ProgeCAD software offers an affordable alternative to AutoCAD with its familiar user interface and similar commands, files and formats. Plus, its perpetual licenses cover multiple systems!
DATALINK allows you to link an Excel spreadsheet directly with a progeCAD table, so any updates to either will reflect automatically in both. When changes are made in either spreadsheet, any updates made will update the other automatically.
2D & 3D CAD
Drafting software such as Autodesk Draftsight supports both 2D and 3D drafting, enabling users to easily create schematic diagrams, electrical circuit drawings, mechanical designs and more. Compatible with multiple file formats and suitable for use on any Windows-based computer, Draftsight comes in multiple versions suitable for various industries – its AutoCAD-like user interface makes learning the program simpler for novice users.
CAD software includes features designed to accelerate the drafting process. These features include dynamic UCS which automatically orients drawings on an XY plane and flatshot which generates an accurate flat view of 3D models. Users may also define custom coordinate systems anywhere within 3D space so that they may create and edit models based on those coordinates.
ProgeCAD also features the capability of creating and editing 3D solids – ACIS entities with defined structures that make working with them simpler than wireframe and surface models. Solids may be created from closed solid-linetype polylines or spline profiles and easily shared using its 3D PDF plugin.
CAD software enables the use of color gradients to give models and drawings a more lifelike appearance, which can be particularly helpful when creating presentations or renderings. Furthermore, photos or other graphics may be added using inserts, while multileaders provide extra information such as building dimensions or surface finish requirements for any model or drawing.
BIM (Building Information Modeling)
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is an interactive process in which structural engineers, architects and other construction professionals collaborate on one three-dimensional model that allows quick detection of any design or construction issues and reduced project costs by using digital representation of real structures to make decisions quickly and reduce project timelines significantly. BIM technology also helps engineers and architects collaborate quickly on construction projects to speed completion times while providing essential information that allows facility management plans for life of buildings to be created faster than would otherwise be the case.
BIM usage has become more prevalent within industry, and is expected to only become more advanced over time. BIM also introduces a new type of building called the digital twin; a virtual representation of a real structure which collects data via sensors, drones or other means and uses that information for predictive maintenance or energy efficiency improvements.
BIM operates in 3D space and can incorporate different data types – geometry, material properties and service life cycle information can all be stored within it – which are shared among stakeholders to plan and coordinate building construction and infrastructure maintenance activities. This information can then be used for planning purposes to aid construction operations management as well as use it for planning.
progeCAD’s open architecture and support for all major formats makes the BIM workflow easily integrated into any existing design and drafting workflow, offering seamless BIM workflow integration into current design processes. progeCAD supports creation of BIM files from AutoCAD, Revit and IFC for your BIM needs; furthermore it includes Sheet Set Manager as a powerful tool to oversee all drawings and details associated with design projects.
Sheet Set Manager
Sheet Set Manager offers an effective way of collecting all drawings related to a specific project and publishing or eTransmitting them as one. It provides a project level view of Sheet Set drawings as a whole while also permitting further organization with Subsets acting like folders for further organization; Subsets may hold templates, model space views or both which populate tabs within Sheet Set for quick selection and management of sheets within it.
Label blocks make it simple and efficient for team members to identify similar views within the Sheet Set Manager, as well as adding cross section or detail blocks for every sheet, thus improving efficiency of work flow.
The File menu offers several key tools for working with Sheet Sets, such as Resave All which automatically saves all changes with unsaved modifications, making this feature especially helpful when working in shared sandbox environments. Rename & Renumber provides another useful option, enabling adjustments to Sheet name/number combinations while simultaneously updating its associated layout file.
In the Publish & Plot Options dialog, you can customize publishing and plotting options for the selected Sheet Set or Subset. This includes setting Page setups which determine how each sheet in the Sheet Set should be plotted individually; and configuring one or more Page Setup Overrides which override their default page setups for that Sheet Set. You may also set up templates which specify Page Setup Overrides instead.
Color Gradients
Applying color gradients is an easy and fast way to add extra visual interest and impactful presentations. AutoCAD contains plenty of gradient options; however, novice users may struggle to locate them among its confusing interface.
The easiest way to create gradients is with the HATCH command, which opens the Gradient dialog box and allows you to choose either One or Two Color mode – creating gradients which progressively brighten or darken, respectively – or two-color transition. Additionally, nine preset patterns can also be chosen from within this ribbon panel as patterns for your gradient.
With the Gradient Annotator, you can also fine-tune the angle and location of your gradient. Modifying starting point, center and spread for linear gradients; as well as focal point, origin, spread for radial gradients can all be easily modified using its slider feature. You can even modify its opacity if needed!
ProgeCAD supports many standard file formats for design projects. In addition, users can also import and display point cloud files (.rcs,.rcp, XYZ and LAS) to add real world context into the design process and visualize designs in their actual locations more easily.
progeCAD is an ideal alternative to AutoCAD and provides many essential functions. It can be used for everything from field and concept sketches, electrical drafting, building construction, mechanical and industrial engineering design and architectural civil & structural engineering as well as MCAD automotive drafting (carpentry/as built drawings/property survey landscape drawing to ANSI DIN ISO standards) etc.
Tables
progeCAD’s new Tables support allows users to easily create and edit tables using an intuitive yet straightforward table style, giving control of cell, row and column appearance and formatting as well as overriding any preset table style formatting for individual cells, rows or columns. Additionally, individual cells, rows or columns may have their own formatting applied overriding any generic table style formatting applied by progeCAD.
progeCAD’s new command/function, CENTERMARK, allows users to automatically generate centers and axes of symmetry with just a click. Furthermore, its new BREAKATPOINT command allows for splitting non-closed 2D entities (such as lines, arcs, polylines, infinite lines rays or splines) at single break points into separate entities at any break point.
One key feature of progeCAD’s latest update is its support of reading layer structures from IFC and Revit files (up to version 2022) as underlays, providing designers who work with BIM models an effective means of visualizing them in 2D.
Now you can import Microsoft Excel spreadsheets directly as progeCAD tables while maintaining their original Excel file formatting, making this option particularly helpful if working on collaborative projects with multiple collaborators. Modifying and updating tables at any point during their work process makes progeCAD invaluable!
progeCAD offers another exciting feature called the “Object Snaps mode Fly Over,” which, when activated, allows users to instantly view (by placing their cursor over Esnap icon on status bar or toolbar) all relevant points of an object (endpoint, centre, midpoint and intersection) more quickly allowing easier dimension line creation in complex drawings where normal X/Y snap modes may not suffice. Unfortunately though, using too many objects may overload computer resources so Object Snaps should only be applied for necessary dimensions; to avoid this situation you could disable it or limit its application or both ways if needed.
