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Where Can I See AutoCAD Command Alias List?

August 19, 2009 by 8 Comments
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AutoCAD Command line is a very powerful feature, and I don’t think replaceable. I know there are a lot of pros and cons about using command line in AutoCAD. But why not use both? Personally I like using command alias as shortcut, but I found that it’s difficult for people who rely heavily on this when learning other CAD application. But doesn’t matter. When you use AutoCAD, you’ll want to use it optimally right?

You can see the command alias list and customize your own shortcuts by accessing edit aliases in ribbon, manage tab, customization section.

Or if you use AutoCAD classic interface, you can access it from menu tool>customize>edit program parameters (acad.pgp)

edit aliases

This will open your acad.pgp file in text editor (by default it’s notepad).

acad.pgp

As you can see, this is a list of all your AutoCAD command aliases. They are your shortcuts. Mine is default, so aliases for line is L. When I type L then [enter] will activate the line tool. Typing LA [enter] will open the layer manager. Etc. They are very useful shortcuts to work faster!

AutoCAD commands don’t work like any other Windows applications. In Revit or Inventor, you simply press two keys as shortcut to activate a tool. No need to press [enter]. But in AutoCAD you can use single character, or more than two.

You can edit the command aliases and change them to what you want. After you finish, save this file. You might need to restart your AutoCAD after doing your modification. (Or you can run REINIT to reload your acad.pgp – thanks to Alex Serdakowski)

Updates

I have comments from Alex Serdakowski and Marty saying that there is another way to modify AutoCAD command aliases easily. We have to use express tool to do this. This tool name is Command Alias Editor. You can access it from menu: Express>Tools>Command Alias Editor.

It’s a great tool that I missed. If you haven’t had express tools installed, then you can’t use this tool.

Where’s the Complete List of AutoCAD Command?

You can see the whole AutoCAD command in AutoCAD help file. See under command reference>commands.

AutoCAD commands

But do you really want to remember all of them? :)

So what is your favorite custom shortcut? I have some friends that use close character on keyboard so they can access it quickly. Even they don’t mean anything anymore. For example CC for copy. It’s faster than using CO or CP!

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Filed Under: AutoCAD Tips
About Edwin Prakoso

Edwin works as an Application Engineer in Jakarta, Indonesia. He has 4 years experience in building industry, then start to work for Autodesk reseller.
He is certified as Revit Architecture 2010 certified professional and AutoCAD 2013 certified professional.
He loves sharing his experience and starts to blog on CAD notes. Now using CAD is more to a lifestyle for him than working.
You can reach him on twitter @CADnotes. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn. If you prefer email, reach him at edwin.prakoso@cad-notes.com.

  • Anonymous

    There is an easier way of accessing and managing AutoCAD Aliases. There is an Express Tools function that does just that.
    In the Express Tools tab, the Tools section contains a Command Aliases button that calls a dialog box listing all Aliases (the same that are defined in the ACAD.PGP file). It lets you Add new Aliases, Remove or Edit existing ones. Also, when you exit the Command, it automatically reloads the ACAD.PGP file so you have access to your new or modified Aliases right away. By modifying Aliases directly in the ACAD.PGP file, you either need to reload AutoCAD or issue the REINIT command to reinitialize the ACAD.PGP file.

    Alex Serdakowski

  • Edwin Prakoso

    Thank you Alex, for the valuable information.
    I never aware about this before.

  • Martí

    Like anonymous said there is a better way, and if you like the command line, that better way is accessible via the express tool command ALIASEDIT

  • peter

    hi there I am just using the new aliasedti function and I think it is great ,
    But is there a way to ,like in autohook to have the enter function added to the shortcut aswel?
    so if I define Q for polyline that I donot have to rightclick or press enter after te Q keystroke?

    Thanks in advance
    Peter

    • http://cad-notes.com Edwin Prakoso

      No, you can’t.
      That is exactly why I wrote that Autodesk supposed to change the command line behavior. It works great for veterans, but for the new generation that use many (new) applications, command line can be annoying.
      If people are familiar with DOS, then command line is great. But when you are using iPhone or iPad, playing Wii… then command line maybe feels a bit ‘old’.
      But I do understand that this will be hard for existing AutoCAD users, and will not be easy to please them both.
      So for the new guys, probably ribbon shortcut is the answer. Microsoft also use it anyway, so you can use it in Microsoft Office and other applications.

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  • anrev71

    how to put the same level elevation of  two lines?for example i want to cut two lines but i cannot, the two lines are not in common elevation, if u view in top u cannot see the difference. what is the command should i use?

  • Tom B

    I recently tried entering alias’s thru the edit alias command but when I hit save I get a window pop up saying “access denied”, Our I.T guy said I should have full access to everything in ACAD. Any suggestions?