Siemens NX Shortcuts, UI, and File Format Complete Guide
Overview
This guide covers the Siemens NX (formerly Unigraphics/UG) user interface, three-button mouse operation (MB1/MB2/MB3), the Radial Menu, the Part/Assembly Navigator, the Continuous Release versioning scheme (NX 2212/2306/2406/2412), and the structure of the single .prt file format, organized from a practitioner's point of view.
Keyboard shortcuts are categorized by Modeling, Sketch, View, and Visibility so you can find them on the shop floor without scrolling.
Siemens NX at a Glance
Siemens NX is a high-end, integrated CAD/CAM/CAE platform developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software (formerly UGS, and before that McDonnell Douglas's Unigraphics).
Within a single application it handles the entire process chain — part modeling, large assemblies, 2D Drafting, Sheet Metal, Mold/Die, Manufacturing (CAM), Simulation, PMI/MBD, Routing, and Industrial Design (Shape Studio).
In the automotive, aerospace, heavy industry, and tooling segments, NX has secured its place as a leading high-end CAD package alongside CATIA V5/3DEXPERIENCE and Creo.
In Korean shops, more than half of engineers still call it "UG", and the Japanese automotive and machine-tool industries use the same term frequently. Since NX 2.0 the official product name has been unified as "Siemens NX".
Version History Summary
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1973 | First released by MDSI under the Unigraphics brand |
| 1991 | Acquired by EDS |
| 2000 | Renamed to UGS |
| 2002 | "Unigraphics NX" brand launched (I-DEAS integration) |
| 2007 | Siemens acquires UGS |
| 2019 | Continuous Release policy begins, major version numbers dropped |
| 2022~ | Year+month naming (2212, 2306, 2312, 2406, 2412...) |
Under the Continuous Release scheme, new features are added on a quarterly/semiannual cadence, with interim Maintenance Packs (e.g., 2406.3000, 2406.6000, 2406.8100) released frequently.
For organizational standardization, it is common for the entire team to lock to the same MP.
The .prt File Format and Interoperability
NX's core file format is a single .prt, and parts, assemblies, and drawings all share the same extension.
Unlike SolidWorks, which separates .sldprt / .sldasm / .slddrw, NX does not — which is often the most confusing aspect for new users. An assembly .prt only references its child component .prt files; it does not duplicate them inside itself.
- Forward/backward compatibility: in principle, a newer version cannot save to an older version. A part saved in NX 2206 will not open in NX 1980. Some "Part File Version Downgrade" utilities exist, but official support is limited.
- Neutral formats: STEP (AP203/214/242), IGES, Parasolid (.x_t/.x_b), JT, STL, 3MF, PDF, DXF/DWG are supported on Import/Export.
- JT is Siemens' proprietary lightweight format, and is the de facto standard for Teamcenter, Plant Simulation, and supplier deliverables to OEMs like Volkswagen and Audi.
> Note: NX filenames and paths can cause problems with spaces, Korean characters, or special characters when integrated with Teamcenter, CAM, or ECAD. Even when NX itself allows it, adopting an ASCII naming convention like PRJ001_ASM_PART001_RevA.prt as a team standard is the safe choice.
The Four Navigator Panels
| Navigator | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Part Navigator (PN) | Per-part feature tree (Feature, Body, Sketch, Datum, Expression) |
| Assembly Navigator (AN) | Component Load/Unload, Reference Set changes, Suppress/Constraint display |
| Constraint Navigator (CN) | Filters Assembly Constraints only — a separate panel since NX 8 |
| Relations Browser | Visualizes Interpart / WAVE link graphs, diagnoses circular references |
The PN's right-hand panel has three tabs — Details / Dependencies / Referenced By — that let you trace backwards to see which parents a feature references and which children it has produced.
The Constraint Navigator shows "which component this constraint is applied to" at a glance, which is especially useful when resolving an Over-constrained state.
Menu path: Menu → Tools → Relations Browser
> Tip: The navigator icons on the left of the Resource Bar cycle with Ctrl+Shift+Tab. Pinning frequently used panels with the pin icon eliminates the cost of switching views.
Essential Shortcuts
Common & Application Switching
| Group | Key | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Common | Ctrl+N / O / S | New / Open / Save |
| Common | Ctrl+Shift+A | Save As |
| Common | Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y | Undo / Redo |
| App switch | Ctrl+M | Modeling |
| App switch | Ctrl+Shift+M | Sheet Metal |
| App switch | Ctrl+Shift+D | Drafting |
| App switch | Ctrl+Alt+M | Manufacturing (CAM) |
| App switch | Ctrl+Alt+S | Simulation |
View & Visibility
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| F5 | Refresh |
| F6 / F7 | Zoom / Rotate |
| F8 | Align to nearest Orthographic view |
| Home / End | Trimetric / Isometric |
| Ctrl+F | Fit (view all) |
| Ctrl+J | Object Display (color & transparency) |
| Ctrl+B | Hide |
| Ctrl+Shift+B | Show (selected objects) |
| Ctrl+Shift+U | Show All |
| Ctrl+W | Show and Hide panel |
| W | Toggle WCS |
| Ctrl+L | Layer Settings |
| Ctrl+Shift+V | Set Work Layer |
Edit, Select, and Measure
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+T | Move Object |
| Ctrl+A / Ctrl+Shift+A | Select All / Deselect |
| Ctrl+Shift+J | Selection Filter dialog |
| Ctrl+Alt+D | Measure Distance |
| Ctrl+Alt+A | Measure Angle |
| Ctrl+E | Expression editor |
> Tip: The full shortcut list can be exported to PDF via File → Print → Print Command Finder Report. Distributing it as a team cheat sheet noticeably speeds up onboarding.
Sketch Shortcuts (Direct Sketch)
The single-letter shortcuts that apply only in Direct Sketch mode have a huge impact on productivity.
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Z | Profile (continuous Line/Arc) |
| L / A / O | Line / Arc / Circle |
| R | Rectangle |
| C | Geometric Constraint |
| D | Rapid Dimension |
| T / E | Trim / Extend |
| F / X | Fillet / Chamfer |
| M / P | Mirror / Offset Curve |
| Ctrl+Q | Finish Sketch |
> Tip: In a sketch, Alt+drag disables auto-inference. Use it when you want to prevent unexpected Horizontal/Vertical constraints from piling up.
Three-Button Mouse Operation (MB1 / MB2 / MB3)
NX is designed around a three-button mouse. Memorize them one button at a time and they become second nature.
- MB1 (left click): Select.
Ctrl+MB1toggles selection;Shift+MB1selects a range in the Navigator. - MB2 (center/wheel):
- Wheel scroll = Zoom
- Drag = Rotate
- A click inside a dialog = equivalent to OK (the single biggest time-saving tip you will feel)
- MB3 (right click):
- Short click = normal Context menu
- Long hold = Radial Menu (8-direction pie menu)
Combination Gestures
| Operation | Result |
|---|---|
| Shift + MB2 drag | Pan |
| Ctrl + MB2 drag | Zoom |
| MB2 + MB3 drag | Pan |
| MB1 + MB2 drag | Zoom |
| MB2 double-click | Fit |
| Alt + MB3 | Quick Pick (pick among overlapping objects) |
| Space | OK on dialog |
Customizing the Radial Menu
The circular context menu introduced in NX 8.5 uses an 8-direction slice layout to invoke frequently used commands via gesture. Activation and editing paths are as follows.
- Activation:
File → Preferences → User Interface → Touch → Enable Radial Menus - Editing:
Menu → Tools → Customize → Radial Menu - Recommended slots: Fit, Orient View (Top/Right/Front/Iso), Show/Hide, Measure, Edit Sketch
> Tip: For team deployments, distribute custom_dirs.dat + menu.men + shortcut.xml over the network so every engineer shares the same Radial Menu and shortcuts.
Custom Shortcut Configuration
Edit shortcuts from Menu → Tools → Customize → Keyboard (or Ctrl+Shift+K depending on version).
Common extended mappings used in the field include:
- G = Group Face
- B = Edge Blend
- H = Hole
- P = Pattern Feature
Two tips for organizational standardization:
- Put the shortcut file under version control (git, Teamcenter Preference) for change history.
- Auto-deploy the standard
shortcut.xmlto new hires with a provisioning script to shorten initial setup.
License / Product Line Overview
NX has a large number of bundles and add-ons, and its pricing is complex. The minimum items an engineer should know are:
- NX Mach series — Mach 1 (Designer), Mach 2 (Designer Plus), Mach 3 (Designer Premium)
- NX X (2023+) — Cloud-based SaaS, Value-Based Licensing (usage-based billing)
- Key add-ons — Mold Wizard, Progressive Die Wizard, Routing Electrical/Mechanical, Aero Sheet Metal, NX Composites (Fibersim), Ship Design, NX CAM Standard/Premium/Advanced, Simcenter 3D, NX Nastran
Module-level details continue in the following documents.
- Modeling & Synchronous → See also: /cad-tips/nx/modeling-synchronous
- Assembly & WAVE → See also: /cad-tips/nx/assembly-wave
- Drafting & PMI → See also: /cad-tips/nx/drafting-pmi
- Sheet Metal, CAM & Simulation → See also: /cad-tips/nx/sheetmetal-cam-simulation
- NX Open, Teamcenter & Troubleshooting → See also: /cad-tips/nx/nxopen-teamcenter-troubleshoot
Field Checklist
- Verify the team shortcut XML has been distributed
- Register Fit/Orient/Measure/Edit Sketch in the 8 Radial Menu slots
- Pin frequently used navigators to the Resource Bar
- Build the habit of MB2 = OK (always middle-click in dialogs)
- Keep
Ctrl+Shift+JSelection Filter in active use - Know your company's standard Item ID / file naming rules (no Korean, no spaces)
- Align the team on the same Continuous Release MP version
- Export the Command Finder Report PDF for onboarding material