Keyboard Shortcuts

BESadmin · #1 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 12:23 AM

How To - Keyboard Shortcuts

Last Updated: 30 May 2005

Summary

This article applies to BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds™ (excluding the BlackBerry® 7100 Series).

Details

This article describes the many shortcuts available on BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds based on Java™.

General Shortcuts
Writing Shortcuts
Options Feature Shortcuts
Messages Shortcuts
Phone Shortcuts
Address Book Shortcuts
Calendar Shortcuts
Browser Shortcuts
Tasks Shortcuts
MemoPad Shortcuts
Calculator Shortcuts

Note: The Alt key is in the bottom left corner of the keyboard and can be identified by its crescent moon shape.

General Shortcuts

The following shortcuts can be used within many functions:

To open an application from the Home screen, use the hot key associated with that application. The hot key is the underlined letter in the name of the application (e.g. Calendar).
To switch to another application, hold Alt and press the Escape button on the side, below the trackwheel. Continue to hold Alt, scroll to the application, and release the Alt key to select it.
To exit any menu, dialog box, or screen, press the Escape button.
To move directly to an item in an options list or menu, press the first letter of the item.
To find a contact in the To field of a message or in the Find screen, type the first few letters of a name, or type the contacts initials separated by a space.
To select Yes, No or Cancel from a dialog box, press Y, N or C.
To collapse or expand folders, roll the trackwheel to the folder and press the Space key. Expandable folders are marked with a + (PLUS) sign.
To select a check box, press Space. To clear the check box, press Space again.

Writing Shortcuts

These shortcuts can be used while writing or editing text in any application:

To scroll horizontally, hold Alt and roll the trackwheel.
To scroll through the accents, symbols, or marks associated with a character when typing text, hold a letter key and roll the trackwheel. When the desired character appears, release the letter key.
To select text, press the Shift key and roll the trackwheel.
To copy selected text, press Alt and click the trackwheel.
To paste text in an editable field, press the Shift key and click the trackwheel.
To insert an accent, symbol or another mark, press the Symbol key. To select a symbol, highlight it with the cursor and click the trackwheel or press the associated letter below the symbol.
To capitalize a letter, hold it down. The Key Rate option must be enabled from Options > Screen/Keyboard.
To insert a period when typing text, press the Space key twice. The letter following the period will be capitalized automatically.
Press the Space key to insert the @ and PERIOD characters in an email field.
To turn on CAP-lock mode, press Alt + Right Shift key. Press the Shift key to turn it off.
To turn on NUM-lock mode, press Left Shift + Alt key. Press Shift or Alt again to turn it off.

Options Feature Shortcuts

All handhelds have settings that can be used to customize the features of an application. While using an application, click the trackwheel and select Options. The following shortcuts can be used while modifying settings:

To modify an option field, hold down the Alt key while scrolling to view available choices.
To select another option, press the first letter of the option you would like to choose while viewing available choices.

Message Shortcuts

In the Messages application:

To go to the oldest unread message, press U.
To compose a message from the Messages screen, press C.
To toggle on/off the Hide Filed Messages option, press H.
To delete old messages, select a date in the message list and click Delete Prior to delete all prior messages.
To view outgoing messages, press Alt+O.
To view incoming messages, press Alt+ I.
To view SMS messages, press the Alt+S.
To view voice mail messages, press Alt+V.
To display a list of saved messages, press V.
To start a search for a message, press S. This will open the Search Messages screen.
To move down a page in a message list or an open message, press Enter or Space.
To move up a page in a message list or an open message, press Alt+ Enter or Shift + Space.

While in an open message:

To reply with text to the sender in an open message or in the Messages function, press R.
To forward a message in the Messages screen or in an open message, press F.
To reply to all recipients in the Messages screen or in an open message, press L.
To move to the next message in an open message, press N.
To move to the previous message in an open message, press P.
To search for a word in the message, press S.

Phone Shortcuts

In the Phone application:

To open the phone application, press the Space key.
Type numbers in number fields to insert them (you do not need to press Alt first to insert numbers in the Phone application as you would in other applications).
To call voice mail, press 1.
To assign speed dial to a letter, press the letter to which you would like to assign the number. Type the phone number.
To key a phone number that contains letters, or to dial by name, press Shift while typing the numbers. The letters appear on your screen and the handheld translates the letters into the appropriate numbers.
To type an extension, press Alt + 8.
To place a call on the Phone screen, click the trackwheel.
To configure your handheld to dial from the Home screen, select the Phone icon. Click the trackwheel and select Options > General Options. Change the Dial from Home Screen option to Yes.
To dial from the Home screen, press Alt and type a phone number. Click the trackwheel to place the call. The Dial from Home Screen option must be enabled. Note: The Dial from Home Screen option applies to handhelds running BlackBerry Desktop Software version 3.6 and later. Enabling this option disables all shortcut options on the Home screen.

During a phone call:

To answer an incoming call, click the trackwheel with your handheld in the holster.
To mute a call, press the Phone button (the black button with the phone icon on the top of the handheld). To turn mute off, press the Phone button again. If you are using a headset, press the headset button to mute a phone call. Press the headset button again to turn mute off.
To end a phone call while your handheld in the holster, press the Escape button twice.
To change the volume level during a phone call, roll the trackwheel with your handheld in the holster.
To switch between calls if you are connected to two calls, click the trackwheel with your handheld in the holster.

Address Book Shortcuts

In the Address Book application:

To insert numbers in the Work, Home, Mobile, Pager, Fax, and Other fields, press number keys without using the Alt key.
Type the first letter of a name to retrieve all entries that begin with a selected letter. This will shorten the list in the Address Book.

Calendar Shortcuts

In the Calendar application:

To go to Day view, press D. While in Day view:
- To go to the previous or next day, press Alt and roll the trackwheel.
- To go to the next day, press Space.
- To set up an appointment, scroll to the time you would like and start typing the appointment information.
To go to Week view, press W. While in Week view:
- To scroll horizontally through the days, press Alt and roll the trackwheel.
To go to Month view, press M. While in Month view:
- To go to today’s date, press T.
- To go to a specific date, press G and press then the Space key.
- To go to the next month, press N.
- To go to the previous month, press P.
To go to Agenda view, press A.
To create a new item when in Week, Month or Agenda views, press C.