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Proposal for Improvement of the PGP Alias System in AutoCAD
Dear Autodesk Team,
I have been a user of AutoCAD for several years, and I would like to propose an improvement regarding the alias system contained in the PGP file. I have noticed that the default aliases do not always reflect a logical and efficient use, especially for those who work intensively on complex projects.
In particular, I would like to highlight some aspects that could be improved to optimize the workflow:
Optimization Based on Command Usage Frequency: The most frequently used commands should have shorter and more intuitive abbreviations to speed up typing. For example, commands such as LINE, COPY, and MOVE are called upon frequently, but the default aliases do not always reflect their importance.
Adaptation for Users Who Primarily Use Their Left Hand for Typing: Many CAD professionals use the mouse with their right hand, and it would be beneficial for the aliases to be designed to facilitate typing with the left hand. The use of nearby and easily reachable keys on the keyboard can reduce the time needed for command entry.
Support for Localized Keyboard Layouts: The default aliases do not take into account the differences between various keyboard layouts, such as the Italian layout. The position of the keys varies, and this can make certain aliases less practical. A solution could be to implement an alias configuration that automatically adapts to the user's keyboard layout.
Below, I am attaching an example of an optimized PGP file for the Italian layout, taking into account both the frequency of command usage and the proximity of keys for the left hand:
; -------------------------
; Alias based on frequency and key proximity (Italian layout)
; -------------------------
; Most used commands (short abbreviations)
L, *LINE ; LINE assigned to L
C, *COPY ; COPY assigned to C
M, *MOVE ; MOVE assigned to M
T, *TRIM ; TRIM assigned to T
X, *EXTEND ; EXTEND assigned to X
Z, *ZOOM ; ZOOM assigned to Z
O, *OFFSET ; OFFSET assigned to O
E, *ERASE ; ERASE assigned to E
F, *FILLET ; FILLET assigned to F
B, *BLOCK ; BLOCK assigned to B
LA, *LAYER ; LAYER assigned to LA
D, *DIM ; DIM assigned to D
; Less used commands (optimized for the left hand on the Italian keyboard)
QR, *ARRAY ; ARRAY assigned to QR (Q and R close together)
SC, *SCALE ; SCALE assigned to SC (S and C close together)
QS, *MIRROR ; MIRROR assigned to QS (Q and S easy to reach)
RW, *ROTATE ; ROTATE assigned to RW (R and W close together)
AX, *EXPLODE ; EXPLODE assigned to AX (A and X close together)
PQ, *POLYLINE ; POLYLINE assigned to PQ (P and Q close together, both on the left)
AS, *PLOT ; PLOT assigned to AS (A and S close together)
ST, *STRETCH ; STRETCH assigned to ST (S and T close together, easy to reach)
RE, *REGEN ; REGEN assigned to RE (R and E close together)
MA, *MATCHPROP ; MATCHPROP assigned to MA (M and A easily accessible)
; Additional aliases optimized for the left hand
WE, *WBLOCK ; WBLOCK assigned to WE (W and E close together)
QV, *QUICKSELECT ; QUICKSELECT assigned to QV (Q and V close together)
AV, *ARRAYPOLAR ; ARRAYPOLAR assigned to AV (A and V close together)
I am convinced that implementing a more intuitive and logical alias system could significantly improve the user experience of AutoCAD, reducing the time required for command entry and optimizing the productivity of users.
Thank you for your attention, and I remain available for any further clarifications or suggestions.
Best regards,
Giacomo Amadori
Guru CAD Designer
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[We are not the Autodesk team, but just other Users like you. The limited oversight of this Forum by Autodesk employees is not by the programmer types. You should go to the >Product Feedback page<.]
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@giacomoC5SQJ wrote:...I have been a user of AutoCAD for several years...
In that case, you know that AutoCAD is about maintaining 'legacy' for all existing users rather than abrupt and disruptive changes to cater to new users, so your wishlist is best converted to a custom PGP file you alone can use 100% of the time in your own custom folder that you simply add to the top of this list when you install newer versions
Now you know: happy cadding.
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I'm not a huge user of aliases but just a couple thoughts for customising if a person wanted to do that...
L for LINE, why not maybe LL for LAYER...seems like it might be quicker than LA
Why not go numeric...one ends up typing numbers anyway...
1 for LINE, 11 for PLINE, etc.
Keyboard with a left hand number pad, or external number pad on left side of keyboard...
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Actually that's similar to what I have in the PGP file.
22 for Polyline, 33 for 3D Polyline, 00 for sphere. 11 is actually for 3D Orbit because if I'm drawing 2D and 3D Polylines. I often want to view in 3D.
Allen Jessup
CAD Manager - Designer
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I’d prefer to always list the aliases alphabetically. This eliminates the error of duplicates.
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@giacomoC5SQJ Hello, do you still need help with this question?

Chris Benner
Industry Community Manager – Design & Manufacturing
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