How Do I Create a Hotkey in AutoCAD?

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AutoCAD is a powerful software used by architects, engineers, and designers for creating precise 2D and 3D models. One of the key features that AutoCAD offers is the ability to create custom hotkeys.

Hotkeys are keyboard shortcuts that allow you to quickly access commands or tools without having to navigate through menus or click on icons. In this tutorial, we will explore how to create a hotkey in AutoCAD.

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

To create a hotkey in AutoCAD, we need to access the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor. The CUI Editor allows you to customize various aspects of the user interface, including creating hotkeys. To open the CUI Editor, you can use one of the following methods:

  • Method 1: Type “CUI” in the command line and press Enter.
  • Method 2: Go to the “Manage” tab in the ribbon, click on “Customization” in the “Customization” panel, and select “Customize User Interface” from the drop-down menu.

Step 2: Creating a New Command

In order to assign a hotkey to a specific command or tool, we first need to create a new command. Follow these steps:

  1. Select the desired workspace from the “Workspaces” drop-down menu in the upper-left corner of the CUI Editor.
  2. In the “Command List” section on the left side of the CUI Editor, scroll down and find an existing command that is similar to what you want your new command to do.
  3. Select that command and click on the “Copy” button at the top of the CUI Editor. This will create a copy of the selected command.
  4. Double-click on the newly created command to open its properties.
  5. Modify the “Name”, “Macro”, and “Description” fields according to your needs. The “Macro” field should contain the command you want to associate with the hotkey.
  6. Click on the “Apply” button to save your changes.

Step 3: Assigning a Hotkey

Now that we have created a new command, it’s time to assign a hotkey to it. Here’s how:

  1. In the CUI Editor, navigate to the “Partial Customization Files” section on the left side.
  2. Expand the file tree until you reach “Keyboard Shortcuts”.
  3. Click on “Shortcut Keys” to display all available hotkeys.
  4. Right-click anywhere in the right-hand pane and select “New Shortcut Key”.
  5. In the “Command List” section, find your newly created command and select it.
  6. In the “Properties” section, click on the input field next to “Key(s)” and press your desired key combination for the hotkey. For example, you can use Ctrl+Shift+D for a specific command.

Note: Make sure that your chosen hotkey combination does not conflict with any existing AutoCAD commands or Windows system shortcuts.

Step 4: Testing and Using Your Hotkey

Once you have assigned a hotkey to your command, it’s time to test it out. Follow these steps:

  1. Close the CUI Editor.
  2. In the AutoCAD workspace, press the assigned hotkey combination.
  3. The associated command or tool should now be executed without having to navigate through menus or click on icons.

Creating custom hotkeys in AutoCAD can greatly enhance your productivity by allowing you to access frequently used commands or tools with ease. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can create your own personalized hotkeys and streamline your workflow in AutoCAD.