Architectural CADD News by Software |
Last Updated : March 14, 2001
IntelliCAD
Latest Version : IntelliCAD 2000
Web Site : http://www.intellicad.org ------ http://www.cadopia.com (easiest place to download free version of IntelliCAD2000)
Note from Architectural CADD : IntelliCAD was developed specifically as a clone of AutoCAD. It was originally developed by a team associated with the New Hampshire developers of AutoArchitect circa 1994, later spun off to form Visio Corp, and sold by Visio for $350 as "IntelliCAD 98" as a 99% clone of AutoCAD 14. When Microsoft bought Visio in 1999, they formed the independant IntelliCAD Technology Consortium, whose purpose is to give away IntelliCAD free and to organize future development. Software developers (such as Eagle Point, Cadopia, Bricsnet) pay the .org for the sourcecode so that they can then add their modifications specific to their industry (i.e. Cadopia sells a structural engineering version, bricsnet sells an architects version). Particularly for students and occasional users of CADD, the free to download version of IntelliCAD available at the www.cadopia.com site has become a must-have stand-in for AutoCAD.
IntelliCAD Technology Consortium ------- (IntelliCAD 2000) ------------------- http://www.intellicad.org
CADopia ------- http://www.cadopia.com (easiest place to download free version of IntelliCAD2000)
bricsnet IntelliCAD ------- http://www.bricsnet.com (first commercial version $149, which allows VB add-ons and more)
bricsnet architecturals ------- http://www.bricsnet.com (powerful architectural CADD software which runs on top of IntelliCAD and AutoCAD)
ArchT for IntelliCAD (by Eagle Point Systems) ------- http://www.archt.com (architectural CADD software which runs on top of IntelliCAD and AutoCAD)
Hot bricsnet architecturals News
Bricsnet Launches IntelliCAD 2000
High-performance, DWG compatible and affordable computer-aided design tool adds to growing roster of integrated services available at Bricsnet.com e-Marketplace
Gent, Belgium / Portsmouth, NH, USA, March 7, 2000 - Bricsnet (EASDAQ: BSNT), provider of Bricsnet.com, the most comprehensive global e-marketplace for the building industry, today announced the release of Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000, Windows-based, AutoCAD-compatible computer-aided design software for architects, engineers and other design professionals. Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 continues the unrivaled compatibility, user friendliness and exceptional value for which IntelliCAD is known, and delivers advanced new features and enhanced functionality. The result is a state-of-the-art design tool offered within the integrated environment of the Bricsnet.com e-Marketplace - at a fraction of the cost of other leading CAD packages. The release of Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 comes shortly after Bricsnet announced an agreement with Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Visio division whereby Bricsnet assumed responsibility for development, distribution and support of IntelliCAD in North America and Europe.
"We are pleased to announce the first commercial release of Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 and, as a board member of the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium, are strongly committed to the continued development of IntelliCAD," said Dr. Maarten van Emmerik, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Bricsnet. "Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 is a real breakthrough because its affordable price allows for enterprise-wide implementation, enabling anybody who needs it to have a professional tool to create or view AutoCAD drawings. And because IntelliCAD is open source software, users' investment in design work is protected since they can always access the source code of the software used to create their drawings."
Operating with DWG as its native file format, Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 offers unsurpassed AutoCAD compatibility and is fully programmable with hundreds of third party solutions. AutoLISP routines can be instantly used in Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 and solutions in ADS (AutoCAD Development System) require only a simple recompile. Users achieve immediate familiarity and comfort because Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 transparently maps the AutoCAD commands that have become second nature for most CAD professionals. User friendliness is also promoted by the IntelliCAD Explorer, an intuitive Windows Explorer-inspired interface which allows CAD users to quickly and easily view and manage drawings.
In conjunction with its user friendliness, Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 offers advanced functionality and customization capacity. Using ActiveX technology, Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 allows the integration of popular Microsoft Office applications, a powerful feature enabling CAD professionals to incorporate editable IntelliCAD drawings into Word documents, PowerPoint presentations and Excel charts. Additionally, Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 supports Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), an object-based programming environment that provides users with powerful customization tools and facilitates smooth integration with Microsoft Office applications.
"We are very pleased that Bricsnet is the first IntelliCAD Technology Consortium member to license Visual Basic for Applications for IntelliCAD 2000," said Neil Charney, group product manager at Microsoft. "The release of Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 ensures continued VBA support for IntelliCAD 98 users and promotes the further development of IntelliCAD as an open CAD platform users can customize, extend and integrate with other applications."
Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 also supports the Multiple Document Interface (MDI), which allows users to simultaneously open and modify multiple documents. Its superior Windows integration enables users to customize toolbars and interfaces. Finally, Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 supports 3D surface commands, allows scripting of repeated tasks and provides functionality for the incorporation, editing and manipulation of advanced raster images.
Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 adds many enhanced functions and new features to the previous IntelliCAD 98 release including:
AutoCAD 2000 DWG support
Visual Basic for Applications 6.0
True Type Fonts
Multi-line text editor
Associative hatching
Lightweight polyline
Enhanced AutoLISP and DCL support
Enhanced photorealistic rendering with 3D textures
Mapping materials to layers
Raster image display and editing
Pricing and Availability
Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 can be purchased online at Bricsnet.com (http://www.bricsnet.com) or can be ordered on a CD from regional Bricsnet offices and partners. New users can purchase permanent IntelliCAD licenses at a special introductory price of $149, which includes free access to online updates for one year. Current IntelliCAD 98 users may purchase permanent license upgrades for $99. Annual subscriptions are priced at $99. German and French language versions of Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000 will be available in the second quarter of 2000. The purchase price includes 30 days of free installation support and free access to the IntelliCAD support section at Bricsnet.com. Additional technical support packages are available.
IntelliCAD - Recent developments
IntelliCAD 98 was introduced in 1998 by Visio, a leading provider of diagramming software, which has recently been acquired by Microsoft. In September 1999, Visio licensed the source code and documentation of IntelliCAD to the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium (http://www.intellicad.org), of which Bricsnet is a board member. Bricsnet and other commercial members of the ITC are entitled to create and release commercial versions of IntelliCAD, as well as include IntelliCAD in other products. All enhancements to the source code are submitted to the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium so that changes are consolidated and all members can benefit from new developments.
In January 2000, Bricsnet announced an agreement with Microsoft's Visio Division (NASDAQ: MSFT) whereby Bricsnet will distribute and support IntelliCAD in North America and Europe. According to the agreement, Bricsnet will provide existing IntelliCAD customers with technical support and offer upgrades to Bricsnet IntelliCAD 2000. The Visio Division is providing Bricsnet with profiles of all existing IntelliCAD users and is directing its customers to Bricsnet for technical support, upgrades and new licenses.
Bricsnet.com e-Marketplace
Launched December 1, 1999, Bricsnet.com is the most comprehensive global e-marketplace for the building industry. Bricsnet.com integrates, in a single work-centric portal, all the tools and services building professionals need to design a building, manage a geographically dispersed project team, exchange news and information, and obtain specifications for localized building materials from manufacturers worldwide. Bricsnet.com's integrated tools and services include project extranet, architectural and structural design software, industry news and forums, localized building product catalogs and a building industry e-store. Architects, engineers, developers and owners, contractors, building product manufacturers and other building professionals work with Bricsnet.com to achieve project cost savings and process efficiencies, and build stronger relationships with customers, business partners and suppliers. Bricsnet.com currently hosts more than 250,000 visitors each month.
About Bricsnet
Bricsnet was created by an international team of architects and engineers dedicated to making the building process easier and more efficient using the Internet. The result of their vision is Bricsnet.com, the most comprehensive global e-marketplace for the building industry. Bricsnet is a public company listed on the EASDAQ stock exchange (EASDAQ: BSNT). The company maintains corporate headquarters in Portsmouth, NH, USA, and Gent, Belgium.
Old News follows :
Visio is moving into its new headquarters in Seattle's World Trade Center building. The new address effective March 8th is:
Visio Corporation
2211 Elliot Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121-1691
Additionally, direct phone numbers have changed.
For more information visit:
http://www.visio.com/announcement/index.html.
IntelliCAD Professional will increase from US $349 to $399
Service Release D for IntelliCAD 98 is a free update patch from
http://www.visio.com/support/icad/updates.html that provides these features:
-- Improvements in performance, such as real-time pan and zoom, and in stability and AutoCAD compatibility
-- WYSIWYG plot preview, support for AutoCAD PCP files, and pen color mapping support; all plotter setup is in one dialog box; digitizing tablet support via WinTab.
-- Xref layer control within the VpLayer and VisRetain commands; boundary polygon (BPoly) command; alternate units and tolerances in dimensioning.
Review of ArchT add-on to AutoCAD
IntelliCAD User Group ------------------------------ http://www.icadusersgroup.com
A free update patch for IntelliCAD 98, Service Release D is now available. It provides users with performance improvements and a new set of features aimed at making IntelliCAD more productive within organizations that utilize Autodesk AutoCAD DWG files. The new enhancements in Service Release D include:
- Digitizer tablet support
- Supports 256 pens, Autodesk AutoCAD PCP files, and pen color
mapping support
- Alternate unit and tolerances in dimensioning
- Xref layer visibility control
- Boundary polygon (bpoly) command
- Support for real time pan and zoom
- Performance and stability improvements
You may download this patch at:
http://www.icadusersgroup.com/intellicad/Versions/
2-D & 3-D Frame Analysis for IntelliCAD
2-D & 3-D Frame Analysis for IntelliCAD is a structural analysis and design program that uses IntelliCAD for the graphical user interface. Since the program uses IntelliCAD-based menus, tool bars and commands, users are able to utilize their existing CAD skills to generate structural models. Like AutoCAD and Stand Alone versions of 2-D & 3-D Frame Analysis, 2-D & 3-D Frame Analysis for IntelliCAD models are created, analyzed and designed directly in a DWG drawing file-eliminating any need to transfer geometry data with DXF utilities. For more information visit:
http://www.eaglepoint.com/company/news/ep99/Frame4Icad.htm
2-D & 3-D FRAME ANALYSIS STAND ALONE
The Stand Alone version of 2-D & 3-D Frame Analysis is built around its own CAD-based graphics engine. This is a fully functional CAD engine, complete with dimensioning, layer controls and advanced geometry generation capabilities. Even with all of these CAD capabilities, 2-D & 3-D Frame Analysis requires remarkably little previous CAD experience. For more information visit:
http://www.eaglepoint.com/company/news/ep99/Frame4SA.htm
Visual CADD / Tracks
Visual CADD 3.0 has been released
Tracks is an architectural add-on for Visual CADD a 60-day trial is on the new Visual CADD CD-ROM Tracks is designed to automate the drawing process, produce exact construction information, and enhance professional presentation. http://www.acadsltns.com.au
Visio Ireland
Visio Corp selected Interactive Services Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland, develop a suite of interactive computer-based training (CBT) courses based on Visio's drawing and diagramming software. Initial courses will be in English; the first product -- available in late September -- consists of four one-hour introductory learning modules for Visio v5.0. http://www.isl.ie/
Term Translator
The most common or conceptual term at the left
| Concept | AutoCAD | DataCAD | MicroStation | Arris | MiniCAD | AllPlan | ArchiCAD |
| layer | layer | layer | level | layer | layer | file | layer |
| symbol | block | symbol/template | RI/repeated Item | symbol | object | gdl object | |
| layer set | NA | gotoview | drawing | sheet | drawing | layer combination | |
| macro | program | macro | command | smart symbol | gdl parametric | ||
| sub layer | NA | NA | NA | class | layer | NA | |
| drawing | drawing | drawing | project | project | drawing | project | drawing file |
| zoom view save | view | gotoview | sheet | view | quickviews |