Understanding progeCAD Upgrade Options

Many advances have been made in progeCAD development in recent years. Apart from native 64-bit CAD editing and better OpenGL hardware support for premium graphics cards, progeCAD continues to maintain its highest level of compatibility with recent Windows and AutoCAD updates. For some users, choosing the right progeCAD upgrade can be a bit confusing. This is understandable. Aside from the basic types of upgrades such as floating Network licenses, portable USB or Stand-Alone, there are also several different options for each type.

The first tip is that the latest version of progeCAD supports the same DWG file format as did previous versions. This means that progeCAD will open drawings even if they are created in a version several years earlier. Of course, as with all versions, the DWG format itself should be correct and error-free. As mentioned on the CADDIT forum, regular use of progeCAD tools like "audit", "purge" as well as regular backups can keep drawings safe and free of any format errors.

The second tip is that - unlike other CAD systems - it is still possible to upgrade from any commercial version of progeCAD without paying the full cost of a new license. For example, even if a user has a 2008 license there is still a discount for "trading in" the old license towards a new 2017 version. Here is how.

To upgrade any version of progeCAD we start on the CADDIT webstore:
https://www.caddit.net/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12

If a user prefers to use the webstore categories, all progeCAD upgrades can be found under the "progeCAD Upgrades" category.

It is possible to upgrade from any type of paid progeCAD license to any other type of paid progeCAD license. Under the "progeCAD Upgrades" category, we see several different types of license that can be selected for the upgrade. progeCAD licenses are upgraded on a one for one exchange basis. That is, for one "older" valid license code (which has not been, for example, already upgraded before), a user is entitled to one upgrade price in the license type of their choice. If a company has multiple licenses, there is no requirement to upgrade all of them, but it would be advisable to do so. Of course, the user does not need to change the license type just to upgrade - they are welcome to keep on the same type as the older one they are upgrading from (e.g. Single). The point is, either way works. Any of the upgrade products will activate the latest version of software (currently progeCAD 2017):

 



For example: we could decide that a floating network license would be more suitable for our company, rather than the single seat license which we had now since, say, 2013-2014. In that case we could begin to order our upgrade by clicking on the "progeCAD 2017 Network License Upgrade" product, even though what we have now is a 2014 Stand-Alone license from three years ago. Clicking on the product title opens the product page - in this example the product page for "progeCAD 2017 Network License Upgrade". A similar process works if a user wishes to change to a USB, or simply to keep their Single license updated. Simply click the product title for the license type you wish to upgrade TO (or, to keep).

The forth tip is to select the correct options for the upgrade. Once on the product page for the type of upgrade we want, we still need to tell the system what we are upgrading from -> which support option that we want, etc. The upgrade options are currently located toward the bottom of each product page. Some options will affect the total price of the upgrade. For our example, we are upgrading a 2014 stand-alone to a 2017 Network license. Looking at the drop down options for "Which CAD System do you currently use?" we see a few different choices. Choosing the right option here will prevent delays when our order is checked. Since progeCAD 2014 Stand-Alone is not specifically listed, the correct option is "Other (Specify ..).." as shown below:

Once the correct options are clicked, we only need to Add to Cart and Check Out per usual. We notice that by upgrading our existing old stand-alone license, we save more than $100 from the cost that buying a new Network License outright. Similar cost savings are available for other types of progeCAD licenses - even very old ones. This upgrade option allows progeCAD users to claim a measure of value back, even after using a license for many years. This upgrade option also helps ensure that users enjoy more productive software while contributing to the development of this powerful AutoCAD alternative. Of course, it would be impossible to cover every upgrade topic in a single article. So, as usual, we would close this post by saying that any questions about progeCAD upgrade offers can be sent to CADDIT through the contact details on the website.

progeCAD 2017 Graphics and GPU Review

Sydney, Australia 05 October 2016 - With the recently available progeCAD 17.0.8 service pack, the CADDIT team has revisited last year's review of CAD hardware. As stated in the update announcement on CADDIT.net, progeCAD is a low-cost general-purpose 2D/3D CAD system with very tight compatibility to recent versions of AutoCAD. Since the landmark progeCAD 2013 release several years ago, our development team has been spending considerable effort to improve our use of OpenGL hardware acceleration commonly employed by CAD software  like AutoCAD and Geomagic. OpenGL is essentially a machine language for sending commands like draw and shade directly (in a process sometimes called "direct rendering") to an OpenGL-speaking graphics card for display on the screen. These commands are often wrapped inside other languages like C++ for callable use by developers to tie into their software - like CAD, games, many video players and other highly-demanding graphics applications.


The inner workings of OpenGL per diagram from Wikipedia

This year we began introducing two significant hardware assets for graphics testing in our labs: Dell XPS Laptops (15 inch series) with Nvidia GTX 960M series GPU, now with a "game-ready" driver update version 372.90 (free update from NVidia.com).  I really like the XPS and have taken one for use myself. Other legacy systems tested are an HP Pavilion running Windows 7 on a Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2,4GHZ processor with Nvidia Quadro K1200 GPU and a new Asus with Intel i7-3770 @ 3.40 GHz Windows 10 PRO x64 / Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti (working at 1680x1050) - both with updated Nvidia v372 driver updates as well.

This year we again employed the FRAPS graphics utility for our performance analysis. Combined with results from the previous year, average speed on all systems all measured between 20 and 30 refresh frames per second (FPS) with the shaded ISS 3D test drawing, with the Dell XPS and HP Pavilion with the Quadro having slightly higher (smoother) graphics performance than the others. Results were similar when loaded with mid-sized 2D drawings roughly 12 - 14 megabytes in size, with the new progeCAD 2017 64 bit handling of larger files somewhat better than last year's version.

Early year observations of regular crashing on systems using Nvidia Quadro graphics seem to all but completely disappear with updated Quadro drivers from nvidia.com and installing the latest progeCAD update from caddit.net. We also notice the same improvement when updating the Intel business graphics drivers on systems like the Surface Pro 3. Unfortunately we were unable to make similar comparisons with legacy systems equipped with ATI 7470M Radeon graphics because the new ATI driver sent an incompatible signal voltage to the LED backlighting of the screen.  Based on last year's problems and comparatively poor performance of the ATI card, we really didn't feel like buying another one. We have heard remarks that OpenGL support on the ATI FireGL series is somewhat better, however.

In conclusion, we repeat last year's recommendation of intel CPU / NVidia graphics for progeCAD when possible. Using the latest progeCAD service pack (currently 17.0.8) and recent Nvidia device drivers is highly recommended for best results, although users should double check any possible incompatibility that newer drivers might have with their own hardware.

progeCAD 2017 Released on CADDIT.net

Sydney, Australia  18 May 2016 - CADDIT announces the release of progeCAD 2017 Professional on the website for immediate download. progeCAD is a flexible general-purpose CAD drawing program that is used in a wide range of industries, including architecture and building, fabrication, landscaping, strata management, mechanical design and many more. progeCAD is the long-standing low cost alternative for AutoCAD® and AutoCAD LT® software in Australia. progeCAD 2017 still offers perpetual licenses (no rental, no annual subscription is required) and is tested for compatibility on all major Windows platforms from 7 through Windows 10, both 64-bit and 32-bit versions. 2016 marks the tenth year of progeCAD availability in Australia and New Zealand and the ninth year of their partnership with CADDIT in the region. It is fitting that for such an occasion we offer the most significant release of the program.

progeCAD has long offered low-cost CAD software with the purpose of being as highly compatible with AutoCAD as possible. progeCAD has long offered advanced AutoCAD-like functionality in the areas of 2D and 3D CAD drawing using similar commands, icons and user interface. progeCAD supports all AutoCAD-native file format DWG versions from the newest 2017 version to very old. This year progeCAD will offer a native x64 (64-bit) environment while continuing to support x86 (32-bit) processors as well. Significantly, progeCAD 2017 offers a 1.5x - 3x performance improvement through use of multicore CPU processing as well. CADDIT now offers trial users the choice between 64-bit or 32-bit CAD download versions. All progeCAD 2017 licenses from CADDIT, including single stand-alone, mobile USB and company network licenses, will now conveniently work with either the 32-bit or 64-bit versions.


progeCAD 2017 x64 still offers 32-bit version on CADDIT

progeCAD 2017 offers users other new choices as well. Users can select, on first-time start up of the software, to use either the new ribbon-UI based interface or the legacy toolbar environment. Additionally, progeCAD 2017 now supports the newer AutoCAD® CUI user interface customization format. progeCAD 2017 offers better support for Microstation users with improved .DGN file import and underlay support through use of updated libraries. progeCAD also works with more AutoCAD® applications by introducing support for Civil3D, ADT and MDT extension formats. 3D scanner point cloud data is also now directly supported in progeCAD for either the Autodesk .PCG format or the Ambercore .ISD format. Other scan formats such as LIDAR and XYZ can possibly be converted to .PCG by downloading the Autodesk ReCap 360 tool. Updated programming interfaces for developers now includes a supported .NET API.

As Mr. Damiano Croci, COO at ProgeSOFT SA, commented: “We are taking progeCAD to the next level making it native 64-bit and giving it a fresh Ribbon-look, not forgetting improved performance with multi core computers support. The main ProgeSOFT’s focus is to provide good value for money and progeCAD 2017 Professional is a shining example of that. ProgeSOFT will continue to improve the CAD application based on the demand the company receives globally”.

Current iCARE subscribers and those participating in our recent free upgrade promotion will begin to receive their progeCAD 2017 serial codes in the next several days. Users of previous versions of progeCAD can order the appropriate upgrade for them from the CADDIT progeCAD upgrade price list. There is much more to be said about the new progeCAD 2017 release, including dozens of other new commands, variables and improved functions (such as the 3D rendering) which can be explored by downloading the software for a free 30 day trial from CADDIT. We are very excited about this release and hope that many users will benefit form the hard work invested in this version of progeCAD. Any questions about general features of progeCAD can be directed to CADDIT via the CONTACT US page HERE.

progeCAD 2017 Free Upgrade and Preview

progeCAD has long stood as the default "professional" low-cost AutoCAD alternative software option. progeCAD offers and affordable perpetual-license alternative for "renting" high-cost AutoCAD access, with the ability to create, read, write and edit native AutoCAD DWG and DXF files fluently using and interface very similar to what AutoCAD users are accustomed.

CADDIT now announces the worldwide offer of free upgrades to progeCAD 2017 of equivalent type for all progeCAD 2016 licenses and upgrades paid for on or after 24 February 2016. This means that a purchase of progeCAD 2016 USB will also get a free upgrade to 2017 USB at no extra cost, an upgrade from progeCAD 2014 to 2016 will also get 2017 upgrade at no extra cost, and so forth. Upgrades will be distributed during the first few weeks after the global release announcement of progeCAD 2017 on the CAD Software Blog and on CADDIT.net. This free upgrade offer applies to ENGLISH language license purchase only, and will continue until the release of progeCAD 2017, on CADDIT.net.

progeCAD 2017 represents the most exciting release of progeCAD to date, offering one fell swoop of general improvements, including:
NATIVE 64-bit version with theoretical memory limit of 16-terabytes for x64 PC architecture, Windows tuning model (8 terabytes "User" and 8 terabytes "Kernel"). This means ability to edit vastly larger DWG drawing files than under the previous 32-bit architecture. progeCAD no longer supports 32-bit as of 2017 release. New RIBBON-BASED INTERFACE option. Users now have the choice between ribbon, toolbar, both or neither. Updated status bar, with icons and new features. Improved memory management and hardware graphics acceleration (OpenGL), again increasing stability and drawing speed. Multi-core support for opening and regenerating files, which provides 1.5 to 3 times performance improvement on multi-core computers (er.. well, we hope that is most of us by now..) Other platform improvements include: Support for "workspaces", .NET API with user drawing interaction support (AutoCAD compatible), vastly improved Microstation DGN format read support, AutoCAD .CUI menu support and many other general platform improvements.

Here is our FIRST SNEAK PEAK of this new platform (in beta testing):


New progeCAD 2017 64-bit multicore with ribbon UI from CADDIT.

progeCAD 2017 will also deliver DOZENS of new commands and variables to be used. At this point these new functions are to include: BCOUNT, XOPEN, XPLODE, POLYSOLID, POINTCLOUDATTACH, SETBYLAYER, PRINTTRANSPARENCY, TABLESTYLE, Layer-walking and many more. Significant changes and improvements have also been made on QSELECT, PURGE, LOFT, CUSTOMIZE, AUTOCOMPLETE and many others.

To benefit from this free upgrade offer, simply buy progeCAD 2016 (English) on the CADDIT.net website. After the 2017 release, free upgrades will be sent to all progeCAD customers with orders paid on or after 24 February 2016. At a time agreeable to the user, the progeCAD 2016 serial key will be replaced with a progeCAD 2017 serial key and a new download link will be sent for the software, similar to how has been done in past years. The free upgrade will apply to all new progeCAD Professional, progeCAD USB and company Network licenses purchased on or after 24 February. New dongles will not be required for the progeCAD USB upgrade. Free upgrades will also be sent to any users now purchasing a progeCAD 2016 upgrade for an existing seat of progeCAD 2010, 2011, etc. Promotion does not apply to OEM repackaging. This promotion will last until the day that progeCAD 2017 release is announced on this website.

To try progeCAD free for a month, progeCAD 2016 can be downloaded HERE. For questions about this free 2017 promotion please contact CADDIT here.