How to Edit Polylines in BricsCAD

Quick answer: Polylines can be edited four ways: the Quad’s edit polyline segments tools or PEDITEXT (adding/removing vertices and bulges, stretching segments), PEDIT (converting an entity to a polyline, fitting a curve, tapering, reversing direction), the Properties panel (opening/closing, width), and grips (moving or removing vertices and segments).

Editing Segments and Vertices via the Quad

1. Hover the cursor over the segment you want to edit, without selecting the polyline; the entire polyline highlights. Hold Ctrl instead to highlight just that segment, with one of its vertices marked by a dot.
2. Choose an option from the Modify section of the Quad, then follow the Command line prompts.

The available tools, mirroring PEDITEXT‘s options: Add vertex (to the segment under the cursor), Add vertex at end (only available at a polyline’s endpoints), Add Multiple vertices, Add bulge, Remove bulge, Remove segment (deletes the segment under the cursor or the highlighted vertex), Remove Multiple segments, Stretch segment (moves the segment under the cursor), and Stretch vertex (moves whichever vertex is nearest the cursor).

Removing a Vertex via the Quad

1. Hover over a segment and hold Ctrl to highlight it.
2. Move the cursor near the end you want; a dot marks the active vertex.
3. Click Remove segment in the Quad.

Hovering directly over a vertex while holding Ctrl instead displays information about that specific vertex.

Editing a Vertex with Grips

Start or end vertex: select its grip (marked red); with the Hotkey Assistant enabled, press Ctrl to cycle between stretching, adding, and removing that vertex.

Middle vertex: select its grip (marked red); with the Hotkey Assistant enabled, press Ctrl to cycle between stretching, adding a vertex, and adding or removing bulge.

Launching PEDIT

Double-click a polyline, click Edit Polyline in the Modify menu, or click Edit Polyline on the Modify toolbar.

Converting an Entity into a Polyline

1. Launch PEDIT.
2. Select the entity; if it isn’t already a polyline, you’re asked whether to convert it.
3. Press Enter or right-click to accept. You’re prompted to edit the polyline: Edit vertices, Close, Decurve, Fit, Join, Linetype mode, Reverse direction, Spline, Taper, Width, or Undo.
4. Choose an option, or right-click to stop.

Fitting a Curve to a Polyline

1. Launch PEDIT.
2. Select the polyline.
3. Choose Fit or Spline.
4. Press Enter or right-click to finish.

Use Decurve to restore the original polyline afterward. SPLINESEGS controls how many segments (lines or arcs) get generated for spline-fit polylines.

Tapering a Polyline Uniformly

1. Launch PEDIT.
2. Select the polyline.
3. Choose Taper. You’re prompted for a new starting width.
4. Type a value. You’re prompted for a new ending width.
5. Type a value; the polyline tapers.
6. Press Enter or right-click to finish.

Reversing a Polyline’s Direction

1. Launch PEDIT.
2. Select the polyline.
3. Choose Reverse direction; the direction reverses.
4. Press Enter or right-click to finish.

Opening or Closing a Polyline

Either select the polyline, select its Closed property under Misc in the Properties panel, and choose Yes or No, or double-click the polyline and type C to close it or O to open it.

Applying a Uniform Width

1. Select the polyline.
2. Select the Global width property under Geometry in the Properties panel.
3. Type the width you want.

Changing a Segment’s Width

1. Select the polyline.
2. Select the Vertex property under Geometry in the Properties panel; an X mark appears at the polyline’s start vertex.
3. Use the arrow buttons beside the Vertex property field to move that X mark to the start vertex of the segment you want to change.
4. Set the Start width property.
5. Set the End width property.

Setting the Linetype Mode

PLINEGEN (Linetype generation mode) controls how a dashed linetype applies across a multi-segment polyline. Disabled, the dash pattern applies per segment, restarting with a dash at the start and end of every segment, rather than flowing continuously across the whole polyline.

1. Select the polyline.
2. Select the Linetype generation property under Misc in the Properties panel.
3. Choose Disabled or Enabled.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add a vertex to just one segment without editing the whole polyline? Hover over that segment (or hold Ctrl to isolate it), then choose Add vertex from the Quad’s Modify section.

What’s the difference between the Fit and Spline options in PEDIT? Both fit a curve to the polyline, but produce different results, use Decurve afterward to restore the original if you want to compare.

Can I change the width of just one segment of a polyline, not the whole thing? Yes, use the Vertex property in the Properties panel to select that segment’s start vertex, then set its Start width and End width individually.

Why do dashes appear bunched up at every vertex of my polyline instead of flowing smoothly? Check PLINEGEN. Disabled, the linetype pattern restarts at each segment instead of running continuously across the whole polyline.