Hidden Keyboard Shortcuts and Command-Line Techniques in AutoCAD
Here are some powerful yet lesser-known keyboard shortcuts and command-line techniques to boost your AutoCAD efficiency:
Keyboard Shortcuts:
- Quick Object Snap: Press SHIFT while selecting objects to cycle through different object snap modes (endpoint, midpoint, intersection, etc.).
- Cycle Through Commands: Press ESC multiple times to cycle through recently used commands.
- Toggle Orthogonal Mode: Press F8 to toggle between orthogonal and free-form drawing.
- Toggle Object Snap Tracking: Press F11 to toggle object snap tracking on and off.
- Toggle Dynamic Input: Press F12 to toggle dynamic input on and off.
- Zoom Extents: Press Ctrl+Shift+Z to quickly zoom to extents of the drawing.
- Pan: Press Spacebar and then drag the mouse to pan the view.
- Zoom Window: Press Z and then select a window to zoom in on.
Command-Line Techniques:
- Command Aliases: Create custom aliases for frequently used commands to save time. For example,
L
forLINE
,C
forCIRCLE
, etc. - Direct Input: Use direct input to quickly specify coordinates and other parameters without using dialog boxes.
- Script Files: Create script files to automate repetitive tasks.
- Lisp Programming: Use AutoLISP to customize AutoCAD’s behavior and create custom tools.
- Command Line Options: Use command-line options to modify the behavior of commands. For example,
LINE 0,0 10,10
draws a line from (0,0) to (10,10).
Additional Tips:
- Customize Your Workspace: Create custom toolbars and menus to organize your favorite commands.
- Use the Quick Access Toolbar: Add frequently used commands to the Quick Access Toolbar for easy access.
- Explore the Options Dialog Box: Customize various settings, such as units, precision, and display options.
- Learn Keyboard Shortcuts: Master keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow.
- Practice Regularly: The more you practice, the faster and more efficient you’ll become.
By mastering these hidden techniques, you can significantly improve your productivity and efficiency in AutoCAD.