Here are the basic AutoCAD commands you need
If you are looking for the AutoCAD commands list….you are in the right place 🙂
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| ATT |
ATTDEF |
Opens attribute definition dialogue box |
| ATTEDIT |
ATTEDIT |
Edit attribute values for a specific block |
| B |
BLOCK |
Opens block dialogue box in order to make a block |
| BATTMAN |
BATTMAN |
Opens block attribute manager |
| BATTORDER |
BATTORDER |
Displays attribute order dialogue box |
| BC |
BCLOSE |
Closes the block editor |
| BCOUNT |
BCOUNT |
Counts the blocks in a drawing |
| BE |
BEDIT |
Opens the edit block definition dialogue box |
| EATTEXT |
EATTEXT |
Enhanced attribute extraction wizard to count blocks |
| GATTE |
GATTE |
Global attribute edit of multiple blocks |
| I |
INSERT |
Opens insert dialogue to insert a block |
| -I |
INSERT |
Insert a block by name |
| MINSERT |
MINSERT |
Insert block in rectangular array |
| REFEDIT |
REFEDIT |
Edit a block reference in place |
| REN |
RENAME |
Opens rename dialogue box to rename blocks, layers, etc |
| W |
WBLOCK |
Write a block – for use in other drawings |
| XLIST |
XLIST |
Lists type/block name/layer name/color/linetype of a |
|
|
nested object in a block or an xref |
COMMON COMMANDS
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| A |
ARC |
Draw an arc |
| AL |
ALIGN |
Align an object with another |
| AP |
APPLOAD |
Opens application load dialogue box |
| AR |
ARRAY |
Opens array dialogue box |
| AUDIT |
AUDIT |
Audit drawing for errors |
| AV |
DSVIEWER |
Opens ariel view of drawing |
| B |
BLOCK |
Opens block dialogue box |
| C |
CIRCLE |
Draw a circle |
| CO |
COPY |
Copy an object |
| CHA |
CHAMFER |
Chamfer between 2 non-parallel lines |
| COL |
COLOR |
Opens select color dialogue box |
| CUI |
|
Opens customise user interface dialogue |
| D |
DIMSTYLE |
Opens dimstyle manager |
| DC |
ADCENTER |
Opens designcenter |
| DI |
DIST |
Check a distance |
| DIV |
DIVIDE |
Inserts point node a set division |
| DO |
DONUT |
Draw a solid donut shape |
| DV |
DVIEW |
Perspective view |
| E |
ERASE |
Erase a selection |
| EX |
EXTEND |
Extend a selection |
| F |
FILLET |
Draw an arc between 2 intersecting lines |
| FI |
FILTER |
Opens filter dialogue box |
| FLATTEN |
FLATTEN |
Converts 3D to 2D |
| G |
GROUP |
Launches the group dialogue box |
| H |
HATCH |
Opens hatch and gradient dialogue box |
| I |
INSERT |
Insert a block |
| IM |
IMAGE |
Launches image manager |
| J |
JOIN |
Joins 2 objects to form single object |
| JPGOUT |
JPGOUT |
Creates a JPEG file of current drawing |
| L |
LINE |
Draw a line |
| LA |
LAYER |
Opens layer manager |
| LE |
QLEADER |
Draw a leader line (may need to adjust settings) |
| LEAD |
LEADER |
Leader line with annotation |
| LI or LS |
LIST |
Display information about objects in a text window |
| LO |
-LAYOUT |
Creates a new layout tab |
| LTS |
LTScale |
Change the linetype scale |
| M |
MOVE |
Move a selection |
| MA |
MATCHPROPERTIES |
Match properties of an object |
| ME |
MEASURE |
Inserts point node at input distance |
| O |
OFFSET |
Offset a selection |
| OP |
OPTIONS |
Launches options dialogue box |
| P |
PAN |
Pan in drawing |
| PE |
POLYEDIT |
Edit a polyline |
| PL |
PLINE |
Draw a polyline |
| PLOT |
PLOT |
Opens plot/print dialogue box |
| PO |
POINT |
Point marker or node – DDPTYPE to change pointstyle |
| PR |
PROPERTIES |
Opens properties dialogue box |
| PRE |
PREVIEW |
Preview a plot |
| PU |
PURGE |
Opens purge dialogue box to remove unused elements |
| RE |
REGEN |
Regenerate the display |
| REC |
RECTANG |
Draw a rectangle |
| REN |
RENAME |
Opens rename dialogue box to rename blocks, layers, etc |
| RO |
ROTATE |
Rotate a selection |
| SP |
SPELL |
Spell check a selection – ALL to check entire drawing |
| T |
MTEXT |
Insert multiline text |
| TB |
TABLE |
Opens insert a table dialogue box |
| TP |
TOOLPALETTES |
Displays toolpalette |
| TR |
TRIM |
Trim a selection |
| U |
UNDO |
Undo last command |
| UN |
UNITS |
Opens units dialogue box |
| V |
VIEW |
Opens view dialogue box |
| W |
WBLOCK |
Write a block |
|
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| WHOHAS |
WHOHAS |
Displays who has a drawing open |
| X |
EXPLODE |
Explode a selection |
| XR |
XREF |
Opens x-reference manager |
| Z |
ZOOM |
Zoom in display – A=All, E=EXTENTS, W=WINDOW |
CONTROL KEYS
| CTRL+0 |
CLEANSCREEN |
Turns user interface elements on/off |
| CTRL+1 |
PROPERTIES |
Turns properties on/off |
| CTRL+2 |
ADCENTER |
Turns design center on/off |
| CTRL+3 |
TOOLPALETTES |
Turns tool palettes window on/off |
| CTRL+8 |
QUICKCALC |
Launches calculator window |
| CTRL+A |
|
Select all |
| CTRL+C |
COPYCLIP |
Copies objects to clipboard |
| CTRL+H |
|
Turns a group on or off |
| CTRL+J |
|
Repeats last command |
| CTRL+N |
NEW |
Opens create new drawing dialogue box |
| CTRL+O |
OPEN |
Opens the select file dialogue box |
| CTRL+P |
PLOT |
Opens the plot dialogue box |
| CTRL+R |
CVPORT |
Switches between viewports |
| CTRL+S |
QSAVE |
Opens the save drawing as dialogue box |
| CTRL+SHIFT+ |
|
Save as |
| S |
|
|
|
|
|
| CTRL+V |
PASTECLIP |
Pastes data from clipboard to drawing |
| CTRL+X |
CUTCLIP |
Removes select object from drawing to clipboard |
| CTRL+Y |
REDO |
Performs the operation cancelled by UNDO |
| CTRL+Z |
UNDO |
Undoes the last operation |
| CTRL+TAB |
|
Switches between open drawings |
| CTRL+PAGE |
|
Switch up between layout tabs |
| UP |
|
|
| CTRL+PAGE |
|
Switch down between layout tabs |
| DOWN |
|
|
| ARROW |
|
Recall last command |
| UP/Down |
|
|
COORDINATE ENTRY
| #X,Y |
Location measured by distance from 0,0 in current UCS |
| @X,Y |
Location measured by distance from last point |
| #distance<angle |
Location measured by distance and angle from 0,0 in current UCS |
| @distance<angl |
Location measured by distance and angle from last point |
| e |
|
| .x or.y or .xy etc |
Location by extracting and combining coordinate values from 2 or 3 points |
| distance |
Location direct from current position in direction of movement |
| <angle |
An angle override from current point |
DIMENSIONING
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| CTRL+8 |
QUICKCALC |
Displays the calculator |
|
|
|
| D |
DIMSTYLE |
Opens dimension style manager dialogue box |
|
|
|
| DAL |
DIMALIGNED |
Aligned linear dimension line |
|
|
|
| DAN |
DIMANGULAR |
Angular dimension line |
|
|
|
| DAR |
DIMARC |
Arc length dimension |
|
|
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| DBA |
DIMBASELINE |
Ordinate dimension from baseline of previous dimension |
|
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| DCO |
DIMCONTINUE |
Ordinate dimension from 2nd extension line of previous |
|
|
dimension |
|
|
|
| DDI |
DIMDIAMETER |
Diameter dimension for circles and arcs |
|
|
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| DED |
DIMEDIT |
Edit dimension text on dimension objects |
|
|
|
| DI |
DIST |
Check a distance |
|
|
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| DIMCENTER |
DIMCENTER |
Creates center mark |
|
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| DLI |
DIMLINEAR |
Linear dimension |
|
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| DOR |
DIMORDINATE |
Ordinate point dimension |
|
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| DOV |
DIMOVERRIDE |
Override dimension style |
|
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| DRA |
DIMRADIUS |
Radial dimension for circles and arcs |
|
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|
| ID |
ID |
Display the co-ordinate values of a point |
|
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|
| UN |
UNITS |
Opens drawing units dialogue box |
|
|
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DRAW ING OBJECTS
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| A |
ARC |
Draw an arc with 3 points |
| B |
BLOCK |
Opens block dialogue box in order to make a block |
| BO |
BOUNDARY |
Draw a boundary |
| C |
CIRCLE |
Draw a circle |
| DO |
DONUT |
Draw a solid donut shape |
| DT |
TEXT |
Single line text |
| DIV |
DIVIDE |
Inserts point node a set division |
| EL |
ELLIPSE |
Draw an ellipse |
| F |
FILLET |
Draw an arc between 2 intersecting lines |
| G |
GROUP |
Opens object grouping dialogue |
| H |
HATCH |
Opens hatch and gradient dialogue box |
| L |
LINE |
Draw a line |
| LE |
QLEADER |
Draw a leader line (may need to adjust settings) |
| LEAD |
LEADER |
Leader line with annotation |
| ML |
MLINE |
Draw multilines |
| O |
OFFSET |
Offset an object by distance |
| PL |
PLINE |
Draw a polyline – a complex line |
| PO |
POINT |
Point marker or node – DDPTYPE to change pointstyle |
| POL |
POLYGON |
Draw a regular polygon 3 to 1024 sides |
| RAY |
RAY |
Construction line in one direction |
| REC |
RECTANG |
Draw a rectangle |
| REG |
REGION |
Region – for shading for example |
| REVCLOUD |
REVCLOUD |
Revision cloud – note can select a polyline |
| SPL |
SPLINE |
Spline or smooth curve along points |
| T |
MTEXT |
Multi-line text |
| WIPEOUT |
WIPEOUT |
Masks part of drawing for clarity |
| XL |
XLINE |
Construction line of infinite length |
| TIP |
|
|
EXTERNAL REFERENCE – XREF
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| REFEDIT |
REFEDIT |
Edit an external reference in place |
|
|
|
| XA |
XATTACH |
Opens select reference file dialogue for attaching Xref |
| XB |
XBIND |
Opens Xbind dialogue – allows import only of symbols etc |
| XC |
XCLIP |
Create a border in an xref to hide outside area |
| XOPEN |
XOPEN |
Opens a selected xref in a new window |
FORMATTING
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| AP |
APPLOAD |
Opens application load dialogue box |
| BE |
BEDIT |
Opens the edit block definition dialogue box |
| BH |
BHATCH |
Opens hatch and gradient dialogue box |
| CUI |
|
Opens customise user interface dialogue |
| D |
DIMSTYLE |
Opens dimension style manager dialogue box |
| DC |
ADCENTER |
Opens designcenter |
| DDPTYPE |
DDPTYPE |
Opens point style dialogue box |
| LA |
LAYER |
Opens layer manager |
| LT |
DDLTYPE |
Opens line type manager |
| LTS |
LTSCALE |
Change the linetype scale |
| LW |
LWEIGHT |
Opens line weight settings dialogue box |
| MA |
MATCHPROPERTIES |
Match properties of an object |
| OP |
OPTIONS |
Launches options dialogue box |
| OS |
DDOSNAP |
Opens drafting settings object snap dialogue |
| PR |
DDCHPROP |
Opens properties dialogue box |
| SSM |
SHEETSET |
Opens sheet set manager palette |
| ST |
DDSTYLE |
Opens text style dialogue box |
| TP |
TOOLPALETTES |
Displays toolpalette |
| TS |
TABLESTYLE |
Opens table style dialogue box |
FUNCTION KEYS
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| F1 |
HELP |
Opens Autocad help |
| F2 |
TEXTSCR |
Switches between text screen and graphic area |
|
GRAPHSCR |
|
|
|
|
| F3 |
OSNAP |
Switches osnap on/off |
| F5 or CTRL+E |
ISOPLANE |
Cycles through isoplanes |
| F6 or CTRL+D |
COORDS |
Turns coordinate display on/off |
| F7 or CTRL+G |
GRID |
Turns grid on/off |
| F8 or CTRL+L |
ORTHO |
Turns ortho on/off |
| F9 or CTRL+B |
SNAP |
Turns snap on/off |
| F10 or CTRL+U |
POLAR |
Turns polar on/off |
| F11 or |
OSNAP TRACK |
Turns object snap tracking on/off |
| CTRL+W |
|
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|
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| F12 |
DYNMODE |
Turns dynamic input on/off |
|
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INQUIRY
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| AA |
AREA |
Calculate the area |
|
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| DI |
DIST |
Calculate a distance and angle |
|
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| DDPTYPE |
DDPTYPE |
Opens point style dialogue box |
|
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| ID |
ID |
Display the co-ordinate values of a point |
|
|
|
| LI or LS |
LIST |
Display information about objects in a text window |
|
|
|
| MASSPROP |
MASSPROP |
Calculate the region/mass properties of a solid |
|
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| PR |
PROPERTIES |
Opens properties dialogue box |
|
|
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| WHOHAS |
WHOHAS |
Displays who has a drawing open |
|
|
|
| XLIST |
XLIST |
Lists type/block name/layer name/color/linetype of a |
|
|
nested object in a block or an xref |
LAYERS
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| LA |
LAYER |
Opens layer manager |
| LAYCUR |
LAYERCURRENT |
Change objects to current layer |
| LAYDEL |
LAYERDELETE |
Delete a layer by selecting object |
| LAYFRZ |
LAYERFREEZE |
Freeze a layer by selecting object |
| LAYISO |
LAYERISOLATE |
Isolates a layer by selecting object |
| LAYLCK |
LAYERLOCK |
Lock a layer by selecting object |
| LAYMCH |
LAYERMATCH |
Match properties of a layer |
| LAYMRG |
LAYERMERGE |
Moves objects from first layer to second and deletes first |
| LAYOFF |
LAYEROFF |
Switches a layer off |
| LAYON |
LAYERON |
Switches all layers on except frozen layers |
|
|
|
| LAYERP |
LAYERPREVIOUS |
Restores previous layer state |
| LAYTHW |
LAYTHW |
Thaws all layers |
| LAYWALK |
LAYERWALK |
Walk through layers |
| LMAN |
LMAN |
Access Layer manager to save and restore layer states |
MODIFYING OBJECTS
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
|
|
|
| AL |
ALIGN |
Align an object with another |
|
|
|
| AR |
ARRAY |
Make multiple copies of an object |
|
|
|
| BR |
BREAK |
Break a line by defining 2 points |
|
|
|
| CO or CP |
COPY |
Copy object |
|
|
|
| COPYTOLAYE |
COPYTOLAYER |
Copy object from one layer to another |
| R |
|
|
| CHA |
CHAMFER |
Chamfer between 2 non-parallel lines |
| E |
ERASE |
Erase selection |
| EX |
EXTEND |
Extend a line to meet another |
| F |
FILLET |
Draw an arc between 2 intersecting lines |
| G |
GROUP |
Opens object grouping dialogue – use to copy or move |
| LEN |
LENGTHEN |
Lengthen or shorten a line |
| M |
MOVE |
Move an object |
| MI |
MIRROR |
Mirror an object |
| MOCORO |
MOVE/COPY/ROTAT |
Copy move and rotate an object with one command |
|
E |
|
|
|
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| O |
OFFSET |
Offset an object by distance |
|
|
|
| RO |
ROTATE |
Rotate an object |
|
|
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| S |
STRETCH |
Stretch an object |
|
|
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| SC |
SCALE |
Scale an object |
|
|
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| TR |
TRIM |
Trim objects |
|
|
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| X |
EXPLODE |
Explode single entity to component parts |
|
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|
OBJECT SELECTION (use with editing commands)
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| A |
ADD |
Adds each successive object, switches from remove |
|
|
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| ALL |
ALL |
All objects on thawed layers |
|
|
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| CP |
CPOLYGON |
Objects touching or enclosed by selection polygon |
|
|
|
| C |
CROSSING |
Objects touched or enclosed by window – Move right to |
|
|
left |
|
|
|
| F |
FENCE |
Objects touch by single selection fence |
|
|
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| G |
GROUP |
Opens object grouping dialogue – use with copy/move/etc |
|
|
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| L |
LAST |
Most recently created visible object |
|
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| P |
PREVIOUS |
Most recent selection set |
|
|
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| R |
REMOVE |
Objects to remove from selection set |
|
|
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| SNAPANG |
SNAPANGLE |
Change the snap angle from default 0° |
|
|
|
| W |
WINDOW |
Objects enclosed by window – Move left to right |
|
|
|
| WP |
WPOLYGON |
Objects within a window polygon |
|
|
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OBJECT SNAP – OSNAP
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
|
|
|
| F3 |
OSNAP |
Switches osnap on/off |
|
|
|
| F9 or CTRL+B |
SNAP |
Turns snap on/off |
|
|
|
| F11 or |
OSNAP TRACK |
Turns object snap tracking on/off |
| CTRL+W |
|
|
| APP |
APPARENT INT |
Apparent intersection of 2 objects |
| CEN |
CENof |
Snap to centre point |
| DS |
DDOSNAP |
Opens drafting settings/object snap dialogue |
| END |
ENDPOINT |
Snap to end of line etc |
| EXT |
EXTENSION |
Extends lines beyond endpoint |
| FRO |
FROM |
Snap to an offset distance from an object snap |
| INS |
INSERTION |
Snap to insertion point of text or block |
| INT |
INTERSECTION |
Snap to intersection of lines, circles, arcs |
| MID |
MIDPOINT |
Snap to midpoint of line etc |
| MTP |
|
Snap midpoint between two points |
| NEA |
NEAREST |
Snap near to an object |
| NOD |
NODE |
Snap to point node |
| NON |
NONE |
Turns off object snap modes |
| PAR |
PARALLEL |
Continues a line parallel to existing |
| PER |
PERPENDICULAR |
Snap to perpendicular of line etc |
| QUA |
QUADRANT |
Snap to quadrant of circle, arc, ellipse |
| TAN |
TANGENT |
Snap to tangent of circle, arc, ellipse |
| TK |
TRACK |
Locate points without drawing lines |
|
|
|
| TT |
TT |
Temporary tracking point |
| TIP |
|
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TEXT
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| %%C |
Ø |
Diameter dimensioning symbol |
|
|
|
| %%D |
° |
Degrees symbol |
|
|
|
| %%O |
OVERSCORE |
Toggles overscore mode on/off |
|
|
|
| %%P |
± |
Plus/minus symbol |
|
|
|
| %%U |
UNDERSCORE |
Toggles underscore on/off |
|
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|
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| DT |
DTEXT |
Single line dynamic text – Justify/Align to fit within text |
|
|
line |
|
|
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| ED |
DDEDIT |
Edit text |
|
|
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| FIND |
FIND |
Opens find and replace dialogue box |
|
|
|
| JUSTIFYTEXT |
JUSTIFYTEXT |
Change the justification point without moving text |
|
|
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| MIRRTEXT |
MIRRTEXT |
Mirrtext 0 to turn off |
|
|
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| SCALETEXT |
SCALETEXT |
Scales text without moving the text insertion point |
|
|
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| SPELL |
SPELLCHECK |
Performs spellcheck – ALL checks all text in drawing |
|
|
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| ST |
STYLE |
Opens text style dialogue box |
|
|
|
| T or MT |
MTEXT |
Multiline/paragraph text |
|
|
|
| TCIRCLE |
TCIRCLE |
Places circle, slot, or rectangle around each selected text |
|
|
object |
| TEXT |
DTEXT |
Single line dynamic text |
| TEXTFIT |
TEXTFIT |
Stretches/shrinks text by selecting new start and/or end |
|
|
points |
|
|
|
| TORIENT |
TORIENT |
Rotates text, mtext, and attribute definition objects |
|
|
|
| TXT2MTXT |
TXT2MTXT |
Converts DTEXT to MTEXT |
|
|
|
| WIPEOUT |
WIPEOUT |
Masks part of drawing for clarity |
|
|
|
THREE DIMENSIONAL – 3D
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| 3D |
3D |
Command line 3D solid options |
|
|
|
| BOX |
BOX |
Draw a cube |
|
|
|
| CYLINDER |
CYLINDER |
Draw a cylinder |
|
|
|
| DDUCS |
DDUCS |
Opens ucs dialogue |
|
|
|
| DDUCSP |
DDUCSP |
Opens ucs dialogue at orthographic tab |
|
|
|
| EXT |
EXTRUDE |
Extrude a face |
|
|
|
| IN |
INTERSECT |
Intersect an object |
|
|
|
| REV |
REVOLVE |
Revolves an object about an axis |
|
|
|
| RR |
RENDER |
Open render dialogue box |
| SE |
SECTION |
Section |
| SL |
SLICE |
Slice a solid |
| SU |
SUBTRACT |
Subtract selection from solid |
| TOR |
TORUS |
Draw torus shape |
| UC |
DDUCS |
Displays UCS manager dialogue box |
| UCS |
UCS |
UCS command line options |
| UNI |
UNION |
Union solids |
| VPORTS |
VPORTS |
Opens viewport dialogue box |
| WE |
WEDGE |
Draw a wedge |
UCS
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| OB |
OBJECT |
Align UCS with an object, first select UCS |
| UC |
DDUCS |
Display UCS manager dialogue box |
| UCS |
UCS |
Universal co-ordinate system options |
| UCSICON |
UCSICON |
Change the UCS icon appearance |
| W |
WORLD |
Return to the WCS |
VIEW PORTS
| SHORTCUT |
COMMAND |
COMMENT |
| CTRL+R |
|
Cycle through viewports |
| CTRL+PAGE |
|
Switch up between layout tabs |
| UP |
|
|
|
|
|
| CTRL+PAGE |
|
Switch down between layout tabs |
| DOWN |
|
|
| DV |
DVIEW |
Perspective view. |
| MS |
MSPACE |
Switch to modelspace in a viewport |
| MV |
MVIEW |
Make a viewport in paperspace |
| PS |
PSPACE |
Switch to paperspace from viewport |
| VPORTS |
VPORTS |
Opens viewports dialogue box |
| -VPORTS |
-VPORTS |
Create a viewport using command line |
