Vectorworks 2018 Keyboard Shortcuts

The Vectorworks program has keyboard shortcuts for several common tasks. Many shortcuts can be customized, as indicated in the
headings below. These tables list the default shortcuts for all workspaces; your workspace may not have all of the tool sets, tools,
menus, and commands listed. The shortcuts are available as a PDF file in the help system Table of Contents, for easy printing.

Tool Shortcuts (Modify in Workspace Editor)

Basic Palette Building Shell Tool Set
Component Wall Join Alt+Shift+J Option+Shift+J
Tool Windows Mac
Door Alt+Shift+D Option+Shift+D
Selection X X
Window Shift+D Option+Shift+W
Pan H H
Move Page Alt+Z Option+Z
3D Modeling Tool Set
Flyover Shift+C Shift+C
Tool Windows Mac
Zoom C C
Flyover Shift+C Shift+C
Text 1 1
Set Working Plane Shift+1 Shift+1
Callout Alt+1 Option+1
Align Plane Alt+Shift+1 Option+Shift+1
2D Locus 0 (zero) 0 (zero)
Push/Pull Shift+R Shift+R
Symbol Insertion Alt+0 (zero) Option+0 (zero)
3D Locus Shift+0 (zero) Shift+0 (zero)
Line 2 2
NURBS Curve Shift+7 Shift+7
Double Line Alt+2 Option+2
Sphere Shift+3 Shift+3
Rectangle 4 4
Hemisphere Alt+Shift+3 Option+Shift+3
Rounded Rectangle Alt+4 Option+4
Fillet Edge Shift+F Shift+F
Circle 6 6
Chamfer Edge Shift+J Shift+J
Oval Alt+6 Option+6
Shell Solid Shift+G Shift+G
Arc 3 3
Loft Surface Shift+K Shift+K
Quarter Arc Alt+3 Option+3
Extract Shift+L Shift+L
Freehand Alt+5 Option+5
Create Contours Shift+H Shift+H
Polyline 5 5
Project Shift+; (semi-colon) Shift+; (semi-colon)
2D Polygon 8 8
Analysis Shift+’ (apostrophe) Shift+A
Triangle Shift+T Shift+T
Double-line Polygon Alt+8 Option+8
Regular Polygon Alt+Shift+R Option+Shift+R Visualization Tool Set
Spiral Alt+Shift+S Option+Shift+S Tool Windows Mac
Eyedropper Shift+E Shift+E Flyover Shift+C Shift+C
Visibility V V Walkthrough Shift+U Shift+U
Attribute Mapping Shift+A Option+A Translate View Shift+V Shift+V
Reshape - (hyphen) - (hyphen) Rotate View Shift+W Shift+W
Rotate Alt+= Option+= Light Shift+Z Shift+Z
Mirror = = Attribute Mapping Shift+A Option+A
Split L L
Connect/Combine ; (semi-colon) Option+L Dims/Notes Tool Set
Trim Alt+Shift+L Option+Shift+L Tool Windows Mac
Fillet 7 7 Constrained Linear N N
Chamfer Alt+7 Option+7 Dimension
Offset Shift+- (hyphen) Shift+- (hyphen) Angular Dimension . (period) . (period)
Clip Shift+N Option+C Radial Dimension , (comma) , (comma)
Move by Points Shift+M Shift+M
Walls Tool Set
Building Shell Tool Set Tool Windows Mac
Tool Windows Mac Wall 9 9
Wall 9 9 Round Wall Alt+9 Option+9
Round Wall Alt+9 Option+9 Wall Join Alt+J Option+J
Wall Join Alt+J Option+J
Command Shortcuts (Modify in Workspace Editor)
File Menu View Menu
Rendering– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S Cmd+Shift+Option+S
Command Windows Mac
Sketch Options
New Ctrl+N Cmd+N
Rendering– Ctrl+Shift+G Cmd+Shift+G
Open Ctrl+O Cmd+O OpenGL
Close Ctrl+W Cmd+W Rendering– Ctrl+Shift+F Cmd+Shift+F
Save Ctrl+S Cmd+S Final Quality Renderworks
Page Setup Ctrl+Alt+P Cmd+Option+P Rendering– Ctrl+Shift+E Cmd+Shift+E
Print Ctrl+P Cmd+P Hidden Line
Exit Alt+F4 or Ctrl+Q Cmd+Q Rendering– Ctrl+Shift+D Cmd+Shift+D
Dashed Hidden Line
Edit Menu Rendering– Ctrl+Shift+P Cmd+Shift+P
Final Shaded Polygon
Command Windows Mac
Enable Multiple View Panes m m
Undo Ctrl+Z Cmd+Z
Set 3D View Ctrl+0 (zero) Cmd+0 (zero)
Redo Ctrl+Y Cmd+Y
Unified View Ctrl+Alt+L Cmd+Option+L
Cut Ctrl+X Cmd+X
Create Multiple Viewports Ctrl+Shift+M Cmd+Shift+M
Copy Ctrl+C Cmd+C
Next View Ctrl+Shift+. (period) Cmd+Shift+. (period)
Paste Ctrl+V Cmd+V
Previous View Ctrl+Shift+, (comma) Cmd+Shift+, (comma)
Paste in Place Ctrl+Alt+V Cmd+Option+V
Duplicate Ctrl+D Cmd+D Modify Menu
Duplicate Array Ctrl+Shift+Alt+D Cmd+Shift+Option+D
Command Windows Mac
Select All Ctrl+A Cmd+A
Move Ctrl+M Cmd+M
Move 3D Ctrl+Alt+M Cmd+Option+M
View Menu Send to Front Ctrl+F Cmd+F
Command Windows Mac Send Forward Ctrl+Alt+F Cmd+Option+F
Zoom–Normal Scale Ctrl+3 Cmd+3 Send to Back Ctrl+B Cmd+B
Zoom–Fit to Page Area Ctrl+4 Cmd+4 Send Backward Ctrl+Alt+B Cmd+Option+B
Zoom–Fit to Objects Ctrl+6 Cmd+6 Align to Grid Ctrl+- (hyphen) Cmd+- (hyphen)
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+3 Cmd+Shift+Option+3 Align/Distribute Ctrl+= Cmd+=
Active Only Align/Distribute 3D Ctrl+Shift+= Cmd+Shift+=
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+4 Cmd+Shift+Option+4 Rotate Left 90 Ctrl+L Cmd+L
Gray Others
Rotate Right 90 Ctrl+Shift+R Cmd+Shift+R
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+5 Cmd+Shift+Option+5
Flip Horizontal Ctrl+Shift+H Cmd+Shift+H
Gray/Snap Others
Flip Vertical Ctrl+Shift+V Cmd+Shift+V
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+6 Cmd+Shift+Option+6
Show Others Set Working Plane Ctrl+ \ Cmd+ \
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+7 Cmd+Shift+Option+7 Trim Ctrl+T Cmd+T
Show/Snap Others Join Ctrl+J Cmd+J
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+8 Cmd+Shift+Option+8 Join and Fillet Ctrl+Alt+J Cmd+Option+J
Show/Snap/Modify Others Join (no Trim) Ctrl+Shift+J Cmd+Shift+J
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+3 Cmd+Option+3 Add Surface Ctrl+Shift+Alt+A Cmd+Shift+Option+A
Active Only Clip Surface Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C Cmd+Shift+Option+C
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+4 Cmd+Option+4 Intersect Surface Ctrl+Shift+Alt+I Cmd+Shift+Option+I
Gray Others
Compose Ctrl+Shift+Alt+P Cmd+Shift+Option+P
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+5 Cmd+Option+5
Convert to Group Ctrl+K Cmd+K
Gray/Snap Others
Convert to Mesh Ctrl+Alt+R Cmd+Option+R
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+6 Cmd+Option+6
Show Others Convert to 3D Polys Ctrl+Alt+O Cmd+Option+O
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+7 Cmd+Option+7 Convert to NURBS Ctrl+Alt+N Cmd+Option+N
Show/Snap Others Group Ctrl+G Cmd+G
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+8 Cmd+Option+9 Ungroup Ctrl+U Cmd+U
Show/Snap/Modify Others Edit <editing mode> Ctrl+[ Cmd+[
Standard views: Top/Plan Ctrl+5 Cmd+5 Exit <editing mode> Ctrl+] Cmd+]
Rendering–Wireframe Ctrl+Shift+W Cmd+Shift+W Show Guides Ctrl+Alt+G Cmd+Option+G
Rendering–Sketch Ctrl+Shift+S Cmd+Shift+S Hide Guides Ctrl+Shift+Alt+G Cmd+Shift+Option+G
Unrotate 3D Objects Ctrl+Shift+0 (zero) Cmd+Shift+0 (zero)
Model Menu
Command Windows Mac
Other Shortcuts (Modify in Workspace Editor)
Add Solids Ctrl+Alt+A Cmd+Option+A
Subtract Solids Ctrl+Alt+S Cmd+Option+S Cycle Through Modes on Tool Bar
Intersect Solids Ctrl+Alt+I Cmd+Option+I 1st group U
(uppercase i) (uppercase i)
2nd group I (uppercase i)
Section Solids Ctrl+Alt+T Cmd+Option+T
3rd group O
Extrude Ctrl+E Cmd+E
4th group P
Multiple Extrude Ctrl+Alt+E Cmd+Option+E
5th group [
Extrude Along Path Ctrl+Alt+X Cmd+Option+X
6th group ]
Tapered Extrude Ctrl+Alt+U Cmd+Option+U
Sweep Ctrl+Alt+W Cmd+Option+W
Miscellaneous Keys
Create Fillet Surface Ctrl+Alt+Y Cmd+Option+Y
Toggle SmartCursor Cues Y
Create Planar Caps Ctrl+Alt+Q Cmd+Option+Q
Toggle Angles Relative to Prior /
Create Surface from Curves Ctrl+Alt+K Cmd+Option+K
Segment
Set Datum G
AEC Menu Snap Loupe Z
Command Windows Mac Set Smart Point, Edge, or Vector T
Project Settings (Energos) Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E Cmd+Shift+Option+E Snap Lock
Toggle Automatic Working Plane \
Spotlight Menu Suspend Snapping ‘ (back quote)
Command Windows Mac X-ray Select Mode B
Number Instruments Ctrl+Shift+Alt+N Cmd+Shift+Option+N Coincident Selection J
Auto Number Positions Ctrl+Shift+Alt+O Cmd+Shift+Option+O Close 2D Polygon, Polyline, K
Focus Instruments Ctrl+Shift+Alt+F Cmd+Shift+Option+F Polygonal Wall Network, or
Path-based Objects
Replace Instruments Ctrl+Shift+Alt+R Cmd+Shift+Option+R
Find and Modify Ctrl+Shift+Alt+M Cmd+Shift+Option+M
Refresh Instruments Ctrl+/ Cmd+/ Toggle Snapping Palette Settings
Label Legend Manager Ctrl+Shift+Alt+L Cmd+Shift+Option+L Snap to Grid A (AA = Set Grid dialog box)
Snap to Angle S (SS = Angle Snaps dialog box)
Smart Points D (DD = Smart Points dialog box)
Tools Menu
Smart Edge (2D only) F (FF = Edge Snaps dialog box)
Command Windows Mac
Snap to Working Plane (3D only) F
Organization Ctrl+Shift+O Cmd+Shift+O
Snap to Object Q (QQ = 3D Snapping dialog box)
User Origin Ctrl+9 Cmd+9
Snap to Intersection W
SmartCursor Settings Ctrl+8 Cmd+8
Snap to Distance E (EE = Snap Distance dialog box)
Plug-in Manager Ctrl+Shift+Z Cmd+Shift+Z
Snap to Tangent (2D only) R
Workspace Editor Ctrl+Shift+Alt+W Cmd+Shift+Option+W

Text Menu
Command Windows Mac Arrow Key Shortcuts
Format Text Ctrl+Shift+T Cmd+Shift+T (Modify in Vectorworks Preferences, Edit Tab)
Function Windows Mac
Window Menu
Switch active layer or class Ctrl+Arrow (up and Cmd+Arrow (up and
Command Windows Mac down for layers, left down for layers, left
Palettes–Snapping Ctrl+Shift+C Cmd+Shift+C and right for classes) and right for classes)
Palettes–Attributes Ctrl+Shift+A Cmd+Shift+A Pan drawing Arrow Arrow
Palettes–Object Info Ctrl+I (uppercase i) Cmd+I (uppercase i) Nudge objects Shift+Arrow Shift+Arrow
Palettes–Working Planes Ctrl+Shift+K Cmd+Shift+K Move objects Shift+Ctrl+Arrow Shift+Cmd+Arrow
Palettes–Resource Manager Ctrl+R Cmd+R
Palettes–Navigation Ctrl+Shift+N Cmd+Shift+N
Palettes–Visualization Ctrl+Shift+Alt+V Cmd+Shift+Option+V
Palettes– Ctrl+‘ (back quote) Cmd+Option+C
Activate Object Info Palette
Palettes– not applicable Cmd+Shift+Option+H
Hide Enabled Palettes
Miscellaneous Key Shortcuts (Cannot be Modified) Mouse Shortcuts (Cannot be Modified)
Function Windows Mac Function Windows Mac
Temporarily activate Press and hold Space Press and hold Space Refresh the drawing Double-click Pan tool Double-click Pan tool
another tool bar, while you select bar, while you select and view
and use another tool use another tool Set the print page origin Double-click Move Double-click Move
Temporarily activate Press and hold Alt Press and hold Cmd to the user origin Page tool Page tool
Selection tool while you select while you select objects Increase zoom by a Double-click Zoom tool Double-click Zoom tool
objects (Rotate, Mirror, (Rotate, Mirror, Offset, factor of 2
Offset, Clip, and Move Clip, and Move by Decrease zoom by a Alt-double-click Option-double-click
by Points tools) Points tools) factor of 2 Zoom tool Zoom tool
Temporarily activate Press and hold Press and hold Open or edit a Resource Ctrl-double-click the Cmd-double-click the
Flyover tool Ctrl+mouse wheel Ctrl+mouse wheel Manager object resource name or resource name or
button button thumbnail thumbnail
Temporarily activate Press and hold Space Press and hold Space Activate a class, design Double-click the item Double-click the item
Zoom tool bar+Ctrl (zoom in) or bar+Cmd (zoom in) or layer, or sheet layer name in the Navigation name in the Navigation
Space bar+Ctrl+Alt Space bar+Cmd+Option palette palette
(zoom out) (zoom out)
Switch to a saved view Double-click the view Double-click the view
Hide unselected objects Press and hold Ctrl Press and hold Cmd name in the Navigation name in the Navigation
during movement (Flyover, Walkthrough, (Flyover, Walkthrough, palette palette
Translate View, and Translate View, and
Change visibility for all Alt-click a Visibility Option-click a Visibility
Rotate View tools) Rotate View tools)
classes or layers column in the column in the
Increase zoom by a Ctrl+1 Cmd+1 Navigation palette Navigation palette
factor of 2
Edit a saved view Alt-double-click the Option-double-click the
Decrease zoom by a Ctrl+2 Cmd+2 view name in the view name in the
factor of 2 Saved Views palette Saved Views palette
Increase zoom by a Ctrl+Alt+1 Cmd+Option+1 Activate Selection tool Double-click anywhere Double-click anywhere
factor of 4 in the drawing (works in the drawing (works
Decrease zoom by a Ctrl+Alt+2 Cmd+Option+2 for many, but not all for many, but not all
factor of 4 tools) tools)
Increase zoom by a CC CC Duplicate an object With Selection tool With Selection tool
factor of 2 selected, Ctrl-click and selected, Option-click
Deselect all selected XX XX drag an object and drag an object
objects Create a similar object Ctrl+Alt-click an Cmd+Option-click an
Cancel the current Esc Esc (activate tool and existing object existing object
operation attributes)
Exit text editing mode Esc Esc Switch to Next or On Windows, with a not applicable
Edit Group Ctrl+[ Cmd+[ Previous view in history 5-button mouse, click
Exit Group Ctrl+] Cmd+] button 4 or 5 (same as
Back or Forward for
Exit Group (must be Esc Esc Esc Esc
web browsers)
enabled from the Data
Bar and Edit Group Pan the drawing view With a wheel mouse, With a wheel mouse,
Options) press and hold the press and hold the
wheel button wheel button
While drawing walls, Backspace Delete
NURBS, etc., undo the Zoom in and out* With a wheel mouse, With a wheel mouse,
last clicked point roll forward to zoom in roll forward to zoom in
and backward to zoom and backward to zoom
Display additional tooltip With tooltip displayed, With tooltip displayed,
out out
information press and hold Shift press and hold Cmd
Scroll* With a wheel mouse, With a wheel mouse,
Ctrl-roll (up and down); Option-roll (up and
Shift-roll (left and right) down); Shift-roll (left
and right)

*The mouse wheel zooms by default, and scrolls with a modifier key. You can
swap these functions in the Vectorworks Preferences, Edit tab.
Numeric Key Pad (Cannot be Modified)
Switch to a Standard View
Top/Plan or 0 (zero)
Rotated Top/Plan
Left Isometric 1
Front 2
Right Isometric 3
Left 4
Top 5
Right 6
Left Rear Isometric 7
Back 8
Right Rear Isometric 9

Worksheet Key Functions (Cannot be Modified)

Function Windows Mac
Move one cell up, down, Arrow keys Arrow keys
left, or right
Move right by one cell Tab Tab
Move left by one cell Shift+Tab Shift+Tab
Move down by one cell Enter Enter
Move up by one cell Shift+Enter Shift+Enter

Shortcuts Reserved by Operating System

Mac Windows
Cmd+H Shift+Alt+- (hyphen)
Cmd+Shift+Q Alt+- (hyphen)
Cmd+Shift+1 Shift+Alt+P
Cmd+Shift+2
Cmd+Shift+3
Cmd+Shift+4
Cmd+Shift+5
Cmd+Shift+6
Cmd+Shift+7
Cmd+Shift+8
Cmd+Shift+9
Cmd+Option+8
Cmd+Option+- (hyphen)
Cmd+Option+=
Cmd+Option+D
Cmd+Option+H
Cmd+Shift+Option+Q