Measuring

The DIST command reports the distance and angle between two points.

The AREA command finds the area and perimeter (or length) of 2D entities.

The MASSPROP command reports the area, perimeter, and other mathematical properties of 3D solids and 2D regions (short for mass properties).

The ID command reports the x,y,z coordinates of picked points.

The LIST command lists the properties of selected entities.

Note: BricsCAD® reports the results in the Command line or in the Prompt History window when the Command line is closed. Depending on the number of prompt history lines in the Command line, it can be necessary to press the F2 function key to open the Prompt History window. Press the F2 function key again to close the Prompt History window.

Measuring distances

To measure a distance between 2 points:

  1. Launch the DIST command.

    Prompts you: Starting point for distance.

  2. Identify the first point.

    Prompts you: Enter second point or [Multiple points]:

  3. Hover over the second point using an appropriate entity snap mode.

    When Dynamic Input (DYN) is On, the distance displays in the dynamic dimension field.

  4. Click to confirm the second point.

    BricsCAD® prints the results in the Command line:

    Distance, Angle in XY Plane (α), Angle from XY Plane (β)

    Delta X, Delta Y, Delta Z

    The values are in drawing units and with respect to the current coordinate system.

To measure a distance between multiple points:

  1. Launch the DIST command.

    Prompts you: Starting point for distance.

  2. Identify the first point.

    Prompts you: Enter second point or [Multiple points]:

  3. Choose the Multiple points option.

    Prompts you: Enter next point or [Arc/Length/Undo/Total] <Total>:

  4. Identify the second point.

    BricsCAD® displays the distance between the two points.

    Prompts you: Enter next point or [Arc/Length/Undo/Total] <Total>:

  5. Identify the next point.

    BricsCAD® displays the total distance between the points.

    Prompts you: Enter next point or [Arc/Length/Undo/Total] <Total>:

  6. Keep adding points, then press Enter or right click to conclude.

Measuring lengths

To measure the length of single linear entity, click the entity then read the Length field in the Properties panel.

To combine the lengths of a series of linear entities:

  1. Launch the AREA command.

    Prompts you:

    Select first point [find area of one Entity/Add areas together/Subtract areas]:

  2. Choose the Add areas together option.

    Prompts you: Draw first point to add to current area or [add Entities to area/Subtract from area]:

  3. Choose the ad Entities option.

    Prompts you: Select entities to add to area:

  4. Select the first linear entity.

    BricsCAD® reports in the Command line:

    Area = xx, Length = xx

    Total length = xx

    Total area = xx

    Prompts you: Select entities to add to area:

  5. Select the second linear entity.

    BricsCAD® reports in the Command line:

    Area = xx, Length = xx

    Total length = xx

    Total area = xx

    Prompts you: Select entities to add to area:

  6. Keep selecting linear entities or press Enter or right click to stop.

Note: You can combine the lengths of lines, polylines, arcs, circles, ellipses, elliptical arcs and splines.

Measuring areas

To measure the area and length of single closed entity, click the entity then read the Area and Length fields in the Properties panel.

To measure areas and perimeters by specifying points in a drawing:

  1. Launch the AREA command.

    Prompts you:

    Select first point [find area of one Entity/Add areas together/Subtract areas]:

  2. Click the first point.

    Prompts you: Next point.

  3. Click the second point.

    Prompts you: Next point.

    A dashed outline displays dynamically.

  4. Keep adding points, then press Enter or right click.

    BricsCAD® reports in the command line:

    Area = xx, Perimeter = xx