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Multiply Commands
Tip# 3630 By Hayden Clarke On 24-Apr-2011
4
 Rated By 1 users
Categories : 2D Operations
Software type : AutoCAD 2012
Rename File To : No Files to download.
Perform a command multiple times instead of just once.

Tipster Hayden Clarke sends us an AutoCAD tip that will execute your commands multiple times.

"It can be quite frustrating when you have to return to the ribbon each time to execute the same 'one-off' command in AutoCAD. For example, when you execute the Rectang command to draw a rectangle, you can only draw one before having to re-enter the command or select the button from the ribbon again. That's why there is a little-known goodie called Multiple. If the command Multiple is entered, then it will ask for the command you wish to repeat; enter the command (such as Rectang, Copy, Move — anything, really) and accept. Now you can perform multiple iterations of the action, as opposed to the one-off command. This command is great for multiple changes, and saves you from referring to the keyboard or menu after running each repeated command."
 
Notes from Cadalyst Tip Patrol: We don't typically do things just one time — that's why we use CAD. In AutoCAD, many commands and tools naturally continue until you cancel them, but that's not true for every command. The Multiple option is very easy to use. Type Multiple on the Command line, then enter your command. If you want to get really fancy, customize your commands in the ribbon or toolbars by adding the Multiple input. 
 

Average Rating:
4


User comments
Comment by MCCREARY,PATRICK
Posted on 2011-04-25 14:11:00
One way to repeat a command several times is to change the "Right-Click Customization" in the Tools/Options/User Preferences dialogue box. Check the "Shortcut Menus in Drawing Area" toggle, and click on the (not grayed out) button, and choose "repeat last command", "repeat last command", and "enter".
Comment by Snyder,Bob
Posted on 2011-04-25 19:02:37
Seems like it could be useful, but I don't know where. I've never had a problem just hitting "Enter" to repeat a command. Even if you make a shortcut or button for Multiple, you have to hit "Esc" when you're done with it. That's more keys and in different places than just "Enter" after a self-closing command. Maybe I don't draw enough different sized rectangles at once, though! I usually draw a few and then Copy them over and over and over.
Comment by Palm,Bernd
Posted on 2011-04-26 02:10:46
yes, ENTER does it for me as well, and if you choose the first Option in Right Click Customisation (Tools/Options/User Preferences dialogue box), time-sensitive, You have both: Right Click menu AND Enter on right mouse Click
Comment by Anil,Lewis
Posted on 2011-04-26 12:13:26
Enter or spacebar or right click is fine for standard commands, but the thing I would like to figure out is how to repeat commands like tan tan radius circle. When you repeat the command with enter it starts the circle command in default mode (center radius). I thought this tip was going to address this...oh, well. The search continues.
Comment by Greenleaf,Shea
Posted on 2011-04-26 20:22:39
A reply to Lewis Anil; If you use the Ribbon, here is a simple way to accomplish what you want (the following assuming you are using the standard Acad ribbon panels) In the cui editor, under All Customization Files on the left hand side, expand Ribbon -> Panels -> Home 2D-Draw -> Row 1 -> Sub-Panel 1 -> Row 2 -> Circle Drop-down Now left click and highlite Tan, Tan, Radius On the right hand side, under the Properties window under the "Command" section, go to "Macro" and add the asterisk symbol (*) in front of the command syntax. So your line should read: *^C^C_circle _ttr Apply and save. The asterisk symbol acts as a "multiple" option (as mentioned above from the Cadalyst Tip Patrol) for just about any command you can use in the ribbon, although it is not particularly well documented. Now every time you use the ribbon to activate the circle TTR option, it will repeat until you cancel it.