Shortcuts in Altium Most Often Used

This guide provides a practical overview of Shortcuts in Altium Most Often Used, including its main features, benefits, limitations, and important considerations.

1. Shortcuts in circuit design principle (Schematic)

Shortcut keys

Function

X

Rotate components in the horizontal axis (X axis).

Y

Turn the device on the vertical axis (Y axis).

Space

Rotate components 90 degrees

Shift + Space

Rotate components 45 degrees.

Ctrl + Click and drag

Move the device that comes with the cord (Like in Proteus)

Shift + Left Click

Copy components.

Shift + Click and drag

Pull the device out.

Ctrl + Shift + L (or AL)

Align the components vertically.

SPACE

Change color when using Highlight pen (Highlight the NET of the same name)

ALT + Click (select Net)

Highlight the NETs with the same name (Blur all the rest of the SCH drawing)

Shift + Ctrl + C

Delete the settings on SCH

Ctrl + Shift + T (or AT)

Align the components horizontally.

Ctrl + Shift + H (or AH)

Align the components evenly spaced horizontally.

Ctrl + Shift + V (or AV)

Align components evenly in vertical rows.

Ctrl + M

Measure the distance.

C, C

Compile Project - Check connection errors, port.

D, B

Get components in the library.

D, O

Change drawing parameters.

D, U

Transfer principle to printed circuit board.

J, C

Jump to the components.

P, B

Draw bus routes.

P, N

Name the line.

P, O

Get the GND

PT

Add Text.

P, W

To connect the component pins.

P, V, N

Use vacuum marking.

T, A

Open the naming management window for components.

T, N

Automatic naming of components.

T, S

Find components on the printed circuit board (You select the block you need to wire the circuit and then press TS, it will automatically find the printed circuit block for you).

T, W

Create new components

TAB

Change the parameters of the circuit.

V, D

Align the drawing to fit the screen frame

2. Shortcuts in PCB printed circuit design

Shortcut keys

Function

2

See printed circuit in 2D format.

3

See printed circuit in 3D.

Q

Convert miles => mm and from mm => miles

PT

Switch to manual wiring.

P, L

Resize the printed circuit size, click the keep out layer to draw the outline, then highlight the whole circuit and press DS D.

PM (Altium 16) UM (Altium 17)

Drag multiple wires at once (MultiRoute) (by: pressing Shift to select multiple Pad, then press [PM] / [UM] and then go to the wire as usual. While MultiRoute, you can press Tab to adjust the distance relative to each other)

P, G

Coated with copper.

P, V

Take a Via hole.

P, R

Draw large circuits, the distance between small circuits.

P, D, D

Show PCB size information

A, A

Automatic wiring.

T, U, A

Erase all running circuits.

T, U, N

Delete lines of the same name.

T, D, R

Check whether the wiring is complete after completing manual wiring.

T, E

Round the line near the component pins

T, M

Clear the error displayed on the screen.

D, K

Select the drawing layer. (Stack Manager)

D, R

To adjust parameters in the circuit such as the width of the line (Width), the distance 2 - wire (Clearance), allows short circuit (Short circuit).

D, O

Adjust the circuit parameters, if you do not want the squares to affect the circuit, then convert the line into dots.

D, T, A

Show all layers.

D, T, S

Show only TOP + BOTTOM + MULTI layers.

C, K

Open the component path editing window.

R, B

Display circuit information (size, number of components.)

O, D (Or Ctrl + D)

Display the Configurations window (Adjust the visibility of components)

V, B

Rotate the drawing 180 degrees.

V, F

Show the whole drawing.

L

When moving components flip over components Top and Bottom (Bottom and Top)

Ctrl + Shift + L (or AL)

Align the components vertically.

Ctrl + Shift + T (or AT)

Align the components horizontally.

Ctrl + Shift + H (or AH)

Align the components evenly spaced horizontally.

Ctrl + Shift + V (or AV)

Align components evenly in vertical rows.

Ctrl + Shift + Mouse scroll

Switch between classes.

L or Ctrl + L

Open View Configuration to adjust the display of layers.

TAB

Show information window changes during operation.

Fliped Board

Turn over the printed circuit.

Ctrl + G or G

Grid mode settings.

Ctrl M

Measure the size of the circuit.

Shift + M

Square magnifying glass.

Shift + R

Change the wiring mode (Cut - No cut - Push rope).

Shift + S

Only allow one layer currently selected (the remaining layers are hidden).

Shift + Space

Change the line mode (Free - By law - 90 degree Square - Curved)

3. Shortcut key in 3D visualization mode

Shortcut keys

Function

0

Turn the board back to default

9

Rotate the board at a 90 degree angle

2

Switch to 2D mode when in 3D View mode

3

Switch to 3D View when in 2D mode

SHIFT

Simultaneously press Shift and Right click, move mouse to rotate the circuit board in XYZ axes

SHIFT + Mouse scroll

Left - Right

CTRL + Mouse scroll

Zoom in - Zoom out

CTRL + Move the mouse

Zoom in - Zoom out

V, F

Align the board to fit the screen

V, B

Flip the circuit boad

Scroll the mouse

Pull up - Pull down

CTRL + C

Take a photo of the current view of the 3D board on the Clipboard, to save as an image file you need to use a tool like Paint.

T, P

Open the Preferences window

L

Open the Configurations window

Memorizing and mastering shortcuts on Altium is quite difficult and we can only achieve by practicing and using shortcuts frequently. Good luck!