GeoTools :: Work Smarter, Not Harder!!

GeoTools / CADPower : A Status Update

Bangalore, India

This is the first post of 2012 and we wish all of you a very happy new year.

We have some good news continuing into 2012 and some bad news as well.

First, the bad news... The new split-up products, GeoTools and CADPower for AutoCAD and Bricscad is still not complete and not yet ready to release.

In the process of working on the split-up process, we realized that there were some existing processes and procedures that we could really improve upon and we decided to bite the bullet and work on them right now. It is a very good news in the long term but in the shorter term, it means that the CADPower/GeoTools release date is getting pushed back. Notably among the improvements that are being implemented are in the areas of licensing (floating licenses/online authentication etc), user interface management (sub-grouped, categorized, easy-to-find tools in pull-down menus) and implementing more standardized behavior in command operations.

Apart from that, there are a bunch of things to do with regard to the web pages, documentation, online ordering pages etc.

Now, for the good news. The USD 129 promotion during which you can buy the existing GeoTools software is still active and open.

We have promised to keep it open until the release of the new products and we stand by that promise.

Remember that all existing users of GeoTools V12 will get a license of the new GeoTools and CADPower in exchange of their old-V12 license.

For all V11 users of GeoTools, this is a wake-up call. Pay USD 89.95, move on to GeoTools V12 and you are up-to-date and will get the new products as well.

For all pre-V11 users of GeoTools, pay the USD 129 promotion price and move over to GeoTools V12 in one go.

Additionally, and as always, all users who will upgrade themselves to V12 after January 1, 2012 will get the next release of GeoTools/CADPower free.

With over 270+ tools in our kitty, this is undoubtedly the best value your CAD budget $ can buy.

Please be aware that our web e-Shop does not show a product configuration with the promotion price. If you are buying online using a credit card, you can place a regular price order for USD 219 and we will issue you a refund of USD 90 when your order is processed the next business day. Other methods of payment like PayPal, bank wire and check payment are available as usual.

Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!

Classification of Posts in this Blog

Bangalore, India

In case you have not yet noticed, we have updated and introduced new 'Categories' in our blog (see left hand side top corner), which classifies posts into different categories based on their content. If you are a new visitor to this blog, or a regular wanting to quickly go over and search earlier posts, this will help you immensely.

You can see the following categories in my blog. New categories may be added in the future.

• AutoCAD 
• Bricscad
• Bricscad Support
• Bricsys 2011 Conference
• CADPower
• CCAvenue.com Guidelines
• GeoTools
• GeoTools for AutoCAD
• GeoTools for Bricscad
• GeoTools Support
• Personal
• Tip Of The Week
• General

Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!

GeoTools/CADPower for AutoCAD and Bricscad are DIFFERENT

Bangalore, India

As the title of this post indicates, GeoTools for Bricscad and GeoTools for AutoCAD are two different softwares from two different CAD companies, Four Dimension Technologies and Coordinate Systems respectively. The same is going to be true even for CADPower, when it will be lauched and released next month.

The purpose of writing this post is to clarify, explain and reiterate this point again.

GeoTools is available on both AutoCAD and Bricscad, but the executable files, support files and the download installer are completely independent of each other and separately downloaded and installed.

This is obvious to most users, even then, we are innundated with support emails and calls as to why GeoTools is not loaded in either AutoCAD or Bricscad. The reason is that you may have installed it for the wrong platform.

The next time you find GeoTools not working - please check if you have installed it for the correct platform.

GeoTools for AutoCAD is downloaded from www.4d-technologies.com and GeoTools for Bricscad from www.coordsys.com only. The other clue is to look in your c:/Program Files/ folder. If you have not changed the default folder location, your GeoTools for AutoCAD would be installed in "C:\Program Files\Four Dimension Technologies\GeoTools12_EN" and your GeoTools for Bricscad would be installed in "C:\Program files\CoordinateSystems\GeoTools12_Bricscad_EN".

If you do have it installed correctly, and still do not see the GeoTools menus, you will probably need to run through the GeoTools configuration process once again. We have written a couple of articles to show you how to configure and use GeoTools with various flavors of AutoCAD. See links below:

Using GeoTools with AutoCAD 2012

Configuring GeoTools on 64-bit OS

GeoTools Menu visibility in AutoCAD 2010

If you are a Bricscad user, you may want to read the article below to know more about the configuration process.

How to Configure GeoTools For Bricscad?

Let us know if this helped you. 

Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!

GeoTools 'Closing Down' Winter Promotion

Bangalore, India

In one of my previous posts, I told you about our intention to rebadge the existing GeoTools product for AutoCAD and Bricscad into two new products - GeoTools and CADPower.

We are working on this feverishly and hope to release this very soon. As we now move into the last few weeks before the old GeoTools (with over 275+ tools) gives way to the new GeoTools (with purely Geo-Civil functions) and CADPower (general purpose productivity tools for the CAD user), we now think it is the time to announce a farewell promotion based on the old GeoTools product.

Starting December 1, 2011 and until the launch of the new GeoTools and CADPower, we are offering the existing GeoTools product at a deeply discounted price of USD 129 instead of the regular price of USD 219. As explained, this is an open-ended promotion that will close as soon as the new rebadged products will be launched. Which means, the close date could be as early as December 2, 2011 or as late as we take to release the new products.

What this means to you is that you can now buy the GeoTools product as it stands today at a price of only USD 129. As usual, promotion prices are applicable on single user licenses only. If you need multiple licenses, simply multiply USD 129 by the number of licenses you need.

Users in India will need to pay INR 7100 per license of GeoTools + 10.3% Service Tax + 5% VAT.

Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!

Bricscad-GeoTools e-Newsletters - Who, Why and How You Receive it

Bangalore, India

A small note about who, why and how you receive Bricscad-GeoTools e-Newsletter email from us.

When we receive an enquiry from users who have downloaded Bricscad from our site, we get back to them via email directly. We believe that you would like to be informed about all that happens in the Bricscad space subsequent to your first download. To ensure that, we add your name to the Bricscad-GeoTools mailing list.

Many of our earlier subscirbers are on the "geotools-bricscad" google newsgroup. This is a moderated newsgroup where you will receive messages from us or from users only after verifying that it is relevant to the subject and purpose of the newsgroup. In recent months, Google changed newsgroup settings and now you can join the newsgroup only via an invitation, email-verification and acceptance procedure. This option and procedure is still available from us but we have observed that most of the download users seldom manage to complete this process successfully and do not end up joining the newsgroup. As a result, they miss the subsequent announcements, updates and other valuable support information that is useful to any serious user. This was clearly evident in the lack of knowledge about Bricscad and GeoTools updates when we talked to trial users as well as existing clients at different times. To overcome this problem, we shifted to the mailing list. This is emailed manually to each one of you.

If you are on google newsgroup, you can un-subscribe at any time by visiting the group. If you are on the mailing list and want to stop receiving these newsletters, just send me an email saying so and I will remove your name.

I hope this clarifies the mechanism by which our newsletters are delivered.

Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!

'Bricscad for AutoCAD Users' eBook Updated for Bricscad V12

Bangalore, India

Ralph Grabowski has updated the "Bricscad for AutoCAD Users" ebook for BricsCAD V12.

This ebook tells you about the differences and similarities between AutoCAD and Bricscad in areas of user interface, commands, customization, programming, objects and properties. It is especially useful for offices considering saving on their IT budgets by adding licenses of Bricscad.

The essential topics covered are:

• Advantages of Bricscad
• What's missing from Bricscad
• Comparison of user interfaces
• Detailed comparison of drawing file compatibility
• Customizing and programming Bricscad
• AutoCAD-Bricscad dictionary
• Four appendices of reference material

Bricsys gives away this ebook as a promotional item, and you can download it for free from https://www.bricsys.com/en_INTL/bricscad/documentation.jsp (8.6MB PDF file).

 

But, if you would like to support the author -- then it is available for purchase as well. The list price is $18.55, and the link for ordering through PayPal is here: http://www.upfrontezine.com/b4a.

Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!

Suman's Studio : Customized Name Plates from India

Bangalore, India

Here is something different for you to read - a change from the routine CAD, GeoTools blah blah!!

If you are looking for a nice nameplate for your house, apartment, office or simply a badge (a large one) to adorn your office work-desk, here is some news for you!! One of my friends, Sumanya Narayanan, designs ethnic looking, customised name plates and has been at it for the last 10 years. Operating under the brand name  "Suman's Studio", she has created a number of unique designs and her customers simply love it. The nameplates can be ordered via email and delivered to any part of the globe. Like Bricscad & GeoTools, this is a product that offers you value-for-money and will cost you significantly lesser than the other branded ones that you can buy or order from your neighbouring boutique (and yes, this is as good or even better).

So, if you want your personal name-plate or a "Bricscad User" sign (I know there are many die-hard fans), do let me know.

On that note, I must add that India is a good place to source many of these kinds of items, especially if they have to be custom-made, the price advantages are significant. We shipped a small consignment of customized Bricsys T-Shirts for Bricsys Australia last year. We have an enquiry again for 500 Bricscad T-Shirts. Looks like the market for Bricscad merchandise is growing.

I have reproduced some creations from Suman's Studio here in this blog.

 

 

 

And some murals to adorn the walls:

You can view more samples on her Facebook group: Click here:
(you will need a FaceBook account to view the group)

Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!

Suman,Studio,Custom,Nameplates,Identiti,Bangalore,lifestyle,goods,outsourcing,Bricsys,Sumanya,Narayanan,Coordinate,Systems,online,purchase,Rakesh,Rao,Kirana,BBhat

More on Ralph Grabowski's "Trends in hardware and Software" post

Bangalore, India

During the Bricsys International Conference 2011, Ralph Grabowski was one of the guest speakers and he talked about some of the new trends in CAD hardware and software industry - he expressed his views about Smartphone Strategies for CAD Vendors.

On the request of one of our readers, I am providing a link to his presentation notes.

http://www.upfrontezine.com/2011/upf-707.htm#b



Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!

Bricscad Showcase - A Water Rocket Model

Bangalore, India

Here is a nice, little showcase of a design that has been made by Jason Bourhill of CAD Concepts, the Bricsys partner in New Zealand.

It is a model of a water rocket that Jason made for his kids. The entire stuff is drawn, designed and rendered in Bricscad Platinum V11.

 

 

If you want to try this out, you can visit his Resources page and scroll down to the Fun Stuff area and get instructions on building your own water rocket to play around with.

Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!

Bricscad Promotion Offer to End on November 30

Bangalore, India

"6 More days left for the Bricsys V12 promotion offer to end"

Bricscad V12 was released in October 2011 with some major new features like:

•  
  •  
  • • 3D Direct Modeling in Rendered Mode
    • Design intent recognition
    • 2D and 3D constraint solving
    • Quad interface
    • New fast Raster Engine
    • Hatch trim and custom hatch patterns
    • New PDF Engine
    • Page setups
    • Section planes
    • Visual styles

There has been an promotion offer until now which would fetch you a 15% discount on the list prices shown on the web. As per what we see on the Bricsys website, this promotion period ends on November 30.

The response to Bricscad V12 has been extremely positive, the good times of discounted software will not last long.

If you are evaluating Bricscad and have not yet made up your mind, now is the time to finalize and go ahead with the purchase.

If you have not yet started the evaluation, you have 5 more days to evaluate and the 1 day to make the purchase.

We continue to sweeten any deal that Bricsys comes up with. GeoTools for Bricscad offers 270+ useful productivity enhancements that will help you perform your CAD tasks even faster and more efficiently. GeoTools for Bricscad is complimentary when you purchase Bricscad (Pro/Platinum only) from us.

In our CAD products department, we are working on splitting GeoTools functionality into CADPower and GeoTools. We hope to release CADPower and the new GeoTools in the coming weeks. After the split, CADPower will be FREE for Bricscad users in India who purchase from us. GeoTools for Bricscad will not be free software in India after the split.

Productivity is key to success. We believe in improving it to the fullest extent. We strongly propose and recommend BcadTools and DOCTabs along with Bricscad, two other FREEWARE tools that you must use with Bricscad.

Coordinate Systems is a Bricsys reseller in India, and also develops CAD products and customized software for Bricscad/AutoCAD.

If you want to download Bricscad for evaluation, click here 

Discover Bricscad, discover GeoTools-AutoCAD  & GeoTools-Bricscad, discover TechCenter. Brand new ways to work smarter in CAD!!