Managing toolboxes

A toolbox contains a set of tools, which can be added to menus, toolbars, ribbon panels, Quad tabs and keyboard or mouse shortcuts. Toolboxes can be created in the main CUI or in a partial CUI.

Creating a toolbox in a menu group

  1. In the Customize dialog box, select a menu group in the Available Tools panel:
    • BricsCAD (= default main CUI)
    • <PartialCuiName> (= partial CUI)
  2. Right-click and choose Append toolbox in the context menu.

    The Add Toolbox dialog box appears.

  3. Type a name for the new toolbox in the Name field, then click the OK button.

    The toolbox is added in the Available Tools tree.

Creating a tool in a toolbox

  1. In the Customize dialog box, select a toolbox in the Available Tools panel.
  2. Right-click and choose Append tool in the context menu.

    The Add tool dialog box appears.

  3. Title: type a name for the new tool.
  4. Help: type a help string.
  5. Command: type a command or a command macro*.
  6. Image: Click the Browse button ().

    The Tool Image dialog box appears.

  7. Do one of the following:
    • Select Builtin, then choose one of the built-in icons.
    • Select Bitmap file, first choose to select one image file or a small and a large image file, then click the Browse button () to select the image file(s).
  8. Click the OK button to create the tool.

* Syntax to create command macros:

  • Start the macro with ^c^c, the equivalent of pressing the Esc key twice, which first ends a running command if necessary.
  • Type an underscore (_) in front of a command name if you want to use the macro in a non-English version of BRICSCAD.
  • A period (.) in front of a command name ensures that the macro still works if this command is temporarily undefined.
  • A minus sign (-) in front of a command launches the Command line version of a command, thus preventing the command dialog window to open.
  • A semicolon (;) is the equivalent of pressing the Enter key, e.g. to accept a default prompt option.
  • A backslash (\) temporarily pauses the macro to allow user input, e.g. specifying a point.

In the following macro: ^c^c_-layer;m;InteriorWalls;;_mline

  • ^c^c concludes a running command, if any.
  • layer; launches the -LAYER command.
  • m; selects the Make new current layer option.
  • InteriorWalls makes the InteriorWalls layer current and creates it first if necessary.
  • ;;_mline concludes the -LAYER command and launches the MLINE command.