Bricscadv13for Autocad en US PDF

Bricscad V13
For autocad users

By Ralph Grabowski
Payment Information This book is covered by copyright. As the owner of the copyright, upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. gives you permission to make one print copy. You may not make any electronic copies, and you may not claim authorship or ownership of the text or figures herein. By Email Acrobat PDF format: $23.20. Allow for a multi-megabyte download. PayPal To pay by PayPal, send payment to the account of editor@upfrontezine.com at www.paypal.com. PayPal accepts funds in US, Euro, Yen, Canadian, and 100+ other currencies. Check or Money Order We can accept checks from the following regions of the world: US funds drawn on a bank with address in the USA. Canadian funds drawn on a bank with a Canadian address (includes GST). British funds drawn on a bank in Great Britain. Euro funds drawn on a bank located in the EU. Make cheque payable to upFront.eZine Publishing Please mail your payment to: BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. 34486 Donlyn Avenue Abbotsford BC V2S 4W7 Canada Copyright Information Fifth edition based on BricsCAD V13 11 November 2012 Copyright 2012 by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. All rights reserved worldwide. Visit the BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users Web site at www.upfrontezine.com/b4a Technical Writer Ralph Grabowski Copy Editor Stephen Dunning All brand names and product names mentioned in this book are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies. Any omission or misuse (of any kind) of service marks or trademarks should not be regarded as intent to infringe on the property of others. The publisher recognizes and respects all marks used by companies, manufacturers, and developers as a means to distinguish their products. This book is sold as is, without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, respecting the contents of this book and any disks or programs that may accompany it, including but not limited to implied warranties for the books quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. Neither the publisher, authors, staff, or distributors shall be liable to the purchaser or any other person or entity with respect to any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this book.
Table of Contents
1 BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users ..................................................1

THE BRICSYS BENEFIT ...................................................................................... 2
The Cost of AutoCAD ..................................................................................................................... 2 The Business of Bricsys .................................................................................................................. 3 BricsCAD is Not IntelliCAD ............................................................................................................. 5
Chapoo Project Management .........................................................................................................................................4
THE ADVANTAGE OF BRICSCAD ..................................................................... 6

Near-identical User Interface ........................................................................................................6
More Commands and System Variables ....................................................................................................................7 3D Direct Modeling and Constraints...........................................................................................................................7 APIs and Customization ...................................................................................................................................................8 Examples of Add-ons .........................................................................................................................................................9 No-charge Developer Network ..................................................................................................................................10 It Makes More than Cents .............................................................................................................................................11 Whats Missing from AutoCAD ...................................................................................................................................12
Support for Multiple Operating Systems.....................................................................................10 Lower Purchase and Maintenance Pricing ..................................................................................10
What is Missing from BricsCAD? ................................................................................................... 11
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................ 13

Recommended Hardware ............................................................................................................13
AutoCAD-BricsCAD Dictionary ........................................................................................................................................................................15 Whats New in BricsCAD V13 ...........................................................................................................................................................................16
Supported Operating Systems ....................................................................................................................................14
2 Comparing User Interfaces .................................................. 25

Comparison of User Interfaces .........................................................................................................................................................................26 Summary of User Interface Elements ...........................................................................................................................................................28
VARIATIONS IN USER INTERFACE ................................................................. 29

: vs. Type a Command .............................................................................................................. 29 Prompt Menu (BricsCAD Only).................................................................................................... 30
Controlling the Prompt Menu .....................................................................................................................................30 More Command Options ...............................................................................................................................................31
The Quad Cursor (BricsCAD Only) ................................................................................................31
AUTOCAD OPTIONS VS. BRICSCAD SETTINGS.............................................33

A Brief Tour of the Settings Dialog Box ...................................................................................... 34
Opening and Closing Nodes .........................................................................................................................................35 Accessing and Understanding Values ......................................................................................................................35 Realtime Search ................................................................................................................................................................36 Exporting Settings ...........................................................................................................................................................37 SetVar Command ..............................................................................................................................................................37
PROPERTIES AND PALETTES ......................................................................... 38

Properties: AutoCADs Palette and BricsCADs Bar .................................................................... 38 Tool Palettes and Sheet Sets .......................................................................................................40
BETTER STATUS BAR AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ................................. 43

Working Sets (BricsCAD Only) ..................................................................................................... 43 More Selection Sets .....................................................................................................................44
About Sheet Sets ...............................................................................................................................................................40
AUTOCADS DESIGNCENTER VS. BRICSCADS DRAWING EXPLORER ..... 46
iv
BricsCAD V13 for AutoCAD Users
3 Compatibility of Drawing Elements .....................................51

DWG 2012 COMPATIBILITY ..............................................................................53
Testing Entity Compatibility......................................................................................................... 53 Summary of Problem Entities...................................................................................................... 54
Decoding the Legend ......................................................................................................................................................53 Annotative Text and Dimension.................................................................................................................................54 Broken Dimension ...........................................................................................................................................................55 Dynamic Block...................................................................................................................................................................55 Geographic Location .......................................................................................................................................................55 Helix .......................................................................................................................................................................................55 Inspection Dimension ....................................................................................................................................................55 Jogged Dimension ............................................................................................................................................................55 Layers ....................................................................................................................................................................................55 3D Meshes ...........................................................................................................................................................................55 Model Documentation ..................................................................................................................................................56 MText .....................................................................................................................................................................................56 Multilines .............................................................................................................................................................................56 Multiline Leader ...............................................................................................................................................................57 Proxy......................................................................................................................................................................................57 3D Surface ...........................................................................................................................................................................57 Table ......................................................................................................................................................................................58 Underlay...............................................................................................................................................................................58 Viewport ..............................................................................................................................................................................58 Visual Style..........................................................................................................................................................................58
Better DWG Support with Each Release ..................................................................................... 59
DWG 2012 OBJECT SUPPORT .......................................................................... 60

2D Entities Supported ..................................................................................................................60 Geometric and Dimensional Constraints .................................................................................... 62 Text Entities Supported ............................................................................................................... 63 Dimension Entities Supported.....................................................................................................64 Complex 2D Entities Supported .................................................................................................. 67 3D Entities Supported ...................................................................................................................71
COMPATIBILITY OF PROPERTIES .................................................................. 76

Layer Property Compatibility ...................................................................................................... 76
Table of Contents
COMPATIBILITY OF STYLES ........................................................................... 78
Detail and Section View Styles ...................................................................................................................................78 Dimension Styles ..............................................................................................................................................................79 Leader, QLeader, and Multiline Leader Styles ......................................................................................................79 MText and Text Styles .....................................................................................................................................................81 Multiline Styles..................................................................................................................................................................83 Plot Styles ............................................................................................................................................................................84 Table Styles .........................................................................................................................................................................85 Visual Styles........................................................................................................................................................................86
4 Customizing and Programming BricsCAD...........................89

Areas of Customization .......................................................................................................................................................................................90
AUTOCAD OPTIONS VS. BRICSCAD SETTINGS............................................. 91

System Variables ...........................................................................................................................91 File Paths ...................................................................................................................................... 92 User Profiles .................................................................................................................................94
Tutorial: How to Add AutoCAD Support Folders to BricsCAD ......................................................................93 Tutorial: How to Import AutoCAD Profiles into to BricsCAD........................................................................95 Tutorial: Making Hidden Folders Visible ...............................................................................................................97
Roaming Profiles ..........................................................................................................................96

Legalities: About Copying Files .......................................................................................................................................................................97
AUTOCAD CUI VS. BRICSCAD CUSTOMIZE .................................................. 98

BricsCAD Menu Tree ....................................................................................................................99
Tutorial: How to Customize a Menu in BricsCAD ...............................................................................................99
Useful Menu Tips ........................................................................................................................102
Tutorial: Importing Menus Files from AutoCAD.............................................................................................. 103 Tutorial: How to Create a New Menu Item......................................................................................................... 104 Menu Design Conventions ......................................................................................................................................... 106 Diesel .................................................................................................................................................................................. 106
Macro Metacharacters .............................................................................................................. 106
Context Menus........................................................................................................................... 106 Toolbars ..................................................................................................................................... 108
Keyboard Shortcuts ................................................................................................................... 110
vi
Mouse Buttons and Double-click Actions ................................................................................... 111 Tablet Buttons and Menus ......................................................................................................... 113 Aliases and Shell Commands ...................................................................................................... 114
Tutorial: Loading AutoCADs PGP File into BricsCAD ................................................................................... 114 Shell Commands ............................................................................................................................................................ 115 Tutorial: Adding Commands to the Tool Palettes Bar ................................................................................... 116 Tutorial: How to Export AutoCAD Palettes to BricsCAD .............................................................................. 119 TrueType Fonts .............................................................................................................................................................. 121 SHX Fonts.......................................................................................................................................................................... 121 PFB Fonts .......................................................................................................................................................................... 121 Font Mapping .................................................................................................................................................................. 122 eTransmit ......................................................................................................................................................................... 122 Tutorial: How to Copy AutoCAD .lin and .pat Files to BricsCAD .............................................................. 123 Plotter Manager ............................................................................................................................................................. 125
Double-Click Actions ................................................................................................................................................... 111
CUSTOMIZING TOOLS PALETTES ..................................................................116
OTHER AREAS OF CUSTOMIZATION ............................................................121
Fonts ............................................................................................................................................121
Linetypes and Hatch Patterns .................................................................................................... 123 Plot Styles .................................................................................................................................... 125
SUPPORTED FILES .......................................................................................... 126
PROGRAMMING CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................ 130

About BRX ................................................................................................................................... 131 About TX ...................................................................................................................................... 132 About .Net (Windows Only) ....................................................................................................... 132 Porting AutoLISP to LISP ............................................................................................................133
APIs Supported by BricsCAD for Linux ...................................................................................................................................................... 133
Porting DCL to BricsCAD............................................................................................................................................ 134 Porting Diesel to BricsCAD ....................................................................................................................................... 134
Porting VBA to BricsCAD (Windows Only) .................................................................................134 Porting ADS to SDS .....................................................................................................................134 Porting COM to BricsCAD (Windows Only) ...............................................................................134 Loading Applications into BricsCAD ...........................................................................................135
Third-party Developer Support ..................................................................................................136
Units.................................................................................................................................................................................... 135 BricsCAD V13 Automation Object Model............................................................................................................ 137

Table of Contents
vii
5 Operating Dual-CAD Design Offices ...................................139

REASONS FOR USING MULTIPLE CAD SYSTEMS ......................................140
Cost ............................................................................................................................................. 140
Country-Biased Pricing............................................................................................................................................... 141 Solutions to High License Fees ................................................................................................................................ 141
Compatibility ...............................................................................................................................142
Capability .....................................................................................................................................143
RUNNING BRICSCAD AND AUTOCAD IN ONE OFFICE ..............................144

Dividing the Workflow Between AutoCAD and BricsCAD.........................................................144 Strategic Implementation ......................................................................................................... 146
DUAL OS OFFICE ............................................................................................. 147

Solving the Problems of Porting Software to Linux .................................................................147
User Interface ................................................................................................................................................................ 148 APIs ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 148 Linux is Free .................................................................................................................................................................... 149 Linux is Hardware-Efficient...................................................................................................................................... 150 Linux Is Malware-free ................................................................................................................................................. 150 Linux is Hardware-compatible ................................................................................................................................ 150 Linux Dual-boots ........................................................................................................................................................... 150 Lack of identical software. ........................................................................................................................................ 151 Which Linux? ................................................................................................................................................................. 151 Problematic Installers ................................................................................................................................................ 152 Competing GUIs ............................................................................................................................................................ 153
Benefits of Linux ........................................................................................................................ 149
Drawbacks to Linux .................................................................................................................... 151
viii
Appendices A Command Name Cross-reference ......................................155

Assembly Modeling Commands ................................................................................................175 X-Commands ...............................................................................................................................176
B System Variable Cross-reference .......................................179 C Command Alias Cross-reference ....................................... 205 D Keystroke and Button Cross-reference ............................ 217
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR THE DRAWING AREA ................................. 218
Function Keys ..............................................................................................................................218 Shift Keys ..................................................................................................................................... 221 Other Keys ................................................................................................................................... 221
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR COMMAND BAR & TEXT WINDOW .........222 MOUSE AND TABLET BUTTONS ...................................................................223
Mouse Buttons ............................................................................................................................223 Tablet Buttons ............................................................................................................................ 224 3D Walk-Fly Controls .................................................................................................................. 226
AutoCAD ............................................................................................................................................................................ 226 BricsCAD ........................................................................................................................................................................... 226
Table of Contents
ix
CHAPTER ONE
BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users

THIS BOOK IS DESIGNED to help you transition from AutoCAD to BricsCAD. Here youll learn about to this similar CAD package, as well as about some of the transitional issues to watch out for.
the benefits of using BricsCAD in place of AutoCAD. Youll read about the advantages of switching dual-CAD design office. The appendices exhaustively cross-reference command names between the two CAD systems, as well as system variable names, command aliases, shortcut keystrokes, and mouse button actions. Now in its fifth edition, this book has been updated to include the new functions found in BricsCAD V13 and AutoCAD 2013, as well as the subtle differences found in the Linux version of BricsCAD. BricsCAD V13 for AutoCAD Users is meant for you, if you are
an AutoCAD user considering the switch to BricsCAD a company working with clients who use the other CAD package a firm adding licenses of BricsCAD to complement your AutoCAD shop
The chapters in this book provide you with information on useful topics, such as DWG file compatibility, differences in the BricsCAD user interface and customization, and the operation of a
Or perhaps you are simply wondering about the differences between the market leader, AutoCAD, and the aggressive up-and-comer, BricsCAD. Whatever the case, this book is meant for you. Welcome!
The Bricsys Benefit
Bricsys is small, compared to Autodesk where executives have grown the company into a twobillion-dollar-a-year enterprise. But dealing with firms of enormous size carries some risk. Autodesk offers 120 software packages and bundles (at time of writing). AutoCAD itself comes in available in many combinations with Autodesks other software, such as AutoCAD Revit Architecture customers to determine which product or bundle to choose.
THE COST OF AUTOCAD
more than twenty variations, such as LT and versions specific to architecture and so on; it is also Visualization Suite and AutoCAD Inventor Routed Systems Suite. It can be confusing for potential Given the large number of CAD programs dependent on one software company, deciding what to on behalf of its shareholders, and so the software you buy today may not be available tomorrow. (For example, Autodesk in past years moved customers of its FMdesktop facilities management software to another company; halted development of its Constructware construction management Once customers decide on which Autodesk software to license, pressure is applied to also purchase cost to update one copy of AutoCAD is $4,200, the same price as buying a new license.
purchase can be risky; software crucial to the operations of your company might not be crucial to
the profits of the company selling the software. Autodesk fine-tunes its products to maximize profits software; and orphaned users of Generic CADD low cost CAD software, Actrix Technical diagramming software, StudioDesk architectural concept software, Mechanical Desktop AutoCAD-based an annual support subscription. While subscription payments for AutoCAD continue to be optional, 3D mechanical design software, and Impressions post-design rendering software, among others.)
annual subscriptions are mandatory for other products. This drives up TCO (total cost of ownerAnd Autodesk prices tend to be high. The $4,200 price tag of its foundation drafting package, Autohigh is just the start: the companys previous CEO famously boasted to financial analysts that her modeling software. The current CEO emphasizes his plan to increase income from customers through scription fees in exchange for a lower cost of each software component making up the bundle. software bundles that command a higher price tag (typically $10,000) and subsequent higher subUpon installing the software, customers must agree to onerous terms dictated by Autodesk in its software license. Many customers dont bother reading EULAs (end user license agreements) because the text is hard to read. If they did, they might be shocked to learn that they are allowing
ship). To make it painful to stay off subscriptions, Autodesk first tripled the upgrade fee to 50% of the products list price, and now this year increased the upgrade fee to 100%. As of writing, the CAD, is some 4x to 10x more costly than most other office productivity software. Pricing AutoCAD
company could make up to 10x more money when customers moved from AutoCAD to their 3D
Autodesk to send agents into their private homes and businesses to search for unauthorized cop-
ies. Worse, the EULA makes it illegal for customers to travel outside their country with Autodesk software residing on their computer; before getting on that airplane, you have to erase AutoCAD. part in todays world of globalized business. In years past, Autodesk was one of the most litigious of all CAD vendors, launching lawsuits against ing, or for using the generic DWG file extension in product naming.
This is meant to protect regional sales, but it is shortsighted because it blocks users from taking
CAD competitors for reasons as trivial as using the color orange for a rectangle on product packagIn contrast to Autodesk, Bricsys makes choice easy by offering just one software package in three levels of capabilities:
BricsCAD Classic BricsCAD Pro BricsCAD Platinum Budget-priced 2D CAD software with limited 3D capability 3D solids modeling, 3D direct modeling, rendering, and all APIs 3D history-based parametric modeling, 3D constraints, and parametric parts library
THE BUSINESS OF BRICSYS
Thats it.
BricsCAD Platinum is the full-featured version of BricsCAD: it has everything. The Pro version is almost identical, leaving out only the parametric-based 3D modeling and 3D constraints. The Classic VBA, BRX, and .Net programming.
Function
version costs the least because it leaves out features for which Bricsys has to pay royalties to other software companies. This means that the Classic version excludes ACIS modeling and editing, and
BricsCAD Classic BricsCAD Pro BricsCAD Platinum
To read and write DWG and DXF files, BricsCAD uses the highly compatible Teigha libraries from Open Design Alliance. (When ODA renamed DwgDirect to Teigha, it also renamed the DRX API to TX.) tions, and doesnt sue its competitors. The terms in its license allow you to use the software in any country, and Bricsys does not threaten to send agents into your home. In summary, Bricsys doesnt charge customers high prices, doesnt impose mandatory subscrip-
History-based 3D Modeling 3D Assemblies and BOMs ACIS 3D Solids Modeling Direct 3D Modeling Rendering Programming
Viewing Viewing Viewing Viewing ... LISP, TX
Viewing Viewing Modeling, editing, and viewing Modeling, editing, and viewing Included LISP, TX, BRX, VBA, and .Net
Modeling, editing, and viewing Modeling, editing, and viewing Modeling, editing, and viewing Modeling, editing, and viewing Included LISP, TX, BRX, VBA, and .Net
1 BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users
For managing drawing projects, Bricsys recommends Chapoo. This browser-based communica-
Chapoo Project Management
tion, collaboration, and project management system does not require BricsCAD, so it works with any office system. It is, nevertheless, integrated into BricsCAD through options in the File menu.
Chapoo project management offers your firm the following benefits:

Project, and AutoCAD.
Enjoy Speed. View multi-megabyte drawings in seconds, zooming in on details and examining annotations with fly-over text that lists time stamp and author. Chapoo supports 70+ file formats, like Excel, Visio, MS Upload Files. Drag and drop files into the upload area of Chapoo, and youre done. Share Files and Folders. Files can be shared through email, Facebook, or Twitter; folders are shared with other Chapoo users only. You have 1GB of online storage space to start with. Create Annotations. Drag a rectangle over the text or image to highlight, and then enter mark-ups in a few words or attach multiple text pages to the annotation. When you notify friends about it, Chapoo emails a link with direct access to the file with the annotations.
Manage Compliance. Follow a continuous audit trail of the entire project process. Chapoo automatically maintains log files of project activities and participants. Enjoy a Single Access Point. You have a repository of all actions, documents, meetings, and participants in a single location. Have No Software to Install. Work with an ASP (application service provider) system. The software runs on central servers with guaranteed access 24/7; you only need an Internet connection and a supported Web browser.
There are two versions, the for-free Chapoo and the for-fee Chapoo Plus. Unlimited access is available to an unlimited number of participants through a yearly flat fee based on industry type and company size. Versions of Chapoo are being developed for Android and iOS. name for one of its operating systems. For more information on Chapoo, see chapoo.com. Chapoos first name was Vista, which Bricsys changed to Vondle after Microsoft adopted the
Some readers may be familiar with the heritage of BricsCAD, and thus know that it was based originally on IntelliCAD. Was is the operative word here.
BRICSCAD IS NOT INTELLICAD
The earliest versions of BricsCAD were simply rebranded releases of IntelliCAD, an AutoCAD workaprimarily in northern Europe. (A little history: In 1998, the ITC was created by Visio, now part of Microsoft, after deciding it no ect Phoenix from SoftDesk, in the mid-1990s the largest AutoCAD third-party developer in the made the purchase and renamed it IntelliCAD, but then a few years later, it spun it off to the ITC. with additional features for resale in their regions.) longer wanted to be in the CAD market. Visio had originally purchased something named Proj-
like programmed by the IntelliCAD Technical Consortium. At the time, Bricsys sold the software
world. SoftDesk began coding Phoenix after executives worried that Autodesk might cut them off, as the software giant had done to another major third-party developer. When Autodesk purchased
SoftDesk, the US Federal Trade Commission required that it spin off Phoenix. This was when Visio For several years, Bricsys wrote original code for BricsCAD, which it contributed to the ITC. This helped speed up improvements to IntelliCAD, but then Bricsys found that it was writing new code faster than ITC could integrate it for its members. Bricsys had to decide between forking the code version 8 of BricsCAD, they chose the latter path. ing on replacing all of ITCs code with brand-new code its own. As of BricsCAD V10, the software is 100% Bricsys, and so the About dialog box no longer mentions IntelliCAD or Visio. grew dramatically. (creating two versions, their own and an IntelliCAD-compatible one) or going their own way. With Not a lot seemed to happen during BricsCAD V8 and V9; behind the scenes, Bricsys was concentratWith releases V10 and V11, the number of features in BricsCAD began to grow. With Bricsys purchase of the programming division of Russian software company, LEDAS, functions in V12 and V13
Today, the ITC continues to update IntelliCAD, while consortium members rebrand the software
The Advantage of BricsCAD

network, and much lower pricing.
BricsCAD doesnt just lack the negative aspects of AutoCAD; it has its advantages. These include a similar user interface, extra commands and system variables, support for operating systems other
than Windows, built-in direct 3D modeling and editing, 3D constraints, a no-charge developer
When you launch BricsCAD for the first time, you will notice that it looks very much like AutoCAD in its Legacy workspace complete with toolbars, menu bar, command prompt, and palettes. (See the figure on the next page.) If you dont care for AutoCADs ribbon interface, then you will love BricsCAD for sticking to toolbars and menus. tabase linkages or surface modeling. the user interface in detail. many AutoCAD commands, system variables, and aliases. It even has the same keystroke shortcuts. As amply illustrated by the appendices at the back of this book, BricsCAD uses the same names for Those that are missing are probably AutoCAD commands you werent using, such as those for da-
NEAR-IDENTICAL USER INTERFACE
The user interface of BricsCAD is available in English and 12 other languages. Chapter 2 describes
AutoCAD boasts more than 1,300 commands and system variables. BricsCAD mimics many of them;
More Commands and System Variables
in addition, it has a number of useful ones that AutoCAD does not provide.
For example, all object snaps in BricsCAD have their own command names, such as Intersection as circular and external selection sets. There are commands for manipulating extended entity data (available in AutoCAD only through programming) and for editing 3D models directly (available in AutoCAD through an external program). some settings are unavailable even through system variables. In contrast, BricsCAD summarized all system variables and options in a single dialog box accessed by the Settings command. Bricsys adds a large number of useful variables to access and change settings. These are known as mand, or in the Settings dialog box.
and Midpoint. BricsCAD has a larger number of ways of selecting objects than does AutoCAD, such AutoCAD stores a number of user settings in locations that, unfortunately, can bedifficult to access; preferences, and include names like BkgColor for specifying the background color of the drawing
area, and CmdLineFontName for setting the name of the font used by the command bar. To change
the values of preferences, you enter their names at the command prompt, through the SetVar comWhen it comes to 3D design, BricsCAD dramatically pulls ahead of AutoCAD in many areas. The
3D Direct Modeling and Constraints

releases of AutoCAD.)
Platinum edition can apply 3D constraints and infer design intent in addition to 2D dimensional and geometric constraints. (The Classic and Pro editions can also apply 2D constraints, as do recent
V13 adds assembly modeling, in which .dwg files of mechanical components are ordered in hierarchical structures to model assemblies of complex products. Also new is kinematic analysis for moving and rotating parts of models to view motion forwards and backwards in real time. Unfortunately, when Fusion is running, AutoCAD is frozen. Technologies Russia.) The Platinum and Pro editions build in direct modeling and editing. While these actions are possible in AutoCAD, Autodesk encourages users instead to use the bundled Inventor Fusion software. (These 3D features are possible because of programmers at a Siberian software development firm, LEDAS. Bricsys liked their software so much that they bought the retail arm, renaming it Bricsys
Finally, unique to BricsCAD is the Quad cursor, which is meant for direct modeling and editing of 3D and 2D objects. When you select a feature, such as a face or edge, it provides quick access to the four most likely commands needed to manipulate the feature.
Bricsys is making it easier for third-party developers to adapt their AutoCAD add-ons to BricsCAD
APIs and Customization
just as Bricsys is working to make it easy for AutoCAD users to learn BricsCAD. For programmers, almost the same list of APIs as does AutoCAD.
AutoCAD API Equivalent in BricsCAD Notes
this is done through APIs, short for application programming interfaces, and BricsCAD supports
Action Recorder (*) Scripts, SCR ActiveX ADS ARX AutoLISP COM Diesel DCL CUI .Net ... ... VSTA ActiveX SDS BRX or TX LISP COM Diesel DCL CUI Teigha.NET TX VBA ... AutoCADs Action Recorder scripts cannot be edited; scripts recorded by BricsCAD can be edited. In-place editing; not available in BricsCAD for Linux. ADS code ported from AutoCAD requires just a recompile using BRX headers; ADS/SDS are deprecated by Autodesk and Bricsys. Ported ARX code requires just a recompile using new BRX headers; when used with TX (ex-DRX), ported ARX code must be rewritten. Ported AutoLISP code runs as-is in BricsCAD; no changes needed, includes support for Vl, Vlr, Vla, and Vlax functions and encryption. Ported AutoCAD COM code runs as-is in BricsCAD; not available in BricsCAD for Linux. Ported Diesel code runs as-is in BricsCAD; no changes needed. Ported DCL code runs as-is in BricsCAD; no changes needed. Ported AutoCAD menu and toolbar macros work as-in in BricsCAD. BricsCAD provides Teigha.NET and extra BRX-managed wrappers; not available in BricsCAD for Linux. Teigha eXtensions (formerly DRX) from Open Design Alliance; not available in AutoCAD. Current AutoCAD VBA code runs as-is in BricsCAD for Windows; not available in BricsCAD for Linux. VSTA is unavailable in BricsCAD.
Generally, BricsCAD provides a nearly identical subset of equivalent function names. In the case of compiled code, you recompile it using headers provided by Bricsys to registered developers.
TIP BricsCAD V13 is not binary compatible with V12 because (a) APIs have changed and (b) V13 is built using Microsofts Visual C 2010 instead of MSVC2005. To run on V13, most third-party applications must be rebuilt except for scripts and LISP applications. In addition, Windows XP users must apply Service Pack 3 for MSVC2010 to run.
non-compiled code, such as LISP and DCL, you just drop it into the BricsCAD environment. With
Independent programmers have written dozens of add-ons that tailor BricsCAD for specific appli-
Examples of Add-ons
cations in the areas of AEC, civil, data exchange, electrical, GIS, survey and mapping, general tools, HVAC, mechanical, packaging, rendering, and structural design. Here are a few examples:
3DM Export exports BricsCAD drawings in Rhinoceros 3DM format. CivilCAD provides surveying, road construction and design tools, water engineering features, land volume calculations and real-time 3D simulation.
Creating cross-sections with CivilCAD running on BricsCAD
CADprofi Electrical designs lighting systems, low-tension, power plant, alarm and other electrical installations. GeoBL creates topographic plans, and includes a library with topographic symbols. StrucPLUS provides a complete set of tools for preparing structural engineering drawings.
At time of writing, 282 applications were available for BricsCAD. For the current list, visit the companys Applications eStore at www.bricsys.com/common/applications/applicationlist.jsp.
Steel detailing with StructPLUS
Unlike most other CAD vendors, Bricsys does not charge third-party developers. (Au-
No-charge Developer Network

shipping products.
todesk charges an annual fee of $1,500 and up.) You do not pay a fee to join, you do not pay an annual membership, you do not pay for support, and you do not pay royalties on There is a simple reason why this support network is free. BricsCAD decided that to development of its own add-ons.
Improving BricsCAD Improving APIs
become a successful CAD company, they would encourage the development of many, Bricsys now concentrates on two tasks:
many add-on applications currently 700 a number that includes those written
privately. The company feels so strongly about third-party development that it has halted
End users also benefit from APIs. (The application programming interface is the software link can employ.
between CAD software and programming languages/compilers.) When a third-party developer
requests an addition to the API, the added code becomes a new feature in BricsCAD that endusers Several years ago, Bricsys rewrote the BricsCAD code to make it independent of operating systems. The company offers versions of BricsCAD that run natively on Windows and Linux, and plans to you can employ Bootcamp or Parallels. tions. release one for the OS X operating system. If you want to run BricsCAD on a Mac computer now, AutoCAD runs on Windows and OS X, but the OS X version is missing a significant number of funcThe most dramatic difference from AutoCAD is that BricsCAD Platinum is four times cheaper than with BricsCAD Platinum for the price of just one with AutoCAD. The list prices at time of writing are as follows:
List Price
3
SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE OPERATING SYSTEMS
LOWER PURCHASE AND MAINTENANCE PRICING
AutoCAD, even with annual maintenance. To put it another way, you can outfit four workstations
AutoCAD 1
AutoCAD LT 1
BricsCAD Platinum 2 BricsCAD Pro 2
BricsCAD Classic 2
License $4,195 Upgrade 4 $4,195 Maintenance $450/year

1 2 3 4
$1,200 ($899 Mac) $1,200 ($899 Mac) $195/year
$825 $185 $160/year
$575 $185 $160/year
$455 $185 $160/year
USA pricing only; usually priced higher in other countries International pricing (one price for all countries) Single-use license; lower pricing available for multi-seat purchases and/or networked versions Upgrade from any previous version
10
BricsCAD saves you even more when you switch operating systems from products. Windows to no-cost Linux (see Chapter 5). See www.bricsys.com/estore for details on the pricing of BricsCAD
(Rhino is available from Robert McNeel & Associates at www.rhino3d.com/download.htm; the 3DM converter is sold at the Bricsys eStore.) BricsCAD doesnt have every feature found in AutoCAD. Ive put together a list of the missing things. As I update this ebook over the years, I find the list becoming shorter. Here it is as of V13:
Annotation scaling Dynamic blocks* Quick properties 3D mesh modeling *) AutoPublish Markups Quick view thumbnails 3D surface modeling* CAD standards Point clouds 3D mouse support Database links View Cube Multline leaders Navigation wheel
you could model boat hulls in Rhino, and then draw the 2D details and annotations in BricsCAD.
BricsCAD file converter ($95) and still be two thousand dollars ahead. For example,
can get things like 3D mesh modeling with Rhino at $1,000, and then use a Rhino-
in price? For some users, the high price makes sense; other users might think, I
You could ask, Are AutoCADs additional functions worth the $3,370 difference
It Makes More than Cents
WHAT IS MISSING FROM BRICSCAD?
BricsCAD cannot create these entities (dynamic blocks and surface models), but can edit them when drawings are opened from AutoCAD.
Chapter 3 provides complete details of which AutoCAD entities work in BricsCAD, which partly work, and which dont work at all. shows that they have near-equivalents in BricsCAD operating under other names:
AutoCAD Feature BricsCAD Equivalent Command Name(s) in BricsCAD
At first glance, more AutoCAD features appear to be missing from BricsCAD, but a second glance
Action Recorder DesignCenter eTransmit QLeader Ribbon VSTA Workspaces Script recorder Drawing Explorer Email drawings Leaders Toolbars and menus VBA and .Net User profile manager RecScript, StopScript Explorer Mail DimLeader Toolbar, Customize VBA, AppLoad ProfileManager
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BricsCAD offers 2D and 3D functions that are not found in AutoCAD. Many of them are summarized
Whats Missing from AutoCAD

below:

3D constraints Assemblies Inferring design intent Kinematic analysis (moving and rotating parts in real time) Interactive Quad cursor Object snaps as command names Circular, external, and other selection sets Manipulating extended entity data Directly editing 3D models (available in AutoCAD only through an external program). All system variables and options accessed by a single dialog box
Additional variables for changing settings, such as BkgColor (specifies background color) and CmdLineFontName (sets font for the command bar)
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System Requirements
IT departments appreciate that BricsCAD has milder hardware and operating system requirements than does AutoCAD. This is significant to them for these reasons:
to install the special display drivers AutoCAD requires. BricsCAD can access more RAM and CPU speed headroom on newer computers than can AutoCAD. Design firms can run BricsCAD on older computers; it is necessary neither to employ high-end hardware nor
Autodesk and Bricsys recommend that your computer meet the following specifications. Note that newer releases of AutoCAD do not run on older CPUs lacking SSE2*.
Hardware AutoCAD BricsCAD
RECOMMENDED HARDWARE
CPU
1.6GHz with SSE2* (XP) 2.0GHz dual-core SSE2 (3D modeling) 3.0GHz with SSE2 (7)
1GHz or faster CPU
Minimum RAM
Apple Mac Pro 4.1 or later; Mac mini 3.1 or later (4.1 recommended); MacBook Pro 5.1 or later (6.1 recommended); MacBook 5.1 or later (7.1 recommended) iMac 8.1 or later (11.1 recommended); MacBook Air 2.1 or later. 2GB 256MB, plus RAM required by OS 3GB (OS X) 1GB 250MB for program files + 1GB free space 1024x768 with true color (minimum)
Recommended RAM 4GB or more 4GB (OS X) Hard Disk Space 6GB for installation 3GB recommended (OS X)
Monitor Resolution 1024x768 minimum 1600x1050 recommended 1,280x800 minimum (OS X) 1600x1200 recommended (OS X) Graphics Board
32-bit Any graphics board 128MB (minimum) workstation-class Pixel Shader 3.0 or greater for 3D Direct3D for 3D For supported brands, see For rendering with supported graphics baords, see www.autodesk.com/autocad-graphicscard www.redway3d.com/pages/GPUList.php 1600x1200 with truecolor (OS X) Mouse Apple or Microsoft mouse or trackpad (OS X)
Pointing Device
Mouse
*) SSE2 is short for streaming SIMD (single instruction, multiple data) extension 2. It allows CPUs to speed up certain math functions and vector transformations used by CAD applications.
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Bricsys supports BricsCAD running on several dialects of Linux as well as on new and older releases
Supported Operating Systems
of the Windows operating system. Autodesk has not announced a Linux version, and no longer APIs. For several years, Bricsys announced it would ship a Mac version, but has not done so yet. Here are the operating system on which the CAD systems run:
AutoCAD 2013 BricsCAD V13
supports Windows Vista. At time of writing, Autodesk had not announced support for Windows 8. Autodesk has a version of AutoCAD for the Mac, but it is missing numerous commands and most
Windows XP with service pack 2 ... Windows 7 Windows Server 2008 SP Windows 8 (not yet announced) Mac OS X v10.6.4 or later ... ... ... ...
Windows XP with service pack 3 Windows Vista Windows Server 2003 SP2 Windows 7 Windows Server 2008 SP2 Windows 8 (not yet official) Mac (announced but not shipped) Ubuntu LTS Linux Fedora Linux OpenSuse Linux Linux other distributions
The Windows versions of AutoCAD requires Internet Explorer 7 or later for functions such as its help system; BricsCAD does not.
I briefly tested both CAD systems on the developer release of Windows 8, and they seem to run well.
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IN SUMMARY, BricsCAD operates much like AutoCAD yet is much more economical. In the following chapters, we delve deeper into the themes sketched out by this chapter. is 135MB, more than ten times smaller than AutoCADs 1.5GB download file. Just as you can try out AutoCAD free for 30 days, you can install and run the Platinum edition of BricsCAD for 30 days at no charge from www.bricsys.com both the Linux and Windows versions. Only Microsofts VBA is disabled in the trial version. The size of the BricsCAD download file
AUTOCAD-BRICSCAD DICTIONARY
BricsCADs terms closely follow AutoCADs jargon, but there are a few differences.
AutoCAD Term BricsCAD Equivalent
ADS ARX AutoLISP DesignCenter Implied Intersection Intersection Object Options Osnap Palette VisualStyle Workspace Xdata
SDS (Software development system) BRX (BricsCAD runtime extension) TX (Teigha runtime extension) LISP Explorer 3dIntersection 2dIntersection Entity Settings Esnap (entity snap) Pane ShadeMode User profile manage EED (extended entity data)
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WHATS NEW IN BRICSCAD V13

Bricsys adds major functions to new releases, and here is a summary of functions added to BricsCAD V13.1.7. NEW FUNCTIONS AutoComplete command displays command names matching the characters typed by users.
The AutoComplete popup lists all command names that begin with the letters entered
Chapoo is the new name for Vondle, and it uploads, shares, views, and annotates drawings and office documents. Related commands are ChapooOpen, ChapooAccount, ChapooLogon, ChapooLogoff, and ChapooHome. Multi-threaded display regeneration uses multiple processor cores. Related system variables are MtFlags and MaxThreads. Sheet sets are partially implemented in V13, and related commands are Sheetset for opening the sheet set palette; NewSheetset, for creating new sheet sets; OpenSheetset, for opening sheet sets; and SheetsetHide, for hiding the palette. Related system variables are SsFound, SsLocate, and SsmState.
BricsCAD V13 opens .dst files from AutoCAD
Worksets command loads named groups of drawings.
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2D COMMANDS Array commands dialog box has new controls for creating arrays; the preview window shows the effect of changing parameters.
The Array dialog boxs Preview window updates as you change settings
AttRedef command redefines attributes; AttSync command synchronizes attributes after definitions are modified; BAttMan commands dialog box edits nearly all aspects of attribute definitions.
The Block Attribute Manager edits all aspects of attributes
DragSnap system variable controls the snap behavior while dragging entities: 0 = dragged entities are displayed at the cursor location; 1 = dragged entities are displayed at the current snap location. Expression can be used with 2D constraints dimensions; CleanUnusedVariables command purges unused variables.
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MLine command draws multiple parallel lines. The lines support snaps and grip-editing. The MlStyle command creates and edits multiline styles.
Multilines styles are defined in the Drawing Explorer
QLeader command draws leaders specified by options in a dialog box; DimReassociate command associates dimensions with entities.
All settings for quick leaders are in a single dialog box.
3D COMMANDS Dynamic UCS aligns the UCS with the selected face of 3D solids; the UcsDetect system variable toggles dynamic UCS detection, as do the F6 key and the DUCS toggle on the status bar. DmMove and DmRotate direct modeling commands can use cylinders and other axial surfaces as rotation axes, and they can be applied to block references; DmRevolve and DmExtrude commands can be applied to the faces of solids; DmSelectEdges has faster selection of 3D solid edges.
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In addition, the DmMove and DmRotate commands can be used to solve forward and inverse kinematic problems in real time. 3D constraints can be applied between sub-entities in blocks; constraints are maintained during operations of the Copy, CopyClip, PasteClip, Block, Insert, Explode, and WBlock commands. DmAngle3D chooses the axis of 3D angle constraints automatically or manually, and allows angles of more than 180 degrees. To perform assembly modeling, BmBrowser command toggles the mechanical browser; BmUpdate command updates the hierarchy of mechanical components; BmNew command creates mechanical components; BmInsert command inserts mechanical components into the drawing; BmForm command forms new mechanical components and then inserts them into the drawing; BmDissolve command dissolves mechanical components; BmMech command converts the current drawing into a mechanical component; BmUnmech command explodes the current mechanical component into a plain drawing; BmHardware command insert a standard hardware part as a mechanical component; BmHide and BmShow commands hide and show mechanical components; BmBom command inserts bills of materials (BOM) tables into the drawing; BmRemove command removes inserts of mechanical components from the drawing; and BmXConvert command converts all X-Hardware solids into mechanical components.
The Mechanical Browser palette reports on all mechanical components in the drawing.
VIEWPORTS AND PRINTING AlignSpace command uses alignment points to adjust viewport angle, zoom factor, and pan position in model and paper space. BackgroundPlot system variable determines whether drawings are published in the background; /pl command line switch performs background publishing using DSD files. DispPaperMargins system variable toggles the display of the printable area. Hide command works in paper space; Hide Paperspace Objects option added to Print settings; Shade Plot property during printing overrides the visual styles of viewports; layouts with viewports showing different visual styles can be printed. MvSetup command creates new drawings with viewports in model and paper space. Plot style line-end caps and joints are shown in previews and plots; printing of transparent images can be fine tuned through the ImagePrinting.xml configuration file in the plotter configuration folder. Page setups can be imported from other drawings. TtFastText system variable prints TrueType fonts as text (instead as geometry) to PDF files so that text can be searched; also reduces PDF file size; also controlled by the Truetype Text setting in the PC3 file. (When TextFill is off, text is still printed as geometry.)
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RENDERING Walkthrough navigation in perspective views uses the following mouse buttons and keystrokes:
Keystroke Command Meaning
Alt + Left button Alt + Middle button Ctrl + Middle button Ctrl + Home key Alt + Home key Alt + Plus key Alt+Minus key Ctrl + Plus key Ctrl+Minus key
RtWalk RtUpDown RtLook ... ... RtWalkSpeedFactor RtWalkSpeedFactor RtRotationSpeedFactor RtRotationSpeedFactor
Walks forward, backwards, and sideways Moves up, down, and sideways Looks around (Shift+Right button displays snap menu) Resets view direction to the horizontal Moves target point to the center of the scene Increases walking speed Decreases walking speedmovement speed Increases rotation speed Decreases rotation speed
RedSdk rendering engine is upgraded version 3.1.0.4. CUSTOMIZATION BricsCAD V13 is not binary-compatible with V12, because (a) APIs have changed and (b) V13 is built using Micosoft Visual C 2010 instead of MSVC2005. Most third-party applications will likey need to be rebuilt to run on V13 except for scripts and LISP applications. As a result, Windows XP users must apply Service Pack 3. DockPriority system variable determines the priority of toolbar and palette docking areas; the new defaults are Top > Left > Right > Bottom. ToolPalettes and ToolPalettesClose commands open and close the new Tools palette; TpState system variable reports whther the palette is open.
Tools palette accesses commonly-used commands, hatch patterns, and blocks.
Toolbars have new combo boxes (droplists) for layer filters, layer states, and dimension styles; the width of all combo boxes can be adjusted. V13 is upgraded to Open Design Teigha v3.6 libraries.
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SUMMARY OF NEW SYSTEM VARIABLES AcisSaveAsMode specifies how to save solids in R12 .dwg format AnnoAllVisible toggles display of annotation objects not at the current scale factor AutoCompleteDelay specifies delay before autocomplete is displayed AutoCompleteMode determines which autocomplete features are enabled:
Bitcode Meaning
1 2 4 8 16
Enable autocomplete mode Automatically append command names Display suggestion list Display icons associated with commands (not implemented) Exclude names of system variables
BackgroundPlot toggles use of background plotting
ChapooLog toggles log file for recording Chapoo activity ChapooModified specifies action to take on locally-modified drawings:
Value Meaning
0 1 2 3
Do nothing Prompt the user Always update to new version Always save locally under new name
ChapooServer reports address of Chapoo server ChapooTempFolder stores the name of the local Chapoo folder ChapooWebsite names the Chapoo Web site
DblClkEdit toggles double-click editing DefaultNewSheetTemplate names the .dwg or .dwt file as default template for new sheets DispPaperMargins toggles the display of paper space margins DragSnap controls snap behavior while dragging DwfVersion specifies export format of DWF files DxfTextAdjustAlignment specifies alignment for text imported from DXF files
ExpInsAlign aligns blocks with selected entity, when inserted from Drawing Explorer ExpInsAngle specifies default angle for blocks inserted from Drawing Explorer
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ExpInsFixAngle specifies fixed rotation angle for blocks inserted from Drawing Explorer ExpInsFixScale specifies fixed scale factor for blocks inserted from Drawing Explorer ExpInsScale specifies default scale factor for blocks inserted from Drawing Explorer ExportPageSetup toggles use of the current page setup for exported DWF/x and PDF files ExportPaperSpace toggles exporting the current layout or all layouts
Frame determines if frames of attachments are visible:

Value Meaning
0 1 2 3
Hide frames Display and plot frames Display frames (do not plot them) Use the setting of each frame
GripTips toggles the display of tooltips at grips
HandSeed specifies starting handle for new objects
IntersectionColor specifies the color of the intersections of 3D surfaces
MaxThreads specifies the maximum number of threads for redraw, regen, and loads MeshType toggles the type of meshes created, legacy or full-featured MtFlags controls multi-core redraws, loads, and regens
PictureExportScale specifies the scale factor for raster exports PlacesBarFolder1 specifies the folder for the first place in the Open dialog box PlacesBarFolder2 specifies the folder for the second place in the Open dialog box PlacesBarFolder3 specifies the folder for the third place in the Open dialog box PlacesBarFolder4 specifies the folder for the fourth place in the Open dialog box PublishAllSheets toggles the opening of the current drawing or all documents in the Publish list
QuadDisplay toggles display of the Quad cursor
R12SaveAccuracy specifies the number of segments for splines and ellipses saved in R12 format R12SaveDeviation specifies deviation for splines, ellipses RtRotationSpeedFactor specifies turning speed
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RtWalkSpeedFactor specifies walking speed
ScreenBoxes specifies the number of items in the screen menu ShowLayerUsage toggles reporting of layer usage SsFound reports the path to the sheetset file associated with the open drawing SsLocate toggles the opening of sheetsets associated with the drawing being opened SsmStat reports if Sheetset Manager palette is open StepSize the size of steps in walk mode StepsPerSec specifies the number of steps per second in walk mode SuppressDataLossWarning toggles warnings about data loss when saving to older formats
ToolPalettePath stores path the Tools palette support files TpState reports whether the Tools palette is open
UcsDetect toggles the use the dynamic UCS UcsOrtho determines how orthographic UCSs are restored UcsView toggles saving the current UCS with named views UseRegistryValues reuses previous print settings WarningMessages toggles use of warning messages
www.bricsys.com/common/releasenotes.jsp?p=Bcad&l=en_US
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CHAPTER TWO
Comparing User Interfaces
BRICSCAD LOOKS LIKE AutoCAD when its workspace is set to AutoCAD Classic, as illustrated on the next page. As in AutoCAD, BricsCAD defines aspects of its user interface through the content of CUI files, the BricsCAD provides more user control through its variables. two CAD systems, specifically in the following areas:
Command line and prompts Prompt menus (BricsCAD only) Quad cursor (BricsCAD only) AutoCAD Options vs BricsCAD Settings Properties palette Status bar Selection sets Working sets (BricsCAD only) Design Center vs Drawing Explorer Tool palettes and sheet sets
values of system variables, and other settings. AutoCAD has more capability in CUI overall, while
In this chapter, you learn about the similarities and differences between the user interfaces of the
COMPARISON OF USER INTERFACES

At right: BricsCAD V13 in Windows Below: AutoCAD 2013 with Classic workspace
Title bar
Layout tabs
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Menu bar
Toolbar
Prompt menu Tool Palettes
Properties bar Drawing area
Crosshair cursor
Dynamic input
UCS icon
Command prompt
Coordinates
Text & dimension styles
Status bar
2 Comparing User Interfaces
27
SUMMARY OF USER INTERFACE ELEMENTS

The UI elements new to BricsCAD V13 are shown in blue; those discussed in this chapter are in boldface.
AutoCAD UI Element BricsCAD Equivalent
Customizable user interface Menu bar (turned off in default workspace) Toolbars (turned off in default workspace) Scroll bars Tooltips Layout tabs Status bar Workspaces Ribbon Rollover tooltips QuickView layouts and drawings ...
On the Drawing Screen
Customizable user interface Menu bar Toolbars Scroll bars Tooltips Layout tabs Status bar User Profile Manager ... ... ... Working (drawing) sets Tri-color cursor UCS icon & dynamic UCS Aperture & pickbox cursors Grips Selection highlighting & previews AutoSnap markers & autotrack vectors Selection modes: 18 Subentity selection ... ... Quad cursor Keyboard input AutoComplete Dynamic input Keyboard shortcuts Double-click actions Mouse buttons Shortcut menus Customizable command prompt Prompt (options) menus Drawing Explorer Properties pane Tool palettes Sheet sets ... ... ... Prompts on status bar
Tri-color cursor UCS icon & dynamic UCS Aperture & pickbox cursors Grips Selection highlighting & previews AutoSnap markers & autotrack vectors Selection modes: 13 Subentity selection Steering wheels Navigation cube ...
Command Bar and Mouse
Keyboard input AutoComplete Dynamic input Keyboard shortcuts Double-click actions Mouse buttons Shortcut menus ... ...
Information Centers
DesignCenter Properties palette Tool palettes Sheet set manager InfoCenter Quick Access toolbar Quick Properties palettes ...
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Variations in User Interface
AutoCAD and BricsCAD sport user interfaces that look similar to each other. They both have toolbars, a menu bar, autocomplete and dynamic input, palettes, shortcut menus, and so on. The figure shows BricsCAD with dynamic input and autocomplete.
There are, however, differences surrounding the prompt menu, command prompt, and some of the
AutoComplete (new to BricsCAD V13) at left, dynamic input at center, and prompt menu at right
command options of which you should be aware.
: VS TYPE A COMMAND
As its command prompt, BricsCAD uses : to indicate it is ready for you to enter a command. Older releases of AutoCAD used Command:, and now AutoCAD 2013 uses Type a command.
If you prefer the AutoCAD type of prompt, you can change it through the Settings dialog box. Search for prompt prefix. Enter any text you like, even something silly. After entering the new prompt text, itll appear in the command bar of BricsCAD.
Command prompt customization is not available in AutoCAD.
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One of BricsCADs user interface elements not found in AutoCAD is the prompt menu. This floating command prompt area is turned off. The figure below shows the command line window (at left), and so does the content of this menu. along with the prompt menu to the right. As the Circle command progresses, the prompts change,
PROMPT MENU (BRICSCAD ONLY)
menu appears whenever a command contains options. It lets you operate BricsCAD even when the
You can use the mouse to choose options from the prompt menu, or else use the keyboard to type the option names in the command bar. To cancel the command, press Esc or click Cancel. objects, when a command displays a dialog box, or when the prompt menu is turned off. In certain cases, the prompt menu does not appear, such as when BricsCAD prompts you to select You can turn the prompt menu on or off, and decide on its location on the screen. In the Settings
Left: The command bar in BricsCAD... Right: ...and the prompt menu displaying equivalent options.
Controlling the Prompt Menu
dialog box, enter prompt menu in the search field.
The Dont Display and Display options toggle the display of the prompt menu, while the Cornerrelated options position the prompt menu in one of the four corners of the drawing area. Or, you can just drag the menu to any convenient location, such as to a second monitor. The Prompt Menu Flags option turns on the display of additional option names that are normally hidden in the prompt menu, and they are shown in italic text, like Tangent in the figure below.
Left: Toggling hidden prompt menu items Right: Hidden items displayed in italicizes
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When I showed you the prompt menu, you may have noticed that BricsCADs Circle command con-
More Command Options
tained more prompts than does AutoCADs equivalent. This is not uncommon in BricsCAD, which has commands with additional options that are useful to drafters, and yet are not found in AutoCAD. The following table compares the wording of the Circle commands prompts for both programs:
AutoCAD Option Wording BricsCAD Option Wording Notes
BricsCADs prompt menu lists all of these options:
Specify center point 2P 3P Ttr ... ...
Center of circle 2Point 3Point TanTanRad Arc Multiple
Default option
Converts arcs into circles Draws multiple circles
Introduced with BricsCAD V12, the quad incorporates direct modeling and editing commands at the cursor. It was developed by Bricsys, and so is unique to BricsCAD. Autodesk to introduce the technology in a future release of AutoCAD. This kind of multifunction cursor takes its cue from the current heads-up trend in computer sible. While AutoCAD does not yet have such a cursor, its step-brother Inventor does, and I expect consists of a single button, which displays an icon of the last-used command. The background color of the quad cursor reports the type of selected entity:
Background Color Entity or Subentity
THE QUAD CURSOR (BRICSCAD ONLY)
interface design, which attempts to place in the drawing area as many useful commands as posBy default, the quad cursor is turned off, and you see instead the standard tri-color crosshair cursor. To turn on the quad cursor, you click QUAD on status bar or press F12. Initially the quad cursor
Pink Green Cyan Yellow
Solid Face Edge Contour
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When you move the arrow cursor into the center button, the quad cursor expands by four more lected entity.
buttons. Three of the new buttons contain commands that are most commonly used with the se-
The bottom button is always labeled More; when you click it, it displays a dropdown menu of additional options:
Click an item on the dropdown menu to execute the command. extended to 2D drafting.
The Quad cursor was initially intended for working in 3D, but in BricsCAD V13, its functions were
32
AutoCAD Options vs BricsCAD Settings

complete list.
In AutoCAD, the Options dialog box provides access to the values of many system variables but
not all of them. In BricsCAD, the equivalent is the Settings dialog box, a greatly expanded version that takes the concept to its logical conclusion: access to all variables. See Appendix B for the segregated into ten tabs and thirty auxiliary dialog boxes! a dialog box that allows the user to access a setting easily? In Autodesks case, the dialog box is
Providing access to seven hundred system settings is a problem: how can a programmer design
In contrast, Bricsys created a single dialog box to access all variables. To solve the problem of finding one variable among 700, Bricsys created an interactive search box. You can start typing any to move to other instances of the text you entered. variables name, title, or description, and BricsCAD jumps to the first instance; click the arrow keys
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In addition, you can list the variables sorted into categories or in alphabetical order. (The two modes are illustrated below.) Click a button on the toolbar to determine the sort order.
Left: BricsCADs Settings dialog box in Categorized mode... Right: ...and in Alphabetic mode.
Because this dialog box is really important, and because this dialog box is designed so differently from Autodesks, Ill give you a tour of its functions. You access the Settings dialog box by invoking When it opens, the Settings dialog box looks like this:
Toolbar Node Uneditable value Editable values
A BRIEF TOUR OF THE SETTINGS DIALOG BOX
the Settings command, entering AutoCADs Options alias, or using the menu, Settings | Settings.
Search field
Variable name Help text
34
Along the top of the dialog box is a toolbar, from which you access all of BricsCADs variables through a variety of methods, as illustrated by this figure.
Sort by categories or in alphabetical order Go to Drawing, Dimensioning or Program Options
Export variables and values to CSV file
Enter name to search
Click one of the first two buttons to switch the variable sort order between ries. Click one of the next three buttons sections. Enter text in the tons
alphabetical or
by catego-
to access the Drawing, Dimensioning, or Program Options
Search field, such as a name or description of the variable, and then click the arrow but-
I tend to use the Search field exclusively, and so Ill detail how to make use of it.
to jump between all instances of the text.
To access variables, use the methods described above, or else click the + boxes to open individual
Opening and Closing Nodes
sections. Click the - box to close sections. AutoCADs CUI uses a similar node system.
Click + to open node Click - to close node
When a value is changed, it turns to boldface a handy way of alerting you that change has taken
Accessing and Understanding Values

place.
Changes are made immediately which is why there is no Apply or OK button. The Settings dialog box segregates settings into three categories:
Dimension settings specific to dimension variables Drawing settings applying to the drawing, and the the drawing process
Boldface indicates value is changed Regular face indicates value is unchanged
Program Options settings related to the user interface and how BricsCAD operates
35
You can use the Settings dialog box to change the values of almost all settings. The only exceptions are those that are read-only, meaning that you cannot alter them. They are shown in gray text. variable:
The preview area at the bottom of the Settings dialog box uses font styles to indicate the type of
Name in uppercase (indicates system variable) No icon (indicates sysvar available in other CAD systems)
Above: Documenting a non-unique system variable. Below: Documenting a unique user preference.
Name in mixed case (indicates user preference) Icon (indicates item unique to Bricscad)
System variable names are shown UPPERCASE. Preference variable names are shown in Mixed Case. Settings unique to BricsCAD sport an icon .
To exit the dialog box, click the x in the upper right corner.
The realtime search field lets you directly access system variables by name. As you enter the first
Realtime Search
the
few letters, BricsCAD immediately jumps to the first name that matches them. You can then click Notice that the color of the search field changes, reporting the status of the search term you entered: left and right arrows to move back and forward through matching candidates.
Snow two or more names match the search phrase. Lime only one (or the last) name matches the search phrase. Tangerine no names match the search phrase.
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Click the
tions turned on.
Find button to narrow the search, although I find its best to leave all Find Where op-
Click the
Exporting Settings
values) format, which can be imported into OpenOffice Calc or another spreadsheet program.
Export button to save the variable names and their values in CSV (comma separated
BricsCAD has the same SetVar command as AutoCAD, but you can also enter names of system
SetVar Command
variables directly at the : prompt.
As of V12, you can enter the names of preference variables at the command prompt.
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Properties and Palettes
When AutoCADs user interface was organized around toolbars, users could glance at a dashboard space, the current layer, the active text style, and so on some ten properties in all.
of property settings, as illustrated below. In an instant, they could monitor the settings of the work-
With the redesign of AutoCADs user interface around the ribbon, seeing properties at a glance
AutoCADs Classic interface reporting the settings of nine properties.
has become more difficult. For example, the Home tab of the 3D Modeling ribbon reports just one property, layers; some properties are hidden in droplists and other tabs, which is not terribly user friendly.
In contrast, BricsCAD maintains the dashboard-like experience of a Properties toolbar in its default
AutoCADs Drafting and Annotations interface reporting just four properties at a glance
configuration.
New in V13 is the ability to resize controls, like the layer and color droplists
Both CAD packages share a similar Properties palette, but BricsCAD calls its the Property bar. It ploys the Properties bar where AutoCAD instead uses a dialog box or a contextual ribbon. Edit dialog box or more recently, the Edit Hatch contextual ribbon. eters of the pattern; in older releases of AutoCAD, double-clicking the pattern displays the Hatch
PROPERTIES: AUTOCADS PALETTE AND BRICSCADS BAR
operates just like the Properties palette in AutoCAD, but with one difference: BricsCAD often emFor instance, click a hatch pattern in BricsCAD, and the Properties bar allows you to edit the param-
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You access the Properties bar in BricsCAD through the Properties command, or from the menu, Modify| Properties. It appears automatically when you double-click entities in drawings.
You can customize the Properties palette/bar neither in AutoCAD nor in BricsCAD. As in AutoCAD, parameters appropriate to the entity. See chapter 4.
Left: Properties palette in AutoCAD. Right: Properties bar in BricsCAD.
BricsCAD can assign double-click actions to entities, which display the Properties bar with the
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Tool palettes and sheet sets are new to BricsCAD V13; these user interface elements have been in BricsCAD, except that the Tools Palettes bar is customized differently, and the Sheetset Manager has fewer options in BricsCAD than in AutoCAD.
TOOL PALETTES AND SHEET SETS
AutoCAD since Release 2004 and 2005, respectively. The operate similarly in both AutoCAD and
See chapter 4 for tutorials on customizing the Tool Palettes bar.

Left: Tool palette in AutoCAD Right: Tool Palette bar in BricsCAD
TIP AutoCAD stores tool palette definitions in ATP files, short for AutoCAD tool palettes. BricsCAD stores them in BTP files, short for BricsCAD tool palettes. Both are XML-format files.
BricsCAD uses the same DST format as AutoCADs sheet sets, and so you can reuse them from
About Sheet Sets

in BricsCAD.
AutoCAD. The figures below show a sample sheet set in AutoCAD, and then the same one opened
40
The user interfaces for the sheetset manager are very different. AutoCAD uses a palette with large tooltips and additional dialog boxes. In BricsCAD, all sheetset data is displayed in a single interface sheetsets.
by the Drawing Explorer. Both right-click menus and a small toolbar to create, edit, and publish
Above: AutoCADs sheetset manager is a palette Below: BricsCADs sheetset manager is part of Drawing Explorer
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To create and control sheet sets, enter the SheetSet command, click the Sheets tab, and then choose from among the buttons on the toolbar:
From left to right, the button performs the following functions in BricsCAD:
Create a new sheetset using a wizard (NewSheetSet command) Print the selected drawing (Plot command) Publish the sheetset (Publish command) Bundle the sheetset for transmittal by email (eTransmit command) Create a sheetset selection set Open a DST file, which defines an existing sheetset (OpenSheetSet command)
Left: Sheet set interface in AutoCAD Right: Sheet set interface in BricsCAD
Understanding that V13 represents a first implementation of sheetsets, BricsCAD has fewer funclisted below in the short-cut menus, such as renaming and importing layouts as sheets.
tions than AutoCAD. Missing from BricsCAD are sheet views and model views, as well as the options
I anticipate that future releases of BricsCAD will add sheetset functionality.
Left: Sheetset shortcut menu in AutoCAD Right: Sheetset shortcut menu in BricsCAD
42
Better Status Bar and Other Improvements

or GRID, to access additional options.
Prompt area X, y coordinates and elevation Text, dimension style names
The status bar in BricsCAD reports not just the status of the drawing, but also the current names of
the text and dimension styles. As in AutoCAD, you can right-click a toggle, such as the coordinates
Drawing status Status bar options
To change a text or dimension style, right-click the current name, and then choose a different one from the shortcut menu. AutoCAD does not offer this function.
In BricsCAD, the status bar does double duty: when the command bar is turned off, prompts appear on the status bar. AutoCAD does not do this. ordinate systems in 3D models. New on the status bar of BricsCAD V13 is the DUCS toggle, for toggling dynamic user-defined coNew to V13 are working sets, which group drawings by a name; you then load two or more drawings at the same time; the command is necessary for BricsCAD V13s new assembly feature. ings at once, the next time you start BricsCAD.
WORKING SETS (BRICSCAD ONLY)
simultaneously by selecting the name. AutoCAD does not offer this function, although some users simulate it through sheet sets. The Workset command is possible because Bricsys implemented BricsCAD creates one workset automatically. When you close the program, all open drawing files
threaded file opening, which uses your computers multi-core CPU to perform two or more tasks names are saved as a working set named LastSession. This lets you easily open all previous draw-
43
When you start BricsCAD, the Create New Drawing dialog box includes Load Working Set as one of or else by choosing the File menu and then selecting Working Sets.
its options. After BricsCAD opens, you access other worksets by entering the Workset command,
As in AutoCAD, you can use BricsCAD to assemble complex selection sets through entity locations the same, such as pressing Ctrl+A to select all objects in drawings.
MORE SELECTION SETS
(pick, Window, Crossing, and so on) and properties (color, linetype, and so on). Many options are
44
The prompt menu illustrated below lists the names of all of the Select commands options. Recall that AutoCADs Select command displays no options at all.

BricsCAD has additional selection modes missing from AutoCAD:

Window circle selects all entities fully within a circle.
Outside window selects all entities fully outside of a rectangular window. Outside polygon selects all entities fully outside of an irregular polygon.
Crossing circle selects all entities within and crossing a circle; see figure above. Outside circle selects all entities fully outside of a circle.
BricsCAD uses colors (like AutoCAD) and icons (unlike AutoCAD) to report whether the selection set is crossing, window, or other.
Like AutoCAD, BricsCAD provides sub-entity selection of 3D objects: faces, edges, and vertices.
BricsCAD uses icons and colors to report the style of windowed selections. Left: Making a windowed selection. Right: Making a crossing selection.
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AutoCADs DesignCenter vs BricsCADs Drawing Explorer
BricsCADs Drawing Explorer is comparable to AutoCADs DesignCenter, but provides more inforin AutoCAD are many separate dialog boxes, such as layer management, UCS management, and amalgamate commands that perform similar functions into one command, such as Attach. BricsCAD V13.
mation and greater control over drawing elements. Indeed, Drawing Explorer centralizes what management of external references. Autodesk appears to be copying BricsCAD by beginning to Drawing Explorer handles the named entities listed in the table below. Those in blue are new to
AutoCADs DesignCenter Node BricsCADs Drawing Explorer Node AutoCAD Command (for functions not in DesignCenter)
Blocks ... ... Dimstyles Xrefs ... Layers ... ... Linetypes ... Layouts ... ... ... Tablestyles ... ... ... Detail View Styles Multileaders Section View Style
Blocks Coordinate Systems (UCS) Dependencies Dimension Styles External References Images Layers Layer States Lights Linetypes Materials Page Setups PDF Underlays Section Planes Sheet Sets Table Styles Text Styles Views Visual Styles ... ... ...
Blocks created with Block command UcsMan Dependencies checked by eTransmit command Dim styles created with with DimStyle command Xrefs attached with ExternalReferences command ExternalReferences Layers created with Layers command LayerStates LightList ... Materials .. PDF underlays added with the PDFAttach command Section plane properties set by SectionPlaneSettings Sheet sets are controlled by SheetSet command Table styles created with TableStyle command Style View VsCurrent Styles of 2D detail views made from 3D models BricsCAD does not create multileaders, yet Styles of 2D views made from 3D models
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You access BricsCADs Drawing Explorer through the Explorer command or from the menu: Tools such as Layer and Xref.
| Drawing Explorer. The Drawing Explorer is also displayed when you enter related commands,
Above: AutoCADs Design Center. Below: BricsCADs Drawing Explorer.
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BricsCAD includes settings for modifying these named entities, something lacking in AutoCADs DesignCenter. For example, the Linetypes node lets you load additional linetypes:
... and the Dimension Styles node lets you modify the styles:
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New in V13 is a redesign of the Drawing Explorer, which includes the ability to create and control sheet sets. (Sheet sets mimic the sets of paper drawings used to document large projects.) The Drawing section has been given its own tab (named Folders) , as have sheet sets (named Sheets).
Drawing Explorer is more than a DesignCenter because it centrally gathers commands for inserting and controlling named entities. By my count, the unified interface of BricsCADs Drawing Explorer replaces the equivalent of 16 AutoCADs palettes and dialog boxes.
Left: Drawing Explorer in V12 Right: Tabbed Drawing Explorer in V13
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THIS CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTED the (few) differences between the user interfaces of BricsCAD and
AutoCAD. The next chapter examines how both programs display and edit entities in drawing files.
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CHAPTER THREE
Compatibility of Drawing Elements
BRICSCAD READS AND WRITES AutoCAD drawings very well, but not perfectly in some cases. This 2012 because BricsCAD did not handle 2013 at time of writing.
chapter details how how well BricsCAD reads entities, properties, and styles created by AutoCAD 2012, most of which BricsCAD correctly reads, creates, edits, and writes. We test with AutoCAD The two CAD programs handle the range of DWG and DXF files slightly differently, with AutoCAD proving better at newer releases and BricsCAD better with older ones:
BricsCAD V13 reads and writes DWG and DXF drawing files created by AutoCAD 2012 and older, all the way back to Release 12 (1993); to go back to Release 9 format (1987), you must save the drawings in DXF format. AutoCAD 2013 reads and write DWG and DXF files created by AutoCAD 2013 and older, going back to Release 14 in DWG format (1997); to go back to Release 12 format, you must save the drawings in DXF format.
This chapter examines in detail how BricsCAD handles entities and properties, and they are segregated into the following categories.
Entities
2D entities: arc, circle, ellipse and elliptical arc, hatch (patterned, solid filled, gradient filled, island, text detection), line, point and point modes, polyline (segment, arc, variable width, fit-curved, splined), ray and xline, solid (2D), spline (closed and open), and trace. Geometric and dimensional constraints Text entities: attribute definitions and references (with fields and multiline text), text and mtext, tables, field text, and tolerance Dimension entities: aligned, angular, arc length, diameter, broken, inspect, jogged, ordinate, radial, leader and multileaders Complex 2D entities: block reference and insertion (mirrored, unequal scale), dynamic block, MInsert block, geographic location, raster image (clipped), wipeout, light, mline, OleFrame, region, shape, underlays (DGN, DWF, and PDF), and viewports 3D entities: 3D face (visible and invisible edges), helix, 3D polyline , polyface mesh, proxy object, live section, body , sweep, box, cone, cylinder, pyramid, sphere, torus, wedge, subdivision mesh, extrusion, loft, revolve, and sweep
Properties
Properties: annotative, color (BYLAYER, BYBLOCK, ACI colors, True Colors, and color books), elevation, hyperlink, linetype and linetype scale , lineweight, material, plot style, shadow, thickness, and transparency Layers: status, name, on/off, freeze/thaw, lock/unlock, color, linetype, lineweight, transparency, plot style, plot, new viewport (VP), freeze new VP, VP freeze current VP, VP color, VP linetype, VP lineweight, VP transparency, VP plot style description
Styles
Dimension styles Leader and mleader styles Mtext and text styles Multiline styles Plot styles Table styles Visual styles Detail view and section view styles (new to AutoCAD 2013)
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DWG 2012 Compatibility
BricsCAD displays all entities in drawings created by AutoCAD 2012. It does not, however, create or edit all of them. This chapter provides details on the entities and properties that work fully and those that dont. (At time of writing, BricsCAD V13 could not read or write DWG 2013 files, and so this chapter uses AutoCAD 2012 as the reference program.) To test BricsCADs compatibility with AutoCAD entities, I employed the following procedure:
1. I drew each entity in AutoCAD 2012, and then saved it in a DWG file. I opened the DWG file in BricsCAD V13. I examined each entity for the following characteristics: 4. 5. Translation does the entity appear in BricsCAD? Visual accuracy does the entity look the same in BricsCAD as in AutoCAD? Editability does BricsCAD edit the entity, and how? Constructability does BricsCAD have a command for creating the entity? 2. 3.
TESTING ENTITY COMPATIBILITY
I made screen grabs of each entity in AutoCAD and in BricsCAD to illustrate the similarities and differences between them. I recorded the limitations I found, if any.
The results of these tests are presented on the following pages.
In this chapter, I mark how well BricsCAD supports each AutoCAD entity by means of a legend:
Decoding the Legend

Entity Name
The words in the legend have the following meaning.

create BricsCAD creates the entity. edit BricsCAD edits the entity.
read / create / edit
read BricsCAD reads the entity from DWG files, and displays it correctly.
There are a few AutoCAD entities that BricsCAD does not handle 100% correctly. For example, Brictags multilines with a version of the read-edit legend that looks like this:
Helix AutoCAD BricsCAD * read / / *) The footnote details the limitation.
sCAD can read and display helixes, but it cannot create or edit them. For this reason, this chapter The dash ( ) in read / / means that BricsCAD cannot edit or create helixes, and so the words create and edit are missing from the legend. The asterisk provides additional information about
3 Compatibility of Drawing Elements
53
BricsCADs handling of the entity in the footnote.
Here is a summary of the entities with which BricsCAD has problems:

TIP
SUMMARY OF PROBLEM ENTITIES
Any entity that BricsCAD can read, create, or edit, it can also write back to DWG files.
BricsCAD does not support annotative text or dimensions.
Annotative Text and Dimension
Autodesk provides a way for annotative objects to be compatible with AutoCAD 2007 and earlier, in other DWG editors, such as BricsCAD, but it does not. When AutoCADs Maintain Visual Fidelity occurs during saving of drawings to older releases:
Off multiple representations appear. On scaled representations of annotative objects are saved as anonymous blocks on new layers. The layers keep their original names, but are appended with a digit.
because these releases do not support annotative scaling. I would assume this support would work for Annotative Objects option (found in Options | Open and Save) is turned on or off, the following
I did not, however, see evidence of anonymous blocks or new layers when I opened converted DWG files in BricsCAD. When a DWG file containing annotatively-scaled objects is opened in BricsCAD, the annotations appear as non-annotative objects. They are scaled with the annotative scale factor in effect when sions will appear at the 1:4 size when opened in BricsCAD. See figure below. the drawing was last saved in AutoCAD. For example, if a drawing contains annotations scaled at
1:1 and 1:4, and if the 1:4 annotative scale is current when the drawing is saved, then the dimen-
When annotative dimensions are edited in BricsCAD, their annotative property is preserved when opened again in AutoCAD.
Left: DWG file opened in BricsCAD with annotative scale set in AutoCAD to 1:1 Right: Same file opened in BricsCAD, but with annotative scale set to 1:4 in AutoCAD
54
BricsCAD displays broken dimensions made by AutoCADs DimBreak command, but cannot create
Broken Dimension
or edit them.
BricsCAD can display dynamic blocks made in AutoCADs Block Editor, but cannot create or edit
Dynamic Block
them. BricsCAD can change the look of dynamic blocks through the Properties pane, but it cannot change them using custom grips. BricsCAD can specify geographic locations with the GeographicLocation command, but it does not
Geographic Location
display, create, or edit the marker glyphs that mark the location and are used by AutoCAD.
BricsCAD displays helixes created by AutoCADs Helix command, but cannot create them. They can-
Helix
not be edited, except for moving, erasing, and modifying basic properties (color, linetype, and so on).
BricsCAD displays inspection dimensions made by AutoCADs DimInspect command, but cannot
Inspection Dimension
edit or create them.
BricsCAD displays and edits jogged dimensions made by AutoCADs DimJogged command, but
Jogged Dimension
cannot create them.
BricsCAD can read, edit, and write layers and layer states, but cannot apply all the formatting Auto-
Layers
CAD can. Missing are filters and the transparency property. Added to V13 are per-viewport settings. See the complete list in the Compatibility of Styles section near the end of this chapter.
BricsCAD recognizes mesh objects created by AutoCADs commands like Mesh and MeshSmooth,
3D Meshes
but it cannot create or manipulate 3D meshes. The objects can be edited only using basic commands (such as Move, Copy, and Delete), and their basic properties can be modified, such as color and linetype. and Ai_Sphere. Note that these are the true 3D mesh objects introduced recently to AutoCAD, and not the old meshes made from polyfaces. BricsCAD can create polyface meshes with commands like Ai_Box
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BricsCAD only minimally supports model documentation created by AutoCADs ViewBase com-
Model Documentation
mand. The bounding boxes are displayed, but each is filled with a message stating a missing object
enabler is needed. BricsCAD does not support AutoCAD 2012s model documentation object enabler.
BricsCAD can read, edit, and write mtext with the MText command, but cannot apply all the text
MText
formatting overrides that AutoCAD does. For instance, BricsCAD does not have columns and it cannot specify line spacing. For the complete list, see the Compatibility of Styles section near the end of this chapter.
BricsCAD V13 now creates and edits multilines and multiline styles with the MLine and MlStyle
Multilines
commands. MlStyle opens the Drawing Explorer.

Relocating vertices
BricsCAD still lacks the MlEdit command, and so intersections cannot be edited. Multilines can be edited with grips and through the options of the Properties bar listed below:
Specifying the multiline style (MlStyle command) Toggling between closed and open multilines Suppressing the start and/or end caps
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BricsCAD uses the same format for .mln multiline style files as does AutoCAD, and so you can use the Drawing Explorers Load from MLN File button to copy these files from AutoCAD.
BricsCAD cannot create multiline leaders, but it can display these leaders made in AutoCAD with
Multiline Leader
the MLeader command. It can apply basic editing commands (such as Copy and Rotate) to the leaders, and can edit their basic properties, such as color and layer through the Properties pane. edited, such as text, leader, and arrowheads. New in BricsCAD V13 is the QLeader command and its ability to specify properties for leaders. BricsCAD does not support multiline leader styles, and so mleader-specific properties cannot be
BricsCAD displays proxy objects, but cannot edit them, except for their basic properties (color,
Proxy
linetype, and so on). BricsCAD does not support object enablers, except for AutoCAD Architecture as provided by Open Design Alliance. BricsCAD recognizes surface objects created by AutoCADs surfacing commands, like SurfPatch and
3D Surface
SurfBlend, but it cannot create surfaces. While BricsCAD has commands like Extrude and Revolve, these work only with closed objects and so create 2D solids; open objects are needed to create surfacing. In addition, BricsCAD lacks surface-specific commands, like Loft and Sweep. (color, linetype, and so on). The surface objects brought in from AutoCAD cannot be edited, except for their basic properties
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BricsCAD can read, edit, and write tables, but does not have the table and cell format options that
Table
AutoCAD has. For instance, it cannot place text at an angle in cells, and it cannot give cells double lines. For the complete list of BricsCADs table style abilities, see the Compatibility of Styles section near the end of this chapter. BricsCAD does not load or display DGN and DWF underlays. It does, however, attach PDF and im-
Underlay
age underlays, as well as externally-referenced drawing files.
BricsCAD can create rectangular and polygonal viewports, but cannot invert ones that are clipped
Viewport
by the VpClip command. New in BricsCAD V13 is the ability to apply visual styles (shade plots) to individual viewports, as illustrated below:
BricsCAD can read, edit, and create visual styles, but cannot apply all the properties that AutoCAD
Visual Style
can. For instance, the properties of Occluded Edges and Intersection Edges are not yet implemented. Compatibility of Styles section near the end of this chapter.
As well, its list of default visual styles is different from AutoCADs. See the complete list in the
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After the V10 edition of this ebook was written, Bricsys added support to V11 for the following entities:
Arc length dimensions Modification of dynamic blocks Fields Partial support for geographic locations Lights PDF underlays Subdivision surfaces
BETTER DWG SUPPORT WITH EACH RELEASE
After the V11 edition of this ebook was written, Bricsys added support to V12 for the following entities:
Dimensional and geometric constraints Live sections Tables
Since the V12 edition of the ebook came out, Bricsys added support to V13 for the following entities:
Multilines Sheet sets Tool palettes
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DWG 2012 Object Support
To read, view, edit, and write DWG files, BricsCAD uses the Teigha library from Open Design Alliance. As ODA adds support for entities, Bricsys adds them to BricsCAD.
2D ENTITIES SUPPORTED
BricsCAD accurately displays the following 2D entities created in AutoCAD 2012:

Arcs Arc AutoCAD BricsCAD read / create / edit
Circles Circle
AutoCAD
BricsCAD read / create / edit
Ellipses Ellipse
AutoCAD
Elliptical arc
Hatches Patterned
AutoCAD
Solid filled
Gradient filled
Islands
Text detection
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Lines Line
AutoCAD
Points PdMode 0 PdMode 98
AutoCAD
Polylines Segment
AutoCAD
Arc
Variable width
Fit-curved
Splined
Rays Rays
AutoCAD
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Solids (2D) 3-sided
AutoCAD
4-sided
Splines Closed
AutoCAD
Open
Traces Tracewid 50
AutoCAD
Xlines Xline
AutoCAD
BricsCAD
GEOMETRIC AND DIMENSIONAL CONSTRAINTS

DimConstraint Dimensional constraint AutoCAD BricsCAD read / create / edit
GeomConstraint Geometric constraint
AutoCAD
BricsCAD
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BricsCAD accurately displays the following text entities created in AutoCAD 2012. The exceptions are some formatting of mtext and tables, and annotative scaling, as detailed later in this chapter.
Attribute Defs Text AutoCAD BricsCAD read / create / edit
TEXT ENTITIES SUPPORTED
Attribute Refs Attribute reference
AutoCAD
Multiline attribute
MText Mtext
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
read / create / partial edit
*) BricsCAD cannot create all aspects of mtext, such as columns. See the complete list in the Compatibility of Styles section at the end of this chapter.
Tables Table, cells
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
*) BricsCAD cannot create all aspects of tables, such as cells with double lines. See the complete list in the Compatibility of Styles section at the end of this chapter.
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Text Text
AutoCAD
Field text
Tolerances Tolerance
AutoCAD *
*) AutoCAD does not fully edit tolerance objects.
BricsCAD supports all aspects of AutoCADs dimension entities, except that it cannot create or edit broken, inspection, and jogged dimensions.
Aligned Aligned AutoCAD BricsCAD read / create / edit
DIMENSION ENTITIES SUPPORTED
Angular Angular
AutoCAD
Arc Length Arc length
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
read / /
*) BricsCAD displays arc lengths, but cannot create or edit them.
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Diameter Diameter
AutoCAD
DimBreak Break
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
read / /
*) BricsCAD displays broken dimensions, but cannot create or edit them.
DimInspect Inspect
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
read / /
*) BricsCAD displays inspection dimensions, but cannot create or edit them. DimJogged Jogged AutoCAD BricsCAD * read / / edit
*) BricsCAD displays and edits jogged dimensions, but cannot create them.
Ordinate X ordinate
AutoCAD
Y ordinate
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Radial Radial
AutoCAD
Leaders Leader
AutoCAD
QLeaders * QLeaders
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
*) The QLeader command is new to BricsCAD. QLeaders are, however, not distinct entities, strictly speaking. Multileaders MLeaders AutoCAD BricsCAD * read / /
*) BricsCAD can neither create nor edit mleaders, but can edit their basic properties bar (palette), such as color and layer; text and arrow heads cannot be edited. BricsCAD does not support multiline leader styles.
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COMPLEX 2D ENTITIES SUPPORTED

Block Refs Insert AutoCAD BricsCAD read / create / edit
Dynamic
MInsert
Mirrored
Unequal Scale
Geographic Location
AutoCAD
BricsCAD * not displayed
read / create /
*) BricsCAD creates geographic positions, but does not display or edit geographic location markers.
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Images Images
AutoCAD
Clipped
Wipeouts
Lights Light
AutoCAD
MLines Mline
AutoCAD
BricsCAD*
*) As of V13, BricsCAD creates multilines, and can specify multiline styles.
OleFrames OleFrame
AutoCAD
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Regions Region
AutoCAD
Shapes Shape
AutoCAD
Underlays
AutoCAD
BricsCAD * partial read / create / edit
*) BricsCAD does not display DGN or DWF underlays. DGN image from Axiom Conversion Services; DWF image from Residential Drafting Services. DGN
DWF
PDF *) Bricsys does not support multi-page PDF files.
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Viewports Viewport
AutoCAD
BricsCAD * read / create / partial edit
Clipped
*) BricsCAD does not support inverting clipped viewports.
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3D ENTITIES SUPPORTED
BricsCAD accurately displays the following 3D entities created in AutoCAD 2012:

3D Faces 3D face AutoCAD BricsCAD read / create / edit
Invisible edge
Helixes Helix
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
read / /
*) BricsCAD displays helixes, but cannot create them; helixes cannot be edited by Bricsys, except for moving, erasing, and modifying basic properties (color, linetype, and so on).
3D Polylines 3D polyline
AutoCAD
Polyface Meshes Mesh
AutoCAD
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Proxy Objects Proxy
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
read / /
*) BricsCAD displays proxy objects, but cannot edit them, except for their basic properties (color, linetype, and so on). BricsCAD does not support object enablers, except for AutoCAD Architecture.
Sections Live Section
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
*) BricsCAD V13 now handles jogged section planes when they are created in BricsCAD, but not when the drawing comes from AutoCAD.
3D Solids Body
AutoCAD
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Sweep
Box
Cone
Cylinder
Pyramid
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Sphere
Torus
Wedge
Subdivisions 3D mesh objects
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
read / /
*) BricsCAD recognizes mesh objects created by AutoCAD, but cannot create or manipulate 3D meshes. The objects can be edited using basic commands (such as Move, Copy, and Delete), and their basic properties can be modified, such as color and linetype. (Note that these are the true 3D mesh objects introduced recently to AutoCAD, and not the old meshes made from polyfaces like Ai_Box and Ai_Sphere.)
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Surfaces Extrude
AutoCAD
BricsCAD *
read / /
Loft
Revolve
Sweep
*) BricsCAD recognizes surface objects created by AutoCAD, but cannot create surfaces. The surface objects cannot be edited, except for their basic properties (color, linetype, and so on). BricsCADs Extrude and Revolve commands work only with closed objects, and so cannot create surfaces; BricsCAD does not have the Loft and Sweep commands.
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Compatibility of Properties
settings:
BricsCAD supports most of the properties found AutoCAD, including the BYLAYER and BYBLOCK
AutoCAD Property Annotative Color Elevation Hyperlink Layer Linetype Linetype scale Lineweight Material Plot Style Shadow display Thickness Transparency BricsCAD Property ... Color Elevation Hyperlink Layer Linetype Linetype Scale Lineweight Material Plot Style ... Thickness ... ...all AutoCAD plot styles, provided a .stb file is present ...all lineweights ...all layer names, but not properties listed in the section below ...all AutoCAD linetypes, provided a .lin file is present ...ACI colors and True Colors, but not color books BricsCAD Supports...
BricsCAD supports all of the basic properties of AutoCADs layering system. For instance, DWG special characters. BricsCAD supports layer states, but not layer filters. Transparency and per-viewport settings are VP Linetype, VP Lineweight, and VP Plot Style properties.
AutoCAD Command Layer LayerState BricsCAD Command Layer LayerState
LAYER PROPERTY COMPATIBILITY
files can contain an unlimited number of layers, with names up to 255 characters long, including
missing from BricsCAD; on the other hand, BricsCAD supports the Material property in layers diBricsCAD Aliases la, ddlmodes, explayerst las
rectly, which AutoCAD does only indirectly. Added to V13 are the VP (short for viewport) Color,
The figures below illustrate the differences between the layer properties in both CAD system:
Above: Layer properties in AutoCAD (paper space). Below: Layer properties in BricsCAD (paper space).
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The differences in layer properties are listed concisely by the following table:
AutoCAD Layer Property Status Name On Freeze Lock Color Linetype Lineweight Transparency Plot Style Plot New VP Freeze VP Freeze VP Color VP Linetype VP Lineweight VP Transparency VP Plot Style Description Equivalent BricsCAD Property BricsCAD supports... Current Layer Name On/Off Freeze Locked Color Linetype Lineweight ... Plot Style Plot New VP VP Freeze VP Color VP Linetype VP Lineweight ... VP Plot Style Description (Renamed from VP Curr in V12 ...AutoCAD plot styles, if .ctb or .stb files are present ... all AutoCAD colors, except ColorBooks ... AutoCAD linetypes, provided the .lin file is present ... only two forms of status: current or not current ... all AutoCAD forms of layer names
BricsCAD defines and controls layer states through its ubiquitous Drawing Explorer.
Left: Layer states dialog box in AutoCAD Right: Layer states in BricsCADs Drawing Explorer
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Compatibility of Styles
AutoCAD Style Detail view styles Dimension styles Multiline styles Multileader styles Plot styles Section view styles Table styles Text styles Visual styles
BricsCAD supports most of the styles found AutoCAD. Those shown in blue are new to BricsCAD V13.
BricsCAD Style BricsCAD supports... ... Dimension styles Multiline styles ... Plot styles ... Table styles Text styles Visual styles ...most aspects of table styles ...all aspects of text styles, except annotations ...many aspects of visual styles ...all aspects of dimension styles, except annotations ...all aspects of multilines, except editing intersections ...displays multileaders, but cannot create or edit multileaders styles ...all aspects of plot styles
The following sections describe styles in greater detail.
Detail and section views are new to AutoCAD Release 2013s model documentation function, and
Detail and Section View Styles
so are not (yet) supported by BricsCAD. is displayed in place of the 2D views:
AutoCAD 2012s model documentation does not display in BricsCAD; the following error message
(Model documentation is AutoCADs ability to make traditional 2D views front, right, top, isoother CAD systems, such as Solidworks and Pro/Engineer.)
metric, and so on of 3D models, sourced either from Inventor or AutoCAD, or else imported from
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BricsCAD supports all properties of AutoCADs dimension styles and variables, with the exception
Dimension Styles
of annotative scaling and text direction.

AutoCAD Command DimStyle DimStyle
BricsCAD Command
BricsCAD Aliases d, ddim, dimsty, ds,dst, expdimstyles, setdim
In BricsCAD, the DimStyle command brings up the Drawing Explorer:
Left: AutoCADs DimStyle tabbed dialog box. Right: BricsCADs Drawing Explorer for dimensions styles
BricsCAD supports styles for leaders (drawn by the DimLeader command) through the DimStyle
Leader, QLeader, and Multiline Leader Styles
command, just like AutoCAD. BricsCAD V13 adds the QLeader command and its styles (properties, from imported AutoCAD drawings and can edit mleaders minimally through the Properties bar.
AutoCAD Command DimLeader QLeader MLeader Style Command DimStyle QLeader Setting MLeaderStyle In BricsCAD Yes Yes, new to V13 No
actually). BricsCAD cannot, however, create multiline leaders or mleader styles, but can display them
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Unlike many other styles in BricsCAD, the options for QLeader are in a dialog box accessed through the QLeader Settings command.
Left: AutoCADs QLeader commands Settings dialog box. Right: BricsCADs QLeader commands options.
BricsCAD supports nearly all of the QLeader options found in AutoCAD:

AutoCAD QLeader Option Annotation options Annotation Type MText Options Annotation Reuse Leader Line & Arrow options Leader Line Number of Points Arrowhead Angle Constraints Attachment options Text on left side Text on right side Underline bottom line Text on left side Text on right side ... Leader Maximum Number of Points Arrowhead Angle Constraints Type Multi-line Text Reuse Equivalent BricsCAD Option
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BricsCAD supports all text style options with the exception of annotative scaling and layout ori-
MText and Text Styles

entation.
AutoCAD Command Style MText
BricsCAD Command Style MText
BricsCAD Aliases st, ddstyle, expstyle, expstyles, expfont mt, t
Above: AutoCADs Style dialog box. Below: BricsCADs Explorer for text styles.
BricsCAD also supports style overrides through the MText command.
Above: AutoCADs mtext editing toolbar. Below: BricsCADs mtext editing toolbar.
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BricsCAD supports about half of AutoCADs mtext options:

AutoCAD Mtext Function Style Font Annotative Height Boldface Italicized Underline Overline Undo Redo Fractions Color Ruler Toggle Dynamic Columns Static Columns Column Properties Text Justification Paragraph Properties Paragraph Justification Line Spacing Bullets Field Text Case Conversion Special Characters Obliquing Angle Tracking Width Factor Import Text Find and Replace AutoCAPS Character Set Combine Paragraphs Remove Formatting Background Mask Editor Settings BricsCAD Mtext Function Style Font ... Height Boldface Italicized Underline Overline Undo Redo Fractions Color ... ... ... ... Text Justification ... ... ... ... Field Text Case Conversion Special Characters Obliquing Angle Tracking Width Factor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... (use Properties bar) (use Settings command) (use the Find command)
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Previous to V13, BricsCAD supported only the display of multilines created in AutoCAD; it could not
Multiline Styles
create multilines or their styles. With V13, BricsCAD creates multilines through the MLine command and specifies their styles through the MlStyle command, which brings up the Drawing Explorer.
AutoCAD Command MlStyle BricsCAD Command MlStyle BricsCAD Alias ...
BricsCAD supports all properties found in AutoCADs multiline styles.
Above: AutoCADs multiline style editor Above: BricsCADs multiline style editor in Drawing Explorer
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BricsCAD supports both types of AutoCAD plot styles, creating and editing them with the Plot-
Plot Styles
Style and StylesManager commands. The PlotterManager command in BricsCAD creates plotter configurations, while the PageSetup command predefines page setups for plotting just as they do in AutoCAD.
PlotStyle StylesManager PlotterManager PageSetup AutoCAD Command BricsCAD Command PlotStyle StylesManager PlotterManager PageSetup BricsCAD Aliases ... ... ... ...
The properties supported in plot styles are identical in both CAD systems color-based styles toggling line-end caps and joints in previews and in plotted output.
stored in .ctb files; table-based styles stored in .stb files. V13 supports two new plot style options:
Left: Plot style properties in AutoCAD... Right: ...and in BricsCAD.
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Prior to V12, BricsCAD supported just the displaying of tables and the changing of styles, if the
Table Styles
incoming DWG file contained them. As of V12, BricsCAD creates and edit table styles with the calls up the Table Style section of the ubiquitous Drawing Explorer.
AutoCAD Command TableStyle BricsCAD Command TableStyle ... BricsCAD Aliases
TableStyle command just as in AutoCAD; unlike AutoCAD, however, the TableStyle command
Like AutoCAD, BricsCAD can format cells separately as titles, headers, and data. But BricsCAD does not support all the table properties handled by AutoCAD.
AutoCAD Table Property General (Data) properties Table Direction Fill Color Alignment Text Format Cell Margins Merge Cells Text properties Style Height Color Angle Borders properties Lineweight Linetype Color Double Line Double Line Spacing Apply to Borders Lineweight ... Color ... ... Cell Frame Style Height Color ... Table Direction Background Color Alignment ... Cell Margins ... Equivalent BricsCAD Table Property
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Left: AutoCADs table properties edited through the Modify Table Styles dialog box. Right: BricsCADs table properties edited through the Drawing Explorer.
BricsCAD V12 extended the capabilities of its ShadeMode command to display 3D drawings in a
Visual Styles
variety of AutoCAD-like visual styles. V13 adds the ability to override viewports with visual styles during plotting.
VsCurrent VisualStyles AutoCAD Command BricsCAD Command ShadeMode VisualStyles BricsCAD Alias vscurrent ...
BricsCAD includes the following visual styles:

AutoCAD Visual Style Name 2dwireframe Wireframe Hidden Realistic Conceptual Shaded shaded with Edges ... ... ... ... shades of Gray SKetchy X-ray
BricsCAD Visual Style Name
2dWireframe 3dWirefreme Hidden Realistic Conceptual Gouraud gOuraud+edges Flat fLat+edges Modeling high Quality ... ... ...
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BricsCAD supports many of AutoCADs visual style properties, with the missing ones to be implefollowing table:
Face Style Lighting Quality Color Monochrome Color Opacity Material Display Lighting properties Highlight Intensity Shadow Display Environmental Settings properties Backgrounds Edge Settings properties Show Color ... ... Occluded Edges properties Show Color Linetype Intersection Edges properties Show Color Linetype Silhouette Edges properties Show ... Width Edge Modifiers properties Extension Lines JItter Crease Angle Halo Gap% (not yet implemented) (not yet implemented) (not yet implemented) (not yet implemented) Show Color Width (not yet implemented) (not yet implemented) (not yet implemented) (not yet implemented) (not yet implemented) (not yet implemented) Show Color Width Crease Angle Backgrounds (not yet implemented) Shadow Display AutoCAD Visual Style Property Face Settings properties Face Style Lighting Quality Color Monochrome Color Opacity Material Display Equivalent BricsCAD Visual Style Property
mented eventually. In a few areas, it has more properties than does AutoCAD, as shown by the
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Custom visual styles cannot be exported or imported with either CAD package. BricsCADs VisualStyles command opens Drawing Explorer for creating and editing visual styles:
Left: Visual Styles Manager in AutoCAD. Right: Drawing Explorer for editing visual styles in BricsCAD.
With each release, BricsCAD supports more DWG objects, tables, and properties, but at the same time, Autodesk adds more of these to each release of AutoCAD. Its a bit of a race.
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CHAPTER FOUR
Customizing and Programming BricsCAD
WHEREAS MOST OF AutoCADs customization takes place with the Cui and Options commands, in BricsCAD it takes place in the equivalent Customize and Settings commands.
AutoCAD: customized through Cui and Options commands
This chapter provides an overview of customizing and programming BricsCAD. It emphasizes the differences from AutoCADs way of doing things.
estore For detailed information on programming BricsCAD V13, refer to the online developer reference, available free at www.bricsys.com/bricscad/help/en_US/V13/DevRef/index.html. For complete details on these topic, see our Customizing BricsCAD ebook, available from www.bricscad.com/
BricsCAD: customized through Customize (alias: cui) and Settings (alias: options) commands
AREAS OF CUSTOMIZATION
Areas of customization new to BricsCAD V13 are shown in blue; customization discussed by this chapter are in boldface.
Area of Customization
AutoCAD Command
Equivalent BricsCAD Command
Aliases Command bar Crosshair cursor Double-click actions Dynamic input File paths Fonts Grips Hatch patterns Keyboard shortcuts Linetypes Menu bar Mouse buttons Plot styles Quick Access toolbar Quick Properties palettes Ribbon Rollover tooltips Scripts Selection previews Shell commands Shortcut/Context menus Status bar System Variables Tablet Tool palettes Toolbars UCS icon User profiles Workspaces
... Options Options Cui Options Options Style Options ...1 Cui ...1 Cui Cui PlotStyle Cui Cui Cui Cui Script, ActRecord Options ...1 Cui Right-click, Diesel SysVar, Options Cui ToolPalettes, Customize Cui Options Options Cui
1
Customize | Aliases Settings | Command Line Settings | Display Customize | Mouse Settings | Dynamic Input Settings | Files Style Settings | Grips ...1 Customize | Keyboard Explorer Customize | Menu Customize | Mouse PlotStyle ...3 ...3 ...3 ...3 Script Settings | Selection Preview Customize | Shell Commands Customize | Menus Right-click, Diesel SysVar, Settings Customize | Tablet ToolPalettes Customize | Toolbars Settings | User Coordinate System ProfileManager ...3
Notes: 1 Must be edited outside of AutoCAD or BricsCAD with a text editor such as Notepad. 2 Double-clicking entities opens the Properties palette (bar) in BricsCAD. 3 Not available in BricsCAD.
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AutoCAD Options vs BricsCAD Settings

or the Windows registry.
BricsCAD and AutoCAD provide extensive options for controlling your CAD drafting environment, tings are stored in system variables, while others are stored in data files, environment variables,
from modifying the look of the user interface to specifying the names of project folders. Most set-
AutoCADs primary interface for changing settings is the dialog box displayed by the Options command. It provides users access to many but not all system variables.
SYSTEM VARIABLES
The equivalent dialog box in BricsCAD is called up by the Settings command. In contrast to AutoCAD, Settings provides access to all system variables. (Chapter 2 provides details on using this dialog box.) In addition to supporting most of AutoCAD's system variables, BricsCAD has additional different name because they are unique to BricsCAD. Both CAD programs employ the SetVar command for direct, command-line access to these variables:
AutoCAD: SetVar command accesses system variables only, not environment or registry variables BricsCAD: SetVar command accesses system and preference variables
Left: AutoCADs Files tab Right: BricsCADs Files node
variables it calls preferences, which operate exactly like system variables. Bricsys gave them a
Appendix B provides you with a comprehensive list comparing system variables and preferences in AutoCAD and BricsCAD.
4 Customizing and Programming BricsCAD
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Drawings made in AutoCAD and BricsCAD use many support files, such as fonts, profiles, and external references. These files are stored in a number of folders. Both CAD programs let you specify alternative paths to these folders.
AutoCAD: specifies paths in the Files tab of the Options dialog box BricsCAD: specifies paths in the Program Options section of the Settings dialog box
FILE PATHS
In older, simpler times, support files were stored in a folder named \Support. But as Microsoft egories and so they stored these in related folders:
DWG drawing files and local customization files. LocalLow files are stored like Local files, but with a lower integrity level; used by Web browsers when Windows protected mode is on. BricsCAD does not use the LocalLow folder. Common files are stored on the computer you use; these are files, such as font files and printer drivers, that are common to many programs. Temporary files are stored anywhere, locally or on the network; these files are created by CAD programs for the duration of the editing session, such as automatic backup files. Roaming files are stored on any computer; these also are files specific to you, such as customized linetype and hatch pattern files, but should be accessible from any networked computer. (See Roamable Profiles later in this chapter.) Network files are stored on the network and are accessible to everyone, such as blocks and template files.
made Windows more complex, it required software makers to scatter support files in many folders The complexity stems from networking. Microsoft segregated support files into a number of catLocal files are stored on the computer you use; these are files specific to each user and each program, such as
throughout the hard drives of computers and sometimes not even on the computer you are using.
In Windows, the folders are found in a hidden folder named AppData under C:\Users\login\, where login is the name by which you log into Windows. My login name is rhg, and so my Local, and Roaming folders are found under C:\Users\rhg\AppData.
Left: Local and Roaming support folders in Windows Right: Support folders in Linux
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To maintain compatibility with Windows, BricsCAD for Linux uses similar folder names and structures, although without the Local and Roaming folders. All support folders are found in this path:
/home/ralphg/Bricsys/BricsCAD/V13/en_US/
If you wish, you can point BricsCADs support paths to some or all of AutoCADs folders. This is
Tutorial: How to Add AutoCAD Support Folders to BricsCAD
done through the Program Options section of the Settings dialog box:
1. Start BricsCAD, and then enter the Settings command. In the Search field, enter support file. 2.
3.
Notice that the Settings dialog box jumps to the Support File Search Path item.
4.
Click the
Browse button. Notice the Folders List dialog box.
5. 6.
In the Folders List dialog box, click
Add Folder, and then click
Browse.
In the Browse for Folder dialog box, navigate to the AutoCAD folder you wish to add, and then click OK.
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7.
Notice that the folder is added to the list. BricsCAD highlights the folder to indicate it is newly added.
8.
Repeat the process to add the locations of other support folders, such as DWT drawing template files at C:\Users\<login>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013 - English\R19.0\enu\Template and most other support files at C:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013 - English\R19.0\enu\Support.
9.
When done, click OK.
BricsCAD and AutoCAD both support user profiles that store your customization settings. After changing settings with the Options (in AutoCAD) or Settings (in BricsCAD) commands, you can for different users and for specific projects. the Target text like this:
USER PROFILES
save them to .arg user profile files. You can make multiple profiles to customize the CAD programs click the shortcut icon on the desktop, and then choose Properties from the shortcut menu.) Edit Replace <UserProfileName> with the .arg file name, such as myprofile.arg: Profiles are made in different ways for each CAD package:
"C:\Program Files\Bricsys\BricsCAD V13\bricscad.exe" /P <UserProfileName>
You launch BricsCAD with a user profile by adding the /p switch to its desktop shortcut. (Right-
"C:\Program Files\Bricsys\BricsCAD V13\bricscad.exe" /P myprofile.arg
AutoCAD: user profiles are created and accessed through the Profiles tab of the Options dialog box. BricsCAD: user profiles are generated through a separate application, UserProfileManager.exe .
You can run the UserProfileManager program externally to BricsCAD by clicking the Windows Start else access it from inside BricsCAD through the ProfileManger command.
button, and then choosing All Programs | Bricsys | BricsCAD V13 | User Profile Manager, or
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Both programs use the same format for .arg files, and so you can import AutoCAD-generated profiles
Tutorial: How to Import AutoCAD Profiles into to BricsCAD

into BricsCAD. Follow these steps:
1.
Firstly, export the .arg file from AutoCAD:
In AutoCAD, enter the Options command, and then click on the Profiles tab. (See figure above.)
2. 3. 4. 5.
Choose a profile from the list, and then click Export. Select the folder into which profile file should be saved. If you wish, change the file name. Click Save. Click OK to exit the dialog box.
Secondly, import the .arg file to BricsCAD:

1.
In BricsCAD, from the Tools menu, choose User Profile Manager. (See figure above.)
2. 3. 4. 5.
In the User Profile Manager, click Import. Choose the .arg file exported from AutoCAD, and then click Open. To apply the profile, click Set Current. Click OK to exit the program.
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BricsCAD and AutoCAD support roaming profiles, which let you roam about the office and use the CAD software (customized with your settings) on any computer connected to the office network. a computer.
ROAMING PROFILES
Your settings are identified automatically by your login name, which you enter when you access version of Windows running on your computer.
Not all CAD-related files are roamable; some remain local, such as DWG drawings and CUI files.
Roamable and nonroamable files are kept in different folders, whose names vary depending on the
TIP As of AutoCAD 2013, Autodesk does not support customers running their software on Windows Vista; Bricsys supports BricsCAD V13 on Vista. As of writing this book, neither Bricsys nor Autodesk had announced support for Windows 8. However, I found that both programs run fine on the new operating system.
For Windows Vista and 7, files are stored in the following folders. R19.0\enu
Data links Language packs Migration
AutoCADs roamable files are in C:\Users\login\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\
Plot styles (CTB, STB), plotter parameters (PMP), and plotter configurations (PC3) Support files (CUIX, FMP, LIN, MLN, MNL, PAT, PGP, PSF, UNT, and so on)
AutoCADs nonroamable files are in C:\Users\login\AppData\Local\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\ R19.0\enu

Template files (DWT, DST, DGN) Web Services
BricsCADs roamable files are in C:\Users\login\AppData\Roaming\Bricsys\BricsCAD\V13\en_US

Plot styles (CTB, STB), and plotter configurations (PC3)
BricsCADs nonroamable files are in C:\Users\login\AppData\Local\Bricsys\BricsCAD\V13\en_US

Template files (DWT)
TIP You can change the path to the local and roamable folders with the related system variables LocalRootPrefix and RoamableRootPrefix.
Support files (CUI, FMP, LIN, PAT, PGP, PSF, UNT, and TXT)
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The local and roaming folders can be difficult to find, because, unfortunately, they are typically hidden
Tutorial: Making Hidden Folders Visible
by Windows. (There is no need to do this in Linux.) Here are some ways to access hidden folders:
Make all hidden folders visible through Start | Control Panel | Appearance and Personalization | Folder Options, and then click the View tab. Under Advanced Settings, turn on Show Hidden Files and Folders.
(You can also access the dialog box through the Tools menu, if menus are turned on for Explorer.) Or, copy (Ctrl+C) the folder path from this book, and then paste it (Ctrl+V) into the address bar of Explorer. Or, create shortcuts on your computers desktop to the hidden folders: hold down Ctrl+Alt while dragging the folder name from Explorer onto the desktop.
LEGALITIES: ABOUT COPYING FILES

Autodesk permits the copying of support files, since the corporation understands that drawings are effectively disabled when DWG files are sent to clients without these crucial files. Support files that are coded in ASCII contain the following notice from Autodesk: Permission to use , copy, modify, and distribute this software for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appears in all copies and that both that copyright notice and the limited warranty and restricted rights notice below appear in all supporting documentation. By copying files in whole, you include the notices that Autodesk asks you to preserve. TRUETYPE FONTS There is one exception. Some TrueType fonts (.ttf files) are commercial products, and cannot be copied without payment to the copyright holder. The good news, however, is that all TrueType fonts provided with Windows and AutoCAD may be copied freely. If a drawing contains copyrighted TrueType fonts, you can often find ones that look similar but cost nothing.
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AutoCAD Cui vs BricsCAD Customize
The BricsCAD command that is equivalent to AutoCADs Cui command is Customize. (To access it ization of the following BricsCAD user interface elements:
Menus Context menus (shortcut menus) Toolbars Keyboard shortcuts Mouse buttons Double-click actions Tablet overlay menus Tablet buttons Command Aliases Shell Commands
easily, you can enter the cui alias.) This command displays a dialog box that centralizes custom-
The process for customizing most of these elements is identical. This means that you can learn the of how to customize BricsCAD using menus. the dialog box:
system for one element, such as menus, and then handle any other one, such as context menus or toolbars. The BricsCAD method, however, differs from AutoCADs, and I show below an example
You access the Customize dialog box through the Customize command, the Cui alias, or from the
menu, Tools | Customize. Alternatively, right-click any toolbar and then select Customize. Notice
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A couple of items to note:
BRICSCAD MENU TREE
Notice that red dots prefix before some menu items. The dots indicate container items, which are are examples of some containers:
click entities). Main Menus container holds the names of items appearing on the menu bar, such as File and Edit. File container is the name of the first menu appearing along the menu bar. Edit container is the name of the second menu on the menu bar
Container (File menu)
menu items that contain other items. For example, the File menu contains file-related items. Here
BRICSCAD container holds the names of the menu groups. The groups include Main menus (those menu items seen on the menu bar) and Context menus (also known as shortcut menus, which appear when you right-
Menu item (Open displays a dialog box)
When you see a row of dashes that looks like -----, this indicates the position of separator bars, the gray lines that separate groups of menu items. edit, and remove items to and from menus. that appears. You customize menus in BricsCAD through the Customize dialog boxs Menu tab. Here you add,
Separator (------ dashed line)
Tutorial: How to Customize a Menu in BricsCAD
To do so, right-click an existing menu item, and then choose an option from the shortcut menu
In this tutorial, you add the CloseAll command to the File menu, locating it just after the Close item. (The CloseAll command closes all open drawings.)
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To change the menu, follow these steps:

1. 2.
To open the Customize dialog box, enter the Customize command. When the dialog box appears, click the Menus tab.
The Main Menus node defines the structure of the currently-loaded menu. The names in the dialog box, like File, Edit, and so on, match the names on BricsCADs menu bar, illustrated below.
3.
You open containers by clicking Click the illustrated below.
buttons.
next to the File container. This action reveals the items in the File dropdown menu; both are
Left: File menu container displayed by Customize dialog box Right: Menu items under the File dropdown menu
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4. 5.
Move the cursor over the ----- (separator) item thats located below Close. Right-click (press the right mouse button). Notice the shortcut menu.
a. Open File container (Click the +)
b. Right-click separator (------) c. Choose Insert item from shortcut menu
6. 7.
From the shortcut menu, choose Insert Item. This action adds a new menu item above the currently-selected one, the separator line ------. Notice that BricsCAD opens the Add Menu Item dialog box, which lists all commands available in BricsCAD. From this list, you can select an existing command or create a new one.
a.Choose Select Available Tool option
Bricscad fills in command parameters automatically
b. Choose Close All
c. Click OK.
a.
In the Add Menu Item dialog box, choose the Select Available Tool option. This allows you to select one of BricsCADs built-in commands. (The other option, Create New Tool, is for creating new command macros.)
b.
Under the list of Available Tools, open the File item, and then choose Close All. Notice that most of the parameters are filled in for you, such as Title, Help, and so on.
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c.
Click OK. Notice that the Close All command is added to the list under Close.
8.
To ensure the new command is in place and actually works, follow these steps: a. b. Close the Customize dialog box by clicking OK. Choose the File menu. Notice that the Close All item has been added.
c.
Click Close All. Does it work correctly? (It should prompt you to save all open drawings that have changed since being loaded.)
Not sure which commands can be added to menus? Peruse the list found under Available Tools in the Customize dialog box. It lists all the commands found in BricsCAD, sorted by menu order.
USEFUL MENU TIPS
Want to create new commands? Use the Create New Tool option to add your own commands, which are constructed from other commands, LISP routines, macros, and Diesel instructions.
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Whats the difference between Insert and Append? If you were to right-click the File container, you would see Append Item on the shortcut menu. The names Append and Insert seem similar; heres how they differ:
Append Item adds the new item at the end of the menu container. Insert Item adds the new item before the currently-selected item.
For the case of the CloseAll tutorial, using Append Item would have added the command to the end of the File menu, which leads to the extra step of moving CloseAll into position under Close. Customize dialog box. Be careful, though, because it removes all prior customizations.
Mangled the menu customization? Click the Revert to Defaults button found at the bottom of the
Follow these steps to import menu files from AutoCAD:
Tutorial: Importing Menus Files from AutoCAD

1.
Use the Customize command to open the Customize dialog box. At the right end of Main Customization File field, click the button. In the Choose a Customize File dialog box, click the Files of Type droplist. Notice the list of file types:
2. 3.
4.
CUI standard menu files used by AutoCAD since release 2007 and by BricsCAD since V8. MNU or MNS legacy menu files used by AutoCAD and by AutoCAD LT prior to release 2007. ICM IntelliCAD menu files used by BricsCAD prior to V8 and by IntelliCAD-based systems. Choose a file type, select a file name, and then click OK. Notice that the menu structure changes to match the newly-imported file.
Careful: Although BricsCAD imports AutoCAD menu files effortlessly, menu picks sometimes do not work, because AutoCAD macros can contain macro code and metacharacters not supported by BricsCAD.
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You add new commands through macros, which BricsCAD calls tools. In this tutorial, you create
Tutorial: How to Create a New Menu Item
a tool that consists of two commands: one saves the current drawing, and the second opens the Print dialog box. Ive named the macro Saven Print, which looks like this: Here is how to create the command tool:
^C^C_qsave;_plot
1.
With the Customize command, open the Customize dialog box. (Alternatively, you can enter its alias, Cui.) In the Menus tabs File item, right-click Print, and then choose Insert Item from the shortcut menu.
2.
3.
Notice the Add New Item dialog box. Choose the Create New Tool option.
a.Choose Select Available Tool option
b. Choose File toolbox
c. Fill in command parameters
d. Click OK.
4.
Fill in the command parameters.
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Use the table below as a guide.

Parameter Text that You Enter Notes
Toolbox Title Help Command Image
File Saven Print Saves the drawing, and then starts the Plot command. ^C^C_qsave;_plot (leave blank)
Adds the new command to the File category of available tools. Specifies the name that appears in the File menu. Specifies the help text that appears on the status bar. Specifies the macro that cancels the current command, saves the drawing, and then starts the Plot command. Specifies the icon, although none is required for menus.
5.
Click OK to exit the Add Menu Item dialog box. Notice that the new tool is added to the File menu (in the left pane of the Customize dialog box), as well as to the list of Available Tools (in the right pane).
In addition, its parameters are shown in the Menu Item pane at the bottom of the dialog box. (Here, you can edit the parameters, just as with regular commands.)
6. 7.
Click OK to exit the Customize dialog box. Test the new item by selecting Saven Print from the File menu.
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Menu items execute macros, which can contain metacharacters. BricsCAD and AutoCAD use many of the same metacharacters. Ive listed some of the most common ones here so that you can see they are indeed identical:
Metacharacter Meaning
MACRO METACHARACTERS
^C _ ; \
Cancels the current command. Executes the command transparently. Internationalizes the command. Executes Enter. Pauses the macro.
BricsCAD and AutoCAD use many of the same conventions for designing menus. Two of them are
Menu Design Conventions

summarized below:
& (ampersand) designates shortcut keystrokes for accessing menu items with the Alt key. ... (ellipsis) indicates the menu item will display a dialog box.
AutoCAD and BricsCAD can employ the same Diesel expressions in menu macros and LISP routines.
Diesel
BricsCAD calls shortcut menus context menus, because their content changes, depending on the context. Context menus are found in the Menus tab and below the Main Menus section. on the right are the names of the shortcut menus included with AutoCAD.
CONTEXT MENUS
The screen grab shown below lists the names of context menus provided by default in BricsCAD;
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As with menus, the list of items in each context container matches that of the shortcut menu. For instance, when you right-click a selected entity, BricsCAD displays the Edit context menu. Here is what it looks like:
Left: Shortcut (or cursor) menus provided by default with AutoCAD. Right: Context menus provided by default with BricsCAD.
Left: Defining the Entity Snap shortcut menu in the Customize dialog box of BricsCAD. Right: BricsCADs Entity Snap context menu.
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To customize a context menu, you have same options as you saw with menus:
Left: Pane for customizing a context menu item in BricsCAD. Right: Shortcut menu for adding elements to context menus in BricsCAD.
Toolbars are customized in the Toolbar tab of the Customize dialog box. The screen grabs (below) list the names of toolbars provided by default in both CAD systems.
TOOLBARS
Left: Toolbars provided by default with AutoCAD, although they are normally turned off. Right: Toolbars provided by default with BricsCAD.
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The visibility of AutoCADs toolbars is controlled by the current workspace; by default, all its toolbars are turned off. In contrast, a selection of toolbars are turned on in BricsCAD.
Submenus of toolbars are called fly outs.
The process for customizing toolbars is identical to that of customizing menus, with two exceptions:
Toolbars can contain controls, which menus cannot; control is another name for droplist.
The figure below shows how the items in Customizes Standard tree match the order of the buttons held by the Standard toolbar.
You can specify parameters for the toolbar itself and for each button. As in AutoCAD, BricsCAD can specify the initial location and visibility of toolbars. To do so, select a toolbar name, such as Standard, and then edit the settings in the pane shown below:
Left: Content of the Standard tree in BricsCAD. Right: Icons of the Standard toolbar in BricsCAD.
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To edit an individual button, select its name, and then check its properties:
Keyboard shortcuts are customized in the Keyboard tab, as shown in the screen grab below. BricsCAD has many of the same shortcuts as does AutoCAD. Appendix D contains a useful cross-reference of all keystroke shortcuts used by both programs.
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
You can add and remove shortcuts and their assigned actions. Right-click an existing one, and then choose an option from the context menu: Inserting shortcuts follows the same steps as adding menu items. You can enter the following kinds of shortcuts in the Key field, highlighted in the figure below:
CTRL keys SHIFT+CTRL keys Function keys SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, CTRL+ALT, SHIFT+ALT, SHIFT+ALT, and SHIFT+ALT+CTRL function keys
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BricsCAD does not, unfortunately, warn you if a key combination is already in use. The actions of mouse buttons are customized in the Mouse tab, as are double-click actions. See the figure below:
MOUSE BUTTONS AND DOUBLE-CLICK ACTIONS
To access a menu with a mouse button, use the same macro construction as in AutoCAD, as highlighted below:
Double-click actions are customized in the Mouse tab. In V11 and earlier, double-clicking an entity
Double-Click Actions
caused the Properties pane to appear. This is still the case, but now you can change the action associated with the entity. For example, double-clicking a hatch pattern executes the HatchEdit command.
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The lists of entities that can be double-clicked are nearly identical in BricsCAD and AutoCAD, as shown below. One difference, however, is that some entities are not native to BricsCAD; for instance, you import a drawing from AutoCAD that contains surfaces, extruded, lofted, or otherwise. it doesnt have extruded surface and lofted surface entities, but the names appear in the list in case Double-click actions are customized by editing the Command field, highlighted in the figure below.
As in AutoCAD, you can add and remove double-click actions. Right-click an existing one, and then choose an option from the context menu:
Inserting a double-click action involves the same steps as adding a menu item; see Creating a New Menu Item earlier in this chapter.
Left: Double-clickable objects in AutoCAD. Right: Entities for which double-click action can be assigned in BricsCAD.
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Tablet overlay menus and digitizer buttons can be customized in the Tablet tab, as illustrated below. The entries under Digitizer Buttons and Tablet Menus look empty because as of BricsCAD V11 no tablet menu is loaded with the Default profile.
TABLET BUTTONS AND MENUS
CUI files and drawings for tablet buttons and overlays can be downloaded from www.bricsys. com/en_US/download/bcad/tool/Tablet.zip. Once you load a partial cui file, such as tablet.cui tablet overlay provided by Bricsys is illustrated below:
Left: Default items for digitizer buttons and tablet overlays in BricsCAD Right: Items after a partial CUI file for tablets is loaded in BricsCAD
or tablet(acadLike)cui, then these two sections contain entries for tablet buttons and menus. The
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Command aliases are customized in the Aliases tab, as illustrated below. BricsCAD has many of the same aliases as does AutoCAD. Appendix C of this ebook contains a useful cross-reference of aliases used by both programs.
ALIASES AND SHELL COMMANDS
Unlike in AutoCAD, you can create and edit aliases inside BricsCAD. Click the Add or Edit button to see the Edit Alias dialog box illustrated above. BricsCAD uses the same format as does AutoCAD installation, because you need to rename the incoming one default.pgp. Here is how to load the PGP file from AutoCAD into BricsCAD: There is a difference, however, between the names of the PGP files. In AutoCAD, it is the acad.pgp file; in BricsCAD, default.pgp. Keep the difference in mind when you copy acad.pgp to your BricsCAD
for defining aliases and shell commands, and both CAD packages store the definition in a .pgp file.
Tutorial: Loading AutoCADs PGP File into BricsCAD

1.
Use Windows Explorer to copy the acad.pgp file from this folder: Rename it default.pgp. Place the renamed file in this BricsCAD folder:
C:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\R19.0\enu\Support
2. 3.
C:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\Bricsys\BricsCAD\V13\en_US\Support
because it does not allow you to enter a different path.
It turns out that you cannot simply use the Customize dialog boxs Program Parameter File field,
Remember to replace <login> with your Windows login name.
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Shell commands are customized in the Shell Commands tab, illustrated below:
Shell Commands
Add adds a new shell command; BricsCAD uses the same format AutoCAD:
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Customizing Tools Palettes

palettes:
Tool palettes are new to BricsCAD V13. You can customize them, although the process is different from in AutoCAD. Here is the difference between the two CAD systems in how items are added to
AutoCAD: you drag entities from the drawing into a palette, even for non-entity items, like LISP routines BricsCAD: you add entities from the Customize dialog box, as shown in the tutorial below
Both commands use a separate dialog box to create and change palette groups, and to export and import palette definition files.
AutoCAD: you access the Customize dialog box with the Customize command BricsCAD: you access the Customize dialog box by right-clicking a palette, and then choosing Add Tool
(There does not seem to be a command in BricsCAD for accessing the dialog box for manipulating izing the UI and the other for palette groups.)
palette groups. BricsCAD, unfortunately, has two dialog boxes named Customize, one for custom-
TIPS AutoCAD stores palette definitions in ATP files, short for AutoCAD tool palettes. BricsCAD stores them in BTP files, short for BricsCAD tool palettes. Both are XML-format files. Both CAD systems export and import palette definitions in XTP files, short for Xml Tool Palette, an XMLformat file. This allows BricsCAD to read palettes from AutoCAD.
To add commands to the Tool Palettes bar in BricsCAD, follow these steps:
Tutorial: Adding Commands to the Tool Palettes Bar

1.
Right-click the palette to which you wish to add a tool (a.k.a command).
2.
In the shortcut menu, choose Add Tool. Notice that the Customize dialog box appears.
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3.
Choose a command from the tree.
4.
Right-click the command, and then choose Add to Current Toolpalette. Notice that the command and its icon are added to the end of the current palette.
5. 6.
Close the Customize dialog box by clicking the red X. You can now customize the newly-added button in a variety of ways. To change the icon or the actions of the button, right-click the button, and then... To change the label, choose Rename and then enter text for a new label.
To change the icon, choose Specify Image and then select a raster image file for the new icon. You can use files in the following formats: BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, and TIF.
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To change the action of the button, choose Properties and then change the properties in the dialog box, such as the name, icon, description (displayed by the tooltip), and the command (a macro written using the same syntax as for toolbars).
TIPS When the command draws an entity, such as Line or Text, then you can specify the properties of the entity in this dialog box. For instance, if you set the color to red, then clicking the button will automatically draw lines or text in red. The trick in AutoCAD of right-click dragging entities from the drawing into the Tools palette does not work in BricsCAD.
To move (or copy) the button to another palette, choose Cut (or Copy) in this palette, switch to the other palette, and then right-click and choose Paste. To remove the button, choose Delete. To change the size of the icon, right-click a blank spot in the palette (not on an icon!)...
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and then choose View Options. In the dialog box, drag the slider to change the size of all icons in the current palette or in all palettes.
The same shortcut menu lets you add a new blank palette, rename the current palette, or else delete it. The Customize Palettes option lets you create palette groups. BricsCAD and AutoCAD use the same .xtp file format to export and import palettes. (XTP is short
Tutorial: How to Export AutoCAD Palettes to BricsCAD

low these steps:
1. 2. Export.
for xml tool palettes, and is a file format based on XML, a self-documenting version of HTML that
Start AutoCAD, and then enter the Customize command. In the Customize dialog box, right-click the palette you wish to export. From the shortcut menu, choose
is often used in data exchange situations.) To import palette files from AutoCAD to BricsCAD, fol-
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3. 4. 5. 6.
In the Export Palettes dialog box, choose the folder in which to place the exported XTP file, and then click Save. (I use the Desktop, because it is easy to find!) Switch to BricsCAD. Right-click the Tools Palette bar, and then choose Customize Palettes. In the Customize dialog box, right-click any palette, and then choose Import from the shortcut menu.
7. 8.
In the Import Palettes dialog box, choose the XTP file you exported from AutoCAD, and then click Open. Notice that it is added to the list of Palettes. Click Close. Notice that the Tool Palettes bar now has a new tab named after the palette you imported. The icons will probably consist of ?, because the icon files are unavailable.
9.
Click an icon; notice that the command (probably) works!
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Other Areas of Customization

and plot styles.
The Settings and Customize dialog boxes are not the only places to customize BricsCAD. Below is
a review of additional elements that can be modified, including fonts, linetypes, hatch patterns, AutoCAD and BricsCAD use the same types of font files:
TrueType (.ttf) fonts
FONTS
This means BricsCAD can use all fonts displayed by any AutoCAD drawing.
Compiled shape (.shx) fonts
Windows controls TrueType fonts. All TTF files are stored in the \windows\fonts folder for use
TrueType Fonts
by all Windows programs. AutoCAD and BricsCAD both have access to the same source, and so in Windows there is no need to copy .ttf files to any BricsCAD folder. In Linux, TTF fonts are stored in the /usr/share/fonts/truetype folder.
AutoCAD keeps its SHX fonts in the C:\program files\autodesk\autocad 2013\fonts folder. To use
SHX Fonts
them with BricsCAD, you can copy the SHX files to the equivalent folder in Bricsys: In Linux, SHX fonts are stored in the /opt/bricsys/bricscad/fonts folder.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Bricsys\BricsCAD V13\Fonts
But AutoCAD also installs TTF versions of its SHX fonts in \windows\fonts folder because TrueType fonts look much better than SHX fonts. You should use TrueType fonts in your drawings, instead old drawings. If necessary, use the default.fmp file to map SHX font names to TTF ones.
of SHX fonts. Autodesk continues to provide SHX font files simply to provide compatibility with
AutoCAD also supports the now-rarely-used PostScript .pfb font format, albeit indirectly through
PFB Fonts
the Compile command, which converts PostScript fonts into SHX format. files as SHX fonts.
It does not matter that BricsCAD does not work with PostScript fonts, because they appear in DWG
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PostScript fonts are the default for Linux, but again this does not matter, since neither CAD package uses them directly. BricsCAD and AutoCAD support font mapping, which becomes handy when a font is not displayed
Font Mapping
in a drawing. This occurs most often when a DWG file is copied from one computer to another, and the second one doesnt have all of the same font files. There are two ways to use font mapping:
Quickn dirty method reads the FontAlt system variable, which specifies the name of the font to use when BricsCAD uses simplex.shx. Comprehensive method uses the FontMap system variable, which specifies the name of a .fmp file. This file holds a list of font names mapped to alternative ones:
CAD System FontMap Default Folder
the correct one cannot be found. This one font is used for all missing fonts. AutoCAD specifies arial.ttf, while
The format of the FMP file is simple, and both CAD systems use the same format; just the content is different. To show you the format, here are the first few entries of the BricsCAD version of the file:
ic-comp;complex.shx ic-complex;complex.shx ic-gdt;gdt.shx ic-ital;italic.shx ic-italc;italicc.shx
AutoCAD BricsCAD Windows BricsCAD Linux
acad.fmp default.fmp default.fmp
C:\Users\login\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\R19.0\enu\Support C:\Users\login\AppData\Roaming\Bricsys\BricsCAD\V13\en_US\Support home/login/Bricsys/BricsCAD/BricsCAD/V13/en_US/Support
The Bricsys font name is listed first, followed by a semi-colon, and then the name of the substitute font. If you need to, you can copy the file from AutoCAD, rename it to default.fmp, and then paste it into the folder used by Bricsys. One way to ensure that Bricsys has all the fonts it needs is to use AutoCADs eTransmit command.
eTransmit
This command collects the DWG file, needed support files, all font files, and any attachments, and then places them into a folder or a ZIP file. There is just one problem: by default, the option to include font files is turned off. To include fonts, click the Transmittal Setups button, click Modify, and then turn on the Include Fonts option.
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If you want just a list of needed fonts and other support files, click the View Report button, and you get a list of required and missing files:
AutoCAD Font Map References: acad.fmp AutoCAD Compiled Shape References: Fonts\txt.shx Fonts\romand.shx The following files could not be located: @Arial Unicode MS.(shx,ttf) Textures\Mats\ PlotCfgs\Sample Floor Plan_Base.stb AutoCAD Drawing Standards File References: MKMStd.dws
BricsCAD and AutoCAD use the same definitions for linetypes, as well as for hatch patterns:
Simple linetypes defined by .lin files Hatch patterns defined by .pat files Complex linetypes defined by .lin and .shx files
LINETYPES AND HATCH PATTERNS
This means that BricsCAD can use linetypes and hatch patterns that have been customized for AutoCAD. If you wish to reuse linetypes and hatch patterns from AutoCAD, then follow these steps:
Tutorial: How to Copy AutoCAD .lin and .pat Files to BricsCAD

1. Copy the .lin, .shx, and .pat files from their support folder: ...to the BricsCAD support folder in Windows:
C:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\R19.0\enu\Support
2.
C:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\Bricsys\BricsCAD\V13\en_US\Support
(In Linux, the BricsCAD support folder is home/<login>/Bricsys/BricsCAD/BricsCAD/V13/en_US/Support.) 3. Once copied, however, you have to rename the files, because BricsCAD uses different file names for default linetype and hatch pattern files. :
File Type AutoCAD Default Name BricsCAD Default Name Notes
Linetypes Hatch patterns
As an alternative to copying files, you can import AutoCAD linetype files into BricsCAD like this:
1. In BricsCAD, enter the Linetype command to open the Explorer window at the Linetypes node.
acad.lin acadiso.lin ltypeshp.shx acad.pat acadiso.pat
default.lin iso.lin ltypeshp.shx default.pat iso.pat
ISO-standard linetypes Shape files for complex linetypes ISO-standard hatch patterns
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2.
Click the
New button to display the Load Linetypes dialog box.
3. 4.
Click File to access another .lin file, such as acad.lin. Use the Look In droplist to navigate to C:\Users\<login>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\R19.0\enu\ Support. Replace <login> with your Windows login name.
5.
Choose the .lin file you wish to open, and then click Open. The linetypes from AutoCAD are added to the current drawing.
Linetypes and hatch patterns are customized the same way by BricsCAD and AutoCAD, by editing the related .lin and .pat files with Notepad or another text editor. Custom.
As of V12, BricsCAD has a new way to handle custom hatch pattern files whose names differ from default.pat; these are displayed by the Hatch Pattern Palette dialog box when hatch Type is set to
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BricsCAD and AutoCAD support both color-based and style-based plot styles that allow entities to look different when plotted. Recall that CTB files are for the older color-based plot style tables, while STB files are for the newer style-based plot style tables. CAD programs are identical: ager from the File menu.) The figures below show that the style-based plot style tables of both To create or edit plot styles in BricsCAD, use the PlotStyle command. (Or choose Plotstyle Man-
PLOT STYLES
This means BricsCAD can use STB and CTB files created by AutoCAD after you rename them. The sole difference is the file name of the default: AutoCADs default name is acad.stb, while BricsCADs default is default.stb. BricsCAD and AutoCAD both support PC3 plotter manager files, which allow users to customize
Left: AutoCADs STB table. Right: BricsCADs STB table.
Plotter Manager
plotter options. BricsCAD can use PC3 files created in AutoCAD.
To create and edit plotters in BricsCAD, choose Plotter Manager from the File menu, or enter the PlotterManager command. The figures below show that the plotter configuration editors of both
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CAD programs are similar: one significant improvement is that Bricsys lets you choose the system printer in the Information tab, whereas AutoCAD does not.
Left: BricsCADs plotter editor for a system printer. Right: AutoCADs plotter editor for DWF outpout.
Supported Files
In addition to DWG drawing files, BricsCAD and AutoCAD employ many additional files. The following tables cross-reference by extension supported files between the two CAD packages.
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AutoCAD File
BricsCAD File
Notes
Drawing Files .adt .bak .dwf .dwfx .dwg .dws .dwt .dxb .dxf .sv$ .xlg .$$$ .$ac .$a Support Files .acb .acl .arg .atc .aws .blk .cfg .chm .chx .cui .cuix .cus .dbq .dbt .dbx .dct .dsd .dst .err .fdc .fmp .hdi ... .htm, .html ... .ies .ini .lin
.adt .bak .dwf ... .dwg ... .dwt ... .dxf .sv$ .xlg ... ... ...
Audit log files Backup drawing files Design Web format files XPS compatible version of DWF files Drawing files CAD standards files Drawing template files Binary drawing interchange files for CAD/camera Drawing interchange files, ASCII and binary Autosaved drawing files Xref log files Emergency backup files Temporary files created by AutoCAD Temporary files
... ... .arg .btc ... ... .cfg chm ... .cui ... .cus ... ... ... .dic ... .dst ... ... .fmp ... .hlp .htm, .html .icm ... ... .lin
AutoCAD color book files Autocorrect list files User profile files AutoCAD / BricsCAD tool catalog files AutoCAD workspace files Block template files Configuration files Compiled HTML format help files Standards check files Customize User Interface files Customization container files Custom dictionary files Database query files Database template files Database extension files Dictionary files Drawing set description files Sheet set data files Error log files Field catalog files Font mapping files Heidi device interface files Windows-format help files Hypertext markup language files IntelliCAD menu files Illumination distribution data files Configuration (initialization) files Linetype definition files
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AutoCAD File
BricsCAD File
Notes
.log ... .mli .mln .mnc .mnd .mnl .mnr .mns .mnu .nfl .pat .ptw .pwt .rml .shp .shx .slg .ttf .txt .udl .xml .xmx .xpg .xtp
.log .lwi ... .mln ... ... ... ... .mns .mnu ... .pat ... ... ... ... .shx ... .ttf .txt ... ... ... ... .xtp
Log files created by the LogFileOn command Base material files Material library files for rendering Multiline style files Compiled menu files (deprecated as of AutoCAD 2006) Uncompiled menu files containing macros (deprecated) AutoLISP routines used by AutoCAD menus (deprecated) Menu resource files AutoCAD-generated menu source files (deprecated) Menu source files (deprecated as of AutoCAD 2006) Filter list files Hatch pattern definition files Publish to Web settings files Publish to Web template files Redline markup files (obsolete) Shape and font definition files Compiled shape and AutoCAD font files Status log files Microsoft font files Text message files Microsoft data link files Extended markup language files External message files XML-format tool palette group files Tool palette exchange files
Plotting Support Files .ctb .ctb .pc2 ... .pc3 .pc3 .pcp ... .plt .plt .pmp .pmp .pss ... .stb .stb Import-Export Files .3ds .bmp .cdf .dgn .dxe .dxx ... ...
Color-table based plot parameter files Plot configuration parameters files for AutoCAD 2000 (deprecated) Plot configuration parameters files since AutoCAD 2000i Plot configuration parameters files for AutoCAD R14 (deprecated) Plot files Plotter model configuration files Plot stamp settings files Style-table based plot parameter files
... .bmp .cdf ... ... ... .ecw .emf
3D Studio files Windows raster files (device-independent bitmap) Comma delimited files MicroStation V8 and V7 design files Data extraction files created by DataExtraction command DXF files created by AttExt command Enhanced Compression Wavelet files Enhanced meta format files
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AutoCAD File
BricsCAD File
Notes
.eps .fax .fit .gif .jpg, .jpeg ... .kml .kmx .pcx .pdf .png .sat .sdf .slb .sld .stl ... .tga .tif .txt .wmf .xls
... ... ... .gif .jpg, .jpeg .jp2 ... ... .pcx .pdf .png .sat .sdf .slb .sld ... .svg .tga .tif .txt .wmf ...
Encapsulated PostScript files Fax raster plot files FIT raster plot files CompuServe image files Joint photographic expert group files JPEG 2000 files Google Earth files (keyhole markup language) Compressed KML files Raster format files Portable document format files Portable Network Graphics raster files ACIS solid object files (short for Save As Text) files Space-delimited files Slide library files Slide files Solid object stereo-lithography files Scalable vector graphics Raster format (Targa) files Raster format (Tagged image file format) files Space delimited files Windows metaformat files Excel spreadsheet files
API and Programming Files .actm ... .arx .tx ... .brx .cpp .cpp .dce .dce .dcl .dcl ... .drx .dll .dll .dvb .dvb .fas ... .h .h .lib .lib .lsp .lsp ... .mcr .pgp .pgp .rx ... .scr .scr .unt .unt ... .vbi .vlx ...
Active macro source code files AutoCAD / Teiga runtime extension files Bricsys runtime extension files ObjectARX source code files Dialog error log files Dialog control language descriptions of dialog boxes Design runtime extension files Dynamic link libraries Visual Basic for Applications program files AutoLISP fast load programs files ADS/SDS and ARX/BRX/TX function definition files ARX BRX/TX function library files AutoLISP/LISP program files Macro files Program parameters files (external commands and aliases) Lists of ARX applications that load automatically Script files Unit definition files VBA project files prior to BricsCAD V8 Compiled Visual LISP files
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Programming Considerations
By supporting almost the same list of programming languages and APIs as does AutoCAD, Bricsys makes it easy for you to transfer your AutoCAD add-ons to BricsCAD:
VB.NET. BricsCAD Classic for Linux works with LISP, DCL, Diesel, TX, and SDS. None of the Linux versions supports VL, VLA, VLAX, and VLR functions, because each depends on COM, which is Windows-specific. BricsCAD Pro and Platinum for Linux add BRX, which you can program with C/C++. Missing are functions closely tied to Windows, primarily in the AcUi/AdUI and OPM class categories. BricsCAD Classic for Windows works with LISP, DCL, Diesel, TX, COM, .NET, and SDS. BricsCAD Pro and Platinum for Windows adds VBA and BRX. You can program with C/C++, VB, VBA, and
When it comes to using programs written for AutoCAD, you can reuse .lsp AutoLISP routines, .dvb tion. For writing C and C++ applications, BricsCAD offers its BRX interface, which is code-compatible interface; SDS is deprecated in both AutoCAD and BricsCAD.
AutoCAD API Equivalent in BricsCAD Notes
projects or VBA macros (in Windows only), and .dcl dialog control language files with no modificawith AutoCADs ARX interface. BricsCAD supports SDS, which is compatible with AutoCADs ADS
Action Recorder (*) Scripts, SCR ActiveX ADS ARX AutoLISP COM Diesel DCL CUI .Net ... ... VSTA ActiveX SDS BRX or TX LISP COM Diesel DCL CUI Teigha.NET TX VBA ... AutoCADs Action Recorder scripts cannot be edited; scripts recorded by BricsCAD can be edited. In-place editing; not available in BricsCAD for Linux. ADS code ported from AutoCAD requires just a recompile using BRX headers; ADS/ SDS deprecated by Autodesk and Bricsys Ported ARX code requires just a recompile using new BRX headers; when used with TX (ex-DRX), ported ARX code must be rewritten Ported AutoLISP code runs as-is in BricsCAD; no changes needed, includes support for Vl, Vlr, Vla, and Vlax functions and encryption. Ported AutoCAD COM runs as-is in BricsCAD; no change needed; not available in BricsCAD for Linux. Ported Diesel code runs as-is in BricsCAD; no changes needed Ported DCL code runs as-is in BricsCAD; no changes needed Ported AutoCAD menu and toolbar macros work as-in in BricsCAD BricsCAD provides Teigha.NET and extra BRX-managed wrappers; not available in BricsCAD for Linux. Teigha eXtensions (renamed in V12) from Open Design Alliance; not available in AutoCAD. Current AutoCAD VBA code runs as-is in BricsCAD for Windows VBA is deprecated in AutoCAD; not available in BricsCAD for Linux. VSTA is unavailable in BricsCAD.
Generally, BricsCAD provides a nearly identical subset of equivalent function names. In the case recompile compiled code using headers provided by Bricsys.
of non-compiled code, such as LISP and DCL, you just drop it into the BricsCAD environment. You
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Detailed information is freely available from the Bricsys online developer reference at www.bricsys. com/bricscad/help/en_US/V13/DevRef/index.html. The following notes are adapted from this reference.
BRX is 100% code compatible with ARX, AutoCADs C++ interface. This means that you need only ible, so that modules compiled with ARX cannot be loaded into BricsCAD, and visa versa. You must recompile the source code as follows:
AutoCAD: compile with ARX to run on AutoCAD BricsCAD: compile and link with BRX to run on BricsCAD
ABOUT BRX
maintain one set of source code for both CAD platforms. They are not, however, binary compat-
The necessary *.h, *.c, and *.tlb files are included in BRX SDK. BRX offers the following functions in common with ARX. This list is not exhaustive:
Common basic functionality, such as AcRx, AcAp, AcCm, AcDb, AcEd, AcGe, AcGi, AcGs, and AcUt. Multiple document interface using AcApDocument, AcApDocumentIterator, AcApDocManager, and so on. Reactors like AcApDocManagerReactor, AcDbDatabaseReactor, and AcEditorReactor. Custom objects derived from AcDbObject, AcDbEntity, and so on. Transactions using AcDbTransactionManager, AcTransactionManager, and so on. Input point processing with AcEdInputPointManager and AcEdInputPointMonitor. MFC-based user interface extensions, such as AcUi and AdUi-based categories. COM interfaces callable from C++. Undocumented ARX functions, such as acdbSetDbmod, acedPostCommand, acedEvaluateLisp, ads_queueexpr, getCurrentPlotStyleName, and GetListOfPlotStyles. Load on demand for commands registered through the AcadAppInfo interface. Property palette inteface, OPM. B-modeler code compatible with A-modeler. Hidden Line and Brep APIs. Managed wrapper classes for .NET API.
The BRX API was developed by Bricsys, and so is available for BricsCAD exclusively. The API is prior to V8. The higher the BricsCAD version, the more BRX functions are supported.
supported on BricsCAD V8 (or higher) Pro and Platinum only, not on BricsCAD Classic or releases
TIP BricsCAD V13 is not binary compatible with V12 because (a) APIs have changed and (b) V13 is built using Microsofts Visual C 2010 instead of MSVC2005. To run on V13, most third-party applications must be rebuilt except for scripts and LISP applications. In addition, Windows XP users must apply Service Pack 3 for MSVC2010 to run.
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BricsCAD is based on the Teigha libraries from Open Design Alliance, and so TX modules compiled with the TX SDK (Teigha eXtension software development kit) can be loaded to run in BricsCAD. V12 or later; you must recompile the source code using the latest TX SDK.) differences:
TX SDK enforces smart pointers in client code. Constructing and destructing objects are different from ARX. Control flow of error handling is different in ARX and TX applications, because error handling is based on exceptions thrown by the Teigha libraries, for the most part, and these need to be caught by the client code. TX SDK contains a subset of ARX, and so functions such as AcEdJig, AcApDocument, AcApDocManager, AcEdInputPointMonitor, and AcUi are missing. Some basic operations are done differently from ARX, such as retrieving the active database instance or opening entities. There are some minor differences in the class hierarchy of objects.
ABOUT TX
The TX SDK produces TX modules files with the .tx extension, which are DLLs that are loaded at
runtime by BricsCAD. (Prior to V12, the modules where named .drx. These cannot be loaded into
TX classes, methods, and functions seem similar to those in ARX. There are, however, a number of
For more on how to use TX with BricsCAD, refer to the online documentation at www.bricsys.com/ bricscad/help/en_US/V13/DevRef/source/TX_01.htm The BricsCAD .NET API exposes the CAD systems functionality, and allows you to build managed Classic versions of BricsCAD.) time). The 32-bit version of .NET Framework v 2.0 Redistributable Package is available from aspx?FamilyID=B44A0000-ACF8-4FA1-AFFB-40E78D788B00.
ABOUT .NET (WINDOWS ONLY)
code that runs under the .NET Common Language Runtime CLR. (.Net is not available on Linux or BricsCAD supports .NET runtime version 2.0 (versions 2.0 through 3.5 use the same base run8edd-aab15c5e04f5, while the 64-bit version is here www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details. (At time of writing, .NET 4.0 was not supported officially by Bricsys, but a sample bricscad.exe.config file with sample .NET 4.0-based code is available from the company.) To set up a project with Visual Studio, create a class library using the class library wizard under your Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-
preferred .NET language. There are two DLLs that need to be referenced: BrxMgd.dll and TD_Mgd.
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dll. The optional TD_MgdBrp.dll handles the Brep APIs. These DLLs are located in the BricsCAD installation folder.
TIPS When referencing these DLLs, it is important to set the Copy Local property to False. All other DLLs such as referenced COM DLLs or satellite DLLs, can have their Copy Local property to true, or as needed by your project. Samples projects are found in the \Bricsys\BricsCAD\API\dotNet folder.
Most AutoLISP routines work directly in BricsCAD. Its LISP engine supports VL and VLA functions, compiling to FAS (compiled LISP) files.

PORTING AUTOLISP TO LISP
and LISP reactors (except in the Linux version), as well as encrypted LISP; it does not support You may experience the following issues:
BricsCADs command line input can vary slightly from AutoCADs. The solution is to verify the content of all (command) functions, or avoid using (command) altogether. BricsCAD does not implement a few AutoLISP functions. The solution is to rewrite the code, or to adapt external libraries.
APIS SUPPORTED BY BRICSCAD FOR LINUX

BricsCAD V12 for Linux supports the following APIs. (At time of writing, the Linux version had not been updated to V13.)
All LISP functions, excluding VL, VLA, VLAX, and VLR functions, because they depend on COM, (common object model), which is Windows-only. All DCL (dialog control language) functions. All DIESEL functions. All TX functions. Many BRX functions, including basic CRT and MFC (Microsoft foundation classes) functions to facilitate the porting of Windows-based client code. For example, the MFC class CString is widely used in client code. By providing a similar code-compatible class on Linux BRX, Bricsys avoids the need to look for a new string class and replace it everywhere. BricsCAD for Linux does not support interfaces that are strongly tied to Windows; this list primarily consists of AcUi/AdUi and OPM class categories. Many SDS (software development system) functions; excluded are a few functions that have Windows-specific types in their signature.
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DOSLib works with BricsCAD Pro. It is a free library of LISP-callable functions not found in regular LISP. See en.wiki.mcneel.com/default.aspx/McNeel/DOSLib.html. DCL routines work directly in BricsCAD. OpenDCL is fully supported and available for BricsCAD;
Porting DCL to BricsCAD

see www.opendcl.com.
Diesel routines work directly in BricsCAD.
Porting Diesel to BricsCAD
AutoCAD and BricsCAD for Windows both use DVB files for VBA projects. Releases of BricsCAD prior to V8 use VBI files, which can be converted to VBA for V8 and later. Refer to the VBA conversion tool at www.bricsys.com/common/vbaconversion. VBA is not available in BricsCAD for Linux. ADS code requires only a recompile using the BRX headers.
PORTING VBA TO BRICSCAD (WINDOWS ONLY)
PORTING ADS TO SDS
Since ADS/SDS were developed nearly 20 years ago, Bricsys considers SDS deprecated, meaning developers should no longer use it. However, for backwards compatibility, Bricsys supports the old described at www.bricsys.com/bricscad/help/en_US/V13/DevRef/source/SDS_01.htm.
SDS interface. To run an IntelliCAD-style SDS module on BricsCAD, the code must be adapted as
COM (Common Object Model) is available in Pro versions of BricsCAD, and is accessed through programming languages like VB, VBA, VB.NET, C, and C++. the functions you require.
PORTING COM TO BRICSCAD (WINDOWS ONLY)
Though BricsCADs object model is quite similar to AutoCADs, it is not identical. Nevertheless, most VBx code written for AutoCAD should work directly under BricsCAD. When you find a required element missing from the object model, the BricsCAD developer support team is open to creating
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BricsCAD does not support VSTA (Visual Studio Tools for Applications). BricsCAD and AutoCAD both use the AppLoad command to load applications.
LOADING APPLICATIONS INTO BRICSCAD
Above: AutoCADs application loader. Below: BricsCADs application loader.
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BricsCAD and AutoCAD share the same units conversion file, which is used by functions in LISP,
Units
SDS, and so on. BricsCAD calls its file default.unt, while AutoCADs file name is acad.unt.
Bricsys notes that There is day to day support for application developers who need assistance porting applications to BricsCAD, or simply require technical information about the porting process and the possibilities. The Bricsys development team has an extended section with dedicated developers for the different development environments (LISP, COM, ADS, ARX, .NET). com/en_INTL/home/developers.jsp for more information. that end-users can employ. Bricsys does not charge third-party developers, unlike CAD vendors. There is no fee to join, no an-
THIRD-PARTY DEVELOPER SUPPORT
nual membership, no charge for support, and no royalties on shipping products. Visit www.bricscad. When third-party developers request an addition to the API, it becomes a new feature in BricsCAD
TIP The RecScript command (script recorder) in BricsCAD produces .scr files that can be edited, which makes it more useful than the Action Recorder in AutoCAD. Since the Action Recorders scripts cannot be edited, it is not really an API.
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BricsCAD V13 Automation Object Model
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CHAPTER FIVE
Operating Dual-CAD Design Offices
SOME FIRMS OPERATE BRICSCAD exclusively, but others run a mix of BricsCAD and AutoCAD. saving alternative to Windows or OS X.
This chapter explores some of the challenges in running a dual-CAD shop, and how to solve them.
As well, we examine the benefits and drawbacks to running the Linux operating system as a cost
Reasons for Using Multiple CAD Systems
It has become common for design firms to license more than one brand of CAD package. Examples include AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD and SolidWorks, and AutoCAD and BricsCAD. cally give these reasons:
Cost savings Capability Compatibility
However, there is more work involved in running two different CAD systems than in just one. So
why would design firms cause themselves this otherwise-unnecessary grief? Dual-CAD firms typi-
For some firms, the $4,200-cost of AutoCAD is expensive, and so the majority of seats run a lowercost package, such as AutoCAD LT or BricsCAD. For instance, a 100-seat firm might have a 10/90 split between AutoCAD and the lower-cost package, saving the firm over $300,000 in initial licensing costs. The table illustrates the dramatic savings that are possible:
Number of Seats Initial Licensing Cost Savings
COST
(The actual licensing cost of a hundred seats is likely to be lower than indicated by the table, because firms can get a better price from CAD vendors when negotiating bulk purchases. Bricsys starts by offering a 10% savings on five licenses, which is reflected by the table.) optional:
Upgrade fees Annual maintenance or support fees. (These include semi-annual or annual upgrades at no extra cost.)
100 of AutoCAD 2013 10 of AutoCAD 2013 90 of BricsCAD Pro V13 100 of BricsCAD Pro V13
$420,000 $ 42,000 $ 43,335 $ 48,150
$ 0 $334,665 $371,850
I say initial licensing costs, because there are subsequent costs associated with software, both The annual cost for subscriptions to 100 licenses of CAD software is as follows:
Number of Seats Annual Subscription Price Cost Savings
Again, the actual cost will be lower due to the savings from bulk purchases. I didnt bother comparfrom any earlier release of AutoCAD to the current one.
100 of AutoCAD 10 of AutoCAD 90 of BricsCAD 100 of BricsCAD
$45,000 $ 4,500 $ 14,400 $ 16,000
$ 0 $ 26,100 $ 29,000
ing upgrade fees, because Autodesk now charges full list price for AutoCAD upgrades: $4,200 to go
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The pricing situation is particularly acute for firms in developing countries, where starting architects
Country-Biased Pricing
might make as little as $300 a month. In my opinion, it is disturbing that major software companies the software tools out of reach of many of their potential customers. ing countries yet fail to see the connection. a clean shop with no pirated software. Both companies charge different prices for different countries.
charge more for their programs in these high-growth but low-income countries, thereby placing
Ironically, these same software companies then complain about the high rate of piracy in developThe non-democratic pricing model puts ethical design firms in a bind. They cannot afford a full For these firms, one solution is to license mostly lower-cost products, specifically AutoCAD LT, house of expensive CAD software licenses, yet they need to show large clients that they are running
Solutions to High License Fees

at half the price of AutoCAD LT.
BricsCAD, and the like. Indeed, BricsCAD provides firms with a much more capable CAD package of the pricier Windows. The catch is that the CAD vendor must have a version of his software that runs on Linux. Bricsys does; Autodesk does not. In summary, BricsCAD is triply cost-effective:
BricsCAD can run on Linux, which is free.
Linux can run on older computers.
Another solution to saving money is to run the free Linux operating system on computers, instead Linux is doubly cost-effective, because it runs well on older, less powerful computers. Newer resupports older device drivers or software. Windows 7 is particularly bad for this.
BricsCAD Pro is priced 8x less than AutoCAD, and 2x less than AutoCAD LT.
leases of Windows typically require new hardware, if only because the operating system no longer
5 Operating Dual-CAD Design Offices
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Like all responsible, capitalistic corporations, design firms look to reduce their expenses, and so prefer the lowest-cost system. But in the case of CAD, this may mean losing some compatibility with the industry standard, AutoCAD. Thus, BricsCAD shops might employ a few AutoCAD seats.
COMPATIBILITY
Autodesk works hard to ensure AutoCAD stays ahead of the competition, whether through technolwas the only low-priced CAD package that was 100% DWG-compatible with AutoCAD. The problem not deal with all the entities created by AutoCAD. the clones.
ogy or through marketing. For instance, when in the mid-1990s IntelliCAD began threatening sales of the 10x more expensive AutoCAD, Autodesk launched a marketing campaign that was effective with the claim at the time was that it was not entirely accurate, for AutoCAD LT in those days could resources into adding all kinds of functions to AutoCAD, making it increasingly incompatible with
in warning customers away from the upstart. The marketing campaign claimed that AutoCAD LT The 100% Pure DWG situation is more true today than ever before, as Autodesk puts its huge clients that dont reproduce correctly in IntelliCAD or BricsCAD. This is not unlike a firm saving Office to ensure compatibility with files created by the de facto standard in office software. The counterweight to Autodesk is the Open Design Alliance. ODA was established originally to ARX programming interface and ADT object enabler. document the proprietary DWG format. The organization provides APIs to member organizations
For this reason, most design firms have at least one license of AutoCAD to handle drawings from money by standardizing on the free Libre Office package, yet maintaining a license of Microsoft to allow them to read and write DWG files. Since its founding in the late 1990s, ODA has expanded
its services by providing programming toolkits that mimic other aspects of AutoCAD, such as the The bad news is that the content of the DWG file changes every year as Autodesk adds more capabilities and object types to AutoCAD. The qualified good news is that Autodesk freezes the format itself for three years at a time. ODA and its Russian contract programmers do the hard work by figuring out whats inside DWG. This means that BricsCAD, IntelliCAD, and other firms can concentrate on adding features to their CAD systems. keen on relying only on Autodesk for accessing DWG files.
While Autodesk licenses its own RealDWG API, some 1,200 member companies of ODA are not
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As Autodesk barrels ahead adding features to AutoCAD, in just a few years the CAD program has direct modeling add-on just to name a few. entirety.
CAPABILITY
gained 3D mesh modeling, 3D surface modeling, a materials makeover, parametric constraints, a
The bad news is that I see no way that the clones can replicate all of AutoCADs functions in their 2D drawings. Even in hard core 3D CAD environments, such as Catia, the numbers indicate that more than 50% of drawings are produced in 2D. (Catia, from Dassault Systemes, is high-end 3D modeling software used by aircraft and automotive firms, among others.) Indeed, ITC has officially given up trying to keep up, and instead plans to concentrate on features own code. Both, however, rely on ODA. that end-users want in 2D drafting. (ITC is the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium, which hires the package the software for sale to end-users. Bricsys is no longer a member of ITC, and writes its tionally have been weak in 3D. IntelliCAD and other taking giant strides in beefing up its 3D offerings.
The good news is that there is no need to replicate AutoCAD completely. Three-D modeling in areas
of meshes and surfaces is of little interest to heads-down drafters, the majority of whom produce
programmers to update IntelliCAD.) The software is then licensed to consortium members, who Nevertheless, 3D cannot be ignored, and clones tradidecade ago. The sole exception is BricsCAD, which is
With V11, Bricsys added a higher-priced Platinum Edition that offered 3D history-based parametric modeling, known as X-Solids. It included a parametric parts library, called X-Hardware. With V12, Bricsys added 3D direct modeling and 2D constraints to all editions, with 3D constraints added to the Platinum Edition. With V13, Bricsys added assembly modeling for linking two or more 3D models using constraints, kinematic analysis for checking motion and interference between parts, and bills of materials. In future releases, it plans to add import and export for popular formats (such as Solidworks, Inventor, and IGES), exploded views, feature modeling, knowledge-based engineer-
clones have achieved what AutoCAD did more than a
BricsCAD might become something like an AutoCADing, and more.
compatible version of Inventor, but for under $1,000.
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Running BricsCAD and AutoCAD in One Office

and BricsCAD differ.
To run more than one CAD system in your office successfully, it is crucial to take the time to underlustrated Quick Reference (Delmar Publishers), which lists all AutoCAD commands in alphabetical order, along with options and all the ways of launching each command. It is available for all versions of AutoCAD since Release 12. You should also establish an in-house workflow to assign appropriate tasks to each CAD system, can display nearly anything that AutoCAD can draw, but does not create or edit every entity type. In brief, BricsCAD has the following capabilities:
Activity BricsCAD can...
stand the differences between them. There are many differences, because the abilities of AutoCAD This ebook is your primary reference; you may find it helpful also to refer to my The AutoCAD Il-
as described in the section following. When features are missing, find workarounds. For instance,
when BricsCAD cannot handle certain entities, you can xref drawings from AutoCAD. BricsCAD
View Edit Create
...display nearly all AutoCAD entity types, even if it cannot edit or create them ...edit most AutoCAD entities, although sometimes only through the Properties pane ...create many AutoCAD entities, but fewer than it can edit
See chapter 3, Drawing File Compatibility, for the nitty gritty detail on each and every DWG object.
You probably are well acquainted with the workflow in your office, the route that drawings take through the office typically from the general to the specific. For instance, one of my clients has the following workflow:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Receive DWG drawing files from architects Review the dimensions on received drawings for dimensional accuracy Create overall elevation views of the buildings faces, and plan views of each floor Draw up assembly drawings for fabricators Make detail drawings of every item, and then generate bills of materials Plot drawings on B- or C-size paper Send completed paper drawing sets to clients and fabrication shops
DIVIDING THE WORKFLOW BETWEEN AUTOCAD AND BRICSCAD
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As much as possible, work is done in BricsCAD, because it operates on the majority of workstations. The only work handled by AutoCAD are design functions BricsCAD is unable to complete. those that work only in AutoCAD. This particular design firm took the time to determine the CAD features they employed in their Here are the lists they created, along with brief notes on their usefulness to their workflow. These lists are not exhaustive, but specific to the needs of this particular design firm. First, the usefulness of features common to both CAD systems:
Features that Work in BricsCAD and AutoCAD Level of Usefulness
office, and then created two lists: (a) features that work in both BricsCAD and AutoCAD and (b)
Template DWT files Field text Hyperlink command Geometric and dimensional constraints Sheet sets LISP / AutoLISP Explorer / DesignCenter, Tool Palettes CUI / Customization
Very useful for speeding up initial drawing creation Very useful for automating text Very useful for linking to other drawings Very useful using dimensional constraints for sizing objects Very useful for organizing groups of drawings Useful for automating some routine drafting Probably useful for sharing and accessing content Useful in some aspects, such as combining commands
And here is the usefulness of functions found only in AutoCAD (not BricsCAD):
Features Specific to AutoCAD Level of Usefulness
DimBreak, DimSpace, DimJoggedLine Data extraction, tables, and spreadsheets Mleaders, editing, styles Overkill LayTrans command Creating dynamic blocks Measure and Divide QDim Drawing Views Check Standards commands, DWS files Annotative scaling Active Recorder
Very useful Very useful Very useful for joining multiple leaders into one; and for lining up leaders neatly Useful for cleaning up drawings Useful for bulk editing layer names in incoming drawings Useful for creating complex linetypes Useful for placing QDim dimensions Useful when used with Measure Probably useful for generating 2D plans from 3D Too limited in scope to be useful Not useful Useless
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While some employees may be keen to implement more efficient drafting methods on BricsCAD and AutoCAD, it pays to place one strategic employee in charge of CAD management and training for everyone.

STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION
Here is a plan that one design firm arrived at:

Pro and Platinum versions
Upgrade all Linux and Windows licenses of BricsCAD to the latest version; decide on the split between the Introduce a few seats of Inventor for handling specific 3D constructions, as well as forms of automated drafting of which AutoCAD is incapable; Inventor licenses include AutoCAD free Determine the split between drafting tasks of which both AutoCAD and BricsCAD are capable, recognizing the limitations of BricsCAD As much as possible automate 2D drafting processes Create a steering group to ensure the new techniques are disseminated throughout the firm; ensure progress is made Consider hiring local trainers for specific topics; create a CAD programmer position Review the implementation in a years time
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Dual OS Office
To further save money, some firms switch some of their workstations from Windows to Linux. One firm told me that replacing Windows with the free Linux operating system saves them 10% of their annual IT budget. all of the features in the Windows version operate properly in the Linux version. AutoCAD is not available for Linux, but BricsCAD is. Bricsys is working hard to ensure that nearly The part of the CAD system that deals with geometric objects is not the problem in porting. (Porting operating system.) The problems lie behind the scenes, specifically in the areas of programming interfaces and user interface elements.
SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF PORTING SOFTWARE TO LINUX
is the term used to describe the process of making a software program work correctly with another Even for a large, wealthy firm like Autodesk, porting CAD programs to other operating systems is a difficult undertaking, because most of todays CAD software is intimately intertwined with the interfaces for third-party programmers. Windows operating system. Microsoft deliberately made it easy for programmers to write softinstance, a programming team at Autodesk took 18 months to rewrite AutoCAD for Mac and OS X,
ware for WIndows, but at the cost of making it excruciatingly difficult to tear themselves away. For
and even then something like 30% of commands were left out of the initial release, as were most
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Admittedly, a mere five years ago, no CAD programmer would have dreamed of writing code for anything other than Windows. Or perhaps for OS X. (A few CAD firms, such as Graphisoft and Linux and OS X on desktop systems in addition to Windows on desktop and portable devices. Vectorworks, began on the Mac some twenty years ago, and since then developed their software
simultaneously for OS X and Windows. This foresight means no pain for them today!) Now, however, the plausible choices have quadrupled to include Android and iOS on portable devices, and To fix the two problem areas, Bricsys undertook two significant programming projects. The first
User Interface
rewrote the user interface using wxWidgets (www.wxwidgets.org). This interface allows BricsCAD to look the same on Linux, OS X, Windows, and mobile operating systems. How should a ported program look? This serious question faces software companies: should a CAD program look the same on all operating systems? If so, then current users feel comfortable switching. program written for OS X, very different from the Windows version. This is the approach Bricsys took, and so the Linux version looks the same as the Windows version. able starting with it. This is the approach Autodesk took with AutoCAD for Mac, which looks like a The second project was even more difficult, mimicking the Windows programming interface,
Or should the CAD program look like the host operating system? If so, then new users feel comfort-
APIs
something that no other CAD vendor attempted. (In the general computing world, there have been Windows. Note that this problem affects only the parts of programming languages that depend greatly on the and scripts.
efforts like those of Wine, VMware, and Win4Lin to help Windows programs run on Linux and OS underlaying operating system, such as Visual LISP, .Net, and ARX or BRX. The OS problem does not that Bricsys ported to BricsCAD for Linux:
All DCL functions All DIESEL functions All TX functions All BRX functions, excluding interfaces that are strongly tied to Windows, such as AcUi/AdUi and OPM categories All SDS functions, excluding Windows-specific types
X.) Programmers at Bricsys had to write the code for Linux that Microsoft normally provides for affect customization internal to the CAD system, such as menu and toolbar macros, LISP routines,
The end result ensures that add-ons written in Windows work in Linux. Here is a list of the APIs
All LISP functions, excluding VL, VLA, VLAX, and VLR functions, because they depend on Windows-only COM
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Running the Linux operating system on computers instead of Windows has several benefits. These include the following items. Linux is free, as are subsequent upgrades. While Windows is included free with every new com-
BENEFITS OF LINUX
Linux is Free
puter (actually, you pay a hidden cost of about $20), upgrades are not free. Upgrading from older versions of Windows can costs $40 to $200 per computer, depending on current offers available. $70 upgrade price to Windows 8:
Windows OS
Here is the annualized cost to upgrade OS licenses on 100 computers every three years, using the
Linux OS Savings
Desktop Linux is now similar enough to regular Windows that many users cannot tell the difference, to install Linux on their home computers, after experiencing its benefits at work.
$7,000 every third year $2,333/year
$0 every year $0/year
$7,000 per 3 years $2,333/year
particularly those users who dont care about the UX (user experience), but care primarily about
getting the work done. Indeed, CAD operators at one design firm subsequently asked the IT staff
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Linux runs more efficiently than Windows. This means it can run CAD software faster on older
Linux is Hardware-Efficient
hardware for more years than does Windows. Whereas Windows today can barely function on computers with just 1GB RAM, Linux has no problem with small amounts of memory. This is because Microsoft programmers were instructed by founder Bill Gates to assume computers have infinite memory and CPU speeds, which they do not. As a result, Windows was written inefficiently. of efficiency has carried successfully into our current decade. In contrast, Linux was based on Unix, an operating system from the 1970s, which was written with
ultra-efficiency to run well on computers with very little memory and very slow CPUs. The ethos Linux has fewer irritants than Windows. It does not suffer from malware attacks, such as viruses,
Linux Is Malware-free
since the number of Linux computers is too small for virus writers to bother with. so I am surprised that OS X needs reboots following updates.) with Linux, than coming directly from Windows.
My favorite feature about Linux is that after updates are applied to Linux, I do not reboot the comHeres a funny thing I have noticed: it is easier to get used to OS X when you are already familiar Linux runs on the same computers as Windows, unlike OS X, which is locked to Apple hardware.
puter, as I must with Windows and OS X. I keep right on working. (Apple based OS X on Unix, and
Linux is Hardware-compatible
To try out Linux, you can install it on an existing Windows computer; to try out OS X, you have to buy all new hardware, and get used to different keyboard and trackpad interactions. flexible than the MacBook.) of RAM available, and then hook up your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. I find the mini is more Linux has dual-booting built-in, unlike Windows. This means that one computer can run both Linux
(A tip: If you have to get OS X, save some money by buying the Mac mini with the maximum amount
Linux Dual-boots
or Windows, through not simultaneously. When the computer starts, a Linux utility called grub on Windows, then I shut down the computer and start it with Windows. (OS X also includes a dual-boot facility, called BootCamp.)
lets you choose between running Linux or Windows. All my notebook computers are dual-booting;
I usually run Linux, because it is more efficient. But when I need to use a program available only
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The drawback to dual-boot is that it runs just one operating system at a time. If you wish to run two (or more) at the same time, then you can use a free virtual manager program, such as VmWare Player (www.vmware.com) and Oracle Virtual Box (www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/ screen) inside Windows, and even copy and paste between them.
virtualbox/downloads/index.html). These programs let you run, say, Linux in a window (or full Linux never conquered the desktop the way it took over in all other areas of computing, such as listic practices for many years were effective in locking out competitors, such as Apple and Linux. ing software. Linux is confusing, because it can feel different from Windows, it has hundreds of versions and
DRAWBACKS TO LINUX
Web servers, mainframe computers, smartphones, and embedded computing. Microsofts monoposeveral graphical user interfaces from which to choose, and can sometimes have problems installBecause it is different, it does not always have all the same software that Windows users are used no choice. And when software wont install, you wont use it. Much of the basic software you run on Windows is available on Linux, such as Libre Office, which
to. Because there is so much choice in the number of versions of Linux, users can end up making
Lack of identical software.
runs identically on Linux, OS X, and Windows. If you use Microsoft Office on Windows, then youll be running Libre Office on Linux. Other basics are also available in multi-OS versions, such as Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, and Opera), image processing (Picasa), music and video playback (VLC), and Skype. the built-in screen grab software is much more sophisticated than the one for Windows or OS X. software functions dont operate.)
Linux comes with a ton of utilities; after all, it was written by geeks for themselves. For instance, But it cannot run AutoCAD and other powerhouse software found in Windows and OS X, such as PhotoShop and InDesign -- except through a Windows emulator, such as Wine. I find that emulators or in a virtual machine. In this case, BricsCAD for Linux becomes the obvious choice. I recommend using native software, and I would rather do without than run software in an emulator are not efficient (runs the software slower) and not 100% compatible (some software and some
There are many more versions of Linux than there are of Windows. There is the source version
Which Linux?
written by Linius Torvald, after whom Linux is name. Then there are primary distributions, with names like Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Fedora, Red Hat, Mandriva, and Slackware.
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For every primary distribution, there are dozens of variants. This page at Wikipedia lists the names of more than 100 distributions and variants: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions. more similarly to OS X. all operate pretty much in roughly the same way; indeed, they work similarly to Windows and even Because they are free, you can download a bunch of them and try them out. Downloads are often ing a virtual machine (VmWare or Virtual Box) to install a Linux distribution temporarily, unless then it runs slowly, and you get a bad first impression!) drivers, and codecs. www.linuxmint.com
So, it can be hard no, confusing to choose one. (Here is a list of downloadable LiveCDs that
contain Linux: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_live_CDs). In one way, it does not matter, since they available as LiveCD format. You download the file (in .iso format), which you burn to a CD, and then you can run Linux from the CD drive and/or install onto a computer. In this case, I recommend usyou have a computer whose hard drive you can wipe. (You can run Linux off a CD or USB stick, but As for me, I use Mint Linux. It is based on the most popular dialect of Linux, Ubuntu, and so it can use .deb (Debian) installation files designed for Ubuntu. Better than just Ubuntu, however, Mint
includes all the extras that make starting out with Linux less painful, such as common applications, The biggest headache for new and medium-term Linux users is installing software. Many times,
Problematic Installers
installing software goes without a hitch; other times, it does not work well and is a major pain. The problem exists because Linux first expected users to install software through the command-line making installs easier. When you have hundreds of versions of Linux, youre bound to end up with but I disagree. interface; later, a GUI was added, and then different distributions came up with different ways of Major Linux vendors and software providers are fixing the problem in two ways: (a) through libraries built into the operating system.
Linux Distribution
dozens of installers. Someone once said in another context that more choice leads to less stress, Windows-like installers, which operate nearly automatically; and (b) through OS X-like software Here is a list of the major distributions and the installer software they use:
Package File Package Manager
Debian GNU/Linux Fedora Linux OpenSUSE Linux Turkish Pardus All others
.deb .rpm .rpm .pisi .tgz
dpkg RPM RPM YALI tar
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At its Web site, Bricsys lists the download files in the following formats:
If the variant you used is based on Debian, then you click the DEB file button. (I use Mint Linux, which is based on Ubuntu, which is based on Debian, and so I download .deb files.) If you have hundreds of dialects of Linux, then you are going to have several user interfaces. Thats
Competing GUIs
right: Linux offers easily replaceable graphical user interfaces. (This is also possible in Windows, but few have any desire to change Microsofts design.) Today, there is also Unity, which is designed for the smaller screens of netbooks and portable devices.
There used to be a big split over which interface to use with Linux: KDE or Gnome. (I prefer Gnome.)
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This chapter provided you with practical advice on running a design firm with both AutoCAD and BricsCAD, along with the pros and cons of replacing Windows with the Linux operating system.
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APPENDIX A
Command Name Cross-reference
THIS APPENDIX LISTS the names of commands found in AutoCAD and BricsCAD. The list is sorted alphabetically by command name for both CAD packages, and shows the equivalent command name if there is no exact match.

Commands specific to the assemblies, parametric 3D solids, and X-Hardware in BricsCAD Platinum are listed separately at the end of this appendix because these functions are not found in AutoCAD.
Command names new to BricsCAD V13 are shown in blue
2011
Not included are undocumented commands by either vendor, the names of hardwired aliases, nor
, 2012 or 2013 indicates the command was new to AutoCAD 2011, 2012, or 2013
deprecated commands.
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
Notes on Differences
A
About AcisIn AcisOut ActBasepoint ActManager ActRecord ActStop ActUserInput ActUserMessage AdCenter / AdcClose AdcNavigate ... 2011 AddSelected Adjust Ai_Box Ai_Cone Ai_Dish Ai_Dome ... Ai_Mesh Ai_Pyramid ... ... Ai_Sphere ... Ai_Torus Ai_Wedge Align ... AllPlay AmeConvert 2011 AnalysisCurvature 2011 AnalysisDraft 2011 AnalysisOptions 2011 AnalysisZebra AniPath AnnoReset AnnoUpdate Aperture ... AppLoad 2012 AppAutoLoader Arc Archive Area About AcisIn AcisOut ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... AddInMan ... ... Ai_Box Ai_Cone Ai_Dish Ai_Dome Ai_EdgeSurf ... Ai_Pyramid Ai_RevSurf Ai_RuleSurf Ai_Sphere Ai_TabSurf Ai_Torus Ai_Wedge Align AlignSpace ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Aperture Apparent AppLoad ... Arc ... Area
In BricsCAD, use RecScript In BricsCAD, use RecScript
In BricsCAD, use Explorer The VBA COM Add-In Manager for BricsCAD In BricsCAD, use ImageAdjust
In AutoCAD, use EdgeSurf In BricsCAD, use Mesh In AutoCAD, use RevSurf In AutoCAD, use RuleSurf In AutoCAD, use TabSurf
In BricsCAD, aligns viewports
In AutoCAD, use -Osnap Apparent
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AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
Array / 2012 ArrayClose 2013 ArrayClassic 2012 ArrayEdit 2012 ArrayPath / Polar /Rect 2012 ArrayPolar Arx Attach AttachURL AttDef AttDisp AttEdit AttExt AttIPedit AttRedef AttSync Audit ... AutoConstrain AutoPublish
... Array ... ... ... ... ... ... AttDef AttDisp AttEdit AttExt ... AttRedef AttSync Audit AutoComplete ... ...
In BricsCAD, use Array
In BricsCAD, use Array In BricsCAD, use Array In BricsCAD, use AppLoad In BricsCAD, use ImageAttach, Xref, PdfAdjust In BricsCAD, use Hyperlink
In BricsCAD, use the GcCoincident commands AutoConstrain option
B
Base BAttMan BEdit BESettings BHatch Blipmode 2012 Blend Block BlockIcon BmpOut Boundary Box Break BRep Browser Base BAttMan ... ... BHatch Blipmode ... Block ... BmpOut Boundary Box Break ... Browser
In BricsCAD, use Properties to edit dynamic blocks Dynamic blocks used in BricsCAD, but not created or edited
Required by AutoCAD for old drawings
C
Cal Camera ... Chamfer ChamferEdge Change CheckStandards Cal ... Center Chamfer ... Change ... BricsCAD displays Windows Calculator In AutoCAD, use -Osnap Center In BricsCAD, use DmChamfer
A Command Name Cross-reference
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AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
ChProp ChSpace Circle 2012 ClassicGroup ClassicImage ClassicLayer ClassicXref CleanScreenOn CleanScreenOff ... Clip Close CloseAll Color CommandLine CommandLineHide Compile Cone 2012 ContentExplorer / Close ConstraintBar ConstraintSettings Convert ConvertCTB ConvertOldLights ConvertOldMaterials ConvertPStyles 2011 ConvToNurbs ConvToSolid ConvToSurface Copy CopyBase CopyClip ... CopyHist CopyLink CopyToLayer CUI CuiExport CuiImport CuiLoad CuiUnload CustomerInvolvementProgram Customize CutClip 2011 CvAdd 2011 CvRemove CvHide 2011 CvShow
ChProp ... Circle ... ... ... ... ... ... CleanUnusedVariables Clip Close CloseAll Color CommandLine CommandLineHide ... Cone ... ConstraintBar ... ... ConvertCTB ... ... ConvertPStyles ... ... ... Copy CopyBase CopyClip CopyEData CopyHist ... ... CUI ... ... CuiLoad CuiUnload ... Customize CutClip ... ... ... ...
In BricsCAD, use Group In BricsCAD, use Image In BricsCAD, use Layer In BricsCAD, use Xref
Required by AutoCAD only for converting PostScript font files In BricsCAD, use Explorer
Required by AutoCAD for old AutoCAD drawings only Required by AutoCAD for old AutoCAD drawings only Required by AutoCAD for old AutoCAD drawings only
In BricsCAD, copies xdata between entities To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD Executes BricsCADs Customize command
In AutoCAD, use CUI
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AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
CvRebuild Cylinder
2011
... Cylinder
D
DataExtraction DataLink DataLinkUpdate 2011 DcAligned 2011 DcAngular 2011 DcConvert 2011 DcDiameter 2011 DcDisplay 2011 DcForm 2011 DcHorizontal 2011 DcLinear 2011 DcRadius DcVertical DbConnect / DbClose DbList ... ... ... ... ... DdPtype ... DSettings ... ... DdVPoint DdUcs Delay DelConstraint ... DetachURL DgnAdjust DgnAttach 2012 -DgnBind DgnClip DgnImport DgnExport DgnLayers DgnMapping DimConstraint ... Dist DistantLight
2011
... ... ... DcAligned DcAngular DcConvert DcDiameter ... ... DcHorizontal DcLinear DcRadius DcVertical ... DbList DdAttE DdEdit DdEModes DdFilter DdGrips DdPtype DdSelect DSettings DdSetVar DdSTrack DdVPoint DdUcs Delay DelConstraint DelEData ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... DimConstraint Dish Dist DistantLight
In BricsCAD, use AttExt or TableExport
In AutoCAD, use AttEdit Renamed EditText in AutoCAD 2010 BricsCAD displays Settings for entity creation BricsCAD displays DdFilter selection menu BricsCAD displays Settings for grips BricsCAD displays Settings for points BricsCAD displays Settings for entity selection BricsCAD displays Settings dialog box BricsCAD displays Settings for snap tracking BricsCAD displays Explorer for named UCSs
BricsCAD erases xdata from entities In BricsCAD, use Hyperlink
BricsCAD draws 3D solid dishes
159
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
Divide ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Donut DownloadManager Dragmode DrawingRecovery DrawingRecoveryHide DrawOrder ... DSettings DView DwfAdjust DwfAttach DwfClip DwfFormat ... DwgProps DxbIn DxfIn DxfOut
Divide DmAngle3D DmChamfer DmCoincident3D DmConcentric3D DmContraintsBar DmDistance3D DmExtrude DmFillet DmMove DmParallel3D DmPerpendicular3D DmPushpull DmRadius3D DmRevolve DmRotate DmTangent3D Dm3dFix DmUpdate Dome Donut ... Dragmode ... ... DrawOrder DrawOrderByLayer DSettings DView ... ... ... ... DwfLayers DwgCodePage DwgProps ... DxfIn DxfOut
BricsCAD applies 3D angle constraint (Platinum edition only) In AutoCAD, use EditInFusion BricsCAD applies 3D coincident constraint (Platinum edition only) BricsCAD applies 3D concentric constraint (Platinum edition only) BricsCAD toggles the 3D Constraints bar BricsCAD applies 3D distance constraint (Platinum edition only) In AutoCAD, use EditInFusion In AutoCAD, use EditInFusion In AutoCAD, use EditInFusion 3D parallel constraint (Platinum edition only) 3D perpendicular constraint (Platinum edition only) In AutoCAD, use PushPull 3D radius constraint (Platinum edition only) In AutoCAD, use EditInFusion In AutoCAD, use EditInFusion 3D tangency constraint (Platinum edition only) 3D fix constraint (Platinum edition only) Updates 3D model to satisfy constraints (Platinum edition only) Draws 3D solid domes
In BricsCAD, use Recover
Draw order controlled through layer names
... In AutoCAD, use DwgCodePage system variable Required only for CAD\camera support
Dimensions
Dim Dim1 DimAligned DimAngular DimArc DimBreak Dim Dim1 DimAligned DimAngular DimArc ...
160
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
DimBaseline DimCenter DimContinue DimDiameter DimDisassociate DimEdit DimInspect DimJogged DimJogLine ... DimLinear DimOrdinate DimOverride DimRadius DimReassociate DimRegen DimRotated DimSpace DimStyle DimTEdit
DimBaseline DimCenter DimContinue DimDiameter DimDisassociate DimEdit ... ... ... DimLeader DimLinear DimOrdinate DimOverride DimRadius DimReassociate DimRegen DimRotated ... DimStyle DimTEdit
In AutoCAD, use Leader
E
EAttEdit Edge EdgeSurf ... 2012 EditInFusion Elev Ellipse ... Erase eTransmit ExAcReload 2012 Exchange ... Explode ... Export ExportDWF ExportDWFx ExportLayout ExportPDF ExportSettings -ExportToAutocad ... Extend ... EAttEdit ... EdgeSurf EditEData ... Elev Ellipse Endpoint Erase eTransmit ... ... ExpBlocks Explode Explorer Export ... ... ... ... ExpUcs Extend Extension
Edits xdata In BricsCAD, use Dm... (direct editing) commands
In AutoCAD, use -Osnap Endpoint
In BricsCAD, use www.bricsys.com/en_INTL/support In AutoCAD, use AdCenter In AutoCAD, use AdCenter In BricsCAD, use DwfOut
In BricsCAD, use PdfOut
In BricsCAD, use Explorers UCS section In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Extension
161
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
ExternalReferences / Close Extrude
... Extrude
In BricsCAD, use Xref
F
FbxExport FbxImport Field ... Fill Fillet 2011 FilletEdge Filter Find FlatShot ... Freespot
2011 2011
... ... Field Files Fill Fillet ... ... Find FlatShot Flatten ... ...
Displays Windows File Explorer
In BricsCAD, use DmFillet In BricsCAD, use DdFilter
Flattens 3D objects with thickness In BricsCAD, use SpotLight In BricsCAD, use WebLight
Freeweb
G
GcCoincident GcColLinear 2011 GcConcentric 2011 GcEqual 2011 GcFix 2011 GcHorizontal 2011 GcParallel 2011 GcPerpendicular 2011 GcSmooth 2011 GcSymmetric 2011 GcTangent 2011 GcVertical GeographicLocation GeomConstraint GotoUrl Gradient 2011 GraphicsConfig GraphScr Grid Group 2012 GroupEdit
2011 2011
GcCoincident GcColLinear GcConcentric GcEqual GcFix GcHorizontal GcParallel GcPerpendicular GcSmooth GcSymmetric GcTangent GcVertical GeographicLocation GeomConstraint ... Gradient ... GraphScr Grid Group ...
In BricsCAD, use OnWeb
H
Handles Hatch HatchEdit Handles Hatch ... Inoperative in AutoCAD In BricsCAD, use Properties; supported in a future release of BricsCAD
162
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
HatchGenerateBoundary HatchSetBoundary 2011 HatchSetOrigin 2011 HatchToBack Helix 2011 HideObjects Help Hide HidePalettes Hyperlink HyperlinkOptions
2011 2011
... ... ... HatchToBack ... ... Help Hide ... Hyperlink HyperlinkOptions
In AutoCAD, use for wireframe mode only
I
Id IgesImport 2012 IgesExport
2012
Id ... ... Image ImageAdjust ImageAttach ImageClip ImageFrame ImageQuality Import ... Insert InsertAligned Insertion InsertObj Interfere Intersect ... Intersection Isoplane In BricsCAD, use Explorer for placing images In BricsCAD, use Properties for adjusting images
-Image ImageAdjust ImageAttach ImageClip ... ImageQuality Import Imprint Insert ... ... InsertObj Interfere Intersect 2011 IsolateObjects ... Isoplane
In AutoCAD, use ImageFrame system variable
In BricsCAD, use SolidEdit commands Imprint option Inserts multiple and mirrored blocks In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Insertion
In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Intersection
J
Join JpgOut JustifyText Join ... ...
L
LayCur LayDel Layer / LayerClose LayerP LayerPalette ... ... Layer ... ...
In BricsCAD, use Explorer for layers. In BricsCAD, use Layer
163
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
LayerPMode LayerState LayFrz LayIso LayLck LayMch LayMCur LayMrg LayOff LayOn -Layout LayoutWizard LayThw LayTrans LayULk LayUnIso LayVpi LayWalk Leader Lengthen ... ... Light LightList / LightListClose Limits Line Linetype List LiveSection Load Loft LogFileOn LogFileOff LtScale LWeight
... LayerState LayFrz LayIso LayLck ... LayMCur ... LayOff LayOn Layout ... LayThw ... LayULk LayUnIso ... ... Leader Lengthen LicEnterKey LicProperties Light LightList Limits Line Linetype List LiveSection Load ... LogFileOn LogFileOff LtScale LWeight
In BricsCAD, use Explorer for layer states
To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD
Enters BricsCAD license key Displays license information In BricsCAD, use Explorer for lights
In BricsCAD, use Explorer for linetypes
In BricsCAD, use Settings for lineweights
M
... Markup / MarkupClose MassProp 2011 MatBrowserOpen / Close MatchCell MatchProp 2011 MatEditorOpen / Close MaterialAttach MaterialMap Measure Mail ... MassProp Materials ... MatchProp Materials ... ... Measure Attaches current drawing to new email message ... In BricsCAD, use Explorer for browsing materials ... In BricsCAD, use Explorer for editing materials In BricsCAD, use Properties to assign materials To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD
164
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
MeasureGeom Menu ... ... Mesh 2011 MeshCap 2011 MeshCollapse MeshCrease 2011 MeshExtrude 2011 MeshMerge MeshOptions MeshPrimitiveOptions MeshRefine MeshSmooth MeshSmoothLess MeshSmoothMore MeshSpin MeshSplit MeshUncrease ... 2011 MigrateMaterials MInsert Mirror Mirror3d MLeader MLeaderAlign MLeaderCollect MLeaderEdit MLeaderStyle MlEdit MLine MlStyle Model Move ... MRedo MSlide MSpace MtEdit MText MtProp Multiple MView MvSetup
... Menu MenuLoad MenuUnload Mesh ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Midpoint ... MInsert Mirror Mirror3d ... ... ... ... ... ... MLine MLineStyle ... Move MoveEData ... MSlide MSpace ... MText ... Multiple MView MvSetup
In BricsCAD, use Area, Dist, MassProp In AutoCAD, use CuiLoad In AutoCAD, use CuiUnload BricsCAD draws polyface meshes
In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Midpoint Required only for old AutoCAD drawings
In BricsCAD, click Model tab Moves xdata between entities In BricsCAD, use Redo multiple times
In BricsCAD, use Properties In BricsCAD, use Properties
165
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
N
NavBar NavSMotion / NavSMotionClose NavSWheel NavVCube 2012 NCopy ... NetLoad New NewSheetset NewShot NewView ... ... ...
2011
... ... ... ... ... Nearest ... New NewSheetset ... ... NewWiz Node None
In AutoCAD, use -Osnap Nearest
In BricsCAD, begins new drawings with wizard In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Node In AutoCAD, use -OSnap None
O
ObjectScale Offset 2012 OffsetEdge OleConvert OleLinks OleOpen OleReset OleScale 2013 OnlineColNow 2013 OnlineDocs 2013 OnlineOptions 2013 OnlineShare 2013 OnlineSyncSettings 2013 OnlineUpload ... Oops Open OpenDwfMarkup 2013 OpenOnMobile OpenSheetset Options Ortho -OSnap 2012 OverKill ... Offset ... ... OleLinks OleOpen ... ... ChapooHome ChapooOpen ... ... ... ChapooUpload OnWeb Oops Open ... ... OpenSheetset Options Orthogonal OSnap ...
In BricsCAD, perform this function online with Chapoo
Opens Bricsys.com home page; in AutoCAD, use Browser
P
PageSetup Pan PageSetup Pan
166
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
... Parameters / ParametersClose PartiaLoad -PartialOpen PasteAsHyperlink PasteBlock PasteClip PasteOrig PasteSpec PcInWizard PdfAdjust PdfAttach PdfClip PdfLayers ... PEdit ... PFace Plan PlaneSurf PLine Plot PlotStamp PlotStyle PlotterManager PngOut Point 2011 PointCloud 2011 PointCloudAttach 2013 PointCloudClip 2013 PointCloudIntensityEdit 2011 PointCloudIndex PointLight Polygon PolySolid PressPull Preview ... 2011 ProjectGeometry Properties PropertiesClose PSetupIn PSpace Publish PublishToWeb Purge Pyramid
Parallel ... ... ... ... PasteBlock PasteClip PasteOrig PasteSpec ... ... PdfAttach PdfClip PdfLayers PdfOptions PEdit Perpendicular PFace Plan ... PLine Plot ... PlotStyle PlotterManager ... Point ... ... ... ... ... PointLight Polygon ... ... Preview Print ... Properties PropertiesClose PSetupIn PSpace ... ... Purge Pyramid
In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Parallel
Settings for PDF exports In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Perpendicular
In BricsCAD, operates like AutoCADs -Plot command In BricsCAD, use Print commands Plot Stamp option
In BricsCAD, use DmPushpull In BricsCAD, operates like AutoCADs Plot command
167
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
Q
QDim QLeader QNew ... QSave QSelect QText QuickCalc / QcClose ... .... QuickCui QuickProperties Quit QvDrawing / QvDrawingClose QvLayout / QvLayoutClose ... QLeader QNew QPrint QSave ... QText ... Quadrant Quick ... ... Quit ... ...
Plots directly without dialog box In BricsCAD, click Quick Select button in Properties pane In BricsCAD, use Calc In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Quadrant In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Quick
In BricsCAD, use Window menu In BricsCAD, layout tabs
R
Ray Recover ... RecoverAll ... Rectang Redefine Redo Redraw RedrawAll RefClose RefEdit RefSet Regen RegenAll RegenAuto Region Reinit Rename Render RenderCrop RenderEnvironment RenderExposure 2013 RenderOnline -RenderOutputSize RenderPresets RenderWin ResetBlock Ray Recover ReassocApp ... RecScript Rectang Redefine Redo Redraw RedrawAll RefClose RefEdit RefSet Regen RegenAll RegenAuto Region Reinit Rename Render ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Reassociates apps with xdata In BricsCAD, use Recover Begins recording a script file
In BricsCAD, use Explorer
To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD
168
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
Resume RevCloud Reverse Revolve RevSurf Ribbon / RibbonClose Rotate Rotate3D RPref / RPrefClose RScript ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... RuleSurf
Resume RevCloud ... Revolve RevSurf ... Rotate Rotate3D ... RScript RtLook RtPan RtRot RtRotX RtRotY RtRotZ RtUpDown RtWalk RtZoom RuleSurf
To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD In AutoCAD, use 3dFly In AutoCAD, use 3dPan In AutoCAD, use 3dOrbit In AutoCAD, use 3dOrbit In AutoCAD, use 3dOrbit In AutoCAD, use 3dOrbit In AutoCAD, use 3dSwivel In AutoCAD, use 3dWalk In AutoCAD, use 3dZoom
S
Save ... SaveAs ... SaveImg Scale ScaleListEdit ScaleText Script ... Section SectionPlane SectionPlaneJog SectionPlaneSettings SectionPlaneToBlock ... SecurityOptions Seek Select 2011 SelectSimilar SelectURL ... SequencePlay SetByLayer SetiDropHandler Save SaveAll SaveAs SaveAsR12 ... Scale ScaleListEdit ... Script Scrollbar Section SectionPlane ... SectionPlaneSettings SectionPlaneToBlock Security SecurityOptions ... Select ... ... SelGrips ... ... ... Saves all open drawings Saves drawings in R12 DWG format To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD; for now use Export or MSlide
Toggles scroll bars
In BricsCAD, use Explorer for section plane settings Determines whether VBA macros may run In BricsCAD, visit sites such as tracepartsonline.com and grabcad.com
In BricsCAD, use Hyperlink In AutoCAD, use Ai_SelAll
169
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
... ... SetVar ... -ShadeMode Shape Sheetset SheetsetHide Shell ShowPalettes 2013 ShowRenderGallery SigValidate ... Sketch Slice Snap SolDraw Solid SolidEdit SolProf SolView SpaceTrans Spell Sphere Spline SplinEdit SpotLight Standards ... ... Status StlOut ... Stretch Style StylesManager Subtract SunProperties / Close 2011 SurfBlend 2011 SurfExtend 2013 SurfExtractCurve 2011 SurfFillet 2011 SurfNetwork 2011 SurfOffset 2011 SurfSculpt 2011 SurfTrim 2011 SurfUntrim Sweep
Settings SetUCS SetVar Shade ShadeMode Shape Sheetset SheetsetHide Shell ... ... ... Singleton Sketch Slice Snap ... Solid SolidEdit SolProf ... ... Spell Sphere Spline ... SpotLight ... Start StatBar Status ... StopScript Stretch Style StylesManager Subtract SunProperties ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Displays Settings dialog box In AutoCAD, use UcsMan In AutoCAD, use VsCurrent
In AutoCAD, use SDI system variable
To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD; in the meantime, use Properties
Starts applications In AutoCAD, use StatBar system variable To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD Stops recording to script file In BricsCAD, use Explorer for styles
170
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
SysWindows
SysWindows
T
Table TablEdit TableExport TableStyle Tablet TabSurf ... Text TextEdit TextScr TextToFront Thicken TifOut Time 2012 TimeLine TInsert ... Tolerance -Toolbar ToolPalettes ToolPalettesClose Torus TpNavigate Transparency TraySettings TreeStat Trim ... Table TablEdit TableExport TableStyle Tablet TabSurf Tangent Text .... TextScr TextToFront ... ... Time ... ... TipOfDay Tolerance Toolbar ToolPalettes ToolPalettesClose Torus ... Transparency ... ... Trim TxtExp
In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Tangent In BricsCAD, use DdEdit
In BricsCAD, use DmExtrude In BricsCAD, use Bmpout
Displays tips for using BricsCAD
Explodes text
U
U Ucs UcsIcon UcsMan ULayers Undefine Undo 2012 Ungroup Union 2011 UnisolateObjects Units UpdateField UpdateThumbsNow U Ucs UcsIcon ... ... Undefine Undo ... Union ... Units UpdateField ...
In BricsCAD, use SetUcs In BricsCAD, use Layer
In BricsCAD, use Group
171
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
...
Url
In AutoCAD, use Browser
V
VbaIde VbaLoad VbaUnload VbaMan VbaRun VbaStmt View 2012 ViewBase 2013 ViewComponent 2013 ViewDetail 2013 ViewDetailStyle 2012 ViewEdit ViewPlay ViewPlotDetails 2012 ViewProj ViewRes 2013 ViewSection 2013 ViewSectionStyle 2012 ViewSetProj 2012 ViewStd 2013 ViewSymbolSketch/Close 2012 ViewUpdate VisualStyles / VisualStylesClose VLisp ... VpClip VpLayer VpMax VpMin VPoint VPorts VsCurrent VSlide VsSave VTOptions VbaIde VbaLoad VbaUnload VbaMan VbaRun ... View XQuickDraw ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ViewRes ... ... ... ... ... VisualStyles ... VmlOut VpClip VpLayer ... ... VPoint VPorts ... VSlide ... ...
In BricsCAD, use Explorer for views Available in BricsCAD Platinum only
In BricsCAD, use SolProf
In BricsCAD, use VisualStyles in Explorer In BricsCAD, use text editor and VL functions Exports drawings in VML format
In BricsCAD, use ShadeMode In BricsCAD, use VisualStyles in Explorer
W
WalkFlySettings WBlock ... ... ... WebLight ... WBlock WCascade WClose WCloseAll WebLight
Cascades windows Closes the current window Closes all windows
172
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
Wedge WelcomeScreen ... ... WhoHas WipeOut WmfIn WmfOpts WmfOut ... WorkSpace WsSave WsSettings ...
Wedge ... WhTile WiArrange ... WipeOut ... ... WmfOut WorkSets ... ... ... WvTile
In BricsCAD, use NewWiz Tiles windows horizontally Arranges iconized windows
Supported in a future release of BricsCAD Supported in a future release of BricsCAD
In BricsCAD, use User Profiles in Settings In BricsCAD, use User Profiles in Settings In BricsCAD, use User Profiles in Settings Tiles windows vertically
X
XAttach XBind XClip XEdges XLine XOpen Xplode ... -XRef XAttach ... XClip ... XLine ... Xplode XRef -XRef To be supported in a future release of BricsCAD
Explorer for external references
Z
Zoom Zoom
#
... ... 3D 3dAlign 3dArray 3dClip ... 3dCOrbit 3dConfig ... 3dDistance 3dDwf 2011 3dEditBar 3dFace 3dFly 2dContext 2dIntersection 3D ... 3dArray ... 3dContext ... ... 3dConvert ... ... 3dFace RtLook In AutoCAD, use a 2D template file In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Intersection
In AutoCAD, use a 3D template file In BricsCAD, use RtRot Converts ACIS to polyface meshes In BricsCAD, use 3D DWF option of Export command
173
AutoCAD Command
BricsCAD Command
3dFOrbit ... 3dMesh 3dMove 3dOrbit 3dOrbitCtr 2011 -3dOsnap 3dPan 3dPoly 3dPrint 3dRotate 3dScale 3dsIn 3dSwivel 3dWalk 3dZoom
... 3dIntersection 3dMesh ... ... ... ... ... 3dPoly ... ... ... ... RtUpDown RtWalk ...
In BricsCAD, use RtRot In AutoCAD, use -OSnap Intersection In BricsCAD, use Quad cursors Move option In BricsCAD, use RtRot
In BricsCAD, use RtPan
In BricsCAD, use Quad cursors Rotate option
In BricsCAD, use RtZoom
174
Premium Modeling Commands
The following commands are unique to BricsCAD, and so are not found in AutoCAD. MCAD assembly modeling is available in the Platinum version only. To model complex products, can see examples of projects in the \Samples\Mechanical folder. The Mechanical Browser palette browses the component hierarchy. To constrain parts in assemblies, terials can be generated from the components used in drawings. The following commands are available for assemblies: Control Commands
BmUpdate updates the hierarchy of mechanical components BmBom inserts a bill of materials (BOM) table into the drawing
ASSEMBLY MODELING COMMANDS
BricsCAD Platinum organizes .dwg files of mechanical components in hierarchical structures. You
apply 3D constraints between faces and edges of components. Standard X-hardware parts, such as
screws, nuts, and bearings, can be used as mechanical components. The DmMove and DmRotate commands are used for realtime solving of forward and inverse kinematic problems. Bills of ma-
BmBrowser toggles the visibility of the Mechanical Browser palette
Creation Commands
BmNew creates a new mechanical component as a new drawing BmInsert inserts an existing mechanical component into the drawing BmRemove removes inserts of mechanical components from the current drawing BmForm forms a new mechanical component and inserts it into the drawing BmDissolve dissolves mechanical components inserted into drawings BmMech converts the current drawing into a mechanical component BmUnmech converts mechanical components into plain drawings BmHardware inserts standard hardware parts as mechanical components BmHide hides mechanical components BmShow shows hidden mechanical components BmXConvert converts all X-Hardware solids present in the current drawing into mechanical components
Tripod drawing is an assembly drawing made with BricsCAD V13 Platinum, and can be found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Bricsys\BricsCAD V13\Samples\Mechanical\tripod
175
X-Tools create and edit 3D solids parametrically. Construction Commands

XBox creates 3D solid boxes XCone creates 3D solid cones XCylinder creates 3D solid cylinders XQuickDraw creates 2D geometry from selected solids for multi-view orthographic and isometric drawings XSphere creates 3D solid spheres XTorus creates 3D solid tori XWedge creates 3D solid wedges
X-COMMANDS
Editing Commands
XArrayP creates polar arrays of solids by copying and rotating a selected solid about an axis XArrayR creates arrays of solids by copying a selected solid in a rectangular pattern XChamfer bevels edges of solids XcSolids displays a dialog box for the most-commonly used X-Solids solid creation and modification functions XCut cuts 3D solids using 2D profiles as cutting tools XExplode breaks down solids into faces or wireframe entities XExtract extracts copies of faces or edges of solids, or edges of regions, as separate entities XExtrude creates 3D solids by extruding 2D objects XFillet rounds edges of solids XIntersect creates solids by intersecting two or more solids XOffset creates new solids by offsetting all faces of selected solids at user-specified distances XPunch punches holes in 3D solids using 2D profiles as punching tools XPurge removes the editing data (history or CSG data) from selected solids XRetract separates solids by undoing the most recent Boolean operation applied to it XRetractAll explodes composite solids into their component primitives XRevolve creates 3D solids by revolving 2D entities XSection creates 2D regions of crosssections of solids through user-specified planes with the Section command XShell subtracts the interior from existing solids to create thin-walled solids XSlice slices solids with planes XSolidEdit edits all X-Solids: primitives, composites, primitive components of composites, and solid arrays XSubtract creates solids by subtracting one or more solids from other solids XSweep creates 3D solids by extruding 2D entities along paths XTrim trims 3D solids using 2D profiles XUnion creates solids by joining two or more solids
176
Display Commands
XcView displays a dialog box for X-Solids View, to pick, define or recall View and Viewport settings XcUcs displays a dialog box for X-Solids UCS, to pick, define or recall UCS settings XDia suppresses X-Solids dialog boxes, and forces command-line interpretation XList displays the CSG tree of selected X-Solids solids XViews gives command-line access to the Next and Previous entries in the list of views used XUcs defines new UCSs or restores saved UCSs
X-Hardware Commands
X-Hardware creates and edits 3D library parts parametrically.

XOptions opens the X-Hardware Setup dialog box XHardwareChange edits X-Hardware solids XBar creates bars XBearing creates bearings XCrossRecessScrew creates cross recess screws XHexCapNut creates hex cap nuts XHexCastleNut creates hex castle nuts XHexFlangeNut creates hex flange nuts XHexHeadScrew creates hex head screws XHexNut creates hex nuts XHexSlottedNut creates hex slotted nuts XHexWasherNut creates hex washer nuts XKey creates keys XPem creates self-clinching PEM-brand fasteners XPin creates pins XPipe creates pipes XRing creates rings XRivet creates rivets XSetsSrew creates set screws XShape creates profiles XSlotRecessScrew creates slot recess screws XSocketHeadScrew creates socket head screws XSprocket creates sprockets XSquareNut creates square nuts XThread creates threads XWasher creates washers XWingNut creates wing nuts
Crosspiece drawing is an part drawing made with BricsCAD V13 Platinum, and can be found in C:\Program Files (x86)\ Bricsys\BricsCAD V13\Samples\Mechanical\tripod
XHardware repeats the last X-Hardware command
177
178
APPENDIX B
System Variable Cross-reference

THIS APPENDIX COMPARES the names and values of over one thousand documented variables
System variables and preference names new to BricsCAD V13 are shown in blue BricsCAD variables unique to the Linux version are shown in red
PREFS 2011
found in AutoCAD and BricsCAD, listed in alphabetical order. The table uses the following notations:
indicates the name is a preference variable in BricsCAD
2012
Both CAD programs can change the values of variables, at least those that are not read-only. At the
, or 2013 indicates the system variable was new to AutoCAD 2011, 2012, or 2013
command line, enter the SetVar command, and then the name of the system or preference variable. For dialog boxes, use the following commands:
For AutoCAD system variables, enter the name in the SysVDlg command. For BricsCAD system and preference variables, enter the name in the search field of the Settings command.
In addition to AutoCAD-like system variables, BricsCAD employs preference variables, which are unique to BricsCAD and provide further access to the system.
AutoCAD System Variable Names
AutoCADs Default Values
BricsCADs Default Values
BricsCAD Preference & System Variable Names
Notes on Variables Unique to BricsCAD
A
AcadLspAsDoc AcadPrefix AcadVer AcisOutVer ... ActPath ActRecorderState ActRecPath ActUi AeceipInProgress AFlags ... ... ... AngBase AngDir AnnoAllVisible AnnoAutoScale 2013 AnnoMonitor AnnotativeDwg ApBox Aperture 2012 AppAutoLoad AppFrameResources 2011 ApplyGlobalOpacities Area 2013 ArrayAssociativity 2012 ArrayEditState 2012 ArrayType AttDia AttIpe AttMode AttMulti ... AttReq AuditCtl AUnits AuPrec 2012 AutoCompleteDelay 2012 AutoCompleteMode AutoDwfPublish AutomaticPub ... ... AutoSnap 0 c:\users\... 18.2 70 ... "" 0 c:\users\... 6 off 16 0 C:\Users\... 18.0BricsCAD 70 (not used) AcadLspAsDoc AcadPrefix AcadVer AcisOutVer AcisSaveAsMode Specifies how to save solids to R12 ... ... ... ... ... AFlags AllowTabExternalMove PREFS Allows one tab to be moved to another spot AllowTabMove PREFS Allows tabs to be moved horizontally AllowTabSplit PREFS Allows tabs to be split AngBase AngDir AnnoAllVisible ... ... ... ApBox Aperture ... ... ... Area ... ... ... AttDia ... AttMode ... AttractionDistance PREFS Specifies grips attraction distance AttReq AuditCtl AUnits AuPrec AutoCompleteDelay AutoCompleteMode ... ... AutoMenuLoad Specifies which menu to load PREFS AutosaveChecksOnlyFirstBitDbMod Checks first bit only of DbMod for autosave AutoSnap
0 0 1 -4 -2 0 0 10 14 pack://application... 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0.3 15 0 0
0 1 1 1 0 0 On
0 10
0 1 3 1 0 0 0 0.3 15
63
1 1 63
180
... ... ...
171 (not used) (not used)
AutoTrackingVecColor PREFS AxisMode AxisUnit
Specifies color of the tracking vector Toggles axis display Specifies axis units
B
BackgroundPlot BackZ BActionBarMode BActionColor ... BConStatusMode BDependencyHighlight BGripObjColor BGripObjSize BindType ... ... BlipMode BlockEditLock BlockEditor ... BlockTestWindow BParameterColor BParameterFont BParameterSize BpTextHorizontal BtMarkDisplay BvMode 2 0 1 7 0 1 141 8 0 2 0 BackgroundPlot BackZ ... ... BaseFile ... ... ... ... BindType BkgColor PREFS BkgColorPs PREFS Blipmode ... ... BlocksPath PREFS ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
""
Specifies default template path & file name
0 256 256 0
Specifies background color Specifies paper space background color
0 0 0 0 170 simplex.shx 12 1 1 0
C:\Users\...
Specifies path to blocks for Insert command
C
... CacheMaxFiles CacheMaxTotalFiles CalcInput CameraDisplay CameraHeight CAnnoScale CAnnoScaleValue CaptureThumbnails CBarTransparency CConstraintForm CDate CDynDisplayMode CeColor CeLtscale
2013 2013
1 256 1024 1 0 0 01:01:00 AM 1 1 50 0 20090722.2 0 bylayer 1
0 0
20090722.15 BYLAYER 1
CacheLayout PREFS ... ... ... CameraDisplay CameraHeight ... ... ... ... ... CDate ... CeColor CeLtScale
Toggles caching of layouts
B System Variable Cross-reference
181
CeLtype CeLweight CenterMt 2011 CeTransparency ChamferA ChamferB ChamferC ChamferD ChamMode ... ... ... ... ... CipMode CircleRad ClassicKeys CLayer CleanScreenState ... ... 2013 CliPromptLines 2013 CliPromptUpdate ... CMaterial CmdActive CmdDia CmdEcho CmdInputHistoryMax ... ... ... ... ... ... ... CmdNames CMleaderStyle CMlJust CMlScale CMlStyle ... ... ... ... Compass ...
2011
bylayer -1 0 ByLayer 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
CeLtype CeLweight ... ... 0.5 ChamferA 0.5 ChamferB 1 ChamferC 0 ChamferD 0 ChamMode 0 ChapooLog 1 ChapooModified www.mychapoo.com ChapooServer C:\users\... ChapooTempFolder www.chapoo.com ChapooWebsite ... 0 CircleRad 0 7 1 ... CLayer ... ClipboardFormat PREFS CliState ... ... CloseChecksOnlyFirstBitDbMod PREFS CMaterial CmdActive CmdDia CmdEcho ... CmdLineEditBgColor PREFS CmdLineEditFgColor PREFS CmdLineFontName PREFS CmdLineFontSize PREFS CmdLineListBgColor PREFS CmdLineListFgColor PREFS CmdLnText CmdNames ... CmlJust CmlScale CmlStyle ColorX ColorY ColorZ ComAcadCompatibility PREFS Compass ContinuousMotion PREFS
BYLAYER -1
Toggles log that records Chapoo activity Action to take on local modified drawings Reports address of Chapoo server Stores name of local Chapoo folder Names the Chapoo Web site
Specifies default DWG format for Clipboard Reports visibility of command line
10 0 bylayer 1 1 1 20 0 "" 1 1 1 #f8f8f8 #000000 Courier New 10 #ffffdd #000000 : Options 0 1 STANDARD 1 3 5 0 0 0
Does not save drawing if it was only viewed
Specifies command line background color Specifies command line foreground color Specifies command line font name Specifies command line font size Specifies command line background color Specifies command line foreground color Specifies prompt prefix
setvar standard 0 1 standard
Specifies X axis color Specifies Y axis color Specifies Z axis color Checks registry for V8 appon compatibility Toggles continued motion after release
182
ConstraintBarDisplay ConstraintBarMode 2011 ConstraintInfer ConstraintNameFormat ConstraintRelax ConstraintSolveMode 2012 ContentExplorerState Coords CopyMode CPlotStyle CProfile ... CrossingAreaColor CShadow CTab CTableStyle ... CullingObj 2011 CullingObjSelection CursorSize CVPort
2011
1 4095 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 bycolor <<unnamed profile>>
1 0 ByColor DEFAULT 1 100 3 casts and receives shadows model Model standard STANDARD 1
... ... ... ... ... ... ... Coords CopyMode CPlotStyle CProfile CreateViewports CrossingAreaColor CTab CTableStyle CtrlMouse ... ... CursorSize CvPort
Creates viewports in new layouts ...
Toggles meaning of mouse shortcuts
1 0 5 2
5 2
D
DataLinkNotify Date DbcState DblClkEdit DbMod DctCust DctMain ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... DefaultGizmo DefaultIndex DefaultlLghting DefaultLightingType ... DeflPlStyle DefPlStyle 2 2455035.85 0 on 5 c:\users\... enu 2455035.63 0 1 0 "" en_US.dic 2 0 0 0 1000 15 0 0 1 ... Date DbcState DblClkEdit DbMod DctCust DctMain ddBetweenKnots PREFS ddFastMode PREFS ddGridAspectRatio PREFS ddMaxFacetEdgeLength PREFS ddMaxNumGridLines PREFS ddNormalTol PREFS ddPointsPerEdge PREFS ddSurfaceTol PREFS ddUseFacetRes PREFS ... ... ... ... DefaultNewSheetTemplate Deflplstyle DefPstyle
Distance between knots on NURBS surfaces Displays faster with more display errors Specifies the grid aspect ratio Specifies Maximum edge length of cell sides Specifies max grid lines for subdivisions Specifies max deviation between normals Specifies the number of points per edge Max distance between facet and true edge Toggles use of the FacetRed sysvar
0 0 1 1 bycolor bycolor (none) ByColor ByColor
Names .dwg or .dwt as default template
183
DelObj DemandLoad DgnFrame DgnImportMax DgnMappingPath DgnOsnap DiaStat 2011 Digitizer ... ... ... ... DispSilh Distance DivMeshBoxHeight DivMeshBoxLength DivMeshBoxWidth DivMeshConeAxis DivMeshConeBase DivMeshConeHeight DivMeshCylAxis DivMeshCylBase DivMeshCylHeight DivMeshPyrBase DivMeshPyrHeight DivMeshPyrLength DivMeshSphereAxis DivMeshSphereHeight DivMeshTorusPath DivMeshTorusSection DivMeshWedgeBase DivMeshWedgeHeight DivMeshWedgeLength DivMeshWedgeSlope DivMeshWedgeWidth ... ... ... DonutId DonutOd DragMode ... DragP1 DragP2 ... DragVs DrawingPath
1 3 0 10000000 c:\users\... 1 1 0
1 3 2
1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0
0 0 3 3 3 8 3 3 8 3 3 3 3 3 12 6 8 8 3 3 4 3 3
DelObj DemandLoad DgnFrame ... ... DgnOsnap DiaStat ... DisplaySnapMarkerInAllViews PREFS Toggles snap markers in all viewports DisplayTooltips PREFS Displays snap tooltips DispPaperBkg Toggles paper space background DispPaperMargins Displays paper space margins DispSilh Displays silhouette curves Distance ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... DmAutoUpdate DmRecognize DockPriority DonutId DonutOd DragMode DragOpen DragP1 DragP2 DragSnap ... DrawingPath
0.5 1 2 10 25 ""
1 127 1 0.5 1 2 1 10 25 Off "C:\Users\..."
Toggles auto update of 3D constrained models Determines which 3D constraints are applied Determines docking priority of toolbars
Inserts or opens dragged files
Controls snap behavior while dragging
184
DrawOrderCtl DTextEd DwfFrame DwfOsnap ... DwgCheck DwgCodepage DwgName DwgPrefix DwgTitled DxEval ... DynConstraintDisplay DynConstraintMode DynDiGrip ... ... ... ... DynDiVis 2012 DynInfoTips ... DynMode DynPiCoords DynPiFormat DynPiVis DynPrompt DynTooltips
3 2 2 1 1 ansi_1252 drawing1.dwg c:\users\... 0 12 1 1 31
3 2 1 2 0 ANSI_1252 Drawing1.dwg C:\Users\... 0 12 0
31 142 142 1 1 1 65 2
DrawOrderCtl ... DwfFrame DwfOsnap DwfVersion DwgCheck DwgCodepage DwgName DwgPrefix DwgTitled DxEval DxfTextAdjustAlignment ... ... DynDiGrip DynDimColorHot DynDimColorHover DynDimDistance DynDimLineType DynDiVis ... DynInputTransparency PREFS DynMode ... ... ... ... ...
Specifies export format of DWF files
Specifies text alignment for DXF imports
Specifies dynamic dimension hot color Specifies dynamic dimension hover color Specifies dynamic dimension distance Specifies dynamic dimension line type
1 1 -3 0 0 1 1 1
Specifies dynamic input field transparency
Dimensions
DimADec DimAlt DimAltD DimAltF DimAltRnd DimAltTd DimAltTz DimAltU DimAltZ DimAnno DimAPost DimArcSym DimAssoc DimASz DimAtFit DimAUnit 0 off 2 25.4 0 2 0 2 0 0 "" 0 2 0.18 3 0 0 0 2 25.4 0 2 0 2 0 "" 0 2 0.18 3 0 DimADec DimAlt DimAltD DimAltF DimAltRnd DimAltTd DimAltTz DimAltU DimAltZ ... DimAPost DimArcSym DimAssoc DimASz DimAtFit DimAUnit
185
DimAZin DimBlk DimBlk1 DimBlk2 DimCen DimClrD DimClrE DimClrT DimConstraintIcon DimDec DimDle DimDli DimDsep DimExe DimExo DimFit DimFrac DimFxl DimFxLon DimGap DimJogAng DimJust DimLdrBlk DimLfac DimLim DimLtEx1 DimLtEx2 DimLtype DimLUnit DimLwD DimLwE DimPost DimRnd DimSah DimScale DimSd1 DimSd2 DimSe1 DimSe2 DimSho DimSoxd DimStyle DimTad DimTDec DimTFac DimTFill DimTFillClr
0 "" "" "" 0.09 0 0 0 3 4 0 0.38 . 0.18 0.06 3 0 1 off 0.09 45 0 "" 1 off "" "" "" 2 -2 -2 "" 0 off 1 off off off off on off standard 0 4 1 0 0
0 "" "" "" 0.09 0 0 0 4 0 0.38 . 0.18 0.06 3 0 1 0 0.09 45 0 "" 1 0 "" "" "" 2 -1 -1 "" 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 on 0 STANDARD 0 4 1 0 BYBLOCK
DimAZin DimBlk DimBlk1 DimBlk2 DimCen DimClrD DimClrE DimClrT ... DimDec DimDle DimDli DimDsep DimExe DimExo DimFit DimFrac DimFxl DimFxLon DimGap DimJogAng DimJust DimLdrBlk DimLfac DimLim DimLtEx1 DimLtEx2 DimLtype DimLUnit DimLwD DimLwE DimPost DimRnd DimSah DimScale DimSd1 DimSd2 DimSe1 DimSe2 DimSho DimSoxd DimStyle DimTad DimTDec DimTFac DimTFill DimTFillClr
186
DimTih DimTix DimTm DimTMove DimTofl DimToh DimTol DimTolj DimTp DimTSz DimTVp DimTxSty DimTxt DimTxtDirection DimTzin DimUnit DimUpt DimZin
on off 0 0 off on off 1 0 0 0 standard 0.18 off 0 2 off 0
1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 STANDARD 0.18 0 2 0 0
DimTih DimTix DimTm DimTMove DimTofl DimToh DimTol DimTolj DimTp DimTSz DimTVp DimTxSty DimTxt ... DimTZin DimUnit DimUpt DimZin
E
EdgeMode Elevation ... ... ... EnterpriseMenu 2011 ErHighlight ErrNo Expert ... ... ... ... ... ExplMode ExportEplotFormat ExportModelSpace ExportPageSetup ExportPaperSpace ExtMax ExtMin ExtNames 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 EdgeMode Elevation EnableAttraction PREFS EnableHyperlinkMenu PREFS EnableHyperlinkTooltip PREFS ... ... ErrNo Expert ExpInsAlign ExpInsAngle ExpInsFixAngle ExpInsFixScale ExpInsScale ExplMode ... ExportModelSpace ExportPageSetup ExportPaperSpace ExtMax ExtMin ExtNames
Enables grips attraction Toggles hyperlink menu Toggles hyperlink tooltips
. 1 0 0
1 2 0 0 0 -1e+20,-1e+20,-1e+20 1e+20,1e+20,1e+20 1
0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 -1e+20,-1e+20,-1e+20 1e+20,1e+20,1e+20 1
Aligns blocks with selected entity Default angle for inserted blocks Fixed rotation angle for inserted blocks Fixed scale factor for inserted blocks Deafault scale factor for inserted blocks
F
FacetErDevNormal 40 ...
187
FacetErDevSurface FacetErGridRatio FacetErMaxEdgeLength FacetErMaxGrid FacetErMeshType FacetErMinUGrid FacetErMinVGrid FacetErPrimitiveMode FacetErSmoothlev FacetRatio FacetRes 2011 FbxImportLog FieldDisplay FieldEval FileDia FilletRad FilletRad3d FillMode FontAlt FontMap Frame 2012 FrameSelection FrontZ FullOpen FullPlotPath
2011
0 0 0 4096 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.5 1 1 31 1 0 1.0 1 simplex.shx c:\users... 3 1 0 1 1
0 0.5 1 31 1 0 1 simplex.shx default.fmp 3 0 1
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... FacetRatio FacetRes ... FieldDisplay FieldEval FileDia FilletRad ... FillMode FontAlt FontMap Frame ... FrontZ FullOpen ...
G
GeoLatLongFormat GeoMarkerVisibility GfAng GfClr1 GfClr2 GfClrLum GfClrState GfName GfShift 2011 GlobalOpacity ... ... GridDisplay GridMajor ... ... GridMode 2011 GridStyle GridUnit 0 1 0 rgb:000,000,255 rgb:255,255,153 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 GeoLatLongFormat GeoMarkerVisibility ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... GlSwapMode GridAxisColor GridDisplay GridMajor GridMajorColor GridMinorColor GridMode GridStyle GridUnit
2 5
0 0 0.5000,0.5000
2 252 3 5 253 254 0 1 10,10,10
Sets swap mode for GL graphics Specifies color of grids axis lines
Specifies color of major grid lines Specifies color of minor grid lines
188
... GripBlock GripColor GripDynColor GripHot GripHover 2011 GripMultifunctional GripObjLimit Grips GripSize GripSubobjMode GripTips 2012 GroupDisplayMode ... GtAuto GtDefault GtLocation
0 150 140 12 11 3 100 1 5 1 1 2 1 0 1
1 0 160 140 240 150 100 1 5 1 0
GridXyzTint GripBlock GripColor GripDynColor GripHot GripHover ... GripObjLimit Grips GripSize ... GripTips ... GsDeviceType PREFS ... ... ...
Toggles coloring of x,y,z grid lines
Specifies graphic system device
HaloGap Handles ... 2011 HatchBoundSet 2011 HatchType 2011 HelpPrefix HidePrecision HideText HideXrefScales Highlight ... ... HpAng 2011 HpAnnotative HpAssoc 2011 HpBackgroundColor HpBound 2011 HpBoundRetain 2011 HpColor 2011 HpDlgMode HpDouble HpDrawOrder HpGapTol HpInherit 2011 HpIslandDetection 2011 HpIslandDetectionMode 2011 HpLayer 2012 HpMaxArea
0 1 0 0 C:\Program..." 0 on 1 1
0 1 25
0 1 1 142 0 0 1 1
0 0 1 "." 1 0 "." 2 0 3 0 0 1 1 Use Current 100
0 3 0
HaloGap Handles HandSeed ... ... ... HidePrecision HideText ... Highlight HighlightColor HighlightEffect HpAng ... HpAssoc ... HpBound ... ... ... HpDouble HpDraworder HpGapTol ... ... ... ... ...
Specifies starting handle for new objects
Specifies highlight color Specifies color use for highlighting
189
HpMaxLines HpName HpObjWarning HpOrigin HpOriginMode 2011 HpQuickPreview 2012 HpQuickPreviewTimeout HpScale HpSeparate HpSpace ... 2011 HpTransparency HyperlinkBase
1000000 ansi31 10000 0.0000,0.0000 0 On 2 1 0 1 "." .
ANSI31 10000 0,0
1 0 1 0 .
... HpName HpObjWarning HpOrigin ... ... ... HpScale HpSeparate HpSpace HpStyle ... HyperlinkBase
Determines hatching of islands
I
ImageFrame ImageHlt Impliedface IndexCtl InetLocation InputHistoryMode InsBase InsName InsUnits InsUnitsdefSource InsUnitsdefTarget IntelligentUpdate InterfereColor InterfereObjVs InterfereVpVs IntersectionColor IntersectionDisplay ISaveBak ISavePercent Isolines 1 0 1 0 www.autodesk.com 15 0.0,0.0,0.0 . 1 1 1 20 1 realistic 3d wireframe 257 off 1 50 4 1 0 0 www.bricsys.com 0;0;0 . 1 1 1 "ByLayer" "" "" 0 1 50 4 ImageFrame ImageHlt ... IndexCtl InetLocation ... InsBase InsName InsUnits InsUnitsdefSource InsUnitsdefTarget ... InterfereColor InterfereObjVs InterfereVpVs IntersectionColor IntersectionDisplay ISaveBak ISavePercent Isolines
L
LargeObjectSupport LastAngle LastPoint LastPrompt Latitude LayerDlgMode LayerEval LayerEvalCtl 0 0 5.7,13.5,0.0 lastangle 37.8 1 0 1 0 0;0;0 : options 37.7950 ... LastAngle LastPoint LastPrompt Latitude ... ... ...
190
LayerFilterAlert LayerNotify LayLockFadeCtl 2012 LayoutCreateViewport LayoutRegenCtl LegacyCtrlPick LensLength ... ... ... LightGlyphDisplay LightingUnits LightsInBlocks ... LimCheck LimMax LimMin LinearBrightness LinearContrast ... Locale LocalRootPrefix LockUi LoftAng1 LoftAng2 LoftMag1 LoftMag2 LoftNormals LoftParam LogExpBrightness LogExpContrast LogExpDaylight LogExpMidtones LogExpPhysicalScale LogFileMode LogFileName LogFilePath LogInName Longitude LtScale LUnits LuPrec LwDefault LwDisplay ... LwUnits
2 0 50 1 2 0 50
2 50 0 "" (Read Only) 30 1 0 1 0 12;9 0;0
1 2 1 0 12.0000,9.0000 0.0000,0.0000 0 0 enu c:\users\... 0 90 90 0 0 1 7 65 50 2 1 1500 0 c:\users\... c:\users\... <login> -122.39 1 2 4 211 off 1
... ... ... ... LayoutRegenCtl ... LensLength LicFlags LicKey LightGlyphColor PREF LightGlyphDisplay LightingUnits ... LightWebGlyphColor PREF LimCheck LimMax LimMin ... ... LispInit Locale LocalRootPrefix ... LoftAng1 LoftAng2 LoftMag1 LoftMag2 LoftNormals LoftParam ... ... ... ... ... LogFileMode LogFileName LogFilePath LogInName Longitude LtScale LUnits LuPrec LwDefault LwDisplay LwDispScale LwUnits
Specifies if components are licensed Reports software license number Specifies color of light glyphs (icons)
Specifies color of glyphs of web lights
1 enu c:\users\... 1.5708 1.5708 0 0 1 7
Preserves LISP functions beween sessions
0 "" c:\users\... BricsCAD user -122.3940 1 2 4 25 0 0.55 1
Specifies lineweight display scale
191
M
2011 2011
MaxBrowserState MaterialsPath
0 "" 0 64 100000 1000 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 c:\users\... 1 0 0 64 100000 1000 0 1 1 1 1 0 default 1 732374555 0 0 1 "" 1 1 2 internal 2 2 abc c:\users\... 0 "" 1
... MacroTrace MaxActVp MaxHatch MaxSort 2011 MaxTouches ... MButtonPan MeasureInit Measurement MenuBar MenuCtl MenuEcho MenuName MeshType ... ... 2011 MirrHatch MirrText MLeaderScale ModeMacro MsOleScale MsLtScale MTextColumn MTextEd MTextFixed MTextToolbar ... MTJigString MyDocumentsPrefix
Internal 2 0
... ... MacroRec MacroTrace MaxActVp MaxHatch MaxSort ... MaxThreads MButtonPan MeasureInit Measurement ... MenuCtl MenuEcho MenuName MeshType MiddleClickClose PREF MilliSecs ... MirrText ... ModeMacro MsOleScale ... ... MTextEd MTextFixed ... MtFlags ... ...
Reports that macro is being recorded
Specifies max threads for redraw, regen, loads
Closes tabs with middle-button click Reports milliseconds since BricsCAD started
Controls multi-core redraws, loads, regens
N
NavBarDisplay NavsWheelMode NavsWheelOpacityBig NavsWheelOpacityMini NavsWheelSizeBig NavsWheelSizeMini NavVCubeDisplay NavVCubeLocation NavVCubeOpacity NavVCubeOrient
2011
1 2 50 50 1 1 1 0 50 1
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
192
NavVCubeSize ... NoMutt NorthDirection
4 0 0 4 0 0
... NFileList NoMutt NorthDirection
Specifies length of recent file list
O
ObjectIsolationMode ObscuredColor ObscuredLtype OffsetDist ... OffsetGapType OleFrame OleHide OleQuality
2011
0 257 0 -1 0 2 0 3 0 1 1 5 1 0 4133 2 0 0 3
257 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 0
... ObscuredColor ObscuredLtype OffsetDist OffsetErase OffsetGapType OleFrame OleHide OleQuality OleStartup ... ... ... OpmState OrthoMode OsMode OsnapCoord ... OsnapZ ...
Determines if source entities are erased
OleStartup 2013 OnlineDocMode 2013 OnlineDocuments 2013 OnlineSyncTime OpenPartial OrthoMode OsMode OsnapCoord OsnapHatch OsnapZ OsOptions
1 0 4133 2 0
P
PaletteOpaque ... PaperUpdate ParameterCopyMode ParameterStatus ... PdfFrame ... ... PdfOsnap ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 ... PanBuffer PREF PaperUpdate ... ... PdfEmbeddedTtf PREFS PdfFrame PdfLayersSetting PREFS PdfLayoutsToExport PREFS PdfOsnap PdfPaperHeight PREFS PdfPaperSizeOverride PREFS PdfPaperWidth PREFS PdfShxTextAsGeometry PREFS PdfSimpleGeomOptimization PREFS PdfTtfTextAsGeometry PREFS PdfUsePlotStyles PREFS Buffers pans
1 1 1 0 1 297 0 210 0 1 0 1
Embeds fonts in PDF output Includes layers in PDF files Exports content of all layouts Overrides paper height in PDF files Overrides paper size in PDF files Overrides paper width in PDF files Exports SHX text as geometry Optimizes geometry in PDF files Exports TTF text as geometry Uses plot styles when plotting to PDF
193
... PdMode PdSize PeditAccept PEllipse Perimeter Perspective PerspectiveClip PfacevMax PickAdd PickAuto PickBox PickDrag PickFirst PickStyle ... ... ... ... ... _PkSer Platform ... PlineConvertMode PlineGen PlineType PlineWid ... ... PlotOffset ... PlotRotMode 2011 PlotTransparencyMode ... ... PlQuiet 2011 PointCloudAutoUpdate 2013 PointCloudBoundary 2013 PointCloudClipFrame 2013 PointCloudPointMax 2011 PointCloudDensity 2011 PointCloudLock 2011 PointCloudRtDensity PolarAddAng PolarAng PolarDist PolarMode
0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 1 1 3 0 1 0
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 1 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 3 5 "" varies 0 0 2 0 c:\users\... "" c:\program files... 2 c:\users\... 0 0
PdfZoomToExtentsMode PREFS Zooms to extents mode in PDF files PdMode PdSize PeditAccept PEllipse Perimeter Perspective ... PFaceVMax PickAdd PickAuto PickBox PickDrag PickFirst PickStyle PictureExportScale PREFS Specifies scale factor for raster exports PictureFolder1 PREFS PictureFolder2 PREFS PictureFolder3 PREFS PictureFolder4 PREFS _PkSer Platform PLineCache PREF ... PlineGen PlineType PlineWid PlotCfgPath PREFS PlotId ... PlotOutputPath PREFS PlotRotMode ... PlotStylePath PREFS Plotter PlQuiet ... ... ... ... ... ... ... PolarAddAng PolarAng PolarDist PolarMode Sets folder for storing raster images Sets folder for storing raster images Sets folder for storing raster images Sets folder for storing raster images
"" varies 0 0 2 0
Creates a cache of polyline vertices
Specifies plotter configuration path Deprecated; included for compatibility Specifies path to plot output folder
0 2 1
Specifies path to plot styles Specifies path to plotter cfg folder
0 1 1 2 1500000 15 0 5 . 90 0 0
. 90 0 0
194
PolySides 4 Popups 1 2012 PreviewCreationTransparency 60 ... PreviewEffect 2 2011 PreviewFaceEffect 1 PreviewFilter 7 ... ... PreviewType 0 ... ... ... ... ... ProjectName . ... ProjMode 2012 PropObjLimit 2013 PropertyPreview 2013 PropPrevTimeout ... ... ProxyGraphics ProxyNotice ProxyShow ProxyWebSearch PsLtScale PsolHeight PsolWidth PsProlog PsQuality PStyleMode PStylePolicy PsVpScale PublishAllSheets PublishCollate PublishHatch PUcsBase 1 25000 1 1
4 1 30 2 7 0 7 0 1 "." BricsCAD 1 BricsCAD . "" 1
PolySides Popups ... PreviewDelay PREF PreviewEffect ... PreviewFilter PreviewNestedEnts PreviewSubEnts PreviewType PreviewWndInOpenDlg PREFS PrintFile Product ProgBar Program ProjectName ProjectSearchPaths PREFS ProjMode ... ... ... PromptMenu PromptMenuFlags PREFS ProxyGraphics ProxyNotice ProxyShow ProxyWebSearch PsLtScale PsolHeight PsolWidth PsProlog PsQuality PStyleMode PStylePolicy PsVpScale PublishAllSheets ... ... PUcsBase
Delays subentity highlighting under cursor
Toggles previewing of nested entities Determines subentities to highlight Displays preview window in Open dialog box Specifies alternative name for print files Reports the product name Toggles progress bar Reports the product name Specifies project names & search paths
1 1 1 0 1 4 0.25 . 75 1 1 0 1 1 1 .
3 0 1 1 1 1 1 80 5 "" 75 1 1 0 1
Toggles prompt menu Toggles hidden prompts
Q
QpLocation QpMode QaFlags QtextMode ... 0 1 0 0 ... ... QaFlags QtextMode QuadHideDelay PREF
0 0 1000
Quad cursor display delay after mouse movement
195
... ... ... QvDrawingPin QvLayoutPin
1 500 1 0 0
QuadDisplay QuadShowDelay PREF QuadToolTips PREF ... ...
Toggles display of the Quad cursor Quad display delay after entity highlight Toggles display of tooltips with Quad cursor
R
... ... RasterDpi RasterPercent RasterPreview RasterThreshold ... ...
2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011
(not used) (not used) 300 20 1 20
1 5 1
R12SaveAccuracy R12SaveDeviation ... ... RasterPreview ... RealtimeSpeedup PREFS RealWorldScale ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... RecentPath PREFS ... ... RefEditName RefEditLockNotInWorkset PREFS RegenMode RememberFolders Re_init ... ... RenderUsingHardware PREF ... RevCloudArcStyle PREFS RevCloudMaxArcLength PREFS RevCloudMinArcLength PREFS ... ... ... ... ... ... RoamableRootPrefix ...
Specifies segments for splines and ellipses Specifies deviation for splines, ellipses
Skips messages during realtime pan Renders materials at real-world scale factor
Rebuild2dCv Rebuild2dDegree Rebuild2dOption RebuildDegreeU RebuildDegreeV RebuildOptions RebuildU RebuildV
6 3 1 3 3 1 6 6 C:\Users\... 0 2 "" 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0.38 0.38 1 2500 0 1 1 1 c:\users\... 0
... RecoveryAuto RecoveryMode RefEditName ... RegenMode RememberFolders ... RenderQuality RenderUserLights ... ReportError ... ... ... RibbonContextSelect RibbonContextSelLim RibbonDockedHeight 2012 RibbonIconResize RibbonSelectMode RibbonState Roamablerootprefix 2011 RolloverOpacity
2011
Specifies recently used path
"" 0 1 1 0
Locks entities not being edited by RefEdit
Reloads the .pgp file
Toggles use of hardware for rendering Specifies revision cloud arc style Specifies revision cloud max arc length Specifies revision cloud min arc length
c:\users\...
196
RolloverTips RtDisplay ... ...
1 1
1 1 1
... RtDisplay RtRotationSpeedFactor PREFS RtWalkSpeedFactor PREFS
Specifies turning speed Specifies walking speed
S
... SaveFidelity SaveFile SaveFilePath ... SaveName ... SaveTime ScreenBoxes 1 c:\users\... c:\users\... Drawing1.dwg 10 0 1 1 "" C:\Users\... 1 "" 1 0 26 1 784.0;506.0 256 0 1 25 3 SaveChangeToLayout PREFS SaveFidelity SaveFile SaveFilePath SaveFormat PREFS SaveName SaveRoundTrip SaveTime ScreenBoxes ScreenMode ScreenSize ScrlHist Sdi ... SelectionArea SelectionAreaOpacity ... SelectionPreview ... ... ... ShadEdge ShadeDif ... ShortcutMenu ... ShowFullPathInTitle PREFS ... ShowLayerUsage ...
PREF
Saves print changes to layout
Sets the DWG file format Saves entities to preserve them
ScreenMode 3 ScreenSize 1366.0,499.0 ... ... SelectionAnnoDisplay 1 SelectionArea 1 SelectionAreaOpacity 25 2011 SelectionCycling 0 SelectionPreview 3 2013 SelectionPreviewLimit 2000 2011 SelectSimilarMode 130 SetByLayerMode 127 ShadEdge 3 ShadeDif 70 ShadowPlaneLocation 0 ShortcutMenu 11 2012 ShortcutMenuDration 250 ... ShowHist 1 ShowLayerUsage 0 ShowmotionPin 1 2012 ShowPageSetupForNewLayouts ... ... ... ... ... ... ShpName "" SigWarn 1 ...
Specifies number of lines saved in history Toggles single-document interface
3 70 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 "" 0
Displays full path in title bar
ShowScrollButtons ShowTabCloseButton PREF ShowTabCloseButtonActive PREF ShowTabCloseButtonAll PREF ShowTabControls PREF ShowWindowListButton PREF ShpName ... SingletonMode PREFS Toggles multiple BricsCAD instances
... Toggles display of scroll buttons Toggles display of Close button on tabs Toggles display of Close button on active tab Toggles display of Close button on all tabs Toggles display of tabs Toggles display of droplists
197
SketchInc SkPoly 2011 SkTolerance SkyStatus SmoothMeshConvert SmoothMeshGrid SmoothMeshMaxFace SmoothMeshMaxLev SnapAng SnapBase 2013 SnapGridLegacy SnapIsoPair ... ... ... SnapMode SnapStyl SnapType SnapUnit SolidCheck SolidHist SortEnts 2011 SplDegree ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... SplFrame SplineSegs SplineType 2011 SplKnots 2011 SplMethod 2012 SplPeriodic ... SsFound SsLocate SsmAutoOpen SsmPollTime SsmSheetStatus ...
0.1 0 0.5 0 0 3 838300 4 0 0.0000,0.0000 0 0
0.1 0
0 0;0 0 2 6 2 0 0 0 0.5;0.5 1 96 0 0 0 0 512 0 0 15 -1 1 1 0 8 6
0 0 0 0.5000,0.5000 1 1 127 3
SketchInc SkPoly ... SkyStatus ... ... ... ... SnapAng SnapBase ... SnapIsoPair SnapMarkerColor PREFS SnapMarkerSize PREFS SnapMarkerThickness PREFS SnapMode SnapStyl SnapType SnapUnit SolidCheck ... SortEnts ... spaAdjustMode PREF spaGridAspectRatio PREF spaGridMode PREF spaMaxFacetEdgeLength PREF spaMaxNumGridLines PREF spaMinUGridLines PREF spaMinVGridLines PREF spaNormalTol PREF spaSurfaceTol PREF spaTriangMode PREF spaUseFacetRes PREF SplFrame SplineSegs SplineType ... ... ... SrchPath SsFound SsLocate ... ... ... SsmState
Specifies snap marker color Specifies snap marker size Specifies snap marker thickness
Smooths triangles Specifies aspect ratio of cell grids Specifies location of grids Specifies max length of a side of cell Specifies max no. of grid lines in subdivisions Specifies max no. of grid lines in u direction Specifies max no. of grid lines in v direction Specifies the normal tolerance Specifies maximum surface tolerance Specifies which mesh is triangulated Toggles use of FacetRes sysvar
0 8 6 0 0 1 "" 1 1 60 2
c:\users\... "" 1
Specifies search paths for support files
Reports if Sheetset palette is open
198
StandardsViolation Startup StatusBar StepSize StepsPerSec SubObjSelectionMode SunStatus ... 2011 SurfaceAssociativity 2011 SurfaceAssociativityDrag 2011 SurfaceAutoTrim 2011 SurfaceModelingMode SurfTab1 SurfTab2 SurfType SurfU SurfV ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... SyscodePage
2 0 1 6 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 6 6 6 6 6
0 6 2
6 6 6 6 6 0 ".png" 0 0 "" "" 1 768 1024 6 ANSI_1252
... Startup ... StepSize StepsPerSec ... ... SuppressDataLossWarning ... ... ... ... Surftab1 Surftab2 SurfType SurfU SurfV SvgBlendedGradients PREF SvgDefaultImageExtension PREF SvgGenericFontFamily PREF SvgHiddenLineRemoving PREF SvgImageBase PREF SvgImageUrl PREF SvgLineWeightScale PREF SvgOutputHeight PREF SvgOutputWidth PREF SvgPrecision PREF SysCodePage
Toggles warning saving to older formats
Toggles use of blended gradients Specifies default file name extension Specifies name of generic font family Toggles hidden-line removal per viewport Specifies path to folder for saving SVG files Specifies URL for locating SVG files Specifies pixel width of lineweights Specifies height in points (72 points per inch) Specifies width in points Specifies double-floating point precision
ansi_1252
T
... TableIndicator TableToolbar TabMode ... Target Taskbar TbCustomize 2012 TbShowShortcuts TdCreate TdInDwg TduCreate TdUpdate TdUsrTimer TduUpdate ... 25 1 2 0 0.0,0.0,0.0 1 1 On 2455034.61 1.24 2455034.9 2455034.61 1.24 2455034.9 TabControlHeight PREF ... ... TabMode TabsFixedWidth PREF Target ... ... ... TdCreate TdInDwg TduCreate TdUpdate TdUsrTimer TduUpdate TemplatePath PREFS Specifies height of document tab, in pixels
0 0 0.0;0.0;0.0
Forces all tabs to have the same width
2455035.58 1.16E-008 2455035.88 2455035.58 1.16E-008 2455035.88 c:\users\...
Specifies path to templates folder
199
TempOverrides TempPrefix ... TextEditor TextEval TextFill TextOutputFileFormat TextQlty TextSize TextStyle ... Thickness 2013 ThumbSave ThumbSize TileMode ... TimeZone ToolTipMerge Tooltips 2012 TooltipSize 2012 TooltipTransparency ToolPalettePath ... TraceWid TrackPath 2011 TransparencyDisplay TrayIcons TrayNotify TrayTimeout TreeDepth TreeMax TrimMode TSpaceFac TSpaceType TStackAlign TStackSize ...
1 c:\users\... 0 0 1 0 50 0.2 standard 0 1 1 1 -8000 0 1 0 0 C:\Users\... 0.05 0 1 1 1 0 3020 10000000 1 1 1 1 70
"" 0 0 1 50 0.2 STANDARD C:/program... 0
1 1 -8000 1
... TempPrefix TextAngle ... TextEval TextFill ... TextQlty TextSize TextStyle TextureMapPath Thickness ... ... TileMode TileModeLightSynch TimeZone ... Tooltips ... ... ToolPalettePath TpState TraceWid TrackPath ... ... ... ... TreeDepth TreeMax TrimMode TSpaceFac TSpaceType TStackAlign TStackSize TtfAsText
Stores last-used angle for text
Specifies path to texture map folders
Synchronizes lighting in all viewports
C:\users\... 0 0.05 0
Reports whether Tools palette is open
3020 10000000 1 1 1 2 70 1
U
Ucs2dDisplaySetting Ucs3dParaDisplaySetting 2012 Ucs3dPerpDisplaySetting UcsAxisAng UcsBase UcsDetect UcsFollow
2012 2012
1 1 1 90 WORLD 1 0
90 "" 1 0
... ... ... UcsAxisAng UcsBase UcsDetect UcsFollow
200
UcsIcon ... UcsName UcsOrg UcsOrtho 2012 UcsSelectMode UcsView UcsVp UcsXDir UcsYDir UndoCtl UndoMarks UnitMode UOsnap UpdateThumbnail ... ... UserI1-5 UserR1-5 UserS1-5 ... ...
3 "" 0.0,0.0,0.0 1 1 1 1 1.0,0.0,0.0 0.0,1.0,0.0 53 0 0 1 15
3 0 "" 0;0;0 1 1 1 1;0;0 0;1;0 1 5 0
1 0 0 "" 0 0 0 "" 0 0
UcsIcon UcsIconPos UcsName UcsOrg UcsOrtho ... UcsView UcsVp UcsXDir UcsYDir UndoCtl UndoMarks UnitMode ... ... UseOutputFolder PREFS UseRegistryValues PREFS UserI1-5 UserR1-5 UserS1-5 UseRegistryValues PREFS UseStandardOpenFileDialog PREFS
Toggles non-origin UCS icon position
Uses current folder or PlotOutputPath folder Reuses previous print settings
Reuses previous print settings Displays additional folder in file dialog boxes
V
... ... ... ViewCtr ViewDir ViewMode ViewSize 2013 ViewSketchMode 2013 ViewUpdateAuto ViewTwist VisRetain 2012 VpControl VpLayerOverrides VpLayerOverridesMode VpMaximizedState VpRotateAssoc 2011 VsCurvatureHigh 2011 VsCurvatureLow 2011 VsCurvatureType 2011 VsDraftangleHigh 2011 VsDraftangleLow 2011 VsZebraColor1 Bricsys "13.1.7 (UNICODE)" 100.0.108 18.9,8.7,0.0 10.4;4.5;0.0 0.0;0.0;1.0 16 _VendorName Reports the vendors name _VerNum Reports the version number VersionCustomizableFiles PREFS Reports version number of CUI and PGP files ViewCtr ViewDir ViewMode ViewSize ... ... ViewTwist VisRetain ... ... ... ... VpRotateAssoc ... ... ... ... ... ...
18.9,8.7,0.0 0.0,0.0,1.0 0 14.65 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1.0 -1.0 0 3 -3 "Rgb:255,255,255"
0 1
201
VsZebraColor2 VsZebraDirection 2011 VsZebraSize 2011 VsZebraType VsBackgrounds VsEdgeColor VsEdgeJitter VsEdgeOverhang VsEdges VsEdgeSmooth 2011 VsEdgeLEx VsFaceColorMode VsFaceHighlight VsFaceOpacity VsFaceStyle VsHaloGap
2011 2011
"Rgb:0,0,0" 90 45 1 1 byentity -2 -6 1 1 -6 0 -30 -60 0 0 0 "7 (white)" 0 1 0 1 0 119.3,59.5,0.0 -81.3,-42.1,0.0 "Rgb:255,255,255" "ByEntity" 1 1 "ByEntity" 1 1 0 0 5 750 3 7
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1E+20,1E+20,1E+20 VsMax -1E+20,-1E+20,-1E+20 VsMin ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
VsHidePrecision VsIntersectionColor VsIntersectionEdges VsIntersectionLtype VsIsoOnTop VsLightingQuality VsMaterialMode VsMax VsMin VsMonoColor VsObscuredColor VsObscuredEdges VsObscuredLype 2011 VsOccludedColor 2011 VsOccludedEdges 2011 VsOccludedLtype VsShadows VsSilhEdges VsSilhWidth VtDuration VtEnable VtFps
W
... WhipArc WhipThread WindowAreaColor 2013 WipeoutFrame WmfBkgnd 0 1 150 2 off 1 0 3 5 0 WarningMessages WhipArc WhipThread WindowAreaColor ... WmfBkGnd Toggles use of warning messages
202
WmfForegnd ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 WorkspaceLable ... WorldUcs WorldView WriteStat 11 WsAutosave WsCurrent
off
0 2 0 1 1 0 2162.0;202.0 40.0;40.0 1160.0;760.0 1120.0;720.0 1 1 1 1
0 1 1 1 0 2D drafting & annotation
WmfForeGnd WndlMain WndlScrl PREFS WndlStat WndlTabs PREFS WndlText WndPMain WndPText WndSMain WndSText ... WorkspaceSecurity WorldUcs Worldview WriteStat ... ...
Reports window state, maximized or other Toggles scroll bars Toggles status bar Toggles layout and model tabs Reports text window state Reports top left window position Reports top left text window Reports main window size Reports text window size Enables macros
X
XClipFrame ... XDwgFadeCtl XEdit XFadeCtl XLoadCtl XLoadPath XRefCtl XRefNotify XRefType 2 70 1 50 2 c:\users\... 0 2 0 0 1 1 50 2 C:\Users\... 0 XClipFrame XDia PLAT ... XEdit XFadeCtl XLoadCtl XLoadPath XRefCtl ... ... Toggles dlg box or cmd line for X-Solids
Z
ZoomFactor ZoomWheel 60 0 60 ZoomFactor ...
#
3dConversionMode 3dDwfPrec 2011 3dOsMode 3dSelectionMode 1 2 11 1 ... ... ... ...
203
204
APPENDIX C
Command Alias Cross-reference
THIS APPENDIX COMPARES the command aliases defined by AutoCAD and BricsCAD. The list is sorted alphabetically by command name.

ICAD 2011
Aliases added to BricsCAD V13 are shown in blue text. Indicates alias names included by Bricsys for compatibility with IntelliCAD. Indicates alias names added to AutoCAD 2011; no aliases were added to AutoCAD 2012 or 2013.
Both CAD programs can define new aliases and modify existing ones:
panel. To customize aliases in BricsCAD, use the Customize commands Aliases tab.
To customize aliases in AutoCAD, use the Command Aliases button on the ribbons Express Tool tabs Tools
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Command
A
ActRecord -ActStop ActStop ActUserInput -ActUserMessage ActUserMessage AdCenter Align AllPlay 2011 AnalysisCurvature 2011 AnalysisDraftAngle 2011 AnalysisZebra ... ... AppLoad Arc Area -Array Array -AttDef AttDef ... -AttEdit AttEdit AttExt ... AttIpEdit arr -ars ars aru -arm arm adc, content, dc, dcenter al aplay curvatureanalysis draftangleanalysis zebraanalysis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Align ... ... ... ... Aperture Apparent ... Arc Area ... Array -AttDef AttDef AttDisp -AttEdit AttEdit -AttExt AttExt ...
al
ap planviewint ICAD ap a aa -ar ar -att att, ddattdef -ate, atte ate, ddatte, ddattext ddattext ati a aa ar -at at, ddattdef ad -ate -ax ax, ddattext
B
... BAction ... BClose BcParameter BEdit ... -Block Block -Boundary Boundary BParameter Break backgrounds ICAD ac ba bc cparam be -b b, acadblockdialog, bmake, bmod -bo bo, bpoly param br bm -b b -bo bo, bpoly br Background ... Base ... ... ... Blipmode -Block Block -Boundary Boundary ... Break
206
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias
BricsCAD Alias
BricsCAD Command
BSave BvState
bs bvs
... ...
C
Camera Chamfer Change CheckStandards Circle -Color Color CommandLine ConstraintBar ConstraintSettings Copy ... ... CTableStyle 2011 CvAdd 2011 CvHide 2011 CvRebuild 2011 CvRemove 2011 CvShow Cylinder cam cha -ch chk c -col,-colour col, colour, ddcolor, ddcolour cli cbar csettings co, cp cha -ch c -col, -colour col, colour, ddcolor, ddcolour, setcolor ICAD ... Chamfer Change ... Circle -Color Color ... ... ... Copy CopyLink Customize ... ... ... ... ... ... Cylinder
co, cp cl cui
ct insertcontrolpoint pointoff rebuild removecontrolpoint pointon cyl
cyl
D
DataExtraction DataLink DataLinkUpdate DbConnect DdEdit DdGrips ... DdVpoint DelConstraint Dist Divide Donut DrawingRecovery DrawOrder DSettings DsViewer DView ... dx dl dlu dbc ed gr vp delcon di div do, doughnut drm dr ds, ddrmodes, se av dv ... ... ... ... DdEdit DdGrips DdSelect DdVpoint ... Dist Divide Donut ... DrawOrder DSettings ... DView DxfOut
ed gr se vp, viewctl, setvpoint ICAD di div do, doughnut dr ddrmodes, rm dv dx
C Command Alias Cross-reference
207
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Command
Dimensions
... DimAligned DimAngular Dimarc DimBaseline DimCenter DimConstraint DimContinue DimDiameter DimDisassociate DimEdit DimJogged DimJogline DimLinear DimOrdinate DimOverride DimRadius DimReassociate ... DimStyle DimTedit dal, dimali dan, dimang dar dba, dimbase dce dcon dco, dimcont ddi, dimdia dda ded, dimed jog, djo djl dli, dimlin, dimhorizontal, dimrotated, dimvertical dor,dimord dov,dimover dra,dimrad dre d, dst, dimsty, ddim dimted dimension dal, dimali dan, dimang dba, dimbase dce dco, dimcont ddi, dimdia ... ded, dimed Dim DimAligned DimAngular ... DimBaseline Dimcenter ... DimContinue DimDiameter
DimEdit ... ... dli, dimlin, dimhorizontal, dimrotated, dimvertical DimLinear dor, dimord dov, dimover dra, dimrad DimOrdinate DimOverride DimRadius ... -DimStyle DimStyle DimTedit
-dst d, ddim, dimsty, ds,dst, expdimstyles, setdim ICAD dimted
E
EditShot ... Ellipse Erase ... Explode -Export Export ExportDwf ExportDwfx ExportPdf -ExportToAutocad ... Extend ExternalReferences Extrude eshot el e x -qpub exp edwf edwfx epdf aectoacad ex er ext ate el e, delete xb x exp, dwfout ... EAttEdit Ellipse Erase ExpBlocks Explode ... Export ... ... ... ... ExpUcs Extend ... Extrude
uc, dducs ex ext
208
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias
BricsCAD Alias
BricsCAD Command
F
Fillet Filter FlatShot f fi fshot f fi Fillet Filter ...
G
GeographicLocation GeomConstraint Gradient ... -Group Group geo, north, northdir gcon gd -g g geo GeographicLocation ... ... Grid ... ...
H
-Hatch Hatch HatchEdit 2011 HatchToBack Hide HidePalettes -h h, bh he hb hi poff -h, -bh h, bh he hi -Hatch Hatch HatchEdit ... Hide ...
... -Image Image ImageAdjust ImageAttach ImageClip Import -Insert Insert ... InsertObj Interfere Intersect 2011 IsolateObjects ...
idpoint ICAD -im im iad iat icl imp -i i, ddinsert, inserturl io inf in isolate im, expimages ICAD iad iat icl imp -i i, ddinsert insal io inf in is
Id ... Image ImageAdjust ImageAttach ImageClip Import -Insert Insert InsertAligned InsertObj Interfere Intersect ... Isoplane
J
Join j ...
209
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Command
L
-Layer Layer LayerState ... -Layout Leader Lengthen ... Line -Linetype Linetype List Ltscale Lweight -la la, ddlmodes las, lman lo lead len -la la, ddlmodes, explayers ICAD las setlayer ICAD le, lead len, editlen ICAD lighting ll l, 3dline -lt lt, ddltype, expltypes ICAD li, ls lts -Layer Layer LayerState LayMcur ... Leader Lengthen Light LightList Line -Linetype Linetype List LtScale ...
l -lt, -ltype lt, ltype, ddltype li, ls, showmat lts lw, lineweight
M
Markup 2011 MatBrowserOpen MatchProp MaterialMap Materials Measure MeasureGeom MeshCrease MeshRefine MeshSmooth MeshSmoothLess MeshSmoothMore MeshSplit MeshUncrease Mirror Mirror3d MLeader MLeaderAlign MLeaderCollect MLeaderEdit MLeaderStyle MLine Move ... MSpace msm mat, rmat ma, painter setuv mat, rmat, finish me mea crease refine smooth less more split uncrease mi 3dmirror mld mla mlc mle mls ml m ms ... ... MatchProp MaterialMap Materials ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Mirror Mirror3d ... ... ... ... ... ... Move MSlide MSpace
ma setuv mat, finish, rmat
mi 3m, 3dmirror
m msnapshot ICAD ms
210
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias
BricsCAD Alias
BricsCAD Command
-MText MText MView
-t mt, t mv
mt, t mv
... MText MView
N
NavSMotion NavSMotionClose NavSWheel NavVCube NewShot NewView ... motion motioncls wheel cube nshot nview ddnew ... ... ... ... ... ... NewWiz
O
Offset ... Open Options ... -Osnap Osnap o openurl, dxfin op, preferences -os os, ddosnap o undelete, unerase op cfg, config, prefs, preferences ortho, or -os, esnap os, ddosnap, ddesnap, setesnap ICAD Offset Oops Open Options Orthogonal -OSnap Osnap
P
-Pan Pan -Parameters Parameters -PartialOpen PasteSpec PEdit PLine Plot PlotStamp Point 2011 PointCloud 2011 PointCloudAttach 2011 PointCloudIndex PointLight Polygon PolySolid Preview Properties -p p -par par partialopen pa pe pl print, dwfout ddplotstamp po pc pcattach pcindex freepoint pol psolid pr,pre props, ch, mo, ddchprop, ddmodify p, -p ... Pan ... ... ... PasteSpec PEdit PLine ... ... Point ... ... ... ... Polygon ... Preview Properties
pa pe, editpline ICAD pl, polyline ICAD
po
pol pre, ppreview ICAD pr, props, ch, mo, ddchprop, ddmodify
211
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Command
PropertiesClose PSpace PublishToWeb -Purge Purge Pyramid
prclose ps ptw -pu pu pyr
prc ps -pu pu pyr
PropertiesClose PSpace ... -Purge Purge Pyramid
Q
QLeader ... ... QuickCalc QuickCui Quit QvDrawing QvDrawingClose QvLayout QvLayoutClose le n qt qc qcui exit qvd qvdc qvl qvlc exit ... QNew QText ... ... Quit ... ... ...
R
Rectang Redraw RedrawAll Regen RegenAll Region ... -Rename Rename Render RenderCrop RenderEnvironment RenderPresets RenderWin Revolve Ribbon RibbonClose Rotate ... RPref rec, rectangle r ra re rea reg -ren ren rr rc fog rp, rfileopt rw, rendscr rev dashboard dashboardclose ro rpr rec, rect, rectangle r ra re rea reg ri -ren ren, ddrename rr fog roptions rendscr rev Rectang Redraw RedrawAll Regen RegenAll Region Reinit -Rename Rename Render ... RenderEnvironment RenderPresets RenderWin Revolve ... ... Rotate Rotate3d RPref
ro 3r, 3drotate setrender
212
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias
BricsCAD Alias
BricsCAD Command
S
Save SaveAs Scale Script Section ... SectionPlane SectionPlaneJog SectionPlaneToBlock SequencePlay ... SetVar ... ShadeMode SheetSet ShowPalettes ... Slice Snap Solid Spell Spline SplinEdit Standards Stretch ... Style Subtract ... 2011 SurfBlend 2011 SurfExtend 2011 SurfFillet 2011 SurfNetwork 2011 SurfOffset 2011 SurfPatch 2011 SurfSculpt saveurl dxfout sc scr sec splane jogsection generatesection splay set sha, shade ssm pon sl sn so sp spl spe sta s st, ddstyle su blendsrf extendsrf filletsrf networksrf offsetsrf patch createsolid ucp, dducsp set sha vscurrent ssm freehand ICAD sl sn so, plane ICAD sp spl spe s font* st, ddstyle, expstyle, expstyles, expfonts ICAD su sun sa sc scr sec selgrip Save ... Scale Script Section SelGrips ... ... ... ... SetUcs SetVar Shade ShadeMode SheetSet ... Sketch Slice Snap Solid Spell Spline SplinEdit ... Stretch -Style Style Subtract SunProperties ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
T
Table TableStyle Tablet ... tb ts ta ... ... Tablet -Text
ta -t
213
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Alias(es)
BricsCAD Command
Text TextEdit Thickness TileMode ... Tolerance Toolbar ToolPalettes Torus Trim
dt, dtext tedit th ti, tm tol to tp tor tr
tx th ti tol
tor tr
Text ... Thickness ... Time Tolerance ... ... Torus Trim
U
Ucs UcsMan Union UnisolateObjects -Units Units dducs uc, dducs, dducsp uni unhide, unisolate -un un, ddunits uni -un un, ddunits ... ... Union ... -Units Units
V
... -View View ViewGo ViewPlay -VisualStyles VisualStyles ... VPoint VPorts ... VsCurrent -v v, ddview vgo vplay -vsm vs, vsm -vp viewports vs vba -v v, ddview, expviews ICAD VbaIde -View View ... ... ... ... VpLayer VPoint VPorts VSlide ...
vl -vpoint, -viewpoint,viewpoint ICAD vw, vport, viewports vs, vsnapshot ICAD
W
-WBlock WBlock ... Wedge ... ... -w w, acadwblockdialog we w closeall we wi wo ... WBlock WCloseAll Wedge WmfIn WmfOut
214
AutoCAD Command
AutoCAD Alias
BricsCAD Alias
BricsCAD Command
X
XAttach -XBind XBind XClip XLine -XRef XRef xa -xb xb xc xl -xr xr xa -xb clip xl, infline ICAD -xr xr, expxrefs ICAD XAttach ... XBind XClip XLine -Xref Xref
Z
Zoom z z Zoom
3
3dAlign 3dArray 3dFace ... 3dMove 3dOrbit 3dPoly 3dPrint 3dRotate 3dScale 3dWalk 3al 3a 3f, 3m 3do, orbit 3p 3dp, 3dplot, rapidprototype 3r 3s 3dnavigate, 3dw 3a, array3d 3f, face mesh ... 3dArray 3dFace 3dMesh ... ... 3dPoly ... ... ... ...
3p
215
216
APPENDIX D
Keystroke and Button Cross-reference

THIS APPENDIX COMPARES the default shortcut keystrokes and buttons defined by AutoCAD and BricsCAD. They are sorted into the following groups:
Keyboard shortcuts for the drawing area Function keys Ctrl keys Shift keys Other keys
Keyboard shortcuts for the command bar and Text window Ctrl and Other keys
Mouse and tablet buttons Mouse buttons Tablet buttons 3D walk and fly controls
Keystrokes new to BricsCAD V13 are shown in blue. purchase from the www.Bricsys.com Web site.
To learn how to customize BricsCAD, see the Customizing BricsCAD ebook available for
Keyboard Shortcuts for the Drawing Area

mands Keyboard tab.
Both CAD programs let you define new shortcuts and buttons, and modify existing ones. In AutoCAD, use the Cui commands Keyboard Shortcuts node. In BricsCAD, uses the Customize comThe following keystroke shortcuts operate in the drawing area:
FUNCTION KEYS
AutoCAD Action Displays the Help dialog box Selects entire objects during subentity selection Toggles between text and graphics windows Selects vertex subobjects Toggles object snap mode Selects edge subobjects Toggles 3D object snap mode Selects face subobjects Closes the current drawing Closes all drawings, as well as AutoCAD Cycles through isoplanes Selects solid history Toggles dynamic UCS mode Switches to the next drawing Toggles display of the grid Toggles orthogonal mode ... Runs VBA macros Toggles snap mode Toggles polar tracking Toggles object snap tracking ... Opens the VBA editor, not included with 2010-12 Toggles dynamic input ...
AutoCAD Command(s) Help ... TextScr GraphScr ... -Osnap ... 3dOsnap ... Close Quit Isoplane ... UcsDetect ... GridMode OrthoMode ... VbaRun SnapMode SnapType PolarMode ... VbaIde DynMode ...
Keystroke Shortcuts F1 Shift+F1 F2 Shift+F2 F3 Shift+F3 F4 Shift+F4 Ctrl+F4 * Alt+F4 * F5 Shift+F5 F6 Ctrl+F6 * F7 F8 Shift+F8 Alt+F8 F9 F10 F11 Shift+F11 Alt+F11 F12 Ctrl_F12
BricsCAD Command(s) Help ... TextScr GraphScr CliState OsMode StatBar Tablet T ScrollBar WClose Quit Isoplane ... UcsDetect ... Grid T Orthogonal T VbaMan VbaRun Snap T SnapType PolarMode AddInMan VBA QuadDisplay ...
BricsCAD Action Displays the Help dialog box Toggles between Text and Graphics windows Toggles the command bar Toggles object snap mode Toggles the status bar Toggles tablet mode Toggles the scroll bars Closes the current drawing Closes all drawings, and then closes BricsCAD Cycles through isoplanes Toggles dynamic UCS mode (formerly coordinate display toggle) Switches to the next drawing Toggles the display of the grid Toggles orthogonal mode Displays VBA Manager dialog box Displays Run BricsCAD VBA Macro dialog box Toggles snap mode Toggles polar tracking Toggles object snap tracking Displays the Add-in Manager dialog box Opens the Visual Basic Editor Toggles the Quad cursor (cannot be redefined with Customize) Toggles subentity selection mode (cannot be redefined with Customize)
(*) This function is provided by Windows.
218
CTRL KEYS
To operate Ctrl-key shortcuts, hold down the Ctrl key, and the press the associated character.
AutoCAD Command(s) ... Properties PropertiesOff AdCenter AdcClose ToolPalettes ToolPalettesOff SheetSet SheetSetHide dbConnect dbClose Markup MarkupClose QuickCalc QcClose CommandLine CommandLineHide CleanScreenOn CleanScreenOff Shortcut Keystrokes Ctrl Ctrl+1 Ctrl+2 Ctrl+3 BricsCAD Command(s) ... Properties PropertiesOff Explorer ... BricsCAD Action ... Toggles Properties bar Displays Drawing Explorer ...
AutoCAD Action Overrides LockUI Selects sub-objects Toggles Properties palette Toggles DesignCenter palette Toggles Tools palette
Toggles Sheet Set Manager palette Toggles dbConnect palette Toggles Markup Set Manager palette Toggles QuickCalc palette Toggles Command Line palette Toggles CleanScreen mode
Ctrl+4 Ctrl+6 Ctrl+7 Ctrl+8 Ctrl+9 Ctrl+0
... ... ... ...
... ... ... ...
CommandLine Toggles command bar CommandLineHide ...
Selects all non-frozen objects Toggles group mode Toggles snap mode Copies selected objects to Clipboard Copies selected objects with base point Toggles dynamic UCS Switches to the next isoplane Toggles object snap mode Toggles display of the grid Toggles pick style Toggles display of open palettes Cycles through coordinate display modes Toggles constraint inference ... Displays the Hyperlink dialog box Toggles orthographic mode Displays the Select Template dialog box Displays the Select File dialog box
(ai_SelAll) * ** SnapMode CopyClip CopyBase UcsDetect Isoplane OsMode GridMode PickStyle HidePalettes Coords
Ctrl+A Ctrl+Shift+A Ctrl+B Ctrl+C Ctrl+Shift+C Ctrl+D Ctrl+E Ctrl+F Ctrl+G Ctrl+H Ctrl+Shift+H Ctrl+I Ctrl+Shift+I
SelGrips All ... Snap T CopyClip CopyBase ... Isoplane -Osnap T Grid T PickStyle ... Coords ... ; Hyperlink Orthogonal T ; New Open
Selects all non-frozen objects ... Toggles snap mode Copies selected objects to Clipboard Copies selected objects with base point ... Switches to next isoplane Toggles entity snap mode Toggles display of the grid Toggles pick style ... Cycles through coordinate display modes ... Repeats the last command Displays Hyperlink dialog box Toggles orthographic mode Repeats the last command Displays the New Drawing dialog box Displays the Open Drawing dialog box
... Hyperlink OrthoMode ... New Open
Ctrl+J Ctrl+K Ctrl+L Ctrl+M Ctrl+N Ctrl+O
D Keystroke and Button Cross-reference
219
AutoCAD Action Displays the Plot dialog box Toggles the Quick Properties palette Closes drawings and AutoCAD Cycles through viewports Saves the current drawing Displays the Save Drawing As dialog box Toggles tablet mode Toggles polar tracking Pastes objects from Clipboard Pastes objects from Clipboard as a block ... Toggles selection cycling Cuts selected objects to Clipboard Redoes the last undo Undoes the last command
AutoCAD Command(s) Plot
Shortcut Keystrokes Ctrl+P
BricsCAD Command(s) Print OpmState Quit ^V QSave SaveAs Tablet T ... PasteClip PasteBlock PasteSpec ... CutClip Redo U
BricsCAD Action Displays the Print dialog box Toggles the Properties bar Closes drawings and BricsCAD Cycles through viewports Saves the current drawing Displays the Save Drawing As dialog box Toggles tablet mode ... Pastes entities from Clipboard Pastes entities from Clipboard as a block Displays the Paste Special dialog box ... Cuts selected entities to Clipboard. Redoes the last undo Undoes the last command
QuickProperties Ctrl+Shift+P Quit ^V ** Qsave SaveAs Tablet SnapType PasteClip PasteBlock ... ... CutCut Redo U Ctrl+Q Ctrl+R Ctrl+S Ctrl+Shift+S Ctrl+T Ctrl+U Ctrl+V Ctrl+Shift+V Ctrl+Alt+V Ctrl+W Ctrl+X Ctrl+Y Ctrl+Z
Displays layout tab to the left of the current one Displays layout tab to the right of the current one Cancels current command Cancels current command
Layout Set Layout Set Esc Esc
Ctrl+PageUp Ctrl+PageDown Ctrl+[ Ctrl+\
... ... ^C ^C Cancels current command Cancels current command
(*) AutoCAD uses an AutoLISP routine for this function. (**) AutoCAD uses an undocumented command for this function.
220
Shift keys are temporary overrides in AutoCAD that operate object snaps during commands. Shift key-combinations are not supported by BricsCAD.
AutoCAD Action Toggles orthogonal mode Toggles object snap mode Overrides object snap: Center Disables all snapping and tracking Overrides object snap: Endpoint Disables all snapping and tracking AutoCAD Command Ortho OsMode -OSnap Cen -OSnap Non -Osnap End Orthomode Osmode Snapmode Autosnap -OSnap Mid -OSnap End PolarMode OsnapOverride -OSnap Mid NavSWheel AutoSnap UcsDetect -OSnap Cen OsnapOverride AutoSnap -OSnap Off PolarMode UcsDetect Shortcut Keystrokes Shift Shift+A Shift+C Shift+D Shift+E Shift+L BricsCAD Command Orthographic ... ... ... ... ... BricsCAD Action Toggles orthogonal mode ... ... ... ... ...
SHIFT KEYS
Overrides object snap: Midpoint Overrides object snap: Endpoint Toggles object snap tracking mode Enables object snap enforcement Overrides object snap: Midpoint Toggles navigation wheel Toggles polar mode Toggles dynamic UCS mode Overrides object snap: Center Enables object snap enforcement Toggles polar mode Toggles object snap mode Toggles object snap tracking mode Toggles dynamic UCS mode
Shift+M Shift+P Shift+Q Shift+S Shift+V Shift+W Shift+X Shift+Z Shift+, Shift+; Shift+. Shift+ Shift+] Shift+/
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
OTHER KEYS
AutoCAD Action Erases selected objects AutoCAD Command Erase ... ... ... ... ... ... Shortcut Keystrokes Del PageUp PageDown Shift+Left Shift+Right Shift+Up Shift+Down BricsCAD Command Erase Pan PgU Pan PgD Pan PgL Pan PgR Pan PgU Pan PgD BricsCAD Action Erases selected objects Pans up Pans down Pans left Pans right Pans up Pans down
221
Keyboard Shortcuts for Command Bar & Text Window

AutoCAD Action Keystroke BricsCAD Action
The following keyboard shortcuts operate on text in the command bar and Text window.
Enter or Spacebar Enter or Spacebar Esc Up Down Left Right Home End Ins Del Backspace Ctrl+A Ctrl+C Ctrl+P Ctrl+X Executes the command or option Repeats the previous command Cancels the command or option Displays previous command Displays next command in command history Moves cursor to the left Moves cursor to the right Moves cursor to the start of the command line Moves cursor to the end of the command line ... ... Deletes characters to the left of the cursor Selects all text in Text window Copies selected text to Clipboard Pastes text from Clipboard to command prompt Cuts text from command prompt to Clipboard
Executes the command or option Repeats the previous command Cancels the command or option Displays previous command Displays next command in command history Moves cursor to the left Moves cursor to the right Moves cursor to the start of the command line Moves cursor to the end of the command line Toggles between insertion and overwrite mode Deletes characters to the right of the cursor Deletes characters to the left of the cursor Selects all text in Text window Copies selected text to Clipboard Pastes text from Clipboard to command prompt Cuts text from command prompt to Clipboard
As an alternative to these keystrokes, you can select text, right-click, and then choose an action from the shortcut menu.
222
Mouse and Tablet Buttons

MOUSE BUTTONS
The following tables compare the actions of mouse and tablet buttons in AutoCAD and BricsCAD. AutoCAD lets you customize the definitions of mouse buttons in the Mouse Buttons and Doubleclick Actions nodes of its CUI command (Customize User Interface dialog box). command (Customize dialog box).
1 (left) 2 (right) 3 (center) 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Wheel Double-click 1 (left) Shift+2 (right) Shift+3 (center) Ctrl+1 (left) Ctrl+2 (right) Ctrl+3 (middle) Ctrl+4
BricsCAD lets you customizes mouse and double-click buttons in the Mouse tab of its Customize
AutoCAD Action Mouse Button Number BricsCAD Action Picks objects * Repeats the last command Displays object snap shortcut menu ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Zooms in real time * Edits selected object(s) Displays object snap shortcut menu ... ... Rotates viewpoint in 3D ... ...
Picks objects * Displays grips shortcut menu Displays object snap shortcut menu Cancels the current command Toggles snap mode Toggles ortho mode Toggles grid display Changes the coordinate display Switches to the next isoplane Toggles tablet mode Zooms in real time * Edits selected object(s) Displays object snap shortcut menu Rotates viewpoint in 3D ... Displays object snap shortcut menu Swivels viewpoint in 3D Zooms viewpoint in 3D
(*) The action of the pick button (#1) and wheel cannot be customized.
223
TABLET BUTTONS
AutoCAD lets you customize the definitions of stylus and puck buttons in the Tablet Buttons node of its Customize User Interface dialog boxs Legacy section. BricsCAD lets you customize buttons in the Digitizer Buttons node of the Customize dialog boxs Tablet tab. However, no tablet menu or partial CUI file is provided by BricsCAD, and so the entries CUI files and drawings for tablet buttons and overlays from www.bricsys.com/en_US/download/ and menus. under Digitizer Buttons and Tablet Menus are empty, initially. The solution is to download partial
bcad/tool/Tablet.zip. Once you load the tablet.cui or tablet(acadLike)cui partial CUI files into Bric-
sCAD with the MenuLoad command, then these two sections contain entries for tablet buttons
The following table lists the meaning of stylus and puck buttons used with tablets. Italicized text
AutoCAD Action Picks objects Displays grips shortcut menu Displays object snap shortcut menu Cancels the current command Toggles snap mode Toggles ortho mode Toggles grid display Changes the coordinate display Switches to the next isoplane Toggles tablet mode Displays object snap shortcut menu
Left: Tablet button definitions in AutoCADs CUI dialog box. Center: Default tablet definition in BricsCADs Customize dialog box. Right: Tablet definition in BricsCAD after loading tablet(acadLike).cui.
indicates the actions after partial CUI file tablet(acadLike).cui is loaded into BricsCAD.
Tablet Button BricsCAD Command 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shift+2 ... $p0=GRIPS $p0=* $p0=SNAP $p0=* ^c '_snap;_t '_orthogonal;_t '_grid;_t BricsCAD Action Picks objects Displays grips shortcut menu
Displays object snap shortcut menu Cancels the current command Toggles snap mode Toggles ortho mode Toggles grid display
'_.COORDS $M=$(if,$(and,$(getvar, Changes the coordinate display COORDS),2),0,$(+,$(getvar,COORDS),1)) '_isoplane;; '_tablet;_t $p0=SNAP $p0=* Switches to the next isoplane Toggles tablet mode Displays object snap shortcut menu
224
The tablet overlay provided by Bricsys is illustrated below.
225
3D WALK-FLY CONTROLS
AutoCAD and BricsCAD use keystrokes and mouse buttons to control movement in 3D perspective ages that they are presented separately here. You cannot customize walk and fly controls. Enter walk or fly mode with the 3dWalk and 3dFly commands.
mode, known also as walk and fly. The keys and buttons are so different between the CAD pack-
AutoCAD
Function
Keystroke w s a d f Esc Tab
Alternative Keystroke Up-arrow Down-arrow Left-arrow Right-arrow ... Enter ...
Moves forward Moves backward Moves left Moves right Toggles between walk-fly mode Exits walk-fly mode Displays dialog box of keystrokes
Enter walk mode by setting the Perspective system variable to 1, and then entering the RtWalk
BricsCAD
command (new to BricsCAD V13).

Function Moves forward, backwards, left, or right Moves up, down, or sideways Looks around Resets view direction to the horizontal Moves target point to the center of the scene Increases walking speed Decreases walking speed Increases rotation speed Decreases rotation speed
Button or Key Alt + Left button Alt + Middle button Ctrl + Middle button Ctrl + Home key Alt + Home key Alt + Plus key Alt+Minus key Ctrl + Plus key Ctrl+Minus key
BricsCAD Command or System Variable RtWalk RtUpDown RtLook ... ... RtWalkSpeedFactor RtWalkSpeedFactor RtRotationSpeedFactor RtRotationSpeedFactor
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Bricscad V13

For autocad users

1 BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users ..................................................1

THE ADVANTAGE OF BRICSCAD ..................................................................... 6

What is Missing from BricsCAD? ................................................................................................... 11

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................ 13

Supported Operating Systems ....................................................................................................................................14

2 Comparing User Interfaces .................................................. 25

VARIATIONS IN USER INTERFACE ................................................................. 29

The Quad Cursor (BricsCAD Only) ................................................................................................31

AUTOCAD OPTIONS VS. BRICSCAD SETTINGS.............................................33

PROPERTIES AND PALETTES ......................................................................... 38

BETTER STATUS BAR AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ................................. 43

About Sheet Sets ...............................................................................................................................................................40

AUTOCADS DESIGNCENTER VS. BRICSCADS DRAWING EXPLORER ..... 46

BricsCAD V13 for AutoCAD Users

3 Compatibility of Drawing Elements .....................................51

Better DWG Support with Each Release ..................................................................................... 59

DWG 2012 OBJECT SUPPORT .......................................................................... 60

COMPATIBILITY OF PROPERTIES .................................................................. 76

COMPATIBILITY OF STYLES ........................................................................... 78

4 Customizing and Programming BricsCAD...........................89

AUTOCAD OPTIONS VS. BRICSCAD SETTINGS............................................. 91

Roaming Profiles ..........................................................................................................................96

AUTOCAD CUI VS. BRICSCAD CUSTOMIZE .................................................. 98

Useful Menu Tips ........................................................................................................................102

Macro Metacharacters .............................................................................................................. 106

Context Menus........................................................................................................................... 106 Toolbars ..................................................................................................................................... 108

Keyboard Shortcuts ................................................................................................................... 110

BricsCAD V13 for AutoCAD Users

Double-Click Actions ................................................................................................................................................... 111

CUSTOMIZING TOOLS PALETTES ..................................................................116

OTHER AREAS OF CUSTOMIZATION ............................................................121

SUPPORTED FILES .......................................................................................... 126

PROGRAMMING CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................ 130

Third-party Developer Support ..................................................................................................136

5 Operating Dual-CAD Design Offices ...................................139

RUNNING BRICSCAD AND AUTOCAD IN ONE OFFICE ..............................144

DUAL OS OFFICE ............................................................................................. 147

Benefits of Linux ........................................................................................................................ 149

Drawbacks to Linux .................................................................................................................... 151

BricsCAD V13 for AutoCAD Users

Appendices A Command Name Cross-reference ......................................155

BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users

The Bricsys Benefit

THE COST OF AUTOCAD

BricsCAD V13 for AutoCAD Users

THE BUSINESS OF BRICSYS

Viewing Viewing Viewing Viewing ... LISP, TX

1 BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users

Chapoo Project Management

Chapoo project management offers your firm the following benefits:

BricsCAD V13 for AutoCAD Users

BRICSCAD IS NOT INTELLICAD

1 BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users

The Advantage of BricsCAD

NEAR-IDENTICAL USER INTERFACE

BricsCAD V13 for AutoCAD Users

More Commands and System Variables

3D Direct Modeling and Constraints

1 BricsCAD for AutoCAD Users

APIs and Customization

BricsCAD V13 for AutoCAD Users