Bases: Full keyboard support for Bases navigation & editing PART 2

Feature requests
1

Use case or problem

When working with Bases, navigation and data management can be fast with the keyboard, but file-level actions still require the mouse. There’s currently no way to:

  • open a file directly from a selected row or cell,
  • rename the file from within the Base view, or
  • access context options without right-clicking.

Additionally, editing List properties feels clunky — especially when frequently switching between cells or handling single-value lists. These limitations interrupt the flow for users who prefer a smooth, keyboard-driven experience similar to Notion or Airtable.

Proposed solution

Add keyboard shortcuts and more intuitive editing behavior for file-related and list-related interactions in Bases:

File-related actions

  • Open file: Allow Cmd+Return (Mac) or Ctrl+Enter (Windows/Linux) to open the note linked to the selected row or file-name cell.
  • Rename file: Pressing Return on a selected “File name” cell should immediately enter rename mode (just like editing a text cell in a spreadsheet).Alternatively, add a dedicated shortcut such as Cmd+R for renaming.
  • Show context menu: Add a keyboard command equivalent to “Show context menu under cursor,” acting as a right-click on the selected file name.

List property editing improvements

  • Add a single-select toggle in property settings (Right-click on column header → Edit property → Checkbox: “Single-select”).
  • When a list cell is selected:
    • Typing any letter (A–Z) or number (0–9) should open the value picker directly.
    • For single-select lists, pressing Tab after selecting a value should confirm and move to the next cell in the row.

These changes would make Bases more efficient and keyboard-friendly, minimizing reliance on the mouse and aligning behavior with familiar spreadsheet-like workflows.

Current workaround (optional)

Currently, I have to use the mouse for all file-related operations (opening, renaming, showing menu) and to navigate list property menus. It slows down structured note management and breaks the keyboard-driven workflow.

Related feature requests (optional)

THANK YOU!

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