BricsCAD V13

Table Of Contents
BricsCAD................................................................................................................................1 Welcome to BricsCAD............................................................................................................1 What's New in BricsCAD V13 ..................................................................................................3 Licensing.............................................................................................................................8 Understanding BricsCAD ...................................................................................................... 11 Installation, platforms and levels .......................................................................................... 12 Silent Installation (MS-Windows only) ................................................................................... 14 BricsCAD and Windows Vista and Windows 7 .................................................................. 15 Developer Reference Guide .................................................................................................. 17 Index .................................................................................................................................. 19

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Welcome to BricsCAD
Congratulations on your purchase of BricsCAD. Whether you're a novice user or an experienced CAD professional, you'll soon be creating drawings using the numerous productivity-enhancing features in the software. These features include:

A familiar Windows or Linux environment. The ability to work with multiple open documents. Unparalleled DWG compatibility.

These are just a few of the many features that we have included in the program to make the transition into CAD-based drawing a smooth one for new users. We have also incorporated many features that experienced CAD users have been requesting for years in a drawing package. You have chosen an affordable, high-quality software program to produce your drawings. We are convinced you will be pleased with the results!

We encourage you to take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the information in this Help system. We have organized the following quick-reference topics to give you an overview of some of the program's features and to assist you in using the BricsCAD Help system. Because BricsCAD can read, write, and display DWG files without conversion, it is an obvious choice for Autodesk AutoCAD users. But the program provides other compatibility and productivity features that you will find indispensable. BricsCAD is a powerful drawing program that gives you the ability to create professional twodimensional drawings and three-dimensional designs. But don't take our word for it, see a few samples for yourself!

Bricscad V13 - Help BricsCAD is designed for anyone who wants a fast and efficient CAD program with the power and versatility of standard programs such as Autodesk AutoCAD or MicroStation by Bentley Systems Inc., at an affordable price. Using today's advanced technology, BricsCAD integrates the Microsoft Windows and Linux interface with a powerful CAD engine. 1999- Menhirs NV. All rights reserved.

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What's New in BricsCAD V13

Below is a brief description of the enhancements and new features. Click on the hyperlink keywords for a detailed description. Some features or commands might not be available yet on the Linux platform. Please check the Command Reference guide. Click here to read the BricsCAD Release Notes (Internet connection needed). Note: The Developer Reference guide is no longer included in the BricsCAD Help system. Click here to open the Developer Reference guide (Internet connection needed.)

BricsCAD V13 contains hundreds of fixes that have become available by upgrading to V3.6 of the Open Design Teigha libraries. MATCHPROP: Added Match Properties settings dialog, allowing to select which properties are copied. DRAGSNAP: This system variable controls the snap behavior while 'dragging', providing an increased WYSIWIG experience. DRAGSNAP controls whether rubberband dynamics are displayed at the current cursor location or at the current snap location. MCAD ASSEMBLY MODELING - (Platinum version only):

Uses .dwg files organized in hierarchical structures of mechanical components to model complex products. An example project is provided in the \Samples\Mechanical\tripod folder. Standard X-Hardware parts (screws, nuts, bearings, ...) can be used as mechanical components. MECHANICAL BROWSER: browse the component hierarchy. BILL OF MATERIALS: list top-level or bottom-level mechanical components used in a drawing. ASSEMBLY CONSTRAINTS: apply 3D constraints between faces and edges of different mechanical components. KINEMATIC ANALYSIS: use DmMove and DmRotate commands for real-time solving of forward and inverse kinematic problems. Assembly Modeling commands:

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BmBrowser: toggles the visibility of the Mechanical Browser BmUpdate: updates the hierarchy of mechanical components for the current drawing BmNew: creates a new mechanical component as a new drawing document BmInsert: inserts an existing mechanical component into the current drawing BmForm: creates a new mechanical component and inserts it into the current drawing BmDissolve: dissolves a mechanical component inserted into the current drawing BmMech: converts the current drawing into a mechanical component BmUnmech: converts the current mechanical component into a plain drawing BmHardware: inserts a standard hardware part as a mechanical component BmHide: hides a mechanical component inserted in the current drawing BmShow: shows a hidden mechanical component

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BmBom: inserts the Bill-of-Materials (BOM) table into the current drawing BmRemove: removes an insert of a mechanical component from the current drawing BmXConvert: converts all X-Hardware solids in the current drawing into mechanical components

2D CONSTRAINTS: EXPRESSIONS can now be used to define 2DCONSTRAINT dimensions. CLEANUNUSEDVARIABLES command purges variables not used in constraint expressions and not linked to dimensions. 3D CONSTRAINTS:

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Constraints can now be imposed between sub-entities of block references. Constraints are now maintained on COPY / COPYCLIP / PASTECLIP / BLOCK / INSERT / EXPLODE / WBLOCK commands. DMANGLE3D: the axis for 3D angle constraints can now be chosen (automatically or manually), allowing to change the angle parameter over 180 degrees.

ARRAY dialog: offers control and feedback for the various array command settings. A small preview helps you to control the result of the current settings. The -ARRAY command prompts you in the command bar. ATTRIBUTES:

ATTREDEF: Allows to redefine a block that contains attributes and update existing block references. New attributes are added, using default values. Old attributes retain their current values and attributes that are no longer included in the block definition will be deleted. ATTSYNC: command for synchronizing attributes of block inserts whose attribute definitions were modified. BATTMAN (Block Attribute Manager): This command allows to edit all attribute properties and settings in a block definition, then synchronize the changes in all block references. ATTDEF and -ATTDEF: Added support for Locked position and Multiline properties of attribute entities.

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AUTOCOMPLETE: command line auto completion. CHAPOO has been integrated into BricsCAD. CHAPOO allows to upload, share, view, annotate drawings and documents. Chapoo will become functional when the servers become available online.

Commands: CHAPOOOPEN, CHAPOOHOME.

CHAPOOACCOUNT,

CHAPOOLOGON,

CHAPOOLOGOFF,

DIMREASSOCIATE: command for (re)associating dimensions to existing entities. DIRECT MODELING:

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DMMOVE / DMROTATE commands can now be applied to block references. DMREVOLVE / DMEXTRUDE: can now be applied to faces of solids. DMROTATE / DMREVOLVE: cylinders and other axial surfaces can now be used as rotation axis. DMSELECTEDGES: Quad cursor menu command for faster 3d solid edges selection.

DYNAMIC UCS: dynamically align the UCS with faces of 3D solids when hovering over these faces during execution of commands. Faces highlight When moving the pointer while a drawing command is active and the XY plane of the coordinate system aligns with the highlighted face.

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When the command finishes, the previous UCS is restored.

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UCSDETECT system variable controls activation of dynamic UCS detection. Press the F6 key or click the DUCS field on the Status Bar to toggle UCS detection On/Off.

HIDE: enabled the HIDE command in paper space and added the Hide paperspace objects option to the Print settings and Page Setup definitions. MLINE: command for multiline creation. Support for snapping and grip-editing of multilines has been added. MLSTYLE: command for creating and editing multiline styles. OFFSET: added command options LAYER, UNDO and EXIT. PARALLELIZATION: enabled multi-threaded display regeneration, using multiple processor cores. MTFLAGS and MAXTHREADS system variables were added to control multi-threading aspects. PRINTING:

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SHADE PLOT: property for paperspace and modelspace viewports . This property is applied during printing, it overrides the visual style of a viewport. Enabled printing of layouts containing combinations of viewports using different visual styles. DISPPAPERMARGINS: system variable to control the display of the printable area. PRINT: implemented support for fine-tuneable printing of transparent images. When a problem is encountered while printing transparent images to a certain printer type, the ImagePrinting.xml configuration file in the plotter configuration folder (e.g. C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming\Bricsys\Bricscad\V13\en_US\PlotConfig) now offers improved control by allowing to override the default settings with specific perprinter settings. The file contains documentation on how to use it. PRINT: added support for plot style's line-end caps and joints in plot and plot preview. TrueType fonts can now be printed as text instead of geometry, which makes them searchable in PDF prints and which reduces the size of the print output. This is controlled by the "Truetype Text" setting in the PC3 file, and if no PC3 is used, by the system variable TTFASTEXT. If TEXTFILL is off, text is always printed as geometry. BACKGROUNDPLOT: system variable controls whether documents are published in the current session or in a BricsCAD session running in the background, thus allowing to continue drawing while printing. /pl command line switch has been added for background (silent, without showing the main program window) publishing using DSD files. Format is '/pl [[path]name[.ext]]'. If the file name parameter is absent, the program just exits. If the file extension is absent, ".dsd" is added to the filename. File searching is done according to usual OS rules. If the DSD file is found, publishing is invoked according to the DSD file, and upon completion the program exits. When BricsCAD is started with the '/pl' switch, it ignores the SingletonMode setting thus allowing multiple instances. Import: Page Setups from other drawings can now be imported in the Publish dialog box. Arrange sheet list: Added 'Move Sheet(s) Up/Down' and 'Reverse Sheet Order' buttons and functionality.

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PUBLISH:

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QLEADER: allows to control all settings of a leader through a dialog box and reuse the same settings for a series of leaders.

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SHEET SETS: Allow to

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combine multiple views on a sheet combine multiple sheets in a sheet set plot, publish or eTransmit sheet sets in one go

Commands: SHEETSET, NEWSHEETSET, OPENSHEETSET System variables: SSFOUND, SSLOCATE, SSMSTATE. Added support for .xtp import. Customizable/resizable icons. TOOLPALETTESCLOSE command closes the Tool Palettes window. TPSTATE system variable indicates whether the Tool Palettes window is open or closed. Tabs are automatically resized according to the tab text extents. Tooltips are shown in case the text doesn't fit the tab size. Tooltips and descriptions for each tool. New and Delete menu options were added for palettes. Insert blocks at mouse release position. Insert exploded blocks.

TOOLPALETTES:

TOOLBAR COMBO BOXES: have been added for layer filters, layer states and dimension styles. All toolbar combo boxes now have adjustable width. VIEWPORTS:

MVSETUP command

Model layout: set up the unit type, drawing scale factor and paper size. creates a rectangle, representing a paper sheet with respect to a specified scale. Named layout: create, align and scale a set of layout viewports.

ALIGNSPACE: command to adjust viewport angle, zoom factor and pan position based on alignment points specified in model space and paper space.

WALKTHROUGH NAVIGATION: New keyboard/mouse shortcuts allow to walk through a rendered 3D model in real time. In perspective view mode you can go inside a 3D model and move back and forth, up and down and look around.

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Alt + Left Mouse Button to 'walk' forward/backward and sideways, using the new RTWALK command. Alt + Middle Mouse Button to move up/down and sideways, using the new RTUPDOWN command. Ctrl + Middle Mouse Button to look around, using the new RTLOOK command. Shift + Right Mouse Button now brings up the snap menu instead of the former Ctrl + MMB combination. Ctrl + Home key sets the view direction to horizontal. Alt + Home key moves the target point to the center of the scene/drawing. Alt + Plus/Minus keys from the numeric keypad = increment/decrement movement speed, by modifying the new RtWalkSpeedFactor preference setting. Ctrl + Plus/Minus keys from the numeric keypad = increment/decrement rotation speed, by modifying the new RtRotationSpeedFactor preference setting.

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WORKSETS: command for working with named groups of drawings. SuppressDataLossWarning: new preference that allows to suppress the warning dialog when saving drawings to older dwg formats which do not support certain entity types. DockPriority: new preference that defines the docking priority for toolbars. The default priority is top, left, right, bottom. As a result the command bar no longer takes the complete bottom edge of the BricsCAD application window. Upgraded RedSdk rendering engine to version 3.1.0.4

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Licensing
In BricsCAD two license key types are available:

A regular license key, user type: Single User or Volume License. A license key with user type Network License, which only works when retrieved from a network license file. It can not be entered as a regular license key. In Evaluation mode (30 days trial period) BricsCAD uses a trial license key. After the trial period you need to enter a valid end user license key.

NOTE

To enter or modify a regular license key

1. Do one of the following: Choose License in the Help menu. Type licproperties in the command bar, then press Enter.

The License Information dialog opens.

BricsCAD 2. Click the Modify button on the Lincense Information dialog.

3. 4. 5.

Click the Key radio button on the Enter License Key for BricsCAD dialog. Type or Copy/Paste your license key in the Key field. Click the OK button.

Enter or modify a network license key

1. Do one of the following: Choose License in the Help menu. Type licproperties in the command bar, then press Enter.

The License Information dialog opens.

Bricscad V13 - Help 2. Click the Modify button on the Lincense Information dialog.

3. 4.

Click the Network radio button on the Enter License Key for BricsCAD dialog. Click the browse button next to the Network field.

5. 6. NOTES

Select the Network License File on the network server, then click the Open button. Click the OK button. It is not possible to lock a key in a Network License File and migrate it to a machine to run BricsCAD when not connected to the network. (e.g. it is not possible to use it on a laptop when this laptop is not connected to the network). The user on the client machine where BricsCAD is running, has to have write access to the shared network drive where the network license file is placed. A license key with user type 'Network License', does only work when used in a network license file. It can not be entered as a regular license key. If BricsCAD crashes or is shut down without access to the network, then the license key remains locked, until BricsCAD is shut down once on that same machine, with access to the network.

Reading the current license key

To see the current license key, do the following: 1. 2. Choose License in the Help menu. Press and hold the Shift and Ctrl keys, then click the Modify button on the Licensing Information dialog box.

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Understanding BricsCAD
BricsCAD is designed for anyone who wants a fast and efficient CAD program with all the power and versatility of standard programs such as Autodesk AutoCAD , or MicroStation by Bentley Systems, at an affordable price. Using today's advanced technology, BricsCAD integrates the Microsoft Windows interface with a powerful CAD engine. BricsCAD provides unparalleled compatibility with AutoCAD, using most of the same file formats including those for drawings (.dwg files), linetypes, hatch patterns, and text styles. You can also use AutoCAD menu files and run Autodesk AutoLISP programs. If you have written your own ADS (AutoCAD Development System by Autodesk) programs, simply recompile them to link with the BricsCAD libraries. Many third-party ADS programs already support BricsCAD. If you have a program that is not already supported, ask your software vendor to provide a Bricscad-compatible version of their program. BricsCAD is more compatible with the AutoCAD program than any other CAD product, delivers additional tools with advanced CAD features, and has a seamless Microsoft Windows and Linux integration. This powerful program provides a superb combination of features for CAD users like architects, engineers, and designers. BricsCAD incorporates all the standard features found in other CAD programs, along with features and capabilities you won't find anywhere else. Its multiple-document interface (MDI) lets you open and work with several drawings at the same time. You can easily copy drawing entities between drawings. In addition, the powerful BricsCAD Explorer lets you manage information and settings and quickly copy layers, linetypes, and other information between drawings. The brand new Settings Dialog lets you manage all settings variables in a single window. With the powerful search tool you can find any setting within seconds.

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Installation, platforms and levels

BricsCAD works on: Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000 on both 32 and 64 bits. You have the choice between 3 different levels : Platinum, Pro or Classic. Linux: Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE - 32bit, 64bit - gnome, kde Ubuntu 9.04 or later, Fedora 11 or later, OpenSUSE 11.0 or later You have the choice between 2 different levels : Pro or Classic.

This help file describes all features. Some features do not apply to the Classic version; some commands are not supported on the Linux platform. Please see the Command Reference to check the availability of a command on the various platforms (Windows or Linux) and installation levels (Platinum, Pro or Classic).

Differences between platforms and levels

WINDOWS Platinum 2D Constraints ACIS Editing Direct Modeling X-Solids X-Hardware 3D Constraints Design Intent Recognition Rendering ActiveX, Including in-place-editing Component Object Model (COM) Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) BRX .NET View the complete comparison chart on the Bricsys website. Pro LINUX Pro Classic

Classic Platinum

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NOTE

BricsCAD comes as a single download file. BricsCAD Classic, Pro or Platinum functionality will be activated according to your license key. BricsCAD can be installed in trial mode for a 30 day trial period. In trial mode, full BricsCAD Platinum functionality will be activated (except VBA). Each major upgrade (V11, V12, ...) is installed next to a previous version and can be installed in trial mode first. VBA is installed only if you enter a Platinum or Pro license key during the first installation. See: To install VBA, when upgrading BricsCAD Classic or after running BricsCAD in trial mode.

To install VBA
If you have bought a Platinum or Pro license key, do the following to install VBA after running BricsCAD in trial mode or when upgrading BricsCAD Classic: 1. 2. Launch the BricsCAD installer (e.g. Bricscad-Vxx.xx-en_US.exe). Choose the Modify option, then click the Next button.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Accept the terms of the license agreement, then click the Next button. On the License Information dialog click the Modify... button. Enter your Platinum or Pro license key in the Key field on the Enter License Key for BricsCAD dialog. Click the OK button to confirm the license key. On the next dialog, check the VBA checkbox in the features list, then click the Next button.

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8.

Follow the next instructions of the installer software.

Related Topics: Silent Installation

Silent Installation (MS-Windows only)

Silent installations are installations that run without a user interface. A normal (non-silent) installation receives the necessary input from the user in the form of responses to dialog boxes. However, a silent installation does not prompt the end user for input. Instead, a silent installation must get its user input from a response file (.iss file). A response file contains information that an end user would ordinarily enter as responses to dialog boxes when running a normal installation. During a silent installation (when the user runs Setup.exe with the /s switch), Setup.exe reads the necessary input from the response file at run time. The format of response files resembles that of an .ini file, but response files have the .iss extension. A response file is a plain text file consisting of sections containing data entries.

Creating a response file

To create a response file, run Setup.exe with the /r switch, which runs the installation normally, and additionally creates the response file used by a silent installation. By default, the response file is called Setup.iss, and is created in the Windows or WinNT folder. To specify a different name or location for the response file, use the /f1"ISS file path" switch to Setup.exe.

Running a silent installation

To run an installation silently based on the contents of a response file, the end user runs Setup.exe with the /s switch in combination with the /f1"ISS file path" switch to specify the location of the response file. A silent installation program does not display a dialog if an error occurs. Instead, status information for the silent installation is recorded (by default) in a file called Setup.log, created in the same folder as the response file being used. The end user can specify a different name and location for the log file using the /f2"LOG file path" switch to Setup.exe. Related Topics: Installation platforms and levels

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BricsCAD and Windows Vista and Windows 7

In general BricsCAD runs flawlessly on Windows Vista and Windows 7. On Windows Vista and Windows 7, access rights are more restricted. Even if you are logged in as administrator, it might appear as if the application has not enough rights to execute some procedures. Therefore, if you experience problems when running VBA scripts, turn off the User Account Control.

To turn of the User account control in Windows Vista and Windows 7

1. 2. Choose Control panel in the Start menu. On the Control Panel dialog, click User Accounts and Family Safety.

3. 4. 5.

Choose User Accounts. Choose Turn User Account Control on or off. Click the Continue button on the Use Account Control alert box. Turn the Use User Account Control (UAC) ... option off.

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6. 7.

Click the OK button. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Increase the memory limit

Until V10 the limit of the amount of memory that could be used by BricsCAD was around 1.6 GB. In V11 or higher this limit has been increased to 4 GB on 64 bit systems and 3 GB on 32 bit systems. On 32 bit systems additional manual changes to the boot process are required. On a 32 bit Windows Vista or Windows 7 system do the following:

1. 2.

Click the Start button (

)on the left hand side of the Windows task bar.

Type command in the Windows Start Search field, then press Enter.

The Administrator Command Prompt window opens. 3. Type bcdedit /set increaseuserva 3072 in the Administrator Command Prompt window, then press Enter.

The memory limit is increased to 3GB. 4. Close the Administrator Command Prompt window.

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Developer Reference Guide

The Developer Reference guide is no longer included in the Bricscad Help system. Click here to open the Developer Reference guide (Internet connection needed.)

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Index
A Autodesk AutoCAD................................ 1 B BricsCAD................................................... 1 BricsCAD Help ........................................... 1 D DeveloperReference.................................. 17 H Help ......................................................... 1 L linetypes................................................. 11 LISP ....................................................... 12 M MDI ....................................................... 11 Memory Limit .......................................... 16 Microsoft Vista ................................... 15 MS-Windows ........................................... 12 P pdf-version ............................................... 1 Q Quick Render........................................... 12 R Raster Image .......................................... 12 REGEDIT................................................. 15 S Silent Installation ..................................... 14 Snap Track.............................................. 12 T True Color............................................... 12 U User Account Control ................................ 15 V VBA ....................................................... 12 Vista ...................................................... 15 Visual Basic............................................. 12 W Windows................................................. 12

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