AutoCAD is a computer-aided application created by the AUTODESK company and used worldwide. It is used to create 2D and 3D drawings by Architects, Civil engineers, Mechanical engineers, Drafters, Interior designers etc to save time and create more accuracy in the drawings.
Nowadays paper drafting is replaced by AutoCAD because hand drafting in paper takes more time and we cannot edit it quickly for correction. AutoCAD saves lots of time and very efficient application for digital designers. In AutoCAD, we have multiple options for drafting and modelling.
Nowadays shortcut buttons are very important for digital creators to save time and energy. AutoCAD also has 200+ shortcuts that make the application more reliable and flexible to the users. Below are the most important AutoCAD shortcut buttons/commands one should know before proceeding to the application.
AutoCAD shortcut used for general features
Key
Comments
Ctrl+d
Toggle coordinate display
Ctrl+g
Toggle Grid
Ctrl+e
Cycle isometric planes
Ctrl+f
Toggle running object snaps
Ctrl+h
Toggle Pick Style
Ctrl+Shift+h
Toggle Hide pallets
Ctrl+i
Toggle Coords
Ctrl+Shift+i
Command Line
Ctrl+0 (Zero)
Clean Screen
Ctrl+1
Property Palette
Ctrl+2
Design Center Palette
Ctrl+3
Toggle Palette
Ctrl+4
Sheet Set Palette
Ctrl+6
DBConnect Manager
Ctrl+7
Markup Set Manager Palette
Ctrl+8
Quick Calc
Ctrl+9
Command Line
Ctrl+c
Copy object
Ctrl+x
Cut object
Ctrl+v
Paste object
Ctrl+Shift+c
Copy to clipboard with base point
Ctrl+Shift+v
Paste data as a block
Ctrl+z
Undo the last action
Ctrl+y
Redo last action
Ctrl+[ or Ctrl+/
Cancel current command
Ctrl+ESC
Cancel current command
Ctrl+n
New Drawing
Ctrl+s
Save drawing
Ctrl+o
Open drawing
Ctrl+p
Plot dialog box
Ctrl+Tab
Plot dialog box
Ctrl+Shift+Tab
Plot dialog box
Ctrl+Page up
Switch to the previous tab in the current drawing
Ctrl+Page down
Switch to the next tab in the current drawing
Ctrl+q
Exit
Ctrl+a
Select all objects
Key
Commands
Comments
A
ARC
Creates an arc.
AA
AREA
Calculates the area and perimeters of selected objects.
AL
ALIGN
Align any objects taking reference to other objects in 2D and 3D.
AP
APPLOAD
Load any applications.
AR
ARRAY
Create multiple copies of an object in a similar pattern.
B
BLOCK
Create a block.
BC
BCLOSE
Close the block editor.
BO
BOUNDRY
Create a polyline from an enclosed area.
BS
BSAVE
Save block definition.
C
CIRCLE
Create a circle.
CAM
CAMERA
Set the camera for 3D perspective views.
CH
PROPERTIES
Properties of existing objects.
COL
COLOUR
Set the colour of any objects.
CO
COPY
Copy the objects.
CYL
CYLINDER
Create a cylinder in 3D.
D
DIMSTYLE
Create and modify dimension styles.
DAN
DIMANGULAR
Creates angular dimensions.
DAR
DIMARC
Create arc length dimensions.
DCE
DIMCENTER
Creates the centre of a circle.
DDI
DIMDIAMETER
Create diameter dimension.
DED
DIMEDIT
Edits extension lines and dimension texts.
DI
DIST
Measures the distance.
DIV
DIVIDE
Divide any line into given parts.
DT
TEXT
Creates a text box.
E
ERASE
Remove objects.
EL
ELLIPSE
Create an ellipse.
EPDF
EXPORT PDF
Exports selected drawings to PDF formats.
EX
EXTENT
Extent any selected lines to the edges of other objects.
EXP
EXPORT
Save drawings to different file formats.
EXIT
QUIT
Exit from the application.
F
FILLET
Rounds and fillets the edges of objects.
FI
FILTER
Filter the drawings.
G
GROUP
Create a group of required selected objects.
GD
GRADIENT
Fills a selected object with a gradient fill.
GEO
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
Gives the geographic locations of a specific file.
H
HATCH
Fill a closed block with the required textures.
HI
HIDE
Hide any object, text etc.
HE
HATCHEDIT
Edit an existing hatch part.
I
INSERT
Insert an object.
IAD
IMAGE ADJUST
Adjust image brightness, contrast etc.
IMP
IMPORT
Imports any files to the drawing.
IN
INTERSECT
Creates a 3D solid or 2D region from overlapping solids of the region.
J
JOIN
Join similar objects to make it a single unit.
JOG
DIMJOGGED
Create jog dimensions for circles.
L
LINE
Create a line of given dimensions.
LA
LAYER
Create different layers.
LI
LIST
Display a list of properties data of a selected object.
LO
LAYOUT
Creates or modifies selected layout tabs.
LT
LT SCALE
Load and modify line types.
LW
WEIGHT
Change the line weight of a selected object.
M
MOVE
Move selected objects.
MA
MATCHCROP
Applies the properties of selected object to other objects.
MAT
MATERIALS
Shows/Hide the materials layout.
ME
MEASURE
Measures the length of a selected object
MI
MIRROR
Creates a duplicate copy of an object.
ML
MLINE
Creates multiple parallel lines.
MT
MTEXT
Creates multiple text objects box.
MV
MVIEW
Creates and controls layout viewports.
O
OFFSET
Creates concentric circles, lines etc.
OP
OPTION
Customise the settings.
OS
OSNAP
Creates running objects in snap mode.
P
PAN
Adds a parameter with grips to the dynamic block definition.
PO
POINT
Creates a point object.
POL
POLYGON
Creates a polygon.
PU
PURGE
Remove the unused objects, materials etc from the drawing.
PYR
PYRAMID
Creates a 3D pyramid.
QSAVE
QSAVE
Save the current drawing.
REC
RECTANG
Create a rectangle of specific dimensions.
RO
ROTATE
Rotate any selected object.
RR
RENDER
Create realistic images.
S
STRETCH
Stretch an object up to the required dimensions or point.
DHRUBAJYOTI ROY, the visionary behind Builtarchi.com, who holds a passion for transforming ideas into tangible and awe-inspiring structures. His multifaceted persona encompasses a love for cars & by profession an Architect.
