AutoCAD Release 14 has a full set of tools for preparation of drawings of professional, presentation quality. Release 14 users can polish their drawings by adding solid fills, graphic elements and high quality, photorealistic renderings or by using Release 14's improved support for embedded objects from other applications.
Bitmap Import
AutoCAD Release 14 adds true support for importing a variety of image formats. With this new capability, Release 14 users can integrate existing images such as company logos, photographs, graphic artwork and renderings with their drafting and design work: Linked images behave as standard AutoCAD blocks and may be edited (moved, copied, scaled, arrayed etc.) and clipped.
The new raster image support capability in Release 14 is discussed in more detail as part of the "Communicate and Share Designs" section of this document.
Solid Fill
With the new Release 14 solid fill capability, the user can easily and quickly fill a boundary with a solid fill instead of a hatch pattern. To simulate a filled area in Release 13, the user needed to calculate a pattern whose spacing was smaller than the width of the pen used for plotting. This method was, at best, wasteful and depending upon the plotting medium often yielded undesirable results. In most situations, Release 14 solid fill yields improved drawing presentations with more pleasing visual results.
To complement the new solid fill capability, the fillmode system variable has been extended so as to control the display of solid fills and hatches on a global basis. Using this toggle, users can quickly limit drawing detail for display or more efficient editing without resorting to unnecessary layer management.
Display Order Control
With the enhanced abilities to display both raster images and conventional vector geometry in AutoCAD Release 14, it is important to be able to control the display and plotting order of objects. The Release 14 DRAWORDER command allows the user to change the drawing and plotting order of any object in the drawing database. This functionality provides control over the display of geometry and hard copy output when two or more objects overlay each other.
The most obvious use of this ability is when a raster image or a solid filled object is drawn over existing vector geometry, obscuring it from view. In most situations it is desirable that the raster or solid filled objects be drawn first and have the vector geometry or text displayed and plotted on top. DRAWORDER provides this ability.
The new DRAWORDER command provides a great deal of flexibility. Objects can be moved to the top or bottom of the display order or can be more finely controlled to move above or below a specified object. The functionality of this command permits complete control of the display and plotting order of any object relative to any other object in the drawing.
Compound Document Support
Improved control and output of objects inserted from other applications has been added to Release 14 making these (OLE) embedded objects easier to use and a more effective part of drawings.
* Proportional Scaling. In Release 14, the mechanism used in other Windows applications, such as Power Point and Word, is adopted when scaling embedded objects. Using this method, dragging an object with its corner handles maintains the object's aspect ratio making it easier to match the object's scale to the drawing.
* Drawing Order Control. With Release 14's ability to control the display and print order of objects, the ability to use embedded objects in conjunction with drawing entities is enhanced. Composing a drawing containing embedded objects is much easier.
* Visibility Control. A new system variable, OLEHIDE, allows users to quickly and easily toggle the display of embedded objects on and off.
* Selectability Control. Users can now specify embedded objects to be selectable or not, enhancing the ability to use embedded data while retaining the ability to easily edit nearby drawing objects.
* Convert to Raster During Paste. In Release 14, embedded objects may be converted to raster objects during the paste operation. This new functionality enhances the ability to control the appearance of embedded objects through the use of specialized raster image properties.
* Compound Document Printing. Embedded metafile objects may now be printed on non-standard system printer devices expanding the number of users who can take advantage of compound documents in Release 14.
Text Quality
In AutoCAD Release 14 improvements in both the display and output of True Type fonts allows users to prepare higher quality drawings.
Photorealistic Rendering
Significant enhancements to the rendering capabilities of AutoCAD are introduced in Release 14. The ability to quickly and realistically render AutoCAD models is an important tool for performing visual verification in all phases of the design process. The RENDER command in Release 14 supports photorealistic capabilities such as reflections and shadow-casting as well as the ability to apply realistic materials to models. These new capabilities will make presentation quality renderings available to all Release 14 users.
COMMUNICATE AND SHARE DESIGNS
AutoCAD Release 14 supports a number of new features that make it easier to share and re-use design information within project teams through increased functionality of external reference files, the ability to embed raster images and by providing a set of useful tools for communicating and sharing drawings and data across the Internet.
External Reference Enhancements
AutoCAD users have expressed a desire for greater control, improved performance and a more flexible set of tools when attaching, viewing and manipulating external references (Xrefs). A number of enhancements to the AutoCAD external reference facility are incorporated into AutoCAD Release 14.
* Xref Manager. Release 14 supports a new, intuitive dialog interface for managing Xrefs. The dialog provides the ability to display referenced drawings in either a tree-like, hierarchical view or as a sortable list of Xref file names and properties. Displayed properties include size, type, date, path, and load status. Management functions such as attaching, detaching, reloading, unloading, binding, and changing paths are all accessible from this dialog; binding and attaching Xrefs have additional dialog interfaces. This re-designed dialog increases learnability as well as the ability to easily manage Xrefs. A similar dialog is used to manage raster image files.
Displaying Xref Hierarchy
* Spatial Clipping. The display of Xref geometry may now be spatially clipped with the XCLIP command. Clipping can be specified by a rectangle, polygon, or polyline with the clipping boundary set to be either visible or invisible. For full control of 3D Xref geometry, both front and back clipping planes can also be defined. Clipping not only reduces memory requirements but also allows greater flexibility in composing drawings containing Xrefs.
* Spatial and Layer Indices. In AutoCAD Release 14, spatial and layer indices can be optionally created and saved with the base drawing for use with demand loading. These indices organize Xref objects based on layer visibility and 3D location. If demand loading is enabled, then only Xref geometry on visible layers that falls within the user-specified clipping boundary will be read. This ability enhances Xref performance, especially when opening a drawing containing small clipped areas of large Xref files (as is commonly the case when working with map data).
* Demand Loading. Demand loading loads only the Xref data necessary to display the drawing. Although some intelligent loading is normally performed, the real benefit of this feature is obtained by using spatial and layer indices.
* Unload. Users may now temporarily unload referenced drawings while retaining the reference path. This ability provides a simple, quick method of temporally increasing performance or hiding Xref geometry.
* Improved Path Control. Users can now control whether the path is included with file names when attaching an Xref. The paths for named projects, specified in Preferences, can also be used. These improvements enhance both file transferability and network usability.
* Bind Type. A new type of bind operation is supported in AutoCAD Release 14. This mechanism is similar to the Insert command and resolves duplicate symbol table names (e.g., layer names) rather than creating new names. Objects in the referenced drawing residing on a layer matching an existing layer in the base drawing are placed on that layer. Drawings are simplified and made more manageable since the names of layers and other named objects are not needlessly duplicated.
* Circularity detection. Self-referencing Xrefs now load up to the point of circularity rather than not allowing a branch of the hierarchy to be loaded at all. This increases the usability of self-referencing Xrefs while reducing the chance of errors.
Raster Image Support
AutoCAD Release 14 adds a new AutoCAD facility, the AutoCAD Image Support Module (ISM). The ISM is an ARX application that provides basic raster image support to Release 14. This support includes the ability to create hybrid drawing files by combining raster or bitmap images with standard AutoCAD vector graphics and the ability to view and plot such files. Release 14 enables users to integrate scanned images or digital photographs with their drafting and design work.
Raster image support in Release 14 offers these advantages:
* A clear standard for interchange of hybrid drawings, providing confidence to use hybrid images in everyday work.
* Interoperability of independent AutoCAD-based image editing, manipulation and analysis applications.
* Broad device support for hybrid data display and plotting.
This feature replaces the older RASTERIN functionality and offers improvements in efficiency, flexibility, format support, integration, and extensibility.
* Image Support in Drawings. AutoCAD Release 14 provides standardized support for a wide variety of raster image formats within AutoCAD drawings. Supported image formats include BMP, DIB, FLC, FLI, GIF, GP4, JPG, MIL, PCT, PCX, PNG, RLE, RST, TGA and TIF. The image may be bitonal, 8-bit gray scale, 8-bit color or 24-bit color.
There is no fixed limit to the number or size of images that may be loaded at a given time. Multiple images can appear simultaneously in multiple viewports and images may be tiled to create the appearance of a larger image using standard AutoCAD commands such as MOVE, COPY or ARRAY, etc.
* Image Manager. The primary control of images is through the IMAGE command which calls the Image Dialog. This new interface functions in a manner similar to the Xref Manager interface and provides the tools necessary to mange imported images.
From the Image dialog, users can perform the following tasks:
* Display either a hierarchical (tree) or flat list view of the image definitions in the current drawing including image name, current load status, file size, image type, file date/time stamp and a hard-coded path and image filename.
* Attach a new image and definition.
* Detach an existing image definition.
* Reload and Unload the image definition.
* Alter a hard-coded path of the image link.
* Image Clipping and Manipulation. Imported images can be clipped to any closed polygonal boundary as well as scaled, moved, copied and rotated in order to facilitate a desired relationship relative to the vector graphics.
* Display Controls. Image brightness, contrast, fade and transparency are fully adjustable enabling the user to achieve a high degree of control over the final image.
* Unload. In a manner similar to the Xref unload capability, users may temporarily hide the display of specified images while retaining the image file reference. Temporarily unloading images may be useful for visualization purposes or to reduce memory consumption.
Internet Tools
The Internet and corporate Intranets are quickly becoming standard tools for improving communication with clients, contractors and design teams. AutoCAD Release 14 provides a powerful set of tools for accessing and publishing to these dynamic new media.
* Drawing Web File (DWF) Publishing. Drawing Web Format (DWF) files can be output directly from Release 14 using the Export command. The DWF specification found in Release 14 defines a simple, standard vector file designed specifically for use on the World Wide Web. This format is a two-dimensional proxy representation of AutoCAD drawings, similar to the output sent to plotters. The DWF format is more efficient than other file formats for storing and displaying design information. To further reduce view and download times, DWF files are saved in a compressed form and then decompressed by an appropriate viewer after transmission.
With the DWF format, design professional around the world can quickly view AutoCAD drawing data over the World Wide Web and exchange drawing information with colleagues and clients easily and quickly. Using Netscape Navigator with the Autodesk WHIP! plug-in or Microsoft Internet Explorer with the WHIP! ActiveX control, users can view DWF files as well as have the capability to pan and zoom through complex and detailed drawings. In addition, support for embedded hotlinks or URLs (using the Internet Utilities described below) allows direct links to other files or locations, e.g., a more detailed view within the drawing or to a different drawing or other related information such as specifications or schedules. The WHIP! plug-in and ActiveX control are available from the Autodesk website.
* Internet Utilities. The Internet Utilities give users the ability to create and edit hotlinks in their drawings that are accessible when viewing DWF files created from the drawing. The hotlinks are also accessible from the right-button shortcut menu available during grip operations within AutoCAD (they launch the configured browser). The Utilities also provide the ability to open and insert drawing files from and save drawing files to the Internet. With these tools, Release 14 users are able to create more intelligent DWF files. In addition, they will have direct access to files on the Internet similar to the way they use their hard disk or network today. The Internet Utilities can be installed by selecting them as an option during Custom Installation.
* Browser Access. The new BROWSER command in Release 14 is accessible from the Standard Toolbar and gives users an easy means to launch their Internet web browser from within AutoCAD. The default Internet URL is controlled by the setting of the system variable INETLOCATION which is accessible in the Files tab of the Preferences dialog.
File Interoperability
AutoCAD Release 14 supports a high degree of file interoperability with previous releases of AutoCAD and other products.
* AutoCAD R12/R13 Compatibility. AutoCAD Release 14 reads Release 12 and Release 13 drawing format files automatically. In addition, Release 14 can save its drawings to both Release 12 and Release 13 formats. Release 14-specific data (Lightweight Polylines, etc.) is preserved intact during "round-trip" conversions to and from Release 13 and AutoCAD LT 95. This enables AutoCAD Release 14 to be used effectively in environments where previous releases are still being used.
* Export. Release 14 adds support for DWF, STL and Release 12/LT 2 DXF, Release 13/LT 95 DXF and Release 14 DXF file formats to its other export formats. File descriptions within the dialog help the user to export to the correct format.
* Save As Dialog. The Save As dialog in Release 14 supports saving drawing files in Release 12/LT 2, Release 13/LT 95, and Release 14 DWG and DWF formats as well as the new DWT (drawing template) format. As with the Export dialog, file descriptions within the Save As dialog help the user to save to the correct format.
Template Drawings
It is often most efficient to start a new drawing based upon an existing drawing. AutoCAD Release 14 introduces the use of Template drawings. Using templates is similar to using a Prototype drawing in previous releases of AutoCAD, as well as being similar to templates in Microsoft Office. A template can be selected from the Start Up and New dialogs where the template's preview image and description are displayed. Release 14 supports over 25 pre-defined template drawings based on various drawing sheet sizes, sheet orientations and international formats. Users can easily modify or create new template drawings to meet individual, corporate or client needs.
CUSTOMIZATION SUPPORT
An open architecture has always been an important feature of AutoCAD. In addition to the customization tools found in previous releases, AutoCAD Release 14 offers a set of customization tools that allows users to integrate Release 14 with other applications using ActiveX Automation, enjoy improved object interoperability when using ObjectARX applications, and save time with demand loading and persistent AutoLISP.
ActiveX Automation Support
AutoCAD Release 14 supports ActiveX Automation, Microsoft's common, cross-application customization and integration facility. ActiveX Automation enables easy integration of AutoCAD with other Windows 95 applications. Its other strength is that it provides the advantage of using well-known, easy-to-use customization languages and tools such as Visual Basic 4.0 to create AutoCAD ActiveX applications. ActiveX Automation complements other AutoCAD customization interfaces and tools.
* ActiveX Automation Component. AutoCAD Release 14 can act as an ActiveX Automation component. This means that its exposed functionality, which includes application, document, object, and interactive interfaces, can be accessed and manipulated from any application that acts as an Automation client (e.g., Visual Basic or Microsoft Excel). Applications might include integration of AutoCAD drawing data with a database or spreadsheet, batch drawing checking or manipulation, or even interactive routines that take advantage of Visual Basic's excellent graphical user interface development tools.
* Object Model Access via Visual Basic Object Browser. In Release 14, exposed AutoCAD objects, methods, properties and syntax are available to the standard context-sensitive object browser in Visual Basic providing easy to learn and easy to implement AutoCAD-specific Automation extensions.
The ActiveX Automation interface for AutoCAD closely resembles that for applications such as Microsoft Excel and Access. AutoCAD Release 14 users have only to learn AutoCAD-specific functions since the standard features of Visual Basic (such as the math and string manipulation functions) are common for all applications.
Persistent AutoLISP
In Release 13, opening a new drawing file reinitializes (reloads) all AutoLISP routines. In Release 14, AutoLISP functions, routines and variables persist (i.e., remain loaded) if a new drawing is opened. This behavior reduces drawing load times and enhances the ability to create batch or cross-drawing applications. The old behavior, if desired, is available through a compatibility setting.
Object Interoperability
The ability of independent application developers to create custom AutoCAD objects using ObjectARX was introduced in AutoCAD Release 13. Release 14 offers enhanced support for object interoperability for users who receive drawings containing custom objects, but who do not have the application that created them. The enhancements include:
* When opening drawings with custom objects, AutoCAD Release 14 checks for the presence of the ARX application and automatically loads the application if present and not loaded. If the application is not present, AutoCAD notifies the user and warns that objects may not be displayed. The name of the missing application is also reported.
* Support is provided for certain read-only operations with custom objects such as object snap and explode. Such objects may also be used as boundaries for commands such as trim, extend, bhatch, and area.
* Performing a list operation on a custom object reports the application that created the object.
These enhancements to the handling of custom objects allow such objects to serve a more useful function in a drawing file when the creating application is not present.
Application Demand Loading
In Release 14, an application is loaded only when one of its application-specific custom object is encountered in a drawing or when one of its application-specific commands is entered. Demand loading results in reduced memory demands and drawing load times when specific applications are not required for a drawing.
ARX API Extensions
For application programmers, Release 14 allows an improved use of system MFC resources, access to new lightweight objects and selection mechanisms, and other enhancements. Together this support results in significant memory savings as well the ability to better leverage Windows system resources and the AutoCAD object set.
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
AutoCAD Release 14 offers an assortment of tools that simplify installation, configuration and overall management of the AutoCAD environment including a network installation wizard, user profiles, network printing and file sharing, and the Autodesk License Manager.
Preferences Control
The process of configuring and setting preferences in AutoCAD Release 14 is significantly modified and simplified resulting in a more efficient, more flexible and easier-to-use procedure. Changes include the following:
* Preferences Dialog. The PREFERENCES and CONFIG commands of previous releases of AutoCAD are combined into a single, tabbed Preferences dialog. This dialog supports eight tabs each opening a page containing specific configuration or preference settings area. The Preferences dialog provides improved learnability and ease of system management.
* Project Folders and Path Support. Release 14 supports a new setting to specify the locations of Xref and raster image files referenced by a drawing in a project. All paths are manipulated and displayed using an Explorer-like tree structure. This feature tremendously simplifies the use of drawings obtained from users with different directory structures.
* Profiles. The Profiles page of the new Preferences dialog permits saving and restoring a group of settings at one time. All AutoCAD "session" settings (as opposed to "drawing" settings), other than device driver information, are included in profiles. Release 14 stores this data in the Windows Registry (instead of the acad.ini file) and the Profiles tab permits access to this data without the need to use the Windows Registry Editor. Multiple AutoCAD configurations can be created at a single workstation for use by different users or for different projects. Profiles enhance the management of multiple users or multiple needs from a single location.
* Automatic Configuration. In Release 14, a default, usable configuration is automatically created if one is not found or specified. This simple enhancement means quick first time start up.
* System Registry Support. In Release 14, configuration settings are stored in the Windows system registry yielding improved interoperability with other Windows applications as well as enhanced management tools.
Network Printing
Release 14 includes improved capabilities for shared printing on networks. It provides users and system administrators the ability to better integrate AutoCAD with their standard network printing facilities.
* Network Print Queue Support. Release 14 may be configured to plot directly to network print queues allowing a simplified print setup using standard print facilities and methodologies.
* Plot Spooling. Release 13 supported the use of the system print spooler when using the system printer. With Release 14, support for the system print spooler is also available when using non-system ADI drivers. This results in simplified printing procedures using standard facilities.
* Basic Batch Plotting. Release 14 supports an external facility, BATCHPLT, to produce multiple plots in an unattended mode. This feature requires AutoCAD and provides basic, automated plot creation without the need for an additional tool.
The batch plot utility allows the user to queue up a list of drawings to plot and optionally assign a PCP or PC2 file to each to control pen settings and other plot configuration parameters. Multiple devices can be specified.
Autodesk License Manager
More and more organizations are joining their AutoCAD workstations into networks. In addition, they desire to broaden the availability of AutoCAD within their organizations in a cost effective manner. To help fulfill these needs, Autodesk began implementing multiple-user software license management with Release 11. However, both the PWD-based system in R11 and R12 and the hardware lock-based system in R13 had limitations.
In order to better satisfy customer requirements, Release 14 introduces the Autodesk License Manager, an easy-to-administer and flexible tool that provides state-of-the-art, multiple-user software license management over TCP/IP networks. The Autodesk License Manager provides the following user benefits:
* Any user on a network can open and use an application until the total number of seats exceeds the terms of the license, and individual users may open multiple sessions on an individual workstation.
* Additional seats may be added easily by entering a new authorization code.
* Installations do not require special hardware locks that may interfere with other operations and that may be damaged, lost or stolen.
* Users can operate under a variety of configurations and install options.
* Fault tolerance is increased.
* Usage patterns can be monitored and categorized and reported easily.
As the name implies, the same Autodesk License Manager will also be used by other Autodesk products.
Simplified Installation
The installation of Release 14 is designed to take full advantage of Windows 95 and Windows NT procedures and standards. This translates into a smooth, virtually hands-free, installation and deployment of Release 14 components and support files. Installation is from CD-ROM only.
* Network Installation Wizard. For users of the Autodesk License Manager, a network installation wizard is provided to guide the administrator step-by-step through deployment of Release 14 across the network. With this feature, CAD Managers will be able to simplify and standardize network installations.
* No Personalization Disk. In Release 14 a separate personalization disk is no longer required during installation simplifying both installation and re-installation procedures.
File Sharing
In AutoCAD Release 14, protective file locking is handled by the Windows operating system instead of the proprietary DWK scheme found in previous AutoCAD releases. This new method has the advantage of using a standard cross-application file locking mechanism and allowing the operating system to monitor and manage all file locking operations consistently. The user no longer has to manage separate methods. In addition, protective file locking is always enabled in Release 14, eliminating problems in previous versions that resulted from mixed environments.
Startup Switch Enhancement
Startup switches in Release 14 have been updated and extended to include support for the Release 14 profile settings and to provide enhanced support for Windows Long File Names (LFN). Unlike Release 13, Release 14 supports the ability to create a new drawing using a template drawing and restore a view.
IN SUMMARY...
As you can see, the new features in AutoCAD Release 14 focus squarely on increasing user productivity. From its impressive core performance and precision drawing tools to its improved Xref support, network license manager, photorealistic rendering, and Paper Space refinements--these features were chosen with one goal in mind: completing more projects in less time with better results. That's because customers chose them.
In developing AutoCAD Release 14, Autodesk went to exceptional lengths to involve customers throughout the process. Not only did customers drive the choice of features, more than 5,000 of them beta-tested the software. Along the way, Autodesk became reacquainted with AutoCAD customers and discovered a great deal about what motivates these professionals. It's simply this: to do the best work in the shortest time--and not just to please their customers and clients, but also to please themselves. By all accounts, AutoCAD Release 14 is a product worthy of these ambitious, high-performing professionals.
