The Start page

The Start page opens after the BricsCAD Launcher dialog box, when the GETSTARTED system variable is ON, or at the beginning of a BricsCAD session.

Also, the Start page is located on top of the drawing area, before the document tab(s), and has the sections: Home, Cloud, Learn, Apps, and Insights.

Note: The Cloud tab is active only when Experimental Mode is enabled.

The Start page is active by default. If you accidentally closed the tab, you can reopen it with the Ctrl+Home keyboard shortcut or with the GOTOSTART command.

Note: The SHOWDOCTABS system variable needs to be ON to display the Start page.

Start tab

  1. Workspace
  2. Start from template
  3. New drawing
  4. Open files
  5. Get to know BricsCAD
  6. Experimental new features
  7. Recent files
  8. Right-side tab
Workspace
Allows you to choose the workspace from the drop-down menu.
Start from template
Displays the last used templates. Click the More... button to open the Create New Drawing From Template dialog box. You can select a template from the list or you can browse for a custom template to create a new drawing. Each workspace has some predefined templates for new drawings.
New drawing
Creates a new drawing using the current drawing template.
Note: Using the BIM workspace, you can choose between creating a new project or a new drawing.

Click the right-side arrow to display additional options:

Create new sheet set
Opens the Create New Sheet Set dialog box.
Start new wizard
Opens the Create New Drawing dialog box.
Open files
Opens the Open file dialog box to browse for an existing drawing.

Click the right-side arrow to display additional options:

Open files (read-only)
Opens the file selected from the Open file (read-only) dialog box only for reading.
Open a sheet set
Opens the Select a Sheet Set file dialog box to browse for a sheet set file.
Recover
Opens the Open Drawing dialog box to choose a file to recover.
Get to know BricsCAD
Provides step-by-step guidance for using BricsCAD in the selected workspace. The TUTORIALSOPEN command launches.
Note: The TUTORIALSONSTARTPAGE system variable controls the display of this option.
Experimental new features
Provides access to the Experimental Features dialog box by pressing the Discover or Manage button.
Note:
  • The EXPERIMENTALONSTARTPAGE system variable controls the display of this option in the Start tab. The new value will be considered only after restarting the program.
  • The Manage and Give us feedback buttons are available when Experimental Features are enabled.
  • The Give us feedback opens a web page where you can send us your feedback about Experimental Features.
Recent files
Displays a list of recently opened files. Click the thumbnail image of the file to easily open it.
Note:
  • The number of available recent files is controlled by the value of the RECENTFILES system variable.
  • You can arrange the file in Grid view or Table view mode and search for a specific file.
Right-side tab
Groups information about BricsCAD.
License
Displays the license level which runs on the current session of BricsCAD.
Note:
  • Click the Manage license... button to open the Bricsys License Manager dialog box.
  • Click the Upgrade BricsCAD button to open the Bricsys store page.
  • If you run a Trial version of BricsCAD, there are options to Enter license serial number or to Buy BricsCAD.
Tip
Displays tips for commands.
Note: Press the Read more button to open the relevant Help Center article.
You're up-to-date
Informs you that you are running the most recent version of BricsCAD.
Update available
Notifies you that a newer version of BricsCAD is available.
Note: Click the Download latest version button to open the Download BricsCAD page.
You're currently offline
You are not connected to the internet and BricsCAD can not check for updates.
Become a beta user
Allows you to become a beta tester. Click the Sign up button to open the Bricsys Beta Tester Program page, where you can join the program.
Learn more
Click the Visit help center button to open the Bricsys Help Center website.
Need help?
By pressing the Fill a support request button, the website page where you can fill a support request opens.
Show launcher at startup
When ticked, the BricsCAD Launcher dialog box opens at startup.

Cloud tab (Experimental)

The Cloud tab provides collaboration and document management for CAD users.

Important: Cloud is an experimental feature. The Cloud tab is disabled by default. You have to enable the Experimental mode from the Experimental Features dialog box.

See more information about the Cloud feature in the Cloud panel article.

Learn tab

Offers free video lessons to learn BricsCAD and sample drawings for use.

Apps tab

The Application catalog offers 400 partner applications on the BricsCAD Application Catalog, featuring specialized industry solutions across many disciplines, enabling you to get your work done easier, faster, and more accurately.

Tip:
  • When you click a category, the BricsCAD Application Catalog opens and filters applications based on the selected category.
  • Click the Explore the Application Catalog to open the full BricsCAD Application Catalog.

Insights tab

Allows you to see summary statistics on the data that you have shared with the Bricsys servers.

The Insights tab contains an overview of your most used commands, commands that might be interesting for you, and achievements.

Note: You need to join the BricsCAD Analytics Program to get insights. See more information in the BricsCAD Analytics Program article.
Most used commands
Lists the name of the most used commands, when it was last used, and how many times you used the command.
Users like you also use these commands
Lists commands based on how users similar to you use the application.

Click the Learn more button to open the relevant Help Center article.

Achievements
The achievements have two states: blue and gray.

Blue: means the achievement has been completed.

Gray: means the achievement has not been completed yet.

Note: The Insights tab does not provide live updates. It is updated several times a day on the cloud side.