This document provides a user guide for BricsCAD V13. It covers the following topics in 3 sentences or less each: The user interface section describes the command bar, status bar, toolbars, properties bar, and prompt menus. The customizing section explains how to customize menus, toolbars, shortcuts, and more using CUI files. It also covers tool palettes, aliases, and user profiles. The remaining sections cover drawing accurately using constraints and dimensions, viewing and manipulating drawings, creating different types of entities, mechanical modeling tools, direct modeling, working with sections, and hatches/gradients.

1. BricsCAD V13
User Guide

3. Table Of Contents
User Interface.................................................................................... 1
The BricsCAD Application Window ...................................................................................... 1
Open / Close the command bar ............................................................................................ 2
To set the command line properties ...................................................................................... 3
Open / Close the status bar ................................................................................................. 3
Working with the status bar ................................................................................................ 3
To customize the status bar ................................................................................................ 6
Display or hide scroll bars ................................................................................................... 7
Keyboard Shortcuts ............................................................................................................ 8
Toolbars ........................................................................................................................... 10
Toolbar Flyouts................................................................................................................ 13
Opening a toolbar ............................................................................................................ 14
To set the position property of a toolbar .............................................................................. 16
Closing a toolbar ............................................................................................................. 16
Properties Bar .................................................................................................................. 17
To open the Properties Bar ................................................................................................ 17
To adjust the size of the Properties Bar ............................................................................... 18
Setting the current properties in the Properties Bar .............................................................. 19
Edit the properties of a single entity ................................................................................... 19
Edit endpoints of a line graphically ..................................................................................... 20
Edit vertices of polyline graphically ..................................................................................... 20
Edit the shared properties of a selection set ......................................................................... 21
Prompt Menus .................................................................................................................. 22
To control the display of prompt menus .............................................................................. 22
Customizing BricsCAD ...................................................................... 23
BricsCAD User Files .......................................................................................................... 24
The BricsCAD user file manager ......................................................................................... 25
The Customize Dialog ....................................................................................................... 27
What are the CUI files ...................................................................................................... 27
Opening the Customize dialog ........................................................................................... 27
Working with CUI files ...................................................................................................... 29
Loading and unloading CUI files ......................................................................................... 29
To load a main CUI file ..................................................................................................... 29
To load a partial CUI file ................................................................................................... 30
To unload a partial CUI file ................................................................................................ 31
Managing customization groups ......................................................................................... 32
Creating Custom Tools ...................................................................................................... 33
General procedure to create custom tools ............................................................................ 33
To create a Partial CUI file ................................................................................................ 33
To add a toolbox in a menu group ...................................................................................... 33
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4. BricsCAD V13 - User Guide
To add tools in a toolbox ................................................................................................... 34
To add a main menu ........................................................................................................ 35
To add an item to a menu ................................................................................................. 36
To add an existing tool to a menu, toolbar or shortcut ........................................................... 36
Create a new tool in a menu, toolbar or shortcut .................................................................. 37
To add a submenu to a menu ............................................................................................ 41
To add an item to a submenu ............................................................................................ 41
To add a context menu ..................................................................................................... 41
To add a toolbar .............................................................................................................. 42
To add a tool to a toolbar .................................................................................................. 43
To add a control to a toolbar ............................................................................................. 44
To add a flyout to a toolbar ............................................................................................... 45
To add a tool to a flyout.................................................................................................... 45
To add a keyboard shortcut ............................................................................................... 46
Tool Palettes..................................................................................................................... 47
To open the Tool Palettes Bar ............................................................................................ 47
To set the view options ..................................................................................................... 48
To add a new tool palette.................................................................................................. 48
To import a tool palette .................................................................................................... 49
To export a palette .......................................................................................................... 50
To rename a tool palette ................................................................................................... 50
To delete a tool palette ..................................................................................................... 50
Adding a hatch pattern ..................................................................................................... 50
Adding a block ................................................................................................................ 51
To add a block from the current drawing: ............................................................................ 51
To add a block from any drawing: ...................................................................................... 51
To add a drawing as a block: ............................................................................................. 52
Adding a command .......................................................................................................... 53
Editing a tool .................................................................................................................. 54
Managing tools ................................................................................................................ 56
Command Aliases ............................................................................................................. 58
To edit the alias file in a text editor .................................................................................... 58
Using the Customize dialog to edit the alias file .................................................................... 58
User Profile Manager ........................................................................................................ 61
Content of a user profile ................................................................................................... 61
To Launch the User Profile Manager .................................................................................... 61
Creating user profiles ....................................................................................................... 62
Loading a user profile ....................................................................................................... 63
Restarting BricsCAD using a different user profile ................................................................. 65
Managing user profiles...................................................................................................... 65
To export a user profile .................................................................................................... 66
To import a user profile .................................................................................................... 66
To import a user profile from another user .......................................................................... 67
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5. Table Of Contents
Projects ............................................................................................................................ 68
Opening the Project settings .............................................................................................. 68
Creating projects ............................................................................................................. 68
Adding search paths to a project ........................................................................................ 69
Changing the order of the search paths ............................................................................... 69
Assigning a project to the current drawing ........................................................................... 70
Drawing Accurately.......................................................................... 71
Overview .......................................................................................................................... 71
Using Orthogonal Mode .................................................................................................... 72
To toggle Orthogonal Mode ............................................................................................... 72
Direct Distance Entry ........................................................................................................ 73
To define the Coordinates setting ....................................................................................... 73
Unit Settings ..................................................................................................................... 74
To define the Drawing Units settings ................................................................................... 74
System Variables ............................................................................................................. 75
Entering angles ............................................................................................................... 75
The Quad Cursor Menu ..................................................................................................... 76
To activate the Quad ........................................................................................................ 76
Editing the Quad settings .................................................................................................. 76
Using the Quad ............................................................................................................... 76
Parametric Constraints ..................................................................................................... 79
Overview ........................................................................................................................ 79
Commands and toolbars ................................................................................................... 80
Using Dimensional Constraints ........................................................................................... 82
To edit dimensional constraints .......................................................................................... 82
Using expressions to define dimensional constraints.............................................................. 84
Using Geometric Constraints ............................................................................................. 88
To control the display of constraints bars ............................................................................ 89
To control the position of a constraints bars ......................................................................... 89
Working with the constraints bar ........................................................................................ 90
Deleting constraints ......................................................................................................... 90
Using fix constraints ......................................................................................................... 91
Using coincident constraints .............................................................................................. 91
To apply a coincident constraint between a point and an entity: ............................................. 91
Usage of a coincident constraint between a point and an entity .............................................. 92
Using horizontal and vertical constraints ............................................................................. 94
To constrain a line to a fixed angle ..................................................................................... 94
Dynamic Dimensions ........................................................................................................ 95
Defining the Dynamic Dimensions Settings .......................................................................... 95
Using dynamic dimensions when creating entities ................................................................. 97
Using dynamic dimensions to grip-edit entities ..................................................................... 98
Using dynamic dimensions to measure entities ..................................................................... 99
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6. BricsCAD V13 - User Guide
Coordinate Input ............................................................................................................ 100
Working with Cartesian coordinates ............................................................................... 100
Using relative Cartesian coordinates to draw a rectangle ..................................................... 101
Working with cylindrical coordinates .............................................................................. 101
Working with spherical coordinates ............................................................................... 102
Snap and Grid ................................................................................................................. 103
Display the Snap and Grid settings ................................................................................... 104
To synchronize snap and grid spacing ............................................................................... 104
To set the Drawing Limits ............................................................................................... 104
To toggle the Drawing Limits ........................................................................................... 104
Using Isometric Snap ..................................................................................................... 105
Setting the Snap Angle ................................................................................................... 106
Entity Snaps ................................................................................................................... 107
To define the Entity Snap settings .................................................................................... 107
To set the Entity Snaps................................................................................................... 109
Entity Snap Modes ......................................................................................................... 110
Working with multiple Entity Snap modes .......................................................................... 111
To snap to the extension of two entities ............................................................................ 111
Using the From option .................................................................................................... 112
Using the Parallel entity snap .......................................................................................... 112
Using Midpoint snap ....................................................................................................... 112
Polar Tracking ................................................................................................................ 113
To define the Polar Tracking settings ................................................................................ 113
Using Polar Tracking to draw a line ................................................................................... 114
Entity Snap Tracking....................................................................................................... 115
Using Entity Snap Tracking.............................................................................................. 115
User Coordinate Systems ................................................................................................ 117
Dynamic UCS ................................................................................................................ 118
To define a User Coordinate System ................................................................................. 119
To restore the WCS ........................................................................................................ 119
To restore a UCS ........................................................................................................... 120
To set a relative UCS ...................................................................................................... 120
Command Options ......................................................................................................... 121
Measuring ....................................................................................................................... 122
Measuring distances ....................................................................................................... 122
Measuring lengths.......................................................................................................... 123
Measuring areas ............................................................................................................ 124
Viewing your Drawing ................................................................... 127
Overview ........................................................................................................................ 127
Redrawing and Regenerating a Drawing......................................................................... 130
Regenerate the current viewport ...................................................................................... 130
Regenerate all viewports ................................................................................................. 130
Redraw the current viewport ........................................................................................... 130
Redraw all viewports ...................................................................................................... 130
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7. Table Of Contents
Panning .......................................................................................................................... 131
Using the pan command ................................................................................................. 131
Using real time panning .................................................................................................. 132
Zooming ......................................................................................................................... 133
Using the zoom command ............................................................................................... 133
Real-time zooming ......................................................................................................... 134
Dynamic zooming .......................................................................................................... 134
View Manipulation Using the Mouse and Keyboard ......................................................... 135
Setting the Zoom Factor variable ..................................................................................... 136
Setting the Middle Button Pan variable .............................................................................. 136
View Rotation ................................................................................................................. 137
Restoring orthographic and isometric views ....................................................................... 137
Rotating a view freely ..................................................................................................... 138
Rotating a view about the view X-axis .............................................................................. 138
Rotating a view about the view Y-axis ............................................................................... 139
Rotating a view about the view Z-axis .............................................................................. 139
Using Preset Viewpoints .................................................................................................. 140
Restoring Plan View ....................................................................................................... 142
Define a View ................................................................................................................. 143
Defining a perspective view ............................................................................................. 144
To toggle the perspective property of view ........................................................................ 145
Layer Utilities ................................................................................................................. 146
Layer States ................................................................................................................... 147
Opening the Layer States Explorer ................................................................................... 147
To save the current layer state ........................................................................................ 148
To edit a layer state ....................................................................................................... 149
To restore a layer state .................................................................................................. 149
To copy layer states to another drawing ............................................................................ 149
To export a layer state ................................................................................................... 150
To import a layer state ................................................................................................... 150
Named Views .................................................................................................................. 151
Exploring views ............................................................................................................. 151
Saving a view................................................................................................................ 151
Restoring a view ............................................................................................................ 152
Defining the view background .......................................................................................... 153
To edit the view background............................................................................................ 155
Workspaces .................................................................................................................... 156
Switching between workspaces ...................................................................................... 156
Using the model and layout tabs ...................................................................................... 156
Toggle between model space and paper space in a layout .................................................... 157
Model Space Viewports ................................................................................................... 158
Creating viewports in model space ................................................................................... 158
Drawing in multiple viewports .......................................................................................... 160
Joining adjacent viewports .............................................................................................. 161
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8. BricsCAD V13 - User Guide
Paper Space viewports ................................................................................................... 162
Displaying the paper sheet and the printable area .............................................................. 163
Creating viewports in a layout ......................................................................................... 163
To clip a viewport .......................................................................................................... 166
Defining viewport properties ............................................................................................ 167
Properties ..................................................................................................................... 169
Navigating in a paper space layout ................................................................................... 170
Setting the layer visibility in a paper space viewport ........................................................... 170
Setting the scale of a paper space viewport ....................................................................... 170
Rotating the display in a paper space viewport ................................................................... 171
Layouts ........................................................................................................................... 172
Creating a new layout .................................................................................................... 172
Copying layouts ............................................................................................................. 172
Importing layouts .......................................................................................................... 172
Renaming layouts .......................................................................................................... 173
Arranging the layout tabs................................................................................................ 173
Deleting a layout ........................................................................................................... 173
Creating Entities ............................................................................ 175
Drawing Entities Overview ............................................................................................. 175
Entity Creation Settings .................................................................................................. 176
Overview ...................................................................................................................... 176
Fill Mode....................................................................................................................... 177
Setting Fill Mode ............................................................................................................ 177
Checking the Fill Mode setting ......................................................................................... 178
Entity Color ..................................................................................................................... 179
Index Colors ................................................................................................................. 179
True Colors ..................................................................................................................... 181
Setting the current entity color ........................................................................................ 182
Lineweight .................................................................................................................... 183
Setting the current lineweight .......................................................................................... 184
Defining the lineweight settings ....................................................................................... 184
Linetype ....................................................................................................................... 186
Setting the current linetype ............................................................................................. 187
Adding a new linetype .................................................................................................... 187
Setting the Entity Linetype Scale ...................................................................................... 188
Setting the Global Linetype Scale ..................................................................................... 189
Current Layer ................................................................................................................ 190
Setting the current layer ................................................................................................. 190
Drawing 2D Entities ........................................................................................................ 191
Overview ...................................................................................................................... 191
Lines............................................................................................................................ 193
Rays ............................................................................................................................ 195
Infinite Lines ................................................................................................................. 196
Polylines ....................................................................................................................... 197
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9. Table Of Contents
Splines ......................................................................................................................... 202
Freehand sketches ......................................................................................................... 204
Circles.......................................................................................................................... 206
Editing a circle .............................................................................................................. 206
Arcs ............................................................................................................................. 207
Ellipses ........................................................................................................................ 209
Elliptical Arcs ................................................................................................................ 211
Rectangles .................................................................................................................... 213
Polygons ...................................................................................................................... 215
Traces .......................................................................................................................... 216
Donuts ......................................................................................................................... 217
Solids .......................................................................................................................... 219
Revision Clouds ............................................................................................................. 220
Points .......................................................................................................................... 222
Wipeouts ...................................................................................................................... 224
Mechanical...................................................................................................................... 226
Components and Component Inserts ................................................................................ 226
Commands and Toolbars ................................................................................................. 227
Mechanical Browser........................................................................................................ 228
Bill Of Materials ............................................................................................................. 230
Command Reference ...................................................................................................... 233
BmBom ........................................................................................................................ 233
BmBrowser ................................................................................................................... 233
BmDissolve ................................................................................................................... 233
BmForm ....................................................................................................................... 234
BmHardware ................................................................................................................. 234
BmHide ........................................................................................................................ 234
BmShow....................................................................................................................... 234
BmInsert ...................................................................................................................... 235
BmMech ....................................................................................................................... 235
BmNew ........................................................................................................................ 235
BmRemove ................................................................................................................... 235
BmUpdate .................................................................................................................... 236
Direct Modeling .............................................................................................................. 237
Direct Modeling Overview................................................................................................ 237
3D Constraints .............................................................................................................. 238
Variational Direct Modeling .............................................................................................. 238
3D Constraints Bar ......................................................................................................... 238
3D Constraints types ...................................................................................................... 240
3D Constraints and Direct Modeling .................................................................................. 240
Design intent recognition ................................................................................................ 242
Direct Modeling Operations ............................................................................................. 246
Selecting geometry ........................................................................................................ 247
To control dimensions .................................................................................................... 247
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10. BricsCAD V13 - User Guide
Making holes ................................................................................................................. 247
Deleting holes. .............................................................................................................. 249
Working with Sections .................................................................................................... 251
To launch the Sectionplane command ............................................................................... 251
Align a section plane to a face ......................................................................................... 251
To create a vertical section plane ..................................................................................... 252
To create a horizontal section plane .................................................................................. 252
To create a vertical jogged section plane ........................................................................... 253
To create a horizontal jogged section plane ....................................................................... 254
To create a orthographic section plane .............................................................................. 255
To open the Drawing Explorer - Section Planes dialog ......................................................... 256
To edit the properties of a section plane ............................................................................ 256
To modify the size and position of a section plane .............................................................. 257
Using Live Section ......................................................................................................... 258
To define the live section settings .................................................................................... 259
To save a section ........................................................................................................... 260
Hatches and Gradient Fills .............................................................................................. 264
Hatching Overview ......................................................................................................... 264
Defining the MEASUREMENT setting ................................................................................. 264
Defining the MAXHATCH setting ....................................................................................... 264
Creating Hatches and Gradient Fills .................................................................................. 265
General procedure to create hatches and gradient fills ........................................................ 265
To define hatch properties............................................................................................... 266
To define gradient fill properties....................................................................................... 268
To define the boundary for a hatch or gradient fill............................................................... 269
Editing a hatch or gradient fill .......................................................................................... 271
To edit a hatch or gradient fill .......................................................................................... 271
Dimensions ..................................................................................................................... 273
Dimension Style ............................................................................................................ 273
Dimension Block ............................................................................................................ 274
Dimensioning tools overview ........................................................................................... 275
Dimension Styles explorer ............................................................................................... 277
Exploring dimension styles .............................................................................................. 277
Associative Dimensions................................................................................................... 279
Dimension Settings ........................................................................................................ 280
To list the current status of the dimension variables ............................................................ 280
Lines and Arrows ........................................................................................................... 280
Text ............................................................................................................................. 281
Fit ............................................................................................................................... 283
Primary Units ................................................................................................................ 283
Alternate Units .............................................................................................................. 284
Tolerances .................................................................................................................... 285
Dimension Styles ........................................................................................................... 286
To create a new dimension style ...................................................................................... 286
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11. Table Of Contents
To edit a dimension style ................................................................................................ 286
To define dimension style overrides .................................................................................. 286
To rename a dimension style ........................................................................................... 287
To set a dimension style current ...................................................................................... 287
Using the status bar to set a dimension style current .......................................................... 287
To copy a dimension style between drawings ..................................................................... 288
To move a dimension style between drawings .................................................................... 288
To delete a dimension style ............................................................................................. 288
Using the dimension style tools ........................................................................................ 290
To apply the current dimension style ................................................................................ 290
To save a dimension style ............................................................................................... 290
To restore a dimension style............................................................................................ 290
To list the settings in the current dimension style ............................................................... 291
Creating Linear Dimensions ............................................................................................. 292
To create a horizontal or vertical linear dimension .............................................................. 292
To create an aligned linear dimension ............................................................................... 292
To create a rotated linear dimension ................................................................................. 293
To create baseline dimensions ......................................................................................... 293
To create continued dimensions ....................................................................................... 294
To create an arc length dimension .................................................................................... 294
Creating Angular Dimensions ........................................................................................... 295
To dimension an angle between two lines .......................................................................... 295
To dimension an angle encompassed by an arc .................................................................. 296
To create an angular dimension defined by a vertex and two endpoints ................................. 296
Creating Diametrical and Radial Dimensions ...................................................................... 297
To create a diametrical dimension .................................................................................... 297
To create a radial dimension ............................................................................................ 297
Creating center marks or center lines ............................................................................... 297
Creating ordinate dimensions .......................................................................................... 298
To create an ordinate dimension ...................................................................................... 298
Creating leaders and annotations ..................................................................................... 299
To create a leader and an annotation ................................................................................ 299
To create a leader only ................................................................................................... 300
Editing dimensions ......................................................................................................... 301
Using grips to edit a linear dimension ............................................................................... 301
Editing the dimension text .............................................................................................. 302
To edit the dimension text in the Properties Bar ................................................................. 302
To edit the dimension text using the Edit Dimension Text tool .............................................. 302
To rotate the dimension text ........................................................................................... 302
To reposition the dimension text ...................................................................................... 303
To restore the text position ............................................................................................. 303
To make the extension lines oblique ................................................................................. 303
Geometric Tolerances ..................................................................................................... 304
To create a geometrical tolerance frame............................................................................ 304
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12. BricsCAD V13 - User Guide
Geometric Tolerance dialog ............................................................................................. 305
Working with Text .......................................................................................................... 306
Overview ...................................................................................................................... 306
Text Styles ................................................................................................................... 306
Text Font ...................................................................................................................... 306
Text Variables ............................................................................................................... 307
Working With Text Styles ................................................................................................ 308
To open the Text Style Explorer dialog .............................................................................. 308
To create a text style ..................................................................................................... 308
To edit a text style ......................................................................................................... 308
To make a text style current............................................................................................ 308
To delete a text style...................................................................................................... 309
Creating text ................................................................................................................. 310
To create single line text ................................................................................................. 310
Single line text justification ............................................................................................. 311
To create multiline text ................................................................................................... 311
Text formatting toolbar tools and settings ......................................................................... 312
Multiline text justification ................................................................................................ 313
Including special text characters and symbols .................................................................... 313
Special text characters ................................................................................................... 313
Symbols and Unicode strings ........................................................................................... 314
To add a background mask ............................................................................................. 314
Editing text ................................................................................................................... 315
To edit a text entity ....................................................................................................... 315
To edit a selection of Mtext entities .................................................................................. 316
To select a different multiline text editor ........................................................................... 316
Exploding text ............................................................................................................... 317
To explode text ............................................................................................................. 317
Finding and Replacing Text.............................................................................................. 318
To open the Find and Replace dialog ................................................................................. 318
To set the Find and Replace options.................................................................................. 319
To find text ................................................................................................................... 319
To replace text .............................................................................................................. 320
Checking Spelling .......................................................................................................... 321
Dictionary settings ......................................................................................................... 321
To open the Spell Checking dialog .................................................................................... 321
To check the spelling ...................................................................................................... 322
To change dictionaries .................................................................................................... 324
To add a new main dictionary .......................................................................................... 325
To add a new custom dictionary ....................................................................................... 326
Working with Fields ........................................................................................................ 327
General procedure to create fields .................................................................................... 327
To display an entity property in a field .............................................................................. 329
To edit a field ................................................................................................................ 329
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13. Table Of Contents
To update a field ........................................................................................................... 330
Working with Tables ....................................................................................................... 331
To create an empty table ................................................................................................ 331
To create a table from data ............................................................................................. 333
Editing a table using grips ............................................................................................... 333
Editing a table using the Table toolbar .............................................................................. 334
Editing a table in the Properties bar .................................................................................. 336
Editing a cell in the Properties bar .................................................................................... 337
To edit the table content ................................................................................................. 338
To export a table ........................................................................................................... 338
Defining the list separator character ................................................................................. 338
Table Styles .................................................................................................................. 340
To open the Table Styles Explorer .................................................................................... 340
To create a table style .................................................................................................... 340
To edit a table style ....................................................................................................... 341
To apply a style to a table ............................................................................................... 341
To delete a table style .................................................................................................... 342
Modifying Entities .......................................................................... 343
Modifying Commands Overview ...................................................................................... 344
Entity Modification Settings ............................................................................................ 346
Adjusting the Draw Order ............................................................................................... 347
Using Draw Order .......................................................................................................... 347
Using Draw Order tools ................................................................................................... 347
Grips editing ................................................................................................................... 349
Selecting multiple grips .................................................................................................. 349
Grip Edit Command Options ............................................................................................ 350
To stretch entities using grips .......................................................................................... 350
To move entities using grips ............................................................................................ 350
To copy entities using grips ............................................................................................. 351
To mirror entities using grips ........................................................................................... 352
To rotate entities using grips ........................................................................................... 352
To scale entities using grips ............................................................................................ 353
Selecting Entities ............................................................................................................ 354
Selection and grip settings .............................................................................................. 354
Selection settings .......................................................................................................... 354
Grips settings ................................................................................................................ 356
Selection Methods .......................................................................................................... 358
Composing a selection set before (pre-pick) ...................................................................... 358
Composing a selection set afterwards (post-pick) ............................................................... 359
Selecting overlapping entities .......................................................................................... 360
Quick Select .................................................................................................................. 361
To create a selection set ................................................................................................. 361
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14. BricsCAD V13 - User Guide
Rearranging Entities ....................................................................................................... 365
Moving Entities .............................................................................................................. 365
Moving entities in a drawing ............................................................................................ 365
Using the Move command ............................................................................................... 365
Moving entities using grips .............................................................................................. 366
Moving entities between drawings .................................................................................... 367
Using Cut and Paste to move entities between drawings ...................................................... 367
Move a selection as a block ............................................................................................. 367
Rotating Entities ............................................................................................................ 368
Rotating a selection set .................................................................................................. 368
Rotating a selection set in reference to a base angle ........................................................... 369
Rotating in 3D ............................................................................................................... 369
Mirroring Entities ........................................................................................................... 370
Mirroring entities about a line .......................................................................................... 370
Mirroring entities about a plane ....................................................................................... 371
Aligning Entities............................................................................................................. 372
Aligning an entity in 2D .................................................................................................. 372
Aligning an entity in 3D .................................................................................................. 373
Changing Entities ........................................................................................................... 375
To change text entities ................................................................................................... 375
To relocate blocks .......................................................................................................... 375
Copying Entities ............................................................................................................ 376
Copying Entities in a Drawing .......................................................................................... 376
To copy a selection set ................................................................................................... 376
To make multiple copies ................................................................................................. 377
To paste a selection set as a block ................................................................................... 378
Copying Entities Between Drawings .................................................................................. 379
Using Copy and Paste to copy entities between drawings ..................................................... 379
Using Copy and Pasteorig to copy entities between drawings ................................................ 379
Using Copybase and Paste to copy entities between drawings............................................... 380
Paste a selection as a block in the target drawing ............................................................... 380
Making Parallel Copies .................................................................................................... 381
Making a parallel copy at a specified distance .................................................................... 381
Making a parallel copy through a point .............................................................................. 382
Arraying Entities ............................................................................................................ 383
Creating a rectangular array ............................................................................................ 383
Creating a polar array .................................................................................................... 385
Arraying Entities in 3D .................................................................................................... 387
Creating a 3D rectangular array ....................................................................................... 387
Creating a 3D polar array................................................................................................ 388
Resizing Entities ............................................................................................................. 390
Extending Entities .......................................................................................................... 390
To extend entities .......................................................................................................... 390
Trimming Entities .......................................................................................................... 392
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15. Table Of Contents
To trim entities .............................................................................................................. 392
Changing the Length of an Entity ..................................................................................... 393
Change the length of an entity dynamically ....................................................................... 393
Modify the included angle of an arc .................................................................................. 393
Stretching Entities ......................................................................................................... 395
To stretch entities .......................................................................................................... 395
Stretching entities using grips ......................................................................................... 396
Scaling Entities .............................................................................................................. 397
To scale a selection set ................................................................................................... 397
Scaling an entity using a base scale .................................................................................. 397
Breaking Entities ........................................................................................................... 399
To break an entity ......................................................................................................... 399
Joining Entities .............................................................................................................. 400
To join two lines ............................................................................................................ 400
To join two arcs ............................................................................................................. 400
Chamfering and Filleting ................................................................................................ 402
Overview ...................................................................................................................... 402
Chamfer and fillet settings .............................................................................................. 402
Chamfering Entities ........................................................................................................ 404
Chamfering using the distance-distance method ................................................................. 404
Chamfering using the length-angle method ....................................................................... 406
Chamfering all vertices of a polyline ................................................................................. 406
Filleting Entities ............................................................................................................. 408
Filleting two entities or polyline segments ......................................................................... 408
Filleting all vertices of a polyline ...................................................................................... 409
Filleting two parallel lines ................................................................................................ 410
Editing Polylines ............................................................................................................ 411
Overview ...................................................................................................................... 411
Converting an entity into a polyline .................................................................................. 411
Converting an entity into a polyline .................................................................................. 411
Opening and closing polylines .......................................................................................... 412
To close or open a polyline .............................................................................................. 412
Opening and closing a polyline using the BricsCAD Properties bar ......................................... 412
Joining Polylines ............................................................................................................ 413
To join an arc, line, or polyline to an existing polyline ......................................................... 413
Changing the Polyline Width ............................................................................................ 414
To apply a uniform width to a polyline .............................................................................. 414
To taper a polyline uniformly along its length ..................................................................... 414
Editing polyline vertices .................................................................................................. 415
Starting the polyline vertex editing mode .......................................................................... 415
Convert a straight polyline segment into an arc .................................................................. 416
Break a polyline into two separate polylines ....................................................................... 416
Insert a new vertex in a polyline ...................................................................................... 417
Move a vertex in a polyline.............................................................................................. 417
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16. BricsCAD V13 - User Guide
Delete vertices in a polyline ............................................................................................. 417
Change the width of a polyline segment ............................................................................ 418
Curving and decurving polylines ....................................................................................... 419
To fit a curve to a polyline............................................................................................... 419
Setting the Linetype generation mode............................................................................... 420
To set the Linetype mode ................................................................................................ 420
Editing polylines in the Properties bar ............................................................................... 421
To move polyline vertices................................................................................................ 422
To change the width of polyline segments ........................................................................ 422
To convert straight segments into a curve ......................................................................... 422
Converting Entities ......................................................................................................... 423
Exploding entities .......................................................................................................... 423
To explode entities ......................................................................................................... 423
Creating Regions ........................................................................................................... 424
To create regions ........................................................................................................... 424
Flattening Entities .......................................................................................................... 425
To flatten entities .......................................................................................................... 425
Measuring and Dividing Entities ..................................................................................... 426
Measuring Entities ......................................................................................................... 426
To measure an entity using points .................................................................................... 426
To place blocks a specified interval along an entity ............................................................. 426
Dividing Entities ............................................................................................................ 428
To divide an entity using points ....................................................................................... 428
To divide an entity using blocks ....................................................................................... 428
Blocks, attributes and external references .................................... 431
Blocks .......................................................................................................................... 431
Attributes ..................................................................................................................... 431
External references ........................................................................................................ 431
Working with Blocks ....................................................................................................... 432
Creating Blocks ............................................................................................................. 433
General procedure to create a block ................................................................................. 433
To create a block in a drawing ......................................................................................... 433
To create a block using the Blocks Explorer ....................................................................... 434
To save a block to a separate file ..................................................................................... 435
Inserting Blocks............................................................................................................. 437
General procedure to insert a block: ................................................................................. 437
To insert a block ............................................................................................................ 439
To insert a block using the Drawing Explorer...................................................................... 440
To insert a block aligned with an entity ............................................................................. 443
To insert multiple instances of a block in a rectangular array ................................................ 444
Redefining Blocks .......................................................................................................... 446
To redefine an internal block definition .............................................................................. 446
To reload an external drawing as a block ........................................................................... 447
Exploring Blocks ............................................................................................................ 448
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17. Table Of Contents
Open the Blocks Explorer ................................................................................................ 448
The Blocks Explorer display options .................................................................................. 449
Open the Detail View of the Blocks Explorer ....................................................................... 449
Open the Icon View of the Blocks Explorer ......................................................................... 450
To rename a block ......................................................................................................... 450
Exploding Blocks ............................................................................................................ 451
To explode a block ......................................................................................................... 451
Dynamic Blocks ............................................................................................................. 452
Editing dynamic blocks ................................................................................................... 452
Working with Attributes ................................................................................................. 453
General procedure to work with attributes ......................................................................... 453
Defining Attributes ......................................................................................................... 454
General procedure to define attributes: ............................................................................. 454
To define an attribute ..................................................................................................... 454
Editing attribute definitions ............................................................................................. 456
To edit tag, prompt or default text of an attribute ............................................................... 456
To edit an attribute definition .......................................................................................... 457
Placing blocks with attributes .......................................................................................... 458
To place a block with attributes........................................................................................ 458
Editing attributes attached to blocks ................................................................................. 459
Using the Attribute Editor................................................................................................ 459
Editing attributes in the Properties bar .............................................................................. 460
Extracting attribute information ..................................................................................... 461
To extract attribute information ....................................................................................... 462
Working with Xrefs ......................................................................................................... 463
Attaching an external reference ....................................................................................... 464
To attach an external reference ....................................................................................... 464
Managing Xrefs ............................................................................................................. 466
To detach external references .......................................................................................... 466
To unload external references .......................................................................................... 466
To reload external references .......................................................................................... 466
Editing blocks and external references ........................................................................... 467
To edit Xrefs or blocks .................................................................................................... 467
Working with Groups ...................................................................................................... 470
To create a group .......................................................................................................... 470
To modify a group ......................................................................................................... 471
To ungroup entities ........................................................................................................ 471
To change the order of entities ........................................................................................ 472
Working with Underlays ................................................................................................. 474
To attach a PDF underlay ................................................................................................ 474
To insert a PDF underlay ................................................................................................. 475
To control the display of a PDF underlay............................................................................ 475
To set the layer display in a PDF underlay ......................................................................... 475
To clip a PDF underlay .................................................................................................... 477
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18. BricsCAD V13 - User Guide
To toggle the display of the clipped part of a PDF underlay .................................................. 477
To delete a clipping boundary .......................................................................................... 478
Managing Images .......................................................................... 479
Exploring Images ........................................................................................................... 479
Open the Images Explorer............................................................................................... 479
Images Explorer display options .................................................................................... 480
Open the Detail View of the Images Explorer ..................................................................... 480
Open the Icon View of the Images Explorer ....................................................................... 481
Open the Tree View of the Images Explorer ....................................................................... 482
Placing images in a drawing ............................................................................................ 483
Load / Unload images ..................................................................................................... 484
Load / Unload multiple images ......................................................................................... 484
Removing images .......................................................................................................... 485
Image Utilities ................................................................................................................ 486
To set the image transparency ......................................................................................... 486
Modify the Image Frame setting....................................................................................... 487
To clip an image ............................................................................................................ 487
To toggle the clipping boundary of an image ...................................................................... 487
Printing and Plotting ...................................................................... 489
General procedure for printing ....................................................................................... 489
To open the Print dialog .................................................................................................. 490
To choose the paper size ................................................................................................ 490
To choose the paper units ............................................................................................... 491
To choose the drawing orientation .................................................................................... 491
To define the plot offset .................................................................................................. 491
To specify the area to plot............................................................................................... 492
To define the plot scale................................................................................................... 492
To set the plot options .................................................................................................... 493
To set the shade plot mode ............................................................................................. 494
To define the plot stamp ................................................................................................. 495
To specify the number of copies ....................................................................................... 495
To see a preview of the plot output .................................................................................. 496
Plotter Configurations .................................................................................................... 497
To create a plotter configuration file ................................................................................. 498
To edit a plotter configuration .......................................................................................... 500
To assign a plotter configuration ...................................................................................... 500
Plot Style Tables ............................................................................................................. 501
Color-dependent plot style tables (CTB file) ....................................................................... 501
Named plot style tables (STB file) .................................................................................... 501
Predefined plot styles ..................................................................................................... 501
Changing Plot Style Table Types ...................................................................................... 502
To convert a drawing from STB to CTB file type .................................................................. 502
To convert a drawing from CTB to STB file type .................................................................. 502
To convert a Color-dependent plot style tables (CTB) to a Named plot style tables (STB) ......... 503
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19. Table Of Contents
The Plot Style Table editor .............................................................................................. 504
To open the Plot Style Table editor ................................................................................... 504
The General tab ............................................................................................................. 504
The Form View tab ......................................................................................................... 505
The Lineweights tab ....................................................................................................... 508
Assigning Plot Style Tables .............................................................................................. 509
To assign a plot style table .............................................................................................. 509
Toggling the plot style table on/off ................................................................................ 509
To toggle the plot style table on/off .................................................................................. 509
The Plot Styles Manager ................................................................................................. 511
To open the Plot Styles Manager ...................................................................................... 511
To create a new plot style table ....................................................................................... 511
To create a new plot style table in the Print dialog .............................................................. 513
To edit a plot style table ................................................................................................. 514
To edit a plot style table in the Print dialog ........................................................................ 514
Batch Plot ....................................................................................................................... 515
Managing Drawings ....................................................................... 517
Opening and saving drawings ......................................................................................... 517
Getting Drawing Information ......................................................................................... 520
General drawing information ........................................................................................... 520
Information about entities ............................................................................................... 520
Creating a Drawing ......................................................................................................... 521
To create a drawing using a default template drawing ......................................................... 521
First method: ................................................................................................................ 521
Second method: ............................................................................................................ 521
To set the default template drawing ................................................................................. 522
To create a drawing from scratch ..................................................................................... 522
To set the Plot style policy .............................................................................................. 523
To create a drawing using a template drawing ................................................................... 523
To create a drawing using the New command .................................................................... 523
To set the Template Path variable .................................................................................... 524
To create a drawing using a wizard................................................................................... 524
Drawing Explorer ............................................................................................................ 526
To open the Drawing Explorer .......................................................................................... 527
To control the Drawing Explorer layout ............................................................................. 528
Opening a drawing ......................................................................................................... 528
Adding a drawing folder .................................................................................................. 529
To insert a block from an unopened drawing ...................................................................... 530
To copy definitions between drawings ............................................................................... 530
To merge the content of two layers .................................................................................. 530
Repairing a Drawing ....................................................................................................... 531
To analyze the integrity of the current drawing .................................................................. 531
To repair a drawing ........................................................................................................ 531
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