What is a ʼSystem Variableʼ in BricsCAD?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

In BricsCAD, a system variable is an internal setting that controls how the program behaves, displays, or runs commands. The fastest professional way to view or change one is with the SETVAR command. System variables affect drafting, selection, plotting, and more. Limitation: some changes apply only to the current drawing or session.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: Changing the wrong system variable can silently alter drafting behavior across multiple drawings, especially if it is saved in the registry or profile. A common failure is users changing input, snap, or plotting variables without realizing the effect persists beyond the current task.

How to Check or Change a System Variable

  • Command: SETVAR

  • Shortcut: no default shortcut

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Type SETVAR in the command line and press Enter.
    2. Enter the system variable name you want to review or change, such as OSMODE or PICKFIRST.
    3. Enter the new value, then test the behavior in the drawing area or from the Ribbon if the feature is visual.

Variables & Settings

  • System Variable: OSMODE (Default: 4133)

  • Expert Setting: This variable controls running object snaps. If the value changes unexpectedly, users may lose endpoint, midpoint, or center snapping and think drafting is broken. In production work, this is one of the first variables professionals check when snap behavior becomes inconsistent.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): The variable may control behavior that depends on valid geometry, such as object snaps needing detectable endpoints, centers, or intersections.

  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): Users may think a system variable failed, but the real issue is objects are on locked, frozen, or non-selectable layers, which blocks expected editing results.

  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Some system variables are drawing-dependent while others are session- or profile-based, so a change may not appear in another file or may persist longer than expected.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Run SETVAR, enter the known variable name, and restore the expected value. For snap issues, check OSMODE first.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use system variables for controlled environment setup and troubleshooting, but avoid random edits in live projects. Standardize key variables in templates and team profiles to prevent inconsistent behavior.

FAQ

Can I see all system variables in BricsCAD?
Yes, use the Settings dialog or SETVAR to review named variables.

Are system variables saved in the drawing?
Some are saved in the drawing, while others are saved in the user profile or current session.

What is the most commonly checked system variable?
OSMODE is one of the most commonly checked because it directly affects object snap behavior.

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