What is ʼCOPYGUIDEDʼ (the smart copy tool) in BricsCAD?
Short Answer
COPYGUIDED in BricsCAD is the smart copy tool that lets you duplicate selected entities by matching source and destination geometry, typically using guide curves or reference edges for fast placement. The most common professional method is to launch COPYGUIDED, select objects, then align them to target geometry. It works best on clear, comparable shapes.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: COPYGUIDED can place copied objects incorrectly if the source and destination geometry are not similar enough in shape, direction, or scale. A very common failure is using it on noisy 3D solids, splines, or fragmented edges where the guide match becomes ambiguous.
How to Use COPYGUIDED in BricsCAD
Command: COPYGUIDED
Shortcut: [no default shortcut]
Quick Steps:
- On the Ribbon, go to the appropriate modify/modeling tools and start COPYGUIDED, then select the objects you want to copy and press Enter.
- Select the source guide geometry on the existing object, then select the matching destination guide geometry where the copy should be placed.
- Confirm the preview and complete the command; if available, use the alignment/preview option to verify the match before accepting.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Guide selection and alignment preview
Expert Setting: The quality of the result depends heavily on selecting clean, matching reference edges or faces in the same logical direction. If the preview appears flipped or offset, re-pick the guide geometry in a consistent order.
Why it Fails
Cause 1 (Geometry): The source and target guides are not sufficiently similar, or the edges are broken, curved irregularly, or topologically inconsistent.
Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The destination objects or target layer may be locked, preventing proper placement or later editing of the copied result.
Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The guide geometry was selected in the wrong order or opposite direction, causing a mirrored, rotated, or misaligned copy.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
Quick Fix: Clean the reference geometry first, then rerun COPYGUIDED and reselect the source and target guides in the same direction.
Manager’s Verdict: Use COPYGUIDED when repeating details across similar 2D or 3D conditions, especially for production drafting and modeling. Avoid it when the target geometry is inconsistent, because manual copy with standard snaps may be faster and more reliable.
FAQ
Can COPYGUIDED work in 3D?
Yes, it is commonly used for both 2D entities and 3d modeling situations.
Is COPYGUIDED better than regular COPY?
Yes, when you need geometry-aware placement based on matching references rather than a simple displacement.
Does COPYGUIDED require identical geometry?
No, but the source and destination guides must be similar enough for a reliable match.
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