Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Master these keyboard shortcuts to work faster in Sorta.

Global Shortcuts (Work Everywhere)

These shortcuts work anywhere on your Mac when Sorta is running.

Core Shortcuts

Menu Bar Access

App Shortcuts (In Sorta)

Use these when Sorta is the active application.

Project Management

Navigation

Flow Management

Structure Management

Customizable Shortcuts

These can be changed in Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts.

Default Custom Shortcuts

How to Customize

1. Click Sorta menu bar icon
2. Go to Settings
3. Find Keyboard Shortcuts
4. Click on the shortcut to change
5. Press your desired key combination
6. Click Save

Popular Custom Shortcuts

Some users prefer these alternatives:

Quick Folder Picker:
- ⌘⌥Space (Command+Option+Space)
- ⌥Space (Option+Space)
- ⌘` (Command+Backtick)

Do Not Interrupt:
- ⌘⇧M (Command+Shift+M)
- ⌘⇧Q (Command+Shift+Q)
- ⌥M (Option+M)

Common App Combinations

Use these combinations with app-specific shortcuts.

Adobe Photoshop

Workflow: Open file in project → Save to project

⌘O             Open file dialog
⌘⇧Space        Jump to your project
[Select file]  Choose file
[Done]         Photoshop opens it

⌘S             Save
⌘⇧Space        Quick jump (if Save As dialog)

VS Code

Workflow: Open project folder

⌘K ⌘O          Open folder dialog
⌘⇧Space        Jump to Sorta project
[Select]       Choose project folder
[Open]         VS Code loads project

Safari/Chrome

Workflow: Save downloaded file to project

⌘S             Save file dialog
⌘⇧Space        Jump to Downloads folder in project
[Save]         File goes to project

Advanced Tips

Memorize the Core Shortcuts

Most important to learn first:

⌘⇧Space  Quick Folder Picker (most used)
⌥⇧D      Do Not Interrupt (second most used)
⌘N       New Project (basic workflow)

Create Shortcut Cheat Sheet

Print or bookmark this page:

• Keep at your desk
• Reference when learning
• Gradually memorize through use

Practice in Low-Stakes Situations

1. Start with Quick Folder Picker (⌘⇧Space)
2. Practice for a week until automatic
3. Then learn Do Not Interrupt (⌥⇧D)
4. Then learn app-specific ones

Use Muscle Memory

Your fingers remember patterns better than your brain:

• Repeat shortcuts multiple times
• Use them in different apps
• Eventually they become automatic
• You don't consciously think about them

Shortcut Not Working?

Check if Shortcut is Active

1. Go to Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts
2. Verify the shortcut is set
3. Check it's not disabled
4. Make sure hotkey is listed

Check for Conflicts

Other apps might use the same shortcut:

To check (macOS):
1. System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts
2. Look for your custom shortcut
3. See if another app uses it
4. Change either Sorta or the other app's hotkey

Restart and Try Again

Sometimes shortcuts need a restart:

1. Quit Sorta (⌘Q)
2. Wait 5 seconds
3. Relaunch Sorta
4. Try the shortcut again

Check Permissions

Shortcuts like Quick Folder Picker need Accessibility:

1. System Settings → Privacy & Security
2. Find Accessibility
3. Verify Sorta is enabled
4. Restart Sorta

Accessibility Features

Voice Control

If you use Voice Control:

• All shortcuts can be spoken
• "Quick Folder Picker"
• "Do Not Interrupt"
• Works with dictation

One-Handed Shortcuts

Can't press multiple keys? Customize:

Alternative single-key shortcuts:
- ⌘` (backtick) for Quick Access
- ⌘~ (tilde) for Do Not Interrupt
- Any single key you can reach

Full Keyboard Navigation

Navigate Sorta without mouse:

Tab              Move to next item
Shift+Tab        Move to previous item
Space/Return     Select or activate
Arrow keys       Navigate in lists
Escape           Cancel dialog

Shortcut Best Practices

Avoid Conflicts

When customizing shortcuts:

❌ Avoid:

• Common system shortcuts (⌘Q, ⌘W)
• App-specific essentials (⌘S in editor)
• Already-used third-party apps

✅ Choose:

• Option combinations (⌥+key)
• Shift combinations (⇧+key)
• Less common patterns

Make Them Memorable

Pick shortcuts that make sense:

Good Memory Aids:
⌘⇧S    S = Sorta
⌘⇧F    F = Folder
⌘⇧Q    Q = Quick Access

Avoid:
⌘⇧X    X = random letter (hard to remember)

Document Custom Shortcuts

If you customize:

• Write them down
• Keep a reference nearby
• Tell teammates your setup

Shortcut Productivity Tips

Master One Shortcut at a Time

Week 1: ⌘⇧Space (Quick Folder Picker) Week 2: ⌥⇧D (Do Not Interrupt) Week 3: ⌘N (New Project)

Use Shortcuts Daily

Shortcuts only stick if you use them:

• Practice 5+ times per day
• Use in different apps
• Challenge yourself to remember
• Eventually automatic

Track Your Improvement

Week 1: Think before each shortcut
Week 2: Remember after 2-3 uses
Week 3: Natural reflex
Week 4: Don't think about it at all

Teach Teammates

If team members use Sorta:

• Share shortcut list
• Demonstrate in meetings
• Let them practice together
• Create shared cheat sheet

For Power Users

Hidden Shortcuts

Some advanced shortcuts (not in main menu):

⌘⇧V    Paste and organize (in some contexts)
⌘⇧I    Open Inspect (developer mode)
⌘⌥D    Debug mode

Check Settings → Advanced for more.

Scripting with Shortcuts

Create automation using macOS Shortcuts app:

Example: Open project and Photoshop together

1. Create Shortcut
2. Add: "Open Finder Item" (project folder)
3. Add: "Open App" (Photoshop)
4. Assign to custom hotkey
5. One shortcut opens everything

Quick Reference Card

Print this for your desk:

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
SORTA KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS - QUICK REFERENCE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

ESSENTIAL SHORTCUTS:
⌘⇧Space   Jump to project in file dialogs
⌥⇧D       Toggle Do Not Interrupt mode
⌘N        Create new project
⌘,        Open Settings

NAVIGATION (IN SORTA):
⌘1        Projects tab
⌘2        Flows tab
⌘3        Structure tab

CUSTOMIZABLE:
⌘⇧Space   Quick Folder Picker (change in Settings)
⌥⇧D       Do Not Interrupt Mode (change in Settings)

NEED HELP?
⌘/        Show shortcuts help
⌘,        Go to Settings

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Next Steps

Master these shortcuts:

• Quick Access guide — Learn to use shortcuts effectively
• Creating Flows guide — Use shortcuts while creating flows
• Settings guide — More customization options

Support

Shortcuts not working?

• Review Troubleshooting guide
• Check System Settings for conflicts
• Contact support if issues persist