Is the ʼOrtho Modeʼ used for perfectly straight lines in BricsCAD?

Short Answer

Yes — in BricsCAD, Ortho Mode is the standard way to draw perfectly straight horizontal or vertical lines during drafting. The most common professional method is to turn on ORTHO and then use the Line command to constrain cursor movement to 0° and 90°. It does not create angled straight lines.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: Ortho Mode only constrains cursor direction while you pick points; it does not fix already drawn crooked geometry. A common failure is thinking Ortho overrides polar tracking or object snap choices when your second point is snapping to unintended geometry.

How to Use Ortho Mode for Perfectly Straight Lines

• Command: ORTHO

• Shortcut: [F8]

• Quick Steps:

  1. Press F8 or click Ortho on the status bar to turn the toggle on.
  2. Start the LINE command from the Ribbon or type LINE, then pick the first point.
  3. Move the cursor horizontally or vertically, enter a distance if needed, and click the second point.

Variables & Settings

• System Variable: ORTHOMODE (Default: 0)

• Expert Setting: ORTHOMODE=1 turns Ortho on and locks cursor movement to horizontal and vertical directions during point input. If it is 0, free-angle cursor movement is allowed, so straight orthogonal drafting depends only on your manual accuracy.

Why it Fails

• Cause 1 (Geometry): The line is straight, but not in the direction you expected because the current UCS is rotated, so Ortho follows the active UCS axes, not always the screen’s apparent building angle.

• Cause 2 (layers/Locks): You may be snapping to locked or reference geometry on other layers, causing the endpoint to land somewhere unexpected even though Ortho is on.

• Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Ortho only limits cursor direction; if Object Snap or Polar Tracking influences point selection, the final picked point may not match the intended distance or location.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

• Quick Fix: Turn on ORTHO with F8, then verify ORTHOMODE=1 and use LINE with Object Snap only when needed.
• Manager’s Verdict: Use Ortho Mode for fast 2D orthogonal drafting, walls, grids, and layouts. Avoid relying on it for angled work; use Polar Tracking or a rotated UCS instead.

FAQ

Can Ortho Mode draw diagonal straight lines in BricsCAD?

No, Ortho Mode only constrains movement to horizontal and vertical directions.

Is F8 the standard shortcut for Ortho in BricsCAD?

Yes, F8 is the common shortcut to toggle Ortho Mode on or off.

Does Ortho Mode work with the Line command?

Yes, it is most commonly used with the LINE command for precise straight segments.

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