Understanding Keyboard Shortcuts in BricsCAD
Quick answer: BricsCAD has an extensive set of keyboard shortcuts, especially useful for toggling settings without leaving the keyboard. They’re grouped below by category. One thing worth knowing upfront: Ctrl+N and Ctrl+P each do two different things depending on context, likely a platform difference, covered in its own note further down.
Function Keys
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
F1 |
Opens BricsCAD Help |
F2 |
Toggles the Prompt History window |
F3 |
Toggles entity snaps on/off |
F4 |
Toggles 3D entity snaps on/off |
F5 |
Sets the isometric plane, cycling SNAPISOPAIR (only when SNAPSTYL = 1) |
F6 |
Toggles Dynamic UCS |
F7 |
Toggles grid display |
F8 |
Toggles Ortho mode on/off |
F9 |
Toggles Snap on/off |
F10 |
Toggles Polar Tracking (turns Ortho off if it was on) |
F11 |
Toggles Entity Snap Tracking |
F12 |
Toggles the Quad cursor menu |
Alt+F8 |
Launches the VBA macro runner |
Alt+F11 |
Opens the VBA editor |
Shift+F2 |
Toggles the Command line |
Shift+F3 |
Toggles the Status Bar |
Shift+F4 |
Toggles scroll bars |
Shift+F8 |
Opens the VBA Project Manager |
Shift+F11 |
Opens the VBA COM Add-In Manager |
Ctrl Shortcuts
For Ctrl+0, 1, 2, and 9 specifically: don’t use the numeric keypad, and on AZERTY keyboards, don’t hold Shift when pressing the number key.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
Ctrl+0 |
Toggles clean screen mode |
Ctrl+1 |
Toggles the Properties panel |
Ctrl+2 |
Opens the Drawing Explorer |
Ctrl+9 |
Toggles the Command line |
Ctrl+A |
Selects all entities |
Ctrl+B |
Toggles Snap on/off |
Ctrl+C |
Copies the selection to the clipboard |
Ctrl+Shift+C |
Copies the selection along with a base point |
Ctrl+E |
Cycles the isometric plane (only when SNAPSTYL = 1) |
Ctrl+F |
Opens Find and Replace |
Ctrl+G |
Toggles grid display |
Ctrl+H |
Toggles selection behaviour for groups and associative hatches |
Ctrl+I |
Sets the coordinate readout format in the Status Bar |
Ctrl+J or Ctrl+M |
Repeats the previous command |
Ctrl+K |
Attaches or edits a hyperlink |
Ctrl+L |
Toggles Ortho |
Ctrl+N |
Creates a new drawing, but see the note below |
Ctrl+O |
Opens an existing drawing |
Ctrl+P |
Prints the current drawing, but see the note below |
Ctrl+Shift+P |
Toggles the Properties panel |
Ctrl+Q |
Quits BricsCAD, prompting to save first |
Ctrl+R |
Cycles through viewports |
Ctrl+S |
Saves the current drawing |
Ctrl+T |
Turns a drawing tablet on or off |
Ctrl+Tab |
Shows the next document tab |
Ctrl+Shift+Tab |
Shows the previous document tab |
Ctrl+V |
Pastes the clipboard contents |
Ctrl+Alt+V |
Pastes clipboard contents in a specific format |
Ctrl+Shift+V |
Pastes clipboard contents as a block |
Ctrl+X |
Cuts the selection to the clipboard |
Ctrl+Y |
Redoes the last undone action |
Ctrl+Z |
Undoes the last action |
Ctrl+[ or Ctrl+\ |
Cancels the running command |
Ctrl+Home |
Opens or creates the Start page |
Ctrl+Cmd+F |
Toggles fullscreen mode. macOS only |
View and Entity Navigation
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
PgUp |
Moves the view up |
PgDn |
Moves the view down |
Shift+Left/Right Arrow |
Moves the view left or right |
Shift+Up/Down Arrow |
Moves the view up or down, or nudges selected (sub)entities along the z-axis if any are selected |
Ctrl+Left/Right Arrow |
Nudges selected (sub)entities along the x-axis |
Ctrl+Up/Down Arrow |
Nudges selected (sub)entities along the y-axis |
Autocomplete List Navigation
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
Tab |
Moves down through the autocomplete command list. Cross-platform |
Shift+Tab |
Moves up through the autocomplete command list. Cross-platform |
Ctrl+N |
Moves down through the autocomplete command list. macOS only |
Ctrl+P |
Moves up through the autocomplete command list. macOS only |
About the Ctrl+N and Ctrl+P conflict: the source documentation lists both of these shortcuts twice, once for New Drawing / Print, and again for autocomplete navigation, marked macOS only. The most likely explanation is a platform split: Ctrl+N creates a new drawing and Ctrl+P prints on Windows and Linux, while on macOS those two combinations are freed up for autocomplete navigation instead, since macOS conventionally uses Cmd rather than Ctrl for New and Print. This isn’t explicitly confirmed in the source, so if you’re on Mac and relying on either shortcut, it’s worth testing directly rather than assuming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ctrl+N create a new drawing or navigate the autocomplete list? It depends on your platform. On Windows and Linux, it creates a new drawing. On macOS, the source lists it as autocomplete navigation instead, likely because macOS uses Cmd rather than Ctrl for New by convention.
Why isn’t Ctrl+0 or Ctrl+9 working for me? Make sure you’re not using the numeric keypad. On AZERTY keyboards, also make sure you’re not holding Shift.
What’s the difference between F9 and Ctrl+B? Nothing, both toggle Snap on and off.
How do I nudge a selected entity instead of moving the whole view? Use Ctrl with the arrow keys to nudge selected (sub)entities; plain arrow/Shift+arrow keys move the view itself instead.