Porting a Commercial Application to IntelliCAD 98

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Struc Plus, IntelliCAD, structural drafting, engineering, add-on, application, developer

Originally developed for AutoCAD and shipping in versions for AutoCAD R14, AutoCAD LT and FelixCAD, Struc Plus is an affordable, leading-edge, 2D structural engineering and drafting application. Struc Plus was recently ported to IntelliCAD 98.

Struc Plus is a suite of parametrically-driven modules using dialogue box commands to provide a suite of tools an macros used in the preparation of structural engineering drawings. It was ported to IntelliCAD 98 early in 1998 using the IntelliCAD beta preview and was commercially available before the release version of IntelliCAD shipped.

The original version of Struc Plus was developed in AutoLISP to run on top of AutoCAD. The application has since been ported to a Visual Basic version for use with AutoCAD LT. Another version was also developed for use with FelixCAD which also uses a version of LISP that has similarities to AutoLISP.

The release of IntelliCAD presented a very exciting opportunity for Struc Plus. As well as being able to provide an add-on software product, the company was able to bundle IntelliCAD 98 and Struc Plus software to provide a very attractive total solution. A similar bundle was not an option with AutoCAD due to strict channel requirements.

Moving an application from its original development base to another supposedly "compatible" application is not task for the feint-hearted. The "gotchas" are just waiting to jump out and bite you at every turn.

Developer Peter Coburn answered Design Drawing's questions on the port.

DD: How long did it take to get Struc Plus running with IntelliCAD?
PC: I had all the same programs that we have available within Struc Plus 14 (for ACAD14) working within 30 minutes of loading IntelliCAD

DD: Did you have to make any changes to the code?
PC: The only major changes that we had to make were to create an autoload mechanism and a specific menu file for Struc Plus for IntelliCAD.

DD: What was the nature of these changes?
PC: Our Struc Plus 14 program loads via a *.MNL. As this option is not supported in IntelliCAD we had to create a one line ICAD.LSP file. We initially used our Struc Plus 14 menu file which also included the full version of the AutoCAD R14 ACAD.MNU file. However, we ended up creating a menu specifically for use with the Struc Plus for IntelliCAD version.
Quite a few of the AutoCAD menu's toolbars, tablet, screen area, images and a small selection of commands (mainly 3D solid commands) are not supported in IntelliCAD, so it was very much a trimmed down version of that used with R14.

DD: Is there any difference in Struc Plus for ICAD and Struc Plus for ACAD?
PC: The exact same program files are used for both our ACAD R14 and IntelliCAD versions. We have included a new loading mechanism and menu file. Some files are excluded as they are not supported by IntelliCAD, i.e. ACAD.PGP file.

DD: Are there any benefits in running Struc Plus for ICAD (for developers or users)?
PC: Apart from the massive difference in pricing (which can be a major factor) both versions are identical. Of course, IntelliCAD as some features that AutoCAD users have been screaming out for many a year, i.e. M.D.I. While R14 has the Whip display list driver and 3D solid modeling, an advanced user of AutoCAD/Struc Plus 14 coming across to this product might be frustrated with the difference in speed. However, in terms of functionality and pricing these will easily be forgotten.

DD: What would you like to see fixed/changed/added to ICAD that would improve Struc Plus?
PC: IntelliCAD does appear to have a number of minor bugs which require fixing, some of these are aesthetic and of very little concern but a true convert would expect to see them a standard part of IntelliCAD.

These would include:

better support for the DCL files used in R14 (some tiles are not aligning properly)
support for associative hatching
support for TTF (True Type fonts)
XCLIP command

DD: Anything else to add?
PC: One of the reasons that IntelliCAD's pricing is so low is that it does not contain the ACIS solid modeler. Perhaps when Visio has concluded negotiations on this issue 3D solid modeling in IntelliCAD will be provided as an optional add-on module. Only 10% of the users are likely to use solid modeling and providing the feature as an option will keep the cost low for the majority of users.. We have included the 3DSteel module within Struc Plus for IntelliCAD software, but we have resorted back to the simple 3D method adopted in R12.

We have already seen strong sales of this product within it's first month of release and expect this to continue. A lot of our customers are dumping AutoCAD LT in favor of IntelliCAD, after all it is only (A)$200 more than an LT95 upgrade. Most of our customers have purchased IntelliCAD as their "second or third seat", this gives them the best of both worlds (3D capability with their existing R14 and everyday 2D drafting from ICAD).

One customer had requested an upgrade from his AutoCAD R11 to R14 and was disgusted to learn that this upgrade was to cost him the equivalent of a new R14 license. They also wanted a "second seat" and certainly didn't wish to spent (A)$10,000.00+. For less than (A)$1,200.00 they got their wish and are very happy having saved at least $8,800.00 plus the reduced costs of hardware upgrades to handle a 32-bit IntelliCAD versus a 32-bit R14.

Struc Plus is an application that was a very successful product before IntelliCAD 98 appeared on the scene. Porting Struc Plus to IntelliCAD was a relatively painless process and has opened the door to new and expanded business opportunities for its developers.

Also online in Design Drawing, Struc Plus- Behind the Scenes, the story of Struc Plus from the begining.

http://www.struc-plus.com

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