Re: Doublecad Xt 3 Serial Number
Tasha Feil
A number of new-to-me CAD programs have been mentioned here lately including DoulbeCAD, progeCAD, Bricscad and ZwCAD. It appears all of these are based upon IntelliCAD. When one visits the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium website and clicks on Commercial Members one will see Bricscad, progeCAD and ZwCAD listed. Why so many flavours and are the products really that different from each other? Curiousity killed the cat.
Hey, everyone. I'm the Product Manager for the DoubleCAD product, and I just wanted to note that DoubleCAD is not based on the IntelliCAD code base. We use our own internally developed CAD technology. We have taken a slightly different tack than the IntelliCAD products in that we are not trying to develop a "clone". Rather we are building a "work-alike" which has a similar but not identical appearence and work flow. The idea is to make transition to DoubleCAD easy without being tied down by every design aspect of AC. This gives us an extended capacity for innovation where we feel we can add benefits for the end user's productivity.
Thanks for posting. I have only played with your product a bit but so far I have not had any issues. Sure it works differenlty from what I am used to but that is not always a bad thing. I am liking the layout.
I have tried the DoubleCAD, works great, pullled up autocad drawings without problems. I was wondering if add-ons like a surveying package could be added or what language would be used to creat one if possible. Always looking for alternatives for the high dollar programs.
I work for IMSI/Design. We are looking at introducing plug-ins for DoubleCAD XT and our XT Pro version 2 includes an SDK to further extend its capabilities. More information to follow once we release.
I'm reviving this thread so we can have updated talk about this program. I've heard a lot of good things about it from AutoCAD users (who are or have migrated to a more affordable alternative) and SketchUp users (who need a 2d drafting companion). I am both at this time.
I just downloaded DoubleCAD last night (free version with 30 days of Pro features) and plan to play with it in the next few days. At first glance, the UI is quite similar to the basic AutoCAD interface and many commands are the same.
I will try to prepare a set of construction documents (from another existing set of cad files) and see how I fare. I will make note of the time it takes, what gives me a problem, what's better than AutoCAD, and what I like and dislike.
I'm pretty sure that my biggest issue in switching from 13+ years of AutoCAD operation to a different drafting platform will be my heavy use of AutoLISP. Almost every command I issue in AutoCAD is LISP based, and I have tons of functions for many different tasks. I would love to hear what other uses have done to overcome the inability to use LISP when changing to a different program (or to AutoCAD LT for that matter). The good news is that I see that DoubleCAD now supports Ruby programming which I intend to learn anyway for use with SketchUp.
I did some brief editing of a file in DoubleCAD --I spent 10 minutes-- and did not get much done. First problem was object snap. I often type "END", "PER" etc. for which I did not find an equivalent. It only uses running object snap settings it seems. I had a hard time trying to offset an xline and though the offset command was just crazy, but soon realized that xlines cannot be offset... lol
Actually, you can offset xlines in Doublecad, it's just does it wierd. If you click on the xline flyout, there is a button for offsetting xlines. Hit that button, then click a spot on the screen. Enter your offset distance, then pick the xline you want to offset, followed by a pick in the direction you wish to offset. This same command will also create an xline at the offset distance you choose from a standard line as well.
I kinda like the round aperature. There are things about Doublecad that I like, and there are some that I don't. I haven't used it much, just enough to get familiar with it. I keep intending to set down with it and redraw a job I've already done in Autocad just to learn it, but life keeps getting in the way. Until I have it firmly in hand, I don't want to say anything negative about it. It might be the best thing since sliced bread for all I know. I do like it better than Sketchup by a long shot, but I've used Sketchup even less than Doublecad. I think I expect too much from Sketchup and get annoyed with it too quickly because of it.
At any rate, if you run into trouble with Doublecad, give a yell. I'm no expert by any means, but I have played with it some. I don't have the Pro version, just the free one but if I can help you figure it out I'd be happy to do so.
About Sketchup, I only use it, well... for sketching. I think it's a great complement for the straight drafting packages. A thing of beauty for it's price as well. It is so user friendly that it took me only a few hours to attain good command of it.
One or more objects can be combined and stored as a block. A block is treated as a single object for purposes of selecting and editing.Each block is stored in the drawing's internal library, and each instance of the block is a reference to this source. This means that numerous instances of a block can be added to the model without significantly increasing the file size. Groups are similar, but they are not linked to sources; each group contains its own drawing data. See Groups
Note: A drawing's block library is internal to the drawing, and is stored with the file. Symbol libraries are similar but are stored separately, and can be accessed while in any drawing. If you need to create a group of objects that will be used in multiple drawings, create a symbol. See Loading Symbol Folders into the Library.If you want to import the entire contents of another file (DoubleCAD or other format) as a block, see External References
Show Selected: Toggles the Show Selection option. When on the result will be that anytime a single block is selected int the drawing space, that block will be selected and highlighted in the Blocks palette.
Block name prefix: If names are automatically generated, you can enter a string that appears before the item name. The "@" character is a placeholder for the automatic number.Prompt for name: You will receive a prompt each time a new item is created.Generate block names: Names will be automatically assigned.Insert blocks when creating: Each block will be inserted into the drawing once it is created.Compensate for the offset of the base point at the block references: Prevents updating of the reference points for inserted blocks, when a the block reference point is relocated.Editing a BlockShow Selection any time an inserted block is selected: Toggles the Show Selection option. When on the result will be that anytime a single block is selected int the drawing space, that block will be selected and highlighted in the Blocks palette.
A block attribute is AutoCAD- informational text associated with a block, that you can enter whenever you insert a block. DoubleCAD reads and displays block attributes from AutoCAD drawings (DWG) and DXF files.
\3. Type the "tag" name for the block attribute, such as "COST." This name is used to uniquely identify the attribute within the block, since more than one attribute can be created. If the drawing will be sent to AutoCAD, do not use spaces (use underscores instead).
Mode: Affects how the dialog appears when the block is inserted:Invisible: The text of the block attribute is not displayed in the drawing. You can see the information in the Selection Info Palette or edit it by displaying the block's properties.
Constant: The attribute value is fixed and unchangeable. It is shown to you during block insertion. Exploding the block will turn the block attribute into text that can then be edited.Verify: Prompts you to verify that the attribute value is correct when you insert the block. In AutoCAD, the attribute value is shown for your verification during block insertion if the AutoCAD variable ATTDIA is set to 0. This flag has no effect in DoubleCAD as it takes place in AutoCAD when the variable ATTDIA is set to 1.Preset: Sets the attribute to its default value when you insert a block containing a preset attribute. In AutoCAD, you are not prompted for a value if the AutoCAD variable ATTDIA is set to 0. This flag has no effect in DoubleCAD as it takes place in AutoCAD when the variable ATTDIA is set to 1.When the block attributes are defined, simply include them in the selection of objects that will make up the new block.
When you insert a block that has one or more attributes, a window will appear that gives the prompt and offers the default value. For example, the prompt says "What does it cost?" the default value is $0.00. The value can be changed to another value, in this case, $3.50.
When a block has attributes defined, its Properties will contain an additional page - Block Attribute. You can edit each attribute value in this window, using the Next and Previous buttons to scroll through multiple attributes.
Sometimes it is necessary to add attributes to blocks after many instances of the blocks have already been inserted into the drawing. In this case the new attributes are not automatically added to the prior insertions. The Sync Attributes button will add the new attributes to the older blocks.
The values for these newly synced attributes within the older blocks will be the default value you assign to the attribute when you create it and it will blank if no value is assigned. For blank attributes you will have to select the existing blocks and assign values to those attributes.
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