Can I draw a polyline with varying widths in BricsCAD?

Short Answer

Yes — in BricsCAD, you can draw a polyline with varying widths by using the PLINE command and setting different start and end widths for each segment as you draft. This is the most common professional method for tapered 2D linework. Limitation: this applies to polyline segment width, not true 3D thickness.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: polyline width is display and object geometry behavior combined, so very wide segments can create messy joins, unexpected end caps, or plotting issues at sharp angles. If the polyline is on a locked layer or current width values were left from a previous command, results often look wrong immediately.

How to Draw a Polyline with Varying Widths

• Command: PLINE

• Shortcut: PL

• Quick Steps:

  1. Start PLINE from the Ribbon: Home tab > Draw panel > Polyline, or type PL.
  2. Pick the first point, then type W for Width and enter the starting width and ending width for the next segment.
  3. Continue picking points; repeat the Width option whenever you need a different segment width, then press Enter to finish.

Variables & Settings

• Key Setting: Global Width in the polyline Properties palette

• Expert Setting: If a polyline already exists, selecting it and editing Global Width in Properties forces a uniform width across the whole object. For true varying widths, set widths segment-by-segment while using PLINE, or edit individual vertices/segments afterward instead of applying a single global value.

Why it Fails

• Cause 1 (Geometry): sharp turns with large segment widths can create overlapping or distorted joins that do not look clean.
• Cause 2 (layers/Locks): the current layer may be locked, or the object may be on a non-editable layer, preventing width changes.
• Cause 3 (Command/Logic): using LINE instead of PLINE, or applying Global Width afterward, removes the intended varying-width behavior.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

• Quick Fix: Use PEDIT on the object only if needed to convert it to a polyline, then assign widths by segment instead of using one global width value.
• Manager’s Verdict: use varying-width polylines for 2D diagrams, arrows, schematic paths, and drafting graphics; avoid them when plot standards require controlled lineweights or when geometry must stay clean for downstream editing.

FAQ

Can I change polyline width after drawing it?

Yes, use Properties for global width or PEDIT to modify the polyline.

Can each polyline segment have a different width?

Yes, with PLINE you can assign different start and end widths per segment.

Is polyline width the same as lineweight?

No, polyline width is object geometry, while lineweight is a plotting/display property.

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