Customizing the Workspace
At this stage of your AutoCAD education you are probably not too interested in customizing AutoCAD. But I would like to at least introduce you to the Custom User Interface to familiarize you with a few of the customizing options that are available.
It is relatively easy to use and sometimes helpful. If you find it intriguing you may explore further using the AutoCAD “Help” system discussed in Lesson 1 in Beginning AutoCAD® 2018 Exercise Workbook.
Start by opening the Customize User Interface dialog box using one of the following:
Ribbon = Manage Tab / Customization Panel /
Keyboard = CUI <enter=
The following dialog box should appear.
Have you found yourself wishing that you could move some of the commands from one Ribbon Panel to another? Or possibly Add, Remove or Move the Tabs? Well you can. You can create a workspace all of your own very easily.
Important: Before you begin customizing your workspace it is important to create a duplicate workspace rather than modify an existing workspace. This will allow you to revert back to the original AutoCAD default workspace appearance.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. I will also show you how to easily return to the AutoCAD default workspace.
1. Open the Customize User Interface dialog box as shown on the previous page.
2. Duplicate the Drafting & Annotation workspace as follows:
A. Right click on Drafting & Annotation and select Duplicate.
3. Rename the duplicate workspace as follows:
A. Right click on Copy of Drafting & Annotation 1 and select Rename.
4. Enter the new workspace name Class Workspace Demo and then press <enter>.
5. Right Click on the new workspace Class Workspace Demo and select Set Current.
6. The new workspace should now be displayed as shown below.
7. Select Apply and OK buttons located at the bottom of the CUI dialog box.
Now you have a workspace to customize. The following pages will guide you through:
1. Creating a new Ribbon Tab.
2. Adding a new Ribbon Panel to the new Tab.
3. Adding Commands to the new Panel.
1. Open the Customize User Interface dialog box. (Refer to page 2-2.)
2. Select: Class Workspace Demo.
3. Click on the [ + ] beside Ribbon to expand.
4. Right Click on Tabs.
5. Select New Tab.
6. Enter a name for the New Tab and press <enter>. (Note: I entered Class Tab.)
7. Select the Apply and then OK button at the bottom of the Customize User Interface box.
Note :
New Tabs are not automatically added to the workspace.
You must tell AutoCAD that you want to display this New Tab in your workspace.
Follow the steps on the following page to “Add a Ribbon Tab to a Workspace”.
Add a Ribbon Tab to a Workspace
1. Open the Customize User Interface dialog box. (Refer to page 2-2.)
2. Select: Class Workspace Demo.
3. Click on Customize Workspace button. (It will change to Done.)
5. Scroll down the list of Tabs and click the check box beside the Class Tab.
Notice the Class Tab also was added to the Workspace Contents.
6. Click on the Done button.
7. Select the Apply and OK button.
The new Tab should now appear in the Ribbon.
8. Select the Class Tab
