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JotForm is a free online form builder which helps you create online forms without writing a single line of code. No sign-up required.

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We believe that if one user has a question, there could be more users who may have the same question. This is why many of our support forum threads are public and available to be searched and viewed. If you’d like help immediately, feel free to search for a similar question, or submit your question or concern.

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    JotForm Support

    How to Select Checkboxes and Radio Buttons via the Keyboard

    Asked by abajan on January 03, 2014 at 04:16 AM

    This is a response to a question posed by a user in a thread unrelated to this subject.


    Roberta,

    There are standard keyboard shortcuts to select and deselect checkboxes and radio buttons. After tabbing to a radio button field, the arrow keys can be used to make the selection. The spacebar can also be used for this but it has limited functionality in that it cannot be used to make a different selection. The arrow keys won't work with checkboxes. The spacebar is used to select and deselect those. ([Tab] is used to move the focus to the next checkbox and [Shift+Tab] to move the focus to the previous box.)

    The above are shortcuts on a standard Windows keyboard. You can try them on this form.


    Cheers

    checkboxes radio buttons select keyboard shortcuts deselect check uncheck un-check de-select windows keyboard
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    Answered by premierdepogrl on January 03, 2014 at 09:58 PM

    Abajan, thanks!  Love your smiling face!  :)

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    Answered by bhavin  on January 09, 2016 at 08:24 AM

    Great.... Thank you so much friend... nice 

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    Answered by AA_C on January 09, 2016 at 09:25 AM

    Is there a way, other then reload or reset, to deselect radio button options entirely? 

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    JotForm Support

    Answered by Kevin_G on January 09, 2016 at 05:03 PM

    Hi @AA_C ,

    No there is no way to deselect all the check boxes or radio buttons entirely, the only is doing it for each element using the Tab or Shift+Tab shortcut and the space bar.

     

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    JotForm Support

    Answered by abajan on January 09, 2016 at 05:26 PM

    @AA_C

    There's actually a little known way to deselect radio buttons. In this demo, if you select the radio button and then enter anything in the text area, the radio button will become deselected. This is due to the following condition:

    You can read more about this technique here.

    However, unless it's some sort of specialized case, the simplest way to allow deselection without having to reload the form would be to substitute a check box for the radio button:


    If you need to discuss this further please start a new thread, as we are better able to attend to each user's situation when they have their own thread.


    Cheers

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    Answered by popehova  on February 26, 2016 at 03:53 AM

    Left and right arrows work in certain programs or what? definetly doesn't do anything in window 10. My key board is having problems and messing with my menus making the mouse unable to click the radio buttons. I been using tab to get to the radio button but then nothing will fill it in. Its the last short cut I haven't done. I think I have tried a few times before and wasn't able to. I wish it was standard like arrows or enter.

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    Answered by Smitha  on May 10, 2016 at 05:03 AM

    Thanks. That helped a lot :)

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    Answered by Matthew Connors  on August 15, 2016 at 10:31 PM

    Haaaa!   You have no idea how much time you just saved me.  Not to mention my sanity, what little I have left.

     

    Thanks!!!!

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    Answered by Shivv on February 19, 2017 at 07:12 PM

    Is there anyway to make hotkeys trigger a check box/single choice? (i.e. I press 1 for "yes" or 2 for "no") Additionally, make it auto-next as well?
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    JotForm Support

    Answered by Chriistian on February 19, 2017 at 10:23 PM

    Hello @Shivv,

    To better assist you with your concern, I have moved your question to its own thread. Please follow this link to view your thread: https://www.jotform.com/answers/1070654 

    Regards.

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    Answered by divit  on March 21, 2017 at 06:18 PM

    hello,

               you don't know you have saved my lot of time, thanks a lot. 

    please send me all shortcut keys of keyboard to my mail. because my work is on computer it will time saving to me.

    please send me as soon as possible!

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    JotForm Support

    Answered by Chriistian on March 21, 2017 at 07:36 PM

    Hi there,

    The keyboard shortcuts in the above answer of my colleague works for checkboxes. Other keyboard shortcuts depend on the device you are using and the application you are using.