Keyboard Shortcuts

Purpose, scope, audience, prerequisites, expected result, and authority

This is the authoritative reference for keyboard commands defined directly by AfterNight. Use it to identify what a key does in the main window, a focused image view, the Dashboard, Session Console, Image Integration, Blink Comparator, or Mask Drawing, and to check the focus and state required before pressing it.

The inventory covers AfterNight's supported Windows MSVC and Linux builds. It does not list ordinary Qt text-editing keys, generic table/tree navigation, dialog default-button behavior, menu mnemonics such as Alt+<letter>, desktop/window-manager bindings, or accessibility keys supplied entirely by the operating system. Those behaviors are platform, locale, widget, and focus dependent rather than AfterNight bindings.

Shortcuts are fixed in the current application: there is no shortcut editor, settings key, import/export record, or per-project override.

Reachability or applicability

• Main-window actions work while the AfterNight main window is active and their corresponding QAction is enabled. Open, Settings, and User Guide do not require an active image; Save, Undo, Redo, and zoom commands do.
• Dashboard quick actions are ordinary buttons with Qt's own button keys; there is no AfterNight card-navigation key. Dashboard Ctrl+F is a main-window shortcut that works while the Dashboard page and its recent-file search are visible, and focuses that search.
• Image-view keys handled below require focus in the image canvas itself. The standard, real-time-preview, and static-preview modes do not expose the same actions.
• Session Console actions belong to the window that holds its dock: the main window while it is docked, its own window only while it floats. Return belongs specifically to the open Search log dialog.
• Image Integration menu actions use window scope. Tree, table, chart, badge, and issue-card keys require focus in the named control.
• Mask Drawing uses widget-with-children scope, so its local keys remain active while a child control in that process window has focus.

The displayed chord is the canonical way to invoke each command. QAction and QShortcut rows use Qt sequence matching. Several direct key handlers compare only the key code, or only the Control/Shift bits: generic process close, image-view dispatch, frame-tree navigation, quality-chart navigation, issue cards/badges, and Blink Comparator can therefore accept additional modifiers. Their rows and the implementation notes below identify that broader matching; it is current behavior, not a recommended alternate binding.

The menu or toolbar is the quickest state check. A disabled action remains disabled when invoked through its QAction shortcut. Direct control handlers have the narrower prerequisites stated in their rows and do not all mirror a menu action's state.

Complete reference matrix

Main window

Item/exact label	Type/unit/category	Default/current value	Valid values/constraints	Meaning/effect	Dependencies/applicability	Trade-off/side effect	Scope	Persistence/metadata
Open	Fixed action shortcut	Ctrl+O	Exact key string	Opens the normal image/sequence picker	Main window active	In Image Integration the same key adds files instead	Main window	Binding not configurable; opening updates normal recent-file state
Save as...	Fixed action shortcut	Ctrl+Shift+S	Exact key string	Opens Save As for the active image or sequence	Enabled only with a compatible active view	Saving can overwrite after confirmation; see Saving and Exporting	Main window/active view	Binding not configurable; normal save-path state applies
Undo	Fixed action shortcut plus direct view handler	Ctrl+Z	Main action matches the exact sequence; the direct ImageViewControl handler accepts Control+Z with additional modifiers	Restores the previous image-history state	Main action is enabled only when the active view's history has an undo step; the direct path runs if the key event reaches ImageViewControl and does not repeat that gate	Changes the image state; not Image Integration project undo	Main window action or receiving image-view control	Binding not configurable; image history changes
Redo	Fixed action shortcut plus direct view handler	Ctrl+Y	Main action matches the exact sequence; the direct ImageViewControl handler accepts Control+Y with additional modifiers	Reapplies the next image-history state	Main action is enabled only when the active view's history has a redo step; the direct path runs if the key event reaches ImageViewControl and does not repeat that gate	Mask Drawing also accepts Ctrl+Shift+Z for its own redo	Main window action or receiving image-view control	Binding not configurable; image history changes
Zoom In	Fixed action shortcut	Ctrl++	Exact key string; physical key can require Shift on some layouts	Increases active-view display zoom	Compatible active image view	Keyboard layout can make the plus key awkward; pixels are unchanged	Main window/active image view	Display state only; binding not configurable
Zoom Out	Fixed action shortcut	Ctrl+-	Exact key string	Decreases active-view display zoom	Compatible active image view	Pixels are unchanged	Main window/active image view	Display state only; binding not configurable
Zoom 100%	Fixed action shortcut	Ctrl+0	Exact key string	Sets one image pixel per display pixel	Compatible active image view	May exceed the visible viewport	Main window/active image view	Display state only; binding not configurable
Settings...	Fixed action shortcut	Ctrl+,	Exact key string	Opens application Settings	Main window active	Can conflict with desktop/application conventions	Main window	Binding not configurable; saved settings change only when edited
User Guide	Fixed action shortcut	F1	Exact key string	Opens bundled help, then the configured online fallback if allowed	Main window active	In Image Integration, F1 opens local shortcut help instead	Main window and Dashboard action path	Binding not configurable

Dashboard

Item/exact label	Type/unit/category	Default/current value	Valid values/constraints	Meaning/effect	Dependencies/applicability	Trade-off/side effect	Scope	Persistence/metadata
Focus recent-file search	Fixed QShortcut	Ctrl+F	Exact key string	Moves focus to the Dashboard search field and selects its text	Dashboard page shown in the main window and its search field visible (at least one recent file)	Same key searches Session Console or Image Integration where those own the key	Main window, while the Dashboard page is current	Search text follows Dashboard persistence; binding does not

Image viewer and preview canvases

For this direct event-filter group, Control and Shift are the only modifier bits used to select a branch. Extra Alt or Meta modifiers are not rejected. F11 requires Control and Shift to be absent, but likewise does not reject Alt/Meta.

Item/exact label	Type/unit/category	Default/current value	Valid values/constraints	Meaning/effect	Dependencies/applicability	Trade-off/side effect	Scope	Persistence/metadata
Maximize image view / restore	Direct canvas handler	F11	Control and Shift absent; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Maximizes or restores the docked image view	Focused standard canvas, dock support, and a maximize action; no effect for preview modes	The direct handler can restore even when the visible action is disabled in an already-maximized layout	Focused standard image canvas	Layout state only; not a saved binding
Fit To Window	Direct canvas handler	Ctrl+Shift+F	Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Fits the displayed image to the viewport	Focused standard, RT-preview, or static-preview canvas with display content	Display zoom changes; pixels do not	Focused image canvas	Display state only
Histogram	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+H	Control required and Shift absent; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Opens Histogram	Focused standard canvas and Histogram action visible/enabled	A second dialog can be opened; analysis can cost time on large data	Focused standard image canvas	No image change
Statistics	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+Shift+T	Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Opens Statistics	Focused standard canvas and Statistics action visible/enabled	Analysis can cost time on large data	Focused standard image canvas	No image change
EXIF Viewer	Direct canvas handler	Ctrl+Shift+X	Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Opens EXIF metadata viewer	Any focused image canvas; useful data depends on source metadata	The handler does not check action visibility or an already-open dialog	Focused standard/preview image canvas	No image change
FITS Header	Direct canvas handler	Ctrl+Shift+H	Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Opens FITS header viewer	Any focused image canvas; meaningful rows require FITS-style metadata	The handler does not check action visibility or an already-open dialog	Focused standard/preview image canvas	No image change
Summary	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+Shift+M	Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Opens image Summary	Focused standard canvas and Summary action visible/enabled	Computes/readies summary information	Focused standard image canvas	No image change
Image History	Direct canvas handler	Ctrl+Shift+Z	Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Opens Image History	Supported only by a focused standard canvas; preview canvases have no history, so the key does nothing there even though the direct handler lacks a mode gate	From a preview canvas it is a safe no-op, as are the direct Ctrl+Z/Ctrl+Y paths; this key is also Mask Drawing redo	Focused image canvas; standard mode is the valid scope	No binding persistence; dialog actions can change history
Autostretch Settings	Direct canvas handler	Ctrl+Shift+A	Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Opens Autostretch Settings	Any focused image canvas	The standard and static-preview toolbars expose the action and RT Preview does not, but the direct handler is not mode-gated; each press opens a new window	Focused standard/preview image canvas	Settings changes follow their normal persistence
Plate Solve	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+P	Control required and Shift absent; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Opens or activates Plate Solve	Focused standard still-image canvas and Plate Solve action visible/enabled	Requires configured solver/catalog prerequisites	Focused standard image canvas	Solve results can add astrometric metadata
Astrometry Info	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+Shift+P	Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Opens or activates astrometry solution details	Focused standard still-image canvas and Astrometry Info visible/enabled	No effect without a valid celestial WCS	Focused standard image canvas	No image change
Show Astrometry	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+Shift+W	Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Toggles the astrometry overlay master switch	Focused solved standard still-image canvas and action visible/enabled	Display work increases with enabled layers	Focused standard image canvas	Master state is session-transient
Equatorial Grid	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+1	Control required and Shift absent; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Toggles the coordinate grid	Solved standard still, Astrometry Settings visible/enabled, layer action present	Conflicts with Image Integration's Bias-tab key in that window	Focused standard image canvas	Layer preference persists
Deep-Sky Annotations	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+2	Control required and Shift absent; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Toggles deep-sky labels	Same astrometry prerequisites	Catalog projection/rendering cost	Focused standard image canvas	Layer preference persists
Star Labels	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+3	Control required and Shift absent; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Toggles bright-star labels	Same astrometry prerequisites	Catalog projection/rendering cost	Focused standard image canvas	Layer preference persists
Detected Stars	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+4	Control required and Shift absent; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Toggles detected-star markers	Same astrometry prerequisites	Detection/rendering cost	Focused standard image canvas	Layer preference persists
SIP Distortion Map	Direct canvas handler with action gate	Ctrl+5	Control required and Shift absent; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Toggles SIP distortion vectors	Same astrometry prerequisites and SIP metadata for visible vectors	Rendering cost grows with sampled vectors	Focused standard image canvas	Layer preference persists
Peek at original	Press-and-release canvas handler	Hold Space	RT Preview only; modifiers are not rejected; auto-repeat ignored	Press toggles alternate/original display and release toggles back	Focused RT-preview canvas	Losing focus mid-gesture can leave the current toggle state until another switch	Focused RT-preview canvas	Display only; no image/history change
Switch original/preview	Direct canvas handler	Ctrl+Shift+O	RT Preview only; Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Toggles original versus processed preview without hold behavior	Focused RT-preview canvas	Same key adds a recursive folder in Image Integration	Focused RT-preview canvas	Display only
Take snapshot	Direct canvas handler	Ctrl+Shift+K	RT Preview only; Control and Shift required; extra Alt/Meta are not rejected	Creates the process preview snapshot	Focused RT-preview canvas and process snapshot support	Allocates a new image/view and captures the current preview result	Focused RT-preview canvas	Snapshot has its normal image/history behavior

Session Console

Item/exact label	Type/unit/category	Default/current value	Valid values/constraints	Meaning/effect	Dependencies/applicability	Trade-off/side effect	Scope	Persistence/metadata
Search...	Fixed action shortcut	Ctrl+F	Exact key code	Opens the Search log dialog	Session Console open and Search action enabled	Same key targets Dashboard or Image Integration in those windows	Window holding the console: the main window while docked, its own window while floating	Search cursor is transient
Export visible session text	Fixed action shortcut	Ctrl+S	Exact key code	Opens export for the currently visible console text	Session Console open	Exports the filtered/visible session, not the complete log sink	Window holding the console: the main window while docked, its own window while floating	Writes the chosen text file
Find next	Button shortcut	Return	Search log dialog open, nonempty query, button enabled	Finds the next or previous match using dialog options	Search dialog active	Return is consumed by this search action	Search log dialog	Search cursor changes; no log mutation

Process windows and Image Integration

Item/exact label	Type/unit/category	Default/current value	Valid values/constraints	Meaning/effect	Dependencies/applicability	Trade-off/side effect	Scope	Persistence/metadata
Close process window	Generic direct handler	Escape	Key event must reach TopLevelProcessBaseControl	Requests close and runs that process's normal close checks	Top-level native process window; a focused child can consume Escape first	Can close a process; dirty/running-process safeguards still apply	Most native top-level process windows	Normal process settings/geometry close behavior applies
Auto-sort by file type... (Add Files)	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+O	Exact key string	Adds selected files and auto-detects frame type	Image Integration window active	Overrides main Open in this window	Image Integration window	Project/model and recent input state change
Auto-sort by file type... (Recursive Folder)	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+Shift+O	Exact key string	Adds supported files recursively and auto-detects type	Image Integration window active	Overrides RT Preview switch key in this window	Image Integration window	Project/model state changes
Remove Selected	Image Integration standard-key shortcut	Delete on supported Windows/Linux builds	Enabled when the current source tree - or, from the Calibration, Registration, Stacking, or Summary tab, the most recently used one - has a selection	Removes selected frames from the project model, including a hidden selection of the last used source tab	A source-tree selection exists	Does not delete source files; registration quality table has a different Delete action	Image Integration window	Undoable model edit when command wiring applies
Remove All Frames...	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+Shift+Delete	Exact key string; action enabled when any frames exist	Requests removal of every loaded frame	Image Integration window with frames	Large project edit; asks for confirmation, which gives no undo hint	Image Integration window	Project/model state changes
Go to Group...	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+G	Exact key string	Opens group search and centers the chosen group in the current source tree	Image Integration window active	No effect if no matching group is chosen	Image Integration window/current frame tree	Selection/expansion only
Import Project...	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+I	Exact key string	Opens a saved Image Integration project	Image Integration window active	Replaces/merges state according to import workflow	Image Integration window	Project state and recent-project list can change
Export Project...	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+E	Exact key string	Saves current project state	Image Integration window active	Writes project data, not integrated image output	Image Integration window	Project file and recent-project state can change
Execute Integration	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+Enter	Exact key string, which Qt reads as Control with the keypad Enter key; Control with the main Return key is not bound; action enabled by current validation/run state	Starts the configured workflow	Valid project and no incompatible active run	CPU, memory, and disk intensive; review Summary and output path first	Image Integration window	Creates workflow outputs, records, and report
Bias tab	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+1	Exact key string	Selects Bias	Image Integration window active	Same key toggles an astrometry layer in a focused image view	Image Integration window	Tab selection is transient
Darks tab	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+2	Exact key string	Selects Darks	Image Integration window active	Context resolves duplicate meanings	Image Integration window	Tab selection is transient
Flats tab	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+3	Exact key string	Selects Flats	Image Integration window active	Context resolves duplicate meanings	Image Integration window	Tab selection is transient
Lights tab	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+4	Exact key string	Selects Lights	Image Integration window active	Context resolves duplicate meanings	Image Integration window	Tab selection is transient
Calibration tab	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+5	Exact key string	Selects Calibration	Image Integration window active	Context resolves duplicate meanings	Image Integration window	Tab selection is transient
Registration tab	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+6	Exact key string	Selects Registration	Image Integration window active	None beyond focus context	Image Integration window	Tab selection is transient
Stacking tab	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+7	Exact key string	Selects Stacking	Image Integration window active	None beyond focus context	Image Integration window	Tab selection is transient
Summary tab	Image Integration action shortcut	Ctrl+8	Exact key string	Selects Summary	Image Integration window active	None beyond focus context	Image Integration window	Tab selection is transient
Keyboard Shortcuts	Image Integration standard-key shortcut	F1 on supported Windows/KDE/GNOME builds	Qt HelpContents primary binding	Opens Image Integration's local shortcut help	Image Integration window active	Overrides main User Guide; its current help text incorrectly advertises unbound Ctrl+Z/Ctrl+Y	Image Integration window	No state change
Refresh View	Image Integration QShortcut	F5	Window shortcut	Refreshes theme, Registration and Stacking data, the tab badges, and the frame-tab labels	Image Integration window active	May re-query/rebuild large tables	Image Integration window	View state only
Focus Search Bar	Image Integration standard-key shortcut	Ctrl+F on supported Windows/Linux builds	Every Qt Find binding, the dedicated Find key included; the tab's own key handler also takes Ctrl+F	Focuses and selects search text in the active Bias/Darks/Flats/Lights source tab	One of the four source tabs active	Overrides Dashboard/Session Console search in this window	Active frame-source tab and children	Current search text is tab state; binding does not persist
Select All Frames	Direct tree handler	Ctrl+A	Focused FrameTreeView	Selects every row in that source tree	Frame tree focused	A large selection can make the next bulk edit consequential	Focused Bias/Darks/Flats/Lights tree	Selection only
Clear frame selection	Direct tree handler	Escape	Focused FrameTreeView	Clears selection without closing Image Integration	Frame tree focused	Consumes the generic process-close key	Focused Bias/Darks/Flats/Lights tree	Selection only
Go to First Frame	Direct tree handler	Home	Focused FrameTreeView with a model	Selects the first child frame, or first group if empty	Frame tree focused	Replaces the current selection	Focused Bias/Darks/Flats/Lights tree	Selection only
Go to Last Frame	Direct tree handler	End	Focused FrameTreeView with a model	Selects the last child frame, or last group if empty	Frame tree focused	Replaces the current selection	Focused Bias/Darks/Flats/Lights tree	Selection only
Open registration group settings	Widget-with-children shortcuts	Return or keypad Enter	Registration group table itself must have focus	Opens settings for the selected registration group	Selected group and focused Registration groups table	Child editors do not trigger because the table focus check is exact	Registration groups table	Settings changes follow project undo/persistence
Open stacking group settings	Widget-with-children shortcuts	Return or keypad Enter	Stacking group table itself must have focus	Opens settings for the selected integration group	Selected group and focused Stacking groups table	Child editors do not trigger because the table focus check is exact	Stacking groups table	Settings changes follow project undo/persistence
Exclude Selected	Widget-with-children standard-key shortcut	Delete on supported Windows/Linux builds, plus Ctrl+D on Linux (every Qt Delete binding)	Registration frame-quality table focused and Exclude Selected enabled	Clicks Exclude Selected for the current quality rows	Valid focused selection	When the last used source tab still holds a selection, Remove Selected is enabled too; Qt then treats Delete as ambiguous and neither command fires - clear that selection or use the button	Registration frame-quality table	Changes workflow exclusion state
Move quality-chart selection	Direct chart handler	Left/Up or Right/Down	Nonempty sorted quality points	Selects previous or next point; from no selection, previous starts at last and next at first	Quality distribution chart focused	Emits frame selection and can update linked inspection	Registration quality chart	Selection only
Select first quality point	Direct chart handler	Home	Nonempty sorted quality points	Selects the first sorted point	Quality distribution chart focused	Sort/filter choice defines “first”	Registration quality chart	Selection only
Select last quality point	Direct chart handler	End	Nonempty sorted quality points	Selects the last sorted point	Quality distribution chart focused	Sort/filter choice defines “last”	Registration quality chart	Selection only
Activate tab issue badge	Direct accessibility handler	Return, keypad Enter, or Space	Focused warning/error badge	Selects the badge's owning tab	Badge must have focus and remain attached to a tab	Navigation only; does not repair the issue	Image Integration tab bar	Tab selection only
Open Summary issue target	Direct accessibility handler	Return, keypad Enter, or Space	Focused issue card	Runs the card's target-navigation callback	Summary issue card focused	Navigation only; follow the target's validation guidance	Image Integration Summary	Selection/navigation only

Blink Comparator

Item/exact label	Type/unit/category	Default/current value	Valid values/constraints	Meaning/effect	Dependencies/applicability	Trade-off/side effect	Scope	Persistence/metadata
Play/Pause	Direct dialog handler	Space	Dialog receives key	Toggles timed blink playback	Blink Comparator active	Same key is RT Preview peek or focused-card activation elsewhere	Blink Comparator dialog	Playback state is transient
Previous image/target	Direct dialog handler	Left	Dialog receives key	Moves backward, wrapping normal frame lists; skips the fixed reference in history comparison	At least one usable row	Current inspection target changes	Blink Comparator dialog	Selection only
Next image/target	Direct dialog handler	Right	Dialog receives key	Moves forward with the same mode-specific rules	At least one usable row	Current inspection target changes	Blink Comparator dialog	Selection only
Close	Direct dialog handler	Escape	Dialog receives key	Closes the comparator	Blink Comparator active	Result collection retains current exclusions/ratings	Blink Comparator dialog	Window size is remembered; result state returns to caller
Exclude current frame	Direct dialog handler	X	Dialog receives key	Marks the current canonical path excluded; pressing it again does not unexclude	Current path must resolve	Affects later caller decisions; does not delete the file	Blink Comparator dialog	Exclusion is retained in the returned dialog result
Rate current frame	Direct dialog handler	1 through 9	Digit key and nonempty current canonical path; modifiers are not rejected	Stores that integer rating for the current path	Current path must resolve	A modified digit can also replace the prior rating for that path	Blink Comparator dialog	Rating is retained in the returned dialog result

Mask Drawing

Item/exact label	Type/unit/category	Default/current value	Valid values/constraints	Meaning/effect	Dependencies/applicability	Trade-off/side effect	Scope	Persistence/metadata
Decrease Size	Widget-with-children shortcut	[	Unmodified key	Decreases brush size by 1, clamped at 1	Mask Drawing window active	Keyboard layout affects bracket placement	Mask Drawing and children	Tool state lasts for the process window
Increase Size	Widget-with-children shortcut	]	Unmodified key	Increases brush size by 1, clamped at 200	Mask Drawing window active	Larger brushes change more pixels per stroke	Mask Drawing and children	Tool state lasts for the process window
Toggle Brush/Eraser	Widget-with-children shortcut	X	Unmodified key	Switches Brush to Eraser or Eraser to Brush; from another tool it selects Brush	Mask Drawing window active	Same key excludes a frame in Blink Comparator	Mask Drawing and children	Tool state lasts for the process window
Fill	Widget-with-children shortcut	F	Unmodified key	Selects Fill	Mask Drawing window active	Can affect a large connected region	Mask Drawing and children	Tool state lasts for the process window
Gradient	Widget-with-children shortcut	G	Unmodified key	Selects Gradient	Mask Drawing window active	Requires an intentional drag direction/extent	Mask Drawing and children	Tool state lasts for the process window
Delete selected shape	Widget-with-children shortcut	Delete	Unmodified primary Delete key	Removes the selected editable shape	Mask Drawing window active and selected shape	Does not clear raster strokes; undo is available	Mask Drawing and children	Drawing document/history changes
Undo mask edit	Platform-standard widget shortcut	Ctrl+Z; also Alt+Backspace on Windows, F14 on Linux, and the Undo key	Every Qt Undo binding	Undoes the last drawing-document command	Mask Drawing window active and undo available	This is local mask history, not main image history	Mask Drawing and children	Drawing document/history changes
Redo mask edit	Platform-standard widget shortcut	Windows Ctrl+Y, Ctrl+Shift+Z, or Alt+Shift+Backspace; KDE/GNOME Ctrl+Shift+Z; the Redo key on both	Every Qt Redo binding	Redoes the next drawing-document command	Mask Drawing window active and redo available	Ctrl+Shift+Z matches the image-view History key on both platforms, but active-window/focus context resolves it	Mask Drawing and children	Drawing document/history changes

How to use this reference

1. Identify the active window and the focused control. If uncertain, click the intended canvas, tree, table, chart, card, or process window.
2. Find that context's row and check its prerequisite. For an action-backed command, also inspect whether the matching menu/toolbar action is enabled.
3. Check the conflict column before using repeated keys such as Ctrl+O, Ctrl+F, Ctrl+1–Ctrl+5, Delete, Escape, Space, or X.
4. Invoke the shortcut once and verify the observable result: a dialog opens, a tab/focus/selection changes, a display toggle changes, or a workflow prompt appears. Do not repeat an expensive or destructive command because focus was uncertain.
5. If the result differs, use the equivalent visible action and consult the troubleshooting table below.

Implementation behavior and model

AfterNight uses three keyboard-dispatch patterns:

• Main, Session Console, and most Image Integration menu bindings are QAction shortcuts. Qt's default action context is window scope, so the action belongs to the active window and its enabled state applies.
• Image Integration refresh/search and several table controls use QShortcut. The default is also window scope, while the source explicitly selects widget-with-children scope for frame-source search, registration/stacking table commands, and every Mask Drawing binding.
• Image canvases, frame trees and the frame-source tab, charts, badges, Summary issue cards, process windows, and Blink Comparator handle key events directly. These require the event to reach that exact control; a child editor or another focused widget can consume the key first.

Direct handlers do not share one modifier policy. The image canvas selects its branches from Control and Shift but does not reject Alt/Meta. Generic process close, frame-tree Escape/Home/End, quality-chart navigation, badges/cards, and Blink Comparator compare only key codes. Frame-tree Select All requires Control but does not reject additional modifiers. Treat the matrix chords as the supported canonical inputs; modified variants accepted by these handlers are implementation behavior and can conflict with desktop or widget commands.

The image canvas ignores auto-repeat in its event filter. RT Preview Space therefore changes display once on press and once on release. Other direct handlers are press-only. Astrometry, Histogram, Statistics, Summary, Plate Solve, and Astrometry Info use explicit action-availability checks; FITS, EXIF, History, Autostretch Settings, and Fit do not all share those same visibility checks.

Qt StandardKey bindings are platform-dependent. A QAction given a standard key (HelpContents, Remove Selected's Delete) takes only its primary sequence, while a QShortcut built from one (Find in the frame-source tab, the quality table's Delete, Mask Drawing's Undo and Redo) binds every alternative Qt returns. Consequently the material supported-platform difference in this inventory is Mask Drawing Redo: Linux lacks Ctrl+Y, while both platforms accept Ctrl+Shift+Z. Most other displayed shortcuts are explicit Ctrl strings or key codes. Qt maps the Ctrl naming to Command on Apple platforms, but macOS is not an AfterNight target covered by this guide.

Inputs, outputs, persistence, and metadata

The input to a shortcut is the active window, focused widget, modifier state, key, and current action/control state. A binding produces exactly the same command as its connected action or handler. It does not bypass validation, confirmation, cancellation, masks, sequence rules, metadata handling, or output policy documented by the destination feature.

Bindings themselves are not persisted. Some invoked commands change transient selection/display state; others change image history, Image Integration project state, drawing history, application settings, metadata, or files. Follow the linked feature page for those effects.

Performance and resource implications

Keyboard dispatch is negligible. The invoked operation has the same cost as its menu, toolbar, button, or card equivalent. Histogram/Statistics/Summary can scan image data, Plate Solve can use external/catalog resources, an RT Preview snapshot allocates image storage, Image Integration refresh can rebuild large tables, and Execute Integration can consume substantial CPU, memory, and disk. Shortcut use does not make those operations cheaper or synchronous.

Worked lookup example

• Evidence mode: Source-and-test-derived; the focused tests were last run on the Windows MSVC test build.
• Question: Why does Ctrl+O add calibration/light frames instead of opening a normal image picker?
• Lookup: The main File > Open action owns Ctrl+O in the main window. Image Integration defines another window-scoped Ctrl+O on Frames > Add Files > Auto-sort by file type....
• Verified conclusion: the active Image Integration window resolves the key to Add Files. Activate the main window before pressing Ctrl+O to use normal Open. The focused tests verify the Image Integration binding; current action sources establish the main binding and window scope. No file picker was opened and no dataset was loaded for this example.

Warnings and limitations

• There is no current shortcut customization or conflict-resolution UI.
• The Dashboard onboarding panel currently advertises Ctrl+N for New Sequence, but actionNew_Sequence has no assigned shortcut. Use the Dashboard card or File > New Sequence....
• Image Integration's local F1 help currently lists Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y, but its undo/redo actions do not assign either shortcut. Use Edit > Undo and Edit > Redo there. Its selected-frame and per-tab remove-all confirmation text also says removal can be undone with Ctrl+Z; the edit is undoable, but the key is not bound. The window-wide Remove All Frames prompt gives no undo hint. The consolidated matrix intentionally does not present those stale hints as active bindings.
• Ctrl+Shift+H and Ctrl+Shift+X call their viewers without checking whether the corresponding toolbar action is visible or whether another viewer is already open. Use the standard-view toolbar when state is uncertain.
• A desktop environment, input method, accessibility tool, or window manager can intercept keys such as F1, F5, F11, or Ctrl+Space before AfterNight receives them. This page does not claim cross-desktop runtime delivery.
• Ctrl++, brackets, punctuation, and shifted digits depend on physical keyboard layout. Use the visible action if the documented sequence is not produced by your layout.
• Text editors and standard Qt widgets can consume editing/navigation keys. Move focus to the named target rather than assuming a window-wide handler.
• Shortcut labels describe interaction, not data safety. Review confirmation, output, history, and cancellation behavior before bulk removal, workflow execution, snapshot creation, undo/redo, or save/export.

Troubleshooting

Symptom/question	Verified interpretation or cause	Resolution/next page	Evidence source
A shortcut does nothing	Wrong active window/focus, disabled action, missing image/model state, or desktop interception	Focus the named control and try the equivalent visible action; see Toolbar & Menus	Action scope/state and direct-handler sources
Ctrl+O adds frames	Image Integration owns that key while its window is active	Activate the main window for normal Open; see Image Integration	Main UI builder and Image Integration menu source/tests
Dashboard Ctrl+N does nothing	The onboarding hint is stale; New Sequence has no shortcut	Use the New Sequence card or File > New Sequence...	Dashboard onboarding and main UI-builder sources
Ctrl+F searches the wrong surface	Dashboard, Session Console, and Image Integration each define a local search command	Activate the intended window/tab first	Dashboard, Log Viewer, and Frame Source Tab sources
Delete excludes quality rows instead of removing source frames, or does nothing in the quality table	Registration's focused quality table owns the local exclusion command; when the last used source tab still holds a selection, Remove Selected is also enabled and Qt treats Delete as ambiguous, so neither fires	Focus the intended frame-source tree, clear the hidden source selection, or use the named button/menu action	Registration Tab and Image Integration action-state sources
Escape does not close a process	A focused frame tree consumes it to clear selection, or another child consumes it	Check selection/focus, then use the process close control	Frame Tree and top-level process handlers
Ctrl+1–Ctrl+5 switches tabs instead of overlays	Image Integration is the active window	Focus a solved standard image canvas to control astrometry layers	Image Integration actions and image-view handler
Mask Drawing redo is not Ctrl+Y on Linux	It uses Qt's platform-standard primary Redo sequence	Use Ctrl+Shift+Z on KDE/GNOME or the Redo control	Qt QKeySequence and Mask Drawing source
Image Integration Ctrl+Z/Ctrl+Y does nothing	The help rows and removal-confirmation Ctrl+Z promise are stale; no shortcut is assigned	Use Edit > Undo/Redo	Image Integration menu/help/confirmation sources and QAction's no-default-shortcut contract
Space behaves unexpectedly	It activates a focused button or Summary issue card, peeks in RT Preview, or plays/pauses Blink according to context	Confirm focus and use the visible action if needed	Direct key-handler sources

Related pages

• Toolbar & Menus is the authority for menu hierarchy, action availability, and non-shortcut commands.
• Image Viewer explains display modes, zoom, analysis tools, snapshots, and focused-view behavior.
• Astrometry Overlays defines WCS and layer prerequisites for Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+5.
• Session Console explains search and export semantics.
• Image Integration defines project edits, validation, execution, tables, charts, Summary, and Blink review flows.
• Mask Drawing explains drawing tools, document history, generated masks, and output/assignment.
• Troubleshooting And Diagnostics routes shortcut and focus symptoms back to this authoritative inventory and its scope rules.

References and provenance

• AfterNight source and focused tests, re-read 2026-10-18.
• Qt 6 QKeySequence, including platform StandardKey mappings and keyboard-layout notes, reviewed 2026-07-20 for the project-pinned Qt 6.10.3 behavior family.
• Qt 6 QAction, including the default WindowShortcut context and the absence of a default shortcut, rechecked 2026-07-20.
• Qt 6 QShortcut, including shortcut contexts, activation, ambiguity, and auto-repeat behavior, rechecked 2026-07-20.