How to Create and Customize AutoCAD Palettes

AutoCAD Palettes

AutoCAD has multiple features that not only simplify the workflow for users but also considerably reduce the time they would have otherwise spent doing some tasks. One such feature is the AutoCAD palette or tool palettes. In this article, we delve deep into what tool palettes in AutoCAD are and how to create and customize AutoCAD palettes. We will also discuss how to save and share the palettes. Let’s get started.

What is a Tool Palette in AutoCAD?

The tool palette is an AutoCAD feature that helps users manage their work environment by providing easy and quick access to commonly used tools or commands. It organizes commonly used tools and content in a tabbed window. Some examples of supported content and tools include hatch patterns, blocks, tables, custom tools, dimensions, raster images, xrefs, geometric objects, visual styles, lights, cameras, and materials. You can also add AutoCAD commands.

Importantly, the tool palette in AutoCAD combines the functionalities of AutoCAD ribbons as well as toolbars. For instance, it has tabs, similar to the ribbon tabs. These tabs contain a cluster of related or thematic tools. The AutoCAD palette also features icons, just like the toolbars, enabling you to visualize what each tool accomplishes. Additionally, it supports docking, meaning you can affix it to a particular location on the screen. Alternatively, you can elect to have it float within your workspace or even another CAD monitor.

First introduced in March 2003 as part of AutoCAD 2004 (Release 18), the tool palette was designed to accelerate workflows, enabling users to quickly create designs and drawings. The feature has stuck to this original goal even though it has received a few improvements over the years. 

How to Open or Enable the Tool Palettes Window in AutoCAD

There are several ways you can create or enable an AutoCAD tool palette:

1.     Command Line

To create an AutoCAD palette using the command line approach, follow the procedure below:

  1. Type TOOLPALETTES on the command line
  2. Hit Enter
    The tool palette will appear on your workspace

2.     Shortcut Key

The shortcut key is the fastest method to enable the tool palette in AutoCAD. Simply follow the following steps:

  1. Press CTRL+3 while in the AutoCAD workspace
    The software will display the tool palette, which is characterized by many tabs that, as stated, denote a cluster of related tools. 

3.     View Ribbon

The ribbon approach is perhaps the most common approach to creating a tool palette. This is likely because all other AutoCAD features are primarily accessed via this route. To create a new AutoCAD palette using the ribbon approach, here are the steps to follow:

  1. Click on the View ribbon tab
  2. Locate the Palettes ribbon panel
  3. Click on the Tool Palettes iconTool Palettes Icon in AutoCAD, following which the AutoCAD palette window will open

4.     DesignCenter

The DesignCenter approach involves a few additional steps than the other three approaches. Regardless, it is beneficial as it allows you to create a tool palette with existing content. To use it, follow the procedure below:

  1. Click on the View ribbon tab
  2. Locate the Palettes ribbon panel
  3. Click on the DesignCenter icon DesignCenter Icon in AutoCAD, which opens the DesignCenter window
  4. Click on the Folders tab and locate the Sample folder within the list of folders (Folder List)
  5. Find the DesignCenter subfolder
    Depending on the AutoCAD version, the DesignCenter subfolder might be within the en-us subfolder. The DesignCenter subfolder contains a list of .dwg files that contain pre-existing drawings (predetermined content). Each of these files is grouped based on their function, e.g., kitchen, HVAC, hydraulic, landscaping, electrical power, and so on. To access the drawings in the files, double-click the file icon and select one of the options from the expanded menu. If you select Blocks, for example, the content area of the DesignCenter window will display the various blocks as thumbnail icons.

    AutoCAD DesignCenter Window

    AutoCAD DesignCenter Window

  6. Right-click on the specific icon you want to add to the AutoCAD palette, and on the menu, select Create Tool Palette
    AutoCAD will create a tool palette that contains all the tools in the predetermined content

    Create Tool Palette Menu in AutoCAD

    Create Tool Palette Menu in AutoCAD

How to Create a New, Blank Tool Palette in AutoCAD

It is noteworthy that the four approaches discussed above simply open the tool palettes window, which contains default tool palette categories, each with a set of commonly used tools. However, you can create your own AutoCAD palette category that suits your unique needs. To do this, simply follow the procedure below:

  1. Open the Tool Palettes window in AutoCAD using any of the four aforementioned approaches
  2. Right-click on one of the palette tabs in the window and select the New Palette option 
  3. Enter a new name for this blanks tool palette and press Enter

You will notice that AutoCAD will create a blank tool palette within the window. This gives you the liberty to add any tool of your choice. Against this backdrop, how do you add tools to tool palettes?

How to Add Tools to Tool Palettes

AutoCAD supports different methods for adding new and pre-existing tools to its tool palettes window. Generally, the software allows you to add a tool by dragging it from another section of the drawing or user interface. Alternatively, you can copy a particular tool from one palette and paste it into a new one. Here are the various ways you can add tools to AutoCAD palettes:

  1. Drag geometric objects, raster images, hatch patterns (gradient and solid fills), dimensions, blocks, and external refs from your drawing onto the AutoCAD palette
  2. Drag pre-existing drawings, blocks, xrefs, dimensions, and hatches from the DesignCenter window
    It is noteworthy that if you add drawings to the tool palette via this method and subsequently drag them into a drawing, AutoCAD will insert them as blocks rather than drawings whose objects can be independently manipulated.
  3. Drag commands from the Command List pane on the Customize User Interface (CUI) window
    This allows you to store the most commonly used commands in a single location rather than accessing them from a wide range of independent locations such as drop-down menus, ribbons, the command window, and the CUI dialog box. To open the Customize User Interface window/editor, shown below, simply type CUI on the command line and press Enter.

    Customize User Interface Window in AutoCAD

    Customize User Interface (CUI) Window in AutoCAD

  4. Drag toolbar buttons from the Customize window
    To open the Customize window/dialog box, type CUSTOMIZE on the command line and press Enter.

    Customize Window in AutoCAD

    Customize Dialog Box in AutoCAD

  5. Copy and paste tools from one AutoCAD palette to another

What Are Palette Groups and How Do You Make Them?

Suppose you have several tool palettes containing related tools, such as hatch patterns. In such a case, it is only fitting to reorganize these tools in a way that they’d be contained within the same AutoCAD palette group named Hatch Pattern. You can control the specific groups and, by extension, tools that can be displayed on the palette window if these palette groups are created. This means that only the palettes in the selected group can be displayed at a time. Thus, a palette group is a collection of related default or user-defined tools found within the same palette tab.

To group tool palettes, follow the procedure below:

  1. Click on the Manage ribbon tab
  2. On the Customization ribbon panel, click on the Tool Palettes icon, which opens the Customize window
  3. Navigate to the Palette Groups section and right-click on any blanks space
  4. Next, click New Group, type the desired name for the palette group, and press Enter.

How to Customize an Existing Palette?

While the default AutoCAD palette displays the same tools to all users, the software supports customization and expansion. This means you can create your own tool palette based on your unique needs, expanding the usability of the feature. You can customize the tool palettes by undertaking any of the following:

Customization #1: Delete the Tool or Tool Palettes

AutoCAD lets you delete the tool or tool palettes you no longer need. To delete a tool within a particular palette, simply right-click on the tool and click the Delete option. On the other hand, if you want to delete a particular tool palette, select that specific palette first. Next, right-click on its tab and select the Delete Palette option.

Customization #2: Sort the Tools 

AutoCAD enables you to use the sort option to rearrange the tools on any palette.

To do this, simply right-click any blank space in between the tools and select the Sort By option. Alternatively, you can use the drag functionality to achieve this goal.

Customization #3: Move Tool Palettes

You can change the position of a given tool palette tab by moving it either up or down the list of tabs. To do this, simply right-click any of the tabs and, on the menu, select Move Up or Move Down 

Customization #4: Rename the Palette tab

To rename the palette tab, right-click on the tab whose name you want to change and click the Rename Palette. Next, type the new name of the palette and press Enter.

Customization #5: Set the Tool Palette’s Status to Read-Only

This customization action protects the selected palette from accidental changes. To change the status to read-only, follow these steps:

  1. Locate the palette file on your local drive. (This file is saved using a .atc extension.) 
  2. Next, use the Properties option to change the status.
    Do note that AutoCAD helps you locate the palettes folder containing the palettes. First, open the Options window by typing OP or OPTIONS on the command line. Then, click on the Tool Palettes File Locations folder and take note of the file path that AutoCAD displays. 

Customization #6: Add Separator Lines and Text to AutoCAD Palettes

To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open the AutoCAD tool palette to which you wish to add text and separator lines
  2. To add a separator line, right-click the blanks space in between two of the tools within which you want the separator line to be affixed and click the Add Separator option
  3. To add a text, right-click the blank space in between two of the tools within which you want the text to be affixed and click the Add text option. Next, type the text you want to be displayed and press Enter.
  4. To delete the separator line or text, right-click on either of these objects and click Delete

Sharing Tool Palettes

AutoCAD allows you to share tool palettes. More specifically, you can import or export a tool palette or palette group. Only by importing or exporting it, can you save and share it with other users. 

How to Export a Tool Palette or Palette Group in AutoCAD

To export an AutoCAD palette or palette group, follow the steps below:

  1. Click the Manage ribbon tab
  2. Under the Customization ribbon panel, select the Tool Palettes icon, which will open the Customize dialog box
  3. To export a palette, simply right-click on that palette and choose the Export option. Next, enter the file name and click on Save. Do note that all AutoCAD palettes are exported as .xtp files.
  4. To export a palette group, right-click on the specific palette group you want to export (under the Palette Groups section of the Customize window). Next, choose the Export option, enter the file name, and click Save. (All palette groups are exported as .xpg files.) 

How to Import a Tool Palette or Palette Group in AutoCAD

To import a tool palette or palette group in AutoCAD, follow the procedure below:

  1. Click the Manage ribbon tab
  2. Under the Customization ribbon panel, select the Tool Palettes icon, which will open the Customize dialog box
  3. To import a palette, right-click on any blank space within the Palettes section of the Customize dialog box. Next, click the Import option. AutoCAD will open the Import Palette dialog box, allowing you to choose the file containing the palette. Finally, click Open to complete the importation. (Again, keep in mind that palette files have a .xtp file extension.)
  4. To import a palette group, right-click on any blank space within the Palette Group section of the Customize dialog box. Next, click the Import option. AutoCAD will open the Import Group dialog box, allowing you to choose the file containing the palette. Finally, click Open to complete the importation. (Remember that palette files have a .xtg file extension.)

How to Close and Hide Tool Palette Panels in AutoCAD?

If you no longer wish to use the AutoCAD palette, you can close it by either clicking the Close (x) button or typing the TOOLPALETTESCLOSE on the command line and then pressing Enter. However, you may wish to leave the palette open in some cases, especially if you expect to use it much later in your work session. In such an instance, you can hide the tool palette panel using the Auto-Hide button, thus reducing the screen’s surface area occupied by the window. It is noteworthy that the panel reappears every time you hover your cursor over it.

AutoCAD Palette Layout and Buttons

AutoCAD Palette Layout and Buttons

Conclusion

The AutoCAD palette is a handy feature that enables you to access the tools you frequently use within a tabbed window. The tabs denote a group of related tools. AutoCAD, by default, displays several default tools within the tool palettes window. Still, it also allows you to create your own tool palettes by dragging them from a drawing or the DesignCenter. Additionally, you can share the tool palettes by exporting them or importing them from external files stored locally on your computer. Simply put, the AutoCAD palette feature helps simplify the design workflow.

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