Function keys in Autocad for Mac

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I know many have posted on Function Keys in AutoCAD for MAC. However, I am specifically interested in REMAPPING my function keys to certain commands, and I am having a lot of trouble. For example, I enter "CUI" and get the window with the options "Commands/Menu/Aliases", where I can find the individual commands that I would like to remap to my function keys. If, for example, I know that TOGGLE ORTHO is currently set to F8, and would like to remap it to F1 or the "`" key, but after duplicating the command, I have no success in trying to enter the F1 or ` keys. Does anyone know how I can achieve this, and also make CTRL+ESC the shortkeys for ERASE?

Thank You,

AC

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Welcome to Autodesk Forums!

Hi Andres,

You cannot customize keyboard shortcuts in AutoCAD fo Mac (officially).
You can only edit AcceleratorRoot.cui file inside AutoCAD application folder to accomplish this.

[Anonymous]

Is this the same as the PGP file?

[maxim_k]

No, it is not the same. That CUI file is inside AutoCAD application folder and has more complex structure.

I can try to help to customize CUI file for you, but I should know what shortcut keys you want to assign to particular commands.

[Anonymous]

Hello Maxim,

I would like to remap these keys to the following commands:

` = Delete

F1 = Toggle Ortho

F2 = Trim

F3 = Mirror

F4 = Join

F5 = Hatch

F6 = Array

F7 = CUI Dropdown

AQ = Arc

ZX = Rotate

XC = Polyline

Please let me know if you can help.

Thank You,

AC

[maxim_k]

Hello Andres,

There are some rules for shortcut keys in AutoCAD:

"Valid modifier and key combinations include

- Function (Fn) keys containing no modifiers
- Number Pad (NUMPADn) keys containing no modifiers
- Ctrl+letter, Ctrl+number, Ctrl+function, Ctrl+virtual key
- Ctrl+Alt+letter, Ctrl+Alt+number, Ctrl+Alt+function, Ctrl+Alt+virtual key
- Ctrl+Shift+letter, Ctrl+Shift+number, Ctrl+Shift+function, Ctrl+Shift+virtual key
- Ctrl+Shift+Alt+letter, Ctrl+Shift+Alt+number, Ctrl+Shift+Alt+function, Ctrl+Shift+Alt+virtual key
Note: The virtual keys that are supported are Escape, Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, and Down Arrow. The virtual key Escape can only be used by itself or with the modifier combination Ctrl+Shift+Alt."

So combinations like AQ, ZX and XC (and "`" key) - couldn't work as shortcuts, they only can be command aliases (which you can add and modify with CUI command in AutoCAD 2018):

The difference between shortcuts and command aliases is that in the case of shortcuts command activates immediately after you press it, and in case of command aliases you need to confirm it with pressing Return (Enter) or Spacebar key on the keyboard.

I think I can help you with function keys - F1? F2? etc. but I need to know exactly which AutoCAD version are you using.

[Anonymous]

I have Product Version O.48.M.563, AutoCAD 2018.2.

[maxim_k]

Hello Andres,

I was able to create custom shortcuts as you requested for F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 function keys. Looks like F6...F12 keys couldn't be redefined in AutoCAD for Mac, at least I was not able to redefine them by editing AcceleratorRoot.cui file I mentioned earlier.

You can find customized AcceleratorRoot.cui file in the attachment.

1/ Download ZIP archive, extract AcceleratorRoot.cui from it. Make backup copy of the current AcceleratorRoot.cui file, which is inside

/Applications/Autodesk/AutoCAD 2018/AutoCAD 2018.app/Contents/Resources

folder - copy it to some safe place on your Mac in order to be able to restore it if something will go wrong.

2/ Quit AutoCAD completely (using QUIT command)

3/ Copy AcceleratorRoot.cui you extracted in step #1 to the

/Applications/Autodesk/AutoCAD 2018/AutoCAD 2018.app/Contents/Resources

folder, confirm replacing. You may also need to enter administrator password.

4/ Lauch autoCAD and test F1...F5 keys.

[Anonymous]

First, thank you, this seemed to work quite well. Second, can you please tell me how I can edit this myself so that I can remap the shortkeys to new ones I want? I feel like a somewhat figured out how to, but would rather ask you than make a mistake. 

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

>>>>>can you please tell me how I can edit this myself so that I can remap the shortkeys to new ones I want?

Please look at my post here:
https://macacad.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/edit-and-create-shortcuts-in-autocad-for-mac-yes-it-is-poss...

It was written at the times of AutoCAD 2011, but still useful as it explains basics of customization. Now (in 2018 version) both files you use for shortcut customization- AcceleratorRoot.cui and MenuGroup.cui - are inside "/Applications/Autodesk/AutoCAD 2018/AutoCAD 2018.app/Contents/Resources" folder.

[Anonymous]

OK Maxim, thank you for that. I read the post, but I don't understand if I will need to edit the MenuGroup.cui file as well, or just use it to view the exact spelling for my new MenuMacroIDs (the commands I want to remap to my keys). The post seems to tell me only to check it out and see how commands are listed with the new shortkey configurations after I edit the AcceleratorRoot.cui file. Also, my initial confusion when I opened the AcceleratorRoot.cui file you sent me is that I find "F2," for example, in 2 separate lines of code, and I am not sure which one to edit. I'm going to assume that it is the second line that contains F2 because it is inside the container "<!-- Custom -->".  I have attached 2 screenshots to clarify what I mean by this reference to the code. Second, I understand when wanting to code the non-character keys, I can type "F1", "F2", "F3", "F4" ... etc for function keys, and "SHIFT", "CMD", "ALT", "CTRL" ... etc for the modifiers, but do not know what the text is for other modifiers. The third image I have attached has dashed orange lines around the keys which I do not know how to type the abbreviation form for in the code; can you please provide this too? Third, can you clarify why it is not possible to remap the other function keys (F6 ... F12)? Fourth and lastly, your post ends discussing how to program the double click to launch a command. I have the Contour Unimouse (https://www.contourdesign.com/product/unimouse/) which as you can see in the link, has 5 click buttons and a scroll button which is also a click button (so 6 technically). How can I program double or triple clicks on each (and also see what each is set to in single clicking)? Thanks for being patient with this long response/request.

[maxim_k]

Andres,

1/ >>>>> "if I will need to edit the MenuGroup.cui file as well"

No, you don't need to edit it, but you use it just as reference to find out the names of menu macros (commands)

2/ >>>>>"I'm going to assume that it is the second line that contains F2 because it is inside the container "<!-- Custom -->"."

Yes, you are right. The other occurrences of Fx (function keys) are used together with other key - SHIFT, so the full definition of shortcut is 

 <KeyCombo accKeys='SHIFT' VirtualChar='F2' bUseVirtual='true'/>

That means you need to press SHIFT and F2 keys simultaneously to trigger event assigned to "MenuMacroID"

3/ >>>>> "dashed orange lines around the keys which I do not know how to type the abbreviation form for in the code"

You can use some of them as "Virtual keys". I already posted the full list of "Virtual keys" you can use in shortcuts definitions and rules of their use here. As about their abbreviation form, I will try to find out and post later.

4/ >>>>> "can you clarify why it is not possible to remap the other function keys (F6 ... F12)?"

No, I cannot. I just know that you can use them in AutoCAD for Windows, but on Mac they don't work. Maybe it is "by design", maybe it is a bug.

5/ >>>>> " How can I program double or triple clicks on each (and also see what each is set to in single clicking)?"

It is not AutoCAD related thing, so you need to try to find third party software which will allow you to assign actions to your mouse buttons on system level. To begin with you can look at SteerMouse software, if it will support your mouse you can even assign actions (double-click, etc.) to different buttons even on application level.

[maxim_k]

About abbreviation forms:
For Esc key - VirtualChar="ESCAPE"
For Up arrow - VirtualChar="UP"
For Down arrow - VirtualChar="DOWN"
For Left arrow - VirtualChar="LEFT"
For Right arrow - VirtualChar="RIGHT"

There is no Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up and Page Down keys on your Mac keyboard, so you cannot use them.

Note: I have not tried to create shortcuts with Esc, Up, Down, Left and Right arrows keys on Mac, so I'm not sure if they will work on Mac side.

[Anonymous]

Thanks once more for the info! As for the Virtual Keys, if you look at the third screenshot I attached with the image of my keyboard, I do have a Delete key. I also had out-dashed-lined in orange the "TAB", "CAPS LOCK", "DELETE", and "FN" keys - do you know the abbreviations for those? 

[maxim_k]

>>>>>I do have a Delete key.

If you mean this key:

then, it is not Delete (Forward delete = DEL key on PC, which can be used in AutoCAD shortcuts) - it is Backspace key from AutoCAD's "point of view".

>>>> I also had out-dashed-lined in orange the "TAB", "CAPS LOCK" and "FN" keys - do you know the abbreviations for those? 

You cannot use "TAB", "CAPS LOCK" and "FN" keys as virtual keys or modifiers, again - I already posted the full list of "Virtual keys" and  modifiers you can use in shortcuts definitions and rules of their use here:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-for-mac-forum/function-keys-in-autocad-for-mac/m-p/8405691#M3...

[Anonymous]

Oh sorry, I see you already explained that. By the way, for some reason I cannot find the list of macros and their IDs for the following: WIPEOUT and CUI DropDown.

Also, where do I find the macros and IDs to program the following:

CTRL + ` = ZOOM OUT ( from Cmd-- = Zooms out)

CTRL + 1 = ZOOM IN (from Cmd-+ = Zooms in)

[maxim_k]

WIPEOUT -> "ID_Wipeout"
CUI (Customize) -> "MM_1570"
ZOOM IN -> "MM_1579"
ZOOM OUT -> "MM_1580"

HTH

[betazero]

I know this is an old thread but I want to disable F7 and a couple other function keys that I keep hitting accidentally. I do not see an AcceleratorRoot in 2022 Autocad 4 Mac. How would I go about doing this? 

edit - NM its super easy now with CUI. 

[maxim_k]

Hi @betazero ,

Now in AC 2022 you can customize shortcut keys (including function keys) with CUI command.

Start CUI command and

1/ Go to Shortcuts tab

2/ Pick on "+" button

3/ Start typing Cancel at the search field and select it - this is if you don't want to assign any command to function key. If you want to assign specific command - search for it

4/ Move mouse to "Record shortcut" field and hit F7 (or whatever key you want to redefine)

5/ Click on Add and save settings in CUI window