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CAD, CAM, & BIM

SOLIDWORKS Keyboard Shortcuts That’ll

Increase Your Design E ciency
BY MADIE NORRIS FORCIER

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SOLIDWORKS Keyboard Shortcuts

One of the easiest ways you can design faster is by using SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts. With Get the latest news in
SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts, you’ll be able to launch commands quickly instead of wasting time engineering design and
searching for them in the toolbar. Plus, you can create custom shortcuts based on the commands and innovative training
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In this Article

1. How to create custom keyboard shortcuts in SOLIDWORKS

2. How to change keyboard shortcuts in SOLIDWORKS

3. What are SOLIDWORKS mouse gestures?

4. How to customize mouse buttons in SOLIDWORKS

5. How to use the S shortcut

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How to create custom keyboard shortcuts in

SOLIDWORKS
Tip: Only create shortcuts for commands you consistently use.

1. With a document open, select Tools.

2. Select Customize.

3. Select the Keyboard tab.

4. Click on a command you use often that doesn’t have an existing shortcut.

5. Add a custom shortcut.

 For example: If you consistently use Parabolas in your designs, click on the Parabola
command in the chart. Enter a shortcut of your choosing (e.g., P).

6. You’ll get an error message if you enter a shortcut that already exists. You can overwrite this if
you choose. Select OK to nish and save.

How to change keyboard shortcuts in

SOLIDWORKS
1. With a document open, select Tools.

2. Select Customize.

3. Select the Keyboard tab.

4. Click on a keyboard shortcut you want to change.

5. Add a new custom shortcut.

6. You’ll get an error message if you enter a shortcut that already exists. You can overwrite this if
you choose.

7. Select OK to nish and save.

What are SOLIDWORKS mouse gestures?

Mouse Gestures allow for up to 12 customizable shortcut commands using a single right-click and
drag motion. If there are speci c SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts or tools that you regularly use,
customizing this wheel is a great way to increase e ciency and save time.

How to customize mouse buttons in

SOLIDWORKS
1. Go to the Tools tab of the command ribbon.

2. Select Customize.

3. Select the Mouse Gestures tab.

4. Enable/disable Mouse Gestures and choose the number of gestures from 2-12, assigning

commands to spots on the Mouse Gesture Guide.

5. Drag command from command list onto the area on the wheel to add a command to
the Gesture Wheel.

How to use the S shortcut

The S shortcut is a keyboard shortcut in SOLIDWORKS that will allow you to access and customize
other keyboard shortcuts. The shortcut provides access to popular commands with minimal mouse
movement from the user.

1. Press the S key on your keyboard and a shortcut box will appear. The shortcut box has four
modes: part editing, assembly, drawing, and sketch.

2. To add tools to your S Shortcut box, drag the command into the shortcut box. The box will
disappear as soon as a command is selected, or you click anywhere else on the SOLIDWORKS
display. You can customize all four modes based on what tools and commands you use regularly.

Most commonly used SOLIDWORKS keyboard

shortcuts list
File Shortcuts

Ctrl + N New

Ctrl + O Open

Ctrl + D Makes new drawing from part or assembly

Ctrl + A Makes new assembly from part or assembly

Ctrl + S Save

Edit Shortcuts

Ctrl + Z Undo

Ctrl + Y Redo

Enter Repeats last command

Ctrl + X Cut

Ctrl + C Copy

Ctrl + V Paste

Delete Delete

Ctrl + B Rebuilds

Ctrl + Q Forced rebuild

Ctrl + R Redraws screen

S Opens shortcut bar

Ctrl + click items Selects multiple items

Shift + drag Moves item

View Shortcuts

Arrow keys Rotates model

Ctrl + arrow keys Pans model

Ctrl + R Redraws the screen

Spacebar Orientation

F Zooms to t

Shift + Z Zooms in

Z Zooms out

What is the fastest way to learn SOLIDWORKS

keyboard shortcuts?
1. Cheat sheets. Use a SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts cheat sheet to memorize shortcuts.

FREE CHEAT SHEET: Download this SOLIDWORKS Keyboard Shortcuts pdf for free.

2. Online ashcard programs. Online ashcards, such as Anki, make remembering shortcuts easy
and e cient. It uses spaced repetition so new keyboard shortcuts are more frequent, and if you
remember the card correctly, it will space out the time until you see the ashcard again. To start,
enter the SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts list into the program and begin studying.

3. Write down a few shortcuts on a sticky note. Attach the note to your computer screen. Keep
the sticky note on your screen until you have memorized the shortcuts. Then, pick another set of
shortcuts and repeat the process until you have learned every SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcut
that’s relevant to you.

Free Download: SOLIDWORKS Keyboard

Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
Access the most commonly used shortcuts at your ngertips

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About the Author

Madie Norris Forcier

SolidProfessor content writer and self-appointed World’s Greatest Dog

Mom

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