Quick Access Toolbar Autocad

Mastering the AutoCAD Quick Access Toolbar: Your Shortcut to Efficiency

AutoCAD, a powerful tool for drafting and design, can feel overwhelming for beginners. However, mastering even a few key features can drastically improve your workflow. One such feature is the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT), a customizable strip of frequently used commands, readily available at the top of your screen. This article will demystify the QAT, showing you how to customize it for maximum efficiency and unlock your AutoCAD potential.

Understanding the Quick Access Toolbar

The QAT is a personalized collection of commands, designed to save you time and keystrokes. Unlike menus or ribbons, it's always visible, providing instant access to your favorite tools. By default, it displays commands like "Save," "Undo," and "Redo." But its true power lies in its customizability – you can add or remove commands based on your specific needs and project requirements.

Adding Commands to the Quick Access Toolbar

Adding commands to the QAT is incredibly simple. There are two main methods:

1. Right-Click and Add: Right-click on any command in the main AutoCAD ribbon. You'll see a context menu. Select "Add to Quick Access Toolbar." The command will immediately appear on the QAT.

Example: Let's say you frequently use the "OFFSET" command. Right-click on the "OFFSET" command in the "MODIFY" tab of the ribbon. Choose "Add to Quick Access Toolbar." Now, the OFFSET command is readily available on your QAT.

2. Using the Customize Quick Access Toolbar Menu: Click the small downward-facing arrow at the right end of the QAT. This opens a menu allowing you to add commands from various categories, including recent commands, all commands, or even specific tool palettes. This provides a more comprehensive view of available commands for addition.

Example: If you want to add the "ZOOM EXTENTS" command, click the downward-facing arrow, select "More Commands," and search for "ZOOM EXTENTS" in the list. Add it to the QAT.

Removing Commands from the Quick Access Toolbar

Removing unwanted commands is just as easy. Simply right-click on the command icon in the QAT and select "Remove from Quick Access Toolbar." This streamlines your QAT, ensuring only essential commands remain.

Example: If the "Save As" command is cluttering your QAT, right-click its icon and select "Remove from Quick Access Toolbar."

Customizing the QAT Layout

Beyond adding and removing commands, you can customize the QAT's display:

Show Below the Ribbon: By default, the QAT appears above the ribbon. You can change its location to below the ribbon using the downward-facing arrow menu. This can improve screen real estate management depending on your preference and monitor setup.

Large or Small Icons: Adjust the icon size for better visibility. This option is also available in the downward-facing arrow menu. Larger icons are easier to identify at a glance, while smaller icons save space.

Adding Tool Palettes to the QAT

Tool palettes are collections of tools related to specific tasks. You can add frequently used palettes directly to the QAT, providing even faster access to specialized commands. Using the "More Commands" option in the QAT menu, navigate to the Tool Palettes section and add them to the toolbar. This dramatically reduces the need to navigate through multiple menus.

Actionable Takeaways & Key Insights

The QAT is your personal shortcut to frequently used commands.
Customization is key to maximizing efficiency. Tailor it to your specific workflow.
Regularly review and adjust your QAT as your AutoCAD usage evolves.
Experiment with adding different commands and tool palettes to find the optimal configuration.

FAQs

1. Can I add custom commands to the QAT? Yes, you can add any command available within AutoCAD to your QAT.

2. What happens to my QAT settings if I upgrade AutoCAD? Your QAT settings are generally preserved during upgrades. However, it’s always a good idea to back up your custom settings.

3. Can I reset the QAT to its default settings? Yes, you can typically reset the QAT by selecting "Reset" from the dropdown menu. This should be used cautiously as it will remove all your custom settings.

4. Can I share my QAT settings with colleagues? While there's no direct sharing mechanism, you can document your QAT setup and share those instructions with others.

5. How can I learn more about AutoCAD commands to add to my QAT? AutoCAD's help documentation and online tutorials are excellent resources for discovering new and useful commands. Explore the different tabs and commands within the ribbon to uncover possibilities for optimizing your workflow.

Search Results:

Quick Access Toolbar loses commands - Autodesk Community 19 Sep 2013 · Every few days or so the Quick Access Toolbar loses the commands that I have placed on it and I must reattach them. I use the "More Commands..." option from the drop …

Buttom added to quick access toolbar disappear - Autodesk … 18 Feb 2025 · >>"by right click and hit add to Quick acces toolbar" Never saw this. Where are you and where do you click? Screenshots welcome >>"Anyboddy have a soloution for this ?" …

Solved: Invisible Quick Access Toolbar in AutoCAD 2012 3 Mar 2017 · After installing Autocad 2012 the QAT above the ribbon is not displayed although it is there. Because the tooltips of the commands become visible when cursor passes over them. …

AutoCAD 2014 - Quick access toolbar missing 14 Mar 2018 · Hello, wondered if anyone could help with this - my quick access toolbar appears to have disappeared, have checked back through some previous threads on this but have not …

Quick! I Need Access to That. - Autodesk Community 9 Mar 2023 · One of the most overlooked features of the AutoCAD interface is the Quick Access toolbar. If some of you use Civil 3D, you will know that when you click on a Civil 3D object, a …

Autocad - Quick Access Toolbar (short cut icons) 17 Aug 2022 · Autocad - Quick Access Toolbar (short cut icons) wesleyfleet. Participant. 08-17-2022 06:15 AM 1,572 Views ...

Quick access toolbar invisible - Autodesk Community 28 Sep 2017 · The thing I don't understand is that I work on both civil 3d and AutoCAD, and on civil 2017, the quick access toolbar is showing up fine (with hardware acceleration on) But on …

Autocad 2013 Quick Access Toolbar Not Showing 7 Aug 2015 · Hi, So I am using Autocad 2013 (Student version) and my quick access toolbar will not show when it is "above the ribbon." I played around with the CUI and the toolbar is present …

2018 Quick Access Toolbar Additions - Autodesk Community 22 Mar 2017 · 2018 Quick Access Toolbar: Work: AutoCAD 2022.1.3, Windows 10 Pro v22H2 64-bit, Intel Core i7-8700K, 32GB RAM, Samsung 960 Pro SSD, AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100, 3 …

How do I get rid of the quick access toolbar? 20 Feb 2018 · I was simply pointing out that a quick search turned up the same solution. It was complete if you read the context of the image right above it. I think what we can take away …