Usage & Keyboard Shortcuts

This guide covers how to navigate, organize, and write effectively in GitWriter, along with a complete reference of keyboard shortcuts.

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Editor Workflow

GitWriter combines rendered Markdown with plain text editing through a hybrid block model:

• Rendered by Default: Notes are displayed as cleanly styled rich text with syntax highlighting, mathematical equations, formatted lists, embedded images...
• In-Place Block Editing: Click or tap any paragraph, heading, list item, or code block to instantly edit that block. Once finished, click elsewhere or press Esc to return to rendered view.
• Interactive Checklists: Task list checkboxes (- [ ] and - [x]) can be toggled by clicking directly on them in rendered mode without having to enter edit mode.
• Math & LaTeX: Write inline equations with $f(x) = x^2$ or display blocks with $$\int_0^\infty e^{-x} dx$$.
• Image Attachments:
  • Paste from Clipboard: Press Ctrl + V (or Cmd + V on macOS) with an image in your clipboard. GitWriter automatically saves the image to your notebook folder images and inserts the Markdown image tag.
  • Drag and Drop: Drag image files from your file manager directly into the editor.

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Organizing Notebooks & Files

Notebooks

• Each notebook is a self-contained directory backed by a Git repository.
• You can create a new blank notebook, clone a remote repository, or open an existing folder on your disk.
• Switch between notebooks using the notebook selector in the sidebar.

File Tree & Navigation

• Folders & Notes: Create nested folders and Markdown files (.md) to organize your notes.
• Drag and Drop Reorganization: Drag files and folders within the sidebar tree to move them into different folders.
• Context Menus: Right-click any item in the file tree to rename, delete, or inspect it.
• Tabs: Open multiple notes simultaneously in tabs across the top of the editor.

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Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

GitWriter provides keyboard shortcuts designed to keep your hands on the keyboard for writing and navigation.

Block Editing & Movement

Shortcut	Action	Description
Enter	Split Block / New Item	Splits the current block at cursor into a new block, or adds new block bellow
Shift + Enter	Newline within Block	Adds a newline without creating a new block
Ctrl / Cmd + Enter	New Block Below	Exits the active block and creates an empty block beneath it
Alt + ↑	Move Block Up	Swaps the current block with the block above
Alt + ↓	Move Block Down	Swaps the current block with the block below
Tab	Indent	Indents the active list item or line
Shift + Tab	Outdent	Un-indents the active list item or line
Backspace (at start)	Merge Block	Merges the active block into the previous block
Backspace (when empty)	Delete Block	Removes the empty block and shifts focus
Esc	Exit Edit Mode	Deselects the current block and returns to rendered view
↑ / ↓ (at boundary)	Navigate Blocks	Moves cursor to the preceding or following block

Text Formatting

Shortcut	Markdown Syntax	Action
Ctrl / Cmd + B	**bold**	Toggle bold formatting
Ctrl / Cmd + I	*italic*	Toggle italic formatting
Ctrl / Cmd + K	[](url)	Insert Markdown link template
Ctrl / Cmd + E	`code`	Toggle inline code
Ctrl / Cmd + V		Paste image from clipboard

Document History

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl / Cmd + Z	Undo last text edit or structural block modification
Ctrl / Cmd + Shift + Z	Redo
Ctrl / Cmd + Y	Redo (alternative)

Search & Find

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl / Cmd + F	Open Find bar / focus search query
Enter (in find bar)	Jump to next match
Shift + Enter (in find bar)	Jump to previous match
Esc (in find bar)	Close Find bar

Tab Management

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl / Cmd + T	Open a new tab
Ctrl / Cmd + W	Close active tab
Ctrl / Cmd + Tab	Switch to next tab
Ctrl / Cmd + Shift + Tab	Switch to previous tab

Navigation When No Block is Active

When you are viewing a note and no block is currently being edited:

Key	Action
↓	Focus the first block of the note
↑	Focus the last block of the note
Enter	Append and focus a new block at the end of the note

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Mobile Experience

On Android and iOS devices, GitWriter adapts the interface:

• Mobile Keyboard Toolbar: An on-screen toolbar appears above the soft keyboard providing quick access to headings, formatting (bold, italic, code), lists, checklists, photo/camera attachments, ...

Next Steps

You can proceed to the Git Sync guide to configure your remote repository and personal access token.