Elza Rusher, a senior CAD technician, shares a tip that uses AutoCAD's Action Recorder to reduce clicks when saving a file.

"This tip is designed to simplify the Zoom Extents and Quick Save functions. This is a quick and easy way to make sure you save periodically, and it combines two functions that are commonly performed before closing a drawing. This will only work in AutoCAD versions that include Action Recorder (introduced in AutoCAD 2009), which eliminates the need to write a LISP routine.

"Start a fresh drawing (this can also work from an existing drawing), and navigate to Tools > Action Recorder > Record. Type z, Enter, e, Enter, then Ctrl + S for a combination of zooming to extents and quick saving. Without entering any more commands, go to Tools > Action Recorder > Stop; this will end the recording and bring up a dialog box asking for the name of the command. I use ZS for Zoom Save." Enter ZS (or the name you chose) on the Command line to run the Action Macro at any time.

Notes from Cadalyst Tip Reviewer Brian Benton: This is a good example of how the Action Recorder can shorten a series of commands to just a few keystrokes. A major benefit of AutoCAD is that it can be customized in many different ways. Those customizations can be very simple or extremely complex. The Action Recorder is one way to customize AutoCAD; it will record your actions, saving them for later reuse. Action Macros (a recorded set of actions) can also be shared with other users. Run an Action Macro by typing its name in the Command line and pressing Enter.