WorldCAD Access

Autodesk could adopt The Adobe Plan to crush Bricsys/Graebert/ITC once and for all

Autodesk ceo Carl Bass is admirer of Adobe's way of doing things, so much so that he has remarked numerous times that he bundled his company's software just like Adobe did.

Yesterday Adobe halted the license servers for its CS2 bundle of software, which includes the following programs for Windows or OS X: Acrobat 3D 1.0, Acrobat Standard 7.0, Acrobat Pro 8.0, Audition 3.0, GoLive CS2, Illustrator CS2, InCopy CS2, InDesign CS2, Photoshop CS2, Photoshop Elements 4.0/5.0, and Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0. You can download them from here.

Adobe came out with this software in 2005, and when I read that, it occurred to me that Autodesk could crush its ankle-biting competitors -- Bricsys, Graebert, and ITC -- by releasing AutoCAD 2006 (shipped in 2005) free. That's all it would take.

Boom. Over and done with.

 

Here's why Google got rid of SketchUp

We were surprised when non-CAD-vendor Google bought SketchUp, but then learned they wanted it to populate Map and Earth with 3D buildings, first as simple extrusions and then with bitmaps pasted on the sides. The problem was that it involved manual labour and so coverage was spotty.

We were then even more surprised when Google sold SketchUp to Trimble, known more for professional GPS systems than for CAD software. Today, we learned why: Google no longer needs SketchUp for its intended purpose.

Instead, Google is using a new technology to automatically generate  3D buildings from 45-degree angle aerial photography made by overlapping passes of aircraft. Each airplane has five cameras: four that point at 45 degrees, and one that points down. Then the data is processed:

1. The aerial photos are combined to create 3D models.

2. Colors are determined for each area.
3. A textured 3D mesh is applied.

4. Saved in a space-efficient format.
 5. Delivered to Google Map and Earth users; even trees and landscaping is in 3D.
So, yah, SketchUp had become obsolete for Google.

 

IronCAD Compose is free -- free, as in Internet

IronCAD is a rarity in our biz, a dual-kernel, dual-mode CAD package. It is based on Parasolid and ACIS; it does history-based and direct editing. It ought to be really popular, but it isn't. (Probably because it didn't have the marketing budgets that Dassault Systemes and Autodesk could plough into SolidWorks and Inventor.)

What would it take for you to use IronCAD, instead of another MCAD package? You probably wouldn't, but the folks at IronCAD think you should try it out, anyhow. Like any other CAD vendor, they had their 30-day free trial version, but now they are throwing out to us an all-free package: IronCAD Compose.

It's for...

• Viewing IronCAD files; purchase the optional file translator, and it views files from other CAD packages
  
  
• Configuring 3D models to customer requirements
  
  
• Generating renderings and animations of 3D models
  
  
• Sharing IronCAD 3D models by many people, since Compose is free 

You can get your 420MB copy from http://www.ironcad.com/index.php/support/download-products, which optionally gives you a download all of IronCAD's other software for a 30-day trial (IronCAD, Inovate, Draft, and the translator bundle).

 

A user reviews DraftSight, the free and pro versions

by Bill Tybring

DraftSight, Free Version
5 Stars: awesome free program

Pros
Fast. Lightweight, both in terms of footprint and system resources. Clean interface. Easy to use and understand, especially for those with past CAD experience. Full 2D feature set. Customizable interface, and has the ability to run simple script macros (such as a one-button print). Dassault and Graebert continue to improve the product with each new release.

Cons
Minor inconveniences persist uncorrected. For example, setting the Library Files Location setting in Tools > Options has no impact on the default directory location when browsing to insert block files. Faulty fast-right-click behavior when using keyboard command shortcuts.

Summary
Given that this is a free program and allows virtually anyone to read and write all versions of .dwg files, a great program. It has become the viewing/markup utility of choice for our company.

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DraftSight, Professional Version
2.5 Stars: not quite ready for prime time

Pros
Able to run LISP, VBA, VB.net, C++, C# add-in applications. Price per seat $250

Cons
Required to buy a 5-seat minimum, which raises the price to $1,250.
For those have existing API functions in AutoCAD or Bricscad, be aware that there are a great number of missing functions and a number of bugs that have yet to be corrected. For example, LISP has none of the "VL-" functions are available, and there are no workarounds for many of them, such as the VL-BB functions. A known bug in the ExtMin and ExtMax system variables (renamed getxyurfit and getxyllfit in DraftSight) remains uncorrected thru the last release, V1R1.4. If any of your existing programs rely on these they will fail.

Support calls for main program issues are handled fairly quickly, even if it's just to reply that they hope to correct the issue in the next release. API support tends to be more sluggish, with responses that can be vague, or at times even off the mark. But if you have the tenacity to continue to press your question, eventually you will have an answer -- even if it’s not the one you were hoping for.

Summary
Our company is for now dropping its pursuit of DraftSight Pro as an AutoCAD alternative. Although it shows good promise, there are simply too many missing pieces to make it a viable alternative. We will re-evaluate this software in two years after it has had more time to mature. Bricscad remains our cost-effective AutoCAD replacement of choice.

[Bill Tybring is with Engineering Supt Services at Maysteel LLC in Allenton Wisconsin, and has been an AutoCAD AutoLISP/VBA programmer since 1995.] 

Nanosoft = DraftSight + APIs (and it's free)

A couple of years back, I visited the offices of Nanosoft in Moscow. There Dmitry Popov and his team showed me their dream for a free AutoCAD workalike. The money would be made through selling add-on applications. Some initial excitement greeted my report, and then interest faded. Russians are lousy at marketing.

Then earlier this week, I heard from Mr Popov, who wrote me:

It was long time ago you have visited our office and got pre-alfa version of nanoCAD. We promised you that nanoCAD will be available soon. Well, not soon, but the waiting is over. We just released nanoCAD 3.5 world-wide. BTW There are 120,000 new nanoCAD users in Russia for the last half a year. I like the number.

The UI of nanoCAD is handsome. Even the Web site's been given a make-over. So, what d'you get in addition to a CAD program to looks and runs like AutoCAD? Some of its special functions include linetype editor, creating viewports from model space, and  an Excel-style table editor.

As for APIs, it includes the following:

• OLE Automation (Visual Basic Script/Java Script)
• C++ (NRX + MultiCAD API) 
• .NET 

But no VBA or AutoLISP. The developer program is free.

As for the "why" in "Why free," nanoCAD explains it this way: "We started to develop nanoCAD back in 2008 inspired by a high piracy level in the global CAD software market. Our aim is to protect corporate CAD users business processes from legal risks and prosecution by offering them reliable, free and a hundred per cent legal solution – nanoCAD."

Source:
http://nanocad.com/ 

Low-cost CAD has innovative in-drawing UI elements, too, just like the big boys

It's not just the monster* CAD vendors with their millions in R&D spending who come up with new ways of interacting with our beloved software. Sub-$1000 and even free CAD systems are doing their own thing, even as they avoid the Microsoftian-view of how a UI should operate (that is, ignoring the awful ribbon interface).

Bricsys Invents the Quad Cursor 

Last fall, I reported on the new in-drawing interface Bricsys added to the 3D direct modeling component of Bricscad V12. They call it the "quad cursor," because it displays five buttons. Well, before competitors of Bricsys start guffawing, it starts with a one central button; when you move the cursor over it, four more buttons appear.

The center button is the last-used command, while the diamond ring of four present three of the most likely other commands for the selected part, plus the More button that drops down a shortcut menu of other options. The colors of the quad cursor indicate the type of element being edited. Here, green means a face is being edited.

Graebert Dassault Systemes Adds Mouse Gestures to DraftSight

Meanwhile, over in the land of free, a recent update to Dassault Systemes's DraftSight adds mouse gestures.  These are four or eight movements that activate a command. Four is good when you don't want to be overwhelmed, eight is the max.

To use this one, you press the mouse's right button, and then move the mouse in one of the four (or eight) directions: up, down, left, etc. This starts the command that is associated with the movement, such as Line or Offset.

When you do a longer drag, a wheel segment appears on the screen briefly, visually reminding you of the command you activated. Naturally, you can also look at the command bar.

When you do a very short drag, then the full wheel appears with all four or eight icons representing the commands.

You can change the command associated with each movement through the Tools | Mouse Gestures option. (Graebert has a license to use this IP in its ARES software, upon which DraftSight is based.)

When it comes to innovation in CAD UI's, you don't drop $4,000 or $6,000.

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*) "Monster" is defined here as $1 billion or more in annual revenues.

[Disclosure: I write ebooks about both CAD packages at www.upfrontezine.com/ebooks.] 

More free Creo software from PTC

First PTC released Creo Sketch 1.0 as free software, and yesterday Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express 4.0 followed. Now, this is not exactly new-new, because this software always has been free -- it was previously known as "CoCreate Personal Edition."

Now it's been Creo-ized, and you can download it from www.ptc.com/products/creo-elements-direct/modeling-express/. This page has some tutorials, and lists the differences with the paid version.

Ken Wong has a good review of the software over at www.deskeng.com/virtual_desktop/?p=4238 . Not mentioned in his report is that you need to activate the software before you can use it at all; before you can activate it, you have to register with PTC; to do that, you need to create an account with PTC. So no 30-day hassle-free trial on this one.

 

That free DraftSight keeps getting better

Dassault Systemes didn't just license Graebert's ARES, and then dump it out there as DraftSight for free. They've gotten Graebert to add features, making DraftSight more and more viable as an AutoCAD alternative. Well, of course, that's was the master plan all along -- displacing AutoCAD, I mean.

It now runs more more operating systems than does AutoCAD, and last week's update adds a few more keen features to catch up a bit more with AutoCAD:

• One command to place every kind of dimension: linear, aligned, radial, diametrical, arc length, and angular. Now, the interface is a bit awkward, since the command-prompt area becomes a hodge-podge of options, but it is a first good step. (In AutoCAD: QDIM)
  
  
• You can place dimensions in sheet view (paper space of layout tabs), and have them connect to geometry in model space. Prviously, dimensions were only allowed in model space. (Also in AutoCAD.)
  
  
• Click a dimension node (grip) to flip the arrowheads in or out. (In AutoCAD: AiDimFlipArrow)

http://www.draftsight2dcad.com/new-release.html

 

 

 

 

Free DWG API in development

ODA and Bricsys form their own ITC, and now ODA gets a second competitor (after Autodesk):

HT to Normand Chamberland to alerting us about the free DWG API project, GNU LibreDWG at www.gnu.org/software/libredwg

GNU LibreDWG is a free C library to handle DWG files. It aims to be a free replacement for the OpenDWG libraries. GNU LibreDWG is based on LibDWG, originally written by Felipe Castro. 

LibreDWG is in alpha development stage. There are no binary releases yet. GNU LibreDWG is currently being maintained by Rodrigo Rodrigues da Silva and Felipe Correa da Silva Sanches.

DWG R13, R14 and 2000 are currently supported, with progress on DWG 2004; the Reed-Solomon encryption added to DWG 2007 is a problem. Some documentation is, unfortunately, in Esperanto, the failed universal language.

There is a English wiki at groups.fsf.org/wiki/LibreDWG, and the programmers are looking for AutoCAD-knowledgable types to explain CAD concepts to them.

Looks like OpenDWG now has another competitor.

AutoSolids shut down its business; makes all products free

Scott Slavik writes me of this sad news:

You can also add AutoSolid to upFront.eZine's Unhappy New Years list. Partly the economy, but also partly due to Autodesk improving AutoCAD's solid modeling ability. They haven't brought it up to par with AutoSolids, but it's been enough to reduce our profits to an unacceptable level.  

We feel bad for our previously-very-happy customers, many of whom have told us that they can't/won't upgrade their AutoCAD if it doesn't have AutoSolids. We can't help that one, but to help other AutoCAD users we've made all of our products free to download (http://www.autosolids.com/downloads.htm), no strings attached. 

If anyone's interested in pushing the code further, email sourcecode at autosolids dot com.