Would you like to create a keyboard shortcut to your favorite command-option combination? For example, I would like a version of the COPY command that doesn’t repeat, that is, that ends after one copy operation. Here are the steps:
- Enter cui to open the Customize User Interface dialog box.
- In the Command List pane, click the New button.
- In the Properties pane, you can now specify your new command. Enter a name and a macro. If the macro is long, click the Ellipsis button at the right side of the Macro text box to open the Long String Editor. My macro was ^C^C_select;\_copy;_previous;;\\;;
- In the Customizations In All Files pane at the top, expand Partial CUI Files, then Custom, then Keyboard Shortcuts, so you can see the Shortcut Keys item.
- Find your new command in the Command List pane (it’s listed under the name you gave it and a tip is to choose Custom Commands from the drop-down list in that pane) and drag it to the Shortcut Keys item in the top pane.
- Click the command where it appears in the top pane. Its Properties pane now shows a Key(s) item. Click that item and then click its Ellipsis button. The Shortcut Keys dialog box opens.
- Press the shortcut key combination you want to use and you can see if it’s unassigned — or assigned to something you never use. Generally, it has to start with Ctrl, Ctrl+Shift, or Shift. Click OK.
- Click OK to close the Customize User Interface dialog box.
- Try out your new shortcut!
Note: For information on how to create a custom command, see this tip.
What keyboard shortcuts do you use? Leave a comment! Please also explain what they do, in case it isn’t obvious to everyone.
Related posts:




[...] can create your own keyboard shortcuts. See my tip, “Create a custom keyboard shortcut” for the detailed [...]
Hi Ellen.
I use the following keyboard shortcuts to avoid long commands.
D1, *DIMLINEAR
D2, *DIMALIGNED
D3, *DIMANGULAR
D4, *DIMCONTINUE
D5, *DIMBASELINE
D, *DIST
IF, *IMAGEFRAME
LD, *LAYDEL
LM, *LAYMRG
OB, *OBJECTSCALE
OK, *OVERKILL
RC, *REVCLOUD
T2T, *TXT2MTXT
WO, *WIPEOUT
XR, *CLASSICXREF
CS, *CHSPACE
CB, *COPYBASE
Hi Ellen,
I was wondering how to create a custom command to open a new drawing with a template attatched. If you could help me with this it would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Kyla
I should write a tip about it. You use “command line switches” and they control how AutoCAD starts. To see what happens when you double-click it, right-click it, choose Properties and click the Shortcut tab. Look in the Target box. You can duplicate that icon and change the command line. To open AutoCAD with a template called “my_template” you would add a space at the end (usually after acad.exe) then /t my_template. You might need to add the entire path and if there are spaces, put the entire statement in quotes.
Thank you for your quick reply, but what i was looking for was a way to create a command in a custom menu so when i click the menu i will get sub-menus that display my 3 different templates and when i choose one my template will come in on a new dwg. Sorry for the misunderstanding and i hope you might be able to help with this!
Thanks again,
Kyla
Here are some tips that will help you:
http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/creating-custom-toolbar-buttons/
http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/tutorial-create-a-custom-command/
http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/tutorial-automate-tasks-with-a-script-file/
http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/AutoCAD_tips_cmd_line_launch_programs.html
I don’t have much on custom menus–I don’t use menus any more.
You could also create a script file and execute that as a custom command.
Is there a way to make a shortcut key just one letter without using shift or control?
Not a regular keyboard shortcut, but you can use a 1-letter alias in place of a command.
http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/tutorial-create-a-command-alias-keyboard-shortcut/
is that possible to make a tool or lsp can get print in one click.More specific need to convert dwg in to pdf, Is there any shortcut key may reduce all step in every time?
Hi there. I am having trouble with my Autocad, in the way it seems as when I make my drawing bigger with my scroll on the mouse, then I can´t get in middle of grids as if it is automatic snap to grid, how can I turn it of?
Please help,
best regards
Skúli
how we can convert model to layout and layout to model
The CHSPACE command moves objects from one space to the other.