AutoCAD Cheat Sheet

(80+ Commands & Shortcuts)

 DRAWING COMMANDS
Command Full Form Description

AL Align Aligns an object with another object by specifying source and

destination points. Allows scaling of source objects relative to the
destination object.

AP Append Appends one object to the other by overlapping or combining

them.

AR Array Creates an array of objects based on a desired profile.

ARC Arc Creates an arc by specifying the starting point/center and two
endpoints.

BH / H Hatch Applies a hatch pattern with a color or gradient effect to a closed

area in the drawing.

BR Break Breaks an object into two parts.

BS Block Save Saves a particular object as a block for future reference.

C Circle Inserts a circle by selecting a starting point and entering the

radius.

CHA Chamfer Creates a chamfer, i.e., a symmetrical sloping surface between

two non-parallel lines.

CO Copy Duplicates a specific object at a different location as per the need.

DI Distance Measures the angle and distance between two points in a drawing.

DIV Divide Divides an object into smaller segments, such as dividing a line
into multiple shorter lines.

EX Extend Extends or stretches an object to meet another object’s size.

L Line Draws a simple line by defining the starting point and endpoint.
Can also define the line using an angle and radius.

LA Layer Manages layers inside the drawing through a dialogue box.

LO Layout Creates and modifies different drawing layout tabs.

ML Multiple Draws multiple parallel lines.

Lines

MI Mirror Creates a mirror image of a particular object.

MT Text Creates a text object for writing a multi-line paragraph.

OF Offset Creates a parallel copy of an object at a specific distance.

PE Polyline Edits a polyline, allowing closure, joining, width adjustment, vertex
Edit editing, fitting lines, or converting polylines into splines or
de-curve lines.

PL Polyline Creates a polyline in the drawing, with each endpoint connected to

the start of the next line segment.

POL Polygon Constructs a polygon by specifying the number of edges and the
center. Can be inscribed or circumscribed.

RA Ray Draws a semi-infinite line (ray) from a particular point.

REC Rectangle Specifies the length and breadth of a rectangular polyline by

defining a starting point and a point diagonally opposite.

RO Rotate Rotates an object to a specific point by selecting the object and a

base point for rotation.

ROt Rotate3D Rotates an object in 3D space by selecting an axis and angle.

SC Scale Resizes an object using a scale of measurement.

SL Slice Divides a 3D surface using a cutting plane.

SM Move Moves specific objects to a new desired location.

ST Stretch Stretches a particular object up to a specific point.

TB Table Inserts a table with a desired number of rows and columns into the
drawing.

TR Trim Trims an object based on another object.

TRi Trim3D Trims a 3D surface based on another 2D or 3D object.

XL Extended Creates a line of a specific length.

Line
 EDITING COMMANDS
Command Full Form Description

E Erase Erases the selected object from the AutoCAD window.

F Fillet Creates a fillet/arc between two intersecting lines.

I Insert Inserts a block from a specified location into the drawing.

LWE LwPolylineEdit Edits a lightweight polyline by adding or removing vertex points.

MIRR Mirror3D Creates a duplicate (mirrored) copy of a particular 3D object.

RE Regen Regenerates the drawing, considering existing updates.

REN Rename Renames layers and blocks inside the drawing.

U Undo Undoes the previous commands.

UN Units Selects the measuring units of the drawing, such as units,

inches, millimeters, etc.

TEXT AND ANNOTATION COMMANDS

Command Full Form Description

DT Text Creates a text box for entering a single sentence.

DRM Drawing Recovery Displays previous, ongoing projects unsaved due to system
Manager failure, acting as an Auto Drawing Recovery.

J Join Joins objects together to create a new object by

overlapping the existing ones.

JPGOUT JPEG Output Saves the AutoCAD drawing in .jpeg format.

ME Measure Measures the dimensions of an object.

SP Spell Check Checks the spelling of all words inside the drawing.

T Text Inserts multi-line text into the drawing.

 OBJECT MANIPULATION COMMANDS
Command Full Form Description

DL Delete Deletes a particular object from the drawing.

GD Gradient Fill Fills a particular area with a gradient effect.

G Group Groups multiple objects into a single object.

M Move Moves an object to another position by selecting the object and

specifying the new location.

PU Purge Opens a dialogue box to remove unused or unwanted elements

Unused from the drawing.

RS Rotate/Scale Rotates or Scales an object by specifying the parameters.

MISCELLANEOUS COMMANDS
Command Full Form Description

CHK Check Standards Performs a check for violations of standards in the

drawing.

CLI Command Line Shows the command line in every drawing.

Interface

COL Color Opens a dialogue box to choose the desired color.

IMP Import Helps to insert a file of any format into the drawing.

QC QuickCalc Opens QuickCalc for smooth calculations.

QSAVE Quick Save Saves the ongoing drawing.

Z Zoom Enables the user to zoom in or zoom out, increasing or

decreasing the screen size.
 AutoCAD SHORTCUTS
Shortcut Key Purpose

CTRL+E To shift between system displays.

CTRL+F To display snap points with the help of the cursor.

CTRL+G To enable or disable grid display.

CTRL+H To switch between different styles.

CRTL+SHIFT+H To show or hide color palettes.

CTRL+I To shift between the display of the coordinates in the status bar.

CTRL+SHIFT+I To apply geometric restrictions on the objects.

CTRL+0 (zero) Clean the screen by hiding the ribbon, palettes, and toolbar. This is useful
to increase the drawing area size.

CTRL+1 To open the Property Palette that displays the properties of a particular
object.

CTRL+2 To open the Design Centre Palette. This palette allows the user to manage
the drawings internally and externally.

CTRL+3 To open the Tool Palette that contains various tools, commands, and
blocks.

CTRL+4 To open the Sheet Set Palette for managing multiple sheets and layouts.

CTRL+6 To open the DBConnect Manager that connects the user to external
databases.

CTRL+7 To open the Markup Set Manager Palette, which helps organize and
analyze annotations.

CTRL+8 To open QuickCalc for calculations and conversion of units of

measurement.

CTRL+9 To determine the position of the command line that helps the user to enter
prompts or commands.