Search & keyboard shortcuts

Cross-section search helps keep terminology, values, and unresolved notes consistent across a long GDD.

Search the project

1. Press Ctrl + F or open the search control.
2. Enter at least two characters.
3. Review each result’s section name and surrounding snippet.
4. Select a result to open its section and highlight the match in the editor.
5. Press Esc to close search and return focus to the editor.

Search is case-insensitive and treats the query as literal text. It scans current section Markdown across the project; it does not search project metadata or changelog entries.

The literal query `this` returns snippets from Overview and Scope while preserving the active editor.

Search controls

Key	Search behavior
↑ / ↓	Move through result choices.
Enter	Open the selected result, or the first result when none is selected.
Esc	Close search and focus the editor.

Because the search is literal, a query such as player.*speed looks for those exact characters rather than using a regular expression.

Global and workspace shortcuts

Shortcut	Action	Context
Ctrl + N	Create a new project	Anywhere in the main window; checks unsaved work first.
Ctrl + O	Open an existing .gddkit project	Anywhere; checks unsaved work first.
Ctrl + S	Save the current project	Open workspace.
Ctrl + W	Close the workspace	Open workspace; prompts for dirty changes.
Ctrl + E	Cycle Edit → Preview → Split	Open workspace.
Ctrl + F	Open cross-section search	Open workspace.

Editor shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl + B	Apply or insert bold Markdown.
Ctrl + I	Apply or insert italic Markdown.
Ctrl + K	Insert a Markdown link.
Ctrl + V	Paste an image file, clipboard bitmap, or text.
Ctrl + X	Cut selected text.
Ctrl + C	Copy selected text.
Ctrl + A	Select all editor text.

macOS modifier

The v2 bindings explicitly check the Control modifier on every platform. Do not assume the Command key is an automatic equivalent; use Control with the listed letter unless a later release changes the bindings.

Practical consistency passes

• Search the project title and make sure naming is consistent.
• Search units such as ms, seconds, meters, or currency symbols.
• Search TODO, TBD, FIXME, and unchecked task syntax - [ ] before a milestone export.
• Search old feature names after a redesign.
• Search a key accessibility term to confirm it appears in UI, controls, and technical sections where relevant.

Search returns one result per occurrence, so a common word can produce a long list. Use a distinctive phrase when auditing a specific decision.