Shortcuts in IRONCAD

This guide contains a list of general shortcuts that apply in IRONCAD. These are very good to learn as it will speed up your work and make you more productive.

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Camera shortcuts in IRONCAD

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[D] - Fit the camera (Fit Scene, also on [F8] or double-click with the scroll wheel)

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[F] - Front camera, corresponds to the so-called Front view in the 2D drawing (which is also the default mode there).

At the bottom left of each model in each image is the corresponding orientation around the XYZ coordinate system in the 3D scene.

[T] – Top view

[R] – Right

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[L] – Left

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[B] - Back

image

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[I] - Isometric camera(Top Front Right)

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[W] - Look perpendicular to a surface, (Look at, also available at [F7]). Combine with the arrow keys to rotate the 3D scene in 90-degree increments.

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The combination [Ctrl] [Shift] and the scroll wheel (middle button) aligns the camera's center of rotation with a geometry.

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Shortcuts to Hide and Show objects in the 3D scene

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[CTRL] + [SPACEBAR]
Hide what is currently selected(Hide Selected).

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[SHIFT] + [SPACE]

Bring up all hidden items(Show All).

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[CTRL] + [ALT] + [SPACE]

Hide everything except what is currently selected(Hide Unselected).

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Other predefined keyboard shortcuts via the keyboard in the 3D scene

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[E] - Edit a selected feature (Extrude, Blend, Shell etc).

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[Alt] [E] - Edit the cross-section/sketch of the selected shape.

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[C] or [L] when an outer handle of the TriBall is selected, creates copies (C) or linked copies (L).

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[P] - Create point with TriBall, for 3D curves or create copies/links with TriBall.

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[S] - Display Quick Commands toolbar at the mouse arrow, based on what is selected.

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[M] - Measurement, starts the temporary measurement tool in the 3D scene. Close with [Esc].

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[A] - Show and hide all planes in the coordinate system.

[X] - Show and hide the YZ plane in the coordinate system.

[Y] - Show and hide the XZ plane in the coordinate system.

[Z] - Show and hide the XY plane in the coordinate system.

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Kf_200D↩[K] - Suppress (permanently hide) one or more Assemblies, Parts or Features. Used primarily in configurations, such as a "blown up" mode, where only certain parts are to be shown. Suppressed objects are also not shown in the 2D drawing views or parts list. The icon in the history tree of the 3D scene will have a white color.

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[G] - Ghost (transparent hidden "ghost model") on one or more Assemblies or parts. In this way it becomes a reference model in the 3D scene that cannot be selected or modified, only snapped to.

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[SHIFT] + [G] - Un-Ghost All turns off the Ghost function on everything in the 3D scene.

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[CTRL] + [B] - Find in Scene Browser, locate and display the selected object in the story tree. Very useful when you have a long tree structure due to a complex part with many features or a large assembly with many subsets and parts in several levels.

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[SHIFT] + [Z] - Zoom to Selection, zooms in on the selected object on the screen. Useful e.g. after importing models that are outside the visible field in the 3D scene, but usually best accessed via the history tree.

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[N] - Create new empty 3D scene from the default template.

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[SHIFT] + [N] - Create new empty 2D drawing from the default template.

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[CTRL] + [N] - Create new empty file(2D ICD, 3D ICS or 2D EXB) by selecting from a list.

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[ALT] + [Q] - Search Commands, starts the search command for tools and functions in IRONCAD. It is a Windows command that can also be run in MS Word or MS Excel.

Predefined keyboard shortcuts for highlighting in the 3D scene

Hold down [CTRL] and left-click to directly select a part (blue borders) in the 3D scene, regardless of assemblies and other structure in the tree.

Hold down [Alt] and left-click to directly select a feature (yellow shimmering surfaces/volumes) in the 3D scene, regardless of parts, assemblies and other structure in the tree.

Hold down [Ö] and left-click to directly select the last assembly in the tree structure in the 3D scene.

Combine these above mentioned keys with [Shift] to add multiple selections one after the other in the 3D scene(Viewport) or combine with [Ctrl] to directly select multiple objects in the tree structure(Scene Browser).

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Predefined keyboard shortcuts in the 2D drawing

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[TAB] - Toggle between Vertical, Horizontal or Parallel measurement mode for Chain, Baseline or Coordinate measurement in 2D drawing.

[TAB] is also used to switch the direction of a Smart Dimension that has just been placed between two points. After the second point is selected, switch between Vertical, Horizontal or Parallel.

The [TAB] key is also used to place the measurement line parallel to a non-horizontal/vertical contour line. Let the mouse cursor "rest" over the oblique contour line, when it lights up in green - press the [TAB] key.

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[B] - Parts list(BOM)

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[Shift] [B] -Broken-out Section View

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[C] - Section View (Section View)

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[D] / [F8] - Customize the drawing(Fit Sheet)

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[Shift] [D] - Partial magnification view(Detail View)

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[E] - Export

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[Shift] [E] - Switch to 3D scene(Edit Scene)

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[F] - Shape and position tolerance (Feature Control Frame)

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[Shift] [F] - Reference element(date Feature)

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[I] - Posballong(Item Bubble)

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[L] - Settings(Styles and Layers)

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[M] - The dimensioning tool(Smart Dimension)

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[N] - NewSheet

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[P] - Sheet Setup - paper settings such as paper size and transfer of certain properties from the 3D scene.

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[R] - Shaded view(Shaded Rendering)

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[S] - Display the Quick Commands toolbar by the mouse arrow, based on what is selected.

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[T] - Text tool

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[U] - Unlock dimension text along the dimension line.
This can also be combined with the [Ctrl] key to lock the position of the dimension line and move the dimension text only.

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[Shift] [U] - Update SelectedView

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[W] - Welding Symbol

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[CTRL] ["n"] - Adjust the number of decimal places on the selected measurement set, one or more at a time, where "n" corresponds to the number of decimal places.

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[CTRL] [F] - Change the direction of the measurement arrow. Sometimes it is too tight between the measurement boundary lines, or if the mouse pointer ends up on the inside instead of the outside when setting a radius measurement.

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Combination short commands in IRONCAD

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[CTRL] - hold down to:

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• Directly select a part (blue edges) in the 3D scene with the left mouse button, regardless of assemblies and other structure in the tree.
• Select several different parallel objects in the history tree in any order (as you select files in Windows Explorer) with the left mouse button.

• Stepping even millimeters when pulling a Sizebox handle with the left mouse button, snapping steps set via the Common tab Handle Snapping button.

• Steps even millimetres when pulling the TriBall's outer handle with the left or right mouse button, snap steps set via Change Snap Increments when the TriBall is started.
• Replace the selected part/smartest in the 3D scene when you drag an object from a directory with the left or right mouse button.
• Zoom continuously as you press the scroll wheel and move the mouse back and forth.
• Copy a part or assembly in a 3D scene when dragged away with the left mouse button, if the anchor point is not locked in space. NOTE! Press [Ctrl] after dragging the part/assembly. Same principle as copying a folder or file in Windows Explorer.
• Copy a feature in a 3D model when dragged with the left mouse button. NOTE! Press [Ctrl] after dragging a shape/feature/shape.
• Copy a line in the cross-section(Sketch) when dragged with the left mouse button.
• Copy a text box in the 2D drawing when it is dragged away with the left mouse button. NOTE! Press [Ctrl] after dragging the text box.
• Temporarily "lock" the dimension line in the 2D drawing, if you have unlocked the dimension text with the shortcut [U] at the same time.
• Temporarily "lock" a visible Shape handle to a Sketch. As you move the mouse cursor, the handles turn off and on depending on which line is closest. Sometimes it can be difficult to grab a handle, as another handle lights up instead. Hold down [Ctrl] and it's stuck.
• Temporarily "lock" a visible handle on an (imported) so-called BREP-shape, which otherwise easily moves and lights up in a different place, when approached with the mouse pointer.

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[SHIFT] - hold down to:

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• Select multiple objects directly in the 3D graphic with the left mouse button.
• Select several subsequent items (between-first-and-last) in the history tree with the left mouse button.
• Select several different notes (dimensions, centerlines, weld/formwork symbols, etc.) in the 2Drawing with the left mouse button.
• Select several points on a 3D curve (to be moved/rotated with TriBall) with the left mouse button.

• Snap to surfaces/edges/points when dragging Sizebox or Profile handles with the left mouse button.
• Snap to the center of circles (radii) when dragging an object from a catalog with the left or right mouse button.
• Snap to the center of circles (radii) when you drag the TriBall center handle with the left or right mouse button.
• Snap to the centre of circles (radii) when setting dimensions in the 3D scene or in the 2D drawing with the left mouse button.
• Set dimensions (reference) from edge or circle center when setting dimensions in the 3D scene or in the 2D drawing with the left mouse button.
• Temporarily turn off the snap with SmartCursor (green graphic help lines) in the cross section(Sketch).
• Temporarily lock the length of lines and instead adjust the angle of connecting lines, when dragging a selected line (center on) with the left mouse button(Sketch).
• Lock the direction of rotation when using [F3] to rotate the camera with the left mouse button.
• Move the order of objects (icons) in a directory with the left mouse button.

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[ALT] - hold down to:

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• Directly select a feature/shape in the 3D graphic with the left mouse button.
• Lock XY direction when drawing a new line in the cross section with the left or right mouse button.
• Lock XY-direction when you drag an endpoint of a line in the cross section with the left mouse button.

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[CTRL] + [SHIFT] - hold down to:

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• Select multiple parts in the 3D scene (not in the tree), using the left mouse button, regardless of the structural order in the tree.

• Lock the camera rotation point(Target Camera) on a model in the 3D scene when you press the scroll wheel.

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[CTRL] + [ALT] - hold down to:

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• Select a surface/edge/point via a list of all possible hits around the tip of the mouse, using the left mouse button. Add [Shift] (= 3 buttons at the same time!) to select several surfaces/edges/points one after the other, without "dropping" the selection.

• Choose which Attachment Point to change, via a list, when multiple AP's are in the same location.

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[SHIFT] + [ALT] - hold down to:

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• Select multiple features in the 3D graphic, using the left mouse button, regardless of the structure order in the tree.

• Temporarily lock the length of lines and instead adjust the angle of connecting lines, when dragging a selected line (center on) with the left mouse button, though the selected line is moved only in the XY direction (Sketch).
• OBS! Also changes the language setting in MS Windows!

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[TAB] - press once to:

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• Jump to the next text box you are typing in, e.g. in the Property Browser.

• Jump to the next setting (box) when creating a feature, e.g. Shell or Trim Shape.
• Jump to the next Attachment Point with TriBall, if there are multiple AP's for the same object.
• Switch between Vertical, Horizontal or Parallel measurement mode for Chain, Baseline or Coordinate measurement in the 2D drawing.
• Switch between display of Sizebox and Profile handles on selected shape(Extrude, Spin, Sweep, Loft) or Stock (sheet metal).

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[SHIFT] + [TAB] - press down once to:

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• Jump back to the previous text box you are typing in, e.g. in the Property Browser.

• Jump back to the previous setting (box) when creating a feature, e.g. Shell or Trim Shape.

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[CTRL] + [TAB] - press down once to:

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• Switch between open windows/files in IRONCAD (applies to all Windows applications).