CADPower / GeoTools :: Work Smarter, Not Harder!!

CADPower / GeoTools V13 Released

Bangalore, India

GeoTools V13 & CADPower V13 are now shipping.

The thirteenth numbered upgrade of GeoTools since 1999, GeoTools V13 (as well as CADPower V13) is now shipping and available for download on our website.

The V13 upgrade of GeoTools & CADPower is FREE for all purchases of the V12 version made on or after January 1, 2012. This also applies to all GeoTools upgrades from earlier versions of GeoTools made AFTER this date.

GeoTools & CADPower V13 offers compatibility and runs with AutoCAD 2013. It also runs on all vertical applications built on AutoCAD 2013. If you experience any problems with your setup, we will be glad to assist.

We take this opportunity to remind all of you that V13 supports fully ribbonized user-interface in AutoCAD 2012 and 2013, in addition to pull-down menus, toolbars, command line and script interface.

GeoTools & CADPower V13 is compatible with all lower versions until AutoCAD 2007.

Users wishing to use GeoTools on lower-than AutoCAD 2007 versions of AutoCAD can still purchase V12.20 from us at the old, un-split price of USD 219 per license.

On Bricscad, GeoTools/CADPower V 13 runs on V 12.1.15.1 and later only. The software may not work correctly on earlier builds of Bricscad v12 because of some new floating licensing API functions that have been specifically created for GeoTools/CADPower and available only in 12.1.15.1.

We split GeoTools into CADPower and GeoTools and released the split products with V12.21 during the life-cycle of V12. This process has now been completed fully with the user manuals in English and Spanish fully updated. We have also reduced the feature overlap between the two products and shifted a number of commands from GeoTools to CADPower. They are GT_TC,  GT_UNCLUTTER,  GT_INSVX,  GT_DELVX,  GT_PLARCMIRROR,  GT_MVEDIT,  GT_PARTOFFSET,  GT_PARTCOPY,  GT_PARTSTRETCH,  GT_PARTEXTRACT,  GT_PARTRESHAPE,  GT_PARTROTATE,  GT_NEWSTART,  GT_SEGLENSET, GT_MFILLET,  GT_FILLETPOLY,  GT_FLOW_LT,  GT_LENGTH,  GT_CALCAREA,  GT_BULGE,  GT_DXY,  GT_ANGLE,  GT_CHW,  GT_LINPOLY,  GT_XP_WPL,  GT_PLINE2ARC,  GT_PFACE2PL,  GT_3DF2PFACE,  GT_PL2PFACE,  GT_PL23DFACE and  GT_FLATTEN. With this transition, GeoTools now is more close to being a pure-Geo product and the whole bunch of above-mentioned commands are now part of CADPower.

We have been extremely busy past few months in splitting and re-oragnizing GeoTools and CADpower and improving the existing documentation and the support infrastructure on the web/blogs/newsletters. Over the new few months, we have plans to add a whole new bunch of tools to take CAD productivity to new levels.

Some of the tools under development or planned for the life-cycle of V13 are:

 - A comprehensive multiple file copy systems, on the lines of the old DOS XCOPY (CADPower)
 - Round off bearings (GeoTools)
 - A more complete, volume computation tool (GeoTools)
 - Change object visibility (CADPower)
 - Annotate with object handles (CADPower)
 - and many more......

There is no change in the standard retail price of GeoTools & CADPower:

The current pricing structure is as follows:

GeoTools:

 - Single user license: USD 129.0
 - 2-User license: USD 209.0
 - 4-user license: USD 409.0
 - 10-user license:  USD 689.0
 - 20-user license: USD 1299.0
 - Un-limited site license: USD 3299.0

Upgrades:

 - Single user license upgrade: USD 59.0
 - 4-User license upgrade: USD 159.0
 - 10-user license upgrade:  USD 259.0
 - 20-user license upgrade: USD 519.0
 - Un-limited site license upgrade: USD 1319.0


CADPower:

 - Single user license: USD 109.0
 - 2-User license: USD 179.0
 - 4-user license: USD 349.0
 - 10-user license:  USD 589.0
 - 20-user license: USD 1099.0
 - Un-limited site license: USD 2799.0
           
Upgrades:

 - Single user license upgrade: USD 49.0
 - 4-User license upgrade: USD 129.0
 - 10-user license upgrade:  USD 219.0
 - 20-user license upgrade: USD 429.0
 - Un-limited site license upgrade: USD 1099.0

GeoTools and CADPower now support network licensing over a LAN. This will allow you to purchase a few licenses and have many more users use the software in a non-simultaneous use environment. The network license will be priced 40 % higher than the stand-alone licenses because of the additional value it delivers.

Online purchase page: www.4d-technologies.com/shop/purchase.htm

The Spanish and German language versions of GeoTools also have been simultaneously updated with this current release.

Pick up this latest GeoTools V13 from:

English: http://www.4d-technologies.com/geotools/download/geotools_en.exe
German: http://www.4d-technologies.com/de/geotools/download/geotools_de.exe
Spanish: http://www.4d-technologies.com/es/geotools/download/geotools_es.exe

Pick up this latest CADPower V13 from:

English: http://www.4d-technologies.com/cadpower/download/cadpower_en.exe
German: http://www.4d-technologies.com/de/cadpower/download/cadpower_de.exe
Spanish: http://www.4d-technologies.com/es/cadpower/download/cadpower_es.exe

Simultaneous release of GeoTools V13 for Bricscad also. See www.coordsys.com for more info.

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Plant Design / Process Engineering Seminar - Some Photos

Bangalore, India

The ongoing India-wide seminars on Process Engineering and Plant Design conducted by V.K Design Techniques Pvt Ltd, has been attracting good attendance and interest from participants, most of whom were from the oil and gas, chemicals, process and plant design industry.

Bricscad & AutoCAD were used as primary CAD platforms to demonstrate the various design tasks specific to the industry. It was a unique opportunity for the participants to learn and see how to perform common design tasks relating to their industry using Bricscad as a CAD platform.

Here are some pictures from the event in Chennai:

 

 

 

 

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Bricscad V 12.2 - Yet another (minor-numbered) Release, But Lots Of Punch

Bangalore, India

Bricscad V 12.2 has been released now and we have been talking about it since the past 3 days in this blog. A nicely written blog by Sander Scheiris, summarizes what's new in V 12.2 and how it can change the way you approach some CAD procedures in your drawing.

What is typical of some of the minor, in-between releases of Bricscad is that it contains huge improvements that one would not expect in a typical mid-life-cycle release. But, that is how Bricsys has chosen to brew Bricscad over time - always in incremental doses and sometimes spurts of improvement (brand new functionality) in the life-cycle of a numbered version.

[Tool palettes], [New VLE functions in Lisp], [Block Manager] and a modest [increase in price] are some of the new features of V 12.2 !!

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Bricscad News Recap - Tools Palette / Price Revision / India Roadshow

Bangalore, India

Here is a recap and roundup of some important events in Bricscad-sphere happening now.

Briskets new Tool Palette

Bricscad Version 12.2 which releases today comes with a new Tool Palette that allows you to add blocks, hatches and commands through a tabbed interface that can be drag/dropped into the drawing. Every-time you select a tool, you can edit its properties via the Tool Properties Dialog Box.

More info is available here.

Bricscad Price Revision:

While Bricscad has evolved with time and quite progressively, its effect on the pocket has not seen any significant change. With the release of Bricscad V12.2, and after a long time, prices will see a nominal revision - between 5-6% across Bricscad Classic, Pro and Platinum versions. In fact there is going to be a 2-step revision of approx. 6% each time, once now and again later in the year when V13 will be released.

Which means the list price of Bricsys e-Store for India now looks like this:

Bricscad Classic without subscription: INR 20580
Bricscad Classic with subscription: INR 28420

Bricscad Pro without subscription: INR 26215
Bricscad Pro with subscription: INR 34055

Bricscad Platinum without subscription: INR 34790
Bricscad Platinum with subscription: INR 42630

If you are looking for a cheap, also-ran DWG-based  CAD, there are many other alternatives. But, if you are looking for a really solid .DWG CAD platform, complete with all API's and support, and a value for money product, Bricscad is the answer.

With FREE CADPower, DocTabs, BcadTools, ExtTools and other accompaniments to super-charge your .dwg CAD, this is still the best CAD deal in the world. Ask us for more details!!!

Bricscad Demos in India

A little reminder about Process Plant/Piping Layout Design demo that will be conducted across the country by V.K.Design Techniques Pvt. Ltd. who is Bricscad's Authorized Training Center in Bangalore.
Today is Day 2 of the seminar in Chennai. The demo/seminars will also take place in Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkatta. More info...

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Coming Today : Tool palettes in Bricscad V 12.2 Release

Bangalore, India

The much awaited tool palettes is soon going to be a reality in Bricscad. V 12.2 of Bricscad, which is scheduled for release today, will offer the convenience of using tool palettes to pick and drop your favorite  blocks, hatches and commands into your drawing.

The tool palettes were briefly shown during the last Bricscad User Conference in October 2011, and the commercial release was promised during the life-cycle of Bricscad V12.

For a sneak preview of the same, read this blog post from Bricsys insider, Louis Verdonck.

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Bricscad Demos in India - Process Plant Designs and Piping Layout designs

Bangalore, India

In one of my last posts, I wrote about a series of Process Plant Design and Piping Layout seminars that have been planned this month by Mr. Vasudeva Yargatti of V.K. Design Techniques Pvt Ltd, who is a Bricscad Authorized training center in Bangalore. This seminar will use Bricscad as the CAD platform to demonstrate the Piping and Plant industry specific CAD procedures.

The dates are now just round the corner and the itinerary is as follows:

Chennai:

Dates: May 7th and 8th, 2012

Venue:

Radisson Blu Hotel GRT
No: 531, GST Road
St. Thomas Mount
Chennai - 600 016.

Mumbai:

Dates: May 9th and 10th, 2012

Venue:

Hotel Mirador
131-B, New Link Road
Chakala, Andheri (East)
Mumbai - 400 099.

New Delhi:

Dates: May 14th and 15th, 2012

Venue:

The Hans Hotel
15, Barakhamba Road
Connaught Place
New Delhi - 110 001

Kolkatta:

Dates: May 16th and 17th, 2012

Venue:

Hotel Hindusthan International
235/1 AJC Bose Road
Kolkatta - 700 020

 

If any one of you is interested to know more about Bricscad, try a demo first-hand or learn and see how actual, real-life .DWG project drawings are tossed around between AutoCAD and Bricscad, this is a good chance to interact with Mr. Yargatti on the sidelines of this conference at the above mentioned locations.

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Bricscad Raster Image Performance - Load 240MB TIFF in < 60 seconds

Bangalore, India

Today, I did a performance benchmark using the latest Bricscad V 12.1.22, whose raster file improvements were reported yesterday.

I took a 240 MB TIFF file composed using stitched and overlaid images generated by Google Maps, along with its world file.

On my old laptop, it loaded in Bricscad within 60 seconds, even faster than in AutoCAD.

If you want to give it a try yourself, you can download the TIFF file here and Bricscad here. The image is from a location in central India, in Vidisha District in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

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Bricscad V 12.1.22 - Good News for Large Raster Image Users

Bangalore, India

Bricscad V 12.1.22 may have passed off silently just like any other regular bug-fix update but this is the most important and significant update that raster image users have been waiting for.

There are two important improvements this update delivers which is going to completely change the way raster images are handled in Bricscad:

• Support for large sized raster images
• Correct scaling of the images

Support for large sized raster images

With Bricscad 12.1.22, you can now attach even a 200+ MB JPG file in Bricscad, and be able to do real-time pan and zoom. If you zoom into a detail in the image, you can still see the picture with as much accuracy as the pixel information provides. Bricscad will not compromise on the display of a highly zoomed image. What you have in your image pixels is what you see at EVERY zoom. This is in contrast to how other CAD systems operate. Most (as on current date) will not even be able to open this file and one of them opened it and showed only a nice overview. When I zoomed in, all pixel info was replaced with a substitute image created on-the-fly by the software. The result - a highly grained non-usable zoomed image. In other words, what you get is only the overview image sampled at lower resolution and displayed during all zooms and pans.

Correctly scaled dimensions of the image

The next improvement in this version concerns the DWG dimensions of the image. This has been a pain point in Bricscad for a long time and I am glad to see that it is fixed. If you insert an image with scale factor of 1.0, the X dimension of the image would become exactly 1.0 drawing unit. In AutoCAD, the X dimension of the image is the number of pixels in the X direction (width). Bricscad is now consistent with this rule and handles it correctly.

Satellite and aerial photographs are rarely small sized files and large raster support is a necessity, not a luxury. As for scaling and image dimensions, in a mixed platform .DWG environment, the last thing you would want is that each software scales the image as it wants. All this is history now with Bricscad V 12.1.22

Important update for the GIS community

With these new fixes and improvements in place, Bricscad improves its value-proposition to the geo-data CAD user industry significantly and I hope to see it gain more traction in this market.

 

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Tip : 'Isolate Layer' & 'Blocks Snapshot Viewing' using Drawing Explorer in Bricscad

Bangalore, India

After reading Jason Bourhill's blog post about the Drawing Explorer on the Bricsys blog, I realized that the Drawing Explorer is indeed very versatile and is designed with a user interface unlike other .dwg CAD platforms.

In this post, I will show you two Preview options in Drawing Explorer which does not find an equivalent in other CAD platforms.

Layer Preview: You can use the Preview option in the Drawing Explorer to obtain a visual preview of each layer in the drawing. The Layer preview option acts like a Layer Isolate tool that CAD users are already familiar with. The Layer preview window offers each layer in fully zoomed view. See video below for an illustration.

 

Blocks Preview: The Blocks Preview is very similar - lets you quickly view a snapshot of blocks in your drawing by clicking on their name. See video below for an illustration.

 

The Block and Layer Preview features in drawing explorer are examples of some small yet different and unique user-interface design in Bricscad that offers better functional results for CAD users, compared to other .dwg CAD platforms.

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Process Plant Layout and Piping Design Workshops in India

Bangalore, India

It has been more than a year since Bangalore-based VK Design Techniques Pvt Limited became India's first (and still the only) Authorized Bricscad training center.

In the year that has passed, VK Design Tecnhniques has used Bricscad as a CAD platform extensively to impart specialized 2D/3D piping and plant design courses to drafters and designers aiming to make a career in the oil and gas sector.

Today, all of VK Design's oil and gas industry oriented CAD courses are based on the world's only two most successful and stable .dwg based CAD platforms - AutoCAD and Bricscad.

V.K Design Techniques is managed by Mr. Vasudeva Yargatti, who is a veteran with over 25 years experience in CAD design procedures for the process plant and piping industry.

In May this year, V.K Design Techniques, in association with Mindscape Asia Inc. is organizing a series of workshops across cities in India for the oil and gas industry. The two day workshop will cover everything about piping and plant design and will be taught to attendees on the Bricscad and AutoCAD platforms. The workshop is conducted by Mr. Yargatti himself.

For those of you in the oil and gas industry, this is a good opportunity to learn from a very experienced industry consultant and also to experience and learn the power of Bricscad software for your daily .dwg CAD requirements.

Bricsys India/Coordinate Systems supports this workshop and, as a special gesture, we will offer Bricscad licenses to the attendees of this workshop at specially discounted prices. In addition, attendees will also receive a number of other freebies and goodies software along with Bricscad software purchases.

If you are interested to attend, do get in touch with us.

The tentative dates and schedule is as follows:

•      Chennai, May 7th and 8th, 2012
•      Mumbai, May 9th and 10th, 2012
•      New Delhi, May 14th and 15th, 2012
•      Kolkata, May 16th and 17th, 2012

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