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You are here: Home / AutoCAD / AutoCAD tips: quickly switching between drawings

AutoCAD tips: quickly switching between drawings

October 10, 2011 by Edwin Prakoso 12 Comments

In this Article...

  • Other methods
    • Quick view drawings
    • Windows 7 taskbar
  • Which one is your favorite?

Do you open multiple AutoCAD drawings when you work? I do. In old version of AutoCAD (pre-ribbon version), I can quickly switch between drawings by pressing [alt] + W then a number. Now we have to cycle between drawings by using switch windows in view tab.

switch windows

We can put it on quick access toolbar so we can switch faster.

quick access toolbar

However, I still think this is not as convenient as it was.

If you feel the same, I found this thread in CADtutor forum. Thanks to ReMark, I found out that we can use [ctrl] tab to switch between drawings forward!

You can also switch between drawings backward using [ctrl] + [shift] tab. Thank you to Paujrobe for the additional tip!

Other methods

Quick view drawings

In AutoCAD, there is also quick view drawings. You can click quick view button on status bar and see all opened drawings’ thumbnail. You can activate a drawing by clicking the thumbnail.

You also can pin quick view drawings and let it always show. Nice to have it when we are reviewing several drawings.

quick view drawings

Windows 7 taskbar

Quick view drawings was introduced before we have Windows 7. In Windows 7, we can see similar feature in taskbar. You can hover (or click) AutoCAD icon on taskbar to see opened files. Click on file you want to activate.

windows 7 taskbar

If you don’t see the taskbar like this, check your TASKBAR system variable. If you want to set it like Windows 7 default, set it to 1. If you prefer the old style like in Windows XP, set it to 0.

Which one is your favorite?

I think using [ctrl] tab is very nice. However, if I open many drawings at once, I prefer to use switch windows on my quick access toolbar. What about you?

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as a Sr. Consultant in PT Cipta Satria Informatika. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I'm a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn.

Filed Under: AutoCAD Tagged With: autocad tips, cycle between drawings, switch windows

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12 Comments
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Paul
Paul
8 years ago

This helps me immensely. Don’t know why AutoCAD felt like they had to move it. Thanks so much!!!!!!

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R.K. McSwain
R.K. McSwain
13 years ago

Unfortunately, Quick View Drawings is anything but quick.
I use http://www.caelink.com/drawing_tabs.htm
I think it was already mentioned in the comments.

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Lambertus Oosterveen
Lambertus Oosterveen
13 years ago

Edwin, switch view in view tab must be Switch Windows in View tab.

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Mark
Mark
13 years ago

I use the free Autodesk MDITabs that places a line of tabs on the screen for each open drawing.  Then it is only 1 click to switch between drawings.  A right click on the tab opens up a wealth of other commands such as Save, Save As, Close, etc.  Google search for MDITabs18.arx to find a download of the file.

0
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Dennis
Dennis
13 years ago

For years I have use the Ctrl +Tab to scroll through the drawings that I have open.  It works very well when you have 2 or 3 drawings open, but can be a little more cumbersome when you have more because they scroll in the same order. As far as I know you can't scroll backwards.  I find this easier than moving to the ribbon or using the quick view that blocks the current drawing.

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Paujrobe
Paujrobe
Reply to  Dennis
13 years ago

Use Ctrl + Shift + Tab to scroll backwards.

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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  Paujrobe
13 years ago

Thank you Paujrobe.
I learn a new thing today :)

0
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Simon Weel
Simon Weel
13 years ago

http://www.caelink.com/drawing_tabs.htm

0
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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  Simon Weel
13 years ago

Interesting tool Simon.
Thank you for sharing this. I know people will find it useful… :)

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Kyle
Kyle
13 years ago

My mistake, I should read more carefully as it's already written.  I was thrown off by the grouped windows.

0
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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  Kyle
13 years ago

No problem :) Happens to me to… many times!

0
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Kyle
Kyle
13 years ago

One other option is to set the TASKBAR variable to 1.  This will show each drawing individually in the Windows taskbar.

~Kyle

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