Long way: Start drawing command such as line, if seeking to draw something. Place cursor over Point menu > click on Midpoint > click the line.

Long way: Start drawing command such as line, if seeking to draw something. Click the Midpoint button on the Snap toolbar. Click the line.

Fast way: Start drawing command such as a line. Place drawing cursor over line in question. Press Control K.

Why: Midpoint is one of the most commonly used point commands. Get to the center faster with the hotkey shortcut.

Long way: Dimension menu > Dimension command > snap to the two points you want dimensioned.

Fast way: Press the @ key and then snap to the two points you want dimensioned.

Why: If it's serious, you'll need to dimension your design. Do it fastest using the hotkey.

Tip:  Try the Auto-Dimension command (in Express 12 and DesignCAD 3D Max Plus). Also try Dimension Baseline if you want a baseline dimension between several points along one axis of the design.

Long way: Point menu > Point Relative command > enter the distance away for the next point you'd like to set i.e. Y = 4'.

Fast way: Press the apostrophe key, enter distance away for the next point you'd like to set. 

Why: Draw with precision. Start any drawing command. To set the next point (from the current relative position) use the Point Relative command. 

Small Step = the distance the cursor moves when pressing Shift at the same time you press any of the arrow keys

Why: Pressing an arrow key to move the cursor is about as easy as it gets - so try it to set points but be sure you set it up first in the Options menu so you know how far the cursor is moving with each "arrow over".

Long way: Tools menu > Shading command > Adjust shading settings, press Enter.

Fast way: Press the F8 key, adjust shading settings, press Enter.

Why: While using 3D modeling you'll want to see the rendered version of your work to get a better idea of how it looks in the real world. Use the Shading hotkey shortcut to get there faster.

Fast way: Start a drawing command, such as a line. Position the cursor where you want to insert a point. Press the Insert key, to set the point. Move the cursor away to another position and set a point by pressing Insert. DesignCAD will let you keep making points forever. To indicate you've had enough you must end the line - press the Enter key.

Why: There are two ways to insert a point. You can click or you can press the Insert key. The insert key is usually fastest and ensures the most control of where the point is set, especially when you're using the arrow keys to move the cursor position.

Long Way: Open the Dimension menu > select Units. Click the points which should be displayed distance/adjusted in distance. To change the distance between the points, change the Units field distance and click OK. To leave the distance as is, do nothing and click OK.

Fast way:  Press U for Units. Click the points which should be displayed distance/adjusted in distance. To change the distance between the points, change the Units field distance and click OK. To leave the distance as is, do nothing and click OK.

Why: Units is handy to adjust the scale of a drawing. If you have scanned in a plan and the dimensions are all 'off'. Just start the Units command, snap to the ends of a line for which you know the dimension. Then change the Units to the appropriate dimension in the Units box. The entire drawing will be updated to that scale.

Long way: View menu > Set View command. Drag the window to spin the view.

Fast way: Press Y and then drag the window to spin the view.

Why: See the whole 3D perspective view from all around.

Long way: View menu > Regenerate All command. 

Fast way: Press Control + Shift + R to regenerate all windows.

Why: If you start deleting sections in the design there are times that little fragment continue to appear and the drawing window simple needs refreshed. So use the Regenerate command.