How to draw a line with a specific length in BricsCAD?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in BricsCAD, the fastest professional way to draw a line with a specific length is to use the LINE command and enter a relative polar distance like @100<0 after picking the start point. This gives exact length and direction quickly. Limitation: you must know or control the angle.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: If Dynamic Input, polar tracking, or Ortho settings are not aligned with your intended direction, BricsCAD may place the line at the correct length but wrong angle. A locked or non-editable layer can also prevent the line from being created.

How to Draw a Line with a Specific Length in BricsCAD

  • Command: LINE

  • Shortcut: L

  • Quick Steps:

    1. On the Ribbon, go to Home > Draw > Line, or type L and press Enter.
    2. Click the start point in the drawing area.
    3. Enter a relative polar value in this format: @length<angle — for example, @250<0 for a 250-unit horizontal line — then press Enter.

  • Turn Ortho on from the status bar if you want to constrain the direction horizontally or vertically before entering the length.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Dynamic Input (status bar toggle)

  • Expert Setting: When Dynamic Input is enabled, you can type the length directly near the cursor while drawing. This is faster for production work, but if angle input is not controlled with Ortho or Polar Tracking, the line may be drawn in an unintended direction.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): The length is entered correctly, but the angle is wrong, so the line does not go in the expected direction.
  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The current layer is locked, frozen, or otherwise unavailable for drawing.
  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The value is entered as 100 instead of @100<angle, so BricsCAD interprets it as a point or waits for another coordinate format.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Start LINE, pick the first point, turn Ortho on if needed, then enter @desired_length<angle exactly.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use LINE with relative polar input for precise 2D drafting; avoid freehand cursor input when exact fabrication or layout dimensions matter.

FAQ

Can I draw a line by length only without typing an angle?
Yes, if Ortho is on and you draw only horizontally or vertically.

Can I enter the length using Dynamic Input?
Yes, Dynamic Input lets you type the value at the cursor during the LINE command.

What format should I use for an exact length and angle?
Use @length<angle, such as @75<90.

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