This
guide lists AutoCAD shortcuts in groups according to the command sequence. For
example, all text relevant shortcuts are grouped together
1.
Generally a shortcut prefixed with ” -“ will suppress the associated dialogue
from appearing.
2.
Some of the following shortcuts only work with AutoCAD 2006.
3.
Not all of the shortcuts listed work with AutoCAD LT.
BLOCKS
SHORTCUT
COMMAND COMMENT
ATT
ATTDEF Opens attribute definition dialogue box
ATTEDIT
ATTEDIT Edit attribute values for a specific block
B
BLOCK Opens block dialogue box in order to make a block
BATTMAN
BATTMAN Opens block attribute manager
BATTORDER
BATTORDER Displays attribute order dialogue box
BC
BCLOSE Closes the block editor
BCOUNT
BCOUNT Counts the blocks in a drawing
BE
BEDIT Opens the edit block definition dialogue box
EATTEXT
EATTEXT Enhanced attribute extraction wizard to count blocks
GATTE
GATTE Global attribute edit of multiple blocks
I
INSERT Opens insert dialogue to insert a block
-I
INSERT Insert a block by name
MINSERT
MINSERT Insert block in rectangular array
REFEDIT
REFEDIT Edit a block reference in place
REN
RENAME Opens rename dialogue box to rename blocks, layers, etc
W
WBLOCK Write a block - for use in other drawings
XLIST
XLIST Lists type/block name/layer name/color/linetype of a
nested
object in a block or an xref
TIPS
1. Create a new block on layer 0 so that the block will use the layer and properties of the current
layer it is inserted on. Text can be set to colour white.
2. Set ATTDIA to 1 to use dialog box with block attributes or 0 to use command line.
3. AutoCAD 2006 allows you to change the insertion point on the fly. INSERT and select
BASEPOINT. This allows you to pick anywhere in the drawing (and anywhere in the block you
are inserting) as your new insertion point (basepoint).
COMMON COMMANDS
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
A ARC Draw an arc
AL ALIGN Align an object
with another
AP APPLOAD Opens
application load dialogue box
AR ARRAY Opens array
dialogue box
AUDIT AUDIT Audit
drawing for errors
AV DSVIEWER Opens ariel
view of drawing
B BLOCK Opens block
dialogue box
C CIRCLE Draw a circle
CO COPY Copy an object
CHA CHAMFER Chamfer
between 2 non-parallel lines
COL COLOR Opens select
color dialogue box
CUI Opens customise user
interface dialogue
D DIMSTYLE Opens
dimstyle manager
DC ADCENTER Opens
designcenter
DI DIST Check a distance
DIV DIVIDE Inserts point
node a set division
DO DONUT Draw a solid
donut shape
DV DVIEW Perspective
view
E ERASE Erase a
selection
EX EXTEND Extend a
selection
F FILLET Draw an arc
between 2 intersecting lines
FI FILTER Opens filter
dialogue box
FLATTEN FLATTEN Converts
3D to 2D
G GROUP Launches the
group dialogue box
H HATCH Opens hatch and
gradient dialogue box
I INSERT Insert a block
IM IMAGE Launches image
manager
J JOIN Joins 2 objects to form single
object
JPGOUT JPGOUT Creates a
JPEG file of current drawing
L LINE Draw a line
LA LAYER Opens layer
manager
LE QLEADER Draw a leader
line (may need to adjust settings)
LEAD LEADER Leader line
with annotation
LI or LS LIST Display
information about objects in a text window
LO -LAYOUT Creates a new
layout tab
LTS LTScale Change the
linetype scale
M MOVE Move a selection
MA MATCHPROPERTIES Match
properties of an object
ME MEASURE Inserts point
node at input distance
O OFFSET Offset a
selection
OP OPTIONS Launches
options dialogue box
P PAN Pan in drawing
PE POLYEDIT Edit a
polyline
PL PLINE Draw a polyline
PLOT PLOT Opens
plot/print dialogue box
PO POINT Point marker or
node - DDPTYPE to change pointstyle
PR PROPERTIES Opens
properties dialogue box
PRE PREVIEW Preview a
plot
PU PURGE Opens purge
dialogue box to remove unused elements
RE REGEN Regenerate the
display
REC RECTANG Draw a
rectangle
REN RENAME Opens rename
dialogue box to rename blocks, layers, etc
RO ROTATE Rotate a
selection
SP SPELL Spell check a
selection - ALL to check entire drawing
T MTEXT Insert multiline
text
TB TABLE Opens insert a
table dialogue box
TP TOOLPALETTES Displays
toolpalette
TR TRIM Trim a selection
U UNDO Undo last command
UN UNITS Opens units
dialogue box
V VIEW Opens view
dialogue box
W WBLOCK Write a block
WHOHAS WHOHAS Displays
who has a drawing open
X EXPLODE Explode a
selection
XR XREF Opens
x-reference manager
Z ZOOM Zoom in display - A=All, E=EXTENTS,
W=WINDOW
CONTROL KEYS
CTRL+0 CLEANSCREEN Turns
user interface elements on/off
CTRL+1 PROPERTIES Turns
properties on/off
CTRL+2 ADCENTER Turns
design center on/off
CTRL+3 TOOLPALETTES
Turns tool palettes window on/off
CTRL+8 QUICKCALC
Launches calculator window
CTRL+A Select all
CTRL+C COPYCLIP Copies
objects to clipboard
CTRL+H Turns a group on
or off
CTRL+J Repeats last
command
CTRL+N NEW Opens create
new drawing dialogue box
CTRL+O OPEN Opens the
select file dialogue box
CTRL+P PLOT Opens the
plot dialogue box
CTRL+R CVPORT Switches
between viewports
CTRL+S QSAVE Opens the
save drawing as dialogue box
CTRL+SHIFT+
S
Save as
CTRL+V PASTECLIP Pastes
data from clipboard to drawing
CTRL+X CUTCLIP Removes
select object from drawing to clipboard
CTRL+Y REDO Performs the
operation cancelled by UNDO
CTRL+Z UNDO Undoes the
last operation
CTRL+TAB Switches
between open drawings
CTRL+PAGE
UP
Switch up between layout
tabs
CTRL+PAGE
DOWN
Switch down between
layout tabs
ARROW
UP/Down
Recall last command
COORDINATE ENTRY
#X,Y Location measured
by distance from 0,0 in current UCS
@X,Y Location measured
by distance from last point
#distance<angle
Location measured by distance and angle from 0,0 in current UCS
@distance<angl
e
Location measured by
distance and angle from last point
.x or.y or .xy etc
Location by extracting and combining coordinate values from 2 or 3 points
distance Location direct
from current position in direction of movement
<angle An angle
override from current point
DIMENSIONING
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
CTRL+8 QUICKCALC
Displays the calculator
D DIMSTYLE Opens
dimension style manager dialogue box
DAL DIMALIGNED Aligned
linear dimension line
DAN DIMANGULAR Angular
dimension line
DAR DIMARC Arc length
dimension
DBA DIMBASELINE Ordinate
dimension from baseline of previous dimension
DCO DIMCONTINUE Ordinate
dimension from 2nd extension line of previous
dimension
DDI DIMDIAMETER Diameter
dimension for circles and arcs
DED DIMEDIT Edit
dimension text on dimension objects
DI DIST Check a distance
DIMCENTER DIMCENTER
Creates center mark
DLI DIMLINEAR Linear
dimension
DOR DIMORDINATE Ordinate
point dimension
DOV DIMOVERRIDE Override
dimension style
DRA DIMRADIUS Radial
dimension for circles and arcs
ID ID Display the
co-ordinate values of a point
UN UNITS Opens drawing
units dialogue box
DRAWING OBJECTS
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
A ARC Draw an arc with 3
points
B BLOCK Opens block
dialogue box in order to make a block
BO BOUNDARY Draw a boundary
C CIRCLE Draw a circle
DO DONUT Draw a solid
donut shape
DT TEXT Single line text
DIV DIVIDE Inserts point
node a set division
EL ELLIPSE Draw an
ellipse
F FILLET Draw an arc
between 2 intersecting lines
G GROUP Opens object
grouping dialogue
H HATCH Opens hatch and
gradient dialogue box
L LINE Draw a line
LE QLEADER Draw a leader
line (may need to adjust settings)
LEAD LEADER Leader line
with annotation
ML MLINE Draw multilines
O OFFSET Offset an
object by distance
PL PLINE Draw a polyline
- a complex line
PO POINT Point marker or
node - DDPTYPE to change pointstyle
POL POLYGON Draw a
regular polygon 3 to 1024 sides
RAY RAY Construction
line in one direction
REC RECTANG Draw a
rectangle
REG REGION Region - for
shading for example
REVCLOUD REVCLOUD
Revision cloud - note can select a polyline
SPL SPLINE Spline or
smooth curve along points
T MTEXT Multi-line text
WIPEOUT WIPEOUT Masks
part of drawing for clarity
XL XLINE Construction
line of infinite length
TIP
1. Use PO to create node
point - if you do not see anything try changing the node properties
DDPTYPE.
2. Alternatively set
PDMODE to 3 to display an X at id point set PDMODE to 0 to clear.
EXTERNAL REFERENCE -
XREF
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
REFEDIT REFEDIT Edit an
external reference in place
XA XATTACH Opens select
reference file dialogue for attaching Xref
XB XBIND Opens Xbind
dialogue - allows import only of symbols etc
XC XCLIP Create a border
in an xref to hide outside area
XOPEN XOPEN Opens a selected xref in a new
window
XR XREF Opens Xref
manager dialogue box
TIP
1. Using RELATIVE PATH
to find the Xref file relative to the existing location can be a benefit if files
are moved between
locations or sent to others.
2. OVERLAID should be
used in place of ATTACH if 2 drawings share a common Xref, eg a
mechanical drawing could
be overlaid an electrical drawing to prevent the building outline ‘appearing’
twice.
NOTES
1. If a drawing has an
Xref, the status bar will show the Manage Xref icon.
FORMATTING
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
AP APPLOAD Opens
application load dialogue box
BE BEDIT Opens the edit
block definition dialogue box
BH BHATCH Opens hatch
and gradient dialogue box
CUI Opens customise user
interface dialogue
D DIMSTYLE Opens
dimension style manager dialogue box
DC ADCENTER Opens
designcenter
DDPTYPE DDPTYPE Opens
point style dialogue box
LA LAYER Opens layer
manager
LT DDLTYPE Opens line
type manager
LTS LTSCALE Change the
linetype scale
LW LWEIGHT Opens line
weight settings dialogue box
MA MATCHPROPERTIES Match
properties of an object
OP OPTIONS Launches
options dialogue box
OS DDOSNAP Opens
drafting settings object snap dialogue
PR DDCHPROP Opens
properties dialogue box
SSM SHEETSET Opens sheet
set manager palette
ST DDSTYLE Opens text
style dialogue box
TP TOOLPALETTES Displays
toolpalette
TS TABLESTYLE Opens table style dialogue
box
FUNCTION KEYS
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
F1 HELP Opens Autocad
help
F2 TEXTSCR
GRAPHSCR
Switches between text
screen and graphic area
F3 OSNAP Switches osnap
on/off
F5 or CTRL+E ISOPLANE
Cycles through isoplanes
F6 or CTRL+D COORDS
Turns coordinate display on/off
F7 or CTRL+G GRID Turns
grid on/off
F8 or CTRL+L ORTHO Turns
ortho on/off
F9 or CTRL+B SNAP Turns
snap on/off
F10 or CTRL+U POLAR
Turns polar on/off
F11 or
CTRL+W
OSNAP TRACK Turns object
snap tracking on/off
F12 DYNMODE Turns
dynamic input on/off
INQUIRY
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
AA AREA Calculate the
area
DI DIST Calculate a distance
and angle
DDPTYPE DDPTYPE Opens
point style dialogue box
ID ID Display the
co-ordinate values of a point
LI or LS LIST Display
information about objects in a text window
MASSPROP MASSPROP
Calculate the region/mass properties of a solid
PR PROPERTIES Opens
properties dialogue box
WHOHAS WHOHAS Displays
who has a drawing open
XLIST XLIST Lists
type/block name/layer name/color/linetype of a
nested object in a block
or an xref
TIP
1. If you wish to
identify a known location use ID and enter co-ordinates on command line to mark
that location with a
node point - if you do not see anything try changing the node properties
DDPTYPE.
2. Alternatively set PDMODE to 3 to display
an X at id point set PDMODE to 0 to clear.
LAYERS
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
LA LAYER Opens layer manager
LAYCUR LAYERCURRENT Change objects to
current layer
LAYDEL LAYERDELETE Delete a layer by
selecting object
LAYFRZ LAYERFREEZE Freeze a layer by
selecting object
LAYISO LAYERISOLATE Isolates a layer by
selecting object
LAYLCK LAYERLOCK Lock a layer by selecting
object
LAYMCH LAYERMATCH Match properties of a
layer
LAYMRG LAYERMERGE Moves objects from first
layer to second and deletes first
LAYOFF LAYEROFF Switches a layer off
LAYON LAYERON Switches all layers on except
frozen layers
LAYERP LAYERPREVIOUS Restores previous
layer state
LAYTHW LAYTHW Thaws all layers
LAYWALK LAYERWALK Walk through layers
LMAN LMAN Access Layer manager to save and
restore layer states
TIP
Layer States - Create a layer state in
Layer Manager (LA then Alt+S) to quickly switch between
different layer property settings.
MODIFYING OBJECTS
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
AL ALIGN Align an object with another
AR ARRAY Make multiple copies of an object
BR BREAK Break a line by defining 2 points
CO or CP COPY Copy object
COPYTOLAYE
R
COPYTOLAYER Copy object from one layer to
another
CHA CHAMFER Chamfer between 2 non-parallel
lines
E ERASE Erase selection
EX EXTEND Extend a line to meet another
F FILLET Draw an arc between 2 intersecting
lines
G GROUP Opens object grouping dialogue -
use to copy or move
LEN LENGTHEN Lengthen or shorten a line
M MOVE Move an object
MI MIRROR Mirror an object
MOCORO MOVE/COPY/ROTAT
E
Copy move and rotate an object with one
command
O OFFSET Offset an object by distance
RO ROTATE Rotate an object
S STRETCH Stretch an object
SC SCALE Scale an object
TR TRIM Trim objects
X EXPLODE Explode single entity to
component parts
TIP
1. When a grip point is selected cycle
through command options using keyboard spacebar -
sequence STRETCH, MOVE, ROTATE, SCALE,
MIRROR.
2. Switch between Group and Ungroup using
CTRL+H, yes H!!
OBJECT SELECTION (use with editing
commands)
SHORTCUT COMMAND COMMENT
A ADD Adds each successive object, switches
from remove
ALL ALL All objects on thawed layers
CP CPOLYGON Objects touching or enclosed by
selection polygon
C CROSSING Objects touched or enclosed by
window - Move right to
left
F FENCE Objects touch by single selection
fence
G GROUP Opens object grouping dialogue -
use with copy/move/etc
L LAST Most recently created visible object
P PREVIOUS Most recent selection set
R REMOVE Objects to remove from selection
set
SNAPANG SNAPANGLE Change the snap angle
from default 0°
W WINDOW Objects enclosed by window - Move
left to right
WP WPOLYGON Objects within a window polygon
TIP
1. Use SHIFT+LEFT MOUSE BUTTON to deselect
an object.
2. When a grip point is selected cycle
through command options using keyboard spacebar -
sequence STRETCH, MOVE, ROTATE, SCALE,
MIRROR.
3. Object Cycling - hold down the Control
key while picking, AutoCAD will cycle through all the
objects that fall under the pickbox as you
continue to pick. When the correct object is
highlighted, simply hit Enter. You don't
need to continue to hold down the Control key after
the first pick.
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