DraftSight Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete List (Windows & Mac)
Quick Answer: DraftSight uses standard Windows shortcuts such as Ctrl + S to save and Ctrl + Z to undo, plus CAD-specific function keys: F8 toggles Ortho mode and F9 toggles Snap. On Mac, the Ctrl key becomes the Command (Cmd) key. You can also create your own shortcuts under Customize Interface → Keyboard.
DraftSight is a professional 2D CAD application from Dassault Systèmes the company behind SOLIDWORKS built to create and edit technical drawings in the industry-standard DWG and DXF file formats. Whether you are an architect, engineer, drafter, student, or hobbyist, keyboard shortcuts are the single fastest way to cut repetitive clicking and draft more quickly.
This guide lists every default DraftSight keyboard shortcut, the function keys, the command aliases you type at the command line, the Mac equivalents, and the exact steps to build your own custom shortcuts. You can also download the free PDF cheat sheet to keep beside your keyboard.
What are DraftSight shortcuts?
DraftSight keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that run a command instantly instead of selecting it from a menu or toolbar. They fall into three groups: function keys that toggle drafting modes (like Ortho or Snap), Ctrl-based shortcuts for editing and file operations, and command aliases short letters you type at the command line, such as L for Line. Learning even a dozen of these noticeably speeds up everyday drafting.
Most-used DraftSight shortcuts
These are the everyday file, edit, and view shortcuts. The Command column shows the underlying DraftSight command each shortcut runs, which is useful when you customize keys or use the command line.
| Action | Shortcut | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new drawing file | Ctrl + N | New |
| Open an existing drawing | Ctrl + O | Open |
| Save drawing | Ctrl + S | Save |
| Save with a new filename | Ctrl + Shift + S | SaveAs |
| Copy entities to clipboard | Ctrl + C | ClipboardCopy |
| Copy with a reference point | Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy@ |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Paste as a Block | Ctrl + Shift + V | PasteAsBlock |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | U |
| Delete selected entities | Delete | Delete |
| Print / plot drawing | Ctrl + P | |
| Quit DraftSight | Ctrl + Q | Exit |
| Cycle through tiled views | Ctrl + R | — |
| Close drawing (keep app open) | Ctrl + F4 | Close |
| Exit program | Alt + F4 | Exit |
| Cancel current command | Esc | — |
| Maximize drawing area | Ctrl + 0 | FullScreen |
| Toggle Properties palette | Ctrl + 1 | Properties |
| Toggle Command Window | Ctrl + 9 | CommandWindow |
| Select all non-frozen entities | Ctrl + A | SelectAll |
| Toggle Snap mid-command | Ctrl + B | Snap |
| Find and replace text | Ctrl + F | Find |
| Toggle Grid mid-command | Ctrl + G | Grid |
| Attach a hyperlink to entities | Ctrl + K | Hyperlink |
| Toggle Ortho mid-command | Ctrl + L | Ortho |
| Enforce Ortho temporarily | Shift (hold) | Ortho |
DraftSight function keys (F1–F11)
Function keys toggle the drafting aids that keep your geometry precise. These behave the same on Windows and Mac.
| Key | What It Does |
|---|---|
| F1 | Opens online Help |
| F2 | Shows / hides the command history window |
| F3 | Turns Entity Snaps on or off |
| F5 | Switches the isometric grid to the next isoplane |
| F7 | Turns the Grid display on or off |
| F8 | Turns Ortho mode on or off (locks lines horizontal/vertical) |
| F9 | Turns Snap mode on or off |
| F10 | Turns Polar Guides on or off |
| F11 | Turns Entity Tracking on or off |
DraftSight command aliases
Aliases are short letters you type directly at the command line, then press Enter (or Space). Many experienced drafters rely on aliases more than Ctrl shortcuts because your hand stays near the keyboard’s home row. These mirror the AutoCAD aliases most CAD users already know.
| Alias | Command | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| L | Line | Draw a line |
| C | Circle | Draw a circle |
| A | Arc | Draw an arc |
| PL | PolyLine | Draw a connected polyline |
| REC | Rectangle | Draw a rectangle |
| M | Move | Move entities |
| CO | Copy | Copy entities within the drawing |
| RO | Rotate | Rotate entities |
| TR | Trim | Trim entities to an edge |
| EX | Extend | Extend entities to a boundary |
| O | Offset | Create parallel copies |
| H | Hatch | Apply a hatch pattern |
| DI | Dimension | Add a dimension |
DraftSight shortcuts for Mac
DraftSight runs on macOS, and the shortcuts are nearly identical the main difference is that the Command (Cmd) key replaces Ctrl. Function keys (F1–F11) work the same on both platforms.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Save | Ctrl + S | Cmd + S |
| Open | Ctrl + O | Cmd + O |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | Cmd + C |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | Cmd + V |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z |
| Select all | Ctrl + A | Cmd + A |
| Ctrl + P | Cmd + P |
How to create custom shortcuts in DraftSight
If a command you use constantly has no shortcut, assign your own in under a minute:
- Right-click any empty space in the ribbon or toolbar and choose Customize Interface (you can also open it with the CUI command).
- In the dialog, select Keyboard on the left.
- Open the Shortcut Keys tab to see all current shortcuts in a table.
- Click the green + (Add) icon in the upper-right of the table to create a new empty row.
- Double-click the Key column and press the key combination you want to assign.
- In the Command Name column, use the Command Explorer to find and select the command.
- Click OK. Your new shortcut is live immediately.
How to reset shortcuts to default
If your customizations get messy, open Customize Interface → Keyboard and use the Reset option to restore DraftSight’s default shortcut keys. You can also reset the entire interface to defaults from the same dialog if needed.
Download the DraftSight shortcuts PDF
Keep every shortcut within reach. Download the free, print-friendly cheat sheet and pin it next to your workstation.
⬇ Download DraftSight Shortcuts PDF
DraftSight shortcuts FAQ
What is the shortcut to save a drawing in DraftSight?
Press Ctrl + S on Windows or Cmd + S on Mac. Use Ctrl + Shift + S to save under a new file name.
How do I create a custom keyboard shortcut in DraftSight?
Right-click the ribbon, choose Customize Interface, open the Keyboard tab, select Shortcut Keys, click the green + icon, type your key combination, choose a command, and click OK.
What does F8 do in DraftSight?
F8 toggles Ortho mode, which restricts the cursor to horizontal and vertical movement so your lines stay perfectly straight.
Do DraftSight keyboard shortcuts work on Mac?
Yes. The shortcuts are the same except the Ctrl key is replaced by the Cmd key. Function keys behave identically on both platforms.
What is a command alias in DraftSight?
An alias is a short abbreviation you type at the command line to run a command quickly, such as L for Line. Aliases are separate from keyboard shortcuts and can be edited in Customize Interface.
How do I reset DraftSight keyboard shortcuts to default?
Open Customize Interface → Keyboard and use the Reset option to restore the default shortcut keys.
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