System variables

Information about several system environment and drawing variables is saved in the system variables. You can change the values of these variables with the SETVAR command.

There are four types of system variables:

REAL, such as ORTHOANGLE
INTEGER, such as COLOR
POINT, point variables contain the coordinates of a specific point
STRING, string variables contain text information. The length of the string depends on the variable.

Some system variables are read-only.

Some variables, such as current color or linetype, are changed by other commands. Color is a example of a system variable, that can only be changed with the appropriate command, COLOR. The system variable itself is read-only.

Some system variables can be changed both with a separate command and with the SETVAR command. For example, the GRIDSPACING system variable can be changed with the SETVAR and the GRID commands.

There are a few system variables that users should be aware of, such as ARCPRECISION, which defines the precision by which arcs are drawn on the screen.

Variables A-C

Name	Type	Read only*	Save**	Description
ALLOWSCREENSAVER	Int		-	Allow / deny screensaver to start
ANGLE	Real		-	Calculated angle.
ARCEXPLODE	Int		INI	Enable/disable arc explosion: 0=disabled, 1=enabled.
ARCPRECISION	Real		INI	Arc calculation precision. Also see Set arc precision.
AREA	Real		-	Calculated area.
ARROWANGLE	Real		DRW	Arrow opening angle. Also see Set arrow size and angle.
ARROWSIZE	Real		DRW	Arrow size. Also see Set arrow size and angle.
ATTMODE	Int		DRW	Global attribute visibility.
AUNITS	Int		DRW	Angle units: 0=degrees, 1=radians, 2=grads.
BATCHEXEC	Int	x	-	Shows whether there is a command being executed, 0=no, 1=yes.
CADSDIR	String	x	-	Program directory.
CBALTINSBASE	Int		INI	Determines whether Copy to clipboard asks for a basepoint: 0=no, 1=yes.
CELWEIGHT	Int	x	DRW	Current line weight in hundreds of a millimeter.
CELTSCALE	Real		DRW	Object's linetype scale factor. The linetype pattern can be scaled for all objects individually. The value for linetype scaling of next new objects is stored in this system variable. Object's linetype scale is relative to the "overall" linetype scaling of the drawing. Object's linetype scale can be changed using MODIFY command.
CETRANSPARENCY	Int		DRW	Value for transparency in per cents (0-100) for the next drawn object. -1 = LAYER, -2 = SYMBOL
CHAMFER1	Real		DRW	First chamfer distance.
CHAMFER2	Real		DRW	Second chamfer distance.
CLIPDISTANCE	Int		DRW	Distance of the clipping plane when using perspective in shading. Value is 1...100. 100 calculated automatically (default)
COLOR	Int	x	DRW	Current color.
COMMANDDIR	String		INI	Command directory.
COORDANGLE	Real		DRW	Coordinate angle, separate value in print and design mode
COORDAXISLOCK	Int		DRW	Coordinate lock: 0=off, 1=on.
COORDDISTLOCK	Real	x	DRW	Coordinate lock distance.
COORDMODE				Coordinate mode, 0=abs. rectangular 1=rel. rectangular 2=abs. polar, 3= rel. polar
COORDUPDATE	Int		INI	Coordinate update mode, 0=off, 1=on.
COORDXLOCK	Point	x	DRW	Coordinate X lock.
COORDYLOCK	Point	x	DRW	Coordinate Y lock.
CROSSHAIRSIZE	Int		INI	Crosshair size in per cent 1...100.
CROSSHAIRTIP	Int		INI	Show coordinates in crosshair: 0=no, 1=yes
CURRENTCOMMAND	String	x	-	Currently running command.
CVPORT	Int	x	DRW	Current viewport number

Variables D-E

Name	Type	Read only*	Save**	Description
DBMOD	Int	x	-	Modified since last save: 0=no, 1=yes.
DEFAULTFONT	String		INI	Default font, if the font defined in text style is not found.
DEFAULTPRINTER	String		INI	Default printer.
DIMADEC	Int		DRW	Number of decimals in angle dimension.
DIMAHSZ	Real		DRW	Dimension arrow size.
DIMANGLE	Real		DRW	Dimension angle.
DIMANGLELOCK	String		DRW	Draw dimension to angle: 0=no, 1=yes.
DIMASO	Int		DRW	Enable/disable associative dimension: 0=off, 1=on.
DIMAUNIT	String		DRW	Dimension units for angle dimension
DIMBLK	String		DRW	Symbol to use in dimension arrowheads
DIMBLK1	String		DRW	Dimension arrowhead symbol in 1. dimension line
DIMBLK2	String		DRW	Dimension arrowhead symbol in 2. dimension line
DIMCEN	Real		DRW	Centermark size.
DIMCLRD	Int		DRW	Dimension color.
DIMCLRT	Int		DRW	Dimension text color.
DIMDEC	Int		DRW	Number of dimension decimals.
DIMDSYM	Int		DRW	Enable/disable diameter symbol: 0=off, 1=on.
DIMEXLINEE	Real		DRW	Extension line distance from the dimension line.
DIMEXLINEO	Real		DRW	Extension line distance from the dimension point.
DIMGAP	Real		DRW	Gap between text and dimension line. Gap between tolerance frame and tolerance text.
DIMJUST	Int		DRW	Placement of the dimension text according to dimension extension lines: 0=Centered (default), 1=On the 1. extension line, 2=On the 2. extension line, 3=Above the 1. extension line, 4=Above the 2. extension line.
DIMLAYER	String		DRW	Dimension layer.
DIMLDRBLK	String		DRW	Arrowhead symbol for leader object.
DIMLFAC	Real		DRW	Dimension value scale factor.
DIMLINEE	Real		DRW	Dimension line distance over extension line.
DIMLINEI	Real		DRW	Dimension line spacing factor.
DIMMAXTOL	Real		DRW	Maximum dimension tolerance value.
DIMMINTOL	Real		DRW	Minimum dimension tolerance value.
DIMOBANGLE	Real		-	Dimension text oblique angle.
DIMPOST	String		DRW	Dimension units.
DIMROUND	Real		DRW	Dimension value rounding.
DIMSAH	Int		DRW	Use DIMBLK variable (value 0) or use DIMBLK1 and DIMBLK2 variables (value 1) in arrowheads.
DIMSCALE	Real		DRW	Dimension scale.
DIMSD1	Int		DRW	Suppress drawing the 1. dimension line (0=no, 1=yes). Default value is 0 (draw).
DIMSD2	Int		DRW	Suppress drawing the 2. dimension line (0=no, 1=yes). Default value is 0 (draw).
DIMSE1	Int		DRW	Suppress drawing the 1. dimension extension line (0=no, 1=yes). Default value is 0 (draw).
DIMSE2	Int		DRW	Suppress drawing the 2. dimension line (0=no, 1=yes). Default value is 0 (draw).
DIMSTYLE	String	x	DRW	Current dimension style.
DIMTAD	Int		DRW	Location of the dimension text according to dimension line: 0=on the dimension line, 1=Above the dimension line (default).
DIMTFAC	Real		DRW	Height factor for the tolerance part of the dimension text.
DIMTIH	Int		DRW	Draw dimension text horizontally when text is between the dimension extension lines: 0=no, 1=yes.
DIMTMOVE	Int		DRW	Action when dimension text is moved: 2=text is moved normally (default), 1=A leader is added, 0=Dimension line moves along with the text.
DIMTOH	Int		DRW	Draw dimension text horizontally when text is not between the dimension extension lines: 0=no, 1=yes
DIMTOL	Int		DRW	Enable/disable dimension tolerances: 0=off, 1=on.
DIMTOLDEC	Int		DRW	Dimension tolerance decimals.
DIMTOLID	String		DRW	Dimension tolerance symbol.
DIMTSZ	Real		DRW	Dimension arrowhead size.
DIMTXTPROMPT	Int		INI	Dimension text prompt.
DIMTXTSTYLE	String	x	DRW	Dimension textstyle.
DIMTXTSZ	Real		DRW	Dimension text size.
DISTANCE	Real		-	Calculated distance.
DOCWINDOW	Int		INI	Show document window: 1=yes, 0=no.
DOCUMENTTABS	Int		INI	Location of the document tabs (0=hidden, 1=up, 2=down, 3=left, 4=right)
DRAGMODE	Int		INI	Enable/disable dynamic object dragging: 0=off, 1=normal (fast), 1=buffered mode that finds overlapping objects (slow), 6=object color will be displayed during object dragging (slow). Also see Set drag mode on/off.
DRAWINGDIR	String		INI	Drawing directory.
DRAWINGNAME	String	x	-	Drawing name.
DRAWINGPATH	String	x	-	Drawing path.
ELEVATION	Real		DRW	Current elevation.
ERRORINFO	Int		INI	When on (1), program saves a log file containing user operations.
EXECUTABLEDIR	String	x	-	The folder where i.e. the executable files are installed (.exe, .dll).
EXTENTSMAX	Point	x	DRW	Upper right corner of the drawing area, separate value in print and design mode.
EXTENTSMIN	Point	x	DRW	Lower left corner of the drawing area, separate value in print and design mode.

Variables F-O

Name	Type	Read only*	Save**	Description
FIELDOFVIEW	Int		DRW	The angle of the view sector in perspective view (default = 60). Valid values are 60...110.
FILLETRAD	Real		DRW	Fillet radius.
FILLMODE	Int		DRW	Enable/disable object filling: 0=off, 1=on. Also see Set fill mode on/off.
FILTER	Int		DRW	Current filter mode: 0=none, 2=line, 4=point, 8=circle, 16=arc, 32=text, 64=fill, 128=polyline, 512=symbol, 2048=attribute.
FORCEDTRANSPARENCY	Int		INI	The transparency value for all objects in per cents in transparency mode. If the value is negative, the setting is off (=using the transparency value of each object).
GRIDANGLE	Real		DRW	Grid angle.
GRIDBASE	Point		DRW	Grid origin.
GRIDDRAW	Int		DRW	Enable/disable grid draw: 0=off, 1=on.
GRIDMODE	Int		DRW	Enable/disable grid: 0=off, 1=on.
GRIDSCALE	Real		DRW	Grid scale.
GRIDSPACING	Point		DRW	Grid spacing.
GRIDSTYLE	Int		DRW	Grid style: 0=normal, 1=isometric.
GRIPEDITINPLANE	Int		INI	If on (1), the Z coordinate of objects modified with Grip edit will not change relative to the current user coordinate system plane.
GRIPS	Int		INI	Grip edit on: 0=no, 1=yes.
GROUPSEL	Int		INI	Determines whether to select all objects in a group or one at a time. Also see Handle object groups.
HPANGLE	Real		-	Hatch pattern default angle.
HPBASE	Point		DRW	Hatch pattern base point. Also see Set hatch base.
HPFILE	String		INI	Files from which linetypes are searched (separated by semicolon).
HPNAME	String		-	Hatch pattern default name.
HPSCALE	Real		-	Hatch pattern default scale.
INSBASE	Int		DRW, UCS	Drawing basepoint, separate value in print and design mode. Also see Set insertion base point.
ISOPLANE	Int		DRW	Isometric plane: 0=left, 1=top, 2=right.
LASTCOMMAND	String		-	Last command (used in K programs).
LASTGRIPPOINT	Point		DRW, UCS	Point entered in the previous option.
LASTICONMENU	String	x	-	Most recent icon menu opened.
LASTPOINT	Point	x	UCS	Most recent point entered.
LASTPSLAYOUT	String	x	-	Most recent layout.
LASTVERSION	String	x	-	Shows the application and version used to most recently save the drawing.
LAYER	String	x	DRW	Current layer.
LAYERCOLORS	Int		DRW	Enable/disable color display by layer: 0=off, 1=on.
LAYOUT	Real	x	-	Current layout.
LAYOUTTABS	Int		INI	Location of the layout tabs (0=hidden, 1=up, 2=down, 3=left, 4=right)
LIGHTDIRECTION	Point		DRW	Light direction for shading
LIMITSMAX	Point		DRW	Upper right corner of the drawing limits, separate value in print and design mode.
LIMITSMIN	Point		DRW	Lower left corner of the drawing limits, separate value in print and design mode.
LINESPACE	Real		DRW	Text line spacing.
LINETYPE	String	x	DRW	Current linetype.
LOADXREF	Int		-	Open reference drawings: 1=yes, 0=no.
LTFILE	String		INI	Files from which hatch patterns are searched (separated by semicolon).
LTSCALE	Real		DRW	Current linetype scale
LUNITS	Int		DRW	Linear units used in drawing. 1=Scientific, 2=Decimal, 3=Engineering, 4=Architectural, 5=Fractional.
LUPREC	Int		DRW	Number of linear unit decimals.
LWDEFAULT	Int	x	DRW	Default line weight in hundreds of a millimeter.
MENUDIR	String		INI	Menu directory.
MENUNAME	String		INI	Current menu.
MWZOOMFACTOR	Int		INI	Zoom factor for the mouse wheel. Also see Define user interface settings.
OFFSETDIST	Real		-	Default offset for the Offset function.
OLEFRAME	Int		DRW	0 = Show the frames for embedded objects on display, 1 = Show and print the frames, 2 = Show frames on display but don't print (default).
OLEHIDE	Int		INI	0 = Show embedded objects on displays and print them always (default), 1 = Show on display but print only the objects in print mode, 2 = Show on display but print only the objects in design mode, 3 = Do not show or print embedded objects.
ORIGIN	Point		DRW	Coordinate origin, separate value in print and design mode.
ORTHOANGLE	Real		DRW	Ortho angle.
ORTHOMODE	Int		DRW	Enable/disable ortho: 0=off, 1=on.
OSAPERTURE	Real		INI	Object snap aperture.
OSNAP	Int		DRW	Object snap mode: 0=none, 2=endpoint, 4=center, 8=intersection, 16=nearest, 32=node, 64=midpoint, 128=angle, 256=perpendicular, 512=tangent, 1024=apparent.
OSNAPANGLE	Int		DRW	Object snap angle.
OSNAPIND	Int		INI	Object snap indicators: 0=box, invisible; 1=box, visible; 2= circle, invisible; 3= circle, visible.

Variables P-V

Name	Type	Read only*	Save**	Description
PDMODE	Int		DRW	Point object type: 0=point, 1=invisible, 2=cross +, 3=cross x, 4=vertical line '.
PDSIZE	Real		DRW	Point object size.
PERIMETER	Real		-	Calculated perimeter.
PERSPECTIVE	Int		-	Determines whether the perspective view is on or off when the drawing is shaded. If the value is 0 (default) perspective view is off, and if the value is 1 perspective view is on. The automatically calculated clipping distance in perspective view can be set manually by setting the system variable CLIPDISTANCE. The default value 100 means that the automatically calculated value will be used. By setting a smaller value you can move the clipping plane closer to the viewing point. In perspective view, you can set the angle of the viewing sector by setting the value of the FIELDOFVIEW system variable. The default value is 60 degrees.
PICKBOX	Int		DRW	Pickbox size.
PICKEDPOINT	Point	x	-	The point that the user has last picked (not affected by osnap).
PLINEGEN	Int		-	Determines how to fit the line type pattern to polyline. Changing this value does not affect the polylines already drawn. 0 = off, 1 = on If the value is 0 (default) the line type pattern will be fit to every edge of polyline separately. This value will be saved to every polyline created. Show/hide image If the value is 1 the line type pattern will be fit to the length of the whole polyline. Show/hide image
PLINEWIDTH	Real		-	Default width of a polyline.
PLOTRENDERMEMORY	Int		INI	Memory (MB) to use when printing OpenGL shaded drawing
PLOTRENDERMODE	Int		INI	Print shading, 1=use OpenGL type shading, 0=use vector type shading
POLYSIDES	Int		-	Default number of sides in a polygon.
PREVRENDERMODE	Int	x	DRW	Previously used shading mode.
PRINTDIR	String		INI	Print directory.
PROJECTNAME	String		DRW	Not used.
PROPERTYWINDOWMODE	Int		INI	Automatic hiding of the properties window on (1) or off (0).
PROTODRAWING	String	x	INI	Current prototype drawing.
PSLTSCALE	Int		DRW	Use print mode linetype scale in floating viewports: 0=no, 1=yes.
RADIUS	Real		-	Default radius of a centerpoint circle.
REFLAYERS	Int		DRW	Reference drawing layers status: 0=by reference drawing, 1=by parent drawing.
RELATIVEINPUT	Int		INI	Enable/disable relative input mode: 0=off, 1=on.
RENDERSMOOTHNESS	Int		INI	Controls rendering smoothness of 3D-polyfacemeshes. Value between 0...100.
SCALE	Real		DRW	Drawing scale.
SELAUTOLOCKED	Int		INI	Defines whether selection mode is changed from pick to window selection, if selected object is on a locked layer, 0=no (default), 1=yes.
SELECTIONSTYLE	Int		INI	Removing an object from selection: 0 = by selecting again normally (default), 1 = by selecting with Ctrl key pressed down during selection. Also see Pickbox selection.
SELECTOBJUCS	Int		INI	Selection window orientation, 0=display coordinates, 1=user coordinates.
SNAPELEVATION	Int		DRW	If on (1), the Z coordinate of the point returned by object snap is forced to the current elevation.
SPLFRAME	Int		DRW	If on (1), all frames on 3dface objects are shown, even if the frame is defined invisible.
SYMBOLANGLE	Real		DRW	Default symbol angle.
SYMBOLDIR	String		INI	Symbol directory.
SYMBOLNAME	String		-	Default symbol name.
SYMBOLSCALE	Point		DRW	Default symbol scale.
TARGET	Point	x	DRW, UCS	Basepoint for view rotation.
TEMPLATEDIR	String		INI	Template drawing directory.
TEMPLATEPATH	String	x	INI	Prototype drawing directory.
TEXTALIGN	Int		DRW	Text alignment.
TEXTMIRROR	Int		DRW	Determines whether text mirrored with the Mirror functions is displayed mirrored or not. If the value is 1, text is mirrored. If the value is 0, text is not mirrored. Show/hide examples Text mirror off Text mirror on
TEXTOBANGLE	Real		DRW	Current text oblique angle.
TEXTSIZE	Real		DRW	Current text size.
TEXTSTYLE	String	x	DRW	Current textstyle.
TEXTWIDTH	Real		DRW	Determines the text width. The normal text width is multiplied by the TEXTWIDTH value. Text width has no effect on mtext objects. Show/hide examples Text width 1 Text width 2
THEME	Int		INI	Visual display theme of CADMATIC.
THICKNESS	Real		DRW	Current thickness.
TILEMODE	Int	x	DRW	Tiled viewports, 0=off, 1=on.
TOOLSAUTOM	Int		INI	Tool automation, if 0 (default), grid will be automatically turned off during Zoom function.
TRIMMODE	Int		-	Trim objects in Fillet and Chamfer functions, 0=no, 1=yes.
TTFILLMODE	Int		INI	Defines whether TrueType fonts are displayed filled (1) or not (0).
UCSFOLLOW	Point		DRW	If on (1), current view is automatically changed to correspond the current coordinate system.
UCSICON	Int		INI	Display coordinate system angle icon: 1=yes, 0=no.
UCSXDIR	Point	x	DRW	Coordinate system X direction.
UCSYDIR	Point	x	DRW	Coordinate system Y direction.
UCSZDIR	Point	x	DRW	Coordinate system Z direction.
USERI0...9	Int		DRW	User definable INTEGER variable.
USERR0...9	Real		DRW	User definable REAL variable.
USERS0...9	String		DRW	User definable STRING variable.
VERSION	String	x	-	Version in format: X.XX (platform)
VIEWCLIP	Int		DRW	View clipping state.
VIEWDIR	Point	x	DRW	Direction point of the current view.
WORKINGFOLDER	String		-	Not used.
VPANGLE	Real	x	DRW	View rotation angle in current viewport.
VPCTR	Int	x	DRW, UCS	View centerpoint in current viewport.
VPORTXRES	Int	x	-	Viewport X resolution.
VPORTYRES	Int	x	-	Viewport Y resolution.
VPSIZE	Real	x	DRW	View size (height) in current viewport.
XREFDIMMING	Int		INI	Default dimming value for XREF-drawings. Valid range: 0...90.