How to use keyboard controls in the Flock XR code area

Instructions designed for Release 2 of Flock XR coming Spring 2027

The code area in Flock XR is where you build your program using code blocks.

You can use keyboard controls to move around the code area, select blocks, search for blocks, move blocks, duplicate blocks, and open block options.

This is useful if you are a keyboard only user or when you prefer using the keyboard instead of dragging blocks with a mouse or trackpad.

Open the code area

To move to the code editor, use this shortcut:

Action	Mac	Windows
Open or focus the code editor	cmd ⌘ + E	Ctrl + E

When the code area is selected, you can start moving through your blocks with the keyboard.

Move through blocks

Use the arrow keys to move through blocks in the code area.

Action	Mac	Windows
Move up through blocks	↑	↑
Move down through blocks	↓	↓
Move into a block	→	→
Move out of a block	←	←

This helps you move between blocks in a stack, or move into blocks that contain other blocks.

Move between block stacks

A block stack is a group of blocks joined together.

Action	Mac	Windows
Go to the next block stack	N	N
Go to the previous block stack	B	B

Use these keys when your code area has more than one stack of blocks.

Add a block by name

You can add a block by searching for its name.

Action	Mac	Windows
Select only the workspace	W	W
Add block by name	cmd ⌘ + ]	Ctrl + ]

This is useful when you know the block you want and do not want to look through the toolbox.

For example press W to isolate the workspace then Ctrl + ] and type ‘say‘ to add a say block to the code area.

Search for a block in your code

If your program has lots of blocks, you can search inside the code area.

Action	Mac	Windows
Search for a block	cmd ⌘ + F	Ctrl + F
Go to the next search result	Enter	Enter
Go to the previous search result	Shift + Enter	Shift + Enter
Go to the selected block/close search	Esc	Esc

This helps you find a block quickly in a larger project.

Open the block context menu

The context menu gives you extra options for a selected block. These options can include actions like adding comments, collapsing blocks, disabling blocks, enabling blocks, or deleting blocks. With the block selected:

Action	Mac	Windows
Open context menu	cmd ⌘ + Enter	Ctrl + Enter
Close context menu	Esc	Esc

Use the context menu when you want to do something to the selected block.

Duplicate, detach, and move blocks

You can use keyboard shortcuts to change blocks in your code area.

Action	Mac	Windows
Duplicate block	D	D
Detach block	X	X
Move block	M	M

Move a block to a connection

After choosing to move a block, use the arrow keys to move it to a connection point.

Action	Mac	Windows
Move to a connection	↑ or ↓	↑ or ↓
Place a moved block	Enter	Enter
Exit move	Esc	Esc

A connection point is where a block can join another block.

Move a block anywhere

After choosing to move a block, you can also move a block more freely.

Action	Mac	Windows
Move block anywhere	cmd ⌘ + ↑ ↓ ← →	Ctrl + ↑ ↓ ← →

Use this when you need to place a block somewhere else in the workspace.

Quick steps: move a block in the code area using keyboard controls

1. Press cmd ⌘ + E on Mac or Ctrl + E on Windows to open the code editor.
2. Use ↑ and ↓ to move through blocks.
3. Use ← and → to move out of or into a block.
4. Press N or B to move between block stacks.
5. Press M then arrow keys to move a selected block.
6. Press Enter to place a selected block.

Quick steps: search for a block in your code area using keyboard controls

1. Press cmd ⌘ + F on Mac or Ctrl + F on Windows.
2. Type the name of the block you want to find.
3. Press Enter to move to the next result.
4. Press Shift + Enter to move to the previous result.
5. Press Esc to go to the selected block.

Tips for young learners

• Look for the selected or highlighted block. That shows where your keyboard is focused.
• Use one key at a time while you are learning.
• If you get lost, press Esc, then select the code area again.
• If you make a mistake, use undo.

Action	Mac	Windows
Undo	cmd ⌘ + Z	Ctrl + Z
Redo	cmd ⌘ + Shift + Z	Ctrl + Shift + Z

Troubleshooting

The arrow keys are not moving through my blocks

The code area might not be selected. Press cmd ⌘ + E on Mac or Ctrl + E on Windows.

I cannot find the block I want

Use search.

Action	Mac	Windows
Search for a block	cmd ⌘ + F	Ctrl + F

I changed the wrong block

Use undo.

Action	Mac	Windows
Undo	cmd ⌘ + Z	Ctrl + Z

I cannot remember the shortcuts

Open the keyboard controls menu.

Action	Mac	Windows
Show or hide shortcut help	cmd ⌘ + /	Ctrl + /

Related articles

👉 Keyboard controls in Flock XR main page

👉 How to use the keyboard controls menu in Flock XR

👉 How to use keyboard controls for the Flock XR toolbox

👉 How to use keyboard controls for the Flock XR gizmos

👉 How to use keyboard controls to create an animated character in Flock XR