Deswik Keyboard Shortcuts [SAFE — 2027]

In the world of mining engineering and geological modelling, speed is survival. Whether you are designing stopes in Deswik.CAD, building solids in Deswik.SMD, or managing data in Deswik.DH (Data Handler), every second counts. The difference between an average engineer and a power user often comes down to one thing: mastering the keyboard.

Deswik, renowned for its powerful suite of tools (Deswik.CAD, Deswik.Sched, Deswik.MD, Deswik.UG), is a mouse-heavy interface by default. However, hidden beneath the dropdown menus is a layer of efficiency that can cut your design time by over 30%. This article serves as your definitive encyclopedia of Deswik keyboard shortcuts.

We will cover everything from basic navigation to advanced custom macros, industry-specific bindings for underground mining, and how to create your own shortcuts using the .key file system.

Try designing a stope wireframe or editing a solid tomorrow without touching the ribbon once. Just spacebar + shortcuts.

You’ll be surprised how fast you get.

Save this post. Share with a teammate who still uses the right-click menu for everything. 🔁

#Deswik #MiningSoftware #MinePlanning #ProductivityTips #KeyboardShortcuts

Mastering keyboard shortcuts in Deswik.CAD is one of the most effective ways to boost your mining engineering and design productivity. While the software provides a wide array of default commands, its true power lies in its customization, allowing users to tailor their workflow to mirror familiar tools like AutoCAD or build entirely new efficiencies. Essential Navigation & General Shortcuts

Before diving into complex design commands, mastering basic navigation ensures you can move through large-scale mining models with ease. Ctrl + Home: Quickly jump to the top of the project tree. Ctrl + End: Jump to the bottom of the project tree.

Ctrl + Shift + (0-9): Create specific plane definitions for different areas of your model. deswik keyboard shortcuts

Ctrl + (0-9): Rapidly switch between your saved plane definitions to view different mining levels or sections.

Standard Windows Operations: Deswik supports standard commands like Ctrl + C (Copy), Ctrl + V (Paste), Ctrl + Z (Undo), and Ctrl + Y (Redo). Polylines and Design Commands

Designing in Deswik often centers on manipulating polylines. Many professionals prefer single or double-key shortcuts for these frequent tasks:

PREV: A common shortcut used to reverse the direction of a selected string. D (Recommended): Often mapped to Draw Polyline.

B (Recommended): Often mapped to Break Polyline at a specific point.

C (Recommended): Often mapped to Connect Polylines automatically. Productivity Tips & Customization

Deswik is unique because it uses "live listening" for shortcuts. This means as soon as you type the designated keys, the command triggers immediately without needing to press "Enter".

Avoid Single-Character Shortcuts: If you use a single character like "P," you cannot have another shortcut starting with "P" (like "PL"). Most power users recommend two or three characters for optimal balance.

Access the Shortcut Manager: To view or edit your current list, use the command path Tools | Shortcuts. A popular mnemonic for this is mapping the shortcut itself to "TS" ("TS I Love You").

Recycle Known Commands: If you are transitioning from other CAD software, map your Deswik shortcuts to match (e.g., using "PL" for Polyline as in AutoCAD) to leverage existing muscle memory. | Shortcut | Command | Purpose | |

Hardware Integration: For high-intensity modeling, consider using a 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse. It allows for fluid movement like Object Mode (moving the model) or Fly Mode (moving the camera) while keeping your other hand free for keyboard shortcuts. Strategic Short Word Abbreviations

Using short, meaningful abbreviations can make memorization easier: ISO: Isolate a layer or entity. HID: Hide selected data. SHO: Unhide or show all data.

By moving away from multi-key defaults and setting up a personalized, logical shortcut system, you can significantly reduce the "click-fatigue" associated with complex mine design. Keyboard shortcuts in Windows - Microsoft Support

Master Deswik Keyboard Shortcuts: The Ultimate Guide to Efficiency

In the world of mine planning and 3D modeling, speed is just as important as precision. Mastering Deswik keyboard shortcuts is the fastest way to bridge that gap, transforming a repetitive, click-heavy workflow into a seamless, high-speed operation. Unlike many CAD programs that rely on single-key commands, Deswik uses a "live listening" system that allows for highly customizable character strings and combination keys. 1. How to Access and Customize Shortcuts

Deswik is designed for personalization. If you are a veteran of other software, you don't have to relearn everything; you can simply remap Deswik's commands to match your muscle memory.

The Shortcut Dialog: To view or edit your current hotkeys, use the menu path Tools | Shortcuts.

Creating a "Shortcut for Shortcuts": A popular pro tip is to create a shortcut specifically for the shortcut dialog itself (e.g., using "TS" for Tools | Shortcuts) to make future adjustments frictionless.

The Ellipse Button: For combination keys (like Ctrl + Z), click the ellipse (...) button next to the shortcut value in the customization window to record the keystrokes. 2. Common & Default Deswik Shortcuts

While many users prefer to customize their setup, Deswik comes with several logical defaults and common character strings used by industry professionals. Suggested/Default Shortcut Description New Polyline NS (or PL for AutoCAD users) Starts the command to draw a new polyline. Isolate ISO Quickly hides all entities except those selected. Hide HID Hides the selected entities from the current view. Show/Unhide SHO Reveals previously hidden entities. Undo Ctrl + Z Reverses the last action. Redo Ctrl + Y Re-applies an action that was undone. Save Project Ctrl + S Saves the current project file. 3. Strategies for Memorable Shortcuts In the world of mining engineering and geological

Because Deswik "listens" for strings, you are not limited to one key. However, to maintain high efficiency, consider these strategies:

Optimal Length: Aim for two to three characters. Single-character shortcuts trigger immediately, which can block other shortcuts from starting with that same letter.

Software Recycling: If you grew up on AutoCAD or Vulcan, remap your most-used commands to those familiar aliases. For example, changing the "New Polyline" command from NS to PL can save hours of training for new users.

Phonetic Abbreviations: Use short word stems that are easy to associate with the action, such as "MOV" for move or "ROT" for rotate.

External Hardware: For even more speed, many power users pair their shortcuts with macro-enabled mice or 3D controllers like the 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse, which allows for simultaneous panning, zooming, and rotation without touching the keyboard. 4. Advanced Tool Shortcuts

Deswik's specialized tools often have their own specific efficiency drivers:

Vertex List Tool: Useful for quickly adjusting gradients on lines, essential for ramp design.

Formula Builder: While not a traditional "hotkey," mastering the Expression Editor allows you to automate attribute modifications based on layer names or volumes.

Selection Filters: Using shortcuts to trigger specific filters can help isolate blocks in large solid geomodels.

By tailoring your Deswik keyboard shortcuts to your specific planning needs, you can significantly reduce menu-diving and focus on what matters: the engineering. Keyboard shortcuts for Project - Microsoft Support

When designing ramps or pit floors, snapping ensures strings connect perfectly.