Introduction by Colin Wright

Hi I’m Colin Wright author of MycadHELPER

I started using Autocad shortly after its release in 1982.

The only user interface then was the Command- line and in spite of the addition over time of various extensive and sophisticated menu systems the Command-line is still the best interface.

Keyboard shortcuts became an even better way of using the Command-line but Autocad’s relatively few and poorly defined aliases were confusing and inadequate so I decided to create my own using ACAD.PGP. Hence a superseded collection of shortcuts that I called CADSPEAK.

In 1986 Autolisp was introduced making it possible to create one’s own commands and names for them and execute almost any combination of commands and parameters in a single function rather than Autocad command words or aliases that will only start commands leaving the operator to finish them.

CADSPEAK was progressively developed whilst using it daily as a full-time CAD drafter for the next twenty-six years.

The current evolution re-badged as MycadKEYS is now being made available to anyone who wants to become a true professional CAD drafter.

Let me demonstrate it to you then you decide if you wish to try it.

First let’s get the terminology right.

Alias. An AutoCAD short version of a command name e.g. PL for PLINE. (Autocad) Has same effect as typing the full command name on the Commandline. Needs an <enter> to execute.

Shortcut. (keyboard) A combination of keys such as Ctrl+chr when pressed together either at the command prompt or mid-command inputs a command string to the command line e.g. Ctrl+E might issue the command “END <enter>” .

Function Key. Such as F8 that switches the drawing environment between Orthographic or non-orthographic drawing.

Generic Autocad command. A standard command supplied by the program.

Custom command. An add-on custom command supplied by third-party software add-on such as MycadHELPER may have a long name or Alias.

Lisp function. A command or sub-function that can only be executed by entering a lisp expression at the command prompt. MycadHELPER provides hundreds of these.

Graphic menu systems are fundamentally flawed. Can you imagine playing a piano using only a mouse to select keys? The Keys to MYCADKEYS success are a substantial reduction in required keystrokes plus the use of ten fingers instead of one mouse. (Think of the pianist – not only play with one

A truly “complete” list of all AutoCAD commands would be overwhelming and not very useful in practice. What you actually need is a complete list of important commands—the ones professionals use daily. Here’s a well-organized, practical master list

MycadKEYS Faster command execution using short aliases and reduced keystrokes.
MycadENV Offering greater functionality including more OSNAPS and OBJECT SELECTION options.
MycadLAYERS The key to structured modeling and accuracy of form and data.
MycadZONES More complete yet compact file structure, faster viewing and plotting.

Some of the benefits of MycadKEYS:

DOUBLE your drawing output? (yes double – seriously)
Produce more INTELLIGENT more ACCURATE drawings?
Finally solve the layer naming problem?
Provides a complete system of short but intelligent command aliases?
Fast intuitive Command-line interface.
Supports generic AutoCAD program without corrupting it
Solves ALIAS naming problem.
Provides custom MycadLAYER layer naming system compliant with international standards.
Layers may be generated, named and managed automatically by dialogue or Commandline.
Automated layer naming solves LAYER naming problem.
Automated layer names support WORKZONE creation, editing and management.
Eliminates screen clogging menus and hunting for Command icons…CLEANSCREEN.
Eliminates wasteful keystrokes and mouse clicks.
Reduces all MycadKEYS command responses to single character.

Some of the benefits of MycadENV:

Eliminates pressing <enter> to confirm input.
Improves range of OSNAPS.
Improves range of OBJECT selection options.
Improves range of command OPTIONS.
Improves command FUNCTIONALITY.

Some of the benefits of MycadZONES:

Supports COINCIDENT OVERLAY drafting
Permits multilevel, multi-function WORKZONES in a single integrated model.
Automatically creates and manages WORKZONES that aid viewing and printing.
Easy to learn and actually speeds learning of AutoCAD.
Provides a link to BIM

AutoCAD’s major fault.

AutoCAD’s major benefit that distinguishes it from other programs is its Command line. However this has been ignored in favor of more and more varieties of clumsy graphical menus. There are said to be eight different menu systems in AutoCAD yet the only complete one is the Command line. After many menu iterations Autodesk has finally acknowledged that the Command line is the fastest and most transparent way of controlling AutoCAD. Unfortunately their latest incarnation, their so-called “smart” command on-screen interface, has become yet another unnecessary distraction. The other thing that Autodesk has overlooked is providing an intelligent and complete command Alias (keyboard short-cuts) system.

But let’s first deal with REVIT and BIM.

Are you worried that 2D drafting is a thing of the past?

Although some major projects may be using Revit or Archicad to produce Building Information Models (BIM) Their real benefit is for presentation and 3D modeling. Eventually simple 2D production drawings are the most common outcome. The jury seems to be still out on AutoCAD versus Revit and BIM and myths and complaints are plenty.

AutoCAD 2D is still going strong. It has significant underused capabilities of OVERLAY drafting that can avoid the common errors of alignment and clashes inherent in traditional methods of drawing and claimed to be the main benefit of BIM.

With both BIM and 2D drafting the data extracted is only as good as the data put in. In less complimentary colloquial terms “garbage in garbage out”. OVERLAY drafting using MYCADZONES provides an excellent opportunity to ensure good data in.

The advanced automated Layer naming and management that comes with MYCADLAYERS not only facilitates but encourages OVERLAY drafting using MYCADZONES to produce multi-discipline, multi-level, single integrated models saving time and enhancing data integrity.

MycadKEYS uses a few very simple concepts:

MycadKEYS uses keyboard shortcuts (Aliases) and single key-press responses together with a more effective use of the mouse and keyboard allowing almost all AutoCAD menus to be turned off clearing the screen for drafting area and accelerating input and control of commands.
Whereas AutoCAD Aliases merely start generic AutoCAD commands. MycadKEYS Aliases both start and execute commands.
MycadKEYS Aliases provide logical short command Aliases for almost ALL commands both AutoCAD and MycadKEYS. (Not quite true since AutoCAD is said to have as many as 2000 commands).
Reduces command responses including Osnaps and Object selections to single key-press except for text and numbers.
Uses single key Accelerators to control the drawing environment.
Make use of the fifty plus keys on the keyboard and right mouse button not just the basic twenty-six alpha keys.

Accelerator Keys:

In addition to conventional Alias type keyboard command shortcuts AutoCAD provides a number of special Accelerator Keys. Examples that you will be familiar with are F1 for AutoCAD’s HELP and F8 for Ortho ON and OFF. The distinction between Accelerator Keys and command Aliases is that whereas command Aliases are typed at the command line and must be completed by <enter> or [space-bar]; accelerator keys execute immediately without the need to press <enter>, Accelerator Keys also include some special key combinations such as Ctrl+chr.

F1 HELP

F2 Same as AutoCAD (Textpage)

F3 Toggles MYCADKEYS Command- repeat ON and OFF

F4 3DORBIT

F5 REGENALL

F6 Toggles MycadKEYS Edit Text mode ON and OFF

F7 Toggles layer name length between 5chr, 12chr or OFF

F8 Same as AutoCAD (Ortho)

F9 Toggles SNAP ON and OFF

F10 Same as AutoCAD (Polar ON/OFF)

F11 Toggles TILEMODE ON and OFF

F12 When Tilemode is OFF toggles Vport active or inactive

AutoCAD accelerator keys:

Shift+F1 AutoCAD HELP

F2 or Shift+F2 Toggles between the AutoCAD drawing screen and the text screen

F3 or Shift+F3 Starts OSNAP command.

F4 or Shift+F4 Toggles TABMODE ON and OFF.

F5 or Shift+F5 Toggles ISOPLANE ON and OFF

F6 or Shift+F6 Toggles COORDS ON and OFF

F7 or Shift+F7 Toggles GRIDMODE ON and OFF

F8 or Shift+F8 Toggles ORTHOMODE ON and OFF.

F9 or Shift+F9 Starts SNAPMODE command.

F10 or Shift+F10 Toggles Polar Tracking ON and OFF

F11 or Shift+F11 Toggles object snap tracking ON and OFF

F12 or Shift+F12 None

MycadKEYS leaves the Ctrl+Shift+character keys as defined by AutoCAD.

EDIT

MycadKEYS OSNAP Ctrl+character shortcuts:

Ctrl+# aLong or diVide

Ctrl+A Apparent

Ctrl+B COPYBASE

Ctrl+C Center

Ctrl+D noDe

Ctrl+E End

Ctrl+F From

Ctrl+G general midpoint between two points

Ctrl+H Hidden EXTension

Ctrl+I Intersection

Ctrl+J midpoint between two end points

Ctrl+K kwik END, MID, INT, CEN

Ctrl+Ll paralleL

Ctrl+M Mid

Ctrl+N Nea

Ctrl+O nOn

Ctrl+P Perpendicular

Ctrl+Q Quadrant

Ctrl+R not used

Ctrl+S inSertion point

Ctrl+T Tangental point

Ctrl+U Until meet line

Ctrl+V PASTECLIP

Ctrl+W not used

Ctrl+X Xval X value filtered from a point

Ctrl+Y Yval Y “”

Ctrl+Z Zval Z “”

On a keyboard with a number pad the following definitions may be usefully added to your accelerator keys.

Numpad 1 – <90

Numpad 2 – <270

Numpad 3 – <315

Numpad 4 – <180

Numpad 5 – <@

Numpad 6 – <0

Numpad 7 – <135

Numpad 8 – <90

Numpad 9 – <45