Key Commands In Autocad

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Paciente Flynn

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Aug 5, 2024, 4:19:45 AM8/5/24

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AutoCADis 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.

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 the use of cloud storage services, the software continues to evolve by integrating technological advancements.

The above list of AutoCAD commands should help make it easy when working with the AutoCAD software and also improve the overall productivity. While a majority of beginners only master the basic AutoCAD commands, mastering the entire AutoCAD command list gives you an upper hand when it comes to working with AutoCAD.

You might possibly find some third party developer who could figure out a way to do this using some of the interface options available in full AutoCAD. But I doubt this would ever get into the core program in any CAD software, if you want speed then learn keyboard entry and shortcuts even saying the word 'line' could never be as quick as hitting the 'l' key followed by or . And how would you translate "no not the end of that line, the one above it and about 3 units to the left of the red circle centre,,,,, no the light red not the dark red. Oops sorry I meant right" (and then oops would just undelete the whole section it took you 3 hours to describe).

I know the shortcuts but all I mean is for example, I'd say "line" , that would be just like doing "l" and space bar and then I'd start the line just like you normally would with the mouse. Maybe you would have to have a "wake up" word like Alexa does. Could be a dead end but seems like an idea that I would use. I'm sure there would be headaches with it though.

Two tiny problems with that. First, you would have to write a macro that performs this chain of actions. Second, there is no way in LT to call a macro other than placing it as an icon on a ribbon or menu etc. So you can't start a macro by typing it's name (so also not by saying it out loud).

Agreed, but if anything like that where to be introduced it would no doubt be in full AutoCAD were you do actually pay for time saving options. I doubt it would filter through to LT other than maybe some very basic features.

I don't know about AutoCAD LT, as I use the full version of AutoCAD, but if you currently type AutoCAD commands onto a command line, you should be able to speak those same commands. I've used voice software to run macros, lisp routines, and scripts.

For instance, it would be great if I could hold the cntrl+1(for example) for the computer microphone to listen as I dictate a command to create a new Layer called 'FS Equipment' and the layer window would pop up automatically with the new named layer. The user would just have to manually determine the color and linetype. This would easily shave 10 seconds every time you create a new layer. You can use it for plotting, publishing, xrefs and so much more. Over time you can shave lifetimes off your work.

Ah, very interesting. I don't beleive that I have ever used the "AI" commands before.

I found a list of the "AI" commands at the following two links. The two lists are not identical, so I included both. The first list only gives the version of when the command was included with AutoCAD. The second link gives more useful information in relation to the commands and their configuration in the Customize User Interface (CUI). This seems to be a very useful reference at first glance, if you are going to customize the AutoCAD workspace.

AutoCAD Commands starting with 'A'

Command-CUI Cross Reference

I also found the following quote at Take Me to Your Multileaders on Page 6:

"Commands beginning with the letters "AI" are AutoCAD commands that are meant to be called through a menu interface. So you're not likely to use AIMLEADEREDITADD except in a menu or lisp program."

So maybe by now you are coming around to my guess on what "AI" stands for, as I could not find a direct reference. I think it stands for "AutoCAD Interface", since these AutoCAD commands are meant to be used in a menu interface.

You're welcome. Thanks for bringing up the topic. A couple more observations.

You can see that the lists of "AI" commands I referenced are not all inclusive. Like the command you noted "aiobjectscaleadd" is not in either of the two lists, although it does come up on the command line when you type it. Also if you go into the CUI, and look at the "Add Current Scale" you will see the macro listed as ^C^C_AIOBJECTSCALEADD.

Apparently some of the commands have been deprecated (no longer exist) or no longer work. For instance, if I type in AI_BOX at the command line in Civil 3D 2012, the system indicates "unknown command". If I go into the CUI and look at one of the Box commands, I still see ^C^C_ai_box listed though. However, if I copy the Box command from the CUI onto a tool palette and try to use it, the system still indicates "unknown command". I tried using the REDEFINE command to see if I could restore the AI_BOX command, but could not.

It is interesting that these commands are not well documented. Also not sure what the significance of why you would have a specialized command for use in say a toolbar, while having a different command that essentially does the same thing at the command line.

Anyway, the mysteries of AutoCAD go on and on.

Most, if not all, of the "ai_*" commands started life as Lisp, and some of these were meant for internal use by Express Tools (therefor not documented well, if at all). Many of these have been absorbed into the Core product. The original example of "ai_molc" is s good one. If you happen to have the VLIDE open with the right configuration, you will get an error when opening a drawing about "overwiting a protected symbol" (or something close to that). This is because Autocad now includes ai_molc, but the same function is also still defined in the acad.mnl file (well, in C3D it is still in the civil.mnl, I think acad is the same). I 'think' these remain in order to maintain backward compatability with older lisp routines.

So i've found the Multiple command you can repeat 1 command without pressing space/enter. But if i find a way to merge the 2 commands and re-assign that as one shortcut, i can then feed that back into the multiple command to achieve this.

BREAKPOINT is not a native AutoCAD command or Express Tool. Do you have it as a custom command definition? Or do you mean BREAKATPOINT in newer versions [it's not in 2020 that I have here]?

If you have BREAKPOINT as a custom command and what it does is what BREAKATPOINT does, i.e. to have you select an object, then a point at which to Break it without removing anything, or if you mean BREAKATPOINT, and if for the MATCHPROP part you want to go pick another object somewhere to match part of what you just Broke to, and then pick which part of what you just Broke to match to that other object, this macro [using just BREAK] seems to do that, including repeating automatically [the *^C^C beginning]:

Due to the repetition of the same BREAKPOINT command and the change of lineweight, I am trying to make a macro that includes these 2 repetitive actions , this is macro created by me:^C^C_.BREAKATPOINT \_first\ _.select \_.change previous ;properties LW;0.15;

The _first option is not appropriate to a BREAKATPOINT command, but would be for a simple BREAK command. If you want to use BREAKATPOINT, run it manually and make note of exactly what it asks for and in what order, and supply the appropriate sequence of inputs to the macro [with \ for user input, ; for Enter].

I can no longer enter command from my keyboard directly. I have to use the command line. I also cannot enter distance either when drawing a line. I must have disabled a variable or something but I don't know which one.

Well yeah that plus other things like the vport command I used to able just type it and envoke the command but now I have to have the command line open at the bottom of the screen to due any command. I did look at the drafting settings and it doesn't look like anything has been changed in the dynamic input tab. Not sure what changed from yesterday when it was working fine till today and now it's not working. Something must have been turned off but I don't know what.

Sorry but I'm a one man show here and I have to stay on top of all the fire alarm stuff from design to installation and final acceptance. I know what Dynamic Input is but with everything else I have to do trying to remember what every feature and command there is in autocad is challenging.

Hi, I have the same problem, but in my case even though Dynamic Input is set to 3, it did not fix my problem. I still cant type in commands directly from my keyboard. I have to put my cursor directly in the command line.

Hi, I have the same issue. Tried the DYNMODE=3 & DYNPROMPT=1 but did not work. I'm unable to type anything as the field box disappears before i can key any command and it doesn't register anything i type. I have to hover over the command line to input data or command. I can only attribute this to the updated system macOS Ventura 13.2.1, as it was working fine until the update. Nothing else has changed!

I have the same issue! Whenever I type a command on the screen, the first letter shows up and then disappears. Commands only seem to work when I use the command line. I've tried changing all the dynamic input settings, restart, restore default AutoCAD settings, etc, nothing seems to fix the problem. Help!