Is there a ʼBring to Frontʼ option for overlapping lines in BricsCAD?
Short Answer
No — BricsCAD does not provide a true “Bring to Front” display order tool for ordinary overlapping lines like image or wipeout draw order controls. The most common professional method is to use DRAWORDER only for supported objects, or edit geometry/layers instead. Limitation: standard line entities still visually intersect by geometry, not front/back stacking.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: Many users expect linework to behave like graphics in illustration software, but in BricsCAD overlapping lines usually do not support visual front/back priority the way images, hatches, or wipeouts do. A common failure is assuming draw order will hide crossing line segments when the geometry actually still intersects.
How to Do It
Command: DRAWORDER
Shortcut:
DRQuick Steps:
- Select the supported overlapping objects, then go to the Ribbon if available or type
DRAWORDERat the command line. - Choose the draw order option such as Front or Back.
- If the result does not change, check whether the objects are hatches, wipeouts, images, or blocks rather than plain lines.
- Select the supported overlapping objects, then go to the Ribbon if available or type
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Draw Order option in the right-click menu or command prompt
Expert Setting: In practice, draw order changes are useful for hatches, wipeouts, text, blocks, and reference/display objects. If you are working with plain line entities, this setting will not create a true masking effect where one line hides another.
Why it Fails
Cause 1 (Geometry): Two standard lines crossing each other are displayed as geometric entities, so one line does not mask the other.
Cause 2 (Layers/Locks): If the object is on a locked layer, you may not be able to modify its draw order or replace it with a masking object.
Cause 3 (Command/Logic): DRAWORDER affects supported object display priority, but it is not a “Bring to Front” solution for ordinary overlapping linework.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: Use
BREAKorTRIMto remove the hidden portion of the line, or place a WIPEOUT over the underlying segment if a visual mask is acceptable. - Manager’s Verdict: For production drawings, do not rely on draw order to solve overlapping line clarity. Clean geometry is the better professional workflow, especially for plotting, coordination, and downstream editing.
FAQ
Can I bring a polyline in front of another line in BricsCAD?
Not as a true masking front object unless you edit the geometry or use a masking object like WIPEOUT.
Does DRAWORDER work on hatches and wipeouts in BricsCAD?
Yes, draw order is commonly used for hatches, wipeouts, images, and similar supported objects.
What is the best way to show one line passing over another?
Use BREAK or TRIM for drafting accuracy, or use WIPEOUT only when a visual-only effect is acceptable.
.