Automate repetitive tasks and increase drafting speed using aliases and custom macros.
📚 What You’ll Learn
In this lesson, you’ll explore how to speed up your workflow by:
Using and customizing command aliases (keyboard shortcuts)
Creating macros to perform multiple actions with one click
Applying macros to buttons, palettes, and ribbons
Managing and sharing your customizations
🧠 Why It Matters
Custom aliases and macros help reduce keystrokes, save time, and remove repetitive steps—perfect for anyone working in a production-heavy environment or looking to streamline their drafting process.
🛠️ Tools You’ll Use
Tool / Feature
Description
ALIASEDIT or acad.pgp
Edit or create keyboard shortcuts for AutoCAD commands
CUI (Customize User Interface)
Interface for assigning macros to toolbars, ribbons, and menus
Macros
Command strings that automate multi-step tasks
Command line scripting
The syntax used to build a macro
🧭 Lesson Structure
1️⃣ Understand Command Aliases
Open ALIASEDIT or manually edit acad.pgp file
Example: Set L for LINE, C for COPY
Reload aliases with REINIT or restart AutoCAD
Tip: Keep frequently used commands under two keystrokes!
2️⃣ Create Custom Aliases
Add new alias: TP, *TOOLPALETTES
Avoid duplicate entries to prevent conflicts
Test changes by typing aliases on the command line
3️⃣ Learn Macro Basics
Syntax: series of command-line entries
Use semicolons ; to represent [Enter]
Example: ^C^Czoom;extents;regen; — zooms to extents and regens view
4️⃣ Apply Macros to Interface
Open the CUI Editor
Add macros to:
Ribbon Buttons
Tool Palettes
Right-click Menus
Add tooltips and icons to clearly label functions
5️⃣ Organize and Share Custom Settings
Save customized CUI as .cuix
Back up your modified acad.pgp and share across users
Document macros with clear naming conventions
✅ Lesson Checklist
Task
Completed
Viewed and edited existing aliases
☐
Created a new custom alias
☐
Built a macro with multiple commands
☐
Added a macro to the ribbon or palette
☐
Backed up and exported customization files
☐
📌 Quick Tips
Tip
Benefit
Use ^C^C to cancel any running command first
Ensures macros work consistently
Use REINIT after editing the .pgp file
Reloads aliases without restarting AutoCAD
Test macros in small steps
Easier to troubleshoot errors
Store macros in a shared CUI file
Standardizes team workflows
🧩 Real-World Applications
Drafting Teams: Shorten commands to single keys for speed
Construction Documents: One-click macros for sheet setup
Visualization: Macros to prep 3D views or render settings
QA Checklists: Automate layer cleanup, zooms, or settings
📁 Files and Resources
Resource
Description
acad.pgp file
Alias definition file (can be edited manually or with ALIASEDIT)
.cuix file
Custom User Interface file to store ribbon/macros
Macro Snippets
Sample macros for zoom, layer control, viewport setup
