How to Draw Traces in BricsCAD

Quick answer: A trace is a 4-sided filled entity built from two parallel sides. Draw a series of them, and each one connects to the next at an L-joint. Unlike most drawing entities, the Trace tool only lives in two places in the interface, not four.

Finding the Trace Tool

The Draw menu and the Draw ribbon panel, that’s it. Unlike Line, Polyline, Circle, and most other entities covered elsewhere in this hub, there’s no dedicated Draw toolbar button or Quad entry for traces.

Drawing Traces: General Procedure

1. Launch TRACE. You’re prompted for a width, defaulting to the current width.
2. Either right-click to accept the current width, type a new value and press Enter, or click two points to define the width graphically. You’re prompted for the start of the trace.
3. Specify the start point. You’re prompted for the next point.
4. Specify the endpoint of the first trace. A line shows its direction, and the direction of a second trace previews dynamically already.
5. Either right-click to create just that one trace, or specify the endpoint of the next trace to keep going, each new trace L-connects to the previous one.
6. Repeat step 5 to keep adding traces, or right-click to stop.

Traces and Fill Mode

With FILLMODE off, traces display and print as outlines only rather than filled, the same behaviour that applies to other filled entities like wide polylines and solids.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a series of traces connect to each other? Each new trace L-connects to the one before it, rather than simply lining up end to end.

Where do I find the Trace tool if it’s not on the Draw toolbar? The Draw menu or the Draw ribbon panel, those are the only two places it’s available.

How do I set a trace’s default width? It’s stored in TRACEWID, and you can also set a new width directly when the TRACE command first prompts for one.

Why don’t my traces show up filled in? Check FILLMODE. With it off, traces display and print as outlines only.