What was new in DataCAD 14?

Where to find the new feature
Helpful hints

DataCAD 14 extends DataCAD's scale-independent settings for text and arrows by adding dimensions, symbols, and hatching to the list of items that can update automatically whenever you need to change the scale of your drawing. So this latest upgrade allows you to set all of your scale-dependent items to a predetermined size, regardless of plot scale.

Legibility of notes and dimensions in contract documents is a top priority. With DataCAD 14's new KnockOut property, you can make sure that background information such as hatching never obstructs your notes and dimensions. In addition, any entity that can be filled, such as a polyline, can also be used to mask out a portion of your drawing.

In DataCAD 13 we introduced the ability to turn XREF layers on or off based on GoTo Views. DataCAD 14 takes this feature a step further by adding XREF layer highlighting and clipping boundaries so they can also be remembered on a per GoTo View basis. With DataCAD 14, you can also edit XClip and SClip boundaries in-place using familiar polyline editing tools; so you don't have to redraw them to make changes.

With this upgrade, we've addressed a 3D item that has been on the wish list for a long time; increasing the 36-sided limit of 3D entities. You can now have up to 256 vertices on 3D polygons and slabs, and up to 128 primary and secondary divisions on 3D entities such as spheres and contours.

I'm confident these enhancements will provide a boost to your production drawing and modeling productivity.

In addition, here are some of the DataCAD 14 new feature highlights…

DataCAD 14 includes a new property called KnockOut which you can use to hide information that is behind the portion of the drawing you want to appear unobstructed. This feature is particularly useful when adding text or dimensions which you want to display over hatching. You can apply the KnockOut property to Text, including MText and PText, Associated Dimensions, 2D Arcs, Circles, and Ellipses, Polylines, 3D Polygons and Slabs.

Enable [F8] KnockOut in the Text menu or [S8] in the Dimension, Text Style menu.

DataCAD 14 adds hatching and fill options to the Wall Type Manager.

Select the 2D Cavity Settings tab in the Wall Type Manager.

DataCAD 14 adds independent material settings to the Wall Type Manager for wall Tops/Bottoms, End Caps, and Openings.

Select the Cap Settings tab in the Wall Type Manager.

Manual X, L, and T intersection cleanup routines now allow you to define a 'master' wall so the other wall will form a 'butt' joint instead of a miter joint.

Select 'Master Wall' when prompted during X, L, and T intersection cleanup.

The size of associative dimensions can be locked so they always appear the same size, regardless of plot scale. This allows you to plot a particular drawing in a range of several scales without having to edit the size of each dimension. Associative dimensions with this property enabled will automatically change their settings accordingly based on the current plot scale.

Enable Text Scale and Lock Size via the Dimension Text Style menu.

The size of symbols can be locked so they always appear the same size, regardless of plot scale. This allows you to plot a particular drawing in a range of several scales without having to edit the size of each symbol. Symbols with this property enabled will automatically change their size accordingly based on the current plot scale.

Enable Symbol Scale and Lock Size while inserting a symbol.

The scale of hatch patterns can be locked so they always appear the same size, regardless of plot scale. This allows you to plot a particular drawing in a range of several scales without having to edit the scale of each hatch entity. Hatch entities with this property enabled will automatically change their scale accordingly based on the current plot scale.

Enable Lock Size via the Hatching, Hatch Type menu.

The maximum number of vertices on a 3D polygon or slab has been increased from 36 to 256.

Add as many as 256 vertices while creating 3D polygons and slabs.

The maximum number of primary and secondary divisions for 3D entities including; 3D Curves, Cylinders, Cones, Spheres, Tori, Contours, Mesh Surfaces, and Revolved Surfaces has been increased from 36 to 128.

Define as many as 128 Primary and Secondary Divisions while creating 3D Curves, Cylinders, Cones, Spheres, Tori, Contours, Mesh Surfaces, and Revolved Surfaces.

XREF Clipping boundaries (XClips) and Symbol Clipping boundaries (SClips) can now be edited in-place without have to redraw the entire boundary. The familiar polyline editing tools are now used to re-shape the clipping boundary.

Select Edit from the XClip or SClip menu and the polyline editing tools will automatically appear.

The layout of the Layer Manager has been adjusted to provide a smaller minimum width.

- XREFs linked to GoTo Views now remember layer highlight settings and clipping boundaries.
- Pen Sorting can now be disabled via the Print/Plot menu.
- DataCAD 14 allows you to export to either SketchUp 7 or SketchUp 8 format.
- A 'Zoom %' option has been added to the Multi-view Window context menu.
- Enabled dynamic mouse panning button combination Left Mouse Button + Right Mouse Button

More information about the improvement history of DataCAD