This is a guest post by Michael Beall (www.autocadtrainerguy.com).
For all you veteran AutoCAD users out there who like to TYPE most of your commands (and want to type C to launch Copy), this is for you.
How to Modify Your Command Aliases
1.. On the Manage tab >Customization panel, click Edit Aliases to open the file ACAD.PGP in the Windows Notepad.
2.. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the acad.pgp file where you will see a paragraph beginning with “-- User Defined Command Aliases ––”.
MEMO: With a new release of AutoCAD coming out each year, this note basically states that if you want your custom aliases to be migrated to the next version (if you still own that computer), make your edits below that paragraph because that’s what will be automatically appended to the next version’s alias list.
3.. Put your cursor after the text that reads “DO NOT REMOVE”, then press [Enter] a couple times.
4.. Use the following context for your aliases:
C, *COPY
Which breaks down as…
The character(s) you want to type at the command line to launch the command
Comma (very important, won’t work without it)
Tab (or however many spaces you want; Tab makes ‘em line up)
Asterisk (very important, won’t work without this either)
Full name of the command
Here are a few examples that I have added to my own acad.pgp
GOLD STAR TIP: For commands that start with the same letter, use a single character for the command you use most often (such as Copy), and a double character for the other one (such as Circle). Don’t move your finger, just hit the character more often for the lesser used commands. [Yes, you will remember.]
5.. Close and Save your ACAD.PGP, then read on ...
Initializing the ACAD.PGP File
Here’s how to force AutoCAD to look at ACAD.PGP now that you have made these changes.
How to Make Your Aliases Take Effect Now
1.. At the command line, enter REINIT to open the Re-initialization dialog box.
2.. Check the box for ‘PGP File’, then click OK.
3.. Test your new alias(es). Have a nice day!
You will find this tip and a couple hundred other insights in The AutoCAD Workbench, available from Michael’s website, www.autocadtrainerguy.com
If you would like to submit a guest post please Email Me for details.
