Is the ʼMultilineʼ command available for drawing parallel walls in BricsCAD?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — BricsCAD includes the MLINE command, which is the standard way to draw parallel walls as a single multiline object. It is the fastest common professional method for schematic wall layouts because you can define multiple parallel elements in one style. Limitation: multiline walls are less flexible than true BIM walls for joins and edits.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: MLINE creates one multiline object, not two separate wall polylines. If your office standard, hatching, or trimming workflow expects independent wall edges, cleanup at intersections and later edits can become awkward very quickly.

How to Draw Parallel Walls in BricsCAD

  • Command: MLINE

  • Shortcut: ML

  • Quick Steps:

    1. On the Ribbon, go to Draw and start Multiline, or type MLINE.
    2. Before placing points, set the multiline style with MLSTYLE if needed, then use the command options such as Justification and Scale to match wall thickness.
    3. Pick the wall path points to draw the parallel wall lines, then press Enter to finish.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Scale in the MLINE command controls the spacing of the parallel elements based on the current multiline style.

  • Expert Setting: If the style was built for a 100-unit wall and your project needs a 200-unit wall, increasing Scale changes the effective wall thickness without redefining the style.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): Multiline intersections do not always clean up the way real wall corners or T-junctions need, especially with complex angles.
  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): If the current layer is locked or the multiline style uses elements assigned to unsuitable layer behavior, drawing or editing can fail.
  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Users often expect MLINE to behave like separate offset lines, but it remains one object, so trimming, breaking, and joining work differently.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Use MLSTYLE first to create or load a wall style with the correct offsets, then draw with MLINE using the proper Scale value.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use MLINE for fast 2D conceptual wall drafting and repetitive parallel wall graphics; avoid it when the project needs heavy editing, precise cleanup, or BIM-style wall intelligence.

FAQ

Can I edit the spacing of a multiline wall after drawing?

Yes, but usually by changing the multiline style or scale rather than editing each line independently.

Is MLINE better than OFFSET for walls in BricsCAD?

Yes, for fast draft walls with consistent thickness; no, if you need separate editable wall edges.

Can multiline walls be trimmed like normal lines?

Not always cleanly, because MLINE is a special object with different editing behavior.

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