Topic: Typing or Using Toolbar Buttons?

[LE]

I only use the following buttons on different toolbars:

QSAVE
OPEN
QNEW
DRAWORDER FRONT, BEHIND
MSTRETCH
SHEETSET

Typing everything else [shortcuts & some number accelerators]..... 

And how about you?

[ronjonp]

I mostly type everything in and use accelerators.

[dan19936]

only new/open, layer drop down, layer previous, color/linetype properties drop-down
use custom menu for less used power commands that I can't remember for typing

Dan

[Birdy]

Prolly 85% keyboard entry.
Only one row of buttons cross the top.  mostly drop down windows (layer, dimstyle, etc.) and those generally for visual feedback on where I'm at.

[nivuahc]

I use toolbars for symbology only. Everything else is keyboard entry.

[Jeff_M]

I don't type worth a dink, so it's mainly Toolbars/Palletes for me. Plus, with all of the commands that aren't named in LDD/C3D it is far easier than typing.

[Kerry]

Both .. probably equally
I get enough practice typing, so buttons are a refreshing diversion sometimes.

... but I do have a fairly comprehensive shortcut/hotkey file.

[MickD]

If it can be done in one go, ie. 'co' for copy or ctrl+s for save, ctrl+n for New etc. I'll type it, if it's a multiple choice command such as ucs->new->3point or dimensioning etc. I'll use the toolbuttons.

[JohnK]

keyboard for about 95%+ of it. The rest is the tool pallets or the one tool bar i have open.

I too have customized my pgp file; i moved all my popular keys to the left side of the keyboard.

v = copy
b = line
vv = move
c = copy
df = match props
as = curent layer to selected
sa = selected to cur lay
q = id layer
r = roatate
...
I dont remeber anymore right now.

[Bryco]

Same as se7en, 95% keyboard.
Mick you don't need the N, I use UU->ob or UU->3
(UU is my shortcut  ucs)

[jonesy]

Mines approx 50/50 split.

Usually the old ones like zoom, move, copy are keyboard, but the commands I dont use daily I tend to use the toolbars and menus.

[FengK]

About 80% keyboard typing, plus 15% toolbars buttons (commands ususally too long or not that frequently used), and 5% menus.

[Dinosaur]

"The times, they are a changin'"

Regular drafting mode I have about 10 favorite buttons and the rest is two or three key commands I have used since r10.

 With my design software though, I am probably splitting things about 20% from the pulldown menu and the rest is split between context menu selections from the toolspace interface (the primary program interface) and similar actions and choices from right mouse clicks on objects.  The Civil 3d commands were obviously not intended to be used with keyboard entry.

[M-dub]

I would guess about 90% keyed in.  I have a number of handy dandy macro buttons that I use frequently.  Most of it is typed in and I'm lost (more like aggravated) when I go to a machine without my pgp file.

[Slim©]

There are tools bars with buttons?

[M-dub]

There are tools bars with buttons?

Yeah, the Home Depot started serving drinks...

Get it? Get it?  Tool Bar? 


I make myself sick...

[Slim©]

 

[CADaver]

EVERY possible command is PGP'd with usually 2 or 3 letters.
Some 500 two or three key lisp functions for a multitude of additional specific functions
Nearly evrything is at the keyboard. Very old keyboard junkie.
Pull downs for specific symbology insertions
One toolbar, six buttons for  "midpoint between two points" and "point along vector" calculations as osnaps

[M-dub]

One toolbar, six buttons for  "midpoint between two points" and "point along vector" calculations as osnaps

I love that little gem!

Code: [Select]

(defun c:btwn (/ PT1 PT2)
  (setq PT1
    (getpoint "\nEnter first point:")
  )
  (setq PT2
    (getpoint "\nEnter second point:")
  )
  (polar PT1
    (angle PT1 PT2)
    (/ (distance PT1 PT2) 2)
  )
); end btwn.lsp

[CADaver]

Code: [Select]

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
(setq dst 1.0
      frc 0.5)
(defun cvd ()
(if (= cal nil)
(arxload "geomcal")
)
(setq pt1 (getpoint "\n Select First Point Of Vector")
      pt2 (getpoint "\n Select Second Point Of Vector")
)
 (IF (SETQ Ndst (GETdist (STRCAT "Enter Distance along Vector <" (rtos dst) ">:  ")))
(setq dst ndst)
 )
(cal "pld(pt1,pt2,dst)")
)
(defun cvt ()
(if (= cal nil)
(arxload "geomcal")
)
(setq pt1 (getpoint "\n Select First Point Of Vector")
      pt2 (getpoint "\n Select Second Point Of Vector")
)
 (IF (SETQ Nfrc (GETdist (STRCAT "Enter Percentage of Distance along Vector <" (rtos frc 2 6) ">:  ")))
(setq frc nfrc)
 )
(cal "plt(pt1,pt2,frc)")
)
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

[M-dub]

Cool, I'll have to give yours a try

[CADaver]

Cool, I'll have to give yours a try

CVD and CVT are not midpoint calculators, but point along vector calculators
CVD calculates a point along a vector (defined by two points) at some distance
CVT calculates a point along a vector (defined by two points) as a percentage of the distance between those points

[hudster]

I type about 90% of my commands, the toolbars I use to string macros together which do lots of things at once, purge and audit for example.

[CottageCGirl]

keyboard for about 95%+ of it. The rest is the tool pallets or the one tool bar i have open.

I too have customized my pgp file; i moved all my popular keys to the left side of the keyboard.

v = copy
b = line
vv = move
c = copy
df = match props
as = curent layer to selected
sa = selected to cur lay
q = id layer
r = roatate
...
I dont remeber anymore right now.

Hope you have job security....my last job had custom quick-keys and when I changed jobs to a company that dosen't do that, I automatically type "c" for copy and get circle instead

uggg-been doing that for almost 5 years now............

[M-dub]

uggg-been doing that for almost 5 years now............

You're not allowed to modify your pgp file?!?!?!?!?!?! For Shame!  I feel sorry for you!

[M-dub]

Here's a button for ya's

Code: [Select]

^C^C^P(command"notepad"(findfile"acad.pgp")) ^P
...and another

Code: [Select]

^C^C_RE-INIT 16

[JohnK]

(defun c:c () (command "_copy") (princ))

Why would i need job security for keyboard shortcuts? Im pretty sure those have been that way since r14. I took them with me to all the companies ive been at so far.

[M-dub]

Taken from AutoCAD 2004 Help File:

Command aliases are shortcuts or alternative names for commands that you enter at the keyboard. The acad.pgp file lists the command aliases. You can change or delete these aliases, or you can add some of your own by editing the acad.pgp file. To access the acad.pgp file, on the Tools menu, click Customize, then Edit Custom Files, and then Program Parameters (acad.pgp).

The acad.pgp file also defines aliases for external commands for Windows® and DOS, which are not listed here.

IMO, edit away and keep your own copy somewhere.  If you have an internet e-mail address, e-mail it to yourself.

[dubb]

Keyboard - 75%
pulldowns - 15%
buttons - 10%

commands like "L" "C" "M" "z" and all basic cad commands are done with typing.

for pulldowns i use the civil menu, express tools, map, and other commands that are hard to find

i use buttons for most of my 3d type projects

[CADaver]

You're not allowed to modify your pgp file?!?!?!?!?!?! For Shame!  I feel sorry for you!

Around here it is discouraged.  The PGP is networked and locked.  You can force it to use your own, but you need to path it that way. However, if you do that and find yourself in a bind for some reason, you'll be on your own.

[SDETERS]

We use two different Cad packages

I used to be able to fly around Autocad using Keyboard with cool accelerator keys and hidden pop up tool bars for less used commands.  I had  several routines were I hit an accelerator key and pop up a toolbar I hit the command and with that command the toolbar automatically hides it self and I go into that command.  Really cool.  But Since 99% of my work is in the 3D software different than autocad I use the toolbars for the little bit I do use autocad these days.  In the 3d software I use 80% percent keyboard and 10% tool bar or icons. 

My I/O

[MickD]

Same as se7en, 95% keyboard.
Mick you don't need the N, I use UU->ob or UU->3
(UU is my shortcut ucs)

cool, thanks Bryce

I'll have to give that a go on some other commands.

[glee]

Probably 90% keyboard. 
The toolbars I used are for our custom titlebloack, detail callouts etc. 
Our pgp file is locked.  (well a back up is kept in case somebody finds the file and messes with it).
As much single key strokes as possible.  No underscores for shortcuts or file names. 

[uncoolperson]

i'm stuck with (well stuck upkeeping) mostly dialog boxes and toolbars, because nobody here seems to understand the command prompt or the keyboard...

drafter - "i click the button and nothing happens"
me - "what's it say?"
drafter - "what's it say where?"
me - "where you type commands in"
drafter - <puzzled 10 seconds> "huh?"
me - " let me see.... ohhh you made it go away, good job! lets not do that again... it tells you stuff, like 'pick starting point', see that button was doing something, it was waiting for you"

[glee]

I have seen people hide their command lines or make it only one line to increase screen real estate because they have so many tool bars up.   

[M-dub]

I have seen people hide their command lines or make it only one line to increase screen real estate because they have so many tool bars up.   

Hey, I do that! 

But, I also know when it should be telling me things that take up more than one line and I know where the F2 button is. 

[Crank]

Try a 2^nd screen.

My menu is so heavy customized, that It's impossible to make/remember shortcuts for every command.
The keyboard is only used for some basic commands like ERASE, LIST, ...

We have an acad.pgp on the network. If someone wants to modify this they can make a local copy that is first found in the search paths.

90% toolbars
8% keyboard
2% pull-downs

[ElpanovEvgeniy]

 
95% keyboard (Ctrl+ 70-80%)
3-4% toolbars
1-2% pull-downs