How to Add Shortcut Command in AutoCAD?

Customizing Shortcut Commands in AutoCAD

Adding shortcut commands in AutoCAD can significantly enhance your efficiency and streamline your workflow. This guide provides a comprehensive step-by-step approach to creating custom shortcuts in AutoCAD 2025.

Steps to Add Shortcut Commands

1. Access the Customize Tab
   Begin by opening AutoCAD 2025. Navigate to the “Customize” tab in the top menu. This area allows you to modify existing commands and explore customization options.

2. Select a Command
   In the “Command List” pane, you will see various commands available. Browse through the list to find the command you wish to customize. Alternatively, you can find specific commands under a user interface element in the “Customizations In” pane.

3. Modify Command Properties
   Once you select a command, look for the “Properties” pane. Here, you can alter various properties related to the selected command. This can include renaming it, changing its icon, or setting the command’s tooltip.

4. Save Your Changes
   After making changes, ensure you save your work. Click on the save option to maintain your customizations for future use.

Creating Keyboard Shortcuts

1. Open Shortcut Settings
   From the main menu, go to “Options” and select “Settings.” In the user interface, navigate to “Management” followed by “Shortcut keys.”

2. Select the Command for Shortcuts
   In the “Shortcut keys” dialog, you will see a list of commands. Choose the command for which you want to create a new keyboard shortcut.

3. Define a New Shortcut Key
   Click on the “Create” button. A dialog box will appear where you can enter your desired keyboard combination. Make sure to choose a combination that doesn’t conflict with existing shortcuts.

4. Finalize the Shortcut Key
   After entering the new shortcut key, click “OK” to save the changes. Your custom shortcut is now ready for use.

Creating Command Aliases

1. Editing Aliases
   Go to the “Manage” tab on the ribbon. From the Customization panel, select “Edit Aliases” under the “Edit Aliases” option. This opens the PGP file, which contains the alias definitions.

2. Add Your Alias
   In Notepad, you can now define a new command alias. Use the proper syntax to ensure the new alias integrates correctly. For example, type your alias followed by the command it relates to.

3. Save and Reinitialize
   After entering the new alias, save the PGP file. To activate the new alias, go back to AutoCAD and enter REINIT in the command line. Select “PGP File” and confirm to apply the changes.

Managing Existing Shortcut Keys

1. Viewing Current Shortcuts
   To see your existing shortcuts, follow the same steps to access “Shortcut keys” via the options menu. Review the list of commands and their associated shortcuts.

2. Editing or Deleting Shortcuts
   To modify a shortcut, select the command and click on the “Edit” button. You can change the existing shortcut key or remove it altogether by selecting “Delete.”

Common Commands and Their Shortcuts

• Save Drawing
  Command: SAVE
  Shortcut: CTRL+S

• New Drawing
  Command: NEW
  Shortcut: CTRL+N

• Copy Selected Items
  Command: COPY
  Shortcut: CTRL+C

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reset my custom shortcuts to default settings?

To reset your custom shortcuts, navigate to the same “Shortcut keys” dialog. Look for an option to restore defaults, which will revert all changes.

Can I import shortcut keys from an earlier version of AutoCAD?

Yes, you can import shortcut keys from previous versions by opening the old PGP file and transferring necessary entries to the current version’s PGP file, followed by reinitializing.

Are keyboard shortcuts customizable for all commands in AutoCAD?

Most commands in AutoCAD are customizable. However, some essential or pre-defined commands cannot be altered due to system functionality. Always check the command properties before creating a shortcut.