AutoCAD
Command Aliases & Shortcuts
AutoCAD Shortcuts
Type commands at the command line and press Enter or Space to execute. Press Esc to cancel. Press Enter again to repeat the last command.
Start Here — Most Used Drafting Commands
Nine commands cover most of a site drawing. Learn these first and the rest of the sheet becomes reference.
PLPolyline
Draw most lines with this, not Line. One connected object you can offset, join, and edit.
FFillet
Rounded corners between two lines. Set radius 0 to close a corner cleanly instead.
MMove
Shift objects by a base point. Snap the base point to geometry for exact placement.
COCopy
Duplicate anything. Stays running, so keep clicking to place more copies.
ARArray
Repeat objects on a rectangular grid or around a path. Trees, pavers, steps.
SPLSpline
Free curves that stay smooth. Contours, path edges, planting beds.
TRTrim
Cut lines back to a cutting edge. Enter first to use everything as the edge.
JJoin
Merge two touching lines into one. Pair with Polyline before offsetting.
EErase
Delete a selection. Faster than reaching for the Delete key mid-draft.
General — Always Available
File
File
| New / Open | Ctrl N / O |
| Save / Save As | Ctrl S / Shift S |
| Plot / Print | Ctrl P |
| Close drawing | Ctrl W |
View & Navigation
View & Navigation
| Zoom Extents | Z → E |
| Zoom Window | Z → W |
| Zoom Previous | Z → P |
| Pan | P / mid-drag |
| Zoom scroll | Mouse wheel |
| Regen | RE |
Edit
Edit
| Undo / Redo | Ctrl Z / Y |
| Cut / Copy / Paste | Ctrl X/C/V |
| Select All | Ctrl A |
| Properties | Ctrl 1 |
| Match Properties | MA |
| Measure distance | DI |
Function Key Toggles
Function Key Toggles
| Object Snap | F3 |
| Grid on/off | F7 |
| Ortho on/off | F8 |
| Snap on/off | F9 |
| Polar tracking | F10 |
| Dynamic Input | F12 |
Command Aliases — Type at Command Line, press Enter
Draw
Basic Geometry
Basic Geometry
| Line | L |
| Polyline | PL |
| Circle | C |
| Arc | A |
| Rectangle | REC |
| Spline | SPL |
| Hatch | H |
Annotation
Annotation
| Single-line Text | DT |
| Multiline Text | MT |
| Dimension (linear) | DLI |
| Dimension (aligned) | DAL |
| Leader | LE |
| Dimension Style | D |
Modify
Transform
Transform
| Move | M |
| Copy | CO |
| Rotate | RO |
| Scale | SC |
| Mirror | MI |
| Array | AR |
| Stretch | S |
Edit Geometry
Edit Geometry
| Trim | TR |
| Extend | EX |
| Offset | O |
| Fillet | F |
| Break | BR |
| Join | J |
| Explode | X |
| Erase | E |
| Edit polyline | PE |
Manage
Layers
Layers
| Layer Manager | LA |
| Layer Isolate | LAYISO |
| Layer Unisolate | LAYUNISO |
| Layer Off | LAYOFF |
| Turn all layers on | LAYON |
| Change obj. layer | LAYMCH |
Blocks & References
Blocks & References
| Block (create) | B |
| Insert block | I |
| Xref Manager | XR |
| Attach Xref | XA |