Xcode 4 shortcut for swapping focus between editor and assistant editor

Question

In Xcode, I am big fan of the assitant editor that shows me the corresponding .h or .m for the file that I am editing.

Is there a shortcut that allows me to swap focus between this two windows? I frequently switch between the two and using the mouse every time is annoying.

Rudolf Adamkovič · Answer 1 · 2017-08-21T22:51:01.530

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New answer:

Move Focus To Editor — commandj followed by ←/↑/↓/→ and return

This goes nicely together with commandshiftj which is Reveal in Project Navigator.

Old answer:

Use optioncommand` keyboard shortcut.

It can be remapped in Preferences - Keyboard Bindings - Move Focus To Next Area.

Edit: Removed XVim recommendation.

edited Aug 21 '17 at 22:51

answered Aug 21 '12 at 10:41

Rudolf Adamkovič

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I think XVim is the most efficient way. – Allen Hsu Dec 25 '13 at 02:56
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If you use the side of your thumb to press both Cmd and Opt, it's not bad at all. – Mike Jul 24 '14 at 19:03
Ctrl+w followed by w will also switch focus in XVim. – tgrbin Dec 10 '14 at 10:02
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This (`opt+cmd+\``) key combination is what I was looking for for a long time. Thank you Rudolf! Still works in Xcode 7.3 and 2016. – oyalhi May 13 '16 at 10:07
I am using XVim in Xcode 8. "control + w followed by w or hjkl" seems broken. Any clue? – CopperCash Oct 14 '16 at 00:46

score 85 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

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I made this to help answer another question... Does it help?

XCode shortcuts

edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

Community

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answered Aug 09 '12 at 20:21

Robert

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Two very important omissions: _shift + cmd + j_ to focus _Project Navigator_ and _cmd + j_ to focus (any) editor. That's files and their content. Bread and butter. :) – Rudolf Adamkovič Aug 20 '13 at 09:49
It looks like **cmd + alt + j** shortcut does not work for me. I guess I accidentally changed this shortcut. Could you tell how does this feature call in Key Bindings list? – Rostyslav Druzhchenko Feb 16 '14 at 21:46
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I've finally found that shortcut. **cmd+ctrl+j** - enjoy! – Rostyslav Druzhchenko Jun 04 '14 at 14:26
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This is incredibly helpful. I've saved this image. Many thanks Robert! – Michael Wu Dec 22 '14 at 00:45
Saved !! Tch. I have this as my wallpaper now. – gprasant Nov 03 '15 at 05:31

Jay · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-29T14:28:19.987

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@Oneiros: Not quite what the OP was asking for..

I don't know of a 'short' shortcut but there's Cmd-J showing a popup where you can choose what to focus.

edited Oct 29 '12 at 14:28

answered Dec 28 '11 at 11:36

Jay

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Cool, thanks. The correct answer wasn't exactly what I was looking for but it was close enough. – Alec Gorge Dec 28 '11 at 18:52
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You might also want to check out `Cmd-Opt-.` and `Cmd-Opt-Shift-.` for the '*Move Focus to ..*' shortcuts - takes a while to discover all those shortcuts ;-) – Jay Oct 11 '12 at 07:11
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In Xcode 8 you can use the new shortcut `Ctrl-\`` - Move Focus to Next Editor. See my answer below. – Marián Černý May 25 '17 at 07:56

Marián Černý · Answer 4 · 2017-09-15T11:41:03.053

Xcode 8+

This is the easiest option:

^` - Move Focus to Next Editor

When using multiple assistant editors, ⇧^` moves focus to previous editor.

Xcode 4+

⌥⌘` - Move Focus to Next Area
⇧⌥⌘` - Move Focus to Previous Area

Using this option you can switch between Project Navigator (left pane), Primary Editor, Assistant Editors, Utility Area (right pane), Debug Area, etc.

⌘J - Move Focus to Editor...

Using this option you can choose where to move the focus using graphical navigation chooser.

hyouuu · Answer 5 · 2012-07-30T00:48:20.060

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For Xcode 4.4: Use Cmd+Option+` (left to number 1) to Move Focus to Next Area, and use Cmd+Option+Shift+` to Move Focus to Previous Area

For Xcode 4.3: If you only have the Editor and Assistant open, use Cmd+Option+. to switch between them (Navigator>Move Focus to next area)

edited Jul 30 '12 at 00:48

answered Jul 16 '12 at 04:57

hyouuu

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score 10 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 03 '13 at 17:25

Also, if you want to open a different file in the right pane, like the .xib or any other, press

Command ⌘shift ⇧o

The open quickly window will appear, search the file, use capital letters to filter through camel case notation, then press

Alt ⌥enter ↵

The file will be opened in the assistant window

score 4 · Answer 7 · answered Dec 21 '11 at 21:55

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Switching between .h and .m:
Control ^Command ⌘Up Arrow ↑

answered Dec 21 '11 at 21:55

Oneiros

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Exactly what I wanted. I had a lot of trouble finding this hint. Perhaps I didn't make a good job of structuring my query. I didn't want to just change focus, but wanted to swap the contents of the two panes. This tip does exactly that. – Derek Knight May 19 '14 at 21:45

Nike Kov · Answer 8 · 2018-10-08T21:17:55.670

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You can do this:

Assume you have Standart(S) and Assistance(A) editor opened and you want swap them.

1) Double tap with holded Alt to line in navigation bar of S editor with file name (look screenshot). This file will open in A editor.
2) In A editor tap Go Back and do 1. File from A editor will be opened in S editor.
3) In A editor tap Go Forward.

DONE!

edited Oct 08 '18 at 21:17

answered Jul 15 '16 at 10:23

Nike Kov

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Xcode 4 shortcut for swapping focus between editor and assistant editor

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