Cadalyst - January 2008 - (Page 20)

cadlabsreview addition to the integrated tutorials, Alibre Design Xpress Plus comes with four video training CDs, so learning to operate the software should be no obstacle. VersaCAD 2007 for Windows Archway Systems 714.374.0440 www.versacad.com Price: $795 VersaCAD for Windows is a 2D production-level design application that lends itself to use in several technical professions, including architecture, mechanical industries, and construction. A version for the Macintosh is available, so the software works quite well in mixed computing environments. With a broad range of 2D drawing tools, VersaCAD for Windows offers customization capabilities that can mold the application to users’ particular needs. VersaCAD for Windows supports CAD Programming Language (CPL), a programming language similar to Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). A number of symbol libraries are included with the product, but other third-party libraries can be used easily with VersaCAD. Supported file formats for importing are DWG, DXF, IGES, and text, so output VersaCAD for Windows is a productionlevel CAD software package intended for use by engineers, draftspersons, and other technical professionals working in the architectural, civil engineering, construction, and mechanical industries. 20 January 2008 | cadalyst | www.cadalyst.com from a broad range of applications can be brought into VersaCAD via these industry-standard formats. Users can export files from VersaCAD in the same formats supported for importing, making it easy to get work into other design and visualization applications. The range of available tools for 2D drafting is quite good and includes niceties such as the ability to generate bills of material (BOMs). Drawings can include as many as 250 layers. Although you can’t have multiple drawings open simultaneously in an instance of VersaCAD, you can open multiple instances of the application, each with a separate drawing opened for editing. A reference drawing capability (xref) allows users to merge a copy of one or more previously saved drawings into a working file. VersaCAD for Windows is speedy in operation and presents a welldesigned interface. The system requirements for VersaCAD 2007 for Windows are a PC with at least 32 MB of RAM and a hard disk. The program runs on Windows 98/NT/2000/ME/XP/Vista and works with any graphics adapter that works with Windows, running at any resolution supported by the graphics adapter. The input device can be any Windows-compatible device, such as a mouse or a WinTab-compatible digitizer. VersaCAD 2007 for Windows can output to any Windows-compatible printer or plotter, including DMPL, CalComp, HPGL, HP-GL2, PostScript, and selected printers. A CD-ROM drive is required for installation. Obviously, VersaCAD 2007 will run on a wide range of Windows-based systems, making it a good choice for those who have older systems available; VersaCAD for Windows will run on systems running Windows NT thru Vista. VersaCAD 2007 also is available for the Mac OS7 through 10.x operating systems, running natively on both PowerPC-based Macs and on Intelbased Macs. For additional information about the Mac version, visit the VersaCAD Mac Web site at www. versacad.com/versacad/vcadmac.htm. With a lot of capabilities, minimal system requirements, and availability for both the Mac and PC, VersaCAD is an excellent choice for mixed computing environments. Pricing for VersaCAD 2007 for Windows is $795, but you can add one year of premium service for an additional $200. Premium service, which includes all updates, new releases, and support, typically is $595 per year for the first license and $200 per year for each additional license. For five or more licenses, you can contact Archway Systems for a price quote. Academic pricing is available, along with unlimited campus licensing for qualifying individuals and institutions. Training also is available. DataCAD LT v12 DATACAD 800.394.2231 www.datacad.com Price: $295 DataCAD LT is a professional-level AEC CAD program that can be used for architectural design, photorealistic rendering, animation, and construction-document creation. DataCAD LT’s clean interface, which has all the available tools at hand either through drop-down menus or toolbars, is both easy to use and powerful. Even though it is a powerful design appli- DataCAD is a professional-level AEC CAD program for architectural design, photorealistic rendering, animation, and constructiondocument creation. http://www.versacad.com/versacad/vcadmac.htm http://www.versacad.com/versacad/vcadmac.htm http://www.versacad.com http://www.datacad.com http://www.cadalyst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - January 2008

Cadalyst - January 2008 Contents Editor's Window Cad Central Chasing the Dolphins CAD that Won’t Break the Bank AliasStudio 2008 — Design and Visualization Software VectorWorks 2008 — CAD/BIM Authoring Software Dell Precision M4300 — Mobile Workstation What’s in Store for 2008? Low- or No-Cost CAD Goliath Reinvented Doin’ the DEED Cad Cartoon Issue Indexes The Return of Hot Tip Harry

Cadalyst - January 2008

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