set up a good library for things like windows and doors. there is some way to set it so you can flip doors and windows when there in the drawing, too. don't know if it's an add-on or not. but libraries are probably the most basic thing for me to building speed.

also:

an add-on like arch-t can help cut time coordinating schedules as well.

set up your pgp file so most of your commands can easily be executed with one hand. a lot of the basics can easily be shortened, like i always use 'n' for layers and 'k' for print.

use the little freeze toolbar so you can freeze layers by picking out specific lines in the drawing.

if you have lt get an add-on for xclips

you can even put cross sections of beams and studs in a library

remove all toolbars. Learn all keyboard commands.

Try meth if you've 'blown' your coke budget.

Chinese dieter's tea.

It's mostly all Mua Huang (Ephedra).

Thanks, I will try the dieter's tea.

cui..... and dont run itunes....

Learn the aliases and use one hand to type commands while the other is on the mouse. With practice, mouse and keyboard operation will be seamless..

this is all good, because lately at interviews ive been finding out that companies are still very much Acadd, ADT hardcore, with only a little bit of Revit. Its been painful re learning cadd for me.

Knowing the commands is certainly helpful but my best advice is to think before you draft. Plan the fastest way to draft it before touching the mouse or keyboard. For example, if you're drafting something symmetrical, draft half of it, then mirror it; this just cut your drafting time in half.

we mention itunes, porn..... what about the ultimate sacrifice of turning off Archinect.

I've seen people use the icons in the toolbars in autocad to draft and it makes my brain hurt how slowly they go. Just turn off ALL the toolbars with the shortcut icons on them and memorize the commands. Most of them are intuitive so its not as hard as it sounds "l" for line "pl" poly line "arc" arc and so on and so forth. Even other software like sketchup, rhino and to a lesser extent revit, have built in key short cuts and you'll be much faster if you just get into the habit of learning the key commands for things instead of searching for the button or the right drop down. Also this isn't drafting necessarily but planning ahead with little sketches, notes etc before you touch the computer helps me greatly - for some reason my brain doesn't work quickly when it comes to "designing" things in CAD. So I just reproduce something I've drawn by hand, or sketch physical model and I go 50% faster if I know what i'm going to make in the computer before i even get started.

I may not know much about using ACAD as I was a C+ student in all 3 drafting classes I took.

But I hate the fact that most of the shortcuts require you to memorize a list of shit contractions 9 miles long.

I don't think I've ever used most of the shortcuts before. And what's annoying about it is the 16 commands I do use regularly don't have "logical" shortcuts that every other program in existence has.

There's no CTRL+SHIFT+A for arc or CTRL+L for line.

CTRL+L triggers orthomode. THERE'S NO L IN ORTHO. In fact, there's no other key commands around the L key having anything to do with views.

And half the CTRL commands in ACAD would be better suited for the alt key anyways.

A previous user said it: reconfigure your pgp file to use the key commands you want to use. But only do this if your office doesn't share computers or you'll be left subconsciously typing the command you use while the correct key command is the original default setting.

That said, don't stop with lmnop's example of "l" for line or "pl" for polyline. That requires finding two keys. For example, first I changed my command for copy to "c" (instead of circle) because I use the copy command so much (Don't we all? I find it forever strange that ACAD would default "c" to circle instead of copy.) Second, I changed my 2nd most-used command starting with the letter "c", which IS circle, to "cc". Repeat system for all commands and you just halved your key command time.

Another note: Draw it right the first time, if possible. Nothing takes more time than modifying drawings. CAD is not a speed tool over hand drafting. It is an accuracy and reproduction tool. I can't wait for all the superiors to retire and people that actually once used CAD to be promoted in their place so there is finally some general understanding of this.