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Review: DigiTools Ci

Tony Zilles

DigiTools Ci is an application design built on top of Visio Technical for designers of consumer and custom home electronic systems. This the booming business of designing and installing home communications and entertainment systems. Cobbling these systems together goes well beyond plugging in a few patch cables and hoping for the best.

Supply and installation contracts for home communications and entertainment systems are often valued in excess of $50,000 with the high end exceeding what most people (or their spouses) would consider a fair thing for personal pleasure. Competition is tough for the cream of the jobs and as you might expect the bigger the contract the more sophisticated the installation and the environment that it will be installed in.

There is simply no room for an error in pricing these jobs. It is vital that every piece of equipment is included and all connecting cables are identified. Installations are roughed in during construction in the case of new buildings and once construction has passed a certain point, there is no scope to go in and run another cable because you forgot one earlier on.

Needless to say, this kind of project is already sizing up as a prime candidate for some kind of automated tracking of equipment and connections to be made. What could be better than a system that allows you to build the system by dragging equipment from a choice selection of the best and dropping into an equipment layout simultaneously drawing the system design and tracking the equipment.

What we’re talking about now is DigiTools Ci. This sophisticated design tool for custom installations is a complete design and documentation solution for custom home electronics installation. DigiTools is based on Visio Technical. The base software provides the graphics engine and the programmable interface that has enabled the creation of the powerful features of DigiTools Ci. In fact by basing DigiTools on Visio has enabled the developers to create the epitome of intelligent drag-and drop solutions. It is easy to use and more powerful than any suite of applications you might have used before in an attempt to achieve the kind of results that DigiTools can give you at the click of a mouse. It combines database, CAD system, materials list generator, estimation package (in the full version) and presentation graphics in one very easy to use, almost fool-proof package.

DigTools Ci ships on CD-ROM and is simple to install. Professional results do depend on following a structured procedure. While this will soon become second nature to regular users, first-timers should check out the CD-based tutorials to learn the ropes. (If you're interested in a closer look at DigiTools checkout the online tutorials on the website - URL below.)

The electronic tutorial was developed with Lotus ScreenCam and is a well-produced multi-media learning experience. These guys know what they’re doing and they enjoy their work. Let me tell you it shows and is equally reflected in the attention to detail that DigiTools embodies.

Remember when installing DigiTools to install it in the default location, otherwise Visio won’t be able to find it when you try to open a new DigiTools drawing . There are ways around this little anomaly, be hey, it’s easier not to rock the boat and start getting too clever. Let’s face it, we just want to get some drawings out the door and that’s where DigiTools will excel.

DigiTools is a complete application and there is so much about it that is good value that a detailed description would go on forever. The next few paragraphs are an attempt to reveal the multiple levels on which DigiTools Ci works as a complete solution.

Firstly the structured approach to creating a design is methodical and ensures that all information is collected and base data organized for any eventuality that could occur in the design. Designing the system is a simple matter of selecting component shapes from the stencils. You fill in the behind the scenes data in dialog boxes and you’ll find that most of the data that you’ll need is already there for you to select. Need to add some hot new piece of equipment. Not a problem, DigiTools lets you do that too.

DigiTools Ci creates professional looking drawings that really do impress as you design the proposed installation.

While you’re putting the design together it becomes immediately apparent that you are also creating a very professional looking drawing and all you have to do is drag and drop. Adam Stone, president of Digital Tools says that the resulting drawings are a very effective presentation tool when pitching your proposal to a client. When comparing bids clients will often favor the presentation that shows them how the system will look in the den or family room over those that only show lists of prices.

Because Visio can import CAD drawings, you can work directly with the architect’s plans for a house. This ensures that your drawings look the same as all the other contractors and eliminates the need to redraw, along with all the introduced errors that inevitably join in for the party.

DigiTools uses Visio's ability to import DWG files to create plans directly from the architect's drawings.

Being based on Visio Technical also means that you can customize DigiTools in the same way that you could customize Visio. You do not have to be a programming wizard to do this and most users only ever go as far as creating their own master symbols, borders or standard details. Some never need to use this facility, but it is a very handy and powerful option for those who want it.

Rear panels and connections are easily managed and documented in these easy-to-build schematics in DigiTools Ci.

The faceplates of this high-end communications and entertainment look great, but the rear panels and connection schedules that are the business end. DigiTools also documents this aspect of the design. Visio connectors are endowed with cable data and glued to connection sockets that allow the entire system schematic to be drawn so it looks great and communicates efficiently and effectively.

Of course the design drawings look great, but the real strength of DigiTools Ci is in the underlying database procedures that create a wide variety of reports you can use in your presentation, equipment orders and cable documentation charts.

There was no aspect of DigiTools Ci that did not impress. DigiTools Ci is a working tool for industry professionals. It is a classic result of one guy having a professional itch and devising a software tool to do the scratching. Adam Stone is a seasoned designer of custom home electronic systems and the system he has created with Digital Tools will be a welcome relief for many designers in the custom home electronics business.

Without doubt, much of the success of DigiTools Ci stems from the fact that is was built on Visio Technical. But even that in itself signals a wise decision on behalf of the developers, who have been able to stand on the shoulders of a giant in the technical drawing marketplace. Highly recommended.

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