Topic Title

To all,

I've not left the building yet with DataCAD, even though I thought my other CAD tool with 3D Parametrics+BIM functions & in-house rendering would only be required. However, it just doesn't have the 2D-tools that DataCAD has to plot/draw up building surveys & initial 2D design plans for extensions & alteration works ease.

I've therefore just purchased an upgrade from my trusted DataCAD ver.18 to 23 & wondered if I should also upgrade to Window OS Pro ver.11 (from 10) before I fire up the DC installer !

Any thoughts from others with Window OS Pro ver.11 would be most appreciated.

Over & Out,
Clayton.

Windows 11 is ok. It does have a few new features and upgrades in it's current form that are nice but there is no technical reason that I can think of that is a reason you HAVE to upgrade to Windows 11 right now. My biggest gripe about Windows 11 is that they keep changing stuff seemingly for the sake of changing stuff and their constant pushing of new "features". There are toggles to turn most of it off in Settings now, but you have to know where to find them. There are some new system requirements for Windows 11. You can download the PC Health App to see if your current system meets the requirements. If it passes you should be able to upgrade to Windows 11 fine. The most often reason you may not be able to upgrade to Windows 11 is TPM (Trusted platform Module). A system may not have one or the function may not be turned on in your UEFI (BIOS) which you should be able to toggle on fairly easily. If the Windows 11 Start Menu and Taskbar changes drives you nuts, I highly recommend Start 11 v2 to get it back to working like Windows 10.

I agree with Josh - make the jump if you want to but I haven't seen any real improvements in W11 from W10, but I haven't had any problems with V23 in W11 either.

Thanks for the info Josh & Alan,

My Win OS Pro ver.10 reminds me my PC can be upgraded to ver.11, but have deferred this for sometime now as also wanted to upgrade DataCAD ver.23 & few other applications. I need to get a few projects out the door first, so when done, I'll report back.

To be sure as you note, I just ran the Windows PC-Health-App, & this also seems ok, see attachment.

I also upgraded my Stardock Windows Blinds to ver.11, so might have look at Stardock Start 11 ver.2

Thanks again
Over & out,
Clayton.

To all,
I finally installed MS-Win OS ver.11 Pro on my PC & all seems to be running o.k. with the programmes I've used so far including DC ver.18.

I installed DC ver.23 today & this also initially seemed to run ok as well, however, for some reason, the move-up/move-down blue arrow icons on the Layer manager when clicked grey's out & the highlighted layers don't move. I tried the same with DC ver.18 thinking it may be something to do with MS-OS-ver.11, but it works ok.

Therefore, any thoughts on this will be most appreciated.

In addition to the above, I’ve also noticed when using Paragraph Text with KnockOut status on i.e. YES, & the Knockout border off, i.e. NO, a line border appears around the text when viewing in Print Preview, despite the Print Boundary also being off i.e. NO in the Paragraph Text Properties.

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Another update.

One of the first things I did when installing DC ver.23, was to check if there were any updates from the DC help pull down menu & this noted I had the latest version, i.e. 23.00.01.02, I was oblivious to an update i.e. 23.00.02.21, that DC customer support informed me of.

Anyway, after this was installed, the move-up/move-down blue arrow icons on the Layer manager when clicked still grey's out, but the highlighted layer now does indeed move. However, you only get the one move until you click on another layer to move & the move-up/move-down arrow icons turns blue again. On my previous version, DC18, there was no greying out of the arrow icons & you could move any layer or multiple layers in the list to anywhere in the list of layers you wanted, i.e. more than one move.

The Paragraph Text with KnockOut status, on i.e. YES, & the Knockout border off, i.e. NO, the line border that previously appeared around the text when viewing in Print Preview with the Print Boundary also being off i.e. NO in the Paragraph Text properties, seems to have been corrected.


Over & Out,
Clayton Taylor

...for some reason, the move-up/move-down blue arrow icons on the Layer manager when clicked grey's out & the highlighted layers don't move....

I don't think I have ever used these buttons so I am not sure how they worked before, but here on Windows 11, they work once by moving selected layers up one spot above the top selected layer, which I would think is a pretty limited use case. I would suggest using the mouse to move and drag your selected layers into their spot in the layer list which lets you position the layers at any point in the layer list.

....I’ve also noticed when using Paragraph Text with KnockOut status on i.e. YES, & the Knockout border off, i.e. NO, a line border appears around the text when viewing in Print Preview, despite the Print Boundary also being off i.e. NO in the Paragraph Text Properties.

What do you have set under the View, KnockOuts... drop down menu?

Hi josh,

Layer Manager blue arrow icons, as noted on my updated message, worked better with DC18. So, as you note, dragging with mouse pointer does the same, but would like this fixed (DC-HQ) as per DC18.

As for the Paragraph text & knockOut with the line borders being on in print preview, this appears to be fixed with the latest update. However, to answer your question, I have KnockOut Display & Compatibility Mode ticked.

Thanks Josh for your thoughts on this one.

Over & out,
Clayton

To all,

So far I do like Win 11 & DataCAD ver23 & the subtle UI changes, however, I guess I've some catching up to do with fully understanding DC updates from ver18 to 23.

Anyway, that aside, todays query is:-

DRAWING WINDOW OPACITY (Whats New page 79 DC ver22)
I think I sort of understand what this new option is trying clarify its use is for, but would like to see a practical demo (video) to fully understand its function. I tried it, but got lost & now can't seem to change my screen back to normal from when I set it to 50%. I tried the initial value of Zero, but it didn't seem to change from 50%. The tick mark I thought could be "unticked" so to speak, but not an option. So the only way to escape, was to restart DC

I guess I'm not understanding this one, any help as ever will be most appreciated.

Over & out,
Clayton.

Ps. screen capture added.
PPs. I must have miss-read the previous pop-up menu on the opacity function, as setting it to 100 brings the UI back to normal & without the tick mark. I'm still thinking of a practical use for this tool though....

Hi Clayton,

If you insert a scan of a jpg or pdf (site plan, sketch, image etc.), you can set the screen transparency to allow you to 'see through' to the scan inserted behind then you can trace / draw over as required.

Hi Clayton,

If you insert a scan of a jpg or pdf (site plan, sketch, image etc.), you can set the screen transparency to allow you to 'see through' to the scan inserted behind then you can trace / draw over as required.

Hi MB,
Yes, understood this was one of the intentions noted, I'll have to experiment further with this function I guess, but it's just "eye-balling" the image below I assume, as there's no magical snapping & also alignment of the two files may be tricky, especially when going back to both files if the 'extents' have been changed.

Over & out,
Clayton.

Depending on what the image is, you can use the Enlarge / Enlargement / Calibrate Distance to get the image to a reasonable accuracy by zooming in when left mouse clicking to start the measurement. There's also the Settings / Fat Cursor option to use to make it easier to see the crosshair over the image. I've used these features for DA's when modelling surrounding buildings from aerial photos and it's a good time saver for its purpose.

To all, (previously posted on DC22 page)

I recently updated my Windows OS-10 Pro-64-bit to v11 & DataCAD software from v18 to v23.00.02.21 (PE) & slowly looking at & trying to understand certain updates. The import PDF file type is new one to me, but when I try this, I get the below message:-

GUI Error: This application requires the ielib64.dll plug-in, v8.0.0.0.

Therefore, is it safe to:-
Install this .dll plug-in ?
Where do I get this file from ?
Where is it meant to be installed ?

That aside, AlanT suggested a DC repair in the pull-down DC menu, which I did. However, I still get the above GUI error, but I do note the rectangular insert is now attach to the mouse pointer & the pdf file can now be inserted !
But not too sure why I'm getting the GUI error, unless I still need to install the plug-in !

Any thoughts on this will be appreciated.

Over & out,
Clayton

Hi Clayton,
With Datacad shutdown, unzip the DLL file into your 'C:\Datacad 23\Utility' folder and give it a try. This is the file that Datacad should have installed.

Thanks Josh,
I'll try that later.

Over & out,
Clayton

To all,

I was wondering if anyone is having any hatch & fill issues with DataCad ver.23 ?

I was working on quite complex elevation with rectangular windows/doors with the inner pane drawn as a polylines. I then had to update this elevation with some glass balusters/vert posts in front, also drawn with polylines in part & all on separate layers. I wanted to fill the glass with a .jpeg fill pattern I've used for years with DC. To make this easier to undertake, I turned the baluster layer off. Also, some glass panes that are behind the balusters that clash with the posts, I decided to cut a small section out of the polyline glass line so it wouldn't show through when I turn the baluster layer back on.

Anyway, on first attempt using the fill with rectangle option, snapping to opposite corners of the rectangular polyline pane (with line cut out), DC hangs ! .... no option but to invoke the task manager to end DC. I tried the repair function on restart of that file, some rogue items found & removed, but hatching/fill is hanging when attempting this again. Grrrr !

I may need the experts at DC HQ to resolve this one I guess.

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I just opened the same file in my old DC18 version & all looks ok. So started where I left off with DC23 to continuing my hatching/fill again & all seems to work so far with DC not Hanging. Early day's I guess as just one fill attempt, but if stable, I may have to finish this project in DC18. Not too sure the extent of the updates with DC23 compared with DC18 where hatching/fill is concerned. So thoughts by all will be most appreciated.

Over & out,
Clayton Taylor

Ps. Now I've been working on the same file ok in DC18 for a few hours with all hatches/fills complete, I forgot to note, DC23 is slower when I do a manual save with the same file ! DC18 is one second or less, however, DC23 on doing a manual save, the DC drawing cross-cursor changes to the Windows pointer for few seconds, it's not much I know, so perhaps my hatching/fill issue is something to do with DC23 settings in the memory area. Just a thought, not too sure if there's a setting I should be changing in this regard.