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Earthwork Module Shortcuts

Modified: 7 Jun 2026 Viewpoint Estimating Installation and Setup Help

Keyboard shortcuts make your work in Earthwork easier by reducing the need to take your hands away from the keyboard.

Screens

KeyDescription
F1Opens the Help topic for the current screen.
F6Populates the field with the first value of a lookup list.
F11Hides the toolbar and the window bar at the top of the screen. Press F11 again to redisplay the toolbar and the window bar.
F12Displays the tab in full screen mode, which hides the panes, tabs, quick link bar, and the toolbar at the top of the screen. Press F12 again to return to windowed mode.
AltDisplays keyboard shortcuts for the current screen. Once the keyboard shortcuts are displayed, press Alt and the underlined letter in the field label to move to that field.
Ctrl+TabDisplays the next window.
Shift+Ctrl+TabDisplays the previous window.
Ctrl+ZUndo the previous action, such as edits to a cell, sorting a column sorting, and changing the column order. Not all actions can be undone. This keyboard shortcut works on the Takeoff, NotePad, Catalog, Estimate, Alternates, and Change Orders tabs. Once you move to a different tab or otherwise refresh the screen, you can no longer undo the previous action.
Ctrl+YRedo the previous action, such as edits to a cell, sorting a column sorting, and changing the column order. Not all actions can be redone. This keyboard shortcut works on the Takeoff, NotePad, Catalog, Estimate, Alternates, and Change Orders tabs. Once you move to a different tab or otherwise refresh the screen, you can no longer redo the previous action.

Takeoff Tab

KeyDescription
FFinishes the takeoff item. The elevation increases or decreases by the interval amount specified.
CFinishes the line you are currently digitizing and allows you to digitize another line with the same elevation.
HMakes the last point digitized a hard point.
SActivates the Select tool.
UActivates the Multi Select tool.
PActivates the Point Line tool.
TActivates the Trace Line tool.
VActivates the Spot Elevation tool.
BActivates the Borings tool when the substrata layer is selected.
ZActivates the Zoom tool. Click on the drawing where you want to center the zoom, then use the scroll wheel on the mouse or I and O to zoom in and out on the drawing.
NActivates the Snap tool.
DActivates the Fit Drawing tool.
WActivates the Fit World tool.
RDisplays the Properties pop-up window for the selected item.
GDisplays the Layer Manager pop-up window.
AAdd a new drawing using matchlines.
KAdd a new drawing using Northing/Easting.
MDisplays the Matchline Point Manager pop-up window.
QDisplays the Set Orientation pop-up window.
LDisplays the Offset Line pop-up window when you have a line selected.
JJoins two or more selected lines.
XDisplays the Set Elevations pop-up window for the selected takeoff items.
IZooms in on the center of the tab.
OZooms out on the center of the tab.
ShiftHold Shift to activate or deactivate the Align to Image tool temporarily. Release the Shift key to return the Align to Image tool to its previous state.
Ctrl+IActivates the Align to Image tool without changing the sensitivity level.
Shift+0Turns off the Align to Image tool.
Shift+1Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Low.
Shift+2Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Medium.
Shift+3Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to High.
Shift+4Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Maximum.
Ctrl+ZUndo the previous action.
Ctrl+YRedo the previous action.
Ctrl+XRemoves the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+CCopies the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+VInserts (pastes) the contents of the Clipboard onto the active layer at the location from which they were copied.
CtrlIf you have magnified the tab, hold Ctrl and move the mouse to the portion of the sheet you want to view.
Ctrl+ASelects all vectors (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.
Ctrl+Shift+AClears all vector selections (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.

Area Tab

KeyDescription
FSpecifies that you have finished digitizing an area and opens the Area Properties pop-up window.
SActivates the Select tool.
UActivates the Multi Select tool.
PActivates the Point Area tool.
TActivates the Trace Area tool.
ZActivates the Zoom tool.
DActivates the Fit Drawing tool.
WActivates the Fit World tool.
RDisplays the Area Properties pop-up window for the selected area.
ADisplays the Select Multiple Areas pop-up window.
CDisplays the Copy Properties pop-up window for the selected area.
EDisplays the Offset Area pop-up window for the selected area.
QDisplays the Coordinates tab on the Area Properties pop-up window allowing you to create reference points.
IZooms in on the center of the drawing.
OZooms out on the center of the drawing.
ShiftHold Shift to activate or deactivate the Align to Image tool temporarily. Release the Shift key to return the Align to Image tool to its previous state.
Crtl+IActivates the Align to Image tool without changing the sensitivity level.
Shift+0Turns off the Align to Image tool.
Shift+1Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Low.
Shift+2Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Medium.
Shift+3Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to High.
Shift+4Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Maximum.
+ and –Cycle through digitized areas.
Ctrl+ZUndo the previous action.
Ctrl+YRedo the previous action.
Ctrl+XRemoves the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+CCopies the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+VInserts (pastes) the contents of the Clipboard onto the active layer at the location from which they were copied.
Note: The contents cannot be pasted onto the same layer from which they were cut/copied.
CtrlIf you have magnified the tab, hold Ctrl and move the mouse to the portion of the sheet you want to view.
Ctrl+ASelects all vectors (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.
Ctrl+Shift+ADeselects all vectors (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.

Trench Tab

KeyDescription
FFinishes the trench takeoff and displays the Trench pop-up window.
SActivates the Select tool.
UActivates the Multi Select tool.
PActivates the Point Line tool.
ZActivates the Zoom tool.
DActivates the Fit Drawing tool.
WActivates the Fit World tool.
RDisplays the Trench pop-up window for the selected trench.
IZooms in on the center of the tab.
OZooms out on the center of the tab.
ShiftHold Shift to activate or deactivate the Align to Image tool temporarily. Release the Shift key to return the Align to Image tool to its previous state.
Ctrl+IActivates the Align to Image tool without changing the sensitivity level.
Shift+0Turns off the Align to Image tool.
Shift+1Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Low.
Shift+2Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Medium.
Shift+3Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to High.
Shift+4Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Maximum.
Ctrl+ZUndoes the previous action.
Ctrl+YRedoes the previous action.
Ctrl+XRemoves the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+CCopies the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+VInserts (pastes) the contents of the Clipboard onto the active layer at the location from which they were copied.
Note: The contents cannot be pasted onto the same layer from which they were cut/copied.
CtrlIf you have magnified the tab, hold Ctrl and move the mouse to the portion of the sheet you want to view.
Ctrl+ASelects all vectors (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.
Ctrl+Shift+ADeselects all vectors (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.

Len/EA Tab

KeyDescription
FFinishes the takeoff item.
UActivates the Multi Select tool.
PActivates the Point Line tool.
TActivates the Trace Line tool.
CActivates the Count Item tool.
RDisplays the Properties pop-up window for the selected item.
EActivates the Count Invert field. Press Up or Down to change the depth for the count item.
IZooms in on the center of the tab.
OZooms out on the center of the tab.
ShiftHold Shift to activate or deactivate the Align to Image tool temporarily. Release the Shift key to return the Align to Image tool to its previous state.
Ctrl+IActivates the Align to Image tool without changing the sensitivity level.
Shift+0Turns off the Align to Image tool.
Shift+1Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Low.
Shift+2Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Medium.
Shift+3Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to High.
Shift+4Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Maximum.
Ctrl+ZUndo the previous action.
Ctrl+YRedo the previous action.
Ctrl+XRemoves the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+CCopies the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+VInserts (pastes) the contents of the Clipboard onto the active layer at the location from which they were copied.
Note: The contents cannot be pasted onto the same layer from which they were cut/copied.
CtrlIf you have magnified the tab, hold Ctrl and move the mouse to the portion of the sheet you want to view.
Ctrl+ASelects all vectors (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.
Ctrl+Shift+ADeselects all vectors (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.

3D Tab

KeyDescription
NRestores the 3D view to its original aspect after you change the zoom or viewpoint of the screen.
TActivates the Rotate tool.
VActivates the Move tool.
UWith the Rotate or Move tool activated, rotates or moves the viewpoint up.
DWith the Rotate or Move tool activated, rotates or moves the viewpoint down.
LWith the Rotate or Move tool activated, rotates or moves the viewpoint left.
RWith the Rotate or Move tool activated, rotates or moves the viewpoint right.
BActivates the Flyby tool. Press B again to end the flyby.
MMagnifies the z-axis.
XReduces the z-axis.
ZZoom
EFit to Screen
CActivates the Cut Fill tool.
PDisplays the 3D Display Properties pop-up window.

Section Tab

KeyDescription
UMove up one station.
DMove down one station.
LMove left one station.
RMove right one station.
SShows the grid.
GShows the Legend pop-up window.
CActivates the Section tool.
PActivates the Profile tool.
FFinishes the selection when using the Section or Profile tools.
NActivates the Station Interval field.
IZooms in on the center of the tab.
OZooms out on the center of the tab.
CtrlIf you have magnified the tab, hold Ctrl and move the mouse to the portion of the sheet you want to view.

Grid Tab

KeyDescription
FRestores the magnified drawing to the fit the screen.
NDisplays the cut and fill volume for each grid cell, which appears in the center of the cell.
ADisplays the layers from the Takeoff and Area tabs.
RDisplays colors, which distinguish the grid cells requiring cut and fill.
HDisplays high contrast colors.
GTurns grid lines on or off.
TChanges the background color of cut and fill volumes or grid corner values from white to transparent or from transparent to white.
PDisplays the Grid Properties pop-up window.
IZooms in on the center of the drawing.
OZooms out on the center of the drawing.
CtrlIf you have magnified the tab, hold Ctrl and move the mouse to the portion of the sheet you want to view.

Summary Tab

KeyDescription
BDisplays the Site Balance pop-up window.
EExports the quantities from the Summary tab to the NotePad tab in Estimating module or to a spreadsheet.
CConverts units between English and metric.
DToggles between the detailed and summary view.
GDisplays the subtotals for area types with more than one area.
LLocks totals.
ADeselect all areas.

Layout Tab

KeyDescription
SActivates the Select tool.
KActivates the Stake tool.
ZActivates the Zoom tool. Click on the drawing where you want to center the zoom, then using the scroll wheel on the mouse or I and O to zoom in and out on the drawing.
DActivates the Fit Drawing tool.
WActivates the Fit World tool.
RDisplays the Properties pop-up window for the selected item.
BDisplays subgrade elevations in the lower half of the tab.
FDisplays finished grade elevations in the lower half of the tab.
EDisplays contours and elevations on the drawing. Press E again to hide contours and elevations.
ADisplays areas on the drawing. Press A again to hide areas.
XExports the staking information for the job to a text file.
IZooms in on the center of the tab.
OZooms out on the center of the tab.
CtrlIf you have magnified the tab, hold Ctrl and move the mouse to the portion of the sheet you want to view.
ShiftHold Shift to activate or deactivate the Align to Image tool temporarily. Release the Shift key to return the Align to Image tool to its previous state.
Crtl+IActivates the Align to Image tool without changing the sensitivity level.
Shift+0Turns off the Align to Image tool.
Shift+1Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Low.
Shift+2Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Medium.
Shift+3Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to High.
Shift+4Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Maximum.
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