The easiest way to navigate is using only the mouse wheel.

Danger:

If you make very large zoom steps and encounter limits when zooming or panning, then you need to regenerate the drawing.
Simply enter the keyboard shortcuts. “rg” or “rga” type it in the command line, or click “Regenerate” in the “View” pull-down menu.

The limits for zooming and panning are now being redefined, allowing you to zoom in even deeper into a detail, for example.

Additional zoom and navigation commands can be found in the "View" tab of the ribbon or in the "View" pull-down menu.

Drawing functions

In the "HOME" tab of the ribbon, the "Draw" group is located on the far left. Here you will find the most important drawing commands:
Line (l), polyline (pl), circle (k), arc (b), hatching (sch), …. .

Clicking on the small white triangle under "Polyline" opens a flyout menu.
which reveals further commands:
The Rectangle (re) and Polygon (pg) commands create closed polylines.
Clicking on "Rectangle" executes the "Rectangle" command and sends it to the
Ordered at the top of the flyout (this applies to all commands in flyouts).
The Circle (k) command creates a circle by entering the center point and radius.
The accompanying flyout contains further definition options,
such as defining a circle using 3 points on its circumference, or using 3 tangents.

By clicking on the small white triangle next to the group label "Draw" (red marker), you can expand this group and get additional drawing commands, such as the spline (spl), the "3D polyline".
or the “spiral”.

 

Polylines or lines?

A polyline is a connected object that can consist of line segments and circular arc segments.
The "Width" option allows you to assign an individual start and end width to a polyline, which is independent of the line thickness of the object or the line thickness of the layer on which it is created (Line thickness "From Layer").

Polylines can be broken down into individual lines and arcs using the "origin" (ur) command.
Conversely, the command "Edit Polylines" (PEDIT, shortcut pe) can be used to edit line or circular arc segments.
reconnect them to form a polyline.

Reasons for using polylines:
Geometry for CNC machining, 2D profiles for creating 3D solid models, creation of parallel contours,
(Querying area and perimeter in the properties palette, etc.)

Auxiliary structure

The "Auxiliary Construction" toolbox is located on the left side of the screen. It contains functions for creating
of construction lines, construction circles and construction points.
Creating auxiliary geometry is a proven method in construction, alongside drawing methods such as "direct distance input" (ortho, polar, object snap traces,...), coordinate input, grid snap, etc.
More information can be found under “Drawing methods and drawing aids”.

Toolbox “Auxiliary Construction”

 

Hatching

IBSCAD offers a wide selection of line hatches and pattern hatches, as well as solid hatches and color gradients.

When creating a hatch (shortcut SCH), it is possible to set in the hatch dialog that the hatch should be placed behind the surrounding contour (drawing order).

In the "Hatch" dialog box, you can also set the TRANSPARENCY for the hatch pattern to be created!

 

Make changes

Modify and Modify II Toolbars (Classic User Interface)

In the ribbon tab “START” you will find the “Change” group next to the “Draw” group.

Here you can start the most important "change commands" by clicking on the corresponding button, or you can enter the corresponding shortcut in the command line.

Delete (del), Move (s), Copy (ko), Rotate (dh), Mirror (sp), Round off (abr), Chamfer (fa), Trim (su), Stretch (de), Offset (vs), Origin (ur), Row (rh),…etc.

By clicking the small arrow next to the group label "Modify" (red marker), you can expand this group and access additional modification commands such as "Edit Polyline" (pe). This command allows you to, among other things, join individual line and arc segments to form a polyline (Edit Polyline – "Join" option).

Selection methods

In order to modify existing geometry, it must be selected.
The 3 most important methods of object selection are:

a) Pickbox: to select individual objects

The pickbox is displayed at the crosshairs when the system is in selection mode.
This is the case when a change command requires a selection, but also when no command is active.

b) Selection window (blue)

This is dragged from left to right and selects all objects that are completely within the window.

c) Crossing window (green)

This is dragged from right to left and, like the selection window, selects all objects that lie completely within the window.
Additionally, also those objects that are crossed by the window frame.

In addition to these 3 selection methods, IBSCAD offers further selection methods,
AutoCAD® users will be familiar with, for example the “Quick selection (sa).

To deselect the entire selection, press ESC on the keyboard (ESC is also used to cancel a command).

To selectively deselect individual objects from your selection, hold down the SHIFT key and click the corresponding objects with the pickbox, or use the selection or cross-check window while holding down the SHIFT key.

The object selection can be made before the start of the Modify command, or after the start of the Modify command (default setting).

If it is not possible to select the object before starting the command, this is because you have changed the relevant system setting in the options (1).

If multiple selection is not possible, this is also because you have changed the default setting in the options. (2)

You can change the size of the pickbox in the same place in the "Options" dialog box. (3)

Layer structure

Layers are an important tool for bringing structure to a drawing and also serve to divide parts of the drawing.
to be able to turn it on and off.

Layers allow you to group objects that share a common meaning,
summarize and manipulate them together, e.g., hide them.

Imagine a layer system like a stack of clear plastic sheets.

The foil at the very top of the stack will acurrent layer named.

Whether you draw a line or a circle, create a hatch or a dimension, all these objects are always automatically
on the current layer They create and inherit the properties of this layer, including the color, line type, and line thickness.
(provided the object properties are set to "By Layer" or "Von Layer" –> Ribbon tab "Home" – Properties group)

For example, to create the dimensions, text, hatching, etc. on their own separate layers,
This layer must be updated beforehand.
To do this, expand the layer list and click on the layer name of the desired layer.

Objects can also be moved from one layer to another afterwards by selecting them.
expands the layer list and clicks the layer name of the target layer.
The objects then inherit the properties of the target layer (if set to "From Layer").

 

Turn layers off and on

If you click on the lightbulb icon on the far left next to the layer label "IBS Contour",
This layer will be turned off, thus hiding all objects created on it.
The lightbulb will then appear dark. Click on the now dark lightbulb again.
All objects on the IBS contour layer will be displayed again.

Layers freeze and thaw

Clicking the sun icon freezes the layer. Initially, the result is the same as turning it off; the layer is hidden.

Unlike switched-off layers, frozen layers are not included in the regeneration calculation.
Therefore, freezing layers can be useful for very large drawings with complex objects, e.g., very extensive 3D plans.

Frozen layers cannot be updated (unlike turned-off layers).

Block references can be hidden by freezing the layer on which they were inserted.
However, if you turn off this layer by clicking on the lightbulb, the block references remain visible.

In addition to "global" freezing, layers can also be frozen only in specific layout viewports.
However, in other viewports they remain thawed (visible) (freezing in the current viewport).

Lock and unlock layers

Clicking the padlock icon locks the layer. Objects on locked layers can no longer be selected for edit commands and are therefore protected against changes.

Layer Properties Manager

In the Layer Properties Manager You can create new layers and delete existing layers.
Before a layer can be deleted (cleaned up), it must no longer be in use.
This means that no objects may be on this layer; for example, it may not be included in the definition of a dimension style or in a block definition.

In the Layer Properties Manager Can you change the properties of layers globally (for the entire drawing), including, for example, the color?
the line thickness or the transparency Define a specific layer differently for different layout viewports.

When working with drawings that have a large number of layers, it is often helpful to use layer filters.
Property filters and group filters can be defined.

Layer status and layer conversion

Layer settings can be saved in a layer state file (.las), which can be exported and imported.

With the Layer conversion Can you perform an automatic conversion of the layer scheme of a “foreign” drawing?
implement it according to the company's internal standard.

The layer scheme is defined in a company-specific drawing template (.dwt), along with other drawing settings such as dimension styles, text styles, table styles, point styles, page setups of the layouts, etc.

If your company already has AutoCAD® drawing templates,
You can of course also use these drawing templates for IBS.CAD.

Important:

You can also show and hide objects independently of the layers on which they were drawn.
Use the function for this. "Insulation" in the context menu of an object selection (select objects – right mouse button),
or click on the lightbulb icon on the far right of the status bar (bottom right).

Text input and dimensioning

In the "Home" tab of the ribbon, under the "Annotation" group, you will find the most important commands for dimensioning and text input. Even more commands on this topic are available under the "Annotation" tab of the ribbon, in the "Text" and "Dimension" groups. The corresponding toolbars are available in the classic user interface.

Paragraph text (t)

Dimensioning styles

All dimension settings are defined in so-called dimension styles. Dimension styles defined in AutoCAD® can, of course, be used in IBSCAD and vice versa. This also applies to all named AutoCAD® objects (text styles, point styles, table styles, layers, layouts, etc.) and to all drawing resources (line types, hatch pattern files, plot style tables, etc.).

The size of a dimension (text, arrows) is also defined in the dimension style. Here, it's possible to work with the "Global Scale Factor." The "Global Scale Factor" of the dimension is the reciprocal of the plot scale (when plotting from model space) or the reciprocal of the layout viewport scale (dimensioning in an open layout viewport).
For example: Viewport scale: 1/10 -> Global scale factor: 10

However, you can also work with annotation scales (as in AutoCAD®).
Labeling scales can be applied not only to dimensions but also to text, hatching, and other labeling objects.

Text styles

The text style manager is used to define text styles. A text style consists of a specific text font and various settings.
(Font style, text height, width factor, tilt angle, etc.)

Labeling scales can also be assigned to text. However, "Labeling" must be activated for the text style.

Text styles and dimension styles are used in the same way as layers, table styles, point styles, layout page setups, etc.
defined in a drawing template (.dwt). If your company already has AutoCAD® drawing templates, these can of course also be used for IBSCAD without having to make any changes.

Blocks

A block is a collection of objects that have been grouped together into a single named object.

The block principle consists of the block (or block definition) in the invisible block register of the drawing and the dependent block references (block copies) in the visible part of the drawing (model space or layout space). Therefore, when you insert a block in the model space or layout space of the drawing using the "Insert Block" command, you are, strictly speaking, inserting a block reference.

The block reference points to the block definition, which contains the entire geometry definition. The block reference, on the other hand, only contains the block name and the insertion parameters. Even if you insert a particular block many times in the drawing, the drawing's memory requirement hardly increases because the block definition for all these block references only exists once in the drawing.

Block references are linked to, or dependent on, the block. Therefore, if a block is modified using the block editor (be) and saved again under its original name, all block references dependent on it will change accordingly.

If a block reference is deleted or resolved using the "origin" (ur) command, nothing happens to the block definition.

A block can only be deleted from the block register when there are no more dependent block references in the model space or layout space → "Clean up" command.
This principle also applies to deleting dimension styles, text styles, layers and other "named objects".

Block editor (be)

The block editor (be) allows you to define and edit blocks.
IBSCAD can also create dynamic blocks. The necessary parameters and actions are available in the block editor.

Dynamic blocks created in AutoCAD® can also be used in IBSCAD and vice versa.

Insert block, Design Center, Tool palettes

With the command "Insert block" (a) You can insert block references whose block definitions are in the current drawing
are already available.

You can also insert another drawing as a block into the current drawing (using the "Browse" button). IBSCAD automatically creates an internal block definition with the name of this file. If you want to insert the drawing without creating a block definition, you must check the box next to "Origin".

Design Center

With the Design Center (CTRL+2) allows you to insert blocks from other drawings into the current drawing.
It also serves to copy other named AutoCAD® objects from other drawings into the current drawing, such as dimension styles, text styles, layers, layouts, etc.

Tool palettes

Tool palettes are a proven means of organizing blocks or personal libraries.
Certain properties can be predefined for inserting a block from a tool palette, such as the layer on which the block should be inserted, or the scale factor and rotation angle for insertion, etc.

Tool palettes can be exported and imported to another workstation.
They can also be organized into pallet groups.

Attribute

Attributes are text information that can be stored in a block definition.
Attributes can be defined as constant or variable, visible or invisible.
Blocks that contain attributes are also called attribute blocks.

Attributes or attribute blocks defined in AutoCAD® can also be used in IBSCAD.
They can be used and vice versa. The way they are defined and applied is the same.

The "Data Extraction" (attext) command allows you to extract attributes from a drawing and, for example, generate a parts list from them.
For this purpose, the attributes would be defined as invisible.
Examples include part number, material, price, standard number, supplier, etc.

An example of visible attributes in a block would be the title block or plan header of a drawing with attributes such as drawing number, project, scale, order number, designer, date, etc.

External References

External References or Xref's These are called drawings that are not actually inserted into the current drawing.
but only linked to the current drawing.

Any change made in a referenced drawing will be reflected in the current drawing as soon as it is opened or reloaded.

External drawings (Xrefs) do not need to be opened separately for changes; they can be edited directly within the current drawing.
They will be edited with the link they were created with.
AutoCAD® drawings with Xrefs can be edited in IBSCAD and vice versa. The procedures for handling Xrefs are the same in both programs.
Images, PDFs, DWF and DGN files can also be inserted into a drawing as Xrefs.

group

The command “group” (g) allows you to group any objects in a drawing into a “named or unnamed group" summarize,
to be able to edit them together, for example (rotate, copy, move, etc.)
Clicking on a member of the group will select the entire group.

Groups should not be confused with blocks!
Groups can contain block references, along with other drawing objects.

Model range and layouts

In IBSCAD, as in AutoCAD®, every drawing has a model space and a layout space.

The model area can be imagined as an infinitely large, virtual drawing board.
Here you create your entire design at a 1:1 scale.

The layouts are the DIN drawing sheets (A4 to A0, also special formats) on which then
The scaled views of the construction are created from the model area.

A) Working without layouts

The drawing is printed from the model space at a specific plot scale.

The design is created in the model area at a scale of 1:1.
The dimensions, texts, drawing frames, title block, etc. must be converted using the inverse value.
The plot scale is adjusted.
Example: Plot scale 1:100
-Dimension style: Scale factor 100 → 100x magnification of dimension text and dimension arrows
-Texts: Text height 3.5 → 350
-Outer frame DIN A3: 420×297 → 42000×29700 (scaling factor 100)
-The letterhead is also enlarged a hundred times
…etc.

All these "label objects" must therefore be scaled (enlarged) by the inverse of the plot scale.
so that when plotting the construction from the model area at a plot scale of 1:100, they ultimately appear in the correct size.
Using the annotation scale is the easiest way to scale all annotation objects accordingly.

Plotting from the model area

In this example, the desired scale of the drawing is 1:100 (plot scaling).

With the PDF printer “DWG to PDF.pc3” integrated into IBSCAD, you can
Create PDF files from DWG drawings (The reverse is also possible with IBSCAD: PDFIMPORT)

IBSCAD recognizes color-dependent plot style tables (.ctb) and named plot style tables (.stb).
Plot style tables from AutoCAD can be used in IBSCAD and vice versa.

B) Working with layouts

The drawing is plotted from the layout area.
The plot scale is always 1:1 because the scales of the views are defined in the individual layout viewports.

Using layouts has many advantages, especially when you need multiple views, detail views, and different scales.
on one drawing sheet. Furthermore, you can distribute your entire planning or design from the model area across multiple drawing sheets and different sheet formats.

Colors, line weights, line types, or even transparency can be defined differently for one and the same object in different viewports of a layout.

Layers can be displayed in one viewport, but frozen (hidden) in another viewport… etc.

Procedure for creating scaled views on a layout

• Design or planning in the model area in original size, i.e., 1:1 scale.
• Select the desired layout and layer "IBS viewport" (when using the IBS.dwt template)
  The current setting is: The layer "IBS viewport" is set to "do not plot".
  The viewport frame is generally not intended to be printed.
• Use the "Rectangular Viewport" command (Ribbon tab "Layout") to resize the viewport to the desired dimensions.
• Double-click inside the viewport to open the view (viewport frame will be displayed in thick).
• Use zoom and pan (mouse wheel) to adjust the desired view.
• In the status bar, expand the scale list and select the desired viewport scale.
• Click the padlock icon in the status bar (to the left of the scale list) to lock the view.
  This prevents the scale from being accidentally changed by zooming when the view is reopened (to make changes or to create dimensions).
• Double-clicking outside the viewport frame closes the view again (the viewport frame will be displayed as thin again).

The fundamental decision is whether to create the dimensions or annotation objects in the open layout viewport (model space) or on the layout itself (viewport closed). Both are possible, but we recommend always creating the dimensions in the open layout viewport (model space).

Creating dimension styles with dimension scaling as the inverse of the viewport scale,
Freezing the dimension layer of a view in the other viewports, or using annotation scales, can be handled in IBSCAD in the same way that AutoCAD users are used to.

For users without AutoCAD knowledge, we refer you to our extensive training program.

Adjust the scale and lock the viewport in the status bar.

 

Define dynamic blocks

In IBSCAD you can not only use the dynamic blocks defined in AutoCAD,
IBSCAD also allows you to define dynamic blocks. All the necessary tools are available in the block editor.

Here you can create blocks and assign dynamic properties to blocks that have already been created.
First, a parameter is defined, and then a corresponding action is assigned to the parameter.

"Static" blocks can only be varied to a limited extent when inserted.
Only the insertion point, rotation angle, and scaling factor can be specified during insertion.

Dynamic blocks are inserted in the same way as normal blocks.

For example, if you need a round table with 2, 3, 4 or 5 chairs,
Then you can solve that with dynamic blocks.

Instead of defining 4 static blocks, create one dynamic block in 4 different configurations.
After insertion, you can expand a drop-down list using the corresponding handle on the block reference.
where you then select the number of chairs.

Do you have a specific application for Dynamic Blocks and would like to know more about them?
Contact us at: support@ibs-cad.net.

Lock drawing

The "Lock drawing" function allows you to group parts of a drawing into one object.
This object can then no longer be changed internally; it can only be deleted, moved, rotated, etc., as a whole.
With "Lock drawing" you can prevent changes from being made to parts of the drawing.
For example, if you need to send the DWG file to external partners.

Once the locked drawing has been saved, the locking cannot be undone.
Therefore, you should definitely make a copy of your drawing before you perform the blocking.

You can find the function in the Ribbon tab “Express” – group “Drawing”
or in the "Express" pull-down menu – drawing tools.

Dynamic command line: Clickable options

When the "DYN" switch is pressed in the status bar, the Dynamic Command Line is always displayed at the top center of the drawing area by default (below the ribbon). Here, you can directly click the command options instead of accessing them via keyboard input or the right-click context menu.

If you activate the checkbox marked in red in the screenshot in the "Design Settings" dialog box – "Dynamic Input" tab,
The dynamic command line is displayed next to the crosshair.

The static command line (below) could also be turned off (CTRL+9), however, the measurement results are also displayed there.
(Measure distance, measure area, etc.) is displayed. However, you can use the F2 function key to toggle the command window on and off. Well, it's probably a matter of preference.

Break block

This innovative feature allows you to break or cover objects using a block reference. For example, consider inserting sliders, valves, etc., into piping diagrams, or placing windows and doors in architectural floor plans.

DangerBoth 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems are supported!

Linux and macOS operating systems are not supported. If you wish to use these operating systems, we recommend using emulators/virtualization software such as Parallels Desktop (macOS) or virtual machines.
(e.g.: VMWare, VirtualBox, VirtualPC, …).