Assign a keyboard shortcut to a control

When you assign a keyboard shortcut to a control, users can immediately navigate to that control by pressing a combination of keystrokes. Using the keyboard to work with a form is often faster than using the mouse. In addition, these shortcuts can be helpful for people who have motor disabilities that prevent them from using a mouse.

Note  This option is available for the following controls: text box, rich text box, drop-down list box, list box, date picker, check box, option button, picture, file attachment, button, and ink picture.

1. In design mode, right-click the control for which you want to set a keyboard shortcut, and then click Control Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Control Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
3. In the Access key box, type a character.

   Note  If you choose to use keyboard shortcuts in your form, you need to communicate to users that the shortcuts exist. For example, you might type "Name (ALT+N)" for the label of a text box so that users know there's a keyboard shortcut associated with the text box.

Notes

• An “access key” is a keyboard shortcut that uses the ALT key as part of the shortcut.
• Certain keyboard shortcuts are already in use by Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 and other Microsoft Office System programs. For example, if you press ALT+F in any Microsoft Office program, the File menu will open. Although you are free to reassign existing keyboard shortcuts to the controls in your form, doing so may confuse users who are accustomed to these Office shortcuts.
• The information in this topic may not apply if you are working with a form designed using Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 without the service pack installed. Learn more