Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Keyboard shortcuts let you work faster in the CADFaber editor by eliminating the need to navigate menus and click buttons for common operations. This page lists every shortcut available in the editor, organized by category. On macOS, substitute Cmd for Ctrl in all shortcuts below.

You can also view this list inside the editor by pressing the ? key, which opens the built-in shortcuts help panel. The in-editor panel shows the same information in a compact overlay format.

Selection

Selection shortcuts control which shapes are active for editing and manipulation. Selecting shapes is the first step before moving, resizing, rotating, duplicating, or applying boolean operations. Mastering selection shortcuts dramatically speeds up your workflow, especially in complex scenes with many shapes.

Shape Manipulation

Once a shape is selected, these shortcuts let you move, duplicate, delete, and organize shapes without leaving the keyboard. The arrow key movement shortcuts are particularly useful for precise positioning — they move shapes by exactly one grid unit per keypress, ensuring consistent alignment across your design.

Clipboard

Standard clipboard operations work on selected shapes. Copy creates an in-memory copy, and paste places the copy at the same position as the original (with a small offset so you can see it). Cut removes the selected shapes and places them in the clipboard for later pasting. These operations respect multi-selection, so you can copy and paste multiple shapes at once.

Undo & Redo

The undo system tracks every action in the editor, including shape creation, deletion, movement, resize, rotation, parameter changes, and boolean operations. Undo and redo let you step backward and forward through your editing history. There is no practical limit on the number of undo steps within a single session. The history is stored in memory and is cleared when you close the browser tab or start a new project.

CSG / Boolean Operations

Boolean operation shortcuts require at least two shapes to be selected. For subtract, the first selected shape is the base and subsequently selected shapes are the tools. The hole toggle applies to a single selected shape. For a detailed explanation of each operation, see the CSG Operations documentation page.

Viewport Navigation

Viewport navigation shortcuts let you control the camera position and orientation without using the mouse. The numeric keys snap the camera to orthographic views, which are essential for checking alignment and symmetry from specific directions. The zero key resets to the default perspective view, which is useful for returning to a familiar vantage point after inspecting details from various angles.

Grid & Snapping

The grid toggle controls whether shapes snap to grid positions when being moved. When snap-to-grid is active, shapes align to whole-number coordinates, making it easy to position objects precisely and ensure alignment between parts. When disabled, shapes move freely for fine-tuned positioning. The grid state is visually indicated by the grid icon in the toolbar.

File & Project

File and project shortcuts handle saving, exporting, and opening projects. The save shortcut stores your project in the browser's IndexedDB storage for persistence across browser sessions. Export shortcuts open the export dialog where you can choose the output format. For details on each export format, see the Export & Import page.

Help & Interface

These shortcuts control the editor interface itself, including opening help panels, toggling sidebars, and accessing settings. The question mark shortcut opens the same shortcuts reference panel that you see in the editor, providing quick access to this information without leaving the editor. The tab key toggles between the Visual Builder mode and the Code Editor mode.

macOS Notes

On macOS, replace Ctrl with Cmd (Command) in all shortcuts. For example, Ctrl+Z becomes Cmd+Z, Ctrl+C becomes Cmd+C, and so on. Single-key shortcuts (like U, S, I, H, G, ?, and the number keys) remain the same on all operating systems. Middle-click can be simulated on macOS by holding Option + left-click on some configurations, but Shift + left-click drag for panning works universally.

Customization

Keyboard shortcuts in CADFaber are currently not customizable. The default bindings are designed to match common conventions from popular 3D tools and general software (Ctrl+Z for undo, Ctrl+C/V for copy/paste, Delete for deletion). If you are coming from a specific 3D tool and find the bindings unfamiliar, the built-in help panel (press ?) serves as a quick reference while you build muscle memory.

If you find that browser shortcuts conflict with CADFaber shortcuts (for example, Ctrl+S triggering a browser save dialog), the editor intercepts these key combinations and prevents the default browser behavior. If you experience conflicts, ensure the editor viewport has focus by clicking on it before using shortcuts.