How to Use the Command Line

Quick answer: The command line takes text input to run BricsCAD commands, and can be docked at the bottom of the window or set floating. Open it via the COMMANDLINE command, the ribbon’s Panels menu, Ctrl+9, or Shift+F2. As you type, autocomplete suggests matching commands, and both command and point-location history stay available via the arrow keys.

Opening the Command Line

Four ways:

• Run the COMMANDLINE command.
• Right-click a ribbon panel or toolbar and choose Command Line from the Panels list.
• Press Ctrl+9.
• Press Shift+F2.

Docked vs Floating Mode

By default, the command line is docked at the bottom of the window.

Resize it: hover over the top edge until a double arrow appears, then drag.

Close it: click the X button. With it closed, command options and keyboard input still show temporarily in the drawing area instead, so you’re not entirely without feedback.

Make it floating: hover over the dotted section on its left-hand side and drag it free.

Once floating, set CMDLINEUSEMINIFRAME to 1 to shrink it down to a single line; the full prompt text still appears temporarily over the drawing area while a command runs, with the number of visible lines set by CLIPROMPTLINES. Click the up arrow on the right to open the full Command History window at any time. If you drag the mini-frame near the bottom of the screen, it snaps into place there.

Press F2 at any point to open the Prompt History window directly.

Autocomplete While Typing

If the Enable flag on AUTOCOMPLETEMODE is on, typing shows a live Suggestion list of matching commands, system variables, and user preferences. Pick one by:

• Pressing Enter to accept the highlighted match
• Using the arrow keys to choose one, then Enter
• Clicking it directly in the list
• Typing the full command name yourself, then Enter

Reusing Recent Input

Use the Up and Down arrow keys at the command prompt, or any input prompt, to step back through recent input and reuse it; press Enter to restart a command from history.

History holds the last 12 items from the command you’re currently in (across the current and previous calls), plus the last 12 items from everything else you’ve run before that. Recently used point locations also show as markers in the drawing area, sized and coloured according to SNAPMARKERSIZE, SNAPMARKERCOLOR, and SNAPMARKERTHICKNESS.

Changing Command Line Settings

Open the Settings dialog, then go to Program Options > User Preferences > Command Line.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between docked and floating mode? Docked stays fixed at the bottom of the window. Floating can be moved anywhere, and can optionally shrink to a single-line mini-frame that only expands temporarily while a command is running.

How much command history can I access? The last 12 items from your current command plus the last 12 from everything else you’ve run, 24 items total across two separate buckets.

What happens if I close the command line entirely? Command options and keyboard input still appear temporarily in the drawing area, so you’re not left without feedback.

How do I quickly see my full prompt history? Press F2 to open the Prompt History window directly.