DATACAD LLC Ships DataCAD^® 8 for Windows^® 95/NT

32-bit Windows 95/NT version of popular 2D/3D CADD program
includes Visual Reality Suite and DC Viewer

Avon, Conn. - May 15, 1998 - DATACAD LLC has released DataCAD 8 for Windows 95/NT, the first 32-bit version of its popular 2D/3D computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software for architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) applications. Bundled with the release of DataCAD 8 at no additional charge is the Visual Reality Suite™ 2.0, a 32-bit rendering and animation program from Micrografx® Corporation (NASDAQ: MGXI), Richardson, Texas, as well as DC Viewer, a program for sharing DataCAD files and producing VRML output.

"DataCAD focuses on ‘the basics’ of AEC automation-the tasks that architects and builders spend 50%-70% of their time doing," said Mark Madura, president of DATACAD LLC. "Our customers cite DataCAD’s ease-of-use and ability to quickly create production drawings as the product’s strong suit. With this in mind, DataCAD for Windows 95/NT features the familiar DataCAD for DOS menus, icons, and hot keys for a smooth transition to the Windows platform. And, because photorealistic presentations are becoming increasingly important to AEC firms, we are including the acclaimed Visual Reality Suite with DataCAD."

"At an introductory price of $495, DataCAD 8 provides high-end CADD capabilities at a business software price for architects and other AEC professionals," continued Madura. "This is not a ‘light,’ entry-level product. DataCAD’s powerful 2D/3D CADD toolset is comparable to competitive products that cost ten times the price. With more than 200,000 users worldwide and counting, DataCAD continues to deliver price-performing CADD for the design/build desktop."

Highlights of DataCAD 8
As a true 32-bit Windows 95/NT application, DataCAD 8 is compatible with Windows 95/NT-supported devices. Additionally, DataCAD 8 is fully compatible with previous versions, sharing the same drawing files, templates, symbols, fonts, linetypes, hatch patterns and DCAL macros. DataCAD 8 supports bi-directional DXF/DWG file translation and features improved online and printed documentation. Menus retain the same look and feel as DataCAD for DOS, and customizable keyboard macros are supported as well.

New in DataCAD 8 is the ability to save DataCAD models and drawings as bitmap (BMP) images for use in marketing proposals, technical illustration and other business applications. Lighting intensity control has been added to the Quick Shader feature for more accurate, fast visualization of DataCAD models. Plotting has been enhanced with a new pen table that gives users pen-by-pen color control. Full colors, screen colors and grayscale are supported.

Multi-scale plotting has been enhanced to allow layers to be toggled on and off in any detail on-the-fly, and any detail can be read out to the drawing window for further editing or updated in one step based on the current view.

DataCAD 8 includes DCAL, an applications programming language for creating third-party applications for DataCAD. Hundreds of add-on enhancements are available from DATACAD LLC through its Cheap Tricks Ware CD, volumes 1 and 2.

DataCAD 8 includes DC Viewer™ for Windows 95/NT
DataCAD 8 includes DC Viewer, a stand-alone program that allows designers to share DataCAD drawings and design information with clients and decision-makers at all levels in a company. The program runs on any PC or laptop and is perfect for design review sessions with a client or for faster approvals from management. Users can perform hidden line removal operations and shade CADD models for visualization. 3D models can be saved as VRML 2.0 files for Internet/Web page use, or output to any Windows-compatible printer or plotter.

DC Viewer offers clipboard support for compatibility with popular graphic file formats. CADD images can be copied to the Windows 95/NT clipboard for use with other Windows programs such as word processing and graphic software.

32-bit Photorealistic Rendering and Animation with Visual Reality™ 2.0
Bundled with DataCAD 8 at no additional charge is Visual Reality™ 2.0, a 32-bit software suite designed to offer an easy to use but extremely powerful 3D environment in which full color still images and animations can be created. Visual Reality™ 2.0 includes Renderize Live!™, Visual Font®, Visual Image®, Visual Model™, Visual Catalog™, and 3D Objects and Textures.

Renderize Live! is a program for creating photorealistic renderings and animations from 3D CADD models using a variety of material, lighting and camera effects. Visual Font is a customizable tool for creating 3D text objects using Windows True Type fonts. Visual Image is a powerful image editor that works with a variety of file formats to create single images or digital collages in full, 3D solid-shaded mode using 3DR acceleration. Visual Model allows the creation of 3D objects, including models with organic deformations. Visual Catalog organizes and facilitates the re-use of 3D scenes, objects, material and images from previous projects. 3D Objects and Textures is a sample library of 3D objects and textures. Models and images created using Visual Model, Visual Image, and Visual Font can be brought into Renderize Live! via a graphical drag-and-drop operation.

About DATACAD LLC
DATACAD LLC is an independent, privately held company that provides robust computer-aided design and drafting solutions to architecture, building, engineering, and construction firms. With over 200,000 installations worldwide, DATACAD LLC’s award-winning DataCAD architectural design products are some of the most popular, cost-effective CADD products available.