Is it possible to have multiple drawings open at once in BricsCAD?
Short Answer
Yes — BricsCAD lets you have multiple drawings open at once using the standard OPEN workflow, with each file shown as its own drawing tab in the same session. This is the most common professional method for switching between DWGs quickly. Limitation: performance can drop if several large drawings are open together.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: Opening many large DWG files at the same time can increase memory use and slow tab switching, regen, and save operations. A common failure is editing the wrong file because drawing tabs look similar when filenames are nearly identical.
How to Open Multiple Drawings in BricsCAD
Command: OPEN
Shortcut: Ctrl+O
Quick Steps:
- In the Ribbon, go to File > Open, or press Ctrl+O.
- In the Open dialog, select a dwg file and click Open.
- Repeat the OPEN command for additional drawings, then switch between them using the drawing tabs at the top.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Drawing tabs display
Expert Setting: Make sure drawing tabs are visible so you can quickly move between open files. If tabs are hidden, multiple drawings may still be open, but navigation becomes slower and more error-prone through menus alone.
Why it Fails
Cause 1 (Geometry): Very large drawings with heavy xrefs, 3D solids, or many annotation objects can make opening several files at once noticeably slow.
Cause 2 (layers/Locks): If an open drawing contains locked xref-dependent layers or referenced files on unavailable network paths, switching and reloading can lag or fail.
Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Users often expect multiple drawings to appear side by side automatically, but BricsCAD commonly opens them as separate tabs unless you manually arrange windows.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: Use OPEN to load each DWG, then use the drawing tabs to confirm the active file before editing or saving.
- Manager’s Verdict: Keep multiple drawings open when comparing plans, copying standards, or checking xrefs, but avoid opening too many large project files at once on lower-spec machines.
FAQ
Can I switch between open drawings in BricsCAD?
Yes, use the drawing tabs at the top of the workspace.
Can BricsCAD open several DWG files in one session?
Yes, you can open multiple DWGs one after another with OPEN.
Can I view two open drawings at the same time in BricsCAD?
Yes, but you may need to manually arrange the application windows depending on your workspace setup.
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