FEKO Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for CADFEKO, POSTFEKO & EDITFEKO
Quick answer: FEKO keyboard shortcuts are key combinations in Altair FEKO that speed up modeling, meshing, and post-processing tasks across its modules CADFEKO, EDITFEKO, PREFEKO, and POSTFEKO. The most-used shortcuts are Ctrl+N (new model), Ctrl+S (save), F5 (zoom to extents), and Alt+0 through Alt+8 to launch each FEKO component. You can view every hotkey while working by pressing Alt, and customise them under File → Settings → Keyboard Shortcut Settings.
All shortcuts below are verified against the official Altair FEKO documentation (FEKO 2026 for CADFEKO, FEKO 2022.1 for POSTFEKO). Download the FEKO shortcuts PDF cheat sheet at the end.
What Is Altair FEKO?
Altair FEKO is a comprehensive electromagnetic (EM) simulation software used to analyze electromagnetic fields involving 3D objects of arbitrary shape. It combines multiple solver methods including the Method of Moments (MoM), Multilevel Fast Multipole Method (MLFMM), Finite Element Method (FEM), and asymptotic techniques within one environment. Engineers use FEKO for antenna design, radar cross-section (RCS) analysis, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and RF/microwave engineering across the aerospace, defense, automotive, and consumer electronics industries.
FEKO is built from several connected modules, each with its own shortcuts:
| Module | What it does | Launch shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| CADFEKO | Build and mesh geometry, set solver settings and requests | Alt + 0 |
| EDITFEKO | Construct advanced models with a scripting language (loops, conditionals) | Alt + 1 |
| PREFEKO | Pre-process the model into a solver-ready input file | Alt + 2 |
| POSTFEKO | Post-process and visualize results on graphs and 3D views | Alt + 3 |
| FEKO Solver | Run the electromagnetic solution | Alt + 4 |
| OPTFEKO | Run optimisation routines | Alt + 6 |
| FEKO Terminal | Open the command-line terminal | Alt + 8 |
Note: Inside POSTFEKO, Alt+3 is not used to launch itself; the launch shortcuts otherwise match across modules.
How to Use FEKO Keyboard Shortcuts
FEKO displays each shortcut as a keytip when you hover the mouse over an action on the ribbon. To see available hotkeys quickly:
- Press Alt to reveal the keytips on the ribbon.
- Hover over any ribbon action to read its assigned shortcut.
- Use Alt+S to open the search bar and find any action by name.
Many geometry shortcuts in CADFEKO are two-key sequences you press one letter, release, then press a number. For example, C then 1 creates a cuboid, and V then 2 creates a polyline. These are written below as C, 1 and V, 2.
Most-Used FEKO Shortcuts (General Editing)
These are the everyday shortcuts in CADFEKO, verified against the FEKO 2026 documentation.
| Action | FEKO Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create new model | Ctrl + N |
| Open model | Ctrl + O |
| Save model | Ctrl + S |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y |
| Copy selected text / image | Ctrl + C |
| Cut selected text | Ctrl + X |
| Paste | Ctrl + V |
| Copy selected text | Ctrl + Ins |
| Cut selected text | Shift + Del |
| Paste clipboard text | Shift + Ins |
| Select all entities of same type (collection) | Ctrl + A |
| Select all entities of same type (model) | Ctrl + Shift + A |
| Rename selected item | F2 |
| Delete selected item | Del |
| Create variable | # |
| Create workplane | F9 |
| Open the component library | Ctrl + L |
| Create new 3D view | Ctrl + 3 |
| Export image | Ctrl + E |
| Edit project tree filter | Ctrl + F |
| Show / hide selected geometry and requests | Ctrl + H |
| Modify global mesh settings | Ctrl + M |
| Copy items / create root-level part copies | Ctrl + K |
| Point entry | Ctrl + Shift |
| Search bar | Alt + S |
| Context-sensitive help | F1 |
Create Curves & Arcs Shortcuts (CADFEKO)
| Action | FEKO Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a straight line | V, 1 |
| Create a polyline | V, 2 |
| Create a fitted spline | V, 3 |
| Create a Bézier curve | V, 4 |
| Create an analytical curve | V, 5 |
| Create an elliptic arc | A, 1 |
| Create a parabolic arc | A, 2 |
| Create a hyperbolic arc | A, 3 |
| Create a helix | A, 4 |
Create Solids Shortcuts (CADFEKO)
| Action | FEKO Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a cuboid | C, 1 |
| Create a flare | C, 2 |
| Create a sphere | C, 3 |
| Create a cylinder | C, 4 |
| Create a cone | C, 5 |
Create Surfaces Shortcuts (CADFEKO)
| Action | FEKO Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a rectangle | S, 1 |
| Create a polygon | S, 2 |
| Create an ellipse | S, 3 |
| Create a paraboloid | S, 4 |
| Create a NURBS surface | S, 5 |
Transform & Modify Geometry Shortcuts (CADFEKO)
| Action | FEKO Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Union the selected parts | U |
| Subtract selected object from another | B, 1 |
| Intersect the selected geometries | B, 2 |
| Split selected items along a plane | B, 3 |
| Stitch selected face parts together | B, 4 |
| Spin selected items around an axis | E, 1 |
| Sweep selected items in a direction | E, 2 |
| Sweep selected item along a path | E, 3 |
| Loft (connect two profiles) | E, 4 |
| Re-evaluate the geometry tree | R |
View Operations Shortcuts (CADFEKO & POSTFEKO)
| Action | FEKO Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Zoom to extents | F5 |
| Restore (isometric) view | 0 |
| Bottom view | 2 |
| Left view | 4 |
| Front view | 5 |
| Back view | Ctrl + 5 |
| Right view | 6 |
| Top view | 8 |
| Export image of active view | Ctrl + E |
FEKO Mouse Controls (3D & Schematic View)
Shortcuts aren’t only keyboard combinations FEKO’s 3D view relies heavily on mouse interaction.
| Action | Mouse control |
|---|---|
| Zoom | Scroll mouse wheel |
| Slow zoom | Shift + hold while scrolling mouse wheel |
| Pan (3D / schematic view) | Click & drag with middle mouse button |
| Pan (3D view) | Ctrl + click / drag |
| Rotate (3D view) | Left click & drag |
| Zoom in (3D / schematic view) | + |
| Zoom out (3D / schematic view) | – |
| Rotate element (schematic view) | R |
Script Editor Shortcuts (CADFEKO & POSTFEKO)
| Action | FEKO Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a new empty script | Ctrl + N |
| Open script | Ctrl + O |
| Zoom in | Ctrl + + |
| Zoom out | Ctrl + – |
| Go to line | Ctrl + G |
| Find & replace text | Ctrl + F |
POSTFEKO Shortcuts
| Action | FEKO Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a new session | Ctrl + N |
| Add a model | Ctrl + O |
| Open POSTFEKO project file | Ctrl + Shift + O |
| Save POSTFEKO session file | Ctrl + S |
| Quit POSTFEKO | Ctrl + Q |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y |
| Copy image to clipboard | Ctrl + C |
| Copy data to clipboard | Ctrl + X |
| Export image | Ctrl + E |
| Print current window | Ctrl + P |
| Locate geometry (3D view) | Ctrl + F |
| Duplicate trace / component | Ctrl + K |
| Rename trace / result | F2 |
| Change graph labels, title, footer | Ctrl + F2 |
| Edit trace text | Shift + F2 |
| Add annotation (3D / Cartesian / polar) | Ctrl + Shift + left click |
| Raise trace | Ctrl + + |
| Lower trace | Ctrl + – |
| Show / hide the project browser | Alt + B |
| Delete selected items | Del |
| Context-sensitive help | F1 |
How to Customize FEKO Keyboard Shortcuts
FEKO lets you reassign almost any default shortcut to match your workflow:
- In CADFEKO, click the File menu (or Application menu button).
- Go to Settings → Keyboard Shortcut Settings.
- In the dialog, click inside the CurrentKeySequence column next to the command you want to change.
- Press the new key or key combination, then confirm.
This is useful when default geometry sequences (like the two-key C, 1 patterns) clash with your habits from other CAD or EM tools.
FEKO Shortcuts on Windows vs Linux
FEKO runs on both Windows and Linux, and the keyboard shortcuts above are largely identical across both operating systems because FEKO uses its own ribbon-based keytip system rather than relying on OS-level conventions. The main differences come from the operating system itself for example, window management and terminal behavior not from FEKO’s internal commands. There is no separate macOS build of FEKO, so Windows and Linux are the two platforms to plan around.
Download the FEKO Shortcuts PDF
Want a printable cheat sheet to keep next to your workstation? Download the complete, categorized FEKO keyboard shortcuts in PDF format.
TL;DR – FEKO Shortcuts Summary
- Launch modules: Alt+0 (CADFEKO), Alt+1 (EDITFEKO), Alt+2 (PREFEKO), Alt+3 (POSTFEKO), Alt+4 (Solver), Alt+6 (OPTFEKO), Alt+8 (Terminal).
- Core editing: Ctrl+N new, Ctrl+O open, Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+Z undo, Ctrl+Y redo.
- Geometry: Two-key sequences C (solids), S (surfaces), V (curves), A (arcs), B (boolean), E (extend).
- View: F5 zoom to extents; number keys 0/2/4/5/6/8 for standard views.
- See all hotkeys: press Alt. Customise them via File → Settings → Keyboard Shortcut Settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most used FEKO keyboard shortcuts?
The most frequently used FEKO shortcuts are Ctrl+N (new model), Ctrl+O (open), Ctrl+S (save), Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y (undo/redo), F5 (zoom to extents), and the Alt+0 to Alt+8 keys that launch each FEKO module.
How do I see all FEKO hotkeys while working?
Press the Alt key in CADFEKO or POSTFEKO to display keytips over each ribbon action. You can also hover over any action to read its shortcut, or press Alt+S to search for a command by name.
Can I customize FEKO keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Go to File → Settings → Keyboard Shortcut Settings in CADFEKO, click the CurrentKeySequence field for the command you want, and enter your preferred key combination.
What is the shortcut to run a FEKO script?
In the Script Editor, you open and run scripts using Ctrl+O (open) and Ctrl+N (new). Use Ctrl+G to jump to a line and Ctrl+F to find and replace text within the script.
How do I switch between CADFEKO and POSTFEKO?
Use the component launch shortcuts: Alt+0 opens CADFEKO and Alt+3 opens POSTFEKO. These launch shortcuts work from within the FEKO environment.
Do FEKO shortcuts work the same on Linux?
Yes. FEKO’s shortcuts are part of its own ribbon/keytip system, so they behave the same on Windows and Linux. Differences come from the OS, not FEKO itself. There is no macOS version of FEKO.
How do I export an image of the current view in FEKO?
Press Ctrl+E in CADFEKO or POSTFEKO to export an image of the active 3D view.
Why do some FEKO shortcuts use two keys like “C, 1”?
CADFEKO groups geometry creation under a leading letter (C for solids, S for surfaces, V for curves, A for arcs). You press the letter, release it, then press a number to choose the specific shape for example, C then 1 creates a cuboid.
Related shortcut guides:
