progeCAD Center 2014: The Toolbox You Didn't know You Had

progeCAD is a low-cost CAD alternative for creating, editing and plotting native AutoCAD DWG files without buying AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. Since the release of progeCAD 2013, every installation is accompanied with a toolbox called progeCAD Center. progeCAD center is also available for use during the free trial period of the software. progeCAD Center can be started from the START menu icon within the progeCAD Start Folder, or from the icon on the Desktop menu in Windows 8.1 (shown right).


Once started, there are several categories which appear in the toolbox. For progeCAD 2014 these are: Launch progeCAD, Register progeCAD, Online Support, Help / Video, Settings, Utility, Support Tools. We will review each of these as used in progeCAD 2014 professional.

• Launch progeCAD: This CLOSES progeCAD Center and starts the progeCAD Software program.
• Register progeCAD: When you buy a progeCAD license or install a new progeCAD Network client, use this option to activate the license code.
• Online Support: A webpage to the contact us page for support questions is opened. progeCAD Center remains active.
• Help / Video: Launches the progeCAD Searchable Help files, either for users or programmers. Video Tutorials open a webpage with a list of online video lessons for CAD beginners.
• Settings: Turn graphics acceleration on or off (recommend ON), Repair (use this first if progeCAD stops running as a result of the user environment somehow becoming corrupt), Toggle Automatic Updates On or OFF (recommend ON), User support folder - direct access to progeCAD support files for templates, hatches etc.
• Support Tools: Rescue, Troubleshooter and Dumper are all functions used when in contact with the progeCAD development team for remote access and analysis of problems that a user may be having specific to their installation of progeCAD. progeCAD Extras opens a webpage with a few extra downloads, including the VBA toolkit for progeCAD 2013 and 2014, as well as updated USB dongle drivers for mobile USB licenses.

These tools can become very useful in different situations. For example, a long running progeCAD installation may on occasion suddenly begin to crash on startup. This has to do with some way progeCAD was adjusted or reconfigured during a previous session and now the environment is corrupt. Simply using the Repair function under Settings often resolves the issue immediately. For example, here is how to access the USB Analyzer from the Support Menu:
 

For more information about progeCAD as a low-cost AutoCAD solution, contact CADDIT or visit the website HERE.

AutoCAD Tables in progeCAD 2014 - Create and Edit

A new feature in progeCAD 2014 is comprehensive support for the AutoCAD data "table" entity set which was first introduced in AutoCAD 2005 version but improved in 2008. The data table is supported in both the full version of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, although the LT version does not support entity data extraction feature. It was also discussed for earlier versions of progeCAD, but had to wait for the milestone 2013 DRX-based release before it could be implemented. In a further step in AutoCAD compatibility, progeCAD 2014 can now both create new data tables and edit existing data tables from AutoCAD DWG files.

To create a new, empty data table in progeCAD, simply click either the Table icon in the Draw toolbar

, OR select "Draw" -> "Table" form the progeCAD menu. The following familiar dialogue box will appear:

Simply specify the desired number or rows and columns, pick a size for these and set the cell styles. For now we will leave the Insert options as "Start from empty table". Then you can locate the new data table either by a single point, or cross-corner and allow the cell sizes to emerge as a calculated value. Once the table is inserted into your drawing, you can begin entering data, such as naming the headers or inserting values. This is done simply by double-clicking into one of the cells much like we would in Excel. This highlights the selected cell in red and opens up the cell's entry box:

Note that from here we can easily control many aspects of the individual data cell, like background colour, text height and much more. Text itself can be entered directly here, or formatted in the MTEXT window which can be called up by clicking the "Double AA" icon to the right of the text field.

progeCAD tables also support entity data extraction to a new table, something only supported in the full version of AutoCAD and not in AutoCAD LT. To do this we select the "from object in the drawing" insert option instead. Afterwards we are prompted to select the entities from which we want to extract the data and a template as well, if desired.

progeCAD 2014 also supports an insert from CSV file option as well.

progeCAD is a popular AutoCAD alternative in Australia because of it's low cost, local support and large community of users. For more information on progeCAD 2014 or for a free, no-obligation trial version to test for yourself, visit the progeCAD Australia webpage or contact us at our Parramatta training office.