Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Actions for Simulink Modeling

Keyboard shortcuts and mouse actions can help you efficiently model systems in Simulink^®. To open this page from a model, use Shift + ? or click the Keyboard Shortcuts button on the navigation bar.

Note

The following keyboard shortcuts are based on Windows^®. On Mac keyboards, use command (⌘) instead of Ctrl.

Perform File and Clipboard Operations

Task	Shortcut
Open model	Ctrl + O
Create model	Ctrl + N
Print model	Ctrl + P
Save all modified models in current model hierarchy	Ctrl + S
Save current referenced model	Ctrl + Shift + S
Close model	Ctrl + W
Cut	Ctrl + X
Paste	Ctrl + V
Duplicate	Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V
Undo	Ctrl + Z
Redo	Ctrl + Y
Find search string	Ctrl + F

Zoom, Scroll, and Change Current Window

Task	Action
Fit diagram to screen	Spacebar
Zoom in	Ctrl + +
Zoom out	Ctrl + -
Zoom to 100%	Ctrl + 0 or Alt + 1
Zoom with scroll wheel	Scroll wheel Ctrl + scroll wheel when Scroll wheel controls zooming is cleared
Zoom in on object	Drag the Zoom button from the palette to the object.
Scroll	Spacebar + drag. Scroll wheel + drag.
Change tabs	Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Go to previous window	Alt + Tab

Navigate Model Hierarchy

Task	Shortcut
Open	Double-click. Enter
Go to parent of current subsystem or referenced model	Esc
Look under block mask	Ctrl + U
For linked blocks, go to library of parent block	Ctrl + L
Open the Model Explorer	Ctrl + H

Modify Block Diagram Contents

Task	Action
Insert block at current location	Double-click and start typing the block name, then select the block from the menu. Ctrl + . (period) twice and start typing the block name, then use the down arrow key to select the block from the menu and Enter to insert the block. On AZERTY keyboards, use Ctrl + Shift + . (period) instead of Ctrl + . (period).
Get prompted for suggested block based on context	Double-click the end of a line drawn from an existing block, then select a suggestion from the list or start typing to select one from the library.
Open the Library Browser	Ctrl + Shift + L
Insert annotation at current location	Double-click and type the annotation content, then select the annotation option. Ctrl + . (period) twice and type the annotation content, then use the down arrow key to select the annotation option and Enter to insert the annotation. On AZERTY keyboards, use Ctrl + Shift + . (period) instead of Ctrl + . (period).
Copy selected objects	Drag objects with the right mouse button. Ctrl + drag.
Copy selected objects between Simulink Editor windows	Drag objects between windows.
Delete selected objects	Delete or Backspace

Select Objects

Objects include blocks, signal lines, signal labels, and annotations. You cannot select lines and ports with the arrow keys.

Task	Action
Select an object and clear selection from other objects	Click. Arrow keys (M to toggle between moving selection and moving objects)
Select multiple adjacent objects	Drag from empty position. Shift + arrow keys
Select multiple objects that are not adjacent	Shift + click. Ctrl + arrow keys to change the current object, Ctrl + spacebar to add the current object to the selection On macOS, to add the current object to the selection, use command + shift + spacebar or shift + spacebar.
Select all blocks, lines, and annotations	Ctrl + A

Modify Objects

Task	Shortcut
Set main parameter for selected block	Alt + Enter
Open or hide the Property Inspector	Ctrl + Shift + I
Connect blocks	Click a port, then click the port you want it to connect to. Select the first block, then Ctrl + click a second block. Drag from port to port. Click a port and hold Shift as you connect to the next port. Hold Shift to make multiple, consecutive connections.
Branch line	Click a port, move the cursor near the line you want to branch, and then click after you see the preview. Select a line, move the cursor toward the element you want to connect with, and then click the port. Ctrl + drag line. Right mouse button + drag.
Add ports to blocks that take multiple inputs	Drag toward the port from a compatible block or signal line. Drag from the edge of the block that you want to add the port to. Click the edge of the port, and then drag. Click the edge of the port, move the cursor over the signal type — signal, bus, or connector — from the menu, and drag.
Comment through block	Ctrl + Shift + Y
Comment out or uncomment block	Ctrl + Shift + X
Disconnect block	Shift + drag block.

Name Objects

Task	Action
Rename selected object	Click or double-click the label. Select the object and use F2. On Mac keyboards, you can use command + return instead of F2.
Name signal line	Double-click the signal and type its name.
Display name on branch of a named signal line	Double-click the branch.
Name every branch of a signal	Right-click the signal, select Properties, and use the dialog box.
Delete signal label and name	Delete characters in the label, or delete the name in Signal Properties dialog box.
Delete signal label only	Right-click the label and select Delete Label.
Copy signal label	Ctrl + drag the signal label.

Modify Block Diagram Appearance

Task	Action
Move any object, including signal labels	Drag object.
Move selected blocks and annotations	Arrow keys (M to toggle between moving selection and moving objects)
Resize block, maintaining ratio of width and height	Shift + drag handle.
Resize block from the center	Ctrl + drag handle.
Route lines around blocks	Shift + drag while drawing.
Rotate blocks clockwise	Ctrl + R
Rotate blocks counterclockwise	Ctrl + Shift + R
Flip blocks	Ctrl + I
Create subsystem from selection	Ctrl + G
Create subsystem or area from empty selection	To create the highlighted option, which you can change by using the arrow keys or mouse: Click inside the selection box. Press Enter. Press the number key associated with an option.
Change signal label font	Select the signal line (not the label), then on the Format tab, click the Font Properties button arrow, then click Fonts for Model.
Mask block	Ctrl + M
Refresh Model blocks	Ctrl + K

Perform Actions

Task	Shortcut
Perform generic action	Double-click, select the Actions tab, and start typing the action name or description, then select the action from the menu. Ctrl + . (period) and start typing the action name or description, then use the down arrow key to select the action and Enter to perform it. On AZERTY keyboards, use Ctrl + Shift + . (period) instead of Ctrl + . (period).
Perform context-sensitive action	Select object before opening action menu.

Task

Shortcut

Perform generic action

Double-click, select the Actions tab, and start typing the action name or description, then select the action from the menu.

Ctrl + . (period) and start typing the action name or description, then use the down arrow key to select the action and Enter to perform it.

On AZERTY keyboards, use Ctrl + Shift + . (period) instead of Ctrl + . (period).

Perform context-sensitive action

Select object before opening action menu.

Update, Simulate, and Generate Code for Models

Task	Shortcut
Open Configuration Parameters dialog box	Ctrl + E
Update model	Ctrl + D
Start simulation	Ctrl + T
Stop simulation	Ctrl + Shift + T
Build model (for code generation)	Ctrl + B