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Table of Contents
User Interface ................................................................................. 1
Keyboard Shortcuts .............................................................................................. 1
The BricsCAD Application Window ........................................................................ 3
Overview ............................................................................................................ 3
To Display the Ribbon ........................................................................................... 4
To Hide the Ribbon............................................................................................... 4
Document Tabs ................................................................................................... 4
Open/Close the Command Bar ............................................................................... 5
To Set the Command Line Properties ...................................................................... 6
Open/Close the Status bar .................................................................................... 6
Working with the Status Bar .................................................................................. 7
Customizing the Status Bar ................................................................................... 9
Display/Hide Scroll Bars ...................................................................................... 10
Toolbars ............................................................................................................. 11
Main Toolbars .................................................................................................... 11
Toolbar Flyouts .................................................................................................. 14
Opening a Toolbar .............................................................................................. 15
To set the Icon Size ........................................................................................... 16
To Set the Position and Visible Property ................................................................ 16
To Tear off a Flyout Toolbar ................................................................................ 17
Closing a Toolbar ............................................................................................... 17
Properties Bar .................................................................................................... 17
Overview .......................................................................................................... 17
Open the Properties Bar ...................................................................................... 17
Adjust the Size of the Properties Bar .................................................................... 20
Set the Current Properties .................................................................................. 20
Setting the current properties in the Properties Bar ................................................ 20
Edit a Single Entity ............................................................................................. 20
Edit a Selection Set ............................................................................................ 22
Edit Endpoints and Nodes ................................................................................... 22
To edit the vertices of a polyline .......................................................................... 23
Prompt Menus .................................................................................................... 24
To control the display of prompt menus ................................................................ 24
Customizing BricsCAD ................................................................... 25
Startup Options .................................................................................................. 26
What are BricsCAD User Files ............................................................................. 27
Using the BricsCAD User File Manager ................................................................ 28
What are the CUI Files ....................................................................................... 29
Opening the Customize Dialog ........................................................................... 29
Working with CUI files ....................................................................................... 30
Commands ........................................................................................................ 30
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To Load a Main CUI File ...................................................................................... 31
To Load a Partial CUI File .................................................................................... 31
To Unload a Partial CUI File ................................................................................. 32
Managing customization groups ........................................................................... 33
Creating Custom Tools ....................................................................................... 33
Overview .......................................................................................................... 33
Create a Partial CUI File ...................................................................................... 34
Add a Toolbox to a Menu Group ........................................................................... 34
Add Tools to a Toolbox ....................................................................................... 35
Add a Main Menu ............................................................................................... 36
Add a Submenu to a Menu .................................................................................. 37
Add a Context Menu ........................................................................................... 37
Add a Toolbar .................................................................................................... 40
Add a Flyout to a Toolbar .................................................................................... 41
Add a Control to a Toolbar .................................................................................. 42
Add a Keyboard Shortcut .................................................................................... 42
Add an Existing Tool to a Menu, Toolbar or Shortcut ............................................... 43
Change the Tool Order ....................................................................................... 43
To change the order of the tools in a menu or toolbar ............................................ 43
Create a New Tool in a Menu, Toolbar or Shortcut .................................................. 43
Tool Palettes ...................................................................................................... 45
To Open the Tool Palettes Bar ............................................................................. 45
To Set the View Options ..................................................................................... 45
Adding a New Tool Palette ................................................................................... 46
Importing a Tool Palette ..................................................................................... 46
To Rename a Tool Palette ................................................................................... 47
To Delete a Tool Palette ...................................................................................... 47
Adding a Hatch Pattern ....................................................................................... 47
Adding a Block................................................................................................... 48
Adding a Command ............................................................................................ 50
Editing a Tool .................................................................................................... 51
Managing tools .................................................................................................. 54
To Specify a Tool Image ..................................................................................... 55
To Move a Tool .................................................................................................. 55
To Copy a Tool .................................................................................................. 55
Command Aliases ............................................................................................... 55
What Are Command Aliases ................................................................................ 55
To Edit the Alias File in a Text Editor .................................................................... 55
Using the Customize Dialog to Edit the Alias File .................................................... 56
User Profile Manager .......................................................................................... 58
Content of a User Profile ..................................................................................... 58
Launch the User Profile Manager .......................................................................... 58
Creating User Profiles ......................................................................................... 59
Loading a User Profile ......................................................................................... 59
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Restarting Bricscad Using a Different User Profile ................................................... 60
Managing User Profiles ....................................................................................... 61
Copy a User Profile ............................................................................................. 61
Rename a User Profile ........................................................................................ 61
Delete a User Profile ........................................................................................... 61
Export a User Profile .......................................................................................... 62
Edit the User Profile Description ........................................................................... 62
Import a User Profile .......................................................................................... 62
Import a Profile from Another User ...................................................................... 62
Projects .............................................................................................................. 63
Definition .......................................................................................................... 63
Opening the Projects Settings .............................................................................. 63
Creating Projects ............................................................................................... 63
Adding Search Paths to a Project ......................................................................... 64
Changing the Order of the Search Paths ............................................................... 64
Assigning a Project to the Current Drawing ........................................................... 64
Workspaces ........................................................................................................ 65
Definition .......................................................................................................... 65
Managing Workspaces ........................................................................................ 65
Setting the Current Workspace ............................................................................ 67
Creating a Workspace ......................................................................................... 67
Editing a Workspace ........................................................................................... 68
Deleting a Workspace ......................................................................................... 70
Drawing Accurately ....................................................................... 71
Drawing Accurately Overview ............................................................................ 71
Orthogonal Mode ................................................................................................ 71
To toggle Orthogonal Mode ................................................................................. 71
Direct Distance Entry ......................................................................................... 71
To define the Coordinates setting ......................................................................... 72
Unit Settings ...................................................................................................... 72
Entering angles ................................................................................................. 72
The Quad Cursor Menu ....................................................................................... 73
Definition .......................................................................................................... 73
To Activate the Quad .......................................................................................... 73
Editing the Quad Settings ................................................................................... 73
The Quad Layout ............................................................................................... 74
Using the Quad .................................................................................................. 76
Selecting Multiple Entities ................................................................................... 76
Selecting Edges of Faces or Solids ........................................................................ 76
Customizing the Quad ........................................................................................ 77
Overview .......................................................................................................... 77
To Edit the Workspace Command Groups .............................................................. 77
To Edit the Custom Command Group .................................................................... 78
Parametric Constraints ....................................................................................... 81
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Overview .......................................................................................................... 81
Commands and toolbars ..................................................................................... 82
Using Dimensional Constraints ............................................................................. 84
Overview .......................................................................................................... 84
To Edit Dimensional Constraints........................................................................... 84
Using Expressions .............................................................................................. 86
Using expressions to define dimensional constraints ............................................... 86
Creating a New Parameter .................................................................................. 87
Using Operators in Expressions ............................................................................ 88
Using Functions in Expressions ............................................................................ 88
Using Geometric Constraints ............................................................................... 90
Overview .......................................................................................................... 90
To Control the Display of Constraints Bars ............................................................ 90
To Control the Position of a Constraints Bars ......................................................... 91
Working with the Constraints Bar ......................................................................... 91
Deleting Constraints ........................................................................................... 92
Using Fix Constraints .......................................................................................... 92
Using Coincident Constraints ............................................................................... 93
Using Horizontal and Vertical Constraints .............................................................. 95
To Constrain a Line to a Fixed Angle ..................................................................... 95
Dynamic Dimensions .......................................................................................... 96
Definition .......................................................................................................... 96
Defining Dynamic Dimensions ............................................................................. 96
Create Entities ................................................................................................... 98
Grip-edit Entities ................................................................................................ 99
Measure Entities ................................................................................................ 99
Using Dynamic Dimensions with Tracking Points .................................................. 100
Coordinate Input .............................................................................................. 100
Overview ........................................................................................................ 100
Relative Coordinates ........................................................................................ 100
Cartesian Coordinates ...................................................................................... 100
Using relative Cartesian coordinates to draw a rectangle ....................................... 101
Cylindrical Coordinates ..................................................................................... 101
Spherical Coordinates ....................................................................................... 102
Snap and Grid ................................................................................................... 104
Overview ........................................................................................................ 104
Snap and Grid Settings ..................................................................................... 105
To Synchronize Snap and Grid Spacing ............................................................... 105
Toggle the Drawing Limits ................................................................................. 105
Using Isometric Snap ....................................................................................... 105
Setting the Snap Angle ..................................................................................... 107
Entity Snaps ..................................................................................................... 108
Overview ........................................................................................................ 108
To Define the Entity Snap Settings ..................................................................... 108
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To Set the Entity Snaps .................................................................................... 110
Working with Multiple Entity Snap Modes ............................................................ 112
To Snap to the Extension of Two Entities ............................................................ 112
Using Temporary Tracking Points ....................................................................... 113
Using 'Middle of 2 Points' Snap .......................................................................... 113
Using Parallel Entity Snap ................................................................................. 114
Polar Tracking .................................................................................................. 115
Overview ........................................................................................................ 115
To Define the Polar Tracking Settings ................................................................. 115
Using Polar Tracking to Draw a Line ................................................................... 116
Using Snap Track Lock ..................................................................................... 116
Using Temporary Tracking Points ....................................................................... 116
Snap Tracking .................................................................................................. 118
Using Entity Snap Tracking ............................................................................... 119
User Coordinate Systems ................................................................................. 120
Overview ........................................................................................................ 120
Dynamic UCS .................................................................................................. 120
To Define a User Coordinate System .................................................................. 121
To Restore the WCS ......................................................................................... 121
To Restore a UCS ............................................................................................. 122
To Set a Relative UCS....................................................................................... 122
Measuring ........................................................................................................ 124
Commands ...................................................................................................... 124
Measuring Distances ........................................................................................ 124
Measuring Lengths ........................................................................................... 125
Measuring Areas .............................................................................................. 126
Viewing your Drawing ................................................................. 127
View Commands Overview ............................................................................... 127
Layer Utilities ................................................................................................... 130
Hide and Show Entities .................................................................................... 131
Redrawing and Regenerating a Drawing .......................................................... 131
Commands ...................................................................................................... 131
Redraw All ...................................................................................................... 131
Regenerate All ................................................................................................. 131
Regenerate ..................................................................................................... 132
Redraw ........................................................................................................... 132
Panning ............................................................................................................ 132
Commands ...................................................................................................... 132
Real Time Pan Command .................................................................................. 132
Pan Command ................................................................................................. 132
Zooming ........................................................................................................... 133
Commands ...................................................................................................... 133
Zoom Command .............................................................................................. 133
Real Time Zooming .......................................................................................... 134
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Dynamic zooming ............................................................................................ 134
View Manipulation Using the Mouse and Keyboard .......................................... 136
Overview ........................................................................................................ 136
Walk Through Navigation .................................................................................. 136
Zoom Factor Variable ....................................................................................... 137
Middle Button Pan Variable ................................................................................ 137
View Rotation ................................................................................................... 138
Commands ...................................................................................................... 138
Restoring Orthographic and Isometric Views ....................................................... 138
Real Time Sphere............................................................................................. 141
Real Time X .................................................................................................... 142
Real Time Y ..................................................................................................... 142
Real Time Z .................................................................................................... 142
Preset Viewpoints ............................................................................................ 143
Plan View ........................................................................................................ 145
Layer States ..................................................................................................... 146
Definition ........................................................................................................ 146
Opening the Layer States Explorer ..................................................................... 146
Save the Current Layer State ............................................................................ 147
Edit a Layer State ............................................................................................ 148
Restore a Layer State ....................................................................................... 148
Copy Layer States to Another Drawing ............................................................... 148
Export a Layer State ........................................................................................ 149
Import a Layer State ........................................................................................ 149
Named Views ................................................................................................... 150
Exploring Views ............................................................................................... 150
Exploring views ............................................................................................... 150
Saving a View.................................................................................................. 151
Restoring a View .............................................................................................. 151
Defining the View Background ........................................................................... 152
To Edit the View Background ............................................................................. 154
Perspective Views ............................................................................................ 155
Defining a camera view .................................................................................... 155
Model Space and Paper Space .......................................................................... 158
Understanding Paper Space and Model Space ...................................................... 158
Switching between Model Space and Paper Space ................................................ 158
Using the Model and Layout Tabs ....................................................................... 158
Toggle between Model Space and Paper Space .................................................... 159
Model Space Viewports .................................................................................... 159
Definition ........................................................................................................ 159
Creating Viewports in Model Space ..................................................................... 160
Drawing in Multiple Viewports ............................................................................ 161
Joining Viewports ............................................................................................. 162
Paper Space Viewports ..................................................................................... 162
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Commands ...................................................................................................... 162
Displaying Paper Sheet and Printable Area .......................................................... 163
Creating Viewports in a Layout .......................................................................... 163
Creating an Array of Layout Viewports ................................................................ 166
To Clip a Viewport ............................................................................................ 167
To Remove the Clipping Boundary of a Viewport .................................................. 167
Defining Viewport Properties ............................................................................. 168
Navigating in a Paper Space Layout ................................................................... 169
Setting the Layer Visibility in a Viewport ............................................................. 170
Setting the Scale of a Viewport .......................................................................... 170
Setting the Scale of a Selection of Viewports ....................................................... 171
Rotating the Display in a Viewport ..................................................................... 171
To Align Viewports ........................................................................................... 172
To Align Model Space and Paper Space Points ...................................................... 173
Layouts ............................................................................................................ 174
Overview ........................................................................................................ 174
Creating a new Layout ...................................................................................... 174
Copying Layouts .............................................................................................. 174
Importing Layouts ............................................................................................ 174
Renaming Layouts ........................................................................................... 175
Arranging Layout Tabs ...................................................................................... 175
Deleting a Layout ............................................................................................. 175
Generated Drawing Views ................................................................................ 176
Commands ...................................................................................................... 176
Commands and Toolbars ................................................................................... 177
Standard Drawing Views ................................................................................... 177
Generating Cross Section Views ......................................................................... 179
Updating Drawing Views ................................................................................... 180
Exporting Views to Model Space......................................................................... 181
Customizing drawing Views ............................................................................... 181
Creating Entities .......................................................................... 182
Drawing Entities Overview ............................................................................... 182
Entity Creation Settings ................................................................................... 183
Fill Mode ......................................................................................................... 184
Setting Fill Mode .............................................................................................. 184
Entity Color ..................................................................................................... 185
Commands...................................................................................................... 185
Index color ..................................................................................................... 185
True Colors ..................................................................................................... 187
To Set the Current Entity Color .......................................................................... 188
Lineweight ...................................................................................................... 188
Overview ........................................................................................................ 188
Setting Current Lineweight ................................................................................ 189
Defining the Lineweight Settings ........................................................................ 189
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Linetype ......................................................................................................... 190
Overview ........................................................................................................ 190
Current Linetype .............................................................................................. 191
Add a New Linetype ......................................................................................... 192
Entity Linetype Scale ........................................................................................ 193
Global Linetype Scale ....................................................................................... 193
Current Layer .................................................................................................. 194
Setting the current layer ................................................................................... 194
Drawing 2D Entities ......................................................................................... 196
Lines .............................................................................................................. 198
Drawing lines .................................................................................................. 198
Rays .............................................................................................................. 199
Drawing rays ................................................................................................... 199
Infinite Lines ................................................................................................... 200
Drawing infinite lines ........................................................................................ 200
Polylines ......................................................................................................... 200
Commands...................................................................................................... 200
Drawing Polylines............................................................................................. 201
Boundary Polylines ........................................................................................... 203
Splines ........................................................................................................... 205
Drawing splines ............................................................................................... 205
Sketch ............................................................................................................ 206
Setting the Sketch Poly (SKPOLY) system variable ............................................... 206
Creating a freehand sketch ............................................................................... 207
Circles ............................................................................................................ 208
Commands...................................................................................................... 208
General Procedure to Draw a Circle .................................................................... 208
Drawing a Circle Tangent to Three Entities .......................................................... 208
Editing a Circle ................................................................................................ 209
Arcs ............................................................................................................... 209
Command ....................................................................................................... 209
General Procedure to Draw an Arc ..................................................................... 209
Editing an Arc .................................................................................................. 210
Ellipses ........................................................................................................... 211
Command ....................................................................................................... 211
Setting the Polyline Ellipse (PELLIPSE) system variable ......................................... 211
General Procedure to Draw an Ellipse ................................................................. 212
Editing an Ellipse ............................................................................................. 213
Elliptical Arcs ................................................................................................... 213
Command ....................................................................................................... 213
General Procedure to Draw an Elliptical Arc ......................................................... 213
Editing an Elliptical Arc ..................................................................................... 215
Rectangles ...................................................................................................... 216
Drawing rectangles .......................................................................................... 216
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Polygons ......................................................................................................... 218
Drawing polygons ............................................................................................ 218
Traces ............................................................................................................ 219
Drawing traces ................................................................................................ 219
Donuts ........................................................................................................... 220
Drawing donuts ............................................................................................... 220
Solids ............................................................................................................. 221
Drawing solids ................................................................................................. 221
Revision Clouds ............................................................................................... 222
Drawing revision clouds .................................................................................... 222
Points ............................................................................................................. 224
Command ....................................................................................................... 224
Defining the Point Display Settings ..................................................................... 224
Drawing Points ................................................................................................ 225
Wipeouts ........................................................................................................ 226
Command ....................................................................................................... 226
To Create a Wipeout Using Points ...................................................................... 226
To Create a Wipeout from a Polyline ................................................................... 226
To Control the Display of the Edges of Wipeouts .................................................. 227
Mechanical ....................................................................................................... 228
BricsCAD Communicator ................................................................................... 228
Components and Inserts ................................................................................... 229
Definitions ...................................................................................................... 229
Parametric Components .................................................................................... 229
Edit Parameters ............................................................................................... 230
To edit the parameters of a parametric component insert ..................................... 230
Commands and Toolbars ................................................................................... 232
Organizing Geometry ....................................................................................... 232
Changing Mechanical Structure .......................................................................... 233
Using Standard Hardware ................................................................................. 233
Assembly Constraints ....................................................................................... 233
Component Visibility ......................................................................................... 233
Mechanical Browser .......................................................................................... 234
Bill of Materials ................................................................................................ 234
Assembly Mass Properties ................................................................................. 236
Command ....................................................................................................... 236
To Specify the Density ...................................................................................... 236
To Compute the Mass Properties ........................................................................ 236
MCAD Tutorial ................................................................................................. 237
Assembly Design and Kinematic Analysis Tutorial ................................................. 237
Step 1: Preparing for the Exercise ...................................................................... 237
Step 2: Creating the Assembly Drawing .............................................................. 239
Step 3: Adding the Components ........................................................................ 240
Step 4: Positioning the Components ................................................................... 241
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Step 5: Preparing for the Kinematic Analysis ....................................................... 249
Step 6: Kinematic Analysis ................................................................................ 252
Sheet Metal ..................................................................................................... 253
Commands...................................................................................................... 253
Sheet Metal Features ........................................................................................ 254
K-Factor ......................................................................................................... 255
Bend Table ...................................................................................................... 257
The Mechanical Browser for Sheet Metal ............................................................. 261
Commands and Toolbars................................................................................... 262
Creating the Base Flange .................................................................................. 264
Creating Edge Flanges ...................................................................................... 264
Corner Reliefs and Junctions ............................................................................. 268
To Rotate a Flange ........................................................................................... 269
To Connect Flanges .......................................................................................... 269
To Convert Geometry to a Valid Sheet Metal part ................................................. 269
Creating Missing Reliefs .................................................................................... 270
To Convert Hard Edges ..................................................................................... 271
To Split a Flange .............................................................................................. 272
To Re-thicken a Sheet Metal Body ...................................................................... 273
Changing the Thickness .................................................................................... 274
Changing the Bend Radius ................................................................................ 275
To Unfold the Sheet Metal Body ......................................................................... 275
To Export a SheetMetal Body............................................................................. 275
Direct Modeling ................................................................................................ 276
Direct Modeling Overview.................................................................................. 276
3D Constraints ................................................................................................ 276
Variational Direct Modeling ................................................................................ 277
Mechanical Browser .......................................................................................... 277
3D Constraints types ........................................................................................ 277
3D Constraints and Direct Modeling .................................................................... 277
Design Intent .................................................................................................. 278
Direct Modeling Operations ............................................................................... 282
Overview ........................................................................................................ 282
Selecting Geometry .......................................................................................... 283
To Control Dimensions ...................................................................................... 283
Making Holes ................................................................................................... 284
Deleting Holes ................................................................................................. 286
BIM .................................................................................................................. 289
Creating Walls ................................................................................................. 289
Command ....................................................................................................... 289
Creating a Single Wall ...................................................................................... 289
Creating a Chain of L-Connected Walls ............................................................... 290
Working with Walls .......................................................................................... 291
Commands...................................................................................................... 291
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Creating L-Connections ..................................................................................... 292
Creating T-Connections .................................................................................... 293
Modifying the Thickness .................................................................................... 293
Modifying the Height ........................................................................................ 294
Setting the Distance between Parallel Walls ........................................................ 295
Windows and Doors.......................................................................................... 296
Commands...................................................................................................... 296
Inserting Windows and Doors ............................................................................ 296
Editing Parameters ........................................................................................... 300
Moving Windows and Doors ............................................................................... 301
Copying Windows and Doors ............................................................................. 301
Working with Sections ..................................................................................... 302
Commands ...................................................................................................... 302
SectionPlane command ..................................................................................... 302
Align Section Plane to a Face ............................................................................. 302
To Create a Vertical Section Plane ...................................................................... 302
To Create a Vertical Jogged Section Plane ........................................................... 303
To Create a Horizontal Section Plane .................................................................. 304
To Create a Horizontal Jogged Section Plane ....................................................... 305
To Create a Orthographic Section Plane .............................................................. 306
To open the Drawing Explorer - Section Planes dialog ........................................... 307
To Edit Section Planes ...................................................................................... 307
To Modify the Size and Position of a Section Plane ............................................... 308
Using Live Section ............................................................................................ 309
To Save a Section ............................................................................................ 311
The SectionPlaneToBlock command .................................................................... 311
To Insert a Section as a 2D Block....................................................................... 312
To Insert a Section as a 3D Block....................................................................... 312
To Replace an Existing block ............................................................................. 313
To Export a Section to a File .............................................................................. 313
Hatches and Gradient Fills ................................................................................ 314
Overview ........................................................................................................ 314
Defining the MEASUREMENT setting ................................................................... 314
Defining the MAXHATCH setting ......................................................................... 315
Commands ...................................................................................................... 315
General Procedure ........................................................................................... 315
General procedure to create hatches and gradient fills .......................................... 315
To Define Hatch Properties ................................................................................ 316
To Define Gradient Fill Properties ....................................................................... 318
To Define the Boundary .................................................................................... 319
To define the boundary for a hatch or gradient fill ................................................ 319
Set the Hatch and Gradient options .................................................................... 320
Editing Hatches and Gradients ........................................................................... 321
To edit a hatch or gradient fill in the properties bar .............................................. 321
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To edit a hatch in a dialog box ........................................................................... 322
To edit a gradient fill in a dialog box ................................................................... 323
To edit a hatch or gradient fill using the Quad ..................................................... 324
Dimensions ...................................................................................................... 326
Dimensioning Tools Overview ............................................................................ 327
Dimension Styles Explorer ................................................................................ 329
Exploring dimension styles ................................................................................ 329
Associative Dimensions ..................................................................................... 331
Dimension Settings .......................................................................................... 332
Overview ........................................................................................................ 332
Lines and Arrows ............................................................................................. 332
Text ............................................................................................................... 333
Vertical Position of the Dimension Text ............................................................... 334
Fit .................................................................................................................. 335
Primary Units .................................................................................................. 335
Alternate Units ................................................................................................ 336
Tolerances ...................................................................................................... 337
Dimension Styles ............................................................................................. 338
Overview ........................................................................................................ 338
To Create a New Dimension Style ...................................................................... 338
To Edit a Dimension Style ................................................................................. 338
To Define Dimension Style Overrides .................................................................. 338
To Rename a Dimension Style ........................................................................... 339
To Set a Dimension Style Current ...................................................................... 339
Using the Status Bar to Set a Dimension Style Current ......................................... 339
To Copy Dimension Styles Between Drawings ...................................................... 340
To Move a Dimension Style Between Drawings .................................................... 340
To Delete a Dimension Style ............................................................................. 340
Dimension Style Tools ...................................................................................... 341
To apply the current dimension style .................................................................. 341
To save a dimension style ................................................................................. 341
To restore a dimension style ............................................................................. 342
To list the settings in the current dimension style ................................................ 342
To Apply the Current Dimension Style ................................................................ 342
To Save a Dimension Style ................................................................................ 342
To Restore a Dimension Style ............................................................................ 343
To List the Settings in the Current Dimension Style .............................................. 343
Creating Linear Dimensions ............................................................................... 343
To Create a Horizontal or Vertical Linear Dimension ............................................. 343
To Create an Aligned Linear Dimension ............................................................... 344
To Create a Rotated Linear Dimension ................................................................ 344
To Create Baseline Dimensions .......................................................................... 345
To Create Continued Dimensions ....................................................................... 345
To Create an Arc Length Dimension ................................................................... 346
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Creating Angular Dimensions ............................................................................. 346
To Dimension an Angle Between Two Lines ......................................................... 347
To Dimension an Angle Encompassed by an Arc ................................................... 347
To create an angular dimension defined by a vertex and two endpoints .................. 347
Creating Diametrical and Radial Dimensions ........................................................ 348
To Create a Diametrical Dimension .................................................................... 348
To Create a Radial Dimension ............................................................................ 348
Creating Center Marks and Center Lines ............................................................. 348
Creating Ordinate Dimensions ........................................................................... 349
To create an ordinate dimension ........................................................................ 349
Creating Leaders and Annotations ...................................................................... 349
To Create a Leader and an Annotation ................................................................ 349
To Create a Leader only .................................................................................... 350
Working with Multileaders ................................................................................. 351
To create a multileader ..................................................................................... 351
Adding vertices to a leader line of a multileader ................................................... 352
Removing vertices from a leader line of a multileader ........................................... 353
Adding leader lines to a multileader ................................................................... 353
Removing leader lines from a multileader ........................................................... 353
To Create a Multileader ..................................................................................... 353
Adding Vertices to a Leader Line of a Multileader ................................................. 354
Removing vertices from a leader line of a multileader ........................................... 355
Removing Vertices from a Leader Line of a Multileader ......................................... 355
Adding Leader Lines to a Multileader .................................................................. 355
Removing Leader Lines from a Multileader .......................................................... 355
Editing dimensions ........................................................................................... 356
Using Grips to Edit a Linear Dimension ............................................................... 356
Editing the Dimension Text ............................................................................... 356
To edit the dimension text in the MText editor ..................................................... 357
To edit the dimension text in the Properties Bar ................................................... 357
To edit the dimension text using the Edit Dimension Text tool ............................... 357
To Rotate the Dimension Text ........................................................................... 357
To Reposition the Dimension Text ...................................................................... 358
To Restore the Text Position .............................................................................. 358
To Make the Extension Lines Oblique .................................................................. 358
Geometric Tolerances ....................................................................................... 359
Definitions ...................................................................................................... 359
Geometric Tolerance Symbols ........................................................................... 359
Geometric Tolerance Dialog ............................................................................... 359
To Create a Geometrical Tolerance Frame ........................................................... 360
Working with Text ............................................................................................ 361
Text Variables ................................................................................................. 361
Working With Text Styles .................................................................................. 362
Overview ........................................................................................................ 362
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Open the Text Style Explorer Dialog ................................................................... 362
Create a Text Style .......................................................................................... 362
Edit a Text Style .............................................................................................. 362
Make a Text Style Current................................................................................. 363
Delete a Text Style .......................................................................................... 363
Creating text ................................................................................................... 364
To Create Single Line Text ................................................................................ 364
To Create Multiline Text .................................................................................... 364
Multiline Text Justification ................................................................................. 366
Special Characters and Symbols ........................................................................ 367
To Add a Background Mask ............................................................................... 367
Editing text ..................................................................................................... 368
To edit a text entity ......................................................................................... 368
To edit a selection of Mtext entities .................................................................... 369
To select a different multiline text editor ............................................................. 369
Exploding text ................................................................................................. 369
To explode text ............................................................................................... 369
Finding and Replacing Text ............................................................................... 370
To Open the Find and Replace Dialog ................................................................. 370
To Set the Find and Replace Options .................................................................. 371
To Find Text .................................................................................................... 371
To Replace Text ............................................................................................... 371
Checking Spelling ............................................................................................ 373
Command ....................................................................................................... 373
Dictionary Settings ........................................................................................... 373
To Open the Spell Checking Dialog ..................................................................... 373
To Check the Spelling ....................................................................................... 374
To Change Dictionaries ..................................................................................... 376
To Add a New Main Dictionary ........................................................................... 377
To Add a New Custom Dictionary ....................................................................... 378
Working with Fields ......................................................................................... 379
Commands ...................................................................................................... 379
General Procedure to Create Fields ..................................................................... 379
To Display an Entity Property in a Field ............................................................... 381
To Edit a Field ................................................................................................. 383
To Update a Field ............................................................................................. 383
Convert Field To Text ....................................................................................... 383
Working with Tables ........................................................................................ 384
Commands ...................................................................................................... 384
Table Styles .................................................................................................... 384
To open the Table Styles Explorer ...................................................................... 384
To Create a Table Style .................................................................................... 384
To Edit a Table Style ........................................................................................ 385
To Apply a Table Style ...................................................................................... 385
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To Delete a Table Style ..................................................................................... 385
To Create an Empty Table ................................................................................. 386
To Create a Table from Data ............................................................................. 387
To Create a Table from an Excel Spreadsheet ...................................................... 387
Editing a Table Using Grips ............................................................................... 388
Editing a Table Using the Table Toolbar .............................................................. 388
Editing a Table in the Properties Bar ................................................................... 391
Editing a Cell in the Properties Bar ..................................................................... 392
To Edit the Table Content.................................................................................. 393
To Export a Table ............................................................................................. 393
Defining the list separator character ................................................................... 393
Annotative Entities ........................................................................................... 395
Commands ...................................................................................................... 395
System variables and user preferences ............................................................... 395
Setting the current annotation scale ................................................................... 396
To make an annotation entity annotative ............................................................ 396
Overview ........................................................................................................ 397
Commands ...................................................................................................... 397
System Variables and User Preferences .............................................................. 397
Setting the Current Annotation Scale .................................................................. 398
Making an Annotation Entity Annotative .............................................................. 398
Annotation Scales ............................................................................................ 398
To add or remove annotation scales to annotative entities .................................... 399
Adding or Removing Annotation Scales to Annotative Entities ................................ 400
Annotative Texts .............................................................................................. 400
To make a text entity annotative ....................................................................... 401
To remove the annotative property .................................................................... 401
Annotative Hatches .......................................................................................... 401
To set the HPANNOTATIVE system variable ......................................................... 401
To make a hatch or gradient entity annotative ..................................................... 401
To remove the annotative property .................................................................... 401
Annotative Blocks ............................................................................................ 401
To make a block definition annotative ................................................................. 402
To match the orientation of a block to a layout .................................................... 402
Annotative Dimensions ..................................................................................... 402
To make a dimension entity annotative............................................................... 402
To remove the annotative property .................................................................... 402
Annotative Leaders .......................................................................................... 402
Modifying Entities ........................................................................ 403
Entity Modification Commands ......................................................................... 403
Entity Modification Settings ............................................................................. 405
Match Properties .............................................................................................. 406
To copy properties between entities ................................................................... 406
Grips editing ..................................................................................................... 407
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Overview ........................................................................................................ 407
Selecting Multiple Grips .................................................................................... 407
The grips editing context menu.......................................................................... 408
To Stretch Entities Using Grips .......................................................................... 408
To Move Entities Using Grips ............................................................................. 409
To copy entities using grips ............................................................................... 409
To Mirror Entities Using Grips ............................................................................ 410
To Rotate Entities Using Grips ........................................................................... 410
To Scale Entities Using Grips ............................................................................. 411
Selecting Entities ............................................................................................. 412
Settings .......................................................................................................... 412
Grips Settings ................................................................................................. 415
Selection Methods ............................................................................................ 417
Overview ........................................................................................................ 417
Composing a Selection Set Before (pre- pick) ...................................................... 417
Composing a Selection Set Afterwards (post-pick) ............................................... 418
Selecting Overlapping Entities ........................................................................... 419
Selection Preview and Overlapping Entities ......................................................... 419
Using Quick Select ........................................................................................... 420
To create a selection set ................................................................................... 420
Rearranging Entities......................................................................................... 425
Adjusting the Draw Order ................................................................................. 425
Using Draw Order ............................................................................................ 425
Using Draw Order tools ..................................................................................... 425
Moving Entities ................................................................................................ 426
Commands...................................................................................................... 426
Using the Move Command ................................................................................ 426
Moving Entities Using Grips ............................................................................... 427
Using Cut and Paste to move entities between drawings ....................................... 428
Move a Selection as a Block .............................................................................. 428
Rotating Entities .............................................................................................. 429
Commands...................................................................................................... 429
Rotating a Selection Set ................................................................................... 429
Rotating a Selection Set in Reference to a Base Angle .......................................... 430
Rotating in 3D ................................................................................................. 430
Mirroring Entities ............................................................................................. 431
Commands...................................................................................................... 431
Mirroring Entities about a Line ........................................................................... 431
Mirroring Entities about a Plane ......................................................................... 431
Aligning Entities ............................................................................................... 432
Command ....................................................................................................... 432
Aligning an Entity in 2D .................................................................................... 432
Aligning an Entity in 3D .................................................................................... 433
Changing Entities ............................................................................................. 434
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Command ....................................................................................................... 434
To Change Text Entities .................................................................................... 434
To Relocate Blocks ........................................................................................... 435
Copying Entities ............................................................................................... 435
Copying Entities in a Drawing ............................................................................ 435
Commands...................................................................................................... 435
To Copy a Selection Set .................................................................................... 436
To Make Multiple Copies ................................................................................... 436
To Paste a Selection Set as a Block .................................................................... 437
Copying Entities Between Drawings .................................................................... 438
Commands...................................................................................................... 438
Using Copy and Paste ....................................................................................... 438
Using Copy and Pasteorig ................................................................................. 438
Using Copybase and Paste ................................................................................ 439
Paste a selection as a block in the target drawing ................................................ 439
Making Parallel Copies ...................................................................................... 440
Making a parallel copy at a specified distance ...................................................... 440
Making a parallel copy through a point ............................................................... 440
Arraying Entities .............................................................................................. 441
Commands...................................................................................................... 441
Creating a Rectangular Array............................................................................. 441
Creating a Polar Array ...................................................................................... 443
Arraying Entities in 3D ...................................................................................... 445
Command ....................................................................................................... 445
Creating a 3D Rectangular Array ........................................................................ 445
Creating a 3D Polar Array ................................................................................. 447
Resizing Entities ............................................................................................... 448
Extending Entities ............................................................................................ 448
To extend entities ............................................................................................ 448
Trimming Entities ............................................................................................. 449
To trim entities ................................................................................................ 449
Changing the Length of an Entity ....................................................................... 450
Command ....................................................................................................... 450
Changing the length of an Entity Dynamically ...................................................... 450
To Modify the Included Angle of an Arc ............................................................... 450
Stretching Entities ........................................................................................... 451
Command ....................................................................................................... 451
To Stretch Entities ........................................................................................... 451
Stretching Entities using Grips ........................................................................... 452
Scaling Entities ................................................................................................ 453
Command ....................................................................................................... 453
Scaling an Entity Using a Base Scale .................................................................. 453
To Scale a Selection Set ................................................................................... 454
Breaking Entities .............................................................................................. 454
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To break an entity ............................................................................................ 454
Joining Entities ................................................................................................. 455
To join colinear lines ....................................