How to Draw Rectangles in BricsCAD

Quick answer: A rectangle is created as a closed, four-sided polyline, drawn by specifying two opposite corners. Dynamic dimensions let you type the width and height directly. Its sides stay parallel to the current coordinate system’s X and Y axes unless you choose the Rotated option.

Finding the Rectangle Tool

The Draw menu, the Draw toolbar, the Draw ribbon panel, or the Draw tab of the No Selection Quad.

Drawing a Rectangle: General Procedure

Launch RECTANG. You’re prompted for the first corner, or to choose from several options: Chamfer, Fillet, Rotated, Square, Elevation, Thickness, Width of line, Area, or Dimensions.
Specify a point. The rectangle displays dynamically, and you’re prompted for the other corner.
Either specify a point directly, or type values into the dynamic dimension fields, pressing Tab to switch between them and Enter to confirm.

Rectangle Direction

Since a rectangle is a closed polyline, it has a direction: positive (counter-clockwise) or negative (clockwise), and which one you get depends on exactly how you place your second corner relative to the first.

Counter-clockwise: if the second point’s X and Y coordinates are both higher than the first point’s, or both lower, in other words, your cursor moves consistently in the same sign direction along both axes.
Clockwise: if only one coordinate is higher while the other is lower, X higher and Y lower, or the reverse.

The Reverse Direction option of PEDIT lets you flip a rectangle’s direction afterward without redrawing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my rectangle’s sides always be parallel to the X and Y axes? Yes, unless you choose the Rotated option while drawing it.

How do I specify a rectangle’s exact width and height instead of eyeballing the second corner? Type the values directly into the dynamic dimension fields, pressing Tab to switch between width and height, then Enter to confirm.

Does it matter which corner I click first? Not for the rectangle’s shape, but it does affect its direction, whether it’s considered clockwise or counter-clockwise, based on how the second corner relates to the first.

Can I change a rectangle’s direction after drawing it? Yes, use the Reverse Direction option of PEDIT.