Calculator panel

The Calculator panel provides a way to perform calculation inside BricsCAD®. It has geometric functions, unit conversions, variables, and the basic features of a scientific calculator.

  1. Get coordinates
  2. Distance between two points
  3. Angle of line defined by two points
  4. Intersection of two lines defined by four points
  5. History panel
  6. Clear history
  7. Input area
  8. Scientific
  9. Units conversion
  10. Variables

Get coordinates

Retrieves coordinates of a picked point.

Distance between two points

Retrieves the distance between two picked points.

Angle of line defined by two points

Retrieves the angle of line defined by two picked points.

Intersection of two lines defined by four points

Retrieves the coordinates of the intersection of two lines defined by four picked points.

History panel

Displays all calculations.

Clear history

Clears the history panel.

Input area

Displays the calculations input and the retrieved geometrical functions.

Scientific

Displays the scientific calculator functions.

Units conversion

Performs units conversions. You can choose from the drop-down lists the parameters.

Variables

Supports variables that can either be constants (coordinates/vectors, real numbers, and integers) or functions.

Double-click a variable to return it to the input area.

Right-click a variable or a category to display a context menu that permits to add, edit or delete the variable or category.

New variable...
Opens the Variable definition dialog box that allows you to define a new variable.
Note: User variables are stored in the calvar.xml file. The default folder for this file is C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming\Bricsys\BricsCAD\V24x64\en_US\Support
New Category...
Opens the Category definition dialog box that allows you to define a new category.
Edit...
Edits the selected variable.
Delete
Removes the selected variable.
Return to input area
Retrieves the value into input area.

Custom functions that can be used in Calculator expression

cur
Obtains a point by cursor. The cur function sets the value of the LASTPOINT system variable.

Sample:

  • cur()
  • cur+2*[3,4]
end, mid, cen, nod, qua, ins, per, nea
These snap modes are used as parts of arithmetic expressions. BricsCAD® prompts you to select an entity and returns the coordinate of the appropriate snap point. Snap modes set the value of the LASTPOINT system variable.

Sample:

  • (end+mid)/2
dist
Obtains the distance between two points.

Sample:

  • dist(cur,end)
vec
Obtains the vector from two points.

Sample:

  • vec(end,mid)
vec1
Obtains the unit vector from two points.

Sample:

  • vec1(cen,end)
dee
Obtains the distance between two points. It is a shortcut for "dist(end,end)".

Sample:

  • dee
  • dee()
ill
Obtains the intersection of two lines defined by four endpoints.

Sample:

  • ill(end,end,cen,mid
ille
It is a shortcut for "ill(ene,end,ene,end)".

Sample:

  • ille
  • ille()
mee
Obtains the midpoint between two endpoints. It is a shortcut for "(end+end)/2".

Sample:

  • mee
  • mee()
rad
Obtains the radius of a selected circle, arc, or polyline arc.

Sample:

  • rad
  • rad()
nor - without arguments
Obtains the unit normal vector of the selected object in UCS. Only a circle, arc, or polyline is accepted.

Sample:

  • nor
  • nor()
nor - with one argument
Obtains the unit normal to a 2D vector. The argument is treated as a 2D vector.

Sample:

  • nor(cur)
  • nor([1,1])
nor - with two arguments
Obtains the unit normal vector to two 2D endpoints. The Z-coordinate of the points is simply ignored.

Sample:

  • nor(cur,cur)
nor - with three arguments
Obtains the unit normal vector by three 3D points.

Sample:

  • nor(cur,cur,cur)
nee
It is a shortcut for "nor(end,end)".
vee
It is a shortcut for "vec(end,end)".
vee1
It is a shortcut for "vec1(end,end)".
getvar
Returns the value of the BricsCAD system variables. Only real, integer or point system variables accepted as argument.

Sample:

  • getvar(UCSXDIR)
  • getvar(textsize)