How to Customize Shortcut Keys in Revit

How to Set Shortcut Keys in Revit

When working with Revit files, setting up shortcut keys can greatly improve your workflow and efficiency. Typically, shortcut keys in Revit are configured directly within the software by navigating through the menus.

To set shortcut keys, go to Revit software → Options → User Interface → Shortcut Keys. While you can configure shortcuts here, the process isn’t very systematic. Below, we introduce a method for managing system-wide shortcut keys. This approach is especially useful when switching to a different computer later—you don’t have to set up shortcuts from scratch; you can simply import them. Follow the steps below for detailed instructions.

Step 1: Export your Revit shortcut keys. Navigate to Options → User Interface → Shortcut Keys → Export. Choose a location to save the file, then click Confirm. Your shortcut keys will be exported as a file.

Step 2: The exported file will have an .xml extension. Depending on your computer, opening this file may either open it in a standard application or display it as a webpage. If it opens as a webpage, rename the file extension to .txt and open it again. If it opens directly and is editable, you can keep the original .xml extension.

Step 3: Edit the shortcut key file. Open the exported file to view its contents, which are formatted in a way that Revit recognizes. When modifying the file, do not alter the overall text format—only change the specific shortcut key assignments you want to update.

For example, suppose you want to change the shortcut for toggling between thin and thick line modes in Revit. The default shortcut is TL. In the exported file, locate the line containing TL and replace it with TO. After making this change, save the file.

Step 4: Import your customized shortcut keys back into Revit. Go to Options → User Interface → Shortcut Keys → Import. Select the modified file and click Confirm. Your updated shortcuts will be applied.

By following these steps, you can create and back up your personalized shortcut keys. This way, when you switch computers or reinstall Revit, you can quickly import your saved shortcuts without setting them up again from scratch.

Related Reading:

• Definition Rules for Revit Shortcut Keys
• Revit 2014 Complete Shortcut Key Summary
• Shortcut Keys for Autodesk Revit Architecture

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