Software Lab

July 6, 1998 Design News

SOFTWARE LAB Reviews on tools of the trade

IntelliCAD 98

Hunter Davidson, Jr. Mechanical Engineer Northrop Grumman ESSD, Oceanic Systems

Visio offers its new IntelliCAD 98 as an alternative to AutoCAD for those requiring AutoCAD compatibility, while placing software purchase price as a top priority. IntelliCAD directly reads DWG and DXF files, showing no evidence of an intermediate, native drawing format. It offers "round-trip compatibility" with AutoCAD, in general displaying and editing AutoCAD entities, and at least not disturbing those which are not supported.

IntelliCAD is primarily aimed at those already using AutoCAD, or those supplying AutoCAD compatible files to others. Not only is it file-compatible, but also generally command and programming- compatible, minimizing the training investment for current AutoCAD users.

IntelliCAD has a clean, Windows NT/95 interface, with good use of toolbars, context-sensitive prompt boxes, and right-button menus. I was immediately comfortable using familiar AutoCAD command-line entries, and the new menu formats were easy to learn. IntelliCAD should be an easy study for Windows users new to CAD, or for those migrating from any other system. Standard layouts Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced provide tailoring of the interface based upon level of CAD experience.

The intuitive, dialog-based customization of menus, toolbars, keyboard shortcuts, and aliases requires no programming or off-line editing. This capability significantly reduces the technical expertise needed to customize the interface and could be a cost-saver. I did experience problems while creating a custom toolbar, and lost command-line functionality as a result. I had to reload IntelliCAD to resolve the problem, so this capability might be approached with some caution. The script recorder is another potential time-saver; however, recording is limited to keyboard entries and point selection. Toolbar and dialog-based commands shouldn't be used in this mode.

The Drawing Explorer provides a comprehensive presentation of layers, blocks, linetypes, text styles, and coordinate systems, with easy access to properties dialogs for modification. Combined with the multiple document interface (multiple drawings can be displayed in one session), it's easy to copy features of one drawing to another. Although this capability offers an alternative to paper space, care must be taken to preserve AutoCAD compatibility in a multiple-system environment.

Entity selection and property-modification tools are flexible and easy to use, although some added dialog-based control of entity selection would be valuable and consistent with the generally excellent drawing navigation tools.

3D capability is limited to wireframe models and meshed surfaces, although AutoCAD solids are preserved (but not displayed). The renderer is easy to use, though limited in quality. It does offer the capability of variable-resolution rendering to files for use in presentations, and the AutoCAD file compatibility permits file transfer to more robust rendering tools.

While display management tools are familiar and effective, I found IntelliCAD significantly slower than AutoCAD R14 for display-intensive functions such as drawing regeneration. For reasonably complex drawings, AutoCAD regenerations proved about 10 times faster.

If IntelliCAD is to be integrated into an existing AutoCAD environment, it would be wise to thoroughly test the product over the range of work anticipated. The impact of unsupported AutoCAD functions such as associative hatching and True Type fonts must be evaluated. Total cost would include this testing and evaluation, training, additional support, plus costs and loss of good will associated with unanticipated incompatibilities.

Nonetheless, IntelliCAD is a powerful, easy-to-use drafting tool, at a reasonable cost. It should prove cost effective in an all-IntelliCAD environment, and, if proved adequately compatible, an inexpensive way to leverage an existing AutoCAD environment.