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.
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