I tend to take them for granted and forget that not everyone uses as many as I do. Many times when I’m working with a colleague I habitually hit some key sequence that is immediately followed by a quizzical “How’d you do that!?” So, for the benefit of those looking for a few easy productivity enhancers I’m providing this simple list. Although some well-known key sequences are included this post is in no way intended to be another all-inclusive list but rather just a listing of those that I find most useful from day-to-day.
Windows 7
My primary operating system is Windows 7. With Windows 7 Microsoft was kind enough to give us lots of new hot keys for positioning windows and switching between applications in addition to leaving traditional ones in place.
Window Position/Management
Windows Key + D
Show desktop
Windows Key + P
Change projector/2nd monitor mode (duplicate, extend, etc…)
Windows Key + Up Arrow
Maximize window
Windows Key + Down Arrow
Restore/minimize window
Windows Key + Shift + Right | Left Arrow
Move window to different monitor
Switching Between Applications
Windows Key + [task bar index #]
Start a new instance of the item at the specified index or switch to the active instance if it is already running
Example: Assuming Internet Explorer is the first item on the task bar Windows Key + 1 will open IE.
Windows Key + Shift + [task bar index #]
Force a new instance of the item at the specified index to start
Alt + Shift + Tab
Cycle backwards through task chooser
No, I’m not going to describe the version w/o shift. Also, I hardly ever the alternative Aero Flip (Windows Key + Tab) but sometimes it’s handy. :)
Visual Studio 2010
Although Visual Studio 2010 is now RTM and exposes some nice functionality through hot keys but most of my favorites have been in place for quite some time. A great resource for learning some of the lesser-known (or sometimes rather well-known) is Zain Naboulsi‘s Visual Studio Tips and Tricks blog.
Code Formatting
Ctrl + E, D
Format document
Ctrl + E, F
Format selection
Code Navigation
F12
Go to definition
Shift + F12 (or Ctrl + K, R)
Find all references
Ctrl + K, Ctrl + T
View call hierarchy
Ctrl + G
Go to line
Ctrl + –
Navigate backward
Ctrl + Shift + –
Navigate forward
Ctrl + B, T
Toggle bookmark
Ctrl + B, N
Go to next bookmark
Ctrl + B, P
Go to previous bookmark
Ctrl + B, C
Delete all bookmarks
Commenting
Ctrl + E, C (or Ctrl + K, C)
Comment line/selection
Ctrl + E, U (or Ctrl + K, U)
Uncomment line/selection
Outlining
Ctrl + M, Ctrl + H
Hide current selection
Ctrl + M, L
Toggle all outlining
Ctrl + M, M
Toggle outlining expansion
Refactoring
Ctrl + R, R (or F2)
Rename symbol
Ctrl + R, M
Extract method
Breakpoints
F9
Toggle breakpoint
Ctrl + Shift + F9
Delete all breakpoints
Ctrl + D, N
Break at function
Miscellaneous
Shift + Alt + C
Add class to project
Ctrl + E, S (or Ctrl + R, W)
Show/Hide whitespace characters