=link= | Deswik Keyboard Shortcuts

Feature: Deswik Keyboard Shortcuts Guide

Drawing & Editing (The "Create" Commands)

Note: Deswik uses a "Command Bar" similar to AutoCAD. You type these letters and press Enter.

View & Navigation

Category 1: File & Project Management (The Basics)

These standard Deswik keyboard shortcuts govern your project data. Memorize these on day one.

Goals

Reduce mouse dependence and speed common workflows.
Provide discoverability and learnability for shortcuts.
Allow users to view, search, and customize shortcuts.

✅ Quick challenge:

Try designing a stope wireframe or editing a solid tomorrow without touching the ribbon once. Just spacebar + shortcuts.

You’ll be surprised how fast you get.

Save this post. Share with a teammate who still uses the right-click menu for everything. 🔁

#Deswik #MiningSoftware #MinePlanning #ProductivityTips #KeyboardShortcuts

Master Your Workflow: The Ultimate Guide to Deswik Keyboard Shortcuts

In the high-pressure world of mine planning, every second counts. Navigating through deep menus in Deswik CAD can feel like digging a tunnel with a teaspoon when you could be using a TBM. The secret to massive productivity gains isn't just knowing the software—it’s mastering the Deswik keyboard shortcuts that keep your hands on the keys and your eyes on the model. Why Shortcuts Matter in Deswik

Deswik is a "live listening" environment. Unlike other CAD software that might require you to hit "Enter" after every command, Deswik can trigger actions the moment it recognises a sequence. This makes your workflow incredibly fluid, but it also means your setup needs to be intentional. Professionals often find that two or three-character shortcuts strike the perfect balance between speed and avoiding accidental triggers. Essential Navigation & View Shortcuts deswik keyboard shortcuts

While many engineers use a 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse to pan and rotate their 3D models, keyboard hotkeys remain the backbone of layer and entity control.

Standard Navigation: Use the GeoKniga introduction guide to familiarise yourself with the basic Introduction to Deswik.CAD navigation shortcuts.

Selection: Quick selection tools like Rectangle (R) or Ellipse (E) allow for rapid entity isolation.

Visibility: Many experts set up custom "short words" for visibility, such as ISO for isolate, HID for hide, and SHO for unhide. Customising Your Hotkeys

The default Deswik shortcuts often use multi-key strings that some users find slow. Fortunately, Deswik is highly flexible. To customise your experience: Navigate to Tools | Shortcuts.

In the "Shortcuts" column, enter your preferred key sequence.

Pro Tip: Create a shortcut for the shortcut menu itself! A common choice is TS (Tools | Shortcuts), which some remember with the mnemonic "T.S. I Love You". This is shared by experts on LinkedIn to help reduce friction when you want to add new commands on the fly. Borrowing from AutoCAD

If you are transitioning from Autodesk AutoCAD, you don't have to relearn everything. You can remap Deswik commands to match your muscle memory. For example, changing the polyline command from the default NS to the AutoCAD-standard PL can make the transition seamless. Deswik Function Suggested Shortcut AutoCAD Equivalent Create Polyline PL PL Connect Polylines C JOIN Break Polyline B BREAK Save Drawing Ctrl + S Ctrl + S Final Tips for Speed

Avoid 1-Character Keys: Unless you are very precise, single-character shortcuts can trigger accidentally because Deswik is always "listening".

Use Function Keys: Don't forget F1 through F12 for toggling modes like Snaps or Ortho, similar to the AutoCAD Keyboard Guide.

Macro Support: For ultimate efficiency, use macro-enabled mice or keyboards to trigger complex multi-key combinations with a single press. Feature: Deswik Keyboard Shortcuts Guide Drawing & Editing

By taking ten minutes to configure your Deswik shortcuts today, you’ll save hours of clicking throughout the week.

Deswik software, particularly Deswik.CAD , uses a combination of default multi-key shortcuts and standard Windows commands. A key feature of the platform is that almost all shortcuts are fully customizable

to match your workflow or prior experience with other CAD software. Core Navigation & View Shortcuts

These default shortcuts help you navigate the 3D model space and manage how data is displayed. : Cancel the current command or deselect all entities.

: View plane by 2 points (typically used with "Snap to Points" enabled). : Activate the Quick Launch search bar to find specific functions. Ctrl + Shift + (0–9) : Create a new plane definition. Ctrl + (0–9) : Quickly switch between defined plane definitions. Ctrl + Shift + Q : Open the most recently used file. General Workflow & System Shortcuts

Deswik supports many standard Windows shortcuts for file management and basic editing. : Save the current project. Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y : Undo and Redo the last action. Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V : Copy and Paste selected entities. : Select all entities in the current view. : Open the "Find" or search utility. Customizing Your Shortcuts

Because default Deswik shortcuts often require multiple keystrokes (e.g., "NS" for a new polyline), many power users redefine them to single-key or AutoCAD-style commands. Accessing Settings Tools | Shortcuts to open the customization dialog. Common Customizations : Often mapped to Draw Polyline (replacing "NS"). : Often mapped to Isolate Layer : Often mapped to : Can be mapped to Break Polyline at Point : Can be mapped to Connect Polylines Automatically Efficiency Tips Recycle Old Knowledge

: If you are transitioning from AutoCAD or Vulcan, you can re-implement those specific keystrokes in Deswik to reduce the learning curve. Mouse Macros

: For repetitive tasks like drawing polylines or snapping to orbit, consider mapping your most-used commands to macro buttons on a gaming-style mouse. Shortcut for Shortcuts : Some users map a shortcut (like ) to open the Tools | Shortcuts

menu itself, making it easier to add new shortcuts as they identify frequent tasks. If you'd like, I can provide more details on layer management commands or specific 3D navigation modes like Fly or Drone mode.

Deswik.CAD primarily utilizes a command-driven shortcut system rather than just single-key hotkeys. While many standard Windows shortcuts apply, the software's core efficiency comes from customizable multi-character aliases that can be mapped to any tool. Accessing & Customizing Shortcuts Reduce mouse dependence and speed common workflows

You can view or change your current shortcuts by navigating to the Tools | Shortcuts dialog box.

Customization: Many users remap Deswik's default multi-character shortcuts (like "NS" for a polyline) to more familiar single or double-letter commands (like "PL" or "D").

Composition: Shortcuts can consist of the Ctrl or Alt key combined with a single alphanumeric character. Essential Default Navigation

Navigation in Deswik often relies on mouse-keyboard combinations and dedicated 3D navigation modes: Object Mode: Moves the model in sync with your inputs.

Fly/Drone Mode: Controls the camera/viewport as if flying through the scene.

Target Camera Mode: Orbits around a specific point of interest. Common Productivity Shortcuts

While many are user-defined, these are standard or frequently recommended by power users: Common Shortcut / Recommendation Draw Polyline NS (Default) or PL / D (Recommended) Connect Polylines C (Recommended) Break Polyline B (Recommended) Isolate Layer ISO (Recommended abbreviation) Hide Layer HID (Recommended abbreviation) Unhide Layer SHO (Recommended abbreviation) Open Shortcuts Menu TS (Recommended for Tools | Shortcuts) Standard General Commands

Deswik supports standard Windows and CAD-style control keys:

2. Default System-Wide Shortcuts

Deswik inherits several standard Windows/CAD conventions but adds its own proprietary keys. The following table lists the most critical default shortcuts applicable across Deswik.CAD and Deswik.Sched (where applicable).

Part 2: The "Untouchable" Basics (Global & View Control)

These shortcuts work in virtually every Deswik module (CAD, MD, Sched). If you learn only five shortcuts from this article, make it these.

Selection & Layer Management