How to change entity name?

[CMH]

Hello, new QCAD user here. So far so good, but I'm stumped by this one;

How can I change the name of an entity? For example, I create a circle and I see in the Property Editor the circle is named "CIrcle [1]".

I'd like to change it to something more descriptive so that I can easily find it in my CAM software.

I have searched the forum and internet but only find info on changing a block name. Is it even possible to change the name of an entity?

I'm on Mac OS 12.7.6 using QCAD Pro version 3.32.3.0 (3.32.3).

Thank you for any help.

[CVH]

Hi, and welcome to the QCAD forum.

Sorry to say but by default there are no named entities in CAD.
There are however named entity types.

The top field in the Property Editor, a drop down box, lists the entity or entities currently in selection.
Read it as: In selection are ... type = Circle, amount = 1.

With more selected entities that may read 'All [4]' for example.
In the drop down that is then more specific like 'Circle [1]' + 'Line[3]'.


Naming entities can be done as Custom Properties at the bottom of the Property Editor using QCAD Pro.
- Select one to many entities.
- Hit the plus sign.
- In the dialog specify a Key name and a Value, all are textual entries.

You can add as many Custom Properties as you like.
Once added you can still edit the Value field of selected entities afterwards.
Keys and Values can be similar and/or different and unique.
Then the Key designation for an entity can be 'Name'.

Regards,
CVH

[CMH]

Hello CVH,

Thank you for the prompt reply.

I have experimented with the Custom Properties but am not able to utilize them in my CAM software ( CamBam ).

I do see the Custom Properties in the DXF file ( Name:Test_Circle ) but the entity is still named Circle [1] in CamBam.

Is this a fundamental issue with CAD in general or specific to QCAD? If specific to QCAD I will submit a feature request.

Thanks again,

Craig

[CVH]

I have experimented with the Custom Properties but am not able to utilize them in my CAM software ( CamBam ).

Unsure if those are supported in CamBam.

I do see the Custom Properties in the DXF file ( Name:Test_Circle ) but the entity is still named Circle [1] in CamBam.

In the CamBam GUI I see that it lists the content of the layers in (2), including a number inside rounded brackets.
In this reference is explained that the number is an ID.
Probably application unique.

This is not a fundamental issue, I think that your interpretation as entity name is faulty.
The ID seems to be unrelated with the unique DXF object handle what is 0x282b in your example.

We know the object ID as a number under QCAD scripting when querying objects from the document.
ID 1 won't match with an ID under QCAD ... The Model_Space Block itself is for example typical ID 5 in an empty drawing.
For a single circle drawn in a new empty drawing I get handle 0x40 and ID 64.

Regards,
CVH