Transparent Commands in BricsCAD

Use Civil Transparent Commands to enter a value based on known information (a point, distance, or radius).

You can run the transparent commands within another command (for example, PLINE, 3DPOLY, ALIGNMENT) by using the following methods:

  • Click the command in the Civil Transparent Commands ribbon panel in the Home tab of the Ribbon.
  • Enter the command at the Command line.
  • Activate the Civil Transparent Commands toolbar and select the command.

    To activate the Civil Transparent Commands toolbar, right-click the ribbon, go to Toolbars, select BRICSCAD, and under Civil, select Civil Transparent Commands.

Bearing and distance

Alias: 'BD

Specifies a point location at a bearing and distance from a known point. The output is a coordinate of a new point.

Options within the command

Specify quadrant
Allows you to select the quadrant needed.

Quadrants: NE = 1, SE = 2, SW = 3, NW = 4

Specify bearing
Specifies the angle measured inside the selected quadrant. The measurement is very precise (degrees, minutes, seconds).

You can specify the angle dynamically on the drawing or by typing it in the Command line. (NE: 0, 90: SE: 90, 0: SW: 0, 90: NW: 90, 0 - As an example, for NE, 0 represents the N axis and the starting axis for measurement. The ending axis is represented by 90 degrees and in our example, that is the E axis.)

Or, you can enter the angle in decimal numbers and it will be converted to degrees, minutes and seconds (the first two decimal digits represent minutes and the second two represent seconds).

Note: The valid values are:
  • for degrees: 0-90
  • for minutes: 0-59
  • for seconds: 0-59
Specify distance
Specifies the offset from the origin of the quadrant at the previously specified angle. You can specify the distance dynamically on the drawing or by typing it in the Command line.

Example: Run the PLINE command:

: PLINE
Select start of polyline or [Follow] <Last point>: 
Set next point or [draw Arcs/Distance/Follow/Halfwidth/Width]: 
Set next point or [draw Arcs/Distance/Follow/Halfwidth/Width/Undo]: 'BD
 
>>Specify quadrant [1 for North East, 2 for South East, 3 for South West, 4 for North West]: 1
>>Specify bearing: 40d30'20"
>>Specify distance: 123
Resuming PLINE command
Note: For larger scales, a new coordinate system is created to reduce errors.

Azimuth and distance

Alias: 'ZD

Specifies a point location at an azimuth and distance from a known point.

Options within the command

Specify azimuth
Allows you to select an angle relative to the line previously created by the command. This can be done dynamically in the drawing or by typing the exact angle in the Command line (degrees, minutes, seconds, or in decimal numbers).
Specify distance
Allows you to specify the offset from the starting point. This can be done dynamically or by typing it in the Command line.

Example: Run the PLINE command:

: pl
Select start of polyline or [Follow] <Last point>: 0,0
Set next point or [draw Arcs/Distance/Follow/Halfwidth/Width]: '_ZD
Specify azimuth: 60
Specify distance: 50
Set next point or [draw Arcs/Distance/Follow/Halfwidth/Width]:

Station and offset

Alias: '_SO

Specifies a point location at a station and an offset from an alignment.

Note: This option is used when you are working with Horizontal Alignment elements.

Options within the command

Select alignment
Allows you to select the Horizontal Alignment needed to be used.
Specify station
Allows you to select any point on the alignment as starting point.
Specify offset
Creates a supporting line, perpendicular on the station. This allows you to specify the offset on the supporting line. You can select the distance graphically or by typing it in the Command line.

Example: Run the PLINE command:

: PLINE
Select start of polyline or [Follow] <Last point>: 
Set next point or [draw Arcs/Distance/Follow/Halfwidth/Width]: 
Set next point or [draw Arcs/Distance/Follow/Halfwidth/Width/Undo]: '_SO


>>Select alignment:
>>Specify station:
>>Specify offset:
Resuming PLINE command

Point number

Alias: '_PN

Specifies a point location using a point number. You can enter multiple point numbers or number ranges separated by commas.

Note: This command is used when you are working with Civil Points.

Example: Run the 3DPOLY command:

: 3DPOLY
Start of polyline: '_PN
>>Enter point number: 1-4
Resuming 3DPOLY command

Point object (selected in drawing graphically)

Alias: '_PO

Specifies a point location by picking an existing Civil Point.

Example: Run the 3DPOLY command:

: 3DPOLY
Start of polyline: '_PO
>>Select point object:
Resuming 3DPOLY command
>>Select point object:
Resuming 3DPOLY command
>>Select point object:
Resuming 3DPOLY command