Civil 3D commands

and shortcuts
Introduction
We made this eBook to collect some of the common
and frequently used Civil 3D commands in a single PDF
eBook for easy reference.

These commands are separated into different

categories to help you find the relevant command
easily.

The commands are collected by Paul Muhindi and they

are compiled in eBook format by our team at
SourceCAD.

If you feel like we can add more commands to this

eBook, then share your recommendation to
jai@sourcecad.com

TEAM SOURCECAD
Table of Contents
01 05
CIVIL 3D KEYBOARD TOGGLE DRAWING MODES
SHORTCUTS
These commands will toggle
These are all the standard different modes on or off in Civil
keyboard shortcuts that you can 3D.
use with Civil 3D.

02 06
GENERAL CIVIL 3D GENERAL COMMANDS
COMMANDS
These commands are used for These commands are used for
general functions and basic adding different drawings and
operations in Civil 3D. modifications in Civil 3D.

03 07
MANAGE SCREEN
CIVIL 3D NAVIGATION
These commands are used for
COMMANDS
managing screen related settings
in Civil 3D.
As the name suggests, these
commands are used for

04
navigating in the drawing area of
Civil 3D.

MANAGE DRAWINGS

As the name suggests, these

commands are used for managing
drawings in Civil 3D.
 01

Civil 3D Keyboard
Shortcuts
 Civil 3D commands

1. Ctrl + N (New Drawing)

You can swiftly initiate a new drawing by pressing Ctrl + N.

2. Ctrl + O (Open)
Press Ctrl + O to open existing drawings effortlessly.

It saves you time by quickly accessing your previous

work.

3. Ctrl + S (Save)

Ensure you save your current drawing by pressing Ctrl + S

frequently.

It's essential for preserving your progress and preventing

data loss.

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 Civil 3D commands

4. Ctrl + Shift + S (Save As)

Save your drawing with a new name using Ctrl + Shift + S.

This shortcut is handy when creating multiple versions of your work.

5. Ctrl + Z or U (Undo)

If you make a mistake, press Ctrl + Z or enter the command “U” to undo
your last action.

This shortcut allows you to quickly correct errors without disrupting your
workflow.

6. Ctrl + Y (Redo) or REDO

After undoing an action, press Ctrl + Y or enter the command “REDO” to

redo it if necessary.

This shortcut helps you fine-tune your edits with ease.

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 Civil 3D commands

7. Ctrl + A (Select All)

Quickly select all objects within your drawing by pressing Ctrl + A.

It's a handy shortcut for performing operations on the entire drawing.

8. Ctrl + C (Copy)
When you need to duplicate selected objects, use Ctrl
+ C to copy them.

This shortcut simplifies the process of creating

duplicates within your drawing.

9. Ctrl + V (Paste)

After copying objects, use Ctrl + V to paste them into

your drawing swiftly.

It's a convenient way to place copied elements

exactly where you need them.

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 Civil 3D commands

10. Ctrl + Shift + C (Clipboard)

Access the clipboard swiftly by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C.

This shortcut allows you to copy an object by selecting its base

point.

Click to watch this animated image

11. Ctrl + Shift + V (Paste Clipboard)

Paste data from the clipboard into your drawing by pressing Ctrl +
Shift + V.

It's a convenient way to transfer information between documents,

the pasted item will be pasted as a block.

Click to watch this animated image

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 Civil 3D commands

12. Ctrl+G: Toggle Grid

Use this shortcut to toggle the grid display on and off, helping
you align objects precisely on your drawing.

Click to watch this animated image

13. Ctrl+E: Cycle isometric planes

Quickly cycle through different isometric planes to view your

drawing from various perspectives.

Click to watch this animated image

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 Civil 3D commands

14. Ctrl+F: Toggle running object snaps

Enable or disable running object snaps, which aid in accurately placing

and aligning objects.

Click to watch this animated image

15. Ctrl+H: Toggle Pick Style

Switch between different pick styles for selecting objects,

providing flexibility in your drawing workflow.

Click to watch this animated image

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 Civil 3D commands

16. Ctrl+Shift+H: Toggle Hide pallets

Hide or show pallets in the drawing interface to customize your

workspace as needed.

Click to watch this animated image

17. Ctrl+I: Toggle Coords

Turn on or off coordinate display, showing or hiding the coordinates

of the cursor position.

18. Ctrl+Shift+I: Toggle Infer Constraints

Enable or disable inference constraints, which automatically apply

geometric constraints as you draw.

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Civil 3D
Essentials course
for complete
beginners
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Author: Seth Cohen

 02

General Civil 3D
Commands
 Civil 3D commands

19. UN (Units)

You use this command to set units for the drawing.

It helps ensure that your drawing is scaled correctly and accurately

represents real-world dimensions.

20. DWGUNITS (Drawing Units)

Modify drawing units as per your project requirements.

You can adjust the scale and precision of measurements to suit your
needs.

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 Civil 3D commands

21. L (Line)

Draw straight lines effortlessly.

This command allows you to create linear segments quickly and

accurately within your drawing.

22. C (Circle)

You can use this command to create circles of various

sizes.

It's useful for representing circular objects or defining

curved elements in your design.

23. REC (Rectangle)

Draw rectangles with ease using this command.

It allows you to define four-sided shapes with

perpendicular sides, commonly used for architectural
and structural elements.

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 Civil 3D commands

24. O (Offset)

Generate parallel lines at a specified distance from

existing objects.

This command is handy for creating offsets and

boundaries in your design.

25. TR (Trim)

Trim objects to remove unwanted portions.

It helps clean up your drawing by eliminating

overlapping or intersecting lines and shapes.

26. EX (Extend)

Extend objects to meet specified boundaries or

edges.
This command is useful for lengthening lines or
curves within your drawing.

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 Civil 3D commands

27. MI (Mirror)

Create mirrored copies of objects.

It allows you to duplicate elements symmetrically,

saving time in the design process.

28. M (Move)

Relocate objects within your drawing effortlessly.

Use this command to reposition elements to their

desired locations.

29. CO (Copy)

Make copies of selected objects quickly.

This command is essential for duplicating elements

while preserving the original.

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 Civil 3D commands

30. E (Erase)

Remove unwanted objects from your drawing.

It's a simple yet essential command for cleaning up

and decluttering your design.

31. SC (Scale)

Resize objects proportionally or non-proportionally.

This command allows you to adjust the size of

elements while maintaining their relative dimensions.

32. RO (Rotate)

Rotate objects to the desired angle.

This command helps you orient elements precisely

within your drawing.

33. ST (Stretch)

Modify the shape of objects easily.

You can use this command to stretch or compress

elements along a specified axis.

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 Civil 3D commands

34. AR (Array)

Create arrays of objects effortlessly.

This command allows you to replicate elements in a

linear or radial pattern, saving time in the design
process.

35. BR (Break)

Break objects into segments.

It's useful for dividing lines or curves into smaller

components.

36. J (Join)

Combine separate objects into a single entity.

This command helps you unify elements to create

continuous shapes or paths.

37. X (Explode)

Break down complex objects into simpler components.

It's useful for converting compound shapes or grouped

elements into individual entities.

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 Civil 3D commands

38. PE (Pedit)

Edit polylines and splines efficiently.

This command provides tools for modifying the vertices

and segments of complex curves or paths.

39. AL (Align)

Arrange objects in a specified alignment or orientation.

This command helps you organize elements neatly

within your drawing.

40. BL (Block)

Create block definitions for reusable elements.

It allows you to define and store commonly used

components for easy insertion into your design.

41. ARE (Area)

Calculate object areas accurately.

This command provides measurements for enclosed

regions within your drawing

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 Civil 3D commands

42. DI (Distance)

Measure distances between points or objects

precisely.

It's a handy tool for verifying dimensions or checking

clearances within your design.

43. ID (ID)

Display object coordinates quickly.

This command provides positional information for

selected elements within your drawing.

44. HA (Hatch)

Fill areas with patterns or solid colors.

It's useful for representing materials or indicating

different zones within your design.

45. QS (Qsave)
Save the current drawing quickly.

This command helps you preserve your work regularly

to prevent data loss.

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 Civil 3D commands

46. OS (Osnap)

Toggle object snap mode effortlessly.

This command enables precise object placement by

snapping to specific points or features.

47. PA (Pan) 🔗
Move the view smoothly within your drawing area.

This command allows you to navigate large or

detailed drawings with ease.

48. Z (Zoom) 🔗
Change the magnification level of your drawing
swiftly.

This command enables you to focus on specific

areas or details within your design.

49. PL (Polyline) 🔗
Create polylines efficiently.

This command allows you to draw complex paths or

boundaries composed of multiple segments.

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 Civil 3D commands

50. D (Dimension)

Create linear dimensions accurately.

This command allows you to add measurements to your

drawing, providing scale and context.

51. DAR (Diameter)

Add diameter dimensions to circular objects.

This command provides radial measurements for

defining the size of circular elements.

52. RA (Radius)

Specify radius dimensions for circular objects.

This command helps you define the curvature or size of

arcs and circles.

53. DAN (Angular)

Create angular dimensions for angular objects or

features.

This command provides measurements for defining

angles and orientations.

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 Civil 3D commands

54. BA (Baseline)

Define baseline dimensions for linear objects.

This command allows you to establish a reference

line for dimensioning multiple objects consistently.

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Essentials course
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beginners
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Author: Seth Cohen

 03

Manage Screen
 Civil 3D commands

55. Ctrl+0 (zero): Clean Screen

Clear the screen clutter by toggling between a clean screen and the
normal display with all the palettes.

Click to watch this animated image

56. Ctrl+1: Property Palette

Access the property palette to view and modify the properties of

selected objects.

Click to watch this animated image

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 Civil 3D commands

57. Ctrl+2: Design Centre Palette

Open the design centre palette for managing and inserting content
like blocks, xrefs, and hatch patterns.

Click to watch this animated image

58. Ctrl+3: Tool Palette

Bring up the tool palette for easy access to commonly used tools and
commands.

Click to watch this animated image

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 Civil 3D commands

59. Ctrl+4: Sheet Set Palette

Manage and organize sheet sets using the sheet set palette.

Click to watch this animated image

60. Ctrl+6: DBConnect Manager

Access the DBConnect Manager for managing

connections to external databases

Click to watch this animated image

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 Civil 3D commands

61. Ctrl+7: Mark-up Set Manager Palette

Open the mark-up set manager palette for managing mark-ups in the
drawing.

Click to watch this animated image

62. Ctrl+8: Quick Calc

Quickly calculate values using the quick calc tool.

Click to watch this animated image

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 Civil 3D commands

63. Ctrl+9: Command Line

Open the command line for entering commands and options directly.

Click to watch this animated image

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Civil 3D
Essentials course
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beginners
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Author: Seth Cohen

 04

Manage Drawings
 Civil 3D commands

64. Ctrl+P: Plot dialogue box

Open the plot dialogue box to set up and print your drawing.

Click to watch this animated image

65. Ctrl+Tab: Switch to next

Cycle through open drawings, switching to the next one in the list.

Click to watch this animated image

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 Civil 3D commands

66. Ctrl+Shift+Tab: Switch to previous drawing

Move to the previous drawing in the list of open drawings.

67.Ctrl+Page Up: Previous tab

Switch to previous tab in current drawing - Navigate to the previous

layout tab within the current drawing.

68.Ctrl+Page Down: Next tab

Switch to next tab in current drawing - Move to the next layout tab
within the current drawing.

Click to watch this animated image

69. Ctrl+Q: Exit

This command will close Civil 3D and exit the software.

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Essentials course
for complete
beginners
SIGN UP FOR FREE

Author: Seth Cohen

 05

Toggle Drawing
Modes
 Civil 3D commands

70. F1: Display Help

Open the help documentation to get assistance

with commands and features.

71. F2: Toggle text screen

Switch between the graphics screen and a text-based screen for

entering commands.

72. F3: Toggle object snap mode

Turn object snap mode on or off for precise object placement.

73. F4: Toggle 3DOsnap

Enable or disable 3D object snap mode for snapping to 3D geometry.

74. F5: Toggle Isoplane

Toggle between different isometric planes for viewing 3D objects.

75. F6: Toggle Dynamic UCS

Activate or deactivate dynamic UCS for easy 3D drawing.

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 Civil 3D commands

76. F7: Toggle grid mode

Turn grid mode on or off to display a grid overlay on the drawing area.

77. F8: Toggle ortho mode

Enable or disable ortho mode for drawing horizontal and vertical lines only.

78. F9: Toggle snap mode

Toggle snap mode on or off for snapping to specified intervals.

79. F10: Toggle polar mode

Activate or deactivate polar mode for drawing at specified angles.

80. F11: Toggle object snap tracking

Enable or disable object snap tracking for tracking points as you draw.

81. F12: Toggle dynamic input mode

Turn dynamic input mode on or off for entering commands and options
dynamically.

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 06

General Commands
 Civil 3D commands

82. A

Use this shortcut to create an arc in your drawing,

saving you time and effort in constructing curved
elements.

83. ADC

With ADCENTER, you can efficiently manage and

insert content like blocks, xrefs, and hatch patterns
into your design, streamlining your workflow.

84. AA

Calculate the area and perimeter of objects or

defined areas with the AREA command, providing
essential measurements for your project.

85. AP

Quickly load applications into Civil 3D with the

APPLOAD command, enhancing the functionality of
your software with additional tools and features.

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 Civil 3D commands

86. BC

Manage your block editing workflow by closing the

Block Editor with the BCLOSE command, ensuring
efficient navigation and organization.

87. BO

Generate regions or polylines from enclosed areas

with the BOUNDARY command, facilitating the
creation of defined areas within your design.

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Free Course

Civil 3D
Essentials course
for complete
beginners
SIGN UP FOR FREE

Author: Seth Cohen

 07

Civil 3D Navigation
Commands
 Civil 3D commands

88. CAM

Set camera locations to create and save 3D

perspective views of objects using the CAMERA
command, enhancing visualization capabilities in
your project.

89. CBAR

Utilize the CONSTRAINTBAR to access geometric

constraints and enhance object alignment and
arrangement within your design.

90. CH

Control properties of existing objects with the

PROPERTIES command, allowing for customization
and modification as needed.

91. CHA

Bevel the edges of objects using the CHAMFER

command, adding visual interest and realism to
your design elements.

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 Civil 3D commands

92. CHK

You use this shortcut to check the current drawing for standards violations,
ensuring that your project adheres to specified standards and guidelines.

93. CLI

By using this shortcut, you can quickly access the Command Line window,
allowing for efficient input and execution of commands within Civil 3D.

94. COL

When you want to set the color for new objects in your drawing, you utilize this
shortcut to streamline the process and maintain consistency in your design

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 Civil 3D commands

95. CT

To set the name of the current table style, you employ

this shortcut, making it easier to manage and organize
tables within your drawing.

96. CUBE

Controlling the visibility and display properties of the View Cube tool
is made simple with this shortcut, allowing you to navigate and orient
your drawing with ease.

97. D

With this shortcut, you can create and modify dimension styles,
ensuring your drawings are accurately annotated and dimensioned
according to your project requirements.

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 Civil 3D commands

98. DBA

This shortcut enables you to create a linear, angular, or ordinate

dimension from the baseline of the previous or selected dimension,
facilitating dimensioning tasks in your drawing.

99. DCE

To create the center mark or centerlines of circles and arcs, utilize

this shortcut, making it easier to indicate the center points of
geometric elements in your drawing.

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Summary
So, that was our entire list of Civil 3D commands and shortcuts.

If you have a command that you think should be added to the list,
then share it with us on jai@sourcecad.com

Also...

If you are new to Civil 3D and want to start from the beginning, we
have created a completely free Civil 3D essentials course for you.

Check the course here.

After you finish this course, we will also share your certificate of
completion.