4 replies to this topic

[Dave]

How lame is it that I need to make this thread for easy reference?

To turn these case-sensitive shortcuts on or off, click Settings, and then pick an option next to Keyboard shortcuts.

Most useful:
c Compose Allows you to compose a new message. <Shift> + c allows you to compose a message in a new window.
! Report spam Marks a message as spam and removes it from your conversation list.
# Delete Moves the conversation to Trash.
o or <Enter> Open Opens your conversation. Also expands or collapses a message if you are in 'Conversation View.'
g then d Go to 'Drafts' Takes you to all drafts you have saved.
g then i Go to 'Inbox' Returns you to the inbox.
g then t Go to 'Sent Mail' Takes you to all mail you've sent.
* then a Select all Selects all mail.
* then n Select none Deselects all mail.
* then u Select unread Selects all unread mail.
* then s Select starred Selects all starred mail.

Only applicable in 'Conversation View.':
n Next message Moves your cursor to the next message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message.
p Previous message Moves your cursor to the previous message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message.
r Reply Reply to the message sender. <Shift> + r allows you to reply to a message in a new window.

? Show keyboard shortcuts help Displays the keyboard shortcuts help menu within any page you're on.

[Dave]

The whole dang list:

Shortcut Key Definition Action
c Compose Allows you to compose a new message. <Shift> + c allows you to compose a message in a new window.
/ Search Puts your cursor in the search box.
k Move to newer conversation Opens or moves your cursor to a more recent conversation. You can hit <Enter> to expand a conversation.
j Move to older conversation Opens or moves your cursor to the next oldest conversation. You can hit <Enter> to expand a conversation.
n Next message Moves your cursor to the next message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
p Previous message Moves your cursor to the previous message. You can hit <Enter> to expand or collapse a message. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
o or <Enter> Open Opens your conversation. Also expands or collapses a message if you are in 'Conversation View.'
u Return to conversation list Refreshes your page and returns you to the inbox, or list of conversations.
e Archive Archive your conversation from any view.
m Mute Archives the conversation, and all future messages skip the Inbox unless sent or cc'd directly to you. Learn more.
x Select conversation Automatically checks and selects a conversation so that you can archive, apply a label, or choose an action from the drop-down menu to apply to that conversation.
s Star a message or conversation Adds or removes a star to a message or conversation. Stars allow you to give a message or conversation a special status.
! Report spam Marks a message as spam and removes it from your conversation list.
r Reply Reply to the message sender. <Shift> + r allows you to reply to a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
a Reply all Reply to all message recipients. <Shift> +a allows you to reply to all message recipients in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
f Forward Forward a message. <Shift> + f allows you to forward a message in a new window. (Only applicable in 'Conversation View.')
<Esc> Escape from input field Removes the cursor from your current input field.
<Ctrl> + s Save draft Holding the <Ctrl> key while pressing s when composing a message will save the current text as a draft. Make sure your cursor is in one of the text fields -- either the composition pane, or any of the To, CC, BCC, or Subject fields -- when using this shortcut.
# Delete Moves the conversation to Trash.
<Shift> + i Mark as read Mark your message as 'read' and skip to the next message.
<Shift> + u Mark as unread Mark your message as 'unread' so you can go back to it later.
[ Archive and previous Archive your conversation and move to the previous one.
] Archive and next Archive your conversation and move to the next one.
z Undo Undo your previous action if possible (for actions with an 'undo' link).
<Shift> + n Update current conversation Update your current conversation when there are new messages.
q Move cursor to chat search Move your cursor directly to the chat search box.
y Remove from Current View*
Automatically removes the message or conversation from your current view.

* From 'Inbox,' 'y' means Archive
* From 'Starred,' 'y' means Unstar
* From 'Trash,' 'y' means Move to inbox
* From any label, 'y' means Remove the label

* 'y' has no effect if you're in 'Spam,' 'Sent,' or 'All Mail.'
. Show more actions Displays the 'More Actions' drop-down menu.
? Show keyboard shortcuts help Displays the keyboard shortcuts help menu within any page you're on.

Combo-keys - Use the following combinations of keys to navigate through Gmail.
Shortcut Key Definition Action
<tab> then <Enter> Send message After composing your message, use this combination to send it automatically. (Supported in Internet Explorer and Firefox, on Windows.)
y then o Archive and next Archive your conversation and move to the next one.
g then a Go to 'All Mail' Takes you to 'All Mail,' the storage site for all mail you've ever sent or received (and have not deleted).
g then s Go to 'Starred' Takes you to all conversations you have starred.
g then c Go to 'Contacts' Takes you to your Contacts list.
g then d Go to 'Drafts' Takes you to all drafts you have saved.
g then i Go to 'Inbox' Returns you to the inbox.
g then t Go to 'Sent Mail' Takes you to all mail you've sent.
* then a Select all Selects all mail.
* then n Select none Deselects all mail.
* then r Select read Selects all mail you've read.
* then u Select unread Selects all unread mail.
* then s Select starred Selects all starred mail.
* then t Select unstarred Selects all unstarred mail.

[monogodo]

I've never understood the point of keyboard shortcuts. To me, it takes more time and energy to remember which particular keyboard shortcut does what I want it to do than it takes to reach over & move the mouse & click.

[Dave]

For the most part I agree with you, but I'm a faster typist than I am mousist.

Yahoo mail allows the user to select multiple emails with the arrow keys. I use this a lot because I get a lot of junk mail (less in Gmail, but still). I think my favorite shortcut in Gmail is checking one email, holding shift and clicking another email farther down which selects all inclusive emails. I prefer Gmail's handling of this.

[Deb]

I prefer gmail as it seems to be more user friendly and does what I want it to do.