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As an OG AutoCAD user, I have seen numerous changes to the program through their many releases. Becoming more efficient as I gained experience, I got tired of repetition and wasted clicks and especially menu-hopping, I wanted a way to make my work easier and be more efficient. By fine tuning the right click menu, I was able to cut considerable menu chasing and wasted time from my workday.
Right Click Menu Customization
The default right click menu in AutoCAD includes very basic functions. As a CAD user gets more familiar with the software, their daily work process will develop a set of commands which they commonly use. Having to go through a menu (or often several) to access these commands is time consuming and gets old quickly. Add to that the fact that commands and their options often change with new software releases, and it can become frustrating and time consuming.
The right click menu allows the CAD user to cut excess menu hopping and clicking, as well as combine commands from multiple ribbons together. As an AutoCAD electrical user, I tend to live in the schematic tab. I still use commands from several other tabs daily. My work includes mechanical layout functions as well as those found on the home tab. I developed a list of the non-schematic commands I used and added them to my right click menu. The time savings in doing this add up when working with the software for eight plus hours a day. It may seem like a small thing; however, many small things will add up and increase efficiency.
My recommendation to CAD users, new or experienced, is to define your base tab and try to stay there as you work. Make a list of the commands that are not on this base tab to use for a reference when updating your right click options.
Make AutoCAD Work Your Way
The right click menu is customized from within the CUI interface. The process is illustrated below.
The CUI menu is accessible via the manage tab as shown or by typing CUI on the command line. Click on the selected icon and the editing window will open. There are many items in this window, do not let it overwhelm you.
Accessing AutoCAD’s customization tools
We are interested in customizations in all files window. As shown below, the desired path is the partial customization files option. It is easy to start down an incorrect path by selecting the wrong menus path.
After expanding the dropdown menus as shown, click on the shortcut menus to expand the list. There are many menus listed here, we are interested in the default menu. This is the basic menu used by AutoCAD. The commands listed will mirror the ones in your current right click menu. My menu list, shown below, has been extensively modified to include non-schematic functions found on various tabs. Another thing to notice is that I have separators between my added commands. This is done to make the list easier to navigate, which is my preference. Adding the separators will, however, increase the length of the menu.
Command Central and Where to Find It
The command list is a summary of all commands and options available to you when selecting what to add to your menu. You can specify the command categories that you want to see in the option box by selecting the pull-down arrow. As I typically will mix activities from file management to dimensioning and text editing in my choices, I just leave all commands only option and type the command name in the search bar above the dialog box. Enter the name of the command you want to add as shown below. You will find duplicate commands that are very similar in the resulting list.
I entered save and the resulting list of possibilities has four options showing for the command. Hover over the command name to see what each command does in this case, as there are often subtle differences to each one.
Choose Your Add-ons Wisely
Select the desired command and drag it into the customization in all files window. Place the command in the menu list as desired. In the screenshot below, I have chosen 3D fly and will place it below the plot command by dragging it to the desired position.
Note however, that this list, as it expands, will take up more space in your display window. This can be a concern for laptop users or those with smaller monitors, so keep this list to a functional minimum.
The result is shown below.
Repeat for all commands you want to add. When you finish click on the apply button to save your changes. Your right-click menu will now be customized with the changes that you have made. I suggest that CAD users revisit this list and update as necessary as their task requirements may change.
Organizing your added commands is also important. I try to put related commands in a group and keep things in the order which I will use them in the process of working on a drawing. There are some of the original commands that are included, which I rarely use. As I am working on a desktop, I do not need to try and conserve display space as would someone with a laptop computer.
The End Result
The result of my customization is shown below. I added all my desired commands at the top of the list for easier access. You can see the increase in size due to the added commands and spaces.
Closing Thoughts
There are many additional ways in which AutoCAD can be made more efficient than the default installation. From the addition of custom ribbons to creating scripted shortcuts as well as creating custom commands. Right-click menu customizing is an easy method for those who want to increase productivity with minimal work.
Look for future articles on customizing tools as I am always trying out new ways to increase efficiency in my daily use of AutoCAD.
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