Can I change the size of the crosshairs in BricsCAD?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — you can change the size of the crosshairs in BricsCAD using the standard OPTIONS method, which is the fastest and most common professional approach. Open Options, go to display settings, and adjust the Crosshair size slider or percentage value to fit your drafting workflow. This only changes on-screen cursor display, not geometry.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: If the crosshair size is set too high, it can make object selection and visual tracking harder on dense drawings, especially on multi-monitor or high-resolution setups. Some users also confuse crosshair size with pickbox size, but they are separate settings.

How to Change the Crosshair Size in BricsCAD

  • Command: OPTIONS

  • Shortcut: OP

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Type OP in the command line, or go to Settings / Options from the main interface.
    2. Open the Display section and find the Crosshair size setting.
    3. Move the slider or enter a percentage value, then click OK or Apply.

Variables & Settings

  • System Variable: CURSORSIZE (Default: 5)

  • Expert Setting: CURSORSIZE controls the crosshair size as a percentage of the screen. Higher values make the crosshairs extend farther across the drawing area, while lower values keep them compact. A value near 100 is common for precision drafting, but it can feel intrusive in crowded drawings.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): In very dense drawings, oversized crosshairs can visually cover snap points, grips, or nearby entities, making precise selection feel less accurate.

  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): If many locked or faded reference layers are visible, large crosshairs can blend into background geometry and reduce cursor visibility.

  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Users often adjust PICKBOX or selection settings instead of CURSORSIZE, so the crosshair size appears unchanged.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Type CURSORSIZE at the command line and enter a value such as 50 or 100 for immediate results.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use a larger crosshair for 2D production drafting and alignment-heavy work, but avoid maximum size in cluttered models where selection clarity matters more than screen-wide tracking.

FAQ

Can I change crosshair size without opening Options?
Yes, type CURSORSIZE and enter a new value.

Is crosshair size the same as pickbox size?
No, crosshair size and pickbox size are separate cursor settings.

Does changing crosshair size affect plotting or printing?
No, it only affects the on-screen cursor display.

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