DATACAD LLC Releases DataCAD^® Productivity Pack™ Version 3.0

Interface Tools Boost CADD Efficiency and Address Need for Enterprise-Wide Drawing Consistency

Avon, CT – December 15, 1998 – DATACAD LLC has released DataCAD Productivity Pack version 3.0, a custom drawing interface add-on for DataCAD 8 for Windows® 95/98/NT®. DataCAD is a highly customizable, 32-bit computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) program with over 250,000 installations worldwide. The Productivity Pack enables DataCAD users to boost CADD drawing and modeling efficiency, and ensure enterprise-wide drawing consistency through the use of customizable keyboard macros, icon toolbars, and notation symbols for ‘power’ users.

"Most DataCAD users cite drawing speed as their number one priority – the architect doesn’t get paid until the production drawings are done," stated Mark Madura, President of DATACAD LLC. "With this in mind, the Productivity Pack groups frequently used commands in a logical fashion, which can be accessed with a single mouse click. Customized toolbars streamline certain tasks – for example, cleaning up wall intersections and drawing doors and windows – by grouping commonly used styles and providing direct access to pre-defined settings or symbols, that you would otherwise have to set through several menu selections. Firms can also use the toolbars to establish drawing standards, ensuring CADD drawing consistency throughout the firm."

The Productivity Pack features six toolbars which provide direct access to more than 200 functions, 26 enhanced keyboard macros that reduce keystrokes, and more than 50 new linetypes for greater visual impact. A 2D toolbar provides direct access to wall editing, door and window creation and links to the 3D, Notation, Dimensioning, CSI Template, and Hatching toolbars. The 3D toolbar ties into DataCAD modeling commands and 3D macros. The Notation toolbar enables firms to maintain a consistent ‘look and feel’ to the text and annotation on drawings, even when working at different scales. The Notation toolbar links to a customized drawing notation symbol library, and automatically prompts users to enter the drawing sheet text. The Dimensioning toolbar gives users quick access to pre-set text and dimension settings for commonly used scales. Other toolbars include a CSI-formatted toolbar, which gives users access to templates organized into the 16 CSI divisions and a Hatching toolbar for direct access to commonly used pattern fills.

"The DataCAD Productivity Pack is indispensable to our firm," stated Mark Stevens, Principal of MGIA Architects, Inc, in Boston, Massachusetts. "We see great time savings and convenience, particularly in using the Dimensioning toolbar on drawings that involve multi-scale detailing. We use the custom toolbars to jump back and forth on dimensioning of details, just by clicking the mouse for difference scales."

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. According to the 1997 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.