SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
QUESTIONS? Contact Us | 866-824-4459

ZenTek ConsultantsZenTek Consultants

  • Services
    • Autodesk Service Provider
    • TEK Bloks
    • CAD Standards Service
    • Drafting Support for Everyone
    • Bluebeam Tool Chest Customization Services
    • Construction Project Setup in Bluebeam Revu
    • Construction Support Services
    • Facility Control Systems with Bluebeam Revu
    • Bluebeam Cloud Services
    • Services for Procore
    • BIM Services for Architecture and Engineering
    • BIM Services for Construction
    • Civil 3D Kickstart
    • Civil 3D Templates
    • ZenPipe for Civil 3D Pressure Networks
    • BricsCAD Pilot Program
    • Moving to BricsCAD
    • Microsoft 365 Implementation
    • Microsoft Teams Services
    • SharePoint Online Services
  • Online Training
    • AutoCAD Online Courses
    • AutoCAD Civil 3D Online Courses
    • Bluebeam Revu Online Courses
    • Autodesk Revit Online Courses
    • Autodesk InfraWorks Online Courses
    • Autodesk Vehicle Tracking Online Courses
    • Autodesk 3ds Max Online Courses
    • Autodesk Navisworks Online Courses
    • BricsCAD Online Courses
    • Civil Site Design & Stringer Topo Online Courses
    • Procore Online Courses
    • Microsoft Online Courses
    • On-Demand Training Courses
    • Custom Training
    • Training Waitlist
  • Software
    • Bluebeam Revu
    • ZenEstimate Tools
    • ZenTek Revu Tools
    • ZenPipe for Civil 3D Pressure Networks
    • BricsCAD
    • Bricsys 24/7
    • Procore
    • Corridor EZ
    • Civil Site Design
    • Stringer Topo
    • Spatial Manager
    • Microsoft
  • Industries
    • Architecture Industry
    • Engineering Industry
    • Construction Industry
    • Government
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Live Webinars
    • Watch Now
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • The CADDLE Call Podcast
    • The CAD Cage
    • YouTube Channel
    • Watch Now
    • Promotions
  • About Us
    • News
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Shop Now

BricsCAD: A Brisk Walk through the Quad

ZenTek Consultants
Thursday, 17 November 2022 / Published in AEC, BricsCAD

BricsCAD: A Brisk Walk through the Quad

Quad tool in BricsCAD

In BricsCAD, there is a tool called the Quad. What is it and why do they call it the Quad? I may not be able to answer that last question, but the first I can handle.

To a non-BricsCAD user, the quad is a pop-up menu that is unique to BricsCAD. It can pop-up while hovering over an object and it also pops up when you right-click. A different version displays if you have an object selected while right-clicking. You could say it is akin to the AutoCAD right-click menu but it’s actually quite different. For one thing, it has drawing and editing functions that display right next to the cursor.

Quad tool in BricsCAD

The top row contains your most recently used tools. The contents of the tabbed menus depend on your workspace and whether you have an object selected or not.

Quad Settings

There are configurations that control the appearance of the Quad in the Settings dialog. On the Manage tab of the ribbon > Customization panel, click Settings to open these options.

Customization Settings

Under Program Options, there are many variables (settings) associated with the appearance of the quad. A couple that I find useful are:

  1. Quad width: The number of buttons displayed in a row.
  2. Quad icon size: The size of the Quad buttons.

Quad Program Options

If you want to customize the Quad to display your most consistently used tools, you may do so in the Customize dialog.

Quad Customization

The Customize dialog can be opened from the Manage tab of the ribbon > Customization panel, click Customize tool.

Customize tool

In the Customize dialog, we start on the Quad tab.

Customize dialog box

This tab contains two prominent panes on the left and right that look very similar. The left contains the Quad configurations; the right contains all that is available to add to the Quad. Both are organized into subgroups representing the menu files they come from.

If I wanted to add a tab containing my most desired tools, understand that it would be stored in the menu file it is placed under. If the program is updated or reinstalled, you may lose this configuration. If you install a new version, it will not have this configuration. If you wanted to preserve this configuration, you would need to store it in your own CUI file but this post is not about custom CUI’s so we could save that discussion for a later date.

So back to creating a Quad tab containing my most desired tools:

  1. To create a new tab, right-click on the BricsCAD menu title in the left pane and click Append quad tab.
    Append quad tab command
  2. Type a Label and Title for the tab.
    Quad Tab Label
    The new tab appears on the list in the left pane under the BricsCAD menu group. This tab can be dragged and dropped to reposition itself with the items in the menu group, but BricsCAD will have reordered the list alphabetically when the Customize dialog is opened again.
    BricsCAD Menu group
  3. The first tool I would like to place on my Quad tab is the rectangle tool. To do this I would locate it in BricsCAD menu group in the right pane. Since this is something drawn, I would expand the Draw category and locate Rectangle, click on it, then drag and drop it over to the Cyndy Quad tab in the left pane.
    Add command to Quad group
  4. The next tool I will add will be the Edit Polyline tool. I would find this tool in the Modify category. Again, I simply drag and drop it over into my Cyndy Quad tab.Notice bottom pane changes to display details about the tool currently highlighted. The Entity Filter setting controls whether the tool is available when a certain type of item is highlighted. Since I would like this to be available if I have preselected a lightweight polyline or a polyline, then I would click the ellipsis to the right of the field.
    Entity Filter setting
  5. In the Edit Quad Button Filter dialog, I would click Add Entity Type(s).
    Add Entity Type
  6. In the Add Entity Alias dialog, I would indicate with the check boxes whether I would like this command to be available if one or multiple entities were selected. In the white space of the dialog, I would find the entity types I need, fill the check boxes, then click OK.
    Add Entity Alias
  7. Back in the Edit Quad Button Filter dialog, I have the Entity types I need. If NO_SELECTION is still on the list, I would highlight it and click Remove. Then hit OK to close.
    Edit Quad Button Filter
    The Entity Filter field is now populated.
    Entity Filter field populated
    If nothing is selected, the Cyndy Quad tab will show the Rectangle tool. If a lightweight polyline or a polyline is selected, the Edit Polyline tool will be displayed. I can add and configure more tools to my custom Quad tab now.Now that my custom tab is created and configured, I can finish up by adding it to my workspace.
  8. Click the Workspaces tab of the Customize dialog.
    Workspaces tab of the Customize dialog
    The Workspaces tab arrangement is similar to the Quad tab with the left pane displaying what is already configured and the right pane displaying what is available.
  9. Under the workspace that I use, I would expand the Quad Tabs section to show the Quad tabs configured. To add my Cyndy tab to the workspace, I would select any of the items under Quad Tabs, right-click, then click Insert.
    Insert Quad tab
    In the select Quad Tab dialog, I would select Cyndy, then click OK.
    Select Quad tab
  10. I can reposition the order of the tabs by dragging and dropping.
    Reposition Workspace options
  11.  In the bottom pane, I would make sure Display is set to Yes.
  12. Then I’d click OK to close the Customize dialog.

Now when I right-click anywhere on the screen, the Quad opens displaying my custom tab.
Custom Quad tool

The Quad is a convenient tool for quickly accessing tools as you work. Customizing it helps enhance workflow which speeds up production thus enabling us to work smarter and faster.

– Cyndy Davenport

What you can read next

Revit Grids
Autodesk Revit®: Levels vs Grids
Revit Rebar Set
Simplifying Structural Reinforcement in Revit®
The CADDle Call podcast
CAD Conventions & Tradeshows

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • HorizontalFlip setting result

    BricsCAD: Creating Dynamic Annotation with Parametric Blocks (Part 3)

  • The CADDle Call podcast

    Introducing ZenPipe for AutoCAD Civil 3D

  • Block

    BricsCAD: Creating Dynamic Annotation with Parametric Blocks (Part 2)

  • The CADDle Call podcast

    Bluebeam Revu Features You Need in Your Life

  • Stretch Parameter

    BricsCAD: Creating Dynamic Annotation with Parametric Blocks (Part 1)

Categories

Archives

  • Services
  • Software
  • Online Training
  • Government Contracting Specialists
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Events
  • The CADDle Call Podcast
  • Blog
  • YouTube Channel
  • Promotions
  • Subscribe to Emails
Associated General Contractors of America Member

ACCNJ Member
GBCA Member

Follow @ZenTekConsult

Partnering with

Partnering with Autodesk, BricsCAD, Bluebeam, Procore, Civil Survey Solutions and Microsoft
  • GET SOCIAL

©2016 - 2023 ZENTEK. LLC 2 University Plaza, Suite 100 Hackensack, NJ 07601 (US) // 620 Nine Mile Drive Suite 208, Bedford, NS B4A 0H4 (CANADA)

TOP
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT