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AutoCAD tips: quickly switching between drawings

October 10, 2011 by 11 Comments

Do you open multiple AutoCAD drawings when you work? I do. In old version of AutoCAD (pre-ribbon version), I can quickly switch between drawings by pressing [alt] + W then a number. Now we have to cycle between drawings by using switch windows in view tab.

switch windows

We can put it on quick access toolbar so we can switch faster.

quick access toolbar

However, I still think this is not as convenient as it was.

If you feel the same, I found this thread in CADtutor forum. Thanks to ReMark, I found out that we can use [ctrl] tab to switch between drawings forward!

You can also switch between drawings backward using [ctrl] + [shift] tab. Thank you to Paujrobe for the additional tip!

Other methods

Quick view drawings

In AutoCAD, there is also quick view drawings. You can click quick view button on status bar and see all opened drawings’ thumbnail. You can activate a drawing by clicking the thumbnail.

You also can pin quick view drawings and let it always show. Nice to have it when we are reviewing several drawings.

quick view drawings

Windows 7 taskbar

Quick view drawings was introduced before we have Windows 7. In Windows 7, we can see similar feature in taskbar. You can hover (or click) AutoCAD icon on taskbar to see opened files. Click on file you want to activate.

windows 7 taskbar

If you don’t see the taskbar like this, check your TASKBAR system variable. If you want to set it like Windows 7 default, set it to 1. If you prefer the old style like in Windows XP, set it to 0.

Which one is your favorite?

I think using [ctrl] tab is very nice. However, if I open many drawings at once, I prefer to use switch windows on my quick access toolbar. What about you?

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About Edwin Prakoso

Edwin works as an Application Engineer in Jakarta, Indonesia. He has 4 years experience in building industry, then start to work for Autodesk reseller.
He is certified as Revit Architecture 2010 certified professional and AutoCAD 2013 certified professional.
He loves sharing his experience and starts to blog on CAD notes. Now using CAD is more to a lifestyle for him than working.
You can reach him on twitter @CADnotes. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn. If you prefer email, reach him at edwin.prakoso@cad-notes.com.

  • http://www.thecadmasters.com Kyle

    One other option is to set the TASKBAR variable to 1.  This will show each drawing individually in the Windows taskbar.

    ~Kyle

  • http://www.thecadmasters.com Kyle

    My mistake, I should read more carefully as it’s already written.  I was thrown off by the grouped windows.

    • http://cad-notes.com Edwin Prakoso

      No problem :) Happens to me to… many times!

  • Simon Weel
    • http://cad-notes.com Edwin Prakoso

      Interesting tool Simon.
      Thank you for sharing this. I know people will find it useful… :)

  • Dennis

    For years I have use the Ctrl +Tab to scroll through the drawings that I have open.  It works very well when you have 2 or 3 drawings open, but can be a little more cumbersome when you have more because they scroll in the same order. As far as I know you can’t scroll backwards.  I find this easier than moving to the ribbon or using the quick view that blocks the current drawing.

    • Paujrobe

      Use Ctrl + Shift + Tab to scroll backwards.

      • http://cad-notes.com Edwin Prakoso

        Thank you Paujrobe.
        I learn a new thing today :)

  • Mark

    I use the free Autodesk MDITabs that places a line of tabs on the screen for each open drawing.  Then it is only 1 click to switch between drawings.  A right click on the tab opens up a wealth of other commands such as Save, Save As, Close, etc.  Google search for MDITabs18.arx to find a download of the file.

  • Lambertus Oosterveen

    Edwin, switch view in view tab must be Switch Windows in View tab.

  • http://cadpanacea.com R.K. McSwain

    Unfortunately, Quick View Drawings is anything but quick.
    I use http://www.caelink.com/drawing_tabs.htm
    I think it was already mentioned in the comments.