Rhino 3D Tip: Streamline Rhino with Command Aliases

Command aliases turn long commands into short, memorable keystrokes—one of the fastest ways to speed up Rhino. Here’s how to set them up and make them work hard for you.

Set up aliases

• Windows: Tools > Options > Aliases. Click New, type your alias, and paste the macro. OK to save.
• Mac: Rhino > Settings > Aliases. Click +, type alias and macro. Close to save.
• Back up and share: Use OptionsExport/OptionsImport to migrate aliases across machines or teams.

Macro essentials (that make aliases reliable)

• ! cancels any running command before your macro runs.
• _ forces English command names to work on any localized Rhino.
• - calls the command-line version of a command (skips dialog boxes).
• ; separates steps if you need multiple commands in one alias.
• Pause waits for user input (pick, selection, point).
• Use _Toggle, _On, _Off for stable switches.

Starter aliases you’ll use every day

• ZS (Zoom Selected): ! _Zoom _Selected
• BB (Bounding Box, World): ! _BoundingBox _World _Yes
• OO (Ortho toggle): ! _Ortho _Toggle
• PP (Project Osnap toggle): ! _ProjectOsnap _Toggle
• II (Incremental Save): ! _IncrementalSave
• VC (ViewCapture to Clipboard): ! _ViewCaptureToClipboard
• SD (Select Duplicates): ! _SelDup
• SO (Select Open Curves): ! _SelOpenCrv

Build smarter macros

• Skip dialogs: prefix with a dash and set options inline. Example, Make2D without the dialog: ! -_Make2D _View=CurrentView _MaintainSourceLayers=Yes _ShowTangentEdges=No _Enter
• Create guided tools: use Pause where you need picks. Quick section plane: ! _ClippingPlane Pause Pause
• Chain utilities: separate commands with semicolons. Cleanup burst: ! _SelDup; _Delete; _SelBadObjects

Naming strategy

• Favor 1–2 letters you can hit without looking (left-hand keys are fastest for right-handed mouse users).
• Group by function: Z- for zooms (ZS, ZE), S- for selections (SD, SO), V- for view (VC, VV).
• Avoid conflicts with muscle-memory commands you already type in full (e.g., Move, Rotate).

Troubleshooting

• If an alias does nothing, run its macro line-by-line in Rhino’s command prompt to find the break.
• Commands that open dialogs must use the dashed version or explicit options.
• If toggles don’t stick, replace _Toggle with explicit _On or _Off.

Team and workstation portability

• Standardize: export a shared options file with OptionsExport and version it (date + initials).
• Document: keep a one-page alias cheat sheet in your project Wiki or with your NOVEDGE team onboarding.

Small keystrokes, big returns: customizing aliases can reclaim minutes per hour across modeling, drafting, and review. If you’re setting up a new workstation or expanding your toolset, explore Rhino licenses, updates, and pro tips at NOVEDGE, and browse their learning resources on the NOVEDGE blog.

You can find all the Rhino products on the NOVEDGE web site at this page.