Is there a shortcut for creating a new file?

I haven't seen any shortcut for creating "A New Text Document" or any file. Is there any?

Abdulsattar Mohammed

Posted 2010-04-21T01:20:49.353

Reputation: 1 169

Answers

Windows 7 and earlier: Alt+F, W, T works, regardless of whether the file or folder pane has focus.

Windows 8: This doesn't work in any more. Menu, w, t works as long as the file pane has focus.

Windows 10: Menu, w, t works as long as the file pane has focus and no file is selected. Press CONTROL-SPACE to clear the selected files (thanks @RogUE).

Windows 10 2nd Method: Alt+H, W, UP, UP, UP, ENTER. This works in even if a file is selected:

Rebecca Scott

Posted 2010-04-21T01:20:49.353

Reputation: 1 248

1@EchtEinfachTV: Look at the underlined letters in the menu. “New” can’t be ‘N’ because ‘N’ is “Se n d to”. (And “Send to” can’t be ‘S’ because ‘S’ is “Create shortcut”. And “Create shortcut” can’t be ‘C’ because ‘C’ is “Close”.) ... (No relation to Ben.) – Scott – 2014-07-09T19:46:40.127

1If a file or folder is selected, you could hit crtl+space to deselect it – RogUE – 2016-05-06T01:43:23.870

@RogUE it works for only a certain file. When I enter a folder, select some files then do ctrl+space it only selects or deselects a certain file, not all the selected files, on Windows 10 that is. – kittenparry – 2016-07-28T09:04:50.510

1This is the only built-in-solution I found for Win7. Still wonder why Microsoft has decided to use shortcut w for New. Why not n to make it easy? – Kai Noack – 2014-01-05T21:43:59.117

I wrote a script based on the suggestions to use AutoHotkey. If you want to change the .txt file extension, this requires Hide extentions for known file types to be off.

#IfWinActive, ahk_class CabinetWClass
#n:: ;If Windows+N is pressed in Windows Explorer
Send {Alt} ;Menu
Send f ;> File
Send w ;> New
Send t ;select Text Document
Send ^a ;select all
Exit

If you need any help with AutoHotkey, let me know. :)

iglvzx

Posted 2010-04-21T01:20:49.353

Reputation: 21 611

If you want to make it shorter and easier use this: SendInput !fwt – Phil Roggenbuck – 2019-01-08T15:25:53.407

If you want to rename the file to what you have in the clipboard and open the file afterwards use this: SendInput !fwt Sleep 100 SendInput ^a{backspace}^v{enter}{enter}{enter} – Phil Roggenbuck – 2019-01-08T16:13:56.370

Where does the limitation on the visible file name extensions come in? – Daniel Beck – 2012-01-26T19:44:06.500

@DanielBeck Studiohack merged two questions. The one that I originally answered asked if the file extension could be removed. Since we are using .txt, we should select the whole file name including .txt. I've updated my answer to clarify. – iglvzx – 2012-01-26T19:46:30.413

Thanks iglvzx! I added Send {Delete} because even though everything was selected, typing only deleted the part before the extension. – Andrei Khramtsov – 2012-01-27T14:29:40.037

It may be possible with a third party solution (haven't tested it, autokey is famous too), since it's not available in Windows 7's official keyboard shortcuts. You can create a new folder using Ctrl+Shift+N though.

GmonC

Posted 2010-04-21T01:20:49.353

Reputation: 2 322

The following works under XP (I don't have Windows 7):

make sure the Files (not Folders) pane has focus (Tab or F6 to get there).
make sure no file is selected (press CTRL+Space to unselect one file if necessary).
bring up either the File menu with Alt+F or the context menu with the context menu key or Shift+F10.
Press W for New, and T for Text Document.

Hugh Allen

Posted 2010-04-21T01:20:49.353

Reputation: 8 620

This still works under Windows 8. When other application add menu items with the W shortcut, you have to press the W key twice and submit with enter or right arrow key. – danijar – 2014-06-21T14:11:39.440

1This is a looong procedure. Something like Ctrl+Shift+T will do. – Abdulsattar Mohammed – 2010-04-21T12:07:40.267

Alt+F, W, T works well and I've used it a long time in Windows XP, Vista and 7, no good in Win10. – Nissim Nanach – 2020-02-14T16:31:47.517

It works, but not if any other applications start adding to the file menu to interfere with the W shortcut e.g. WinMerge. – Vince Bowdren – 2013-10-08T13:54:54.457

I just tried the following on my Swedish Windows 7 machine and it works good. No need to install third party.

Open folder
Press ALT-key to display menubar
A (Swe. Arkiv, Eng. File)
N (Swe. Nytt, Eng. New)
T (Swe. Textdokument, Eng. Textdocument)

Short: ALT, A, N, T

Waschman

Posted 2010-04-21T01:20:49.353

Reputation: 19

Right click (leave right click mouse button) then press 'W' (leave W) and finally press 'T' works with windows 8.1

KAUSTUBH MISHAL

Posted 2010-04-21T01:20:49.353

Reputation: 1

Get AutoHotkey.

Then you need create or find a script for shortcut binding. For more, read the AHK tutorial.

kbvc

Posted 2010-04-21T01:20:49.353

Reputation: 42

3So, how does this exactly solve the problem? Which script should they use? – slhck – 2012-01-26T18:37:13.843

1@slhck I'm working on one! Shh. – iglvzx – 2012-01-26T18:38:48.943