Tool palettes in AutoCAD for Mac provide a powerful and customizable way to access blocks, hatch patterns, commands, and other frequently used content directly from a dockable panel. Whether you’re drafting architectural plans, mechanical designs, or civil engineering layouts, tool palettes can significantly speed up your workflow by placing essential tools at your fingertips.
This guide will walk you through how to open, customize, and effectively use tool palettes in AutoCAD for Mac.
What Are Tool Palettes?
Tool palettes are collections of tools grouped into tabs that appear in a floating or docked window. Each tool can be:
- A block (e.g., doors, windows, furniture)
- A hatch pattern
- A command tool (e.g., Line, Circle, or custom macros)
- A dimension or annotation style
You can organize these tools into categories that match your workflow—such as “Electrical,” “Plumbing,” or “Standard Details”—making it easy to find what you need without digging through menus.
Opening Tool Palettes in AutoCAD for Mac
- From the Menu Bar:
Go to View > Palettes > Tool Palettes. - Using the Keyboard Shortcut:
Press Command + 3 (⌘+3). - From the Quick Access Toolbar:
If you’ve added the Tool Palettes icon to your Quick Access Toolbar, click it to toggle the palette on or off.
Once opened, the Tool Palettes window appears on the right side of your screen by default but can be moved, resized, or docked as needed.
Navigating the Tool Palettes Interface
The Tool Palettes window includes:
- Tabs at the top (e.g., “Architectural,” “Mechanical,” “Sample”) that group related tools.
- Individual tools displayed as icons or thumbnails.
- A search bar (in newer versions) to quickly find specific tools.
- Right-click (or Ctrl+click) context menus for managing tools and palettes.
You can scroll through tools using your trackpad or mouse, and hover over a tool to see its name or description.
Using Tools from the Palette
Inserting Blocks
- Click on a block tool in the palette.
- Click in your drawing area to place the block.
- AutoCAD will prompt you for insertion point, scale, and rotation—just like the INSERT command.
Applying Hatch Patterns
- Select a hatch tool from the palette.
- Click inside a closed area in your drawing.
- The hatch is applied automatically using the predefined settings.
Running Commands
Some tools are linked to commands or macros. Clicking them will execute the associated action immediately or prompt you for input, depending on how the tool is configured.
Customizing Tool Palettes
Adding Your Own Tools
- Open the Tool Palettes window (⌘+3).
- Right-click (or Ctrl+click) on any tab and choose New Palette to create a custom tab.
- To add content:
- From the drawing: Select a block or hatch in your drawing, then drag it directly onto your custom palette.
- From DesignCenter: Open DesignCenter (Command + 2), browse to a drawing or symbol library, and drag blocks or hatches into your tool palette.
- From the Blocks palette: Use the Blocks palette (View > Palettes > Blocks) to drag blocks into your tool palette.
Organizing and Renaming
- Rename a palette: Right-click the tab > Rename.
- Reorder palettes: Drag tabs left or right.
- Delete a palette: Right-click the tab > Delete (note: this removes the palette but not the original content).
Editing Tool Properties
Right-click any tool in a palette and select Properties to:
- Change its name or description
- Adjust scale, rotation, or layer settings
- Assign a different command or macro
Below is a comparison table that highlights key differences between AutoCAD for Windows and AutoCAD for Mac, with a focus on Tool Palettes and related functionality:
AutoCAD for Windows vs. AutoCAD for Mac: Tool Palettes & Interface Comparison
| Feature | AutoCAD for Windows | AutoCAD for Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Tool Palettes Availability | Fully supported | Fully supported |
| Access Method | View > Palettes > Tool Palettesor Ctrl + 3 |
View > Palettes > Tool Palettesor Command (⌘) + 3 |
| Custom Palette Creation | Yes – via right-click > “New Palette” | Yes – via right-click (or Ctrl+click) > “New Palette” |
| Drag-and-Drop from Drawing | Supported (drag blocks/hatches directly to palette) | Supported (drag blocks/hatches directly to palette) |
| Integration with DesignCenter | Full integration; drag content from DesignCenter (Ctrl + 2) |
Full integration; drag content from DesignCenter (Command + 2) |
| Palette File Format | .ATC (AutoCAD Tool Catalog) |
.ATC (compatible with Windows version) |
| Palette Sharing Between Platforms | .ATC files created on Windows can generally be used on Mac and vice versa |
Same as Windows – cross-platform compatible |
| Right-Click Context Menu | Full context menu on tools and palettes | Available via Ctrl+click or two-finger trackpad tap |
| Search Within Palettes | Yes (search bar in palette header) | Available in recent versions (2023+) |
| Palette Docking Options | Highly flexible docking (left/right, floating, auto-hide) | Limited docking – primarily floats or docks to right side |
| Support for Custom Commands/Macros | Yes – can assign LISP, scripts, or macros to tools | Limited – basic command support, but LISP and advanced scripting not fully supported on Mac |
| Third-Party Tool Palette Add-ons | Widely supported via ARX, .NET, etc. | Limited third-party extensibility due to Mac platform constraints |
| Performance with Large Palettes | Generally smooth, even with hundreds of tools | May be slower with very large palettes on older Mac hardware |
Key Takeaways
- Core functionality of tool palettes (inserting blocks, hatches, organizing tools) is nearly identical on both platforms.
- AutoCAD for Windows offers greater customization, automation, and docking flexibility.
- AutoCAD for Mac provides a clean, macOS-native interface but lacks some advanced features like full LISP support and deep third-party integration.
- Tool palette files (.ATC) are cross-compatible, making it easy to share custom palettes between teams using different operating systems.
Tip: If your workflow relies heavily on custom scripts, LISP routines, or complex macros in tool palettes, AutoCAD for Windows is still the more powerful choice. For standard drafting with blocks and hatches, AutoCAD for Mac delivers a seamless experience.
Tips for Efficient Use
- Pin frequently used palettes: Keep your most-used tools visible while working.
- Use descriptive names: Rename tools to reflect their function (e.g., “Office Chair – Swivel” instead of “BLOCK1”).
- Sync across projects: Save your custom palettes and reuse them in other drawings or share them with team members.
- Leverage cloud storage: Store your tool palette files (.ATC) in a shared folder or Autodesk Docs for consistent access.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Tool palette won’t open? Ensure you’re running a supported version of AutoCAD for Mac. Restart the application if the palette fails to appear.
- Missing tools? Verify that the source drawing or library is accessible. Broken links may cause tools to disappear.
- Palette appears blank? Try resetting the workspace (Workspace > Reset Current Workspace) or reinstalling AutoCAD if the issue persists.
FAQ
Can I sync my custom tool palettes across multiple Macs?
Yes, you can. Custom tool palettes are saved as .ATC files in your AutoCAD support folder (typically located in ~/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/AutoCAD [Version]/[Language]/Support/ToolPalette). To sync them across Macs, manually copy the .ATC files to the same folder on another Mac, or use cloud storage (like iCloud Drive or Dropbox) to keep the folder synchronized. After copying, restart AutoCAD for Mac to load the new palettes.
Why don’t my LISP routines work when assigned to a tool palette in AutoCAD for Mac?
AutoCAD for Mac has limited support for AutoLISP and does not support all Windows-based LISP functions or reactor-based scripts. While simple LISP expressions may run, complex routines—especially those that rely on Windows-specific APIs or dialog boxes—often fail. As a result, tools in palettes that trigger LISP commands may not execute as expected. For reliable automation on Mac, consider using basic command strings instead of LISP.
How do I back up my tool palettes on AutoCAD for Mac?
To back up your tool palettes, navigate to the ToolPalette folder in your user Library: ~/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/AutoCAD [Version]/[Language]/Support/ToolPalette/. Copy the entire folder or specific .ATC files to a secure location (external drive, cloud storage, etc.). You can restore them later by pasting the files back into the same directory and restarting AutoCAD.
Can I import tool palettes created in AutoCAD for Windows into AutoCAD for Mac?
Yes, in most cases. Tool palette files (.ATC) are cross-platform compatible. Simply copy the .ATC file from your Windows machine to the ToolPalette folder on your Mac (see path above). However, if the palette contains Windows-specific content—such as paths to local block files, LISP routines, or custom commands that aren’t supported on Mac—those tools may not function correctly. Blocks and hatch patterns usually transfer without issues.
Why does my tool palette disappear after restarting AutoCAD for Mac?
This usually happens if the palette was not properly saved or if AutoCAD’s workspace settings were reset. Ensure you’ve created your palette as a custom tab (not a temporary one) and that you haven’t reset your workspace (Workspace > Reset Current Workspace). Also, verify that the .ATC file exists in the correct ToolPalette folder. If the file is missing or corrupted, the palette won’t reload on startup.
Conclusion
Tool palettes in AutoCAD for Mac are a versatile and time-saving feature that can transform how you interact with your drawings. By organizing your most-used blocks, hatches, and commands into intuitive, visual panels, you reduce reliance on menus and command-line input—leading to faster, more efficient drafting.
Take a few minutes to set up custom palettes tailored to your projects, and you’ll quickly wonder how you ever worked without them.
Note: Interface elements and features may vary slightly depending on your version of AutoCAD for Mac. Always refer to the official Autodesk documentation for version-specific guidance.
