Datasheet

Chapter 1 Arranging the AutoCAD User Interface

Function Key Master List

Many of the function keys have been the same since time immemorial (since 1982). But recently

a few of them have changed, and it behooves you to make some additional changes on your own.

Instead of trying to piece together all this information on your own, you can memorize the fol-

lowing chart, or photocopy it and pin it up (or tattoo it on yourself, if you’re into that):

F1 Help

F2 Text Window

F3 Object Snap

F4 Tablet

F5 Cycle Isoplane

F6 Dynamic User Coordinate System

F7 Grid

F8 Orthogonal

F9 Snap

F10 Polar Tracking

F11 Object Snap Tracking

F12 Dynamic Input

All the function keys except F1 are toggles that turn modes on and off. Some of the keys have

corresponding buttons on the status bar.

We suggest that you change F1 to Cancel to avoid accidentally hitting the Help function

when you miss the Escape key. We also recommend that you change the F4 key from the

archaic Tablet to something more valuable. Lynn’s is set to 3DOrbit to sync up with the set-

tings in Autodesk Inventor.

See Chapter 10 to learn how to customize the function keys.

Temporary Overrides Are Here to Stay

Temporar y over rides were introduced in AutoCAD 2006 and are worth getting to know only if you

can walk and chew gum at the same time. They work when you hold down a key combination

(usually involving the Shift key) while doing something with the mouse. A tiny icon appears

near the cursor to visually clue you in that something is being overridden at the moment.

This feature comes in handy when you can’t be bothered to toggle a mode off because

you know you’re going to need to turn it right back on in a second (that would mean two

clicks or button presses; think of the time waste). Press the correct keys, and the mode in

question is overridden — but just temporarily, while you’re holding down the keys.

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