Click here to return to Home/Introduction
When microcomputers were first used for the task of drafting in the early 1980s, drafters and designers were forced to learn archaic programming languages and lingo. For example, certain colors of lines on the computer screen correlated to different line thickness of pens used by the plotting devise. While computer hardware, operating systems, and other types of software have evolved drastically in the past 25 years, CAD remains largely unchanged. The software illustrated below was created by Joe Calvin in the attempt to influence the future development and direction of CAD products.
|
|
|
|
|
CAD-GUI is a working software program we wrote to demonstrate substantial improvements we thought could be made to basic 2D CAD drafting. After completing it, we presented it to FIT, Inc., the makers of Cadvance, our primary CAD system. Many of the concepts presented were integrated into Cadvance 9, FIT's next major upgrade. The software was also demonstrated at AIA meetings and local computer and CAD user group meetings. CAD-GUI was reviewed in the October 1997 issue of "C:\CAD\NEWS" under the title "Is This the Future of Cadvance?" Some of CAD-GUI's features include the following: • On-screen dimensions that show the size of new geometry as its being drawn, and allows the drafter to modify the size and locations of new and exiting geometry by typing on the keyboard. The important distinction made by the demonstration is that these temporary dimensions are shown in the drawing, not in a separate dialog box or status bar. • A simplified and reduced number of drafting tools reduces screen clutter from the interface and allows more of the drawing to be seen at one time. • Very advanced snapping capabilities allow dynamic and multi-step geometric construction instantly as the user draws. • Contextual controls and information are displayed in a tiny window next to selected objects, saving the user time in searching for menu commands or buttons. • Infinite space scroll bars • No negative dimensions or angles greater than 45° displayed. If you are interested in CAD-GUI, e-mail joe@thorpassoc.com |
