Keyboard Shortcuts & Command Palette
A consolidated reference for every keyboard shortcut and every entry in the ⌘K command palette.
Canvas keyboard shortcuts
These work while the canvas has focus (not while you’re typing in a text field).
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open the command palette | ⌘K / Ctrl K (or /) |
| Toggle Connect / Move mode | C |
| Duplicate the selected node | D |
| Group the selection into a new VPC | G |
| Delete selected node(s) / edge(s) | Delete / Backspace |
| Pan (hold and drag) | Space (or middle-mouse drag) |
| Undo / Redo | ⌘Z / ⇧⌘Z (Ctrl Z / Ctrl Y) |
| Close a dialog / palette | Esc |
Navigating nodes with the keyboard
You can move around the diagram without a mouse. Tab into the canvas to focus a node, then:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move between nodes (spatially) | ↑ ↓ ← → |
| Jump to the first / last node | Home / End |
| Open a container (focus inside it) | Enter on a group |
| Recentre on a node | Enter on a leaf |
| Step out of the focused container | Esc |
The focused node is selected automatically, so its details appear in the inspector and screen readers announce its name, type, cloud provider, and container. The diagram exposes itself as an accessible region — arrow keys move by position (the node nearest in that direction), not by list order.
Mouse & trackpad
- Pan — scroll the wheel or two-finger-drag the trackpad; or hold Space and drag; or drag with the middle mouse button.
- Zoom — hold ⌘ / Ctrl and scroll, or pinch on a trackpad. Zoom is cursor-anchored: the point under the pointer stays put.
- Marquee select — in Move mode, drag a box across empty canvas to select everything inside it.
Two ways to wire a connection
- Connect mode — press C (or click Connect under Modes in the left panel), click the source node, then click the target node. Press C again or click Move to stop.
- Port drag — without changing mode, click a small dot (port) on the edge of a node to start a wire, then click the target node. Either way the relationship type is inferred from the two services involved.
The command palette (⌘K)
Press ⌘K / Ctrl K to open it (or / when you’re not typing in a field). Type to filter, use ↑ / ↓ to move, Enter to run, and Esc to close. The input placeholder reads “Type a command, service, or node…”.
Commands are grouped exactly as they appear in the list. In presentation / read-only mode the editing commands (those that change the model) are hidden.
View
- Fit to view
- Tidy — auto-arrange
- Zoom to selection
- Zoom to 100%
- Zoom in (keeps the palette open)
- Zoom out (keeps the palette open)
- Center
- View: Network
- View: Security
- View: Data flow
- View: High-level (collapse all)
- View: Show all
- Edges: Curved
- Edges: Orthogonal
- Density: Comfortable
- Density: Compact
- Environment tint: on / off (the label reflects the current state)
- Presentation mode: enter / exit (label reflects current state)
- Overlay: IAM trust
- Overlay: Network paths
- Overlay: Heat (degree)
- Overlay: None
Edit
- Toggle Connect / Move mode
- Start / New diagram… (opens the Start hub)
- Undo
- Redo
- Clear canvas
Tools
- Validate architecture
- Suggest rules
- Export JSON
- Export to IaC (Terraform / OpenTofu / CloudFormation)
- Import JSON
- Import IaC (Terraform / OpenTofu / CloudFormation / ARM)
- Save diagram
- Connect to cloud (discover live resources)
- Load preset: Basic AWS
- Load preset: ECS + ALB
Add service
Type a service name (e.g. lambda, s3, vpc) and the palette lists matching
Add … entries (up to six). Choosing one drops that service onto the canvas.
Hidden in presentation mode.
Jump to node
Type the name of a node already on the canvas and the palette offers Go to … entries (up to eight). Choosing one centers that node; if it’s hidden inside a collapsed container or a summary chip, Strata expands the path to reveal it. Matching nodes are also highlighted live on the canvas as you type.