🧠 Overview
Some users love to use hot keys to speed up their use of our software.
To assign a function to a key, follow these instructions.
🧭 Step 1 — Turn on the right-hand menu
Turn on the right-hand menu if it isn’t already.
🎹 Step 2 — Review function key (F-key) defaults
Go to CAD > Defaults > Fkeys
Select a function key (the keys across the top of your keyboard).
You will see what the default setup is for each key.
NB — I suggest that you do not change the standard function keys, especially F4, as we need those for supporting our users, including you!
🔎 How command strings work (important)
The command that is executed by the Pulldown menus or the Icon Menus uses essentially the same process you are about to set up for specific keys on the keyboard.
These command strings are displayed when you hover over the Pulldown/Icon menu items — for example:
Indeed, you could type that string into the prompt-area and the function would be executed.
That is the basic operation of all commands — a command ‘string’ that matches the cascading functions of the right hand menu.
✅ If it is not in the right hand menu, it is not a function!
⭐ Recommended method — Set up a Key Macro
The preferred option for you is to set up what we call a key macro:
CAD > Defaults > Key-Macro
Follow the prompts in the prompt area carefully to assign a function to a key.
🧾 Example Key Macro command string
If you wanted a Key Macro for this function you would type:
!Main Const-Roof Smart-Lines Trim-to-Zline
⚠️ Notes (don’t skip)
It is case sensitive
You need to redirect the software back to the right-hand menu at the start of the command-string each time, in case you had the software in the middle of another function (hence !main), then the exact command-string as displayed in the right-hand menu to execute a command or function.
✅ Step 3 — Save and test
Then hit [Yes] (assuming that you have correctly typed the complete command string).
Now test that it does what you expect — and if it doesn't, check the command string you entered into the dialog box at step two.