Keyboard shortcuts
The keyboard shortcuts in Tekla Structural Designer are described below.
If you want a printed copy for reference, a summary list of the shortcuts can also be downloaded from here.
Interface window/scene view switcher
The switcher provides a quick way to navigate between open windows and scene views.
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
Open the Switcher The Switcher is only visible while CTRL is held down |
CRTL+TAB |
|
With CTRL held down, select the required item using the arrow keys and then release the CTRL key to switch to the chosen item |
UP/DOWN/ LEFT/RIGHT/ TAB |
General
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Displays the Tekla Structural Designer Help. | F1 |
| Holding down CRTL while selecting entities adds the new entities to the current selection. | CRTL |
| Cancels the current command. | Esc |
| Runs the model validation process - on completion the Project Workspace switches to the Status page if not already active. | CRTL+D |
| Opens the Find dialog | CRTL+F |
| Open a file | CRTL+O |
| Open/close the Process Window | CRTL+P |
| Starts a new file | CRTL+N |
Project Workspace
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Move between different items | UP/DOWN |
| Expand a heading to reveal sub-items | RIGHT ARROW |
| Return to a heading, or collapse an expanded heading | LEFT ARROW |
Properties window
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Move between different properties and navigate within lists | UP/DOWN |
| Enter/Leave (and save) property editing mode | TAB |
Space - Toggle check-boxes and expand lists |
SPACE |
| Select and save property editing | ENTER |
| While a Show/Alter state view is active: | |
| Cycle through the [A]ttribute drop list options | A |
| Cycle through the [M]ode drop list options | M |
Scene Content window
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
|
Move up and down the list |
UP/DOWN |
| Expand a heading to reveal sub-items | CTRL+ ARROW |
| Collapse an expanded heading | CTRL+ ARROW |
| Toggle the item on or off | SPACE |
Quick Access window
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
|
Open the Quick access window |
CTRL+Q |
| Type your keyword | |
|
Switch between “Most relevant matching actions” and “All matching actions” |
CTRL+M |
| Highlight the required command | UP/DOWN |
| Select the highlighted command | ENTER |
| Useful keywords | |
| Open new views | Open |
|
Switch from one view to another |
Activate |
|
Rotate the ViewCube actions |
Set |
|
Change the current view regime |
Switch |
2D and 3D Views
| Function | Key |
|---|---|
| Zoom to the extents of the model | ZA |
| Zoom to the selected entities | ZS |
| Zoom to 1m (3ft) around the cursor location | Z1 |
| Zoom to 2m (6ft) around the cursor location | Z2 |
| Zoom to 3m (9ft) around the cursor location | Z3 |
Move between entities in the Select Entity tooltip when multiple entities are detected |
UP/DOWN |
| Hold CRTL while selecting entities adds the new entities to the current selection | CRTL |
| Select entities then use the shortcut to start the copy operation | CRTL+C |
| Switch to a different View Regime. To change the view regime press the CRTL+R followed by a number key from 1 to 6 to activate the associated view regime as follows (note this only functions with the number keys above keyboard letter keys, not the numpad): 1 - Structural 2 - Solver 3 - Results 4 - Wind 5 - Review 6 - Slab Deflection |
CRTL+R,1..6 |
| Toggle a 2D view to 3D | CRTL+T |
Edit the values in the Pick Point
tooltip
|
F2 |
|
Toggle the co-ordinate system between Absolute, Polar, and Relative |
F3 |
| Show/Hide the ViewCube in 3D views | F8 |
Ribbon commands
All commands on the ribbon toolbars can be accessed from the keyboard after pressing the ALT key.
- Press ALT then the appropriate letters (summarized in the table below) to open the
required ribbon toolbar.
- Press the appropriate letter(s) for the command you want to run.
Example: Press ALT HFN to open the Home toolbar and run the Find command shown above.
| Toolbar | Shortcut |
|---|---|
|
File |
Press ALT AP then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Home |
Press ALT H then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
BIM Integration |
Press ALT B then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Model |
Press ALT M then the letter(s) shown against the required command. . |
|
Edit |
Press ALT E then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Load |
Press ALT LO then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Analyze |
Press ALT AN then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Design |
Press ALT DE then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Slab Deflection |
Press ALT SL then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Foundations |
Press ALT FO then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Report |
Press ALT RE then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Draw |
Press ALT DR then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
|
Windows |
Press ALT W then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
| Loading Analysis |
Press ALT LA then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
| Results |
Press ALT RS then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
| Review |
Press ALT RV then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |
| Review Data |
Press ALT RV then the letter(s) shown against the required command. |