Keyboard Shortcuts used in Most Popular Jupyter Notebook

Jupyter Notebook is a widely used notebook App by Data Scientists because of its rich features. The app allows us to write Python Code as well as rich text elements like formatted paragraphs, Images, links, mathematical equations, etc.

It is a client server-based application that allows programmers, analysts for editing notebooks, write and execute python codes by browsers.

JIMS, BCA course includes Python in the first year and AI using Python in the final year. Students are asked to work on Jupyter Notebook. As a student and to become a skilled developer, one must know the shortcuts to be used in any application.

In this article, students can find the list of shortcuts they can use while practicing in Python and later on while learning AI using Python.

JIMS, Vasant Kunj-II, is one of the best BCA colleges in Delhi NCR, which provides an updated curriculum. The syllabus includes almost all the latest technologies that are in demand including Analytics using Excel, Tableau, Power BI.

The two different keyboard input modes used while writing command and text contents are:

1) Command Mode: This mode allows you to edit the notebook as a whole, not into individual cells. The mode actually binds the keyboard to notebook-level actions. Indicated by a grey cell border with a blue left margin.

2) Edit Mode: This mode allows you to type into the cells like a normal text editor. In this mode when you’re typing in a cell. Indicated by a green cell border.

While working in the Jupyter Notebook, you can switch between the two modes.

Three different special keys used in combination with characters are Ctrl, Alt, Shift keys. Various Shortcut Keys which are used for different purposes in two different modes are:

To change the cells from Code to Markdown

Esc+M: Markdown

Esc+Y: Code

To move to Command Palette

Cmd + Shift + p

Shortcut Keys used in both the Modes

 

S.No.	Short Cut Key	Remarks
1	Shift+Enter	Runs the Current Cell and Select Below
2	Ctrl+Enter	Runs Selected Cells
3	Alt+Enter	Runs the Current Cell, Insert Below
4	Ctrl+S	Save and Checkpoint

 

Short Cuts to be used in Command Mode

To activate Command Mode press Esc.

 

S.No.	Short Cut Key	Remarks
1	Esc + Enter	Take you into Edit Mode
2	Esc + H	Displays all Shortcuts
3	Esc + Up Arrow	Selects Cell Above
4	Esc + Down Arrow	Selects Cell Below
5	Esc + Shift +Up	Extended Selects Cell Above
6	Esc + Shift + Down	Extended Selects Cell Below
7	Esc + A	Insert Cell Above
8	Esc + B	Insert Cell Below
9	Esc + X	Cut Selected Cells
10	Esc + C	Copy Selected Cells
11	Esc + V	Paste Cells Below
12	Esc + Shift + V	Paste Cells Above
13	Esc + D D (twice press D)	Delete Selected Cells
14	Esc + Z	Undo Cell Deletion
15	Esc + S	Save and Checkpoint
16	Esc + Y	Change the Cell Type to Code
17	Esc + M	Change the Cell Type to Markdown
18	Esc + P	Open the Command Palette
19	Esc + Shift + Space	Scrolls Notebook UP
20	Esc + Space	Scrolls Notebook DOWN
21	Esc + Shift + Enter	Run Cell, Select Below
22	Esc + Ctrl + Enter	Run Cells
23	Esc + Shift + M	When you’re typing in a cell. Indicated by a green cell border
24	Esc + 0, 0	Restart Kernel (with dialog)

Short Cuts to be used in Edit Mode

To activate Edit Mode press Enter

 

S.No.	Short Cut Key	Remarks
1	Enter + Esc	Take you into Command Mode
2	Enter + Tab	Code Completion or Indent
3	Enter + Shift + Tab	Tooltip
4	Enter + Ctrl +]	Indent
5	Enter + Ctrl + [	Dedent
6	Enter + Ctrl + A	Select All
7	Enter + Ctrl + Z	Undo
8	Enter + Ctrl + Shift + Z or Enter + Ctrl + Y	Redo
9	Enter + Ctrl + Home	Go to Cell Start
10	Enter + Ctrl + End	Go to Cell End
11	Enter + Ctrl + Left	Go one Word Left
12	Enter + Ctrl + Right	Go one Word Right
13	Enter + Ctrl + Shift + P	Open the Command Palette
14	Enter + Down	Move Cursor Down
15	Enter + Up	Move Cursor Up
16	Cmd + /	Toggle Comment Lines
17	Ctrl + Shift + -	Split the Cells

 

 Markdown Syntax Used in Jupyter

 

Markdown is used by Data Scientists and Analysts for inserting text, formatting it so that the developer code can be easily understood by the reader. The various options provided enable the developer to maintain a writing and documentation standard.

Using Markdown comments can also be included in the Notebook.

It includes Markups and is similar to HyperText Markup Language (HTML).   It is a lightweight Markup Language and easily shared among various devices and people.

The various standard used in the document is converted into the corresponding HTML by the Markdown processor.

The document can be formatted by using Markup tags and following the Markdown syntax which is supported by Jupyter Notebook.

Short Cuts to be used in Markdown

Various Formatting Options 

S.No.	Formatting Option	How to Use
1	Different levels of Headings	Use #, ##,### etc level wise
2	Bold Text	Use ** or __
3	Italic Text	Use * or _
4	Line Breaks	Use Run Command
5	Horizontal Lines	Use '---' three hyphens
Different types of Lists: Ordered and Unordered Lists
6 a)	Ordered List	Use the required number followed by space
6 b)	Unordered Lists	Black Circle Symbol: Start with the '-' symbol with space Black Square Symbol: Start with the '*' symbol with space
Different types of Links: Internal and External Link
7 a)	Internal Link	Markdown starts with <a> tag with unique id defined by the attribute 'id' which can be linked in the notebook <a id = "division_ID"text goes here></a> Also, the id defined above can be linked to the section of the notebook by following the code which makes the link clickable. [Section title](#division_ID)
7 b)	External Link	Start with the __ [text link] (URL for the site) __ where the double underscore is on both sides with the text link enclosed in a square bracket and the URL for the site is enclosed in a parenthesis followed by the URL
8	Table	Rows and columns are used as a combination of '|' i.e. 'vertical pipe' to separate each column '-' hyphen symbol to create the header where the blank line, i.e., a combination of vertical pipe and dashes to render the table format.
9	Image	You can insert an image from the toolbar by choosing the 'Insert Image' from an Edit menu and can browse the required image
10	Code section	Enclose within three backticks ```
11	Mathematical Symbol	Enclose within $

Conclusion: The various Keywords shortcuts have increased the usage and productivity of the Jupyter Notebook. It is one of the powerful and effective tools used by Python developers, Data Scientists, and data analysts. Developers feel easy to use the trial and error approach can observe the output and can perform modifications if required. It saves the developer time and makes presentable, easy-to-understand notebooks including documentation along with Code.

I hope JIMS BCA students will like the article and use the above shortcuts while learning Python, AI using Python, Machine Learning. The document will help them in the future also. All the best to JIMS BCA Students.

Dr. Arpana Chaturvedi

HOD-IT

Department of Information Technology and Software Development BCA

JIMS, Vasant Kunj-II