Vectorworks 2021 shortcuts

Vectorworks has several keyboard and mouse shortcuts for commonly used functions. 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.

Tool shortcuts (modify in Workspace Editor)

Basic palette Building Shell tool set
Component 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

Building Shell tool set

Tool Windows Mac
Wall 9 9
Round Wall Alt+9 Option+9
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–OpenGL Ctrl+Shift+G Cmd+Shift+G
Open Ctrl+O Cmd+O
Rendering– Ctrl+Shift+F Cmd+Shift+F
Close Ctrl+W Cmd+W Final Quality Renderworks
Save Ctrl+S Cmd+S Rendering–Hidden Line Ctrl+Shift+E Cmd+Shift+E
Page Setup Ctrl+Alt+P Cmd+Option+P Rendering– Ctrl+Shift+D Cmd+Shift+D
Print Ctrl+P Cmd+P Dashed Hidden Line
Quit Alt+F4 or Ctrl+Q Cmd+Q Rendering– Ctrl+Shift+P Cmd+Shift+P
Final Shaded Polygon
Edit menu Enable Multiple View Panes M M
Command Windows Mac Set 3D View Ctrl+0 (zero) Cmd+0 (zero)
Undo Ctrl+Z Cmd+Z Unified View Ctrl+Alt+L Cmd+Option+L
Redo Ctrl+Y Cmd+Y Create Multiple Viewports Ctrl+Shift+M Cmd+Shift+M
Cut Ctrl+X Cmd+X Next View Ctrl+Shift+. (period) Cmd+Shift+. (period)
Copy Ctrl+C Cmd+C Previous View Ctrl+Shift+, (comma) Cmd+Shift+, (comma)
Paste Ctrl+V Cmd+V
Paste in Place Ctrl+Alt+V Cmd+Option+V
Modify menu
Duplicate Ctrl+D Cmd+D Command Windows Mac
Duplicate Array Ctrl+Shift+Alt+D Cmd+Shift+Option+D Move Ctrl+M Cmd+M
Select All Ctrl+A Cmd+A Move 3D Ctrl+Alt+M Cmd+Option+M
Send to Front Ctrl+F Cmd+F
Send Forward Ctrl+Alt+F Cmd+Option+F
View menu
Send to Back Ctrl+B Cmd+B
Command Windows Mac
Send Backward Ctrl+Alt+B Cmd+Option+B
Zoom–Normal Scale Ctrl+3 Cmd+3
Align to Grid Ctrl+- (hyphen) Cmd+- (hyphen)
Zoom–Fit to Page Area Ctrl+4 Cmd+4
Align/Distribute Ctrl+= Cmd+=
Zoom–Fit to Objects Ctrl+6 Cmd+6
Align/Distribute 3D Ctrl+Shift+= Cmd+Shift+=
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+3 Cmd+Shift+Option+3
Rotate Left 90° Ctrl+L Cmd+L
Active Only
Rotate Right 90° Ctrl+Shift+R Cmd+Shift+R
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+4 Cmd+Shift+Option+4
Gray Others Flip Horizontal Ctrl+Shift+H Cmd+Shift+H
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+5 Cmd+Shift+Option+5 Flip Vertical Ctrl+Shift+V Cmd+Shift+V
Gray/Snap Others Set Working Plane Ctrl+ \ Cmd+ \
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+6 Cmd+Shift+Option+6 Trim Ctrl+T Cmd+T
Show Others Join Ctrl+J Cmd+J
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+7 Cmd+Shift+Option+7 Join and Fillet Ctrl+Alt+J Cmd+Option+J
Show/Snap Others Join (no Trim) Ctrl+Shift+J Cmd+Shift+J
Class Options– Ctrl+Shift+Alt+8 Cmd+Shift+Option+8 Add Surface Ctrl+Shift+Alt+A Cmd+Shift+Option+A
Show/Snap/Modify Others
Clip Surface Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C Cmd+Shift+Option+C
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+3 Cmd+Option+3
Intersect Surface Ctrl+Shift+Alt+I Cmd+Shift+Option+I
Active Only
(uppercase i) (uppercase i)
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+4 Cmd+Option+4
Compose Ctrl+Shift+Alt+P Cmd+Shift+Option+P
Gray Others
Convert to Group Ctrl+K Cmd+K
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+5 Cmd+Option+5
Gray/Snap Others Convert to Mesh Ctrl+Alt+R Cmd+Option+R
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+6 Cmd+Option+6 Convert to 3D Polys Ctrl+Alt+O Cmd+Option+O
Show Others Convert to NURBS Ctrl+Alt+N Cmd+Option+N
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+7 Cmd+Option+7 Group Ctrl+G Cmd+G
Show/Snap Others Ungroup Ctrl+U Cmd+U
Layer Options– Ctrl+Alt+8 Cmd+Option+9 Edit <editing mode> Ctrl+[ Cmd+[
Show/Snap/Modify Others Exit <editing mode> Ctrl+] Cmd+]
Standard views–Top/Plan Ctrl+5 Cmd+5 Show Guides Ctrl+Alt+G Cmd+Option+G
Rendering–Wireframe Ctrl+Shift+W Cmd+Shift+W Hide Guides Ctrl+Shift+Alt+G Cmd+Shift+Option+G
Rendering–Sketch Ctrl+Shift+S Cmd+Shift+S Unrotate 3D Objects Ctrl+Shift+0 (zero) Cmd+Shift+0 (zero)
Model menu Window menu
Palettes– Ctrl+` (back quote) Cmd+Option+C
Command Windows Mac
Activate Object Info Palette
Add Solids Ctrl+Alt+A Cmd+Option+A
Palettes– not applicable Cmd+Shift+Option+H
Subtract Solids Ctrl+Alt+S Cmd+Option+S Hide Enabled Palettes
Intersect Solids Ctrl+Alt+I Cmd+Option+I
(uppercase i) (uppercase i)
Section Solids Ctrl+Alt+T Cmd+Option+T
Extrude Ctrl+E Cmd+E Other shortcuts (modify in Workspace Editor)
Multiple Extrude Ctrl+Alt+E Cmd+Option+E
Cycle through modes on Tool bar
Extrude Along Path Ctrl+Alt+X Cmd+Option+X
1st group U
Tapered Extrude Ctrl+Alt+U Cmd+Option+U
2nd group I (uppercase i)
Sweep Ctrl+Alt+W Cmd+Option+W
3rd group O
3D Power Pack– Ctrl+Alt+Y Cmd+Option+Y
Create Fillet Surface 4th group P
3D Power Pack– Ctrl+Alt+Q Cmd+Option+Q 5th group [
Create Planar Caps 6th group ]
3D Power Pack– Ctrl+Alt+K Cmd+Option+K
Create Surface from Curves Miscellaneous keys
Toggle SmartCursor Cues Y
AEC menu Toggle Angles Relative to Prior /
Command Windows Mac Segment
Energos–Project Settings Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E Cmd+Shift+Option+E Set Datum G
Snap Loupe Z
Spotlight menu Set Smart Point, Edge, or Vector T
Snap Lock
Command Windows Mac
Toggle Automatic Working Plane \
Spotlight Numbering Ctrl+Shift+Alt+N Cmd+Shift+Option+N
Suspend Snapping ` (back quote)
Auto Number Positions Ctrl+Shift+Alt+O Cmd+Shift+Option+O
X-ray Select Mode B
Focus Instruments Ctrl+Shift+Alt+F Cmd+Shift+Option+F
Coincident Selection J
Replace Instrument Ctrl+Shift+Alt+R Cmd+Shift+Option+R
Close 2D Polygon, Polyline, K
Find and Modify Ctrl+Shift+Alt+M Cmd+Shift+Option+M
Polygonal Wall Network, or
Refresh Instruments Ctrl+/ Cmd+/ Path-based Objects
Label Legend Manager Ctrl+Shift+Alt+L Cmd+Shift+Option+L Toggle Multiple View Panes M
Launch Quick Search F
Tools menu
Command Windows Mac Toggle Snapping palette settings
Organization Ctrl+Shift+O Cmd+Shift+O Snap to Grid A (AA = Set Grid dialog box)
User Origin Ctrl+9 Cmd+9 Snap to Object Q (QQ = 3D Snapping dialog box)
SmartCursor Settings Ctrl+8 Cmd+8 Snap to Angle S (SS = Angle Snaps dialog box)
Plug-in Manager Ctrl+Shift+Z Cmd+Shift+Z Snap to Intersection W
Edit Current Workspace Ctrl+Shift+Alt+W Cmd+Shift+Option+W Smart Points D (DD = Smart Points dialog box)
Snap to Distance E (EE = Snap Distance dialog box)
Text menu Snap to Tangent (2D only) R
Command Windows Mac
Format Text Ctrl+Shift+T Cmd+Shift+T

Arrow key shortcuts

Window menu (modify in Vectorworks Preferences, Edit tab)
Command Windows Mac
Palettes–Snapping Ctrl+Shift+C Cmd+Shift+C Function Windows Mac
Palettes–Attributes Ctrl+Shift+A Cmd+Shift+A Switch active layer/class Ctrl+Arrow (up and Cmd+Arrow (up and
Palettes–Object Info Ctrl+I (uppercase i) Cmd+I (uppercase i) down for layers, left down for layers, left
Palettes–Working Planes Ctrl+Shift+K Cmd+Shift+K and right for classes) and right for classes)
Palettes–Resource Manager Ctrl+R Cmd+R Pan drawing Arrow Arrow
Palettes–Navigation Ctrl+Shift+N Cmd+Shift+N Nudge objects Shift+Arrow Shift+Arrow
Palettes–Visualization Ctrl+Shift+Alt+V Cmd+Shift+Option+V Move objects Shift+Ctrl+Arrow Shift+Cmd+Arrow
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 objects while you select objects Increase zoom by a Double-click Zoom tool Double-click Zoom tool
(Rotate, Mirror, Offset, (Rotate, Mirror, Offset, factor of 2
Clip, and Move by Clip, and Move by Decrease zoom by a Alt-double-click Option-double-click
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
Increase zoom by a Ctrl+1 Cmd+1 name in the Navigation name in the Navigation
factor of 2 palette palette
Decrease zoom by a Ctrl+2 Cmd+2 Change visibility for all Alt-click a Visibility Option-click a Visibility
factor of 2 classes or layers column in the column in the
Increase zoom by a Ctrl+Alt+1 Cmd+Option+1 Navigation palette Navigation palette
factor of 4 Edit a saved view Alt-double-click the Option-double-click the
Decrease zoom by a Ctrl+Alt+2 Cmd+Option+2 view name in the Saved view name in the Saved
factor of 4 Views palette Views palette
Increase zoom by a CC CC Activate Selection tool Double-click anywhere Double-click anywhere
factor of 2 in the drawing (works in the drawing (works
Deselect all selected XX XX for many, but not all for many, but not all
objects tools) tools)
Cancel the current Esc Esc Duplicate an object With Selection tool With Selection tool
operation selected, Ctrl-click and selected, Option-click
Exit text editing mode Esc Esc drag an object and drag an object
Edit Group Ctrl+[ Cmd+[ Create a similar object Ctrl+Alt-click an Cmd+Option-click an
Exit Group Ctrl+] Cmd+] (activate tool and existing object existing object
attributes)
Exit Group (must be Esc Esc Esc Esc
enabled from the Data Switch to Next or On Windows, with a not applicable
Bar and Edit Group Previous view in history 5-button mouse, click
Options) button 4 or 5 (same as
Back or Forward for
While drawing walls, Backspace Delete
web browsers)
polys, NURBS, etc.,
undo the last clicked Pan the drawing view With a wheel mouse, With a wheel mouse,
point press and hold the press and hold the
wheel button wheel button
Display additional With tooltip displayed, With tooltip displayed,
tooltip information press and hold Shift press and hold Cmd Zoom in and out* With a wheel mouse, With a wheel mouse,
roll forward to zoom in roll forward to zoom in
Expand/Collapse all Alt-click a disclosure Option-click a disclosure
and backward to zoom and backward to zoom
widget groups in the button button
out out
Object Info palette
Scroll* With a wheel mouse, With a wheel mouse,
Edit a selected field in a F2 Space bar
Ctrl-roll (up and down); Option-roll (up and
list box row
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