# Can't create shortcuts in SU 2015: "Key cannot be used as shortcut" **URL:** \ **Category:** Pro\ **Created:** [January 27, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337 "2015-01-27T00:51:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wjmcfall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@wjmcfall](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/wjmcfall)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/1 "2015-01-27T00:51:49Z")
When I go into SU Preferences/Shortcuts and attempt to create shortcuts, I’ll type in a letter, hit enter, and receive the message: “Key cannot be used as shortcut” just below the box where you enter the shortcut key. This happens with all functions and keys. Help. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![slbaumgartner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/32/7302_2.png) [@slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/2 "2015-01-27T01:26:31Z")
You don’t say, but from “Preferences/Shortcuts” I presume you are on Mac? In any case, there are some keys that are pre-empted by the OS and the menu system (mainly command- combinations on Mac and ctrl- combinations on Windows) and therefore can’t be used as shortcuts. If you are getting this message (as opposed to one saying the key is already assigned) for ordinary keys, something strange is going wrong! ---
**Author:** ![wjmcfall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@wjmcfall](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/wjmcfall)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/3 "2015-01-27T02:27:11Z")
Thanks for the response, Steve. Yes, I am on a Mac and yes I am getting a “Key cannot be used as shortcut” message when attempting to add shortcuts. Very strange. I did a mini work-around by importing my SU 2013 Shortcuts.plist, so at least I have some shortcuts in place. But I’d really like to be able to add/modify shortcuts in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Marc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/marc/32/11407_2.png) [@Marc](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Marc)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/4 "2015-01-27T20:11:50Z")
There’s no need to press “Enter” in the shortcut box - what’s probably happening is that SketchUp thinks you’re trying to use the “Enter” key as the shortcut. Marc ---
**Author:** ![slbaumgartner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/32/7302_2.png) [@slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/5 "2015-01-27T20:53:04Z")
Good catch Marc. If you press multiple keys in sequence, SketchUp will try to use the last one you press. If it is enter, that will provoke this error message! Very likely that is what is happening. ---
**Author:** ![wjmcfall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@wjmcfall](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/wjmcfall)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/6 "2015-01-27T21:44:59Z")
Bingo! You are correct! A big thanks to Marc and Steve for your responses. Crisis averted! ---
**Author:** ![juou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dc4da7/32.png) [@juou](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/juou)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 2:14am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/7 "2018-03-26T02:14:46Z")
It did not work for me. I cant imagine what is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 2:21am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/8 "2018-03-26T02:21:18Z")
What exactly didn’t work for you? ---
**Author:** ![juou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dc4da7/32.png) [@juou](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/juou)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 1:48pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/9 "2018-03-26T13:48:33Z")
I can create the shortcut. It appears for me but when I try to use it, the command requested corresponds to another command ---
**Author:** ![TIG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/tig/32/198_2.png) [@TIG](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/TIG)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/10 "2018-03-26T13:51:18Z")
On a MAC some key-combos are system-set and cannot be changed. What are you trying to do exactly ? @DaveR is a MAC guy so I expect that he’ll be able to help in more detail… ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/11 "2018-03-26T13:58:44Z")
What shortcut are you trying to create? Exactly. And to what does it correspond? The more specifics you provide the easier it will be for us to help you. ---
**Author:** ![slbaumgartner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/32/7302_2.png) [@slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/12 "2018-03-26T14:06:49Z")
On a Mac you cannot use Command key combinations for SketchUp user-defined shortcuts. ---
**Author:** ![juou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dc4da7/32.png) [@juou](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/juou)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cant-create-shortcuts-in-su-2015-key-cannot-be-used-as-shortcut/6337/13 "2018-03-26T22:23:38Z")
To create a north angle (tools\>north angle). I chose shift + N.