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DesignCAD 3D MAX Version 14.

Updated Array Command

The Array command has several new options. The names of the old Distance 1, Distance 2, and Distance 3 edit boxes have changed to Columns, Rows, and Tiers. They still work in the same way as before.

Array option: Use Original As the First Copy

This check box allows you to choose whether or not the selected object(s) becomes the first copy in the array. If this box is checked, the array begins from the selected copy, just as in older versions of DesignCAD. However, if you uncheck this box, you can set a point for where the first copy of the array should go. This allows you to create an array of objects far from the original, leaving the original copy undisturbed.

Array option: Distance Type

This radio button lets you choose the way DesignCAD interprets the distance between the points you set.

Array option: Orientation

This drop list is only enabled for arrays along a curve, and lends options for a more exact array.

Array option: Specify Offsets/Distances

If this box reveals a new group of options where you may enter offset distances for each direction.

Smarter options in the Array dialog box.

As you check the options in the dialog box, some of the other edit boxes are hidden, and others are revealed depending on which apply to the selected option.

Array option: Scale

This new option allows you to specify the starting and ending scales of the arrayed objects. The first object will be scaled up or down by the amount specified in the Start scale, and the last one using the End scale. Intermediate objects are scaled smoothly between these two extremes.

Array option: Angle

If arraying along a curve, and you have chosen an orientation of Forward, Backward, Left, or Right, you can also rotate each copy about the direction of travel. This lets you spin the array around the curve. Intermediate copies are tilted proportionately.

Array option: Offset Distance to First Copy

If arraying a long a curve, and you have specified offsets between copies, you can also specify the offset distance of the first copy from the end of the curve.

Surface Connect

The Surface Connect command has two new options: Use Original Points forces the Surface Connect command to connect up the original points of the cross-section lines. This option retains the true shape of the lines being connected. Retain Original Point Order always connects Point 1 of each line to Point 1 of the following line, and so with points 2, 3, and so on.

Lock X Coordinate; Lock Y Coordinate; Lock Z Coordinate

Locks any of the three coordinate values to a fixed position while allowing free motion along the remaining unlocked axis.

New Shade Options (non-OpenGL shading only)

Enable Transparency, if an object's material is has transparent qualities; DesignCAD's native renderer can show this when shading using Phong or Gourad shading. Enable Fogging let’s DesignCAD show a foggy scene.

New Options for the Material Editor

Transparency can vary between 0 and 100. Objects with 0 transparency are opaque. Objects with 100 transparency can barely be seen when shaded. Transparency is only displayed when shading with Gourad or Phong shading with graphics acceleration disabled. Emission can vary between 0 and 100. Emission makes a shaded object look brighter, as though it is being lit from within. An emission of 0 has no visible effect. An emission of 100 makes the object look very "bright".  Emissive objects do not act as light sources - they do not cast light on other objects in the drawing.

Segment Command

Now offers the options to specify a distance, which allows you specify the number of segments you want. Remove Leftovers, which deletes any bits of the line that are shorter than the desired. Set Cutting Point and Direction, which lets you, specify an exact point on the line, which should be the start of a segment, and an optional second point for the direction to cut.

Rotate Command

Now has a radio button to a list box that allows you to chose the axis. Also added is the through Selection Handle option, which when active, no matter what axis you choose, the rotation axis always shifts so that it passes through the first selection handle. When it is not checked, the rotation axis passes directly through the point(s) that you set.

Rotate Drag Mode now works with cursor constraints and offers continuous drag

Instead of the previous Up/Down and Left/Right rotation, you now drag the mouse around the axis of rotation (in some cases, this may require Ctrl+Shift+Drag to move you in and out on the depth axis to rotate as desired). You may now either click/drag/release, or click once to set a starting point, rotate at will, and click again to set the ending point for the rotation.

Close All Command

This command allows you to close all open drawings at once. Any unsaved drawings will offer you the chance to save your changes.

Improved Windows commands

When saving with Hidden Line Removal, offers the option to automatically clean up the hidden-line drawing. This removes many (but not all) of the duplicate lines in the projected drawing.

Improved Save As Command

When saving with Hidden Line Removal, offers the option to automatically clean up the hidden-line drawing. This removes many (but not all) of the duplicate lines in the projected drawing.

Save A Copy Command

This command works much like Save As, except that it doesn't change the name of the file you are working on. This makes it easy to save incremental backups of your work without changing the base filename.

Improved Export DWG/DXF

When Exporting to AutoCAD 14 or 2000, you have some new options: Export Grid Surface as 3D Mesh (rectangular mesh) or a Polyface Mesh (polygon mesh). Export Hatch as Hatch Entity, Line Entities, Outline. Fixed-weight lines (ex. 0.3mm printed weight) should now import and print at the correct weight. Blocks and symbols are now exported as AutoCAD-style blocks, with some limitations.

Import DWG/DXF

Blocks are now converted to DesignCAD blocks, with the following limitations: DesignCAD explodes nested blocks from the original drawing. Only the outer block level is retained. Rotated attributes in scaled blocks are not "skewed" as they are in AutoCAD.

New Layer Options

You may now choose to set layer-specific line weights at fixed printed width. In the Line Styles dialog box, check the "Enable Paper-scaled Line weight" box, and choose a weight from the Line weight drop list.

Run Macros and Exe's from the command line

You can now run macros and executables from the command line, optionally with command-line parameters, and you don't have to use the "Run" command to do it. You can even omit the extension.

Insertion Point edit control added

Block Info Box

Insertion Point edit control added

Symbol Info Box

Insertion Point edit control added. Individual X, Y, Z scale edit boxes replaced with a single Scale edit box. (Symbols cannot be scaled independently -- however, Blocks can). Uniform Scale checkbox removed (Symbols will always scale uniformly).

Hatch Info Box

Use Paper Color

Color By Layer checkbox

It's now easy to control whether an entity's color is controlled by the layer setting or by the current color. In previous versions of DesignCAD, you could draw something in one color, then move it to a layer, which had a preset color, and the entity's color would never change to match. Now, if you check this box in the Info Box, the entity will change colors automatically if you move it to a layer with a preset color.

Line style By Layer checkbox

An entity's line style is now controllable in the same way as with Color By Layer above.

Color By Layer command and Line style By Layer command.

There are two new commands in Options -- Color By Layer and Line style By Layer. These commands control whether the color and line style of entities are based on the original color/line style, or if they change automatically as the entities are moved from layer to layer (or if a layer's preset color and line style is changed).

New Snap Mode - Interruptible Snaps

The Snap toolbar now contains an additional tool to enable or disable interruptible snaps. Previously, a currently operational snap command would usually be terminated if you engaged a different snap command (though most would allow a right-click for Gravity). If you enable interruptible snaps, then you can, for example, start Midpoint2, then use Line Snap for the first point of the MidPoint2 snap, and Intersect2 for the second.