DATACAD LLC Ships DataCAD^® 9

CADD Software Delivers Increased Architectural Design Options

AVON, CONN. – August 31, 2000 – DATACAD LLC today released DataCAD 9, the latest version of its integrated 2D/3D architectural design software for architects, engineers, and contractors. Dozens of new features in DataCAD 9 provide commercial and residential design professionals with more design options, greater flexibility and new tools for visually communicating ideas with clients and subcontractors.

"Team-oriented design – involving multiple designers, subcontractors, and clients in the process – is becoming commonplace, especially among larger commercial firms," said Mark Madura, President and CEO of DATACAD LLC. "DataCAD 9 delivers the features required for streamlining the concurrent design process. External File Referencing (XREFs) and Multiple Document Interface (MDI) enable many people to work on a project simultaneously. Support for AutoCAD® R2000 DXF and DWG import/export will facilitate data sharing with subcontractors. And the new Adobe® Acrobat® PDF and Windows metafile export utilities will make it faster and easier to communicate design concepts electronically."

Team-Oriented Features Boost Productivity and Provide Flexible Design Environment
External File Referencing (XREFs) makes it possible to reference an unlimited number of external DataCAD drawings into a single file, allowing multiple designers to work simultaneously on floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and enlarged details. An integrated Reference File Manager provides extended options, including layer toggles and ghosting to differentiate between multiple disciplines.

Multiple Document Interface (MDI) enables users to display an unlimited number of DataCAD drawings and bitmap images simultaneously for design coordination and to facilitate the exchange of drawing data between multiple documents.

Global, Unlimited Undo/Redo allows users to draw and explore design ideas without hesitation by walking forward or backward through an unlimited number of steps. All DataCAD operations are supported, including the deletion of layers.

Cut-and-Paste Between Windows Applications: DataCAD 9 supports bi-directional Cut/Copy/Paste of both private (DataCAD) and public (metafile and text) data between DataCAD and other Windows applications, such as Microsoft® Office and Corel Draw®, using the Windows Clipboard.

New Tools for Enhanced Visual Communication and Sharing of Design Data
Support for AutoCAD DWG and DXF import and export of files, versions R12 through R2000, will facilitate sharing of design data with other members of the design team.

Export to Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) and Windows Metafile (.WMF) formats enables designers to share visual design concepts and plots with clients and subcontractors electronically.

New OpenGL® Shader Provides Quick Visualization
DataCAD 9 features an all-new OpenGL-based shader that produces fast, high-quality renderings of design concepts. The new shader supports up to 16.8 million colors and offers customizable lighting. The new shader supports output resolutions of up to 8 million pixels for high-quality printed output.

User Interface Enhancements
New in DataCAD 9 are view-sensitive toolbars, which provide fast access to frequently used viewing commands in the orthographic (plan), parallel, and perspective views.

Printing Enhancements
The new Batch Plotting feature in DataCAD 9 saves valuable office time by allowing users to batch plot multiple sets of drawings instead of setting up and plotting each sheet one at a time. In addition to direct printing, batched sets may also be sent to plot files for use by plotting service bureaus.

Also new in DataCAD 9 is a WYSIWYG print preview, which can be output to paper or as an electronic PDF or WMF file for distribution over the Internet.

Improved Customization
DataCAD can easily be customized using DCAL® (DataCAD Applications Language). The updated DataCAD 9 DCAL API offers developers over a dozen new procedures and functions. For more information, see the DataCAD Developer’s Network (DDN) web site, http://www.datacad.com/dcal/frame.htm.

Customer Comments on DataCAD 9
"DataCAD 9 is well poised to claim its stake as one of the leading architectural CADD applications on the market," said Albert Rodriguez, AIA, and president of DesignWorks Architects of Jacksonville, Florida. "Our firm has used DataCAD since version 2.6. We have always been impressed with the product's ability to adapt and improve over time without giving up functionality or becoming too cumbersome or difficult to learn. DataCAD 9’s external file referencing and Multiple Document Interface is long awaited and superior to competitive offerings. The new PDF publishing will make interaction with our clients and consultants a joy. We anticipate that the productivity increases that we’ll realize with DataCAD 9 will repay our software investment many times over."

Pricing and Availability
DataCAD products are available through authorized dealers worldwide, or directly from DATACAD LLC. For the name of the dealer nearest you, please call (800) 394-2231 or (860) 677-4004 outside the U.S., or access DATACAD LLC’s Web site at www.datacad.com. Contact us for current pricing.

About DATACAD LLC
DATACAD LLC is an independent, privately held company that provides robust computer-aided design and drafting solutions to architecture, engineering, and construction firms. According to the most recent AIA firm survey, DataCAD is the second most widely used CADD software among American Institute of Architects (AIA) member firms. DataCAD has over 250,000 installations worldwide.