# User Story: Preselected Sketch Tool

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [October 11, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871 "2022-10-11T19:56:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![woodbytes](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/woodbytes/32/17195_2.png) [@woodbytes](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/woodbytes)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871/1 "2022-10-11T19:56:21Z")

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As a user I would like to set (in Preferences) my preselected sketch tool.

Description:  
Every time when opening a sketch the “Line” tool is preselected by default. But, most of the time I need the rectangle tool. Unfortunately, “for whatever reason I’ve been unable to train my brain” (hello @RaptorPrinter) to switch the tool first when opening a sketch.

So, could you please provide us with a preference section for such settings, please?

“[Thank you for you cooperation.](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/2c686c10-83d0-4a9c-8e42-51bdc2424b69#164SLADI.copy)”  
-Frank

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/6/e/6ea865dcd54bd926e97b502390c9a38a53d31077.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Istvan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/istvan/32/23668_2.png) [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 7:57pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871/2 "2022-10-11T19:57:34Z")

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Good idea, thanks for sharing. I’ve forwarded it to the product team.

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Gy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/peter_gy/32/9251_2.png) [@Peter\_Gy](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Peter_Gy)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 8:35am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871/3 "2022-10-12T08:35:30Z")

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From your question in the other thread I assume you’re using macOS, so another thing you might want to try is enabling hotkeys and use the hotkey “R” to trigger rectangle drawing: it’ll switch you into sketch mode and preselect rectangle as the active sketch pen. It also needs some training of the brain, but it might be easier 🙂 – give it a try!

Hotkeys are a brand-new feature, available starting version 5.230, so make sure you’ve upgraded. You can find information on how to enable it and the shortcuts that are available in the manual:

> **[How can I model with my preferred input device using shortcuts, gestures, or...](https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021170460-How-can-I-model-with-my-preferred-input-device-using-shortcuts-gestures-or-hotkeys-)**
>
> You can navigate, edit, sketch, and model intuitively with your preferred input device in Shapr3D. If you prefer to use a keyboard with a mouse, enable right-click for your mouse for the best exper...

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**Author:** ![woodbytes](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/woodbytes/32/17195_2.png) [@woodbytes](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/woodbytes)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 9:10am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871/4 "2022-10-12T09:10:47Z")

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Thanks Peter, I will test the hotkey function. 👍🏼

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**Author:** ![woodbytes](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/woodbytes/32/17195_2.png) [@woodbytes](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/woodbytes)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 7:24pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871/5 "2022-10-12T19:24:07Z")

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Okay Peter, I just wanted to try out the shortcuts and the first what happened was the appearance of this little window:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/3/f/3f448205f21b08707e9d2c48976f59b1eb219e09.jpeg)

It appears every time I use a shortcut. Unfortunately it won’t work for me this way. My expectation was to start sketching immediately after pressing `r`… 😞

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Gy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/peter_gy/32/9251_2.png) [@Peter\_Gy](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Peter_Gy)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871/6 "2022-10-12T20:26:25Z")

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This means you have not turned on Hotkeys yet. As it’s a brand new feature we are still testing, it is not on by default.

This is how you turn it on:

> To manage shortcuts or hotkeys, go to **Preferences** \> **Single Key Action** and choose between **Command Search** and **Hotkeys**. When the Command Search setting is selected, you can start typing anywhere in the workspace the name of the tool you want to use, and a search box will automatically appear. When the Hotkeys setting is enabled, you can execute tools with their equivalent hotkey, and start Command Search with ‘X’ or ‘Cmd + F’.

You need to be running at least version 5.230 for it. After turning it on, R will activate the rectangle tool immediately.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![woodbytes](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/woodbytes/32/17195_2.png) [@woodbytes](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/woodbytes)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 9:02pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871/7 "2022-10-12T21:02:49Z")

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Aahhh… it was not turned on. Okay, next try. 😃

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**Author:** ![woodbytes](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/woodbytes/32/17195_2.png) [@woodbytes](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/woodbytes)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 9:14am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/user-story-preselected-sketch-tool/21871/8 "2022-10-14T09:14:02Z")

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@Peter_Gy  
Just a short feedback regarding shortcuts:

Worx gr8 for me! 🕶