Q: How do I create command aliases (i.e., keyboard shortcuts) for Design Master commands in AutoCAD and BricsCAD?

A: Command aliases are controlled by a .pgp file, which must be edited to include additional commands. To add Design Master command aliases to your .pgp file, follow the steps below.

NOTE: If you’re using BricsCAD, you can follow these steps or use the Customize dialog box. See the Command Aliases article in the BricsCAD knowledge base for more information.

1. At the command line, enter the following to find where your .pgp file is located (its location will be displayed at the command line):
   • AutoCAD: (findfile “acad.pgp”)
   • BricsCAD: (findfile “default.pgp”)
2. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the file location, then open the .pgp file using a text editor such as Notepad.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the file. AutoCAD users will see a “User Defined Command Aliases” heading; you’ll enter your aliases below this heading.
4. In your CAD program, run a Design Master command for which you want to create an alias. The command name will appear at the command line (e.g., dm_elec-circuiting, dm_photo-insertLF).
5. At the end of your .pgp file, enter a command alias using the following format (you can add multiple spaces between the , and * to organize your aliases into columns):
   • CI, *dm_elec-circuiting
   • IN, *dm_photo-insertLF
6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 for any other command aliases you want to add, then save and close the .pgp file.
7. Run the standard CAD REINIT command to reload the .pgp file.

Using the above examples, you should now be able to execute the Circuiting command in DM Electrical by typing “CI” at the command line, or the Insert Light Fixture command in DM Photometrics by typing “IN.”