How to Create Custom Quad Filters in BricsCAD

Quick answer: A Quad cursor filter customizes which buttons the Quad shows for a specific entity type, set individually per button through its Entity Filter property. Built-in Quad Buttons can’t have their filter modified, the field stays disabled for those, confirming the same limitation noted on this hub’s Quad customization page.

Accessing a Tool’s Entity Filter

1. Open the Customize dialog’s Quad tab.
2. Expand the quad tab node within the BRICSCAD menu group.
3. Select the tool’s node.
4. In the Quad Button frame, click the Entity Filter label.
5. Click the three-dots button at the far right of that row; the Edit Quad Button Filter dialog opens.

Adding a New Filter

1. With the Edit Quad Button Filter dialog open, click Add Entity Type(s)…; the Add Entity Alias dialog opens.
2. Choose whether the filter applies to One entity or Multiple entities.
3. Select the entity or subentity type(s) it should associate with, multiple selections are allowed.
4. Click OK.
5. Optionally click Add Filter… to open the Add quad button filter dialog.
6. Click the dropdown and choose one of three general filters, then click OK:
   • NO_SELECTION: available when nothing is selected.
   • OBJECT_ANY: available when a single entity is selected.
   • OBJECTS_ANY: available when multiple entities are selected.
7. Optionally add a custom filter and click OK. You can type a custom filter manually, though using the Add Entity Alias dialog is recommended instead. A custom filter combines a general prefix, OBJECT_ or OBJECTS_, with the entity’s DXF name, plus an optional subentity specifier (face, edge, or vertex), for example OBJECT_CIRCLE or OBJECTS_SURFACE_EDGE.
8. Click OK; the selected items appear in the Edit Quad Button Filter dialog’s list.

Managing and Editing Filters

Within the Edit Quad Button Filter dialog, click an item and press Remove to delete it, or click Add Entity Type(s) again to add more. Once the list is set the way you want, click OK, the filter appears in the Entity filter field back on the Quad tab. To edit it later, click the Browse button beside that field and repeat the same steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I modify the Entity Filter of a built-in Quad Button? No, that field is disabled for built-in buttons, only custom tools can have their Entity Filter edited.

What’s the difference between OBJECT_ANY and OBJECTS_ANY? OBJECT_ANY applies when a single entity is selected; OBJECTS_ANY applies when multiple entities are selected instead.

What’s the syntax for a custom filter written manually? A general prefix, OBJECT_ or OBJECTS_, followed by the entity’s DXF name, and optionally a subentity specifier like face, edge, or vertex, for example OBJECT_CIRCLE or OBJECTS_SURFACE_EDGE.

Is it better to type a custom filter manually or use the Add Entity Alias dialog? Using the Add Entity Alias dialog is recommended, even though typing a custom filter manually is possible.