150 AutoCAD Command and Shortcut List With PDF

AutoCAD Commands – The Essential List

Hello there. We probably don’t have to tell you that AutoCAD is one of the leading CAD programs available on the market today. Whether the computer-aided design is in your life as a business or a hobby, it’s likely you rank this particular software fairly highly (if not the top) in terms of its design capabilities.

If you’ve taken the plunge and purchased it for yourself, you’ll soon find that it takes time to get to grips with everything AutoCAD has to offer. The sophistication of the technology, advanced user interface and sheer range of available tools can, understandably, be a little overwhelming at first.

For this article, we’re going to assume that you’ve had the opportunity to play around with AutoCAD, get comfortable with the interface and establish which tools will be most useful for your particular line of work.

Got the basics firmly under your belt? Great! Now it’s time to take advantage of the AutoCAD commands. Yes, the folks behind the software know that there’s a lot to take in, so they created handy shortcuts that enable you to navigate the controls with ease. Once a few of these commands become second nature, you’ll be producing work in the most efficient way possible.

About AutoCAD

AutoCAD is the flagship product of the software company Autodesk. Created in 1982 to enable the production of high-quality 2D and 3D technical drawings, it was actually the first CAD software developed for PCs.

Though initially designed to cater to the mechanical engineering industry, the capabilities of AutoCAD have since expanded to suit a wide range of professionals including architects and animators.

If you don’t have AutoCAD installed on your pc, Download & Install AutoCAD 2019 (32 + 64 bit) from here.

Today, AutoCAD is considered to be one of the leading design programs available and has grown to be the most widely used CAD software out there. With new applications facilitating mobile-friendly options and use of cloud storage services, the software continues to evolve by integrating technological advancements.

What is AutoCAD commands?

At the bottom of the drawing screen in AutoCAD, you’ll find the command window. Trust us: this handy little box is a lifesaver when you have lots of work to do and you’re up against a deadline.

In the most basic terms, commands and shortcuts are words or letters that you type into the command window to produce an action. For example, if you wish to draw an arc, rather than searching for an arc among the tools, you could just use a command. In this case, type ‘ARC‘ or even ‘A‘ into the command window, press Enter, and an arc will appear.

Some commands come with shortcuts (a single letter alternative), while actions that are a little less common tend to require a command that is 3 or more letters long. AutoCAD recognizes hundreds of commands and, once you get more advanced, you can even customize the toolbar—adding or prioritizing the commands you find to be the most useful.

(See Also: Some Important Software Used In Civil Engineering)

This guide lists AutoCAD shortcuts in groups according to the command sequence. For example, all text relevant shortcuts are grouped together.

Notes:

1. Generally, a shortcut prefixed with ” -“ will suppress the associated dialogue from appearing.
2. Some of the following shortcuts only work with AutoCAD Old Versions.
3. Not all of the shortcuts listed work with AutoCAD LT.

AutoCAD Command Shortcuts

BLOCKS

TIPS:

1. Create a new block on layer 0 so that the block will use the layer and properties of the current
   layer it is inserted on. Text can be set to colour white.
2. Set ATTDIA to 1 to use dialogue box with block attributes or 0 to use the command line.
3. AutoCAD 2006 allows you to change the insertion point on the fly. INSERT and select
   BASEPOINT. This allows you to pick anywhere in the drawing (and anywhere in the block you
   are inserting) as your new insertion point (base point).

COMMON COMMANDS

CONTROL KEYS

COORDINATE ENTRY

DIMENSIONING

DRAWING OBJECTS

TIP:

1. Use the PO to create node point – if you do not see anything try changing the node properties DDPTYPE.
2. Alternatively set PDMODE to 3 to display an X at id point set PDMODE to 0 to clear.

EXTERNAL REFERENCE – XREF

TIP:

1. Using RELATIVE PATH to find the Xref file relative to the existing location can be a benefit if files are moved between locations or sent to others.
2. OVERLAID should be used in place of ATTACH if 2 drawings share a common Xref, eg a mechanical drawing could be overlaid an electrical drawing to prevent the building outline ‘appearing’ twice.

NOTES:

1. If a drawing has an Xref, the status bar will show the Manage Xref icon.

FORMATTING

FUNCTION KEYS

INQUIRY

TIP:

1. If you wish to identify a known location use ID and enter coordinates on the command line to mark that location with a node point – if you do not see anything try changing the node properties DDPTYPE.
2. Alternatively set PDMODE to 3 to display an X at id point set PDMODE to 0 to clear.

LAYERS

TIP:

1. Layer States – Create a layer state in Layer Manager (LA then Alt+S) to quickly switch between different layer property settings.

MODIFYING OBJECTS

TIP:

1. When a grip point is selected cycle through command options using keyboard spacebar – sequence STRETCH, MOVE, ROTATE, SCALE, MIRROR.
2. Switch between Group and Ungroup using CTRL+H, yes H!!

OBJECT SELECTION (use with editing commands)

TIP:

1. Use SHIFT+LEFT MOUSE BUTTON to deselect an object.
2. When a grip point is selected cycle through command options using keyboard spacebar – sequence STRETCH, MOVE, ROTATE, SCALE, MIRROR.
3. Object Cycling – hold down the Control key while picking, AutoCAD will cycle through all the objects that fall under the pick box as you continue to pick. When the correct object is highlighted, simply hit Enter. You don’t need to continue to hold down the Control key after the first pick.

OBJECT SNAP – OSNAP

TIP:

1. Use TAB to cycle through Osnap points.
2. SHIFT+RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON to reveal Osnap options

TEXT

TIPS:

1. To fit or align text in a defined area using DTEXT and select JUSTIFY/ALIGN or FIT – very useful if the text is enclosed by a rectangle/ circle/etc.

NOTES:

1. Text entered in paper space is 1:1, e.g. 5mm high text will print 5mm high.

THREE DIMENSIONAL – 3D

UCS

VIEWPORTS

TIP:

1. To prevent a viewport from editing right mouse click on the viewport and select DISPLAY LOCKED/YES

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AutoCAD commands: final thoughts

There you have it—an introduction to some of the most useful AutoCAD commands. They really can transform your experience of working with this software and improve overall productivity significantly. Plus, if you reach the level where you’re able to customize the quick access toolbar, you’ll end up with a program tailored to your particular style of work. Mastering the commands is, therefore, one of the best ways to get the most out of your investment in AutoCAD.

While our list is fairly comprehensive, should you wish to find more, Autodesk includes a full guide to shortcuts on their website.

I hope this article will help you. You may also want to see my other post from my blog.

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