The most useful keyboard shortcuts for ArchiCAD

[Eric Bobrow]

Hi Everyone -

I am going to create a new ArchiCAD video tutorial focused on keyboard shortcuts and quick mouse-clicks. I want to go beyond the simple browser-based reference list and demonstrate the most useful ones onscreen.

I would love to get your suggestions for this topic, to make sure I create the best reference possible.

Below is a list of the current shortcuts that I will include - please respond and add your comments and suggestions if you have any ideas for things that I may have forgotten. I'm particularly interested in the ones that seem "cool" or that you "couldn't live without" or that are "hidden" (not widely known).

THE MOST IMPORTANT AND USEFUL KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR ARCHICAD

• GENERAL
  
  Open File: Command/CTRL - O
  Save File: Command/CTRL - S
  Print: Command/CTRL - P
  
  Command/CTRL - L: Layer Settings dialog
  
  CANCEL AND UNDO
  
  Escape key: one of the following actions (in this order) -
  Cancels current editing or drawing operation (if one is in process)
  Deselects Elements (if any are selected)
  Removes Marquee (if drawn)
  Switches to Arrow Tool (if set to another tool)
  
  Delete(Mac)/Backspace(PC) key: Backs up one step at a time in polywall, polyline or polygon input
  
  Command/CTRL - Z: Undo
  Option-Command / ALT-CTRL - Z: Redo
  
  COORDINATE VALUES AND PLACEMENT
  
  x, y, r, a, d: Set coordinate values in Tracker (d = distance = r = radius)
  + (plus key): add current value (whichever coordinate is being edited) to previous value shown in Tracker
  - (minus or dash key): subtract current value from previous value in Tracker
  (NOTE: in U.S., two dashes are necessary; one can be a separator between feet and inches, e.g. 5-6-)
  
  Enter key: confirms current Tracker values as shown or current mouse position, and clicks mouse
  
  b, t: In Info Box, set base and top values for wall, beam, column, slab, stair, mesh, object
  Windows and Doors accept b or t depending on which anchor is set
  Roofs accept b for pivot line height
  
  Shift-` (PC) or Custom shortcut (Mac): Create Guideline segment
  
  Shift-Option / ALT-SHIFT:
  Moves User Origin to node point (on the fly)
  
  SELECTION
  
  Shift key - temporarily activates Arrow tool; adds to selection set; removes from selection set
  
  NOTE: Shift key held down while drawing or editing (rubber-band line visible) constrains cursor to nearest known angle. ArchiCAD determines the nearest end or node point and makes that the Edit Origin; then determines the nearest known angle.
  
  W key:
  Built-in shortcut to toggle between the Arrow tool and the last used drawing tool
  
  TAB key:
  When hovering with the Arrow tool or Shift key over two or more overlapping elements, cycles through elements allowing you to choose which one to select
  
  Spacebar (holding down with Arrow tool active, or with Shift key also held down) - toggles QuickSelect (magnet) mode
  
  Group: Command/CTRL - G
  Ungroup: Option-Command/ALT-CTRL - G
  Suspend Groups: Option/ALT - G
  
  SETTINGS
  
  Command/CTRL - T:
  Element Settings (opens dialog based on which tool is active in Toolbox)
  Default Settings if nothing is selected; or Selected Element Settings
  
  Command-Option/CTRL-ALT - T:
  Edit Selection Set (allows parameter setting for multiple types of elements in one dialog)
  
  Option / ALT – Click: Eye-dropper
  
  Option-Command / ALT-CTRL – Click: Syringe
  
  Option-Command / ALT-CTRL – Click [in library part window]:
  Selects different part while transfering parameters, keeps style or “family resemblance”
  
  DRAWING AND EDITING
  
  Drag: Command/CTRL - D
  Rotate: Command/CTRL - E (NOTE: "e" is the last letter of "Rotate")
  Mirror: Command/CTRL - M
  
  Press and release Option / CTRL key:
  During Move, Rotate, Mirror or Elevate command, will make a copy
  
  Press and release Option-Command / CTRL-ALT keys:
  During Move, Rotate, Mirror or Elevate command, will make multiple copies until the Escape key is pressed
  
  Command/CTRL - U: Multiply
  
  Spacebar
  With a linear or polygon drawing tool active (e.g. wall, slab, roof, fill, line, polyline, arc, etc.)
  Magic Wand (autotrace)
  
  Drafting shortcuts in the Toolbar:
  Trim, Split, Adjust, Intersect, Fillet
  Keyboard shortcuts including the use of the Command or Control key by itself to Trim pieces with the scissors icon
  
  Command / CTRL – Click (depends on context):
  Nothing selected - Scissors icon - Trim pieces of linear or curved elements
  Dimension chain selected - add points
  Walls or Lines selected - Adjust to meet the edge of another element
  Wall(s) and/or Roof(s) selected - Trim or Crop to clicked element (roof or wall)
  
  NAVIGATION KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
  
  F2: Floor Plan
  F3: Show 3D Window (last-used selection or marquee will be active)
  Command/CTRL - F3: Axonometric view mode
  Option/ALT - F3: Perspective view mode
  F4 (Mac) / F5 (Windows): Show Selection/Marquee in 3D
  Command-F4 (Mac) / CTRL-F5 (Windows): Show All in 3D
  F6: Last Section
  F7: Last Layout
  
  Fit in Window
  Command / CTRL - '
  On Windows, and recent versions on Mac: Double-click middle-mouse button
  
  Mouse middle-button press: Pan view
  NOTE: There is a free add-on called Magic Prefs that makes this work for the Apple Magic Mouse, which does not have any buttons
  
  O key:
  In 3D window, triggers Orbit mode; end Orbit by hitting O again or using Escape key
  Middle-button plus Shift key:
  In 3D view, activates Orbit mode; release buttons to end Orbit mode
  
  Cursor keys (Left, Right, Up, Down):
  Scroll in that direction
  
  In Plan:
  Command / CTRL – Up Arrow: Go up a story
  Command / CTRL – Down Arrow: Go down a story
  
  In Layout Book:
  Option / ALT - Left Arrow: Previous Layout
  Option / ALT - Right Arrow: Next Layout
  
  MISCELLANEOUS SHORTCUTS
  
  Shift – Cursor keys (Left, Right, Up, Down):
  Nudge selected element(s) the distance set in the Snap Grid
  
  Shift-Option / Shift-ALT – Cursor keys:
  Nudge selected elements the larger distance set in the Construction Grid
  
  Shift-S:
  Turns on or off the Grid Snap (NOTE: this used to be “s” without the Shift-key modifier)
  
  M key:
  Measure tool; hit M again or Escape to finish Measure mode
  
  Q key:
  While drawing or editing an element with the mouse constrained on an angle (usually with the Shift key), this will cycle through Cursor Snap Variations.
  
  F key:
  While editing an element with a Pet Palette option in effect, this will “flick” through the available Pet Palette options.
  
  SPECIAL MOUSE CLICKS
  
  Double-click Magnifier Plus button: Zoom in to twice the magnification
  Double-click Magnifier Minus button: Zoom out to half the magnification
  
  Favorites palette – double-click: Activate tool and set default;
  If elements of that type are selected, injects the saved settings into the element(s)
  
  Flick buttons [<< and >>] in Library Part Settings or Info Box:
  Switches to next or previous library part; has the side effect of resetting the library part to the default settings.
  
  Empty hole button:
  In Window or Door Settings or Info Box, will switch to Empty Opening while maintaining the same width and height.
  
  Arrow-click or Shift-click on EDGE of hole (within polygon element such as Slab, Roof, Mesh, Fill, etc.):
  Select HOLE only (allows the hole to be dragged, drag a copy, multiply, deleted, etc.)

Please respond with your comments and suggestions as soon as possible.

Thanks for your help in this little project!

Eric

[Anonymous]

I find keyboard shortcuts to be invaluable. I guess it's whatever you get used to. I have all of my f keys programmed for the shortcuts I like, plus more shortcuts programmed as command 1,2,3,4,5 that I can do with my left hand while my right always stays on the mouse.

I have a 5 button mouse with scroll wheel, that does "return" to deal with all those OK dialogue boxes (there are lots of them) and a button to toggle from the arrow to the last tool used.

I don't have any shortcuts that take more that two keys and can't be done with one hand (my non mouse hand).

[ratnabhirud]

Thanks ejrolon

Regards,

Ratna

[Anonymous]

Here's a shortcut I like to use: When my left hand is on the keys & my right hand is on the mouse I don't use the DELETE key on the right hand side of my keyboard. Instead, I use the CUT command with a keyboard shortcut that is on the left hand side of my keyboard. Slightly unconventional, but that's what I do.

[Anonymous]

ejrolon wrote:

ratnabhirud wrote:
Hello Eric,

Is there any shortcut for repeating or continue same command ( not same as toggling between selection and last command used) like Trim by holding and pressing ctrl key from keyboard

Regards,

Ratna

Ctrl+B or Command+B will repeat the last command

A little bit of history...

This feature was requested by Greg Conyngham and was promptly added in the next version. (GS does listen)

[Katalin Takacs]

A new collection of the most useful ArchiCAD shortcuts and commands: http://archicadwiki.com/TopCommands

[Ernest Atanasiu]

finally, the guidelines make some sense with the use of 'Q'key...

[Eric Bobrow]

I really like that new ArchiCAD Wiki article on the most useful ArchiCAD shortcuts and commands! The page is easy to scan quickly, and has enough of a description that one can get the gist of the command usage right away. Well done, Graphisoft!

By the way, I started this topic off by posting a list of useful keyboard shortcuts. I asked for suggestions as I prepared a video tutorial.

I created a 32 minute video on this subject, and posted it on my ArchiCAD Tutorials YouTube Channel back in April, but never came back here to ArchiCAD-Talk to let folks know about it... oops.

Here is a link:
ArchiCAD Tutorial | Keyboard Shortcuts

I hope that you find it useful!

Eric

[Katalin Takacs]

Thank you Eric for this great tip, I pasted your tutorial video into the wiki article to make it more useful.

[Anonymous]

Hey Eric, thanks for the extensive tutorial. I tried using spacebar and control + up/down arrow to complete actions and it saves a lot of time.

[rgarand]

Some of the shortcuts I use have already been listed, for instance:

L - for layer....I am constantly in and out of my layer dialog and I want this to be a quick one key/one hand shortcut.

I - for intersection is another fav.

W - for grabbing an element while I am in teamwork mode really speeds up this process for me.

The only other items I can think of are not shortcuts on my keyboard, but shortcuts on my mouse. I have multiple buttons:

1 button for "Bring Forward"
1 button for "Send Backward"
1 button for "Solid Element Operations"

Great topic for the beginners to monitor. It has been proven at the cad shootouts over the years that shortcut keys for any cad program will increase efficiency.