QCAD.org Forum

The command line of QCAD is mainly used to enter coordinates and for output of warnings and information for the user.

However, it can also be used as a powerful calculator as outlined in the user manual at:
http://qcad.org/doc/qcad/latest/referen ... ommandLine

I'm looking for a command line syntax reference. For example, if I want to use ROTATE and tell it degrees, number of copies, whether to delete original or not, etc, can I do that by using the command line instead of the usual dialog box? I know typing "rotate" will activate the command, bu that's about it. If I hit Enter it will bring the dialog

Hi,

As in the notice by Andrew above: Mainly intended to enter coordinates or a list of.
You can't really use the Command Line for 'macro' or a list of 'macros'.
We have tried that before with mixed success.
For some command sequences this may work up to a point.

Bottom line:
The Command Line is never intended to handle sequences of commands, coordinates and tool options.

From that perspective I wrote DrawFromCSV.
Kinda drawing macros written down in a CSV file and executed by the tool.

The tool options are typically listed in the Options Toolbar what is also addressable by keystrokes.
Some tool work with a dialog and for some it can be both ways.

bob93 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 28, 2025 9:17 am

I know typing "rotate" will activate the command, bu that's about it. If I hit Enter it will bring the dialog

It is by preference that this happens if you hit enter.
You probably opted out to use the Dialog in the first place under: Application Preferences .. Modify .. Rotate

Make a selection, hit the Spacebar to set the focus on the Command Line.
Type in 'rotate' what will start the Modify .. Rotate (RO) tool.
Now reads what is asked from you in the Command History, it says 'Center Point:', QCAD asks you to define a center of rotation.
This can be done by indicating a position with the cursor or by typing in a coordinate in the Command Line.

What happens when you hit 'Enter' with an empty Command Line is twofold:
- Opted to use the Dialog: Last command is repeated.
- Opted out to use the Dialog: The options are now displayed in a dialog.

Regards,
CVH

CVH wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 28, 2025 5:10 pm

The tool options are typically listed in the Options Toolbar what is also addressable by keystrokes.

you mean these? Where are the keystrokes for these options (and others like those that appear when you copy and paste something, such as "to current layer" and "overwrite blocks) listed? Usually I learn about hotkeys from the menu entries or tooltips, but these options are not in the menus, and most of them don't even show tooltips when you hover your pointer over them (the few ones that display a tooltip show no shortcut keys)

Hi,
This forum is intended for the QCAD Professional Version.
In a recent Pro version (>=3.30.0) that would be by shortcuts (Tutorial: 2.1 Keyboard Shortcuts).
In order of appearance: ,C | ,N | ,U | ,A | ,D
Besides that you can navigate in the Options Toolbar using TAB.
Typing in a value is send to the first input field.

From your screen capture this might be an older QCAD Pro version or it is taken from a CE version (Referring to other posts) .
The 'a' of attributes is underlined, Alt+a would toggle 'Use current layer and attributes'.

The former (<3.30.0) or the CE functionality was/is indeed incomplete.
You can not address 'Copy' with the Alt key for example and 'Angle by cursor' has nothing to underline because it is an action button.
The dialog presents more combinations with the Alt key.

QCAD is constantly enhanced and/or updated with new functionality.

Originally QCAD is/was geared to be a GUI (Graphical User Interface) where most things are addressed by the cursor.
The first question would already be:
Why typing in 'rotate' in the command line while the shortcut key sequence RO starts the tool just the same?
Besides that the RO action button is typically included under the Modify menu or on the Modify toolbar, CAD panel and matrix panel.

The next question is:
Why use the keyboard extensively to enter complex and fully written out textual commands?
Example: rotate -copy:1 -current-layer-and-attributes:no -angle:cursor

In the time I release my pointing device and typed that I have:
Hit R & O, entered values in indicated fields and clicked on the required options buttons.
All without releasing the pointing device.

Things have evolved since the DOS era when everything was textual and only as green on black.
Since loading software was with 15 or more floppy's (AutoCad, Spice, ...).
I don't see you type in the command Swipe left or Swipe down on your (not so) Smart-Phone.


Regards,
CVH