DataCAD DBUG at Sargert Design Associates Inc
971 Main Street - Springfield, MA 800-206-3030
S E P T E M B E R D B U G M E E T I N G ------ Wedensday, 09-22-99
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DataCAD DBUG at Sargert Design Associates Inc 971 Main Street - Springfield, MA 800-206-3030 S E P T E M B E R D B U G M E E T I N G ------ Wedensday, 09-22-99 |
Host: David Sargert http://www.sargertdesign.com
Wizards of OZ and other fine places "Down Under"
About two dozen dedicated DataCAD users braved the lightening storms as well as a two hour drive to the Springfield, Massachusetts offices of Sargert Design Associates Inc. Our host, David Sargert, rewarded us not only with shrimp and wine but with an interesting overview look at a number of great DataCAD macros from our friends down-under. We had all heard that the Australians and New Zealanders were very strong devoted users of DataCAD partly because they have a different approach to using DataCAD by making use of a number of special macros. Thus, David proceeded to demonstrate macros by Rod Hamblin of Power Space, David Henderson of DhSoftware, and Don Bidwell .
Powerspace
The series of macros called Build Plan, Build Roof, etc. all facilitate the process of doing total 3D building models within DataCAD, from which you can extract at least preliminary design development type plans, elevations, and sections. We also looked at their terrific 3D tree libraries and an instant Kitchen design macro, where you design by selecting cabinets and accessories, called Kitchen Builder. More information is available at Powerspace at http://www.powerspace.com.
DhSoftware
We then took an extensive look at a number of the offerings from DhSoftware, and, in particular, the dhShadow macro which calculates sun angles and draws shadows from your 3D model on your plan in the form of polylines. It does not cast shadows onto other building surfaces, but just one definable plane (usually the ground) at a time. We were particularly impressed with dhText, which is designed to allow you to cut and paste and edit text really easily, making notes and schedules a breeze, along with the ability to spell-check a whole drawing. Former AutoCAD users in particular would really appreciate the dhOffset macro, which can offset a whole string of lines (or an entire floorplan) in a single click. We must admit some dissapointment, though, when we realized it didn't have a fix for DataCAD's only real fault - of not being able to offset a polyline - though the workaround is simply to explode the polyline and then use this nifty new dhOffset macro. We were, at first, puzzeled about why the dh"Z" and dhToggle macros existed and what they did; however, once we really experimented with them everyone agreed they were both "must haves" almost on the caliber of the "stickyback" macro (the supreme must-have). The dh"Z" macro allows you to select any 3D entity and aquire its z-base and z-height and to save a named library of z-height settings i.e. it can remember your sill and plate heights and so on all of which would be extremely useful to anyone doing extensive 3D modeling in DataCAD. The dhToggel pulls up a screen which all at once shows all the different switch settings in DataCAD, and allows you do globally turn them on and off. More information is on the dhSoftware at http://www.dhsoftware.com.au.
I have to admit I did not understand exactly What the Don Bidwell CD-ROM did. Dave even demonstrated something twice, 'cause whatever it was flashed by so quickly. Perhaps either Don or another DBUG person could offer some assistance on the write-up here.
Office Web Modules
Dave then demonstrated the Office Web Modules, by Don Parker, which are available from Evan Shu's CheapTricksWare (and won his best of the year award). I had "skipped" looking at these pre-made web sites in the past as I usually create office web sites myself rather quickly in offices I go around to. I have to admit being impressed by Don Parker's assortment, as it allows anyone to have a well designed and complete office intranet almost immediatly. Besides being a sort of better office manual of standards and guidelines (including the AIA layer guidelines, office plotting and pen/font types, DXF/DWG file transfer proceedures), we were impressed by the project management (drawing sign-out) areas, and the spec sections. What blew us away, though, was a complete and graphical ADA guidelines section, which would be run-able simultaneously with DataCAD. The only glitch was a slew of anoying sounds and music thumping on each mouse-click (a feature I know I would disable first-thing), though some wise-Dbugger suggested that from the sounds you would know exactly where in the office tutorial a new employee was.
Scan2Cad
A perennial debate on the DBUG forum is about the best proceedure to get existing drawings or something that has been scanned into some kind of file that DataCAD can read. There are at least a half dozen different programs available that help with this, including CorelTrace, and some internet shareware, but Dave showed us that the Scan2Cad program really does work the best and is worth it. We ran Scan2Cad on several different scan files and looked at what came through to DataCAD. Though usually one would still end up creating discrete layers and re-tracing the images (hopefully with a snap grid on) again while viewing the "scan" layer, the Scan2Cad DXF file helped with the lion's share of the work.
DCRender
Finally, we took a look at the DCRender software from Germany, and heard some glowing testimonials from some users there at the meeting. The DCRender program produces better looking renderings (I believe they said it had radiosity (which would allow for "glow" and accurate night views)) than RenderizeLive, faster, and easier. Meeting notes by Geoffrey Moore Langdon, AIA
Link to DBUG Meeting 10/27/99 -- hosted by Architectural CADD Consultants at Roseledge, Beverly Farms, Massachusetts
Link to DBUG Meeting 10/98 - Last year, hosted by Architectural CADD Consultants at Mount Ida College