Offset – BricsCAD Help Center

Creates parallel copies of 2D entities and 3D solid faces.

Accessing the Command

: offset

Prompts you in the command bar:

Enter offset distance or [Through point/Erase/Layer] <20.0>: (Enter a distance, pick two points, press Enter for the default distance, or else select an option)

Select entity/subentity or [Exit] <Exit>: (Choose a single entity, or press Enter to exit the command)

Select side for parallel copy or [Both sides/Multiple]: (Pick a point to place the copy, or else choose an option)

Select entity/subentity or [Undo/Exit] <Exit>: (Choose another entity, type U to undo the previous parallel copy, or press Enter to exit this command)

Note: When curved entities are offset, the command changes the radii of the copies:

When polylines are being offset, the OFFSETGAPTYPE variable determines how potential gaps between segments are treated:

0 - gaps are closed, with segments extended to close them
1 - gaps are filleted, with the radius of the arc segments the size of the offset distance
2 - gaps are chamfered, with the distance equals to the offset distance

When faces of 3D models are offset, the SELECTIONMODES variable determines how potential conflicts are handled:

1 - edges are selected and offset
2 - faces are selected and offset (figure below, at left)
4 - boundaries are detected and offset (boundary is in blue in the figure below, at right)

Boundaries are also detected by the Offset command for 2D entities, such as these overlapping squares:

Command Options

Option	Description
Enter offset distance	Specifies the distance between the original entity and its parallel copy: Press Enter to accept the default distance. Type a value. Specify two points in the drawing, such as along another entity. The offset distance is saved to the OFFSETDIST variable.
Through point	Specifies the offset distance by picking two points; prompts you: Select entity/subentity or [Exit] <Exit> - enter an option: Select entity - select a single entity Subentity - select the face of a 3D solid Exit - return to the previous prompt Select through point or [Multiple] - enter an option: Select through point - pick a point in the drawing Multiple - repeats the 'Select next through point' prompt until you press Esc or Enter to return to the previous prompt; see below
Erase	Deletes the source entity following the offset operation. The status is saved to the OFFSETERASE variable with the drawing, but is then reset (turned off) with the next drawing.
Layer	Specifies the layer on which to place the copied entity; prompts you: Select layer for offset entities? [Current/Source] <Source> - enter an option: Current - places the the offset entity on the current layer. Source - places the offset on the same layer as that of the source entity.
Select entity/subentity	Selects the entity of which to make the parallel copy: Entity - 2D entities that lay in a plane; this means you can offset lines, 2D polylines, and splines, but not helices or 3D polylines. Subentity - flat 2D parts of 3D solid model; this means you can offset the base of a cone but not its curved surface. Only one entity can be selected for offsetting at a time; the command repeats automatically so that you can offset additional entities. Press Enter or Esc to exit the command.
Side for parallel copy	Specifies the side on which to make the offset (parallel) copy. If the Through Point option was selected earlier, your pick point specifies the offset distance.
Both sides	Places offset copies on both sides of the entity.
Exit	Returns to the previous prompt of this command, or ends the command.
Undo	Undoes the previous offset operation.

Procedures

Related Command

Copy - makes copies of entities.

Accessing the Command

Command Options

Procedures

Related Command

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