nanoCAD Plus 7: development of a CAD platform with a length of one year
What can be done in one year of active development? Looking at the speed of development of modern CAD systems, it seems that there is not very much - somewhere to update the interface, somewhere to add a new function, several corrections. Therefore, it seems that Russian technologies are hopelessly behind, and we will need to use Western solutions and technologies for the rest of our lives.
But it seems to me that the new version of nanoCAD Plus will be able to change this idea - tightly sowing code, armed with compilers and support from the testing department for one year, Nanosoft CJSC made such a significant leap forward in the CAD platform functionality that I have concerns about the size future article ... Meet the new seventh version of the domestic platform nanoCAD Plus and let's deal with its innovations.
Introduction
By tradition, I will do a small review of what happened in the development and development group of the nanoCAD platform during the year preceding the release of the new version - it will be clear what we paid attention to when analyzing and developing our product.
Firstly, the company Nanosoft CJSC has somewhat reduced its overall marketing activity and significantly reduced trips to cities and towns with advertising seminars. And they replaced them with direct contacts with the management of design organizations, implementation groups and direct designers, which allowed us to dive deeper into the problems "on the ground", slightly change the development priorities. In particular, several relatively large (over 100 jobs) pilot projects took place, as a result of which development began in the field of binder, control of the enterprise standard, and the quality of work with “broken” DWG files. Some of this is reflected in the new functionality of the seventh version, some are still “cooked” in the development boiler.
Secondly, despite the reduction in marketing, we are seeing a steady increase in the number of users of the nanoCAD platform. In particular, at the moment, on average, from 3 to 4 thousand visitors visit our website www.nanocad.ru every day, of which 90% are newcomers. An average of 500 downloads of products from the site are registered per day, and about 300 new jobs of all types of licenses are issued. This translates into 10 thousand new registrations in the user database per month! The official forum.nanocad.ru forum has more than 21 thousand accounts registered, which have already written 27 thousand messages and publish about 10-20 new messages every day. The number of free users of the nanoCAD 5.1 platform alone has reached 450,000 jobs - our absolute record!
Of course, in many respects the active interest of users in nanoCAD is based on the topic of import substitution, which only the lazy are not talking about now. And this gives a definite result - more and more users begin to look around, optimize CAD budgets and notice our decision with interest. But the development of nanoCAD leads to increased popularity - every day we get positive feedback about the capabilities of nanoCAD Plus and solutions based on it. As a result, despite the difficult economic situation in the country, the number of users of the commercial version of the nanoCAD Plus 6.0 platform increased by 11% compared to the previous version - a very good result.
What does this mean for us and nanoCAD? That the portrait of the user is changing. If earlier nanoCAD was used more likely among private users, now our solution is considered by design teams with the number of designers from 100 or more people. It is clear that in this case, completely different requirements are imposed on the functionality: in particular, the stability of the solution and the ability to use the product without any adjustments are paramount. That is why in the new version we paid a lot of attention to the product interface, the introduction of small but familiar to the mass user utilities and tried to speed up the solution.
nanoCAD Plus 7 - a new version of the domestic CAD platform
Thirdly, we allotted a year to develop version 7.0! Those who closely monitor our project could notice that earlier versions were released once every six months: 3.0 back in 2011, and half a year later 3.5; 4.0 in the summer of 2012 and in half a year 4.5; 5.0 in 2013, then updating the free version 5.1, and then version 6.0 in the summer of 2014. By the seventh version, we have accumulated complex tasks that you can’t quickly solve on the one hand, and on the other I don’t really want to move on. That is why we actually immediately after the release of the sixth version took up the seventh and worked hard until the end of January. And since February, the version entered the test laboratory, and we tested the product in conditions as close as possible to reality: on the website nanocad7.ruAn open beta was announced, which attracted 106 accounts with 410 jobs. For 4 months, we carefully analyzed the work of nanoCAD Plus 7 on live projects and are now confident that the program is ready for release.
Absolutely: nanoCAD Plus 7 is the best version of nanoCAD we have released!
What's new in the product?
In the review, we will divide all the innovations into several categories, trying to put them together in the most logical way. But at the same time, some functions are entitled to their own reviews - I think that in the future we will conduct an additional analysis and description of the most interesting functions, but for now we will start with the basic drawing capabilities.
General Drawing Functions
And this is logical - first of all, nanoCAD Plus is a tool for developing working documentation, and it is here that current users are waiting for the next round of development.
Special anchor points
I'll start, perhaps, with the most requested function - additional bindings used in drawing. nanoCAD has long had a basic set of bindings such as endpoint, midpoint, normal, parallelism, etc. - Without such things, it’s generally difficult to imagine modern CAD. Plus, some people know that nanoCAD also provides a unique opportunity to be attached to the primitives of monochrome bitmap drawings - this allows you to enter scanned paper or just bitmap documents from the archive of project or standard documentation, from the Internet. And now in nanoCAD Plus 7 we have included two additional new types of bindings.
The “Middle between two points” snap allows you to find the middle of a segment constructed between two arbitrary points, and the “Offset” snap sets the indent from an arbitrary point in a given direction.
Moreover, these snaps work both in vectors and in raster objects!
And the bindings learned to cling to some "non-standard" objects - the contours of sheets and lines of intersection of sizes. This unique feature will additionally allow you to control the drawing: for example, snap primitives to the corners, middle and center of the sheet. Imagine how easy it is to put a format on a sheet or break a sheet into zones!
Faster hatch outline search
In the 7th version, we took another big step forward in optimizing the work of hatching. In addition to improved cropping (now hatching is cropped both by selecting an object and indicating the outline), we have significantly accelerated the search for hatching borders on complex, saturated drawings, for example, general plans.
Try to measure and compare with other CAD systems - for sure you will notice 3-4 times acceleration.
Intelligent layer deletion
One of the most common operations when working with an electronic document is working with layers. Oh, how often, copying data from another document, we accidentally bring extra layers. And how difficult it is then to remove them - you need to understand the structure of the document and make sure that the extra layers do not contain objects (i.e., remove or transfer primitives to other layers). In nanoCAD Plus 7, this frequent operation has become much easier: just select the unnecessary layers and click on the Delete button - if the layer is not empty, then nanoCAD will offer a dialog that will do the job of sorting the objects yourself.
A new layer dialog allows you to remove non-empty layers and move objects from the deleted layer to the selected one.
Block editor in a separate window
Earlier in nanoCAD, the block editor was contextual (the REFEDIT command), i.e. editing the block took place on top of the drawing and in many cases it was convenient - for example, existing primitives from the document can be quickly added to the block. But still, many users noted that sometimes a separate window of the block editor is still more convenient: for example, on rich documents, where there are many other primitives under the block, or when editing blocks that are rotated. That is why in nanoCAD Plus 7 we implemented an additional window of the Block Editor, which is called up by the BEDIT command.
Improving usability with viewports and sheets
Viewports are a part of a drawing from the model space located on a sheet of documentation at a given scale with a customized display style. A convenient tool for designing dynamically changing working documentation.
In the new version, it is possible to rotate viewports and manage the parameters of renewable energy with the help of three new buttons in the status bar: the button for switching from the model / sheet space and back, the blocking button and the viewport scale.
Utilities for breaking and deleting proxy objects
Often third-party drawings come with data from other applications, which are then almost impossible to remove from the DWG file. In other CAD systems, experienced users used special utilities that allowed splitting or deleting proxy data from a file.
We included similar utilities in the base structure of nanoCAD Plus and now we provide standard tools for improving the quality of documents. In addition, we plan to further develop these utilities by analyzing difficult situations.
Spellchecking
This is truly a function without which it is very difficult ... The new version provides the ability to check spelling in your
A very convenient and necessary function for checking spelling also takes into account typical abbreviations determined by the main GOSTs.
And since nanoCAD Plus is a CAD system tuned to domestic design standards, we have improved this feature. Please note that when checking spelling we take into account the abbreviations defined by the main GOST 2.316–2008, GOST R 21.1101–2013, RD 31.30.01.01-89, etc., in which type abbreviations are approved.
NanoCAD Plus Graphics and Speed
One of the most noticeable visual improvements of the seven is smoothing and optimizing the display of graphics on the screen, which “blurs” the broken lines of individual segments of the drawing and demonstrates graphics more pleasant for the human eye. Whether or not to use this function is up to the user to decide, but in general, the new display is more convenient; working with drawings has become noticeably more comfortable.
nanoCAD Plus 7 by default displays vector graphics more smoother than previous versions.
But the graphics display system is the tip of the iceberg of change. In parallel, the optimization of the entire graphic system took place (see Fig. 3): in the new version, DirectX and OpenGL settings were unified, plus rendering optimization modes were introduced, which made it possible to achieve even faster work with drawings and three-dimensional models. Now, powerful video cards allow you to comfortably work with rich drawings, and for slow systems you can turn off "beauty" in favor of functionality.
Also, nanoCAD Plus, on the fly, analyzes open drawings for speed and independently draws some conclusions about improving productivity. So if you try to open a drawing with scattered Z-coordinates in nanoCAD, the software product will signal that “the drawing is damaged, it may cause braking” and will offer a correction of the document. I really hope that there will be no more problems with the speed of working with such drawings.
Enhanced Integration Capabilities
Now let's walk along the functions that allow you to integrate nanoCAD with other systems and slightly go beyond the usual drawing. All these functions are asked in one form or another by experienced users of computer-aided design systems.
PDF and DWF Substrates
The PDF format has long become a convenient standard for the exchange of electronic documents - often third-party organizations transfer documentation in it. And, unfortunately, nanoCAD until recently did not know how to put them in the environment of a DWG file as a substrate. As a result, we had to translate it into a raster format and only use it in this form for the development of new documentation. Without a doubt, it’s not convenient ...
In the new version, we implemented this necessary functionality - and the UATTACH team allows you to insert not only PDF, but also DWF-format files, which are developed by Autodesk. When pasting, it is possible to obtain information about the sheets and select the sheet to be inserted, scale, insertion point and other standard set (see Fig. 8).
nanoCAD Plus 7 supports inserting PDF and DWF substrates
And in the future, we have thoughts on the development of this part of nanoCAD - remember that we have raster bindings? It would be great to apply them to PDF substrates.
Auto Update Fields
Also the functionality from the category of frequently asked ones: does nanoCAD support the ability to insert automatically updated fields - texts containing any information computed or received from the side? Now yes!
At the moment, nanoCAD can display standard system information such as information about objects (length, area, coordinates) or file properties (save date, author, file name, size) in the fields. These data often change during work, and it’s not practical to edit them manually - when saving, printing or regenerating a drawing, such text inserts are updated and contain the latest information. At the same time, drawing properties appeared in nanoCAD - look at the menu item File \ Drawing Properties and you can fill out basic information about the DWG file, which can be used in the fields later.
At the same time, the fields are compatible with the fields of other CAD systems, can be expanded by taking data from external workflow systems, and are the base that will allow inside nanoCAD to implement functionality that collects DWG files into documentation sets.
3D navigation
This unique feature for AutoCAD-like CAD systems is my favorite. How many opportunities it provides for architectural design! And it seems to be nothing special - now nanoCAD Plus allows you to move in 3D space, similar to how you move in the space of three-dimensional games. Using the WSAD keys (or arrows) you have the opportunity to go forward, backward, left-right, the + and - keys set the step of movement, and the mouse indicates where to go - and you have open spaces of three-dimensional models - watch the video:
nanoCAD Plus 7 allows you to navigate through three-dimensional space, conducting a visual analysis of a model assembled from external links.
What gives this functionality? First of all, the opportunity to feel yourself inside the project, to feel its volume, to walk around the premises, to look into every corner. Agree that sometimes it is very necessary. Now imagine that you are using external links to assemble disparate models that can be created in completely different CAD systems: ArchiCAD, Tekla, MagiCAD, nanoCAD Electro, SCS, OPS, Geonika. We connected the models through common coordinates, went into 3D-space and go around a single model, analyze collisions, inconsistencies, wrong decisions - a screenshot is already a task for changes!
In fact, using this function, the nanoCAD platform turns into an environment for collecting all the information on the project and throws the bridge between three-dimensional design and the release of working documentation. Do you need this feature?
New directions for the development of the platform
And now we are approaching three more powerful functions that appeared in the nanoCAD Plus 7 platform. These are not even functions - they are more likely the development directions that tear nanoCAD out of the realm of a purely drawing tool. I’m talking about functionality for working with point clouds, three-dimensional modeling and parametric drawing.
Work with point clouds
What is a point cloud? This is the amount of data that modern three-dimensional scanning devices prepare: using laser beams, the scanner automatically analyzes the surrounding space and compiles an array of points with a huge amount of information - three-dimensional coordinates, color, density, etc. Considering that a 3D scanner can move (both at different points and along a trajectory along the surface of the earth) and receive hundreds of points around every second, you get the opportunity to quickly create a three-dimensional model of an object or structure both outside and inside. And then the question “what can be done with this?” Arises.
nanoCAD Plus 7 has learned to work with super-large (over 500 million) point clouds, which gives great opportunities in working with clouds.
And you can do a lot! You can scan an old building or technological piping and embed your three-dimensional model in existing production - i.e. use point clouds for reconstruction. You can scan what builders are renting and compare the result with the design model - i.e. carry out supervision. You can carry out aerial reconnaissance and almost instantly build a three-dimensional terrain model and obtain data for your future project. Scanners can climb into hard-to-reach places, visualize the surrounding space for further analysis, search for collisions and be used for a dozen more highly specialized tasks. Which ones? Let's think together and find areas of application - we now have an excellent basic tool: nanoCAD Plus 7,
Now nanoCAD Plus works comfortably with extra-large point clouds (up to one billion points), can change the visualization style (for example, colorize points by sorting by height or based on the original scan color), crop clouds, build sections and cuts, expand and snap to the nearest points.
By the way, this function fits perfectly with the ability to navigate three-dimensional space: they took a cloud of points, walked along it, loaded a three-dimensional model with an external link ... The future is already near! In the future, you can find surfaces, develop methods of bindings, break down surfaces into categories, vectorize and ... Yes, a lot of things can be done - let's discuss! In the meantime, enjoy the demo video:
This video demonstrates how to work with point clouds in nanoCAD Plus 7.
3D modeling and 2D parameterization modules
And now I have come so far to briefly talk about two more interrelated areas of nanoCAD Plus 7 development - the
This kit turns nanoCAD Plus into a powerful tool for three-dimensional parametric solid-state modeling within a DWG file with the ability to quickly build dynamic sections and sections designed for designing working documentation.
nanoCAD Plus 7 allows you to create three-dimensional solid-state models.
In addition, the Fidesis company has established the interaction of nanoCAD Plus with its solutions that allow for a full cycle of strength engineering analysis: FidesysBundle and the cloud service Sim4Design. nanoCAD Plus 7 allows you to transfer the model created in nanoCAD for calculation, just select the appropriate item and the model will be exported automatically (this happens when the Fidesys complex is installed at the workplace of the designer, and when using the cloud service). Thus, the user gets a bunch of CAD / CAE directly out of the box. For more details, see the video demonstrating the integration of nanoCAD Plus with Fidesys solutions: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeIlKs6CPws
Conclusion
It's time to end the article, and the improvements to nanoCAD Plus 7 are still not over. An attentive user will notice dozens of new chips in the interface, a more convenient choice of superimposed objects, a file explorer that allows you to transfer blocks, layers and other settings from one file to another, an updated MTEXT, API, increased speed in 3D, optimization of work inside teams and new ones teams. In the new version, we have more than a hundred innovations and changes.
We also recommend that you visit the nanocad7.ru promo site , which tells about innovations, there are links to download distributions, and you can get a trial version of the product for 30 days.
What would I like to say in conclusion? Try nanoCAD Plus 7. Pass all the changes through your hands and head, analyze the work that we have done, compare nanoCAD with other solutions and switch to an excellent modern tool that optimally combines quality, functionality and price.
Good projects to you.
dows Denis Ozhigin
isv Alexander Osmyakov