ACTCAD Software Updates & Fixes
If you'd like to learn more about ACTCAD software or meet our team in person, feel free to visit one of our offices. ACTCAD has a global presence in various countries.
The new versions are available to download from the ACTCAD Download Page.
- DCL – Dialog Control Language
- IRX – IntelliCAD Runtime Extension for C++
- TG – Teigha DGN
- TC – Teigha Civil
In addition, IntelliCAD supports familiar formats for menus, toolbars and ribbon development:
IntelliCAD Technology Consortium ITC) was formed in 1999 as an independent, member-driven, non-profit professional Organization for collaborated CAD software development.
A new IntelliCAD 2000 source code branch, however, continued independent development under the new ITC after the acquisition of Visio by Microsoft.
IntelliCAD 3 (IntelliCAD 2001) introduced complex linetypes, XREF clipping and IntelliCAD's first display and printing of ACIS 3D solids on May 22, 2001. IntelliCAD 4 followed with full ACIS 3D solid modelling. The ITC announced IntelliCAD 2001 with Truetype font handling and MTEXT; associative boundary hatching; VBA/Automation; lightweight polylines; complex linetypes with embedded shapes and text objects; xref clipping; display, limited editing, and printing of ACIS solids (if optional libraries are provided by vendor); and fly-over snapping .
In 2002, ITC releases a development guide with information on accessing the IntelliCAD source code, how to submit code for review, and development guidelines detailing proper coding structure.
In 2003, The ITC announces IntelliCAD 4 (US$249) with multiple layouts, new display engine for faster display performance, ACIS solid modeling, and better memory management.
In October 2004, the ITC announced IntelliCAD 5, which added tabbed workspaces and dwf file support. The ITC also announced a new partnership with Soldworkds.
On October 29, 2008 the first test release of the new IntelliCAD version 7 was announced at the annual ITC meeting held in Athens, Greece. Among the features it is a complete replacement of the old ITC internal entity database and old "SDS" API with newer DWGdirect and DRX APIs from the ODA. The IntelliCAD 7 architecture uses the Open Design Alliance (ODA) platform, previously known as DWGdirect, as its internal database for improved handling of .dwg files. For companies building custom applications, IntelliCAD 7 also offers the powerful DRX object oriented application programming language (API) developed by the Open Design Alliance (ODA) with custom IRX extensions specific to the IntelliCAD platform. The major enhancements in IntelliCAD 7 are:
offers many new end-user and development platform features:
- Greatly enhanced general drawing productivity: docking properties pane and command window, layer management, Drawing Explorer, enhanced menus and toolbars, real-time rendering support, and more.
- Integrated command compatibility and support for AutoCAD® DWG™ 2010 format.
- New support for custom objects, including AutoCAD® Architecture objects using the ODA platform to display and edit architectural entities such as walls, doors, windows, etc.
- Full support for DRX with extended IRX methods; support for VSTA; new online developer help, including integration with Microsoft® Visual Studio®.
- Expanded internationalization tools simplify localization in addition to the ten languages already available: single source for online help and printed manual; UNICODE support; switch languages on the fly; easier access to files for localization changes.
As of 2009, about 50 ITC members globally shared in IntelliCAD development.
In 2011, The IntelliCAD Technology Consortium (ITC) announced the release of IntelliCAD 7.0b. IntelliCAD 7.0b is a maintenance release that contains numerous improvements to areas required by members and their users since the IntelliCAD 7.0a release in July.
In December, 2012, The IntelliCAD Technology Consortium (ITC) announced the release of IntelliCAD 7.2a. IntelliCAD 7.2a is a maintenance release that contains more than 700 improvements and fixes to areas required by members and their users since the IntelliCAD 7.2 release in June 2012. In addition to conversion support for 2013 .dwg files, IntelliCAD Version 7.2a includes general performance enhancements and improvements to printing, entity editing, dimensions, entity snapping, and many other areas.
On 2nd October, 2015, The IntelliCAD Technology Consortium (ITC) announced the release of IntelliCAD 8.1b. IntelliCAD 8.1b is a maintenance release that contains over 140 improvements and fixes since the IntelliCAD 8.1a maintenance release in September 2015. Improvements in IntelliCAD 8.1b include fixes covering the areas of selection, user interface, lofting and sweeping, and many more, as well as small additions such as a new View and Mark-Up workspace, new BCOUNT command, and several new hatch patterns.
On 1st July, 2016, The IntelliCAD Technology Consortium (ITC) today announced the release of IntelliCAD 8.2.
IntelliCAD 8.2 is a major release that includes new support for exporting 3D .pdf files; more options added to existing features that export 2D .pdf files, export .bmp files, and attach underlays; new in-place multiline text editor; new support for maximizing and minimizing viewports; and various other new commands such as BCOUNT, IMAGEFRAMEMODE, FIELD, and TEXTTOFRONT. IntelliCAD 8.2 also includes improved performance when working with complex blocks, panning and zooming, exporting to .pdf files, and more.
IntelliCAD 8.2 is optionally available with the ability to open, save, create, and edit .dgn files in the native DGN format. IntelliCAD 8.2 also includes optional integration with Artisan Renderer to create photorealistic images of models quickly using a wide range of pre-set materials and lighting setups combined with the ability to create custom lights and realistic materials.
For IntelliCAD versions that include a ribbon, IntelliCAD 8.2 now includes ribbon panel expanders, ribbon versioning support, and the ability to customize the ribbon using the CUSTOMIZE command.
IntelliCAD 8.2 is supported on Microsoft® Windows® 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista®, including 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
On August 31, 2016, The IntelliCAD Technology Consortium (ITC) today announced the release of IntelliCAD 8.2a.
IntelliCAD 8.2a is a maintenance release that contains over 125 improvements and fixes since the IntelliCAD 8.2 release on July 1, 2016.
Improvements in IntelliCAD 8.2a include various fixes for working .dgn files, external references, the user interface, and many more, as well as small additions such as new RIBBON and RIBBONCLOSE commands and a new FILTERS command.
Here we need to discuss why IntelliCAD is not so popular compared to AutoCAD. Below are few important points:
- The late entry of IntelliCAD in 1999, given enough time for Autodesk to add equivalent features like MDI (multi-document interface), Design Center, and customizable UCS icon.
- In the beginning, IntelliCAD shipped incomplete, with clear gaps in regular features compared to AutoCAD like boundary hatch, shapes, etc.
- Not enough branding and advertisements as it is not a commercial establishment.
- Expect that members will popularize their own products which are based on IntelliCAD.
The name IntelliCAD originated from a software company that was formed in the early 1990s in San Diego, CA, USA. The starting project as ADE (AutoCAD Data Extension), which they sold to Autodesk and later became part of Autodesk MAP software. IntelliCAD has a long history that passed through the hands of Softdesk, Autodesk, Boomerang, Visio, just missing Microsoft and then to IntelliCAD Technology Consortium.
Today IntelliCAD is a member driver non-profit Organization developing core CAD Engine based on Open Design Alliance (ODA) Teigha dwg, dxf and dgn libraries. The member products like ActCAD, progeCAD etc., are available for commercial sale. ActCAD is a member of IntelliCAD with presence in India and USA.
During 1990s, Software was the largest third-party developer for Autodesk. Cyco Software was another development partner for Autodesk. Due to some business interests, Softdesk had acquired IntelliCAD and its programmers were given the job to work on a parallel software which is similar to Autocad.
Below are the business developements happened in this regard:
1. Autodesk purchased Software for $90 million in a bidding competition with Parametric Technologies.
2. After Autodesk discovered it now owned an AutoCAD clone, the software and employees separated as Boomerang Technologies.
3. FTC ordered Autodesk to avoid IntelliCAD and its employees for 10 years.
4. Later, Visio purchased Boomerang and IntelliCAD, and launched a commercial product just at 10% price of AutoCAD.
5. After few days, Visio has purchased MarComp for its .dwg read and write libraries. Later, Visio released the code free under the umbrella of the OpenDWG Alliance. It was later renamed to Open Design Alliance (ODA).
6. Autodesk launched "100% pure DWG"campaign to scare away customers from using IntelliCAD software.
7. Visio, after spending about $25 million sold only few thousand copies of IntelliCAD. Due to this Visio made IntelliCAD 98 free, and created IntelliCAD Technology Consortium (ITC) to maintain the source codes.
8. Later Visio was sold to Microsoft for $1.3 billion.
9. The ITC discovered that critical components required royalty payments, and so only a barebone IntelliCAD could be given away free.
10.Companies started to take IntelliCAD code, either for value-added resale or for internal usage.
Please note that IntelliCAD is a not a open source Organization, but the source code is available to its commericial members after paying yearly membership fee and licene royalties.
ActCAD is a commercial member of IntelliCAD from India launched its first versions ActCAD 2015 Standard and ActCAD 2015 Professional. ActCAD operates from USA and India.
ActCAD is a general purpose 2D drafting and 3D modeling CAD software based on IntelliCAD technology. It also uses ACIS kernel from Spatial Systems to enable 3D objects fully compatible with dwg native files created in other CAD software. The latest version of ActCAD is 2017 which is based on IntelliCAD 8.2a technology. It is available in Classic, Standard and Professional versions. All the variants are again available in both 64bit and 32bit versions.
Below are major advantages of ActCAD Software:
- Very familiar interface, commands, dialogs, shortcuts and aliases. No special learning needed. Migrate to ActCAD without much difficulty and deviation.
- Global Licensing with self-license transfer facility
- Express tools
- In-built raster to vector (dxf) converter
- In-built pdf and ps to vector (dxf, svg, hpgl, pcb, pptx, text, wmf, emf etc.) formats
- ActCAD Drawings Converter & Batch Auditor
- Interactive Drawings Auditor and Converter with button click
- Import Point Clouds from *.isd and *.pcg files
- Import Point Clouds to CAD from external CSV file
- Capture CAD points and hole coordinates to CSV file
- Create P&ID label specification
- Perform arithmetic operations on numeric text inside drawing
The main philosophy of ActCAD is to keep the technology very unique, original and genuine the copyrights and development efforts of other CAD software development companies. Make the professional grade CAD software available at very affordable price globally and offer perpetual licenses.
The developers and support team at ActCAD constantly strive to enhance the features and performance of the software on contious basis. All support queries will be addressed the same or next working day with correct solutions.
ActCAD is one of the very active member of IntelliCAD and closely work with development team to improve the software and bug fixes. The add-on featues keep us distinct from competition and any customer requested enhancements take reasonably short-time compared to industry standard.
Feel free to be in touch with us to know more about our products and services.
ActCAD Engineering Solutions announces the release of its new product ActCAD 2017 Classic for Windows power users. This software can be installed on Windows XP and upto Windows 10. It is a very light weight 2D drafting and 3D modeling software based on IntelliCAD engine and ACIS kernel.
ActCAD 2017 Classis version is available in both 64bit and 32bit versions. It will support all dwg and dxf versions from Release 2.5 to 2017.
The major features of this product are:
- Native dwg, dxf and dgn file support
- Very familiar interface and commands
- Complete 2D Drafting
- Powerful 3D Modeling based on ACIS Kernel
- Raster to DXF Converter
- PDF and PS to DXF, SVG, CGM, HPGL, PCB, PPTX, TEXT, WMF, EMF etc. Converter
- ActCAD Drawings Converter and Auditor in Batch Mode
- Light weight and best performance
- any many more....
Both the versions are now available in our Downloads section.
Feel free to contact us for any additional information.
Added:
- Interactive Drawings Auditor to fix internal errors
- Dr.KLN Drawings Converter from PDF & PS files to various output formats like DXF, SVG, CGM, PCG, HPGL, PCL, PPTX, TEXT, WMF,EMF, PDF, PS etc.
- New Program to Change Numeric Text Values by performing Arithmetic Operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division.
- New Program to Extrack Block Attributes to external CSV file with one click. No template needed for Attributes.
- New Program to capture CAD points and Hole Coordinates to external CSV file in batch mode.
- New Program to prepare P&ID Label Specification Text with required input values and orientation.
- New Tiegha .dwg, .dxf & .dgn libraries with many enhancements
Fixed:
- Fixed few license related issues
- Spelling mistakes in Import Point Cloud Program
- Rewritten the code for BREAKLINE command with more options
- ActCAD freezes with Pdfunderlay and zoom extents
- Problem with hatch in debug mode
- Korean fonts incorrectly displayed
- MOVE/COPY is not performed if toggle a status bar icon while a command is active
- UNDO of layer freeze does not reveals the layer properly
- Dimensions get lost after trim
- ActCAD Locks up in a particular drawing with zoom using mouse scroll
- ActCAD crashes after canceling entity selection from Drawing Settings dialog
- Warning about different anno scale and plot scale should be shown only for model space
- [Crash] Crash with several operations
- UNDO of layer freeze does not reveals the layer properly
- Node Snap - cannot snap to point nodes if PDMODE!=0
- TIME command issue
- DGN files cannot be imported / converted
- Added more traces to printing
- [Crash] trying to open a particular drawing
- [VPMAX/VPMIN] MVIEW scale and view location is corrupted by VPMAX/VPMIN
- [PRINT] Wipeout and raster image border is printed regardless of WIPEOUTFRAME / IMAGEFRAME value if PRINTEXTOUT is off
- Problems with viewing PDF underlay
- Text is missed in print result and print preview (depending on print area size)
- Grip editing is disabled for locked viewports
- Cannot snap to zero-length polyline
- Viewport content is scaled down in print result
- SSGET filter works wrong for some characters
- Icons with black background in toolbars
Release patches released for all variants of ActCAD 2017. If ActCAD 2017 is already installed in your computer, simply click on Help->Check For Updates.
Feel free to contact us for any additional information.
ActCAD announces the release of its new product "Dr.KLN Drawing Files Converter" today. This converter facilitate the conversion of Portable Document Format (pdf) files and Post Script (ps) files to various other formats. Please see below table for various conversion options available in this program:
| Inptu Formats | Output Formats |
| Portable Document Format (.pdf) Post Script File (.ps) |
Drawing Exchange Format (.dxf) Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg) Computer Graphics Meta File (.cgm) HP Graphics Language (.hpgl) Printed Circuit Board File (.pcb) Print/Plot Control Language (.pcl) Power Point Presentation (.pptx) Windows Meta File (.wmf) Enhanced Windows Meta File (.emf) Text (.txt) Portable Document Format (.pdf) Post Script File (.ps) |
There are many settings available on the Converter but we recommend to use the default settings to get best quality output. You can watch the demonstration video at below link:
ActCAD Engineering Solutions announces the release of ActCAD 2017 version 8.2.774.0 today for following variants:
- ActCAD 2017 Professional 64bit
- ActCAD 2017 Professional 32bit
- ActCAD 2017 Standard 64bit
- ActCAD 2017 Standard 32bit
Below are the important release notes for this version compared to base release:
Added : Import Point Cloud Data from CSV/text files
Added : BREAKLINE Command
Added : ChangeValues program to increment or decrement text values in a drawing
Added : New options on right click context dialog
Fixed : Dimensions and Text Toolbars for vertical docking
Fixed : .Net Framework 4.5 skip install if already exists
Fixed : Improved Licensing & Activation Mechanisms
Fixed : [Crash] trying to open certain types of drawings
Fixed : [VPMAX/VPMIN] MVIEW scale and view location is corrupted by VPMAX/VPMIN
Fixed : [PRINT] Wipeout and raster image border is printed regardless of WIPEOUTFRAME / IMAGEFRAME value if PRINTEXTOUT is off
Fixed : Problems with viewing PDF underlay
Fixed : Text is missed in print result and print preview (depending on print area size)
Fixed : Grip editing is disabled for locked viewports
Fixed : Cannot snap to zero-length polyline
Fixed : Viewport content is scaled down in print result
Fixed : SSGET filter works wrong for some characters
Fixed : Improved Installer programs
Fixed : Menus have some unexpected symbols in front of "ActCAD"
Fixed : Improved Check for Updates command
Fixed : Icons with black background in toolbars
Fixed : Improved Flash Screen Images and text
Fixed : Improved menu items
The new versions are available for downloads on our Downloads page. We have also released update patches for existing 2017 users for automatic live update over internet.
ActCAD and its Goa Dealer Jamsons, have set up a stall at IIA Goa Chapter Meet on 5th August, 2016. The event photos can be viewed in below video.
In market there are very few CAD Softwares which satisfies the designer innovate thoughts and creativity which enrich our World in various aspects. There are limitations on features, affordability and implementation of new features. In those respects ActCAD is one of the most attractive software which is available at affordable Price for engineers and consultants compared to other CAD Softwares.
ActCAD is always appreciated as greatly valued Software, as it is having International Brand, best features and available at very fair price. In addition, it provides best-in-class technical support for prospects and customers. Familiar Interface and commands with well known shortcut keys are additional advantages to the existing CAD Users as there is no need of any special learning.
Genuinely our valuable customers are very much satisfied with ActCAD and recommending it to their Friends and giving us more and more references.
ActCAD helps to make your dream projects real by Powering Creativity.