Revit Keyboard Shortcuts – With PDF Cheat Sheet!

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Revit is a BIM CAD modeling software application, from Autodesk, that comes with all the necessary tools and features for all things building design and modeling. It is used for architectural design, building modeling, structural design and construction, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) engineering, and landscape design. Revit allows users to create 3D structures, annotate in 2D, and study the different stages of a proposed structure’s life cycle, using 4D BIM features.

 

Revit interface

Designing in Revit (source)

While Revit is highly capable and functional, creating structures can be very time-consuming. This is because most tasks, both modeling and non-modeling, require a series of actions to be accompanied. For example, a task as simple as drawing a line will require you to move your cursor to the sketch bar, click on the line icon, move the cursor back to the drawing area, and click and move the cursor till you get your desired size. Imagine how tedious it would be repeating similar processes numerous times until a structure is complete.

Fortunately, Revit, like many other CAD software features keyboard shortcuts that allow you to activate various commands and complete tasks with just the touch of a few keyboard keys. There are over 190 Revit keyboard shortcuts that cover various tasks in the software application.

In this article, we will be exploring the numerous Revit keyboard shortcuts, how to activate them, the command behind each shortcut, and the tasks they accomplish.

 

Revit Keyboard Shortcut Commands

hands on keyboard

The various keyboard shortcuts in Revit can be categorized according to their function and the window in which they can be activated. They are categorized under the following headings: Annotate, Analyze, Architecture,  Collaborate, Context Menu, Contextual Tabs, Create, Manage, Modify, Navigation Bar, Snaps, Structure, System, View, and View Control Bar.

Annotate

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

DI

ALIGNED DIMENSION

Creates an aligned dimension.

DL

DETAIL LINE

Creates view-specific lines

EL

SPOT ELEVATION

Displays the elevation of a selected point.

FR

FIND/REPLACE

Find and replace.

GP

MODEL GROUP:CREATE GROUP; DETAIL GROUP:CREATE GROUP

Creates a group of elements.

RT

TAG ROOM; ROOM TAG

Tags the selected room.

TG

TAG BY CATEGORY

Applies tags to elements based on their categories.

TX

TEXT

Adds text

 

Analyze

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

AA

ADJUST ANALYTICAL MODEL

Adjusts the analytical model of the structural member in relation to those of the elements to which it joins

DC

CHECK DUCT SYSTEMS

Examines the mechanical systems in a project to verify that each system is assigned to a user-defined system, and properly connected.

EC

CHECK CIRCUITS

Verifies all circuits for proper connections to panels and valid system assignments

LD

LOADS

Applies point, line and area loads to a model

LO

HEATING AND COOLING LOADS

Prepares a heating and cooling load analysis report based on an existing building model

PC

CHECK PIPE SYSTEMS

Examines the piping systems in a project to verify that each system is assigned to a user-defined system, and properly connected

PS

PANEL SCHEDULES

Generates a panel schedule for a specific panel

RA

RESET ANALYTICAL MODEL

Restores the analytical model alignment methods to auto-detect

 

Architecture

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

CL

COLUMN; STRUCTURAL COLUMN

Adds a vertical load-bearing element to the building model

CM

PLACE A COMPONENT

Place a component

DR

DOOR

Adds a door to the building model

GR

GRID

Places column grid lines in the building design

LL

LEVEL

Places a level in view

RM

ROOM

Creates a room bounded by model elements and separation lines

RP

REFERENCE PLANE

Creates a reference plane using drawing tools

RT

TAG ROOM; ROOM TAG

Tags the selected room

SB

FLOOR:FLOOR: STRUCTURAL

Adds structural floors to a building model

WA

WALL; WALL:WALL: ARCHITECTURAL

Creates a non-bearing wall or a structural wall in the building model

WN

WINDOW

Places a window in a wall or skylight in a roof

 

Collaborate

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

ER

EDITING REQUESTS

Displays a list of usersí requests to borrow elements in worksets, as well as pending requests

RL or RW

RELOAD LATEST

Loads the latest version of the central model

 

Context Menu

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

MP

MOVE TO PROJECT

Move the model relative to a shared coordinate system

R3

DEFINE A NEW CENTER OF ROTATION

Relocates center of rotation when rotating elements

RA

RESTORE ALL EXCLUDED

Restores all excluded parts and elements

RB

RESTORE EXCLUDED MEMBER

Restores an excluded member

RC

REPEAT LAST COMMAND

Repeats the last command

SA

SELECT ALL INSTANCES: IN ENTIRE PROJECT

Selects all of the elements that are similar to the selected element in the current view, or throughout the project

 

Contextual Tabs

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

//

DIVIDE SURFACE

Applies a division grid along a surface in a conceptual design

AA

ADJUST ANALYTICAL MODEL

Adjusts the analytical model of the structural member in relation to those of the elements to which it joins

AD

ATTACH DETAIL GROUP

Creates an attached detail group

AP

ADD TO GROUP

Adds elements to a group.

BS

STRUCTURAL BEAM SYSTEM; AUTOMATIC BEAM SYSTEM

Creates a layout that is used to control the number and spacing of a series of parallel beams

CG

CANCEL

Cancels an action

DI

ALIGNED DIMENSION

Creates an aligned dimension

EG

EDIT GROUP

Edits a group

EL

SPOT ELEVATION

Displays the elevation of a selected point

EP

EDIT PAR

Edits a part element

EU

UNHIDE ELEMENT

Edits a part element

EW

EDIT WITNESS LINES

Edits a witness line

FG

FINISH

Finishes editing a group

HT

SHOW HELP TOOLTIP

Displays the Help Tooltip

JP

JUSTIFICATION POINTS

Sets a justification point for relocating elements

JY

ZOFFSET

Offsets an element in the z direction

JZ

SHOW HELP TOOLTIP

Displays the Help Tooltip

LI

MODEL LINE; BOUNDARY LINE; REBAR LINE

Places a new line

PP or CTRL-1 or VP

PROPERTIES; TOGGLE PROPERTIES PALETTE

Toggles the Properties palette

RA

RESTORE ALL EXCLUDED

Restores all excluded parts and elements

RG

REMOVE FROM GROUP

Removes elements from a group

RH

TOGGLE REVEAL HIDDEN ELEMENTS MODE

Toggles the Reveal Hidden Elements Model

RP

REFERENCE PLANE

Creates a reference plane using drawing tools

UG

UNGROUP

Ungroups members of a group

VU

UNHIDE CATEGORY

Enables a hidden category to appear in view

 

Create

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

CM

PLACE A COMPONENT

Place a component

D

ALIGNED DIMENSION

Creates an aligned dimension

FR

FIND/REPLACE

Find and replace

GP

MODEL GROUP:CREATE GROUP; DETAIL GROUP:CREATE GROUP

Creates a group of elements

LI

MODEL LINE; BOUNDARY LINE; REBAR LINE

Places a new line

LL

LEVEL

Places a level in view

MD

MODIFY

Enters selection mode to select elements to modify

PP or CTRL-1 or VP

PROPERTIES; TOGGLE PROPERTIES PALETTE

Toggles the Properties palette

RP

REFERENCE PLANE

Creates a reference plane using drawing tools

TX

TEXT

Adds text

 

Manage

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

ES

MEP SETTINGS:ELECTRICAL SETTINGS

Accesses dialog box to specify wiring parameters, voltages definitions, distribution systems, cable tray and conduit settings, and load calculation and circuit numbering settings

MS

MEP SETTINGS:MECHANICAL SETTINGS

Accesses dialog box to configure component sizes, and the behavior and appearance of the mechanical systems

SU

ADDITIONAL SETTINGS:SUN SETTINGS

Opens the sun settings dialog box

UN

PROJECT UNITS

Opens the Project Units tool

 

Modify

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

AL

ALIGN

Aligns one or more elements with selected element

AR

ARRAY

Creates a linear or radial array of selected elements

CO or CC

COPY

Copies selected element(s)

CP

COPE; APPLY COPING

Applies coping to steel beam or columns

CS

CREATE SIMILAR

Creates an element of the same type as the selected element

DE

DELETE

Removes selected element(s) from the building model

DI

ALIGNED DIMENSION

Creates an aligned dimension

DM

MIRROR – DRAW AXIS

Reverses the position of a selected model element, using a user-generated line as the mirror axis

EH

HIDE IN VIEW:HIDE ELEMENTS

Hides an element from view

EL

SPOT ELEVATION

Displays the elevation of a selected point

EOD

OVERRIDE GRAPHICS IN VIEW:OVERRIDE BY ELEMENT

Changes the graphic display settings for selected elements in the current view

LI

MODEL LINE; BOUNDARY LINE; REBAR LINE

Places a new line

LW

LINEWORK

Overrides the line style of selected line in the active view only

MA

MATCH TYPE PROPERTIES

Opens the Match Type tool to convert one or more elements to match the type assigned to another element

MM

MIRROR – PICK AXIS

Reverses the position of a selected model element, using a selected line as the mirror axis

MV

MOVE

Moves a selected element

OF

OFFSET

Moves a selected model line, detail line, wall, or beam a specified distance perpendicular to its length

PN

PIN

Locks a model element in place

PP or CTRL-1 or VP

PROPERTIES; TOGGLE PROPERTIES PALETTE

Toggles the Properties palette

PT

PAINT

Opens the Paint tool

RC

COPE:REMOVE COPING

Removes coping

RE

SCALE

Resizes the selected element

RO

ROTATE

Rotates selected element around an axis

RP

REFERENCE PLANE

Creates a reference plane using drawing tools

SF

SPLIT FACE

Divides the face of an element into regions for application of different materials

SL

SPLIT ELEMENT

Cuts an element (such as a wall or line) at a selected point

TR

TRIM/EXTEND TO CORNER

Trims or extend one or more elements to form a corner

UP

UNPIN

Unpins an element that is locked in position or an element that is driven by its host system

VH

HIDE IN VIEW:HIDE CATEGORY

Hides an element category from view

 

Navigation Bar

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

32

2D MODE

Navigates the view using only 2D navigation options

3F

FLY MODE

Simulates flying through a model

3O

OBJECT MODE

Navigates and reorients the view in the direction of the controller cap

3W

WALK MODE

Simulates walking through a model

ZA

ZOOM ALL TO FIT

Zooms to fit all in view

ZE or ZF or ZX

ZOOM TO FIT

Zooms to fit

ZO or ZV

ZOOM OUT(2X)

Zooms out the project view by 2X

ZP or ZC

PREVIOUS PAN/ZOOM

Returns to previous pan or zoom

ZR or ZZ

ZOOM IN REGION

Zooms to a region

ZS

ZOOM SHEET SIZE

Zooms to sheet size

 

Snaps

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

PC

SNAP TO POINT CLOUDS

Snaps to point cloud

SC

CENTERS

Snaps to center

SE

ENDPOINTS

Snaps to endpoints

SI

INTERSECTIONS

Snaps to intersection

SM

MIDPOINTS

Snaps to midpoint

SN

NEAREST

Snaps to nearest

SO

SNAPS OFF

Turns snaps off

SP

PERPENDICULAR

Snaps to perpendicular

SQ

QUADRANTS

Snaps to quadrant

SR

SNAP TO REMOTE OBJECTS

Snaps to objects that are not near the element

SS

TURN OVERRIDE OFF

Turns off override feature

ST

TANGENTS

Snaps to tangent

SW

WORK PLANE GRID

Snaps to the work plane grid

SX

POINTS

Snaps to points

 

Structure

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

BM

STRUCTURAL FRAMING: BEAM

Adds a load-bearing structural beam element to the building model

BR

STRUCTURAL FRAMING: BRACE

Adds diagonal members that are connected to beams and columns

BS

STRUCTURAL BEAM SYSTEM; AUTOMATIC BEAM SYSTEM

Creates a layout that is used to control the number and spacing of a series of parallel beams

CL

COLUMN; STRUCTURAL COLUMN

Adds a vertical load-bearing element to the building model

CM

PLACE A COMPONENT

Places a component

FT

STRUCTURAL FOUNDATION: WALL

Creates a wall foundation for the building model

GR

GRID

Places column grid lines in the building design

LL

LEVEL

Places a level in view

RN

REINFORCEMENT NUMBERS

Defines or edits numbering sequences by partition for rebar and fabric sheets

RP

REFERENCE PLANE

Creates a reference plane using drawing tools

SB

FLOOR:FLOOR: STRUCTURAL

Adds structural floors to a building model

WA

WALL; WALL:WALL: ARCHITECTURAL

Creates a non-bearing wall or a structural wall in the building model

 

System

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

AT

AIR TERMINAL

Places a register, grille or diffuser

CM

PLACE A COMPONENT

Place a component

CN

CONDUIT

Draws a rigid conduit run

CT

CABLE TRAY

Draws a cable tray run

CV

CONVERT TO FLEX DUCT

Converts a section of rigid duct to flexible duct

DA

DUCT ACCESSORY

Adds duct accessories, such as dampers, in duct systems

DF

DUCT FITTING

Places duct fittings (elbows, tees, end caps, and so on) in duct systems

DT

DUCT

Draws ductwork in the building model

EE

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Places electrical equipment, such as panels and switchgear

EW

ARC WIRE

Draws an arced wire run

FD

FLEX DUCT

Draws flexible ductwork in the building model

FP

FLEX PIPE

Draws flexible pipes

LF

LIGHTING FIXTURE

Adds a lighting fixture element

ME

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT

Places mechanical equipment such as boilers, furnaces or fans

NF

CONDUIT FITTING

Places conduit fittings

PA

PIPE ACCESSORY

Adds pipe accessories

PF

PIPE FITTING

Draws a pipe fitting in a piping system

PI

PIPE

Draws rigid piping

PX

PLUMBING FIXTURE

Places a plumbing fixture

RP

REFERENCE PLANE

Creates a reference plane using drawing tools

SK

SPRINKLER

Places a sprinkler

TF

CABLE TRAY FITTING

Places cable tray fittings

 

View

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

FN9

SYSTEM BROWSER

Finds components that are not assigned to a system

KS

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Assigns key sequences to tools

PP or CTRL-1 or VP

PROPERTIES; TOGGLE PROPERTIES PALETTE

Toggles the Properties palette

RD

RENDER IN CLOUD

Renders 3D views online

RG

RENDER GALLERY

Enables access to multiple versions of renderings, render images as panoramas, change rendering quality, and apply background environments to rendered scenes

RR

RENDER

Creates a photorealistic image of the building model

TL

THIN LINES

Displays all lines on the screen as a single width, regardless of zoom level

VG or VV

VISIBILITY/GRAPHICS

Controls the visibility and graphic display of model elements, datum elements, and view-specific elements for each view in a project

WC

CASCADE WINDOWS

Arranges all open windows in a series in the drawing area

WT

TILE WINDOWS

See all open views at the same time

 

View Control Bar

KEY(S)

COMMAND

DESCRIPTION

CX

TOGGLE REVEAL CONSTRAINTS MODE

Toggles the constraints in a view

GD

GRAPHIC DISPLAY OPTIONS

Opens the Graphics dialog box

HC

HIDE CATEGORY

Hides all selected categories in the view

HH

HIDE ELEMENT

Hides an element from view

HI

ISOLATE ELEMENT

Hides an element from view

HL

HIDDEN LINE

Displays the image with all edges and lines drawn except those obstructed by surfaces

HR

RESET TEMPORARY HIDE/ISOLATE

Restores any temporarily hidden elements or categories

IC

ISOLATE CATEGORY

Isolates selected categories

RD

RENDER IN CLOUD

Renders 3D views online

RG

RENDER GALLERY

Enables access to multiple versions of renderings, render images as panoramas, change rendering quality, and apply background environments to rendered scenes

RH

TOGGLE REVEAL HIDDEN ELEMENTS MODE

oggles the Reveal Hidden Elements Mode

RR

RENDER

Creates a photorealistic image of the building model

RY

RAY TRACE

Opens Ray Trace visual style, enabling a photorealistic rendering mode that allows panning and zooming around the model

SD

SHADED WITH EDGES

Applies a shaded edge

WF

WIREFRAME

Displays the image of the model with all edges and lines drawn, but with no surfaces drawn

Conclusion

By utilizing these shortcuts, users of Revit can greatly reduce their design time and effort. It may seem that they are too many to memorize. However, with continuous use, the Revit keyboard shortcuts eventually become very natural when designing with Revit.

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