How to Draw Infinite Lines in BricsCAD

Quick answer: An infinite line, drawn with XLINE, passes through a given point at a specified angle and extends to infinity in both directions. Like rays, infinite lines aren’t counted as part of the drawing extents. In the interface, this tool is actually labelled “Construction Line” rather than “Infinite Line.”

What Makes Infinite Lines Different

Unlike a ray, which extends infinitely in one direction only, an infinite line extends in both directions from a point you specify. Because it’s infinite either way, BricsCAD excludes it from the drawing’s extents calculation entirely, the same behaviour as rays. Rays and infinite lines together are sometimes called construction lines, since they’re typically used as references for building other entities rather than as part of the finished drawing.

Finding the Infinite Line Tool

Labelled Construction Line on the Draw menu, the Draw toolbar, and the Draw ribbon panel.

Drawing Infinite Lines: General Procedure

Launch XLINE.
Specify the first point. The infinite line displays dynamically.
Select a second point to set its direction. The line is created, and the next one displays dynamically from that same first point.
Optionally keep specifying directions to draw a whole series of infinite lines, all passing through that same first point.
Right-click or press Enter to stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the tool called “Construction Line” instead of “Infinite Line” in the interface? That’s simply the label BricsCAD uses for it, reflecting how it’s typically used, as a reference for building other entities rather than as finished geometry.

Will an infinite line affect what Zoom Extents frames? No, infinite lines aren’t factored into the drawing’s extents at all, the same as rays.

Can I draw several infinite lines through the same point? Yes, after specifying the first line’s direction, keep specifying more directions to add additional infinite lines through that same starting point.

What’s the actual difference between XLINE and RAY? An infinite line extends in both directions from its point. A ray extends in one direction only.