MicroStation PowerDraft CONNECT Edition Help

Supported AutoCAD Commands

MicroStation PowerDraft provides a set of key-ins and tools that are similar to AutoCAD commands. You can use these key-ins to ease your workflows. Below is a list of key-ins and tools that are similar to AutoCAD commands:

The table lists AutoCAD command that you can use in MicroStation PowerDraft, a brief description, and similar (not necessarily identical) MicroStation PowerDraft key-ins or tools. The table shows the AutoCAD commands with the DWG prefix. Alternatively, you can use a command prefix plus an alias from a PGP file to define shortcuts to these commands.

AutoCAD Key-in Description Similar MicroStation PowerDraft Tool or Key-in
DWG 3DFACE Places a face. Key-in: PLACE SHAPE ICON
DWG 3DPOLY Places a line. Key-in: PLACE LINE CONSTRAINED
DWG ARC Places an arc. Key-in: PLACE ARC ICON
DWG AREA <OBJECT | Add | POINTS> Measures area and perimeter.

If set to Object, measures the area of an element.

If set to Add, measures the area of an area bounded by the union of two or more closed planar elements.

If set to Points (default), measures the planar area with its vertices defined by a series of data points.

Key-ins: MEASURE AREA ELEMENT , MEASURE AREA UNION , MEASURE AREA POINTS
DWG ARRAY Copies an element many times to create an array. Key-in: ARRAY ICON
DWG ATTDEF Defines tags. Key-in: DIALOG TAGS SETS
DWG ATTEDIT Modifies values for tags. Key-in: EDIT TAGS
DWG AUNITS <0 | 1 | 2 | 3> Sets the units for angles. 0 = decimal degrees. 1 = degrees/minutes/seconds. 2 = gradians. 3 = radians.
DWG AUPREC <#> Sets the number of decimal places for angle units.
DWG BASE <x,y> Sets the insertion base point for the current model. The insertion base point is used when the model is referenced into another model.
DWG BHATCH Defines hatches. Key-in: DIALOG TOOLBOX PATTERNS
DWG BLOCK Defines a cell. Key-in: DIALOG CELL MAINTENANCE and DEFINE CELL ORIGIN
DWG BREAK Deletes part of an element. Key-in: DELETE PARTIAL
DWG CECOLOR <color_#> Sets the color for new elements. Key-in: ACTIVE COLOR
DWG CELTSCALE <scale_factor> Sets the line style scale factor for new elements, relative to the global scale factor. When a new element is created, the actual line style scale factor is the CELTSCALE value multiplied by the LTSCALE value. Line Styles dialog, Scale factor setting
DWG CELTYPE <0–7 | name> Sets the line style for new elements. # = standard line style number 0–7. Name = name of a custom line style. Key-in: ACTIVE STYLE
DWG CHAMFER Constructs a chamfer. Key-in: CHAMFER
DWG CHAMFERA <distance_value> Sets chamfer distance 1. Construct Chamfer tool, Distance 1 setting
DWG CHAMFERB <distance_value> Sets chamfer distance 2. Construct Chamfer tool, Distance 2 setting
DWG CHANGE Lets you modify element attributes. Key-in: CHANGE ICON
DWG CIRCLE Places a circle. Key-in: PLACE CIRCLE ICON
DWG CLAYER <layer_name> Sets the level (DWG layer) for new elements. Key-in: ACTIVE LEVEL
DWG CMLJUST <0 | 1 | 2> Specifies justification for multi-lines. 0 = top. 1 = middle. 2 = bottom.
DWG CMLSCALE Sets the scale factor for multi-lines.
DWG COPY Copies elements. Key-in: COPY ICON
DWG DATE (Read only.) Lists the current date and time in the format: <Julian day number.><Decimal fraction of a day>.
DWG DDATTDEF Defines tags. Key-in: DIALOG TAGS SETS
DWG DDATTE Lets you modify values for tags. Key-in: EDIT TAGS
DWG DDCOLOR Lets you modify the active color table. Key-in: DIALOG COLOR
DWG DDEDIT Edits text. Key-in: EDIT TEXT
DWG DDIM Defines dimension style settings. Key-in: DIALOG DIMSTYLES OPEN
DWG DDINSERT Places a cell. Key-in: PLACE CELL ICON
DWG DDUCS Manages auxiliary coordinate system (ACS). Key-in: DIALOG COORDSYS
DWG DDVIEW Manages saved views. Key-in: SHOW VIEWS
DWG DIMALIGNED Places a linear dimension parallel to the element being dimensioned. Key-in: DIMENSION AXIS TRUE and DIMCREATE LINEAR SIZE
DWG DIMANGULAR Dimensions the angle between two lines. Key-in: DIMCREATE ANGULAR LINES
DWG DIMCENTER Places a center mark at the center of a circle or arc. Key-in: DIMENSION CENTER MARK
DWG DIMLINEAR Dimensions the linear distance between two points (length) . Key-in: DIMCREATE LINEAR SIZE
DWG DIMORDINATE Labels distances along an axis from an origin (datum) along the ordinate axis (the line along which the distances are measured). Key-in: DIMCREATE ORDINATE
DWG DIMRADIUS Dimensions the radius of a circle or a circular arc. Key-in: DIMCREATE ELEMENT RADIUS
DWG DIMSTYLE Controls dimension settings. Key-in: DIALOG DIMSTYLES OPEN
DWG DIST Measures distance. Key-in: MEASURE DISTANCE POINTS
DWG DTEXT Places text. Key-in: PLACE TEXT ICON
DWG DWGCODEPAGE Shows system code page.
DWG ELLIPSE Places an ellipse. Key-in: PLACE ELLIPSE ICON
DWG ERASE Deletes an element. Key-in: DELETE ELEMENT
DWG EXPLODE Breaks up elements into smaller components. Key-in: DROP ELEMENT
DWG EXTEND Extends elements to an intersection. Key-in: EXTEND ELEMENT 2 and EXTEND ELEMENT INTERSECTION
DWG FILLET Constructs a circular fillet (arc) between two elements. Key-in: FILLET ICON
DWG FILLETRAD Stores the current fillet radius value. Key-in: FILLET ICON , Radius setting
DWG FILLMODE <0 | 1> If set to 1, closed elements are filled. If set to 0, closed elements are not filled. (Click Update View to see changes.) Key-in: ACTIVE FILL
DWG GRIDMODE <0 | 1> If set to 1, displays the grid. If set to 0, the grid is not displayed. Key-in: SET GRID
DWG GRIDUNIT <unit> Specifies the grid spacing for the current view. Key-in: ACTIVE GRIDUNIT
DWG GROUP Creates and manages groups. Key-in: GROUP ADD
DWG HATCH Defines hatches. Key-in: DIALOG TOOLBOX PATTERNS
DWG HIDE Turns on rendering in hidden line mode. Key-in: RENDER ALL HIDDEN
DWG HPANG <angle> Specifies the hatch angle. Hatch Area tool, Crosshatch Area tool, Angle setting
DWG HPNAME <name> Specifies the hatch pattern name. Pattern Area tool, Pattern Cell setting
DWG HPSCALE <#> Specifies the hatch pattern scale factor.
DWG HPSPACE Specifies the hatch pattern line spacing.

Hatch Area tool, Crosshatch Area tool, Angle setting

DWG IMAGE

Controls the display of raster images in a DGN file view.

Key-in: DIALOG RASTER
DWG IMAGEADJUST Controls the image display (brightness, contrast, and fade values). Key-in: RASTER DLGGENERAL OPEN
DWG IMAGEATTACH Attaches raster references to the active design file. Key-in: RASTER ATTACH INTERACTIVE
DWG IMAGECLIP Crops a raster image using a clipping boundary. Key-in: RASTER TOOLCLIP
DWG INSBASE <X, Y> Sets the insertion base point for the current model. The insertion base point is used when the model is referenced into another model.
DWG INSERT Places a cell. Key-in: PLACE CELL ICON
DWG INSERTOBJ Inserts new objects into your file. Key-in: OLECNTR INSERT
DWG INSUNITS <0 — 20> Sets the Design Center Units for a DWG file in MicroStation PowerDraft. Use a value of 0–20 to specify the units:
  • 0 — Unspecified (no units)
  • 1 — Inches
  • 2 — Feet
  • 3 — Miles
  • 4 — Millimeters
  • 5 — Centimeters
  • 6 — Meters
  • 7 — Kilometers
  • 8 — Microinches
  • 9 — Mils
  • 10 — Yards
  • 11 — Angstroms
  • 12 — Nanometers
  • 13 — Microns
  • 14 — Decimeters
  • 15 — Decameters
  • 16 — Hectometers
  • 17 — Gigameters
  • 18 — Astronomical Units
  • 19 — Light Years
  • 20 — Parsecs
DWG LAYER Controls level display and level symbology. Key-in: LEVEL MANAGER DIALOG OPEN
DWG LEADER Places a note with a leader line. Key-in: PLACE NOTE
DWG LINE Creates line segments. Key-in: PLACE LINE CONSTRAINED
DWG LINETYPE Activates line styles and sets line style modifiers. Key-in: LINESTYLE SETTINGS
DWG LOCALE Shows the ISO language code.
DWG LTSCALE <scale_factor> Sets the global scale factor for line styles. Key-in: ACTIVE LINESTYLESCALE
DWG MATCHPROP Matches element attributes. Key-in: MATCH ELEMENT
DWG MIRROR Mirrors an element. Key-in: MIRROR ICON
DWG MLINE Places a multi-line (multiple parallel lines). Key-in: PLACE MLINE
DWG MOVE Moves an element. Key-in: MOVE ICON
DWG MTEXT Places text. Key-in: PLACE DIALOGTEXT ICON
DWG OFFSET Moves or copies an element parallel to the original. Key-in: MOVE PARALLEL OFFSET
DWG ORTHOMODE <0 | 1> Turns on Axis lock. Key-in: LOCK AXIS
DWG PAN Shifts the view to a different part of the design. Key-in: PAN VIEW
DWG PASTESPEC Applies a special display format to contents of the clipboard. Key-in: CLIPBOARD PASTESPECIAL
DWG PLINE Places a chain of connected line segments and arc segments. Key-in: PLACE SMARTLINE
DWG PLINEGEN <0 | 1> If set to 1, defines the way that line styles are controlled for line strings and shapes. If set to 0, the pattern will restart for each segment.
DWG PLINEWID <width> Defines the width for wide custom line styles. Note that AutoCAD only supports width on polylines. Line Styles dialog, Width settings
DWG PLOT Creates printed output. Key-in: DIALOG PLOT
DWG POINT Places the active point. Key-in: PLACE POINT
DWG POLYGON Places a polygon. Key-in: PLACE POLYGON ICON
DWG PSLTSCALE <0 | 1> Controls how line styles are scaled in AutoCAD layout viewports. (Note: MicroStation PowerDraft treats layout viewports as reference attachments (referred to below as viewport attachments).)

If set to 0, then the line styles within viewport attachments are based on the units in which the model was created, and therefore are not affected by the scale of the sheet model.

If set to 1, then the line styles within viewport attachments are based on sheet model units.

DWG QUIT Exits MicroStation PowerDraft. Key-in: EXIT
DWG RECTANG

DWG RECTANGLE

Places a block. Key-in: PLACE BLOCK ICON
DWG REDRAW Updates the views. Key-in: UPDATE VIEW EXTENDED
DWG REDRAWAll Updates the views. Key-in: UPDATE VIEW EXTENDED
DWG REGEN Updates the views. Key-in: UPDATE VIEW EXTENDED
DWG REGENALL Updates the views. Key-in: UPDATE VIEW EXTENDED
DWG REGION Creates a complex shape from a region. Key-in: CREATE REGION ICON
DWG ROTATE Rotates elements. Key-in: ROTATE ICON
DWG SCALE Resizes an element. Key-in: SCALE ICON
DWG SHADE Turns on screen rendering (shading). Key-in: RENDER ICON
DWG SNAPANG <angle> Sets the snap and grid rotation angle for the current view. Key-in: ACTIVE GRIDANGLE
DWG SNAPBASE <X, Y> Sets an origin point for the grid.
DWG SNAPMODE <0 | 1> If set to 1, data points snap to the nearest point on the grid. If set to 0, data points snap to other locations. Key-in: LOCK GRID
DWG SOLID Places a four-sided filled polygon shape. Key-in: PLACE SHAPE ICON
DWG SPELL Reviews text for spelling errors. Key-in: SPELLCHECK
DWG SPLFRAME <0 | 1> If set to 1, displays the control polygon of each B-spline curve. Also displays invisible edges of mesh elements.

If set to 0, the control polygons and invisible edges are not displayed.

Key-in: SET INVISGEOM
DWG STYLE Creates and modifies text styles. Key-in: TEXTSTYLE DIALOG OPEN
DWG SYSCODEPAGE Shows the system code page.
DWG TEXT Places text. Key-in: PLACE TEXT ICON
DWG TEXTSIZE <#> Sets the default height for new text created with the active text style.
DWG TEXTSTYLE <name> Sets the name of the active text style. Key-in: TEXTSTYLE ACTIVE
DWG TOOLBAR Displays and customizes toolboxes. Key-in: DRAFTPAL OPENTOOLBOX
DWG TRIM Simultaneously trims multiple elements.
DWG UCSICON <0 | 1> If set to 1, a coordinate triad representing the Active Auxiliary Coordinate System (ACS) displays. If set to 0, the ACS triad does not display. Key-in: SET ACSDISPLAY
DWG UCSORG <X, y, Z> Sets the ACS origin for the current view. ACS origin.
DWG UCSXDIR <X, Y, Z> (Read only.) Sets the X direction of the active ACS for the current view. ACS X Direction.
DWG UCSYDIR <X, Y, Z> (Read only.) Sets the Ydirection of the active ACS for the current view. ACS Y direction.
DWG UNITS Sets the Design Center Units (AutoCAD system variable INSUNITS) for a DWG file in MicroStation PowerDraft. Opens the DWG/DXF dialog, where you can change the unit settings.
DWG VISRETAIN <0 | 1> If set to 1, changes to the level attributes are saved from session to session.

If set to 0, changes to the level attributes are valid for the current session only; they are not saved.

Key-in: SET REFLEVELOVERRIDES
DWG WBLOCK Writes a new DWG file from one of the following:
  • the entire design file
  • a group of selected objects
  • a shared cell definition within the current file
DWG XATTACH Attaches a reference to the active model. Key-in: ATTACH REFERENCE
DWG XBIND Merges references into the master DGN file. Key-in: DIALOG REFERENCE and REFERENCE MERGE
DWG XCLIP Defines a clipping boundary. Key-in: REFERENCE CLIP
DWG XCLIPFRAME <0 | 1> If set to 1, turns on display of reference clip boundaries. If set to 0, turns off display of reference clip boundaries. Key-in: DIALOG REFERENCE
DWG XREF Defines references (XREFs). Key-in: DIALOG REFERENCE
DWG ZOOM Changes the magnification of the view. Key-in: ZOOM IN and ZOOM OUT