microsites>>   

Geoff Harrod

DataCAD is one the oldest specifically architectural CAD systems, and one of the earliest that provided an effective and easily useable 3D design environment. It gained a big following and its adherents have always strongly praised its ease and speed of use. Like all CAD systems on DOS at the time, it adopted its own conventions of user interface logic and style. Its operational logic and on-screen arrangement bore considerable similarity to CADkey, which was, I think, developed by the same team.

DataCAD was very slow moving to adopt Windows, and I think it lost quite a bit of support as a result. When it did move to Windows it retained most of the screen layout and user interface logic and style of the DOS versions. This latest Windows version still keeps the essence of its well-proven user interface logic, but has cleaned up the style of appearance somewhat. This, of course, suits its established users very well, as they are very happy with the operational aspects of the system. For those choosing an architectural CAD product for the first time, after having used Windows programs a lot, DataCAD’s rather idiosyncratic style might be a bit off-putting. But the important thing is that it has been very well proved as an efficient and easy system with its existing style.

It is not as immediately intuitive to those used to typical Windows products as some Windows CAD products, but the logic of its operation and control elements are very quickly learned. It is often the case that easy-to-learn (or use immediately) is often not the same as easy-to-use in daily on-going work. I hope the above doesn’t sound too apologetic – there really isn’t anything to apologise for – DataCAD is proven effective and stands on its merits.

One factor in its popularity has always been its relatively low cost, and this is still true. But it is not a ‘light’ product, or limited in scope, as is often the case with lower-cost options. I am a bit confused however, as this is called DataCAD LT. I am not familiar enough with DataCAD and its ‘not-LT’ versions to tell what is absent, but it clearly has considerable scope of application.

DataCAD LT 10 uses exactly the same drawing data files as LT 9, and it also reads data files from DataCAD 10 (that is, ‘not-LT’), DataCAD Plus (whatever that is), and from versions back to DataCAD 4. Its data files use a name-extension of DC5. Facilities are provided for importing and exporting AutoCAD DWG and DXF data files. The inevitable translations that are needed are well handled and under user control.

The on-line help system is provided as an Acrobat PDF file rather than the more usual Windows Help system format. I think this is actually an advantage, as it always seems frustrating to navigate the Windows Help system and excessively difficult to get useable prints from it. The Acrobat file can of course be printed easily, and it has a ‘tree-style’ side-panel index that hot-links to the pages of the document, which is in fact the full manual. It also has a full text search facility.

The full screen images show the general style of the system. I have set the work area background to a darkish blue-green rather than the default black because (a) I hate black, and (b) anything other than black displays more clearly in print or on restricted size web images. It also proves that you can do that!

The main control mechanism is the text menu area on the left, very Dos and Cadkey-like. This continually changes to a different set of menu buttons as you pick items or depending on the operational context. It may seem a bit ‘old fashioned’, but it works well once you are familiar with it. There are also toolbar icon buttons as can be seen.

Features added in this version 10 release include TrueType fonts in addition to the original stroke fonts that DataCAD had from its inception. On DOS, CAD systems always had to devise their own text font system. DataCAD’s was quite a good system, but it is good that it now supports the standard Windows fonts, which give a more ‘presentation quality’ result. TrueType text can be converted into DataCAD curve objects and transformed into 3D for designing signage on buildings.

The original line-based hatch patterns have now been supplemented by solid colour, pattern and bitmap infills. This again helps in producing high quality prints for brochures. Raster image files can now be inserted as external references. BMP and JPG formats are supported, in bi-tonal (black/white), greyscale and b-bit to 32-bit colour. These imported images can be scaled to match the real-world scale of the vector drawing, such as for example, with aerial photograph site plans, without becoming too degraded.

There is now a separate Windows program called, oddly, "o2c" that is a 3D rendered object viewer. This can appear within the DataCAD design session to display 3D models with good shading and interactive viewpoint control – that is, for ‘walk-throughs’ etc.

Another separate program that links with DataCAD LT 10 is eZmeeting. This is a third-party product that provides peer-to-peer internet conferencing, so that designers in different locations can work on the same project and view each others work as they discuss it. They can also mark on the displayed data. This software can be downloaded as a try-out version, and then bought if it proves useful.

A welcome addition is support for the ‘wheel’ type of mouse to control zooming.

DataCAD is a product that, frankly, doesn’t impress immediately. But it’s very rare to find users of it that are not full of praise for it. In these days when building designers are casting around for lower cost and less complex solutions that support 3D well, DataCAD is a hot contender. You need to spend a bit of time evaluating it with real work, to get past its initial awkwardness and find its real capability and useability. It is excellent value and very capable.

Please rate our article...

 

Sponsored Links

AnyDWG Offers DWG to PDF, DWG to DXF, PDF to DWG, DWG to JPG, PDF to DXF Converters

AutoDWG offers DWF to DWG, DWG to PDF , PDF to DWG, DWG to Flash Converters, DWG Viewer.

eCampus.com Get your stuff for College... Cheap! Textbooks, Greek Gear, DVD's, University Clothing, Computers and MORE!

Access Your PC from Anywhere Free Trial plus 10% Off!