Knowledge Is Everything

Many actions in Packet Tracer are keyboard-accessible for your convenience. In addition to key combinations, the following keys deserve extra attention:

Alt: Press this key to activate the Menu Bar options. Press Alt plus the underlined letter in the in the menu bar to open the menu. Then press the underlined letter in the command name that you want. In fact, whenever you see an underlined letter in any option or dialogue, you can press that key to select it.

Ctrl: Use this key to quickly create multiple devices and connections. Press and hold the Ctrl key, choose a specific device or a connection type, and then release the key. You can now quickly place multiple instances of that device on the workspace or make multiple connections of that type between devices. Alternatively, you can press and hold the Ctrl key and drag a device on the workspace to duplicate the device. The Ctrl key can also be used to prevent windows from docking (press and hold the key as you drag a window).

Shift: Use this key with the mouse to select multiple objects. Press and hold the Shift key, click and drag the cursor to draw a selection rectangle around the objects you want to select, and then release the key. Alternatively, you can hold Shift, click on all the devices you want to select, and then release the key. You can move the selected objects as one unit. You can also delete them with the Del key.

Esc: This key is a shortcut to the Select tool in the Common Tools Bar. It also serves as a “cancel” key. It closes certain pop-up windows or cancels/stops the current action (e.g., continuously placing devices or continuously making connections).