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The canvas is not “click to place”; it’s a keyboard-driven space so you can arrange without breaking flow. Using the shortcuts below together turns create node → move/align → edit → expand into one smooth flow.

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1) Pan and zoom (framing the view)

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Pan the canvas

  • Space + drag: Pan the canvas
  • Right-click + drag: Pan with the mouse only
When to use: When you have many nodes and your “reach” is large, this is the default way to move the view.

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Fit to view / Zoom to selection

  • Shift + 1: Fit to view (center the whole canvas or current area)
  • Shift + 2: Zoom to selection (fill the view with the selection)
Typical flow
  • Lost after a long session → Shift+1
  • Want to focus on one area → Select it, then Shift+2

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2) Selection and edit mode (separate “place” and “write”)

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Add/remove from selection

  • Shift + click: Add/remove from selection
When to use: When moving several nodes at once or aligning them in a line.

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Enter/exit edit mode

  • Enter edit mode: Shift + Enter (↩) + Space
  • Exit edit mode: Esc
Main idea
  • Canvas default is “select/place mode”
  • “Edit mode” is only when you’re typing
  • Esc always exits: getting into this habit speeds up layout.

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3) Basic edit (delete, copy, paste, undo)

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Delete

  • Backspace (⌫) or Delete

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Copy / paste

  • Ctrl + C: Copy
  • Ctrl + V: Paste

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Undo / redo

  • Ctrl + Z: Undo
  • Ctrl + Shift + Z: Redo
Tip: You can change structure boldly because undo/redo works immediately on the canvas. Try a layout → if it feels off, Ctrl+Z.

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4) Create nodes (grow ideas)

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New node from background

  • Double-click background: Create a node
When to use: Starting a new branch or topic. Creating a standalone node and connecting later is often faster.

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Create child/sibling quickly

  • Tab: Create child node
  • Enter (↩): Create sibling node
This is what makes the canvas fast
  • (With a node selected) → Tab to add a branch below
  • To keep going at the same level → Enter to extend sideways
So: Tab = depth (child), Enter = same level (sibling).

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5) Move (navigate nodes with the keyboard)

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Move to nearest node

  • Alt + arrow (←/→/↑/↓): Move focus to nearest node
When to use
  • When you want to move through the structure and edit text without clicking each node
  • When checking if branches flow naturally

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6) Expand in a direction (branch where you want)

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Create unconnected node in a direction

  • Ctrl + arrow (←/→/↑/↓): Create unconnected node in that direction
Meaning: Add standalone nodes quickly to the side or above/below without breaking the current flow. You can connect them later or keep them as options.

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Create child in a direction (direction + hierarchy)

  • Ctrl + Shift + arrow (←/→/↑/↓): Create child node in that direction
Meaning: Add a child and control direction so the layout stays clear. Suggested use
  • To pile up options quickly → Ctrl + arrow (place without connecting)
  • To extend the structure → Ctrl+Shift + arrow (add as child)

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7) 30-second routine (minimal actions that speed up the canvas)

  1. Double-click background to create a main topic node
  2. Use Tab / Enter to build an outline
  3. Shift+click to select groups; Shift+1 / Shift+2 to frame the view
  4. Alt+arrows to move between nodes; Shift+Enter or Space to edit, Esc to exit
  5. Use Ctrl (standalone) / Ctrl+Shift (child) + arrows for precise expansion

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Three common sticking points (where speed is lost)

  • Stuck in edit mode → Always use Esc
  • Afraid to change structure → Rely on Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Shift+Z and change boldly
  • Nodes spread out and hard to see → Select, then Shift+2; if lost, Shift+1