January 23, 2012 – 10:17 am
A new V22 point release is now available on the cad4u.co.uk website … click the link on the top right to access the download page and this new version.
If you are already using CAD4U V22 you can use this to update your installation, or if you are using an earlier version, why not try an unlimited CAD4U V11 with our free 20 day trial?
CAD4U Version 22 - Release 22.00.14 (Updated 23.01.2012)
File Contents:
- setup_CAD4U_32Bit_220014_english.exe
- setup_CAD4U_64Bit_220014_english.exe
- History.rtf
- 64-Bit or 32-Bit.rtf
- How to install CAD4U(-XS).rtf
- How to update CAD4U(-XS) up to V.10.rtf
- How to update CAD4U(-XS) V.11.rtf
- How to update CAD4U(-XS) V.22.rtf
December 13, 2011 – 4:20 pm
With the release of the latest version of the CAD4U drawing software it is time to look at what’s been happening to your favourite CAD software.
C-Technik Software, the CAD4U developer, has stated that:
“The main target of the development work for V.22 was making the DXF/DWG drawing data exchange better and supporting 64-Bit operating environment.”
So the first thing to note is that the download now has both 32 and 64 bit versions.
If you have a 64 bit Windows operating system, then we would recommend the 64 bit version as being faster, especially when using graphical functions such as dynamic panning and images. Otherwise you must install the 32 bit version.
As previously indicated, there has been a complete revamp of drawing translation for both import and export of drawings. Most notable is the inclusion of DWG import and export … something that the author thought we would never see! Also, the process has been improved with the introduction of a dialogue window for all settings and mappings for the translation … making the process easier to set-up and more robust:
The new import/export functionality includes:
- Colour mapping which now attempts to match the CAD4U colour to the DXF colour automatically.
- Colour mapping which allows lineweights to be mapped to colour and the user can choose whether to use this mapping during a DXF Import. This is particularly useful as AutoCAD has never supported lineweights and the AutoCAD user assigns colours to identify different lineweights when printing.
- There is a new option to control the calculation of snap points after importing. If switched OFF, this feature can save a lot of calculation time when larger drawings are imported.
- ‘Extruded entities’ are now fully converted including Arcs, Circles, Inserts, Lines, Polylines and Solids. This improves DXF and DWG imports and avoids mirrored display of extruded entities.
- In the DWG/DXF Import Options dialogue, the user is given a prompt if the CAD4U colours are close in RGB to the PAPER colour. This gives the user a chance to change the colours to something more appropriate, before continuing the import.
- During IMPORT an ‘anonymous block’ flag is used to mark these entities (i.e. DXF hatch and associative dimensioning records) to allow the new VIEW FILTER (see below) to be used to control the display and selection of these blocks. Additionally, users can also choose to ignore ‘anonymous blocks’ when importing DWG/DXF, in which case these records are simply ignored during the translation.
- A CAD4U library page is no longer presented at the completion of the import.
- LIBRARY / DWG EXPORT A new function which exports the current drawing to .DWG file.
- There are now three options for how the Layer Table is updated during DWG/DXF Import:
1. Create a new table, use automatic colour mapping and use layer names from DXF layer table.
2. Overwrite the names of the present layer table with the incoming DXF/DWG layer names.
3. Keep the present CAD4U layer table entries meaning that the DXF colours and layer names will be lost.
- There are also new options for the Paperspace handling:
1. Only Modelspace, no Paperspace Data translated.
2. No Modelspace, only Paperspace Data translated.
3. The user is prompted when importing the drawing.
The VIEW FILTER is a new function intended to replace the old Speed Filter (that nobody ever seemed to use!?). The View Filter will filter records for group edit selection as well as display and individual entities including lines, arcs, circles and polylines can be chosen for filtering (See View Filter dialogue below) All functions requiring selection use the VIEW FILTER settings. INSERTS and BLOCKS display overrides all other records. If INSERTS or BLOCKS display is on, all sub-records of the INSERTS or BLOCKS are displayed regardless of the other record filter options. This makes it easier to edit only inserts or blocks. ‘Draw Filtered Records Gray’ will show selected records in grey, except for Bitmap Inserts, which are skipped.
The new CHECK LIBRARY function can correct library problems including:
- Zero length inserts and blocks which are replaced with a placeholder.
- Missing inserts and blocks which are replaced with a placeholder.
- An integrity check can be run on inserts and blocks, and if mistakes are found they are corrected. If there are corrections required, the corrected inserts and blocks can be written back to disk. Checks carried out include ‘impossible radii’ and ‘out of range’ (infinite) coordinates and are similar to the checks earlier CAD4U versions made when filing or exporting.
- Purge blocks is similar to the previous Purge Blocks but quicker and deletes more blocks than previously. The user can select any combination of these and stop the operations with the provided “stop” button and at no risk to the library data.
Other odds & sods include:
- PUBLISH, PUBLISH ZOOMVIEW and PUBLISH SELECTION are intended to be used when the user wants to output to formats such as PDF and XPS. Drawings are rendered to a bitmap on the host PC (rather than by the printer) and then sent to the chosen printer output. This is especially helpful when images with transparency are used in a drawing. We would not recommend this method for pure vector output as the resolution will suffer … use the standard print functionality.
LOAD RDF and SAVE RDF have been added to the LIBRARY toolbar for quicker access to RDF files. Also note that the prompt for ‘Reassign Layers’, when loading an RDF, can be turned off in SETTINGS/RDF/DXF/DWG Options. See top check box in options dialogue on the right ‘Prompt during Load RDF’. This makes the use of RDF’s for filing more streamlined than ever before by removing the last connection to the file’s ‘archiving’ past history. Also note that the loaded file’s name is displayed in the window header and is used for print output making PDF creation quicker, easier and less error prone.- The VIEW Toolbar has been extended with the VIEW FILTER and COLOUR FILTER functions.
- The layer table can now be set to a different file from the original wc_layer.lft. If the user saves or loads a table in the SETTINGS / LAYER TABLE dialogue or when importing DWG/DXF, then the layer table name will become the one the user has selected (e.g. Import.lft as shown above in the DWG/DXF Import Options dialogue). The new filename is saved in the settings file so it will be used for the next session. If there is no settings file or the user does not load or save to a new name, then wc_layer.lft will be used. The file name of the layer table is now displayed at the bottom of the LAYER PALETTE.
- The whole library box is highlighted and a small dot is drawn in the background colour to indicate the box position.
December 13, 2011 – 11:53 am
A new version of CAD4U … V22 have been released today and is now available for downloading from the cad4u.co.uk website … click the link on the top right to access the download page and this new version.
If you are using an earlier version, why not try an unlimited CAD4U V22 with our free 20 day trial?
We will be posting further details of this release over the next few days.
October 10, 2011 – 2:25 pm
Perhaps not surprisingly, believe it or not, there are still a number of RoboCAD users ploughing their furrow out there.
I say ‘not surprisingly’ because with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) written for MSDOS, which pre-dates Windows 3.11 by a staggering five years, RoboCAD has always been at the pinnacle of WIMPS GUI’s. So much so, that when the first RoboCAD users migrated to CAD4U for Windows they were concerned by the ‘clunky’ look and feel bestowed by the Windows graphics, compared to what they were used to using! Thankfully, since those dark days in and around 1997, Windows performance has improved immeasurably, partly due to Microsoft and partly due to a phenomenal increase in hardware performance.
Now is the time to act and benefit from the advances in Windows and CAD4U.
Why not trial CAD4U now by following the link indicated by our waving hand to your right?
October 10, 2011 – 12:44 pm
There are many ‘older’ versions of CAD4U currently out there doing a sterling service for their owners. Unlike AutoCAD®, we have never forced users to upgrade when buying new hardware with the latest Windows® operating systems. For example, users of AutoCAD 2000 are prevented from installing their software under Windows Vista® or Windows 7®. This example equates to CAD4U V4 users being forced to upgrade as soon as they wanted to move to a Vista platform. Additionally Autodesk inc. washes their hands on supporting older versions even faster, viz.
“Autodesk does not support 2009 and older versions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT on Windows 7″
Source:
Autocad 2011 & Windows 7 White Paper – Autodesk inc.
Anyway, why am I banging on about AutoCAD? It’s quite simple. As I am told that it is the ‘industry standard‘ then is is fair to equate our offering to that of Autodesk inc.
Not supporting out-of-date versions is quite understandable as no software developer is going to track back to provide patches for old releases … it just isn’t commercially viable or reasonable to expect them to do this. I remember once, when I was working for Robocom on RoboCAD support in the 1980′s, an irate punter equated us updating his old software to getting his Ford Grenada serviced at the local dealership … I had to point out that it was more akin to his local council introducing a width restriction in his road and expecting Ford to rebuild his Grenada somewhat smaller to cope with the new road layout!
A major problem for vintage CAD4U users is the parallel port Hardlock (or Dongle). Developed before the now ubiquitous USB port, the parallel port (and before that the serial port) was the only way to talk to the hardlock and thus provide software piracy protection. Unfortunately PC manufacturers no longer are interested in supplying machines with a parallel port. One solution for desktop PC purchasers is to add a PCI parallel port, although to my cost, I did find that even this doesn’t always work … but that, as they say, is another story entirely! USB hardlocks have been available for some ten years now, and so a solution is to exchange the old parallel hardlock for a USB version. There is though, a significant cost associated with doing this, and if the truth be known, the CAD4U developer isn’t particularly keen either, as the user sees no benefit but expects on-going support for their old software. The other day I had a CAD4U user ‘effing and blinding’ because I was reluctant to supply him an exchange USB hardlock as I knew full well that the developer certainly wasn’t keen to ship any more. Additionally he would have been better served by upgrading his CAD4U V6 to the current V11, not only benefiting from the improved features of V11 but also he could have had access to full CAD4U on both his desktop and laptop PC’s, rather than CAD4U on one and CAD4U-XS on the other.
To be frank, I’m getting too long in the tooth to even bother arguing the toss, so from now on my recommendation will always be … retire that vintage CAD4U with an upgrade to V11 … be warned!
August 18, 2011 – 12:09 pm
A couple of days ago I had a call from a V11 client who was trying to make sense of a DWG they’d been sent for quotation purposes. Not only was the DWG a problem in itself, but the client also needed a set of independent CAD4U drawings to work on for the quote.
The Problem
The image below shows a fairly typical AutoCAD ‘Modelspace’ setup … i.e. containing all the individual elements of the drawings set … e.g. existing & proposed plans, elevations etc. Think of the Modelspace as an ‘infinitely’ large drawing area where your designs are drawn at 1:1. The drawings in the Modelspace are then ‘windowed’ into multiple AutoCAD ‘Paperspace’ drawings by taking parts of the Modelspace data and inserting into Paperspace as a scaled view. The Paperspace drawing is therefore akin to the way we work in CAD4U although it does have one distinct advantage … a Paperspace drawing can use multiple scales on the same sheet.
The following is one of the Paperspace drawings taken from the Modelspace above …
Typically the Paperspace drawing will include additional information such as a title block and other annotations such as dimensions and notes. Apart from the obvious requirement for a DXF, the CAD4U user’s major problem is to preserve the individual drawings’ design intent (including the Paperspace additions) when bringing the data into CAD4U.
The Solution
By contacting the RDF4U Drawing Translation Service it was possible to have complete drawing set of CAD4U RDF’s by return. These drawings included paper sizing, scaling and an individual layer tables to assist further editing in CAD4U.
Postscript
This Modelspace – Paperspace methodology was created by Autodesk as their users, before Paperspace, only had Modelspace. This meant that getting their drawings on paper was, at best, a hit or miss affair! The arrival of Paperspace (or Layout Space) meant that at last AutoCAD users could have WYSIWYG … something which CAD4U/RoboCAD users had from the start, some six years earlier!
Apparently .. “ Many beginners to Autocad get confused about paper space …” a quick search revealed at http://www.autocadcentral.com/Tutorials/Lesson%2010/lesson10.htm it carries on to say “… so we’ll try and make it as painless as possible! The concept is in fact very simple!”
Enough said!
Today Onside Associates Limited (OAL) launched their new RDF4U Drawing Translation Service.
Managing Director, Ian Temple comments:
Not a week goes by without a user contacting us about drawing translation. Usually this will be a DXF or DWG. Quite often the drawing data to be translated will contain a drawing ‘set’ on multiple ‘Paperspace’ tabs.
Our RDF4U Drawing Translation Service can not only ‘unlock’ these multiple drawing sets but add value to the translation process, where possible, by providing additional data such as a CAD4U Layer Table and drawing edit to provide CAD4U lineweights and linestyles.
The RDF4U Drawing Translation Service offers:
- Translation of most CADD formats with return file in .RDF.
- CADD formats supported include DXF; DWG; DGN; HPGL; Vector PDF etc.
- Breakout into individual drawings for DXF/DWG files with multiple ‘Paperspace’ drawings as found in any DXF/DWG after Release 12. It is also possible to ‘scale’ Paperspace annotations with a Release 12 DXF/DWG thus giving a true translation of the ‘whole’ drawing.
- DWG layer name support within CAD4U Layer Table.
- Mapping of DWG colours to CAD4U lineweights.
To find out more please use our contact page enquiry form
We are often asked the question ” … Can I add further Windows True Type fonts for use with CAD4U?”
The simple answer is ‘yes’
The following fonts are included with Windows and are installed on every computer:
- Courier New (TrueType, including Bold, Italic, and Bold Italic variations)
- Arial (TrueType, including Bold, Italic, and Bold Italic variations)
- Times New Roman (TrueType, including Bold, Italic, and Bold Italic variations)
- Symbol (TrueType)Wingdings (TrueType)
- MS SerifMS Sans Serif
For further information, see http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fontinfo/en/
Additional fonts can be acquired from either free, or paid for sources. A search for ‘free fonts’ reveals many websites offering ‘free’ fonts but with the hope of selling others. Often publishing software, for example CorelDraw, offer literally 1000′s of fonts.
For more information on installing Windows fonts, however acquired, see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314960 .
Oh yes, and one last tip … if you’re looking for a particular symbol (e.g. Ø for diameter) then use the Character Map found in System Tools. With this tool you can check whether the symbol exists in the font you’re using, and then select and copy it to your CAD4U text entry dialogue.
Up until the end of July 2011, all CAD4U V11 upgrades are on special offer …
… call us now on 020 8882 4219 for your personal upgrade quotation.
Alternatively, test the latest version free with a 20 day trial of the full, all singing, all dancing V11 software … just use the link at the top right to download the software … that’s it, just by the waving hand! V11 can be installed alongside your current version of CAD4U so that testing the new software doesn’t have to get in the way of production. What’s important to note though, is that users of versions before V8 must NOT use production libraries for testing V11, as it will convert library pages to the new library format (see V8 highlights below). Just make a copy of your library for testing purposes.
Here are some of the version highlights which might be of interest, but a more complete version history, including enhancements, changes and fixes, is available with the download:
Version 11
- Dynamic Layer Palette
This pallette (first introduced in V6.01) now adjusts its dimensions to the number of layers in a drawing (or half a screen) and allows direct access to layer settings and colour changes.
- Use of Drawing Names
If a drawing loaded from the library has a name, it is added to the title of a drawing frame and is used when printing, for example to PDF.
- Licensing & File Structure
Hardware copy protection (hardlock) replaced by flexible software protection and web based updates. Program structures modified and optimised Windows 7 compatibility and safety (both 32 and 64bit).
Version 10
- Printing
Extensively re-worked to use property pages and to allow the overriding of both lineweight and colour output for each layer.
- Layer Table
Now includes display of the line-style and colour for layers set to single style or colour.
Version 9
- Total Length Dimensioning
- Delete Drawing
Will remove a drawing from an Index Page filing position.
- Change To
Using Edit Change functionality to allow an element’s attributes to be changed to the attributes of another element.
Version 8
- Dynamic Zoom
- Library index changed to hi-res full colour
- Library data includes Project Code
- Image insert includes JPEG format
Version 7
- Print Selection
Printing parts of a drawing on smaller format printers.
- Multi screen support
Versions 6
- Layer-Palette
- 3-Point Rotation
For Group Edit functions such as Move and Copy.
- Zoom Window
- Insert images
- Windows Fonts
