How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts

Introduction

This topic will show the default keyboard shortcuts, and explain the process of creating new keyboard shortcuts in the Settings dialog.

Default Keyboard Shortcuts

Many keyboard shortcuts exist by default. Below is a table showing all of the default shortcuts. You can revert to using only these shortcuts at any time by using the Reset All... option in the Customize Shortcuts page of the System tab in the Settings dialog.

 

Keyboard Shortcut	Function
F1 Shift+F1	Help Topics
Spacebar	OK (used to accept geometry selections; the same as right-click in the graphics area and click OK)
Esc	Cancel (the same as right-click in the graphics area and click Cancel)
N	Turn Normal Display On/Off
T	Turn Transparency On/Off
S	Turn Surface Shading On/Off
W	Turn Wireframe On/Off (V21 Interior Lines)
F	View Fit All
+	Zoom In
-	Zoom Out
Ctrl+Shift+A	Clear Selection
CTRL + A	Select All
CTRL + C Ctrl+Insert	Copy
CTRL + N	Open New File
CTRL + O	Open Existing File
CTRL + P	Print Active graphics area
CTRL + S	Save Active graphics area
CTRL + V Shift+Insert	Paste
CTRL + X Shift+Delete	Cut
CTRL + Y	Redo
CTRL + Z Alt+Backspace	Undo
CTRL + 1	View Top
CTRL + 2	View Front
CTRL + 3	View Back
CTRL + 4	View Bottom
CTRL + 5	View Right
CTRL + 6	View Left
CTRL + 7	View ISO2
CTRL + 8	Normal (View normal to a selected surface)
Left Arrow	Rotates the view 90° to the left along the vertical axis of the current view
CTRL + Left Arrow	Rotates the view 90° to the left along the current view
Shift + Left Arrow	Rotates the view 15° to the left along the vertical axis of the current view
ALT + Left Arrow	Pans the view to the left
Right  Arrow	Rotates the view 90° to the right along the vertical axis of the current view
CTRL + Right Arrow	Rotates the view 90° to the right along the current view
Shift + Right Arrow	Rotates the view 15° to the right along the vertical axis of the current view
ALT + Right Arrow	Pans the view to the right
Up Arrow	Rotates the view 90° up along the horizontal axis of the current view
Shift + Up Arrow	Rotates the view 15° up along the horizontal axis of the current view
ALT + Up Arrow	Pans the view up
Down Arrow	Rotates the view 90° down along the horizontal axis of the current view
Shift + Down Arrow	Rotates the view 15° down along the horizontal axis of the current view
ALT + Down Arrow	Pans the view down

Adjusting the View with Keys Examples

Arrow Keys

By using the Arrow Keys you can automatically rotate in 90° increments. Use the left and right arrows to rotate around the vertical axis of the current view, and up and down arrows to rotate around the horizontal axis of the current view.

 

	Up Arrow
Left Arrow		Right Arrow
	Down Arrow

 

Shift + Arrow Keys

By using Shift with the Arrow Keys you can automatically rotate in 15° increments. Use Shift with the left and right arrows to rotate around the vertical axis of the current view, and with the up and down arrows to rotate around the horizontal axis of the current view.

 

	Shift + Up Arrow
Shift + Left Arrow		Shift + Right Arrow
	Shift + Down Arrow

 

Ctrl + Arrow Keys

By using Ctrl with the left and right Arrow Keys you can automatically rotate in 90° increments along the current view.

 

Ctrl + Left Arrow

Ctrl + Right Arrow

How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts

To create a shortcut key

1. In the Settings dialog, move to the Customize Shortcuts page, of the System tab.
   
   

2. Select a function from the Commands list.
   
   

3. Click in the Add New Shortcut Key text box.
   
   

4. Press the key combination that will be assigned as the shortcut.
   
   

5. Click the Assign button to set the selected key combination as the shortcut.
   
   

6. Steps 2-5 can be repeated to create any number of shortcuts.
   
   

7. Click OK to close the Settings dialog.

 

Shortcut Creation Rules
	Valid
Function Keys only
Alt + Function Keys
Ctrl + Function Keys
Alt + Alphanumeric Keys
Ctrl + Alphanumeric Keys
Ctrl + Shift + Single Key
Ctrl + Alt + Single Key
Alt + Shift + Single Key
Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Single Key
Shift + Alphanumeric Keys
Keyboard Areas
Function Keys	Editing Keys
Alphanumeric Keys	Arrow Keys
System Keys	Numeric Keys

 

To delete a shortcut key

1. In the Settings dialog, move to the Customize Shortcuts page, of the System tab.
   
   

2. Select a command from the Commands list.
   
   

3. Choose an assigned shortcut from the Current Keys field and click the Remove button.
   
   The shortcut key is deleted.
   
   

4. Click Cancel to close the Settings dialog.

Example

1. In the Settings dialog, move to the Customize Shortcuts page, of the System tab.
   
   

2. In the Commands list, left click on the 3 Entities function.
   
   

3. Click in the Add New Shortcut field.
   
   

4. Hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard and press G.
   
   The input field now shows Ctrl + G.
   
   The Assign button becomes available.
   
   

5. Click on the Assign button.
   
   Ctrl + G shows in the Current Keys list.
   
   

6. Click OK to close the Settings dialog.
   
   

7. When the Ctrl key is held down and G key is pressed, the 3 Entities function is activated.