| The latest service release
provided by Visio for IntelliCAD provides features users have been asking for. It further
reduces the compatibility gap between IntelliCAD 98 and AutoCAD R14. It also povides a
couple of new features that extend user facility even further than before. This document is an overview of the features that Service Path D
brings to IntelliCAD 98. Analysis of these features will follow in other documents in
future.
Overview
Service Patch D was released to manufacturing
on the 15th of January 1999 and is now available to end users. Registered users will
receive a free copy of the CD update in the post. Existing users who haven't registered
can call toll-free Visio Customer Service at 1-800-647-227 (North America) and, after
they've registered, we will send out the Service Release D update CD. The Service Release
is also be available for download from the Visio website for those who don't have a
problem with a 12Mb download.
Service Release Features in Brief
- Significant performance improvements including
realtime panning and zooming
- New print output facilities
- Complete control of viewport layer visibility
- Ability to retain changes to external reference layers
- New dimensioning controls for tolerance and alternate
units
- Digitiser tablet support with a new tablet overlay
- New boundary polyline command for hatching
- Displaying hatch entities
- Numerous enhancements to the application programming
interfaces (LISP, SDS, DCL)
Realtime Zoom and Pan
Users can dynamically pan using a Ctrl-Shft key and right mouse button combo
to pan and left mouse button to zoom in realtime. Realtime panning an zooming is also
available using a mouse with a wheel.
Internal Support for Line Weight, Color, Any Windows Printer
and Printer Configuration
A new WinLINE plotter driver and enhaced printing and plotting features allow line
weights to be assigned in IntelliCAD 98. Direct support for all Windows printers is
included multiple printer configurations can be saved and restored through
AutoCAD-compatible PCP configuration files. See New
Printing Features in IntelliCAD 98 1.0d
Viewport Layer Visilibity Control
The visibility of layers in viewports can be controlled using the Viewport
Layers (VPLAYER) command. Layers that display in one viewport can be made
invisible in other viewports within the same drawing.
Layer visibility in viewports can also be
controlled using the Drawing Explorer.
Cut, Paste and Copy
Entities can now be cut, copy, and pasted entities between IntelliCAD and
AutoCAD using the Windows clipboard. Entities are pasted as either ActiveX objects or
drawing entities.
Retain Changes to XREF Layers
Users can save any modifications to external reference layers (XREFs) by
setting the VISRETAIN system variable to ON. The VISRETAIN system variable can also be
controlled from within the IntelliCAD Drawing Explorer.
New Dimension Controls
Two new tabs have been added to the Dimension Settings dialog box; Tolerance and
Alternate Units. Tolerance or limits dimensions can be defined and alternate dimensions
can be indicated in addition to primary dimensions.
Boundary Polyline Command
Designate a specific area of a drawing for operations
such as hatching and dimensioning with the Boundary Polyline command.
Digitiser Tablet Support
IntelliCAD now offers a digitizer tablet interface for both menu and
calibrated digitizer entries. Users can order the IntelliCAD 98 tablet overlay by
completing and returning an order card that will be provided with the release CD or by
calling (800) 24-VISIO (800-248-4746). These numbers apply only to North American users.
INternational users should check the Visio website for details. There maybe a nominal
charge for the delivery of the overlay.
Several new LISP commands that support tablet
customization have also been added to IntelliCAD 98. These commands are not compatible
with AutoCAD tablet customization commands.
AutoCAD R14 Hatch Display
IntelliCAD 98 now displays hatch entities in drawings created in Autodesk
AutoCAD Release 14.
Scroll Bar Control
Now you can turn the editing window scroll bars on or off.
User Programming Enhancements
A number of compatibility issues have been
addressed in this release. This issues will be addressed in detail elsewhere on Design
Drawing (use the site search facility).
Editor's Opinion
A great release from Visio and sure to address the requirements of many users and
potential users. Digitizer support, VPLAYER and the printing enhancements are a great leap
forward and are sure to please many users and prospective users.
Still missing is TrueType support, XCLIP and BHATCH.
This will raise hackles in the newsgroup and in discussion forums where a vocal few will
argue that they cannot bring their company across to IntelliCAD without these features.
Maybe they can't and maybe they never will, because there will always be one reason or
another why IntelliCAD just doesn't cut it. But for many others, the shortfalls are either
irrelevant, or more than matched by the enormous benefits that IntelliCAD has in
abundance.
IntelliCAD is cutting into AutoCAD's market and what
a choice opportunity it had to do so. At the end of the day however, it is just another
CAD package, with pros and cons that users must weigh up before they buy and while
they use it.
IntelliCAD suits some and not others. Users can only
judge what it has to offer today.
The new features sound great on paper, in the next
month or so we'll put Service Release D through the wringer and report on the practical
results.
Tip: Get the service release on CD. It's a lot more
reliable than a download and far more convenient to upgrade an installation when you have
to reinstall because you just got a new computer.
Tony Zilles
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