Assign a keyboard shortcut to a control

When you assign a keyboard shortcut to a control in your form template, users filling out forms that are based on your form template can immediately navigate to that control by pressing the keyboard shortcut that you assigned. 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 motion 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, combo box, date picker, check box, option button, picture, file attachment, button, and ink picture.

1. Right-click the control for which you want to set a keyboard shortcut, and then click Control Properties on the shortcut menu.

2. Click the Advanced tab.

3. In the Access key box, type a character. An access key is simply a keyboard shortcut that uses the ALT key as part of the shortcut. For example, if you type N, the keyboard shortcut for this control will be ALT+N.

   Note: Certain keyboard shortcuts are already in use by Microsoft Office InfoPath and other Microsoft Office System programs. Although you are free to reassign existing keyboard shortcuts to the controls on your form template, doing so may confuse users who are accustomed to these Office shortcuts.

4. To ensure that your users know that the keyboard shortcut exists, type a label in front of the control on the form template that includes the shortcut. For example, you might type Name (ALT+N) for the label of a text box where users are suppose to type their name, so that users know there is a keyboard shortcut associated with the text box.