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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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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GeoTools and CADPower - V12.24 Update

Bangalore, India

GeoTools and CADPower V12.24 update released today fixes minor internal glitches, inconsistent behaviour and any crash or freeze you may have experienced while using multiple-data view dialogs.

CP_EASYATT command enhanced:

Menu Location: CADPower -> Blocks -> Attribute-related -> Multiple-Choice Attribute Editor

The CP_EASYATT command now supports multiple blocks based on a wildcard match criteria. Until now, you could only specify one block name for processing and only that block could be processed using the multiple attribute choices and color/layer classification. Now, you can specify a wildcard search pattern for block names and process multiple blocks in one go. You will still have to select one block which will serve as a template.

The attribute structure (and the multiple choices) will be processed as per the template block.

For the actual processing and selection, any block matching the wildcard will be processed with the expectation that each one of them have attributes similarly named as the template block.

For example, if your drawing has blocks named FP_300x300, FP_450x450, FP_600x500 and so on, you now need to select one of them as a template. But, you can select all of them for processing by specifying a wildcard "FP_*"

This option vastly improves the productivity of the commaand as most users use multiple blocks with similar names.

*** General improvements in GeoTools and CADPower:

The functioning of the commands which control the toolbar visibility (ON/OFF) have been fixed in all builds of CADPower and GeoTools in all the languages : EN, ES, DE, both for AutoCAD and Bricscad.

*** Direct download URLs:

GeoTools for Bricscad:

 ** English: http://www.coordsys.com/geotools/download/geotools_bricscad_en.exe
 ** German: http://www.coordsys.com/geotools/download/geotools_bricscad_de.exe
 ** Spanish: http://www.coordsys.com/geotools/download/geotools_bricscad_es.exe

CADPower for Bricscad:

 ** English: http://www.coordsys.com/cadpower/download/cadpower_bricscad_en.exe
 ** German: http://www.coordsys.com/cadpower/download/cadpower_bricscad_de.exe
 ** Spanish: http://www.coordsys.com/cadpower/download/cadpower_bricscad_es.exe

GeoTools for AutoCAD:

 ** 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

CADPower for AutoCAD:

 ** 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

 

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CCAvenue.com is OUT!! 2Checkout.Com is our New Payment Gateway

Bangalore, India

After about a year of having CCAvenue.com as our payment gateway, we have switched our payment gateway to 2Checkout.com.

During the period from March 2011 to February 2012, our customers experienced frequent problems dealing with CCAvenue.com mainly because of some stringent credit card processing guidelines laid out by the Reserve Bank of India coupled with less-than-acceptable customer service from CCAvenue.com. We have had to ask our clients to resort to check and bank payment methods to overcome the situation on many occasions. We deeply regret this and apologize for all the inconvenience caused.

Now, we have identified an alternative service provider, 2Checkout.com and have switched over our entire order processing system to them. 2Checkout.com has provided us with a much flexible ordering system with all modern features, security and user-interface. So far, the order processing through 2Checkout.com has been smooth and we hope will continue like this in the future.

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MAC-Address Based and Disk-Based AppKeys of GeoTools/CADPower

Bangalore, India

Fixed-seats licensing of GeoTools/CADPower is made based on two types of computer identification methods - either a disk based appkey or MAC-address based appkeys. The appkeys are short for application keys and are nothing but a series of numbers that represent a unique code to identify your computer.

In the case of a disk-based appkey, the serial number of the primary hard disk is used while in the other case, the Media Access Control (MAC) address is used. Both methods are quite reliable and have been in use for the past many years. However, there are certain situations when either one may not work correctly.

For instance, in the case of disk-based appkeys, we noticed that computers which did not have a primary hard disk as the fixed hard disk, or those which were configured as pure virtual disk drives did not produce a valid disk-based appkey. In such a case, it is required to use MAC-address based appkeys.

Even MAC-address based appkeys can sometimes fail. This can happen under some conditions where the MAC-address is composed of only one token of address. Normally, the MAC-address returns a number containing 2 or 4 tokens of addresses, each containing 6 codes, making a total of 12 or 24 codes respectively. Depending on the network status, whether connected or not, the MAC-address varies. Our software requires a match of atleast 2 tokens for the license test to pass. We noticed that there are some instances where the MAC-address produces only 1 token. Although the software licensing mechanism can be programmed to accept the match of only 1 token, we have set it to require a match of atleast 2 tokens for the license match to succeed. This is because of security reasons. If your MAC-address produces only 1 token of address code, you cannot use MAC-address licensing and must switch to disk-based appkeys.

Here is an illustration of what a 4 token, 2 token and 1 token MAC-address appkey will look like:

• 4-token appkey: 0C:60:76:91:A1:79:00:26:B9:08:B5:B0:00:24:D6:25:48:E2:08:00:27:00:24:BD (acceptable, contains 24 address codes)
• 2-token appkey: 00:26:B9:08:B5:B0:00:24:D6:25:48:E2:08:00:27:00:24:BD (acceptable, contains 12 address codes) 

• Single token appkkey: 00:0C:29:D1:3C:56  (not acceptable, contains 6 address codes)

We cannot predict what kind of MAC-address code your computer may produce. This post helps you identify what to interpret out of the appkeys your computer has produced when your run the CP_APPKEY or GT_APPKEY command in CADPower and GeoTools.

In fact, the appkey dialog box (shown above) shows both disk-based and MAC-address based appkeys. You can send both to us and we can decide which of it to use for a successful licensing of our software on your computer.

I hope this post will enlighten our GeoTools/CADPower users about some licensing mechanisms, their strengths and limitations. As you can see, along with the floating network license, we have vastly improved the licensing technologies used in GeoTools and CADpower now.

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GeoTools/CADPower now supports Floating Licenses

Bangalore, India

One of the new features in the V 12.21+ release of GeoTools and CADPower is the support for a floating license which is served over the network.

How does the floating license work?

This post explains how it all works.

Until now, the regular licensing mechanism was based either of computer-based appkeys or the CAD serial numbers. This method ties the license to the computer or the copy of AutoCAD that is running.

In a floating license mechanism, the license file is placed in a pre-specified location on the network which must be a folder which is visible (with read, write, create and delete permissions) to all GeoTools/CADPower users on the network. The master license file stores encrypted information about the number of users that can use the software simultaneously. It also stores the location on the network where the file must be placed. These two pieces of information are encrypted and pre-stored in the file by us.

 For example, on my computer, I have the master license file located in my F drive at this folder:

f:/projects/licenses/floating

All users in our office read up the license from this folder. My computer name is RAKESHRAO-LAPTO. Therefore, the network path and address which will be identified by GeoTools/CADPower users from every computer will be:

//RAKESHRAO-LAPTO/F/PROJECTS/LICENSES/FLOATING

You must use a similar syntax shown above to specify to us your floating license master file location.

In some networks, the network administrator may map a specific location with a drive name. For example, I could also map my F drive as a special letter drive (say N: drive) in which case, the network mapping would mean:

N drive = //RAKESHRAO-LAPTO/F

If you have done such drive mapping, you can then specify the network license path as:

N:/Projects/Licenses/Floating

But, as you would rightly have guessed, the N drive must be mapped thus in all the individual computers.

What information do you need to give us?

Our floating license is based on a very simple mechanism which is entirely Lisp-based. Once you decide you want to use a floating license of GeoTools/CADPower, simply tell us the exact location of the folder on your network where you will store your master license file. We will create a license file for you with the folder name and the number of users written into the license file.

You copy the license file to the specified folder, and, additionally, also keep a copy of the same file on your local computer in the folder where you have installed GeoTools/CADPower.

The license check-in / check-out

When GeoTools/CADPower starts, it reads your local license file first, determines the location of the master license file and reads it. The number of allowed simultaneous use of GeoTools/CADPower is now known and this is kept track of internally in a license transaction file. Each time, a user logs in to use GeoTools/CADPower, a new license is issued (check-in) from the available licenses. When they log out of GeoTools/CADPower, the license is returned (check-out) and can be used by another user.

What happens during a crash of your CAD software?

When AutoCAD or Bricsad crashes, the license is not returned and will still be reported as "in-use" by the crashed computer. Such licenses can be returned or reset by simply starting GeoTools/CADPower again on that computer and exiting. As long as there is a normal exit of your CAD software at any time, the license will always correctly check in and out.

How is a user determined?

The floating license mechanism uses the computer name as the key to determine that a new user is requesting a license. Therefore, you cannot have two computers on your network with the same name. It will cause a conflict. Even Windows networking does not work correctly if there are two computers sharing the same name on the network.

How do I know what kind of licensing I have?

You can go to the More Options sub-menu in your GeoTools/CADPower menu and click on License Info.

 

This is how the license information screen looks like (see above).

Network license pricing

We have not yet announced a network license pricing, but we intend to do that in the future soon, and the cost of a network license of GeoTools/CADPower will be more than a regular stand-alone license. As of now, the network license costs the same as the regular stand-alone licenses.

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How to Use GeoTools and CADPower on The Same Computer - For AutoCAD

Bangalore, India

In my last post, I explained the procedure to be followed to ensure that GeoTools and CADPower run side by side on the same computer on Bricscad. In this post, I will explain how it is to be done in AutoCAD. The procedure is almost similar, only a few file names change.

First, install GeoTools for AutoCAD and CADPower for AutoCAD in the usual way into their own respective folders. At the end of the installation, you see a dialog box that pops up and asks you to do a small configuration step.

Follow the instructions and do as it says.

You will need to add both the CADPower folder as well as GeoTools folder in the Support file search path under the Options command -> Files section. Earlier, you were advised to move the folder to the top of the list. You must still do that and you will end up with GeoTools and CADPower folders as the top/first two folders in the list. Now, comes the catch. The starter file which fires CADPower or GeoTools is called acad.lsp and resides in the respective folder of each software.

For example, the acad.lsp file for CADPower looks like this:

;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | ACAD.LSP
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | Function : Sample startup file for CADPower
;; | Argument : None
;; | Return   : None
;; | Updated  : December 28, 2011
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(load "CP_Load")

;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | Remove the comment from the line below if you want CADPower to load
;; | automatically upon startup in CAD.
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(CP_Load_EN)

 And the acad.lsp file for GeoTools looks like this:

;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | ACAD.LSP
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | Function : Sample startup file for GeoTools
;; | Argument : None
;; | Return   : None
;; | Updated  : June 11, 1999
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(load "GT_Load")

;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | Remove the comment from the line below if you want GeoTools to load
;; | automatically upon startup in AutoCAD.
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(GT_Load_EN)

To give you a little background, these statements are just function calls to load the GeoTools or CADPower executable which is a .VLX file. These functiona reside in a file called GT_LOAD.LSP (for GeoTools) and CP_Load.LSP (for CADPower).

Now, the problem is that your AutoCAD can see only one acad.lsp per session and load it. Obviously, it "sees" and "reads" only the first acad.lsp file from the list, which is the top/first item in the folders list. And that could be the acad.lsp from the CADPower folder or the GeoTools folder, depending on which is at the top of the list. So, the second acad.lsp in the list never gets loaded and therefore only one of either CADPower or GeoTools is loaded.

The solution is very simple - simply copy the contents of both the files into one single acad.lsp file and that file must reside in the folder which is mentioned first on the list.

In other words, your new acad.lsp must look something like this:

;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | ACAD.LSP
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | Function : Sample startup file for CADPower
;; | Argument : None
;; | Return   : None
;; | Updated  : December 28, 2011
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(load "CP_Load")

;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | Remove the comment from the line below if you want CADPower to load
;; | automatically upon startup in CAD.
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(CP_Load_EN)

;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | ACAD.LSP
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | Function : Sample startup file for GeoTools
;; | Argument : None
;; | Return   : None
;; | Updated  : June 11, 1999
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(load "GT_Load")

;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; | Remove the comment from the line below if you want GeoTools to load
;; | automatically upon startup in AutoCAD.
;; | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(GT_Load_EN)

This ensures that both the software get loaded and can be used alongside each other.

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How to use GeoTools and CADPower Together on The Same Computer - For Bricscad

Bangalore, India

With the old GeoTools splitting and giving birth to the new GeoTools and CADPower, there is one question that every one is asking - How to use GeoTools and CADPower on the same computer together?

In this post, we will explain how to do it in Bricscad.

First, install GeoTools for Bricscad and CADPower for Bricscad in the usual way into their own respective folders. At the end of the installation, you see a dialog box that pops up and asks you to do a small configuration step.

 Follow the instructions and do as it says. If you want to know more about this step, you can also read one of my old blog posts titled How to Configure GeoTools For Bricscad?. Although it is an old post explaining about GeoTools, the process is exactly similar and valid for CADPower also.

You will need to add both the CADPower folder as well as GeoTools folder in the Support file search path under the Settings command -> Files section. Earlier, you were advised to move the folder to the top of the list. You must still do that and you will end up with GeoTools and CADPower folders as the top/first two folders in the list. Now, comes the catch. The starter file which fires CADPower or GeoTools is called on_doc_load.lsp and resides in the respective folder of each software.

For example, the on_doc_load.lsp file for CADPower looks like this:

(setvar "FILEDIA" 0)
(load "CADPower_EN_BC.des")

And the on_doc_load.lsp file for GeoTools looks like this:

(setvar "FILEDIA" 0)
(load "GeoTools_EN_BC.des")

To give you a little background, these statements are just a call to load the GeoTools or CADPower executable which is a .DES file as you can see.

Now, the problem is that your Bricscad can see only one on_doc_load.lsp per session and load it. Obviously, it "sees" and "reads" only the first on_doc_load.lsp file from the list, which is the top/first item in the folders list. And that could be the on_doc_load.lsp from the CADPower folder or the GeoTools folder, depending on which is at the top of the list. So, the second in the list on_doc_load.lsp never gets loaded and therefore only one of either CADPower or GeoTools is loaded.

The solution is very simple - simply copy the contents of both the files into one single on_doc_load.lsp and that file must reside in the folder which is mentioned first on the list.

In other words, your new on_doc_load.lsp must look something like this:

(setvar "FILEDIA" 0)
(load "GeoTools_EN_BC.des")

(setvar "FILEDIA" 0)
(load "CADPower_EN_BC.des")

This ensures that both the software get loaded and can be used alongside each other.

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CAD Products Split - New CADPower and New GeoTools Released

Bangalore, India

 

               

Four Dimension Technologies and Coordinate Systems are pleased to announce the release of CADPower - our new general purpose productivity tool for AutoCAD and Bricscad.

Today, we also re-launch GeoTools in its new avatar, containing tools which are required only for the geographic, mapping and civil/survey CAD users.

The latest builds of these software have been given version number 12.21, which is the next update after 12.20, which was the last released version of unsplit GeoTools.

The purpose of this split and the re-branding exercise has been to make the two products address their target markets in a clear manner without causing confusion.

During this process, we are also re-designing our web-sites to make it simpler and easier to use and navigate.

It has taken us this long to get all the ducks in a row and ensure that the products are stable enough for a release.

There may be still be some areas in the product code-base and on our web-site/documentation that needs polishing. We will be working on this tirelessly to ensure that you have a pleasant experience using these products. Your feedback and constructive criticism are most welcome, as always.

For those of you who are reading about our products for the first time, here is the background info.

GeoTools has been in existence since 1999 and contained over 275+ tools for general CAD productivity and many specifically for geographic CAD data users. It ran on both AutoCAD and Bricscad platforms, and enjoyed a user-base of over 1000+ distinct customers in about 35 countries. Now, we have split the tool collection into a pure-GeoTools software and the rest into CADPower - for the general CAD users.

Here is a quick summary of some important points to note about the two products:

• GeoTools contains mainly only those CAD tools that typically surveyors, mapping professionals, GIS-CAD data users and other geo-data users would find useful. For instance, you will not find tools to do CAD file management, multiple DWG formats, batch processing and so on.
• Pure CAD productivity tools that are of interest to ALL CAD users have been shifted to CADPower. For instance, you will not find Civil, AutoCAD Map and Drawing Cleanup tools in CADPower.
• There are some common tools which are available and repeated in both GeoTools and CADPpower.
• All GeoTools commands will be prefixed with GT_ and all CADPower commands will be prefixed with CP_
• Many GeoTools users may find CADPower also very useful, because general CAD management tools are required for everyone. In such cases, you are advised to purchase both GeoTools and CADPower.

What's new in GeoTools and CADPower?

• Support for network/floating licensing in case of a multi-user license environment, in addition to the existing methods (long standing user request).
• Long pull-down menus have been further classified and bunched into sub-categories. This will make it easier for you to locate your favorite commands and remember their locations as well. In short, we have taken one big step to remove the clutter of commands that hits the eye, especially when you are dealing with Polyline, Blocks, AutoCAD Map and Miscellaneous Tools (again a long standing user request).
• Support for online license verification through internet (makes license management easier).
• We hope that the single biggest feature of these software is that it is going to be easier to use than before.
• Full support for MAC-address based appkeys. The MAC-address based appkeys have been now tested thoroughly under various network conditions and is more reliable than ever. Although disk-based appkeys are still available, users are encouraged to provide us with MAC-address based appkeys.


Pricing Structure:

• A single user license of GeoTools will now be USD 129.
• A single user license of CADPower will now be USD 109.
• If you require both CADPower and GeoTools, a combo price of USD 219 is possible.
• These are promotion prices, and expected to be in place atleast until May 2012, when the next release, V13 will be out.
• Bricscad users in India will now get a license of CADPower free with every purchase of Bricscad from us. GeoTools will no longer be available free for Bricscad purchases in India (except if provided by special arrangement).

What are your advantage now?

• With the 275+ tools split up into two products, each with is own focus, you now can expect better value for your money depending on what exactly you want.
• You now have to choose to purchase either GeoTools or CADPower or both because you now know what exactly you will get in either of them.
• For the general CAD user, CADPower offers better brand recall and understanding of what it provides, rather than a GeoTools which seems to suggest only geo-related tools.

Supported platforms and versions:

• GeoTools 12.21 / CADPower 12.21 and later will be supported on AutoCAD versions 2007 onwards until 2012. Support for AutoCAD 2004, 2005 and 2006 has been dropped.
• Under Bricscad, GeoTools/CADPower 12.21 and later will be supported on Bricscad 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.

Licensing for new users:

• GeoTools and CADPower generate the same appkey for the computer where it is used but the license file for each of these will be different. The file naming convention is same like before - GeoToolsUser12_EN_AC.rgs is the name of the license file for GeoTools V12, English version for AutoCAD. CADPowerUser12_EN_AC.rgs is the name of the license file for CADPowers V12, English version for AutoCAD.

Licensing for existing users:

• Existing users of GeoTools V12 will receive a free license of CADPower V12 for the same appkey to which the GeoTools license is issued. If we have not yet been able to reach you by email/phone, please drop us an email and request your CADPower V12 license.
• Existing users of GeoTools v12 can continue to use their existing GeoTools V12 license file with no change.
• Existing users of GeoTools v12 can continue to use the old unsplit GeoTools product if they like but there will be no further updates to that product.
• All new commands, enhancements and bug fixes will now appear on the new product only.

What to expect in the future?

• We have lots of ideas and plans for the future. The first and foremost immediate task is to ensure that the two products run smoothly and deliver on their promise.
• Next, we will start adding new features to these products, some of which we already did in this build or is work-in-progress.
• In particular, we plan to add many new features in CADPower for general CAD productivity for the Bricscad user, with a goal to make Bricscad an even more attractive platform to use.
• We will also strive to fully support all the new object types in AutoCAD like dynamic blocks, sheet sets etc and make our products comfortable with these data types.
• We will continue to provide tools for the CAD user to work smarter and not harder in the chosen CAD environment - AutoCAD or Bricscad.

Foreign language versions of CADPower and GeoTools

• The software is available in all three operating languages - English, Spanish and German.
• While English and Spanish have been fully translated and complete, the German version still has some areas of user-interface in English. This will be fixed shortly.


Lastly:

We have a lot more to tell and show you about these products. All of it is not possible in this post. Stay tuned for more info and activity on our blog and through the newsletter.

Disclaimer:

GeoTools and CADPower are released-products but the commands available in each software are subject to small changes. In other words, we have bunched about 150 commands each in these products based on a preliminary sort and we may shuffle a few of them across the two products in the coming weekes/months, based on user feedback or design change. The number, order and occurence of commands within CADPower and GeoTools may change without prior notice. We expect the contents of the two software to stabilize in a few weeks/months.

Direct download URLs:

GeoTools for AutoCAD:

 ** 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

CADPower for AutoCAD:

 ** 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

GeoTools for Bricscad:

 ** English: http://www.coordsys.com/geotools/download/geotools_bricscad_en.exe
 ** German: http://www.coordsys.com/geotools/download/geotools_bricscad_de.exe
 ** Spanish: http://www.coordsys.com/geotools/download/geotools_bricscad_es.exe

CADPower for Bricscad:

 ** English: http://www.coordsys.com/cadpower/download/cadpower_bricscad_en.exe
 ** German: http://www.coordsys.com/cadpower/download/cadpower_bricscad_de.exe
 ** Spanish: http://www.coordsys.com/cadpower/download/cadpower_bricscad_es.exe

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

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!!