How to Draw Solids in BricsCAD

Quick answer: A 2D solid is a rectangular, square, triangular, or quadrilateral area filled with a solid colour. Draw a connected series of them, and each new one shares an edge with the last, so you only need to specify two new points at a time, not four.

The Four Solid Shapes

Rectangular, square, triangular, and quadrilateral, selectable via shortcuts when the command first prompts you.

Finding the Solid Tool

The Draw menu, the Draw toolbar, and the Draw ribbon panel, but unlike most entities covered in this hub, there’s no Quad entry for it.

Drawing Solids: General Procedure

1. Launch SOLID. You’re prompted for the first point, or to choose Rectangle, Square, or Triangle instead.
2. Specify a point. You’re prompted for a second point.
3. Specify a point. You’re prompted for a third.
4. Specify a point. You’re prompted for a fourth.
5. Specify a point. The solid is created, and you’re immediately prompted for a third point again, reusing your last two points as the start of the next shape.
6. Either keep specifying points to continue the connected series, or right-click to stop.

Because of that reuse in step 5, a chain of connected solids only needs two fresh points per additional shape, the previous shape’s last edge becomes the new one’s first edge automatically.

Solids and Fill Mode

With FILLMODE off, solids display and print as outlines only, the same behaviour covered on the Fill Mode, Trace, and Donut pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to specify four new points for every solid in a connected series? No, only two. After the first solid, BricsCAD reuses your last two points as the start of the next one.

What shapes can a 2D solid be? Rectangular, square, triangular, or quadrilateral.

Is there a Quad shortcut for drawing solids, like there is for lines or circles? No, Solid is available on the Draw menu, Draw toolbar, and Draw ribbon panel, but not on the No Selection Quad.

Why do my solids show up as outlines instead of filled? Check FILLMODE. With it off, solids, along with other filled entities like traces and wide polylines, display and print as outlines only.