How to make the BricsCAD command names work like they do in AutoCAD?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in BricsCAD, you can make many command names behave more like AutoCAD by editing command aliases with ALIASEDIT and loading familiar AutoCAD-style shortcuts into the default PGP alias list. This is the fastest common professional method. Limitation: not every AutoCAD command name exists natively in BricsCAD.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: changing command aliases can override existing BricsCAD shortcuts and confuse users sharing the same workstation or profile. If you import a modified PGP file without checking duplicates, some commands may call the wrong tool or stop working as expected.

How to Make BricsCAD Command Names Work Like AutoCAD

  • Command: ALIASEDIT

  • Shortcut: none by default

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Type ALIASEDIT in the command line, or go to the menu/customization area where command aliases are managed.
    2. Add or edit the alias so the AutoCAD-style name points to the matching BricsCAD command, then save the change.
    3. Test the alias in the command line, and if needed enable reloading of the alias file so the new mapping becomes active immediately.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Command aliases are controlled through the PGP alias configuration used by BricsCAD.

  • Expert Setting: In the alias editor, check for duplicate shortcuts before saving. If two aliases use the same shortcut, only one may respond correctly, which is a common reason AutoCAD-style command names appear inconsistent.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): the target command may exist in BricsCAD but behaves differently because the geometry engine or object type support is not identical to AutoCAD.

  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): the alias works, but the command fails because the selected objects are on locked layers or inside non-editable references.

  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): some AutoCAD command names are Express Tools or vertical-toolset features that do not exist as native BricsCAD commands, so aliasing the name alone will not recreate the function.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: run ALIASEDIT, remap the AutoCAD-style alias to the correct BricsCAD command, then remove any duplicate alias using the same shortcut.
  • Manager’s Verdict: use alias matching for common production commands and staff transition workflows, but avoid forcing one-to-one mapping for specialized AutoCAD-only tools that have no true BricsCAD equivalent.

FAQ

Can BricsCAD use AutoCAD command aliases?
Yes, many common aliases can be recreated through the alias editor.

Will all AutoCAD commands work in BricsCAD?
No, only commands that exist or have a real BricsCAD equivalent will work.

Do I need to restart BricsCAD after changing aliases?
Not always, but some alias changes may require reloading or restarting to apply fully.

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