How to Move Entities in BricsCAD

Quick answer: MOVE relocates entities within the same drawing. To move entities between drawings, use CUTCLIP to copy them to the clipboard and erase them from the source, then PASTECLIP (pastes into the current drawing), PASTEORIG (pastes using the source drawing’s own coordinates), or PASTEBLOCK (pastes as a new block).

The Copy option of the Grips Editing commands, covered elsewhere in this hub, also lets you create multiple copies while stretching, moving, rotating, mirroring, or scaling. With DRAGSNAP on, dragged entities display at the current entity snap location, the same behaviour noted there.

Moving Entities Within a Drawing

The default method: build a selection, then specify a base point and a displacement point. A direction vector works too.

1. Launch MOVE. You’re prompted to select entities to move.
2. Select them, then right-click or press Enter; the selection attaches to the cursor. You’re prompted for a base point, or to specify a displacement directly.
3. Specify a point. You’re prompted for a second point, or to use the base point itself as the displacement.
4. Specify a point; the selection moves.

Moving Entities Between Drawings

1. In the source drawing, select the entities you want to move.
2. Cut them: right-click and choose Cut (hold the right mouse button down longer if the Quad is active), choose Cut from the Edit menu, or press Ctrl+X. They’re deleted from the source drawing and copied to the clipboard.
3. Switch to the target drawing.
4. Choose Paste from the Edit menu, or press Ctrl+V; the bottom-left corner of the selection’s bounding rectangle attaches to the cursor.
5. Either specify a point to place it, or use the option to paste at the source drawing’s original coordinates instead.

If needed, run UNDO in the source drawing to bring the moved entities back.

Moving a Selection as a Block

1. In the source drawing, select the entities you want to move.
2. Cut them: right-click and choose Cut (hold the right mouse button down longer if the Quad is active), choose Cut from the Edit menu, or press Ctrl+X. They’re deleted from the source drawing and copied to the clipboard.
3. Switch to the target drawing.
4. Choose Paste as a Block from the Edit menu, or press Ctrl+Shift+V; the bottom-left corner of the selection’s bounding rectangle attaches to the crosshairs.
5. Specify the insertion point; the selection pastes as a block using a default name.
6. Optionally run EXPBLOCKS to rename the block in the Drawing Explorer’s Blocks dialog.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I undo moving entities to a different drawing? Run UNDO in the source drawing to bring the moved entities back.

What’s the difference between PASTECLIP and PASTEORIG? PASTECLIP pastes into the current drawing at a location you specify. PASTEORIG pastes using the coordinates from the original source drawing instead.

Can I create multiple copies while moving entities with grips? Yes, use the Copy option of the Grips Editing commands, covered elsewhere in this hub.

How do I rename a block created by pasting entities as a block? Run EXPBLOCKS and rename it in the Drawing Explorer’s Blocks dialog.