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Architectural CADD News by Software |
Last Updated : Mar 8, 2001
Other CADD Software
notes and news below on :
|
VisualCADD ARKTEC, S.A. Adra cADD-ONs SmartRoof APM 20-20 SolidDesigner ME10 |
WorkManager DMS MicroSurvey CAD InCAD Solid Edge Picture This SolidTouch DynaSOLID Imagination Engineer LE |
Bauplan Rhinoceros Piranesi CADViewer GeoCAD FloorPlan 3D Design Suite Drafix CAD SoftImage |
Argos AutoBau BauCAD Speedikon ArrisFM |
The reason these softwares are listed here with "other" is that we have little current information on them, no recent news, they do not relate directly to architectural software, or they are not sold in the United States.
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VisualCADD
VCADD Today
IMSI Canada came-up with VCaddToday.com, a WEB site for the
VisualCadd
users and Generic CADD upgraders.
http://www.vcaddtoday.com
ARKTEC, S.A. - Software for AEC: architectural design and structural analysis.
BricsNet, formerly known as Brics, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire BuildSoft, a leading provider of structural engineering products. The products will be integrated with the new BricsNet architectural products for IntelliCAD and AutoCAD. As a former Bentley Strategic Affiliate for the Building Engineering, BricsNet has developed the core technology for the award winning MicroStation TriForma product. More information on the products can be found at http://www.bricsnet.com/products/. The announcements are in line with the company's strategy to become a worldwide provider of software, contents and services for the worldwide building industry. Last week BricsNet announced the following:
- The company name has changed from Brics to BricsNet
- Maarten van Emmerik has joined as CTO and Executive Vice President
- The company has increased its captial with 7.1 million Euro
- BricsNet has acquired an equity position in the vertical internet portal AEC Info from Canada
- BricsNet has acquired an equity position in the project extranet provider EVOLV from the USA
- It will announce new products for IntelliCAD and AutoCAD at the A/E/C systems Show
The press release on the BuildSoft acquisition is attached. Further details will be provided at the BricsNet press conference on Wednesday 26th at 12.00 at the A/E/C Systems show. At the press conference BricsNet will also show its new ACIS based architectural solid modeler for IntelliCAD.
Dr. Maarten van Emmerik, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
BricsNet
Koning Albertlaan 165
B-9000 Gent
Belgium
Tel. +32 (0) 9 2439310
Fax. +32 (0) 9 2439311
Email. maarten@bricsnet.com
BricsNet Acquires BuildSoft
BricsNet of Belgium intends to acquire BuildSoft, a developer of structural engineering software. The acquisition becomes effective upon the completion of BricsNet initial public offering at EASDAQ scheduled for the second or third quarter this year. Established in 1989, BuildSoft offers a suite of products that enable engineers to calculate forces and deformations in steel, wooden, and concrete structures.
The agreement with BuildSoft is consistent with BricsNet's strategy to become a worldwide provider of software, services, and content for the building industry. The company developed the core technology for Bentley System's TriForma architectural design software. BricsNet intends to release new products for AutoCAD and IntelliCAD later this year. http://www.bricsnet.com
Adra
Adra Systems has confirmed all software from version 9.2.8 and up. http://www.adra.com
cADD-ONs, Inc. was established in 1989. Our software products are developed by end-users for end-users. "The knowledge base of those users are what has shaped our products into productive ADD-ONs for cad engines such as AutoCAD, DynaCADD, FastCAD, FelixCAD IntelliCAD", comments Dennis McGregor (president / cADD-ONs).
COIN Computer Innovation - Software company manufacturing SmartRoof, the world's leading Windows 3D CAD software for design and calculation of roofs, which links to arbitrary estimating packages.
Data By Design - APM (Architectural Project Management) software. Used by AHCs and other door and hardware professionals to provide architects with door, frame and finish hardware schedules.
20-20, the world leader of computer aided selling software for kitchen design, bathroom, office furniture and windows & doors dedicated to the home building and renovation industry.
CoCreate has verified and guarantees Year 2000
compliance of all shipping products: SolidDesigner, ME10,
WorkManager, DMS, CoCreate Conferencing. http://www.cocreate.com/
MicroSurvey CAD Pro 3.1, MicroSurvey 98, and InCAD for AutoCAD 14 are all Windows 32-bit programs. They use the Windows 32 API for all date and time computations. As such, they will work fine when the clock strikes Midnight on December 31, 1999. http://www.microsurvey.com
Solid Edge
Unigraphics provided this link to the Solid Edge statement on Y2K: http://www.solid-edge.com/support/Y2K_letter.htm
Picture This
Home series and other products. However, we feel that Broderbund is
better
suited to carry the Picture This Home line forward because of
their
strength in reaching the home design consumer, both through retail and
direct-to-consumer
channels." With 40% of the marker, Broderbund has the #1 position in
the home design category.
http://www.broderbund.com
SolidTouch
Haptic will introduce ACIS-enabled SolidTouch at SIGGRAPH '98 in Orlando FL USA, July 19-24, 1998. SolidTouch will be available to ACIS developers in Sept'98. Other hardware products includes the MouseCAT, a two-button mouse with high fidelity haptic feedback, and the PenCAT, a pen-based interface with a force sensitive tip. http://www.haptech.com
DynaSOLID
Ditek Software
The company has acquired the worldwide rights to advanced parametric design solid modeling technology from ISCAD CAD/CAM Systems Ltd. of Israel. The technology will be marketed to third-party software developers under the name DynaSOLID. http://www.ditek.com
also see DynaCADD
Ditek Morphs into HomeProject.com (from upFront ezine by Ralph Grabowski)
Ditek Software is a Canadian CAD company, which has been creating software products since 1985, such as DynaCAD and DynaDesigner. A couple of years ago, the former head of Autodesk Canada was hired to aggresively promote Ditek's products. Several vertical market deals were announced. Last year, Ditek dramatically cut the price of its CAD software. Now, it is proposing to rename itself HomeProject.com, and change its business model. [Hmmm... does this history sound like IMSI?]
Says ceo Amnon Zohar: "HomeProject.com is Ditek's response to the design on the Web. Ditek Software has a powerful legacy in the graphics industry, which we will leverage to make HomeProject.com the choice for home improvement consumers on the Web."
Its Web site at http://www.homeproject.com will offer homeowners info on how to plan, design, visualize, and complete home improvement projects. When HomeProject.com is launched later in February, it'll have 30 original garden designs, several original kitchen design articles, and 5,000 home designs from www.HomeStyles.com. The site will also provide advice, materials sourcing, and delivery.
MGI Software is providing Ditek a perpetual license for its Zoom technology (which allows a Web visitor to zoom in on a image for a closer look: http://www.livepicture.com), and software like Reality Studio, Photo Vista, PhotoSuite, and Album Publisher. In addition, Ditek will be selling its own CAD software at the site.
Imagination Engineer
Microsoft To Offer Intergraph Imagination EngineerTM LE
http://www.intergraph.com/imagineLE.
Microsoft Corp. will offer Imagination Engineer LE, a special version of Intergraph's award-winning 2D parametric CAD tool, Imagineer TM Technical, as part of the "Microsoft Windows 98 Resource Kit", announced Jim Meadlock, Chairman and CEO, Intergraph Corporation.
Imagineer Technical 2.0 is a Microsoft Windows-based, 32-bit, 2D technical drawing and concept tool for engineers and designers. Imagination Engineer LE and the agreement with Microsoft were introduced at A/E/C SYSTEMS '98 in Chicago. For further information, please see
http://www.aecinfo.com/topstor/intergraph_01.html
Bauplan
Subject: Graphisoft Acquires Bauplan
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999
Graphisoft Acquires Bauplan Division from Wiechers & Partner Datentechnik
Munich/Budapest - (January 27, 1999) - Graphisoft Deutschland GmbH has acquired the Bauplan division of Wiechers & Partner GmbH including its staff, Bauplan software and its related business activities. The parties have not disclosed the purchase price, but it is in the low seven-figure range (in EURO) and leaves Graphisoft with ample working capital for further planned acquisitions.
The nine-person Bauplan development staff will remain located in Monheim, Germany, where Graphisoft will establish a branch office. Wiechers & Partner will concentrate its activities on construction, administration and manufacturing automation.
Harald Wiechers, Managing Director of Wiechers & Partner announced, "We selected Graphisoft from among several candidates because of Graphisoft`s leading position in the architectural CAD industry as well as its company culture and product spectrum. We are very pleased to have found a company such as Graphisoft with its focus on architecture and its global presence."
With its acquisition, Graphisoft expands its German client base by more than 700 architectural offices. By absorbing Bauplan's ongoing business, development contracts and distribution channel, Graphisoft anticipates increasing the company's sales potential in Germany alone by at least one Million EURO per year. Graphisoft currently generates approximately 20 percent of its worldwide revenues from Germany.
Graphisoft also plans to integrate Bauplan technology into future versions of ArchiCAD to strengthen ArchiCAD's adherence to German CAD standards, broaden its market and extend its market leading position in Germany.
"We are among the most dynamic AEC companies in Germany with one of the largest developer teams in the AEC industry," added Johannes Reischböck, Managing Director of Graphisoft Germany and Vice President of Graphisoft N.V. "With the acquisition of Bauplan and its integration into ArchiCAD, we enrich our concept of the ,Virtual Building' with specific features for the German building industry."
Graphisoft N.V. will release its key financial figures for 1998 on February 3 after closing of the Frankfurt Neuer Markt Stock Exchange.
More about Wiechers & Partner:
For the past 15 years, Wiechers & Partner has been a synonym for quality in the design, administration and construction of intelligent and innovative automation systems. Wiechers & Partner supplies system solutions in the areas of electrical design, architecture, mechanical engineering and engineering data management. Founded in 1984, Wiechers & Partner has continually strived for the application of international standards in the area of electrical controls design. Wiechers & Partner's core product is EPLAN, the very first electrical CAE system in the world. Today, over 16,000 installations, 30 sales and support centers worldwide and top-quality references all document the international success of the most renowned electrical CAE solution.
More about Bauplan:
BAUPLAN is a complete architectural CAD-System that meets the specific requirements of the German building industry. First developed on UNIX in 1985, Bauplan is currently a world class product for Unix workstations and Windows 95/98/NT.
(Rendering Software)
Download Rhino, a US$795 3D NURBS modeler for Windows 95 from Robert
McNeel
& Asssoc
Electric Image (Rendering Software)
Piranesi
Informatix Software International --------- http://www.informatix.co.uk
Piranesi,
from
Informatix, is a 3D paint program specifically designed to produce
exhibition
quality images from initial renderings of 3D models. By using patented
technology
to bring material and depth information into a painting environment,
Piranesi
provides a wealth of new artistic effects and productivity gains.
Piranesi comes complete with plug-ins for 3DS Max, Viz, and MicroGDS;
support
for other rendering engines is in the pipeline. Alternatively you can
start
simply with a 3D DXF file. You can see Piranesi at Siggraph in the
Hewlett
Packard booth #1041.
For more info and a free demo version:
http://www.informatix.co.uk/pir_intro.htm
CADViewer
CADViewer Pro is a commercial version that adds redlinning. The Light
version
can be downloaded free from http://www.cadviewer.com
IMSI
FloorPlan 3D Design Suite includes Lightscape 3D rendering technology, as well as 100 other design features, such as an integrated materials estimator, single-document floor level capabilities, elevation views, continuous object insertion, three-dimensional garden designer, and the ability to export to CAD programs using DXF files -- all for just US$49.95. http://www.imsisoft.com
DrafixCAD
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997
From: InfoSystem User <michelle.pingel@autodesk.com>
Subject: DrafixCAD
I work as the Product Marketing Assistant for Autodesk Personal Solutions (formerly Softdesk Retail Products,Formerly Foresight Resources Corp.) In this office, we continue to develop the Drafix CAD software, as well as the Planix family of home-design software.
In browsing for Drafix-related web sites, I came upon yours, in which you rank various CAD software. I noticed that Drafix was no longer on the list. Perhaps that is because your information is outdated. You have Drafix listed as being made by Foresight. Here is a little update for your records: In 1995, Foresight merged with Softdesk and became known as Softdesk Retail Products. Then, in April of this year, Autodesk and Softdesk merged. We have remained in our Kansas City office, but our name has changed to Autodesk Personal Solutions.
The current version of Drafix is 4.11 for Windows 95. We also develop a scaled-down version of Drafix for beginners called Drafix QuickCAD which features a 3-level interface. In addition to producing these two programs, we have recently released AutoSketch version 5.
Perhaps Drafix will make it to your list now that you have some current information. If Drafix is not on your list for that reason, could you let me know why? I thank you very much for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely; Michelle Pingel Product Marketing Assistant (former Customer Service Representative)
Autodesk Personal Solutions michelle.pingel@autodesk.com
------------------------------------
From: michelle.pingel@autodesk.com
To: glangdon@shore.net
Subject: RE: Drafix CAD
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999
There haven't been any recent updates to Drafix; the latest software we have released is AutoSketch 6 (Oct. 98) and QuickCAD Millennium Edition (Jan 99). They are designed by the same Drafix development team and so run quite similarly to Drafix.
AutoSketch 6, besides being a 2D drafting package, adds a new feature called "3D Effects" which lets you extrude text, etc. as well as create the effect of 3D in your design.
For more info, check out our websites on these two:
AutoSketch: http://www.autodesk.com/products/asketch/index.htm
QuickCAD Millennium Edition:
http://www.autodesk.com/products/quickcad/index.htm
:-) Michelle
--------------------------
These products, which were formerly produced by "Softdesk Retail Products" are owned and produced by Autodesk, since the merger in 1997. In addition, Autodesk has released new versions! Our newest products are: QuickCAD Millennium Edition, AutoSketch Release 6, and Planix Landscape Deluxe Suite.
SoftImage
Microsoft Sells SoftImage
One of the myths perpetrated by the general press is that Microsoft succeeds in every area of software. I guess if all you use is Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer, that would be your world view. Truth is, Microsoft has failed in pretty much all areas of specialized software -- such as personal finance and serious desktop publishing -- or simply hasn't entered many specialized areas, such as CAD and statistical software.
I recall reading somewhere that SoftImage is teaching Microsoft that it cannot compete in specialized software. The lesson learned, the student is now graduating. Last Monday, Microsoft announced it's going to sell its SoftImage software unit to Avid Technology (specializing in video- editing software) for US$285 million.
This news would be of interest to Autodesk subsidiary Kinetix, which recently has been making gains in areas where SoftImage has been king. (excerpt from Ralph Grabowski's Upfront ezine)
GeoCAD
Version 5 of the architectural application GEOCAD v5 is the first fully functioning Windows version of the software: tablet menus have been replaced with nine interchangeable on-screen toolbars. GeoCAD is an architectural add-on to AutoCAD http://www.geocadinc.com
Argos Systems, Inc of Bedford, MA
Argos is a company that provides CAD software/services to the top 500 homebuilders in the US. The high end applications automate the engineering/design process for the homebuilder. Capabilities include automated shop drawings, BOM, options, redlining. Product sets have been developed for typical homebuilders, HUD code builders (trailers) and metal building design.
AutoBau
Not available in the USA.
BauCAD
Not available in the USA.
Speedikon
Not available in the USA. Works as an architectural add-on to MicroStation.
ArrisFM
Facilities management extension to Arris. See the section for Arris.
| Software | Company | Who is it for |
| CADKEY 97 | Baystate Technologies Inc. | mechanical engineers |
| MountainTop | Accugraph Corp. | civil engineers, building designers, Discontinued |
| Macromedia Three-D | Macromedia, Inc. | 3D artists |
| BravoCAD | Applicon Inc. | CAD-CAM |
| Alias Sketch | Alias Research Inc. | industrial designers |
| Swivel 3D | Paracomp / Macromedia Inc. | industrial designers |
| WinDraw | Addison Research | . |
| Drafix CAD Professional | Autodesk Inc. | generic 2D drafters |
| FlexiCAD | Amiable Technologies, Inc. | . |
| Dreams IDD | Innovative Data Designs, Inc. | industrial designers |
| DynaCADD 4.0 | Ditek Software Corp. | generic 2D drafters and 3D modelers |
| Software | Company | Who is it for |
| TriSpectives Technical | 3D/Eye, Inc. | industrial designers |
| Alias Designer, Alias Studio | Alias / Wavefront | industrial designers |
| Pro/Engineer 18.0 | Parametric Technology Corp. | mechanical engineers |
| MicroStation 95 | Bentley Systems Inc. | engineering, for architecture see Triforma, Speedikon, etc. |
| AutoCAD 12, 13, 14 | Autodesk Inc. | engineering, for architecture see ArchT, AutoArch, etc. |
| CADMAX 7.5 | CADMAX Corp. | industrial designers |
| TurboCAD Professional 4.0 | IMSI Inc. | industrial designers |
| CADDS 5 | Computervision Corp. | CAD-CAM |
| CorelCAD 3D | Corel Corp. | ambitious graphic designers |
| Corel Visual CAD 2.0 | Corel Corp. | generic 2D drafters |
| CATIA V4R1.8 | Dassault Systemes | CAD-CAM |
| Software | Company | Who is it for |
| FelixCAD 2.1 | FCAD Inc. | generic 2D drafters and 3D modelers |
| GDS 5.6 | GDS Corp. | Discontinued enginerring software Boston Central Artery software |
| MicroGDS 5.0 | Informatix Software Int. | generic 2D drafters |
| Imagineer Technical 2.0 | Intergraph Software | generic 2D drafters |
| RoboCAD | Robo Systems Int. | generic 2D drafters and 3D modelers CAD-CAM |
| Visio Technical 4.5 | Visio Corp. | generic 2D drafters |
| XCAD | American Software and others | generic 2D drafters, Discontinued |
| Archibus/FM | Archibus | Facilities Management |
| Sculpt 3D | Byte by Byte Corp. | industrial designers |
| . | . | . |
| . | . | . |
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