How to find the total length of multiple lines in BricsCAD?
Short Answer
Use LIST on a selection of lines, polylines, or arcs to see each object’s length, then read the cumulative total in the command history if your workflow reports multiple items. In BricsCAD, this is the fastest common way to find the total length of multiple lines. Limitation: separate objects are not automatically joined.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: If your objects are a mix of Lines, Arcs, Splines, and open Polylines, BricsCAD may report lengths per object rather than as one clean combined value unless they are converted or joined first. Locked layers and non-coplanar segments can also break expected results.
How to Find the Total Length of Multiple Lines in BricsCAD
Command: LIST
Shortcut: LI
Quick Steps:
- Type
LIin the command line, or go to the menu/ribbon where object inquiry tools are available, then start LIST. - Select all target lines, polylines, or arcs and press Enter.
- Read the length values in the command line/text window; for the most reliable professional result, first convert connected segments to a polyline with PEDIT > Join, then use LIST to read one total length.
- Type
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: In PEDIT, use the Join option and confirm conversion of Lines/Arcs to Polyline when prompted.
Expert Setting: Joining connected segments into one polyline gives a single polyline length, which is more reliable than manually adding separate object lengths from multiple line entities.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): The selected objects are not connected, or endpoints are slightly apart, so they cannot be joined into one polyline for a single total length.
- Cause 2 (Layers/Locks): Some lines are on locked layers, preventing editing or joining before length calculation.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): LIST reports object data, but if you leave entities separate, you may need to sum lengths manually instead of getting one direct combined value.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: Run PEDIT, choose Multiple, convert the selected lines to polylines, use Join, then run LIST on the resulting polyline.
- Manager’s Verdict: For production work, join connected path geometry into a polyline before checking length. Avoid relying on raw multi-line selections when you need one auditable total.
FAQ
Can BricsCAD total the length of separate lines automatically?
Not reliably in one clean field unless you join them first or use a reporting workflow.
Does LIST work on polylines and arcs?
Yes, LIST reports length for supported curve objects including polylines and arcs.
What if the lines will not join in PEDIT?
Their endpoints likely do not touch closely enough, or the objects are not in the same plane.
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