Well, every graphics editor has single key commands to make it easy to draw and change tools with a hand on keys and on mouse. I think it is worth considering, charpad and spritepad are graphical editors, not code editors afterall. Text entry is only initiated by selecting the text tool in the map editor window, so that still works. In text mode you can stay there until you press ESC for example, or click on another tool with the mouse as you do now. It would certainly double my productivity with the tools having everything to hand, so to speak :)
Viewing post in CharPad C64 Pro + SpritePad C64 Pro comments
I hear ya.
I've been using GIMP today and that has lots of single key shortcuts which obviously must get blocked during any actual text entry.
I will look into it for a future version.
ps. If it helps you can already use the space bar to temporarily switch to 'Pan' mode on the map editor, and use CTRL+wheel for zoom as described earlier.