Is the ʼSʼ key shortcut customizable for every user in SolidWorks?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in SolidWorks, the Customize command lets each user customize the S key shortcut by editing the Shortcut Bar for parts, assemblies, drawings, and sketches. This is the most common professional method because it is user-specific and quick to maintain. One limitation: the setup is usually stored per user/profile, not automatically shared with everyone.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: changing the S key layout affects only the current environment you edit, such as Part, Assembly, Drawing, or Sketch. A common failure is assuming one edited Shortcut Bar will apply everywhere, then finding different commands missing in another workspace.

How to Customize the S Key Shortcut

  • Command: Customize

  • Shortcut: S

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Press S, then click the small drop-down or right-click the Shortcut Bar and choose Customize, or go to Tools > Customize.
    2. In the Customize dialog, open the Shortcut Bars tab and select the correct environment, such as Part, Assembly, Drawing, or Sketch.
    3. Add or remove commands from the Shortcut Bar, then confirm the layout and keep Show tooltips or related display options as needed for easier identification.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Shortcut Bars tab in the Customize dialog

  • Expert Setting: SolidWorks lets you define a different S key Shortcut Bar for each document mode and context. This affects what appears when you press S, so the same shortcut can show different command sets in a sketch versus an assembly.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): the active context is wrong, such as editing a sketch while expecting part modeling commands to appear on the S key bar.
  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): user settings may be locked, reset, or replaced by an admin image/profile, so custom S key changes do not persist.
  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): the user edits keyboard shortcuts instead of the Shortcut Bar, but the S key behavior is controlled through Shortcut Bar customization, not by assigning random commands directly to S.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: open Tools > Customize > Shortcut Bars, select the exact workspace, and rebuild the S key bar with only your most-used commands.
  • Manager’s Verdict: use S key customization for role-based productivity, but standardize exported settings if multiple users need the same workflow across teams.

FAQ

Can the S key show different commands in sketches and assemblies?

Yes, SolidWorks allows separate Shortcut Bars for each environment.

Does changing the S key affect all SolidWorks users on the same company network?

No, it is normally a per-user setting unless settings are deployed centrally.

Can I reset the S key Shortcut Bar to default?

Yes, you can reopen Customize and manually restore or reset the Shortcut Bar configuration.

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