Vectorworks 2015 Keyboard Shortcuts

The Vectorworks program has keyboard and mouse shortcuts for many common tasks. Many (but not all) shortcuts can be
customized; the headings below indicate whether the shortcuts can be modified, and where. Note that these tables list the default
shortcuts for all workspaces; your workspace may not have all of the tool sets, tools, menus, and commands listed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tool Shortcuts (Modify in Workspace Editor)

Command Shortcuts (Modify in Workspace Editor)
Other Shortcuts (Modify in Workspace Editor)
Arrow Key Shortcuts (Modify in Vectorworks
Preferences, Edit Tab)

Worksheet Key Functions (Cannot be Modified)

Miscellaneous Key Shortcuts (Cannot be Modified)
Numeric Key Pad (Cannot be Modified)
Mouse Shortcuts (Cannot be Modified)
Shortcuts Reserved by Operating System

Tool Shortcuts (Modify in Workspace Editor)

Basic Palette

Basic Palette
Tool
Selection
Pan
Move Page
Flyover
Zoom
Text
Callout
2D Locus
Symbol Insertion
Line
Double Line
Rectangle
Rounded Rectangle
Circle
Oval
Arc
Quarter Arc
Freehand
Polyline
2D Polygon
Triangle
Double-line Polygon
Regular Polygon
Spiral
Eyedropper
Visibility
Attribute Mapping
Reshape
Rotate
Mirror
Split
Connect/Combine
Trim
Fillet
Chamfer
Offset
Clip

Windows
X
H
Alt+Z
Shift+C
C
1
Alt+1
0 (zero)
Alt+0 (zero)
2
Alt+2
4
Alt+4
6
Alt+6
3
Alt+3
Alt+5
5
8
Shift+T
Alt+8
Alt+Shift+R
Alt+Shift+S
Shift+E
V
Shift+A
- (hyphen)
Alt+=
=
L
; (semi-colon)
Alt+Shift+L
7
Alt+7
Shift+- (hyphen)
Shift+N

Mac
X
H
Option+Z
Shift+C
C
1
Option+1
0 (zero)
Option+0 (zero)
2
Option+2
4
Option+4
6
Option+6
3
Option+3
Option+5
5
8
Shift+T
Option+8
Option+Shift+R
Option+Shift+S
Shift+E
V
Option+A
- (hyphen)
Option+=
=
L
Option+L
Option+Shift+L
7
Option+7
Shift+- (hyphen)
Option+C

Move by Points

Shift+M

Shift+M

Building Shell Tool Set

Tool
Wall
Round Wall
Wall Join
Component Wall Join
Door
Window

Windows
9
Alt+9
Alt+J
Alt+Shift+J
Alt+Shift+D
Shift+D

Mac
9
Option+9
Option+J
Option+Shift+J
Option+Shift+D
Option+Shift+W

3D Modeling Tool Set

Tool
Flyover
Set Working Plane
Align Plane
Push/Pull
3D Locus
NURBS Curve
Sphere
Hemisphere
Fillet Edge
Chamfer Edge
Shell Solid
Loft Surface
Extract
Create Contours
Project
Analysis

Windows
Shift+C
Shift+1
Alt+Shift+1
Shift+R
Shift+0 (zero)
Shift+7
Shift+3
Alt+Shift+3
Shift+F
Shift+J
Shift+G
Shift+K
Shift+L
Shift+H
Shift+; (semi-colon)
Shift+ (apostrophe)

Mac
Shift+C
Shift+1
Option+Shift+1
Shift+R
Shift+0 (zero)
Shift+7
Shift+3
Option+Shift+3
Shift+F
Shift+J
Shift+G
Shift+K
Shift+L
Shift+H
Shift+; (semi-colon)
Shift+A

Visualization Tool Set

Tool
Flyover
Walkthrough
Translate View
Rotate View
Light
Attribute Mapping

Windows
Shift+C
Shift+U
Shift+V
Shift+W
Shift+Z
Shift+A

Mac
Shift+C
Shift+U
Shift+V
Shift+W
Shift+Z
Option+A

Dims/Notes Tool Set

Tool
Constrained Linear
Dimension
Unconstrained Linear
Dimension
Angular Dimension
Radial Dimension

Walls Tool Set

Windows
N

Mac
N

. (period)
, (comma)

. (period)
, (comma)

Tool
Wall
Round Wall
Wall Join

Windows
9
Alt+9
Alt+J

Mac
9
Option+9
Option+J

Command Shortcuts (Modify in Workspace Editor)

View Menu

File Menu
Command
New
Open
Close
Save
Page Setup
Print
Exit

Windows
Ctrl+N
Ctrl+O
Ctrl+W
Ctrl+S
Ctrl+Alt+P
Ctrl+P
Alt+F4 or Ctrl+Q

Mac
Cmd+N
Cmd+O
Cmd+W
Cmd+S
Cmd+Option+P
Cmd+P
Cmd+Q

Windows
Ctrl+Z
Ctrl+Y
Ctrl+X
Ctrl+C
Ctrl+V
Ctrl+Alt+V
Ctrl+D
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+D
Ctrl+A

Mac
Cmd+Z
Cmd+Y
Cmd+X
Cmd+C
Cmd+V
Cmd+Option+V
Cmd+D
Cmd+Shift+Option+D
Cmd+A

Edit Menu
Command
Undo
Redo
Cut
Copy
Paste
Paste in Place
Duplicate
Duplicate Array
Select All

View Menu
Command
ZoomNormal Scale
ZoomFit to Page Area
ZoomFit to Objects
Class Options
Active Only
Class Options
Gray Others
Class Options
Gray/Snap Others
Class Options
Show Others
Class Options
Show/Snap Others
Class Options
Show/Snap/Modify Others
Layer Options
Active Only
Layer Options
Gray Others
Layer Options
Gray/Snap Others

Windows
Ctrl+3
Ctrl+4
Ctrl+6
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+3

Mac
Cmd+3
Cmd+4
Cmd+6
Cmd+Shift+Option+3

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+4

Cmd+Shift+Option+4

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+5

Cmd+Shift+Option+5

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+6

Cmd+Shift+Option+6

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+7

Cmd+Shift+Option+7

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+8

Cmd+Shift+Option+8

Ctrl+Alt+3

Cmd+Option+3

Ctrl+Alt+4

Cmd+Option+4

Ctrl+Alt+5

Cmd+Option+5

Layer Options
Show Others
Layer Options
Show/Snap Others
Layer Options
Show/Snap/Modify Others
Top/Plan
RenderingWireframe
RenderingSketch
Rendering
Sketch Options
Rendering
OpenGL
Rendering
Final Quality Renderworks
Rendering
Hidden Line
Rendering
Dashed Hidden Line
Rendering
Final Shaded Polygon
Set 3D View
Unified View
Create Multiple Viewports
Next View
Previous View

Ctrl+Alt+6

Cmd+Option+6

Ctrl+Alt+7

Cmd+Option+7

Ctrl+Alt+8

Cmd+Option+9

Ctrl+5
Ctrl+Shift+W
Ctrl+Shift+S
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S

Cmd+5
Cmd+Shift+W
Cmd+Shift+S
Cmd+Shift+Option+S

Ctrl+Shift+G

Cmd+Shift+G

Ctrl+Shift+F

Cmd+Shift+F

Ctrl+Shift+E

Cmd+Shift+E

Ctrl+Shift+D

Cmd+Shift+D

Ctrl+Shift+P

Cmd+Shift+P

Ctrl+0 (zero)
Ctrl+Alt+L
Ctrl+Shift+M
Ctrl+Shift+. (period)
Ctrl+Shift+, (comma)

Cmd+0 (zero)
Cmd+Option+L
Cmd+Shift+M
Cmd+Shift+. (period)
Cmd+Shift+, (comma)

Modify Menu
Command
Move
Move 3D
Send to Front
Send Forward
Send to Back
Send Backward
Align to Grid
Align/Distribute
Align/Distribute 3D
Rotate Left 90
Rotate Right 90
Flip Horizontal
Flip Vertical
Set Working Plane
Trim
Join

Windows
Ctrl+M
Ctrl+Alt+M
Ctrl+F
Ctrl+Alt+F
Ctrl+B
Ctrl+Alt+B
Ctrl+- (hyphen)
Ctrl+=
Ctrl+Shift+=
Ctrl+L
Ctrl+Shift+R
Ctrl+Shift+H
Ctrl+Shift+V
Ctrl+ \
Ctrl+T
Ctrl+J

Mac
Cmd+M
Cmd+Option+M
Cmd+F
Cmd+Option+F
Cmd+B
Cmd+Option+B
Cmd+- (hyphen)
Cmd+=
Cmd+Shift+=
Cmd+L
Cmd+Shift+R
Cmd+Shift+H
Cmd+Shift+V
Cmd+ \
Cmd+T
Cmd+J

Modify Menu
Join and Fillet
Join (no Trim)
Add Surface
Clip Surface
Intersect Surface
Compose
Convert to Group
Convert to Mesh
Convert to 3D Polys
Convert to NURBS
Group
Ungroup
Edit <editing mode>
Exit <editing mode>
Show Guides
Hide Guides
Unrotate 3D Objects

Ctrl+Alt+J
Ctrl+Shift+J
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+A
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+I
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+P
Ctrl+K
Ctrl+Alt+R
Ctrl+Alt+O
Ctrl+Alt+N
Ctrl+G
Ctrl+U
Ctrl+[
Ctrl+]
Ctrl+Alt+G
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+G
Ctrl+Shift+0 (zero)

Cmd+Option+J
Cmd+Shift+J
Cmd+Shift+Option+A
Cmd+Shift+Option+C
Cmd+Shift+Option+I
Cmd+Shift+Option+P
Cmd+K
Cmd+Option+R
Cmd+Option+O
Cmd+Option+N
Cmd+G
Cmd+U
Cmd+[
Cmd+]
Cmd+Option+G
Cmd+Shift+Option+G
Cmd+Shift+0 (zero)

Model Menu
Command
Add Solids
Subtract Solids
Intersect Solids
Section Solids
Extrude
Multiple Extrude
Extrude Along Path
Tapered Extrude
Sweep
Create Fillet Surface
Create Planar Caps
Create Surface from Curves

Windows
Ctrl+Alt+A
Ctrl+Alt+S
Ctrl+Alt+I
(uppercase i)
Ctrl+Alt+T
Ctrl+E
Ctrl+Alt+E
Ctrl+Alt+X
Ctrl+Alt+U
Ctrl+Alt+W
Ctrl+Alt+Y
Ctrl+Alt+Q
Ctrl+Alt+K

Mac
Cmd+Option+A
Cmd+Option+S
Cmd+Option+I
(uppercase i)
Cmd+Option+T
Cmd+E
Cmd+Option+E
Cmd+Option+X
Cmd+Option+U
Cmd+Option+W
Cmd+Option+Y
Cmd+Option+Q
Cmd+Option+K

Spotlight Menu
Command
Number Instruments
Auto Number Positions
Focus Instruments
Replace Instrument
Find and Modify
Refresh Instruments
Label Legend Manager

Windows
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+N
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+O
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+F
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+R
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+M
Ctrl+/
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+L

Mac
Cmd+Shift+Option+N
Cmd+Shift+Option+O
Cmd+Shift+Option+F
Cmd+Shift+Option+R
Cmd+Shift+Option+M
Cmd+/
Cmd+Shift+Option+L

Windows
Ctrl+Shift+O
Ctrl+9
Ctrl+8
Ctrl+Shift+Z
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+W

Mac
Cmd+Shift+O
Cmd+9
Cmd+8
Cmd+Shift+Z
Cmd+Shift+Option+W

Tools Menu
Command
Organization
User Origin
SmartCursor Settings
Plug-in Manager
Workspace Editor

Text Menu
Command
Format Text

Windows
Ctrl+Shift+T

Mac
Cmd+Shift+T

Window Menu
Command
PalettesSnapping
PalettesAttributes
PalettesObject Info
PalettesWorking Planes
PalettesResource Browser
PalettesNavigation
PalettesVisualization
Palettes
Activate Object Info Palette

Windows
Ctrl+Shift+C
Ctrl+Shift+A
Ctrl+I (uppercase i)
Ctrl+Shift+K
Ctrl+R
Ctrl+Shift+N
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+V
Ctrl+ (backquote)

Mac
Cmd+Shift+C
Cmd+Shift+A
Cmd+I (uppercase i)
Cmd+Shift+K
Cmd+R
Cmd+Shift+N
Cmd+Shift+Option+V
Cmd+Option+C

Other Shortcuts (Modify in Workspace Editor)

Cycle Through Modes on Tool Bar
1st group
2nd group
3rd group
4th group
5th group
6th group

U
I (uppercase i)
O
P
[
]

Miscellaneous Keys
Close 2D Polygon, Polyline,
Polygonal Wall Network, or
Path-based Objects
Toggle SmartCursor Cues
Toggle Angles Relative to Prior
Segment
Set Datum
Snap Loupe
Set Smart Point, Edge, or Vector
Snap Lock
Toggle Automatic Working Plane
Suspend Snapping
X-ray Select mode
Coincident Selection

Y
/
G
Z
T
\
(backquote)
B
J

Toggle Snapping Palette Settings

Snap to Grid
Snap to Angle
Smart Points
Smart Edge (2D only)
Snap to Working Plane (3D only)
Snap to Object
Snap to Intersection
Snap to Distance
Snap to Tangent (2D only)

A
S
D
F
F
Q
W
E
R

(AA = Set Grid dialog box)

(SS = Angle Snaps dialog box)
(DD = Smart Points dialog box)
(FF = Edge Snaps dialog box)
(QQ = 3D Snapping dialog box)
(EE = Snap Distance dialog box)

Arrow Key Shortcuts

(Modify in Vectorworks Preferences, Edit Tab)

Miscellaneous Key Shortcuts (Cannot be Modified)

Function

Windows

Mac

Function

Windows

Mac

Switch active layer or class

Ctrl+Arrow (up
and down for
layers, left and
right for classes)
Arrow
Shift+Arrow
Shift+Ctrl+Arrow

Cmd+Arrow (up
and down for
layers, left and
right for classes)
Arrow
Shift+Arrow
Shift+Cmd+Arrow

Temporarily
activate
another tool

Press and hold

Space bar, while you
select and use
another tool
Press and hold
Space bar+Ctrl
(zoom in) or
Space bar+Ctrl+Alt (zoom
out)
Press and hold
Ctrl+mouse wheel button

Press and hold

Ctrl (Flyover,
Walkthrough,
Translate View, and
Rotate View tools)
Ctrl+1

Press and hold

Space bar, while you
select and use
another tool
Press and hold
Space bar+Cmd
(zoom in) or
Space bar+Cmd+
Option (zoom out)
Press and hold
Ctrl+mouse wheel
button
Press and hold Cmd
while you select
objects (Rotate,
Mirror, Offset, Clip,
and Move by Points
tools)
Press and hold
Cmd (Flyover,
Walkthrough,
Translate View, and
Rotate View tools)
Cmd+1

Ctrl+2

Cmd+2

Ctrl+Alt+1

Cmd+Option+1

Ctrl+Alt+2

Cmd+Option+2

CC

CC

XX

XX

Esc

Esc

Esc
Esc Esc
Backspace

Esc
Esc Esc
Delete

Pan drawing
Nudge objects
Move objects

Worksheet Key Functions (Cannot be Modified)

Function

Windows

Mac

Move one cell up, down,

left, or right
Move right by one cell
Move left by one cell
Move down by one cell
Move up by one cell

Arrow keys

Arrow keys

Tab
Shift+Tab
Enter
Shift+Enter

Tab
Shift+Tab
Enter
Shift+Enter

Numeric Key Pad (Cannot be Modified)

Switch to a Standard View
Top/Plan or
Rotated Top/Plan
Left Isometric
Front
Right Isometric
Left
Top
Right
Left Rear Isometric
Back
Right Rear Isometric

0 (zero)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Temporarily
activate
Zoom tool

Temporarily
activate
Flyover tool
Temporarily
activate
Selection tool

Hide unselected
objects during
movement

Increase zoom
by a factor of 2
Decrease zoom
by a factor of 2
Increase zoom
by a factor of 4
Decrease zoom
by a factor of 4
Increase zoom
by a factor of 2
Deselect all
selected objects
Cancel the
current operation
Exit text editing mode
Exit Group
While drawing
walls, NURBS,
etc., undo the last
clicked point

Press and hold Alt

while you select
objects (Rotate,
Mirror, Offset, Clip, and
Move by Points tools)

Mouse Shortcuts (Cannot be Modified)

Shortcuts Reserved by Operating System

Function

Windows

Mac

Mac

Windows

Refresh the
drawing view
Set the print page origin
to the user
origin
Increase zoom
by a factor of 2
Decrease zoom
by a factor of 2
Open or edit a
Resource Browser
object
Activate a class, design
layer, or
sheet layer
Switch to a saved
view

Double-click Pan tool

Double-click Pan tool

Double-click Move
Page tool

Double-click Move
Page tool

Shift+Alt+- (hyphen)
Alt+- (hyphen)
Shift+Alt+P

Double-click Zoom
tool
Alt-double-click
Zoom tool
Ctrl-double-click
the resource name
or thumbnail
Double-click the
item name in the
Navigation palette
Double-click the
view name in the
Navigation palette
Alt-click a Visibility column
in the
Navigation palette

Double-click Zoom
tool
Option-double-click
Zoom tool
Cmd-double-click the
resource name or
thumbnail
Double-click the
item name in the
Navigation palette
Double-click the
view name in the
Navigation palette
Option-click a
Visibility column in
the Navigation
palette
Option-double-click
the view name in the
Saved Views palette
Double-click
anywhere in the
drawing (works for
many, but not all
tools)
With Selection tool
selected,
Option-click and drag
an object
Cmd+Option-click an
existing object

Cmd+H
Cmd+Shift+Q
Cmd+Shift+1
Cmd+Shift+2
Cmd+Shift+3
Cmd+Shift+4
Cmd+Shift+5
Cmd+Shift+6
Cmd+Shift+7
Cmd+Shift+8
Cmd+Shift+9
Cmd+Option+8
Cmd+Option+- (hyphen)
Cmd+Option+=
Cmd+Option+D
Cmd+Option+H
Cmd+Shift+Option+Q

Change visibility
for all classes or
layers
Edit a saved view

Activate Selection
tool

Alt-double-click the
view name in the
Saved Views palette
Double-click anywhere in
the drawing (works for
many, but not all tools)

Duplicate an object

With Selection tool

selected, Ctrl-click and
drag an object

Create a similar object

(activate
tool and attributes)
Switch to Next or
Previous view in history

Ctrl+Alt-click an
existing object

Pan the drawing

view
Zoom in and out*

Scroll*

On Windows, with a
5-button mouse, click
button 4 or 5 (same
as Back or Forward
for web browsers)
With a wheel mouse, press
and hold the
wheel button
With a wheel mouse,
roll forward to zoom
in and backward to
zoom out
With a wheel mouse,
Ctrl-roll (up and
down); Shift-roll (left
and right)

not applicable

With a wheel mouse,

press and hold the
wheel button
With a wheel mouse,
roll forward to zoom
in and backward to
zoom out
With a wheel mouse,
Option-roll (up and
down); Shift-roll (left
and right)

*The mouse wheel zooms by default, and scrolls with a modifier key. You can
swap these functions in the Vectorworks Preferences, Edit tab.