Here at Ideate + IMAGINiT, we are constantly testing and reviewing the tools and features in our Autodesk applications. Sometimes we discover some helpful tips and tricks that make working through models and datasets a little easier.
You may already know about AutoCAD keyboard shortcuts, but did you know that InfraWorks also has keyboard shortcuts to help make things easier to access? In this blog post, I’ll break down a few quick keyboard shortcuts to help navigate around an InfraWorks model.
Shortcut #1: Home View = F4 or HOME key
Setting a Home View in InfraWorks is a great way to specify a base location to start from or highlight a specific area of the model where you want to return to quickly. The Home View is normally accessed via the icon in the upper right of the Navigation View Cube. A right-click on the Home icon allows you to reset the home view to your preferred location, and clicking the icon takes you back to that view.
When working in your model, you may want to quickly get back to your Home View without moving your cursor over to the icon. Your keyboard’s F4 key is a built-in shortcut for that. If your keyboard has a HOME key, that also works as a shortcut back to the Home View of your model.
Shortcut #2: Zoom In/Out = “+” and “- “
Those new to Infraworks may notice that mouse navigation is also a little different compared to other Autodesk applications. Rolling the mouse wheel up and down works for zooming in and out in an Infraworks model similar to zooming in and out in AutoCAD. If you’re looking for a keyboard shortcut for Zoom, the “+” and “-“ keys work for that. Zoom In using the “+” key and Zoom Out using the “-“ key. These keys zoom to the center of the view rather than in the direction of the cursor.
Shortcut #3: Elevate Up/Down = “Q” and “E”
In addition to zooming in and out, changing the elevation of the view in Infraworks is also important. By default, pressing and holding the mouse wheel while moving the mouse up or down will change the elevation of the view. That can be difficult to control with the mouse but pressing and holding “Q” to move Up or “E” to move Down makes it easier. You can also use “Q” and “E” while panning.
Shortcut #4: Zoom to Selected = “F” or Double-Click
Zooming to a selected object in Infraworks is also a helpful trick to know. Since there is no Zoom To option, this task normally takes a few clicks to get to. Normally, a double-click on the object will zoom to it. Selecting a feature from the Data Sources tab, then going to the Select Model Features Tools and clicking Zoom to Selected is also a way to do it. To make things easier, selecting an object in the model, then pressing the “F” key will automatically zoom and center it in view (this does not apply to right-click selected Data Source objects).
A full list of keyboard shortcuts can be found here on the Autodesk Knowledge Network (AKN):
Be sure to come back for more Civil Solutions posts and stay up to date with all of our tips, tricks and recommendations by bookmarking our blog at https://resources.imaginit.com/civil-solutions-blog
About the Author
Follow on Linkedin More Content by Matt Miyamoto
