Shortcut Bars

Customizable shortcut bars let you create your own set of “non-context” commands for each of the following modes:

Part
Assembly
Drawing
Sketch

You display these bars by pressing a user-definable keyboard shortcut. The default shortcut is the “S” key.

You can use the keyboard to access tools in shortcut bars.
Arrow keys Navigates through the tools on the shortcut bar.
Alt + Down arrow Opens the menu, if available, of the selected tool.
Enter Executes the selected tool.
Esc Dismisses the shortcut bar or the tool's menu.

Customizing the Shortcut Bar

You can customize the Part, Assembly, Drawing, and Sketch Shortcut Toolbars.

To customize a shortcut bar:

  1. With any SOLIDWORKS document open, do one of the following:
    • Click Tools > Customize.
    • With nothing selected in the graphics area, press S, right-click the shortcut bar that appears, and click Customize.
  2. In the Customize dialog box, click the Shortcut Bars tab.
  3. Select a shortcut bar to customize.
    The shortcut bar appears.
  4. In the Customize dialog box, under Toolbar, select a command group or search for a command. Drag the commands onto the shortcut bar. With the Customize dialog box open, you can also:
    • Remove a tool by dragging it from the shortcut bar.
    • Resize the shortcut bar by moving the pointer over an edge and dragging it.
    • Change the keyboard shortcut by clicking the Keyboard tab, sorting by Command, scrolling to Shortcut Bar, and changing the value for Shortcut(s).
  5. Click OK.