How Do I Create a Shortcut in AutoCAD?

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Creating shortcuts in AutoCAD can help you save time and streamline your workflow. Instead of manually navigating through menus and commands, you can create personalized shortcuts to access frequently used tools and functions with just a few clicks. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating shortcuts in AutoCAD.

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

To create shortcuts in AutoCAD, we need to access the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor. This tool allows us to customize the AutoCAD interface, including creating new shortcuts. To open the CUI Editor, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Click on the “Customize” tab in the AutoCAD ribbon.
  • Step 2: In the “Customize” tab, click on the “Customize User Interface” button.
  • Step 3: The CUI Editor window will appear.

Step 2: Creating a New Shortcut

Now that we have accessed the CUI Editor, let’s proceed with creating a new shortcut:

  • Step 1: In the CUI Editor window, expand the “Partial Customization Files” section.
  • Step 2: Expand the “Customizations” section.
  • Step 3: Expand the “+” symbol next to “Keyboard Shortcuts.”

You will now see a list of different categories such as “Drawing,” “Modify,” and more. These categories represent different commands and tools available in AutoCAD. To create a shortcut for a specific command, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Locate the desired category and expand it.
  • Step 2: Find the command for which you want to create a shortcut.
  • Step 3: Right-click on the command and select “Copy.”

We have copied the command, now let’s assign a shortcut key to it:

  • Step 1: On the left side of the CUI Editor window, find the “Shortcut Keys” section.
  • Step 2: Expand the “+” symbol next to “Shortcut Keys.”

You will see various subcategories such as “Global,” “Drawing,” “Modify,” etc. To create a shortcut for our previously copied command, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Locate the appropriate subcategory related to your copied command.
  • Step 2: Right-click on the subcategory and select “Paste.”

The pasted command will now appear under the selected subcategory. To assign a shortcut key to this command, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Click on the “+” symbol next to your pasted command.
  • Step 2: In the right panel, you will see an option named “Access Key.” Click on it.

A textbox will appear next to the “Access Key” option. This is where we will assign a shortcut key. Follow these steps to assign a key combination as your shortcut:

  • Step 1: Click inside the textbox.
  • Step 2: Press the desired key combination. For example, you can press “Ctrl + Shift + A” to assign this shortcut.
  • Step 3: Click outside the textbox to save your shortcut.

Congratulations! You have successfully created a new shortcut in AutoCAD. Now you can use your assigned key combination to access the specific command or tool with ease.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to enhance your experience with shortcuts in AutoCAD:

  • Create Multiple Shortcuts: You can create multiple shortcuts for the same command by repeating the steps mentioned above and using different key combinations.
  • Edit or Delete Shortcuts: To edit or delete existing shortcuts, simply locate the desired command or shortcut in the CUI Editor and make the necessary changes.
  • Export and Import Shortcuts: If you want to use your customized shortcuts on another computer or share them with colleagues, you can export and import them using the “Transfer” tab in the CUI Editor.

Shortcuts can significantly improve your productivity in AutoCAD. By customizing your interface with personalized shortcuts, you can work more efficiently and complete tasks faster. So start creating shortcuts today and experience the benefits firsthand!

We hope this tutorial has been helpful in guiding you through the process of creating shortcuts in AutoCAD. Happy designing!