How to see the length of a line while you are drawing it in BricsCAD?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in BricsCAD, you can see the length of a line while drawing it by using the LINE command with Dynamic Input enabled, which displays the live distance near the cursor as you move. This is the fastest and most common professional method. Limitation: it only updates clearly if Dynamic Input is turned on.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: If Dynamic Input is disabled or screen tooltips are suppressed, BricsCAD will not show the live line length near the cursor even though the line is being created correctly. Also, Ortho, polar tracking, or snaps can affect the displayed direction and distance you see while drawing.

How to See the Length of a Line While Drawing in BricsCAD

  • Command: LINE

  • Shortcut: L

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Start the LINE command by typing L and pressing Enter, or go to the Ribbon > Home tab > Draw panel > Line.
    2. Click the first point, then move the cursor to begin the next segment.
    3. Make sure Dynamic Input is enabled so the live distance field appears near the crosshair while you draw; if needed, toggle DYN on from the status bar.

Variables & Settings

  • System Variable: DYNMODE (Default: 3)

  • Expert Setting: DYNMODE controls whether Dynamic Input appears near the cursor. When enabled, BricsCAD shows live dimensional input such as distance while using LINE. If set to 0, the line length will not display dynamically at the cursor.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): Object snaps or Polar Tracking may force the cursor onto a constrained direction or snap point, making the shown length differ from your freehand expectation.

  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): If the current layer is locked or the target workflow uses a restricted drawing state, you may think the preview failed when the command is actually not accepting the point normally.

  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Dynamic Input is off, so LINE still works, but the live length only appears in the command line or not in the on-screen tooltip.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Turn on DYN in the status bar, or set DYNMODE to 3, then restart the LINE command.

  • Manager’s Verdict: Use Dynamic Input for fast drafting and visual distance feedback during everyday linework. For precision-heavy production work, combine it with Ortho, Polar Tracking, and object snaps instead of relying on cursor display alone.

FAQ

How do I turn on Dynamic Input in BricsCAD?
Click DYN on the status bar or set DYNMODE to 3.

Can I type an exact line length while drawing?
Yes, with LINE, enter the distance directly in the dynamic input field or command line.

Why do I not see the length near my cursor?
Dynamic Input is likely off, or tooltip display is being suppressed by your current settings.

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