How Do I Add a Tab to the Ribbon in AutoCAD?

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Adding a Tab to the Ribbon in AutoCAD

AutoCAD provides a powerful interface for creating and editing designs. One of the key features of AutoCAD is the Ribbon, which houses various tools and commands to enhance your workflow.

While the default Ribbon setup is comprehensive, you may find it useful to add a custom tab with your frequently used tools. In this tutorial, we will explore how to add a tab to the Ribbon in AutoCAD.

Step 1: Accessing the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor

To add a tab to the Ribbon, we need to use the Customize User Interface (CUI) editor. The CUI editor allows you to customize every aspect of AutoCAD’s interface, including the Ribbon.

  1. Open AutoCAD and type “CUI” in the command line or navigate to the “Manage” tab in the Ribbon and click on “Customization” > “Customize User Interface.”
  2. The CUI editor window will open, displaying various customization options.

Step 2: Creating a New Tab

Now that we have accessed the CUI editor, let’s create a new tab for our custom tools.

  1. In the CUI editor window, expand the “Ribbon” node on the left-hand side.
  2. Right-click on “Tabs” and select “New Tab” from the context menu.

  3. A new tab will be created with a default name like “New Tab (1)”. You can rename it by right-clicking on it and selecting “Rename.”

Step 3: Adding Panels to the Tab

Now that we have our custom tab, let’s add some panels to it. Panels are containers that hold individual tools and commands.

  1. Right-click on the newly created tab and select “New Panel” from the context menu.
  2. Rename the panel by right-clicking on it and selecting “Rename.”

Step 4: Adding Tools to the Panel

With our panel in place, it’s time to add tools and commands to it.

  1. Right-click on the panel and select “New Command” from the context menu.
  2. In the “Command List” section of the CUI editor, select the desired command or tool you want to add to your custom tab.

  3. Drag and drop the selected command onto your custom panel.

Step 5: Saving and Testing Your Custom Tab

Once you have added all your desired tools and commands, it’s time to save your changes and test your custom tab in AutoCAD.

  1. Click on the “Apply” button in the CUI editor window to save your changes.
  2. Close the CUI editor window.

  3. To view your custom tab, navigate to the Ribbon in AutoCAD. You should now see your newly added tab with all its panels and tools.

Note: If you don’t see your custom tab immediately, you may need to reload the CUI file. To do this, type “CUILOAD” in the AutoCAD command line, select your CUI file, and click “Load.”

Congratulations! You have successfully added a custom tab to the Ribbon in AutoCAD.

This customization allows you to access your frequently used tools quickly and efficiently, streamlining your workflow and enhancing your productivity.