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.