Variable Changes and Adjustments from OEM to BSB
Users who transition from Toolbox OEM to Toolbox BSB may notice a handful of changes or differences in some of the commands, utilities, and variables in the BSB software. With both versions of Toolbox being based on compatible CAD software, the basic experience will be similar and familiar. This article lists commands, variables, and settings that differ between the two programs, and explains how to adjust these factors in BSB to function similarly to how they did in OEM. Any variable or command not listed in this article both performs and is named identically in both programs, or else is not present in either program.
Drawing Explorer
The AutoCAD Design Center is not present in BricsCAD. BricsCAD’s Drawing Explorer serves as an equivalent interface, containing the various settings and modifiable variables that allow for the customization of one’s drawing settings. The controls for visual styles, text, layers, symbols, section planes, blocks, and more can be found and controlled from this interface.
To access the Drawing Explorer, select the interface from the tool bar, wherein it is placed by default.
Status Bar Style
The BricsCAD status bar provides quick access to essential workflow enhancing settings or variables, such as Ortho mode, Polar Tracking, turning on or off grids in drawing space, etc. The status bar can be altered according to your specific needs, as well as set to 2 different presets to work from while customizing. The USENEWSTATUSBAR variable controls the status bar visual style, with the value of 0 setting the status bar to Classic style (a more compact layout that closer resembles OEM's status bar in terms of function width), and a value of 1 setting it to the modern layout (a wider layout with visually familiar icons.)
PDFs
In BricsCAD, PDF Underlays explode by default. To get the PDF imported as an unexploded image that can be used for reference in drawing space, type PDFTIMPORTASBLOCK in the command bar set the PDFTIMPORTASBLOCK variable to a value of 1. This variable can be accessed via command or found under the BricsCAD settings via the path of Program Options > Files > Import > PDFIMPORT > PDF Import Options.
Rendering
The RENDERPRESETS variable in BSB can be adjusted to facilitate a similar experience to the rendering found in Toolbox OEM. The recommended method for doing so is to create your own preset, set the variable’s Tile Order setting to Spiral, then adjust the Tile Size setting to a measurement that best fits with your device’s capabilities (this may require manual trial and error).
Rendering Lines
In the process of adjusting rendering settings in BSB, it may be necessary to adjust the FACETRES variable’s value, which controls the level of smoothing applied to 3D models and lines. The default value is 0.5. If necessary to use (such as the case wherein you find your renderings of curved lines are instead straight), you can adjust the variable until the line is at a comfortable visual level of smoothness.
Orbiting
Orbiting (using Shift+Mouse Wheel) requires one to set the CTRL3DMOUSE variable to 1 to be consistently available without issue. The variable should be set to a value of 1 by default but may be changed unintentionally. If you notice orbiting does not function in the manner you are used to, check the 3D Mouse Mode variable.
Changed Commands/Functions
This section lists commands and functions which both exist in Toolbox OEM and Toolbox BSB but have a significant difference in terms of their usage or access between the two programs.
PRESSPULL
In OEM, it was possible to extrude the gap between two entities. This is not possible in Toolbox BSB, as the PRESSPULL command functions differently in BricsCAD than it does in AutoCAD.
The PRESSPULL command’s function within the product creation process can instead be enhanced to a similar level of functionality during 3D Modeling in BSB by using specific variables: when working with 3D solids, it is possible to erase the intersecting regions between two entities in BSB, allowing for the solids to be seamlessly combined by using the DMPUSHPULL command, and setting the accompanying variable to a value to 1.
History & UNDOENTITY
BricsCAD allows for precise control when undoing changes that have been made to an entity or model, enabling one to revert to a specific point in the modification of the entity by using one of two means:
- The History option in the properties tab enables one to select a specific number of steps to undo from a dropdown menu based on how many revisions or changes have been made to an entity.
- The UNDOENT (Undo Entity) command serves a similar function to the History option, allowing for the specific input of numbers of steps to undo, though unlike the History option, it immediately allows for the redoing of steps, in the event of an error or a change that did not satisfy.
Note: These 2 options do not successfully undo or redo changes to Microvellum products such as changes in products via the prompts. As such, they are best reserved for when working with non-products, such as PDFs or 3D solid models (prior to analyzation).
OSNAP
Within Toolbox OEM, right-clicking on the SNAPS button in the status bar would open the settings of the feature. This is not the case in BSB. Rather, you must either type the "OSNAP” command into the command line, or else click on the arrow next to the button and selecting “Settings” from the pop-up menu.
Fonts
Upon opening BSB for the first time, one may receive a message that a pair of fonts are missing from one of the templates from OEM being loaded. The fonts indicated in this message are likely to have been depreciated in OEM, but did not exist at any point in BricsCAD, and as such, register as missing in the system. This issue is at the time of writing, intended to be resolved with the release of the next Toolbox Foundation Library (the build immediately after build 25.0703), which will bring an updated template. As such, if you are experiencing this issue, it may be resolved by updating your library in Toolbox BSB. (See this article for information on updating your library).
To resolve the issue within BSB, enter STYLE into the command bar. With the style interface open, locate the styles in the drawing that utilize the depreciated fonts. The image above displays the two styles which contain depreciated fonts. To resolve this, simply change the style using the depreciated architectural font to use a different, accessible font (such as Stylus BT, as is the standard in the image above). Then alter the style using the depreciated bold font to use a current bolded font.
Another option for removing this issue is to turn off the "Show Notifications" button using the status bar on the righthand side of your screen, which will prevent the pop-up from appearing.
Dynamic Input
The Dynamic Input setting in BSB will function slightly differently than in OEM. The Dynamic Input at Pointer placement feature, which set the interactive field of the Dynamic Input setting at the location of the cursor in model space, is not currently supported in BSB at the time of writing. The Dynamic Input option can be accessed via the BricsCAD settings, with variables that enable you to customize the degree of dimensioning, tracking, entity measurements, and more. Otherwise, Dynamic Input functions identically to OEM.
Features Not Available
This section lists features from Toolbox OEM iterations that are not available in Toolbox BSB, or which have fundamentally changed in BSB to the point of warranting caution when using them.
Blocks
Drawing blocks that are native to AutoCAD can be imported into Toolbox BSB. However, the software is based on BricsCAD, which has a different method for block definitions and edits than the AutoCAD based OEM. It is recommended to avoid modifying AutoCAD-based dynamic blocks if you intend to import them into AutoCAD or other CAD software, as the blocks may no longer be compatible once modified in BSB.
MEASUREGEOM
The MEASUREGEOM command is not natively available in BricsCAD. In BricsCAD, you can achieve similar measurements that the command provides by using the following commands:
- DIST: Measures the distance and angle between two points. Launch it, select a starting point, then an endpoint, and the results display in the Command line or Prompt History (press F2 if needed). Dynamic Input (DYN) shows the distance interactively.
- AREA: Calculates the area and perimeter of 2D entities or a sequence of points. For single entities, select the entity and check the Area and Length fields in the Properties panel. To combine lengths of multiple linear entities (e.g., lines, polylines, arcs), use the "Add areas together" option and select entities.
- MEASURE: Places points or blocks at specified intervals along an entity (e.g., lines, arcs, circles). Unlike MEASUREGEOM, it’s not for direct measurement but for marking intervals. Use PDMODE to adjust point visibility.
- LIST: Displays properties of selected entities, including geometric data like length or area, in the Command line or Prompt History.
- For angles, BricsCAD lacks a direct built-in command like MEASUREGEOM’s angle option. However, a custom LISP routine can measure angles by defining a vertex and two points.
To measure dynamically like MEASUREGEOM’s Quick option, BricsCAD’s Dynamic Input (DYN) can approximate some interactivity, showing distances or coordinates as you move the cursor. Ensure DYN is enabled (toggle with F12 or set DYNMODE to 3).
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