Free Upgrade begins for progeCAD 2021

Sydney, Australia 03 August - CADDIT announces the free upgrade to 2021 version for all progeCAD purchases on or after 01 August 2020. progeCAD is a powerful general-purpose 2D and 3D CAD package which offers very similar work environment as AutoCAD, with additional tools and  lower price. With progeCAD, designers have a professional yet affordable perpetual-license alternative to high-cost AutoCAD rental fees, with the ability to create, read, write and edit native AutoCAD DWG and DXF files fluently using and interface very similar to what AutoCAD already know. Based in Sydney, CADDIT has been supporting progeCAD users in Australia, New Zealand and surrounds for more than twelve years.

Along with new features, progeCAD 2021 will deliver a significant modernization of progeCAD's overall drawing environment. progeCAD's Start page has a fresh new look, and new Ribbons have been prepared for different types of users. progeCAD 2021 will offer a new "full-screen" mode and users can now "query" through overlapping entities with selection cycling. SELFILTER opens an updated Filter panel for quick re-use of selection sets, and UNDO operations can now be selected from an UNDO list. progeCAD 2021 updates the Tool Palettes with palette grouping and the ability to share existing palettes and build new palettes almost instantly. progeCAD 2021 now enables to change layer visualizations per-viewport with its new VPLAYER command. MTEXT, POLYGON, AREA and ARRAY commands have been significantly improved with new associativity options. Specific ARRAYPOLAR, ARRAYRECT and ARRAYEDIT commands have been added to accelerate array definition and modification.

CAD software users can now qualify for their free progeCAD 2021 Upgrade, with any new or upgrade progeCAD license purchase after 01 August 2020.

progeCAD 2021 will also follow through in its ongoing commitment to offering the most powerful set of data translation tools, so that users can share and receive information with a broader range of other designers, customers and partners. progeCAD 2021 will now read SolidWorks files directly - both individual SLDPRT part files as well as collective SLDASM assembly files. Other users may be happy to know that progeCAD 2021 will begin supporting the in-drawing use of QR codes. progeCAD will also save users potentially hundreds of hours with new PDF batch import functionality in the 2021 release - as well as save countless hours with the new AUTOPUBLISH command, which automatically creates export files (.dwf/.pdf) from the current drawing and saves to a specified location on saving or closing the DWG file. Three new commands will be introduced which will could completely change the way designers draw in 3D: CONVTOSURFACE, CONVTOSOLID and CONVTOMESH. These new key commands will allow designers to convert geometry between 3D solids, surfaces and meshes. RCS and RCP POINTCLOUD import now includes bounding box and size calculation. progeCAD DATAEXTRACTION has been enhanced to auto-populate tables and schedules from block attributes and drawing properties. Even copy-paste will offer in-command alignment rotation.

If you work with very large CAD files, progeCAD 2021 will also improve graphics performance for on-board graphics, offering a new “Use Frame buffer object display system” GPU option. “Hide small entity in block” will offer further speed by masking small details from inserted blocks for faster regen and display time. PRINT PREVIEW has been updated with better speed and viewing flexibility. ISOLINES, Conceptual and Realistic 3D rendering have all been improved for progeCAD 2021 as well.

The current progeCAD 2020 release is now quite well tested for supporting a variety of environments, and is still available for free trial download in either 32-bit or 64-bit versions. progeCAD's flexibility makes it practical as a low-cost design solution for a variety of Australian and overseas industries including architecture, landscaping, land survey and GIS, mining, advertising and signage design, fabrication, spa and pool design, kitchen and bath, cabinetry and many others. To qualify for this free upgrade offer, simply order any quantity progeCAD 2020 (English) new or upgrade licenses from CADDIT.net on or after 01 August 2020. Multiple purchases will qualify for multiple upgrades. progeCAD 2020 Upgrades from older versions also qualify under this promotion, including all new progeCAD USB and Network license upgrades. Note that eligible users with a USB upgrade will not be required to replace their hardware dongle for the next version. Within a few weeks after the 2021 release announcement, eligible users will have eligible progeCAD 2020 license keys automatically upgraded to run either version of their preference - progeCAD 2020 or 2021. Promotion does not apply to OEM repackaging or to languages other than English. This promotion will run until progeCAD 2021 release is announced on this website. Contact CADDIT Australia for more information about progeCAD or this upgrade offer.

Civil Survey DTM Features Introduced in progeCAD 2019

Sydney, Australia  09 May 2017 - CADDIT Software announces the second major class of new features to ship with their upcoming progeCAD 2019 release. progeCAD is an affordable, robust general purpose CAD system used by designers, architects, builders, engineers, civil survey and government planning offices for over ten yeas in Australia and New Zealand. progeCAD requires little or no learning curve for AutoCAD users because of its compatible interface and command structure.

Along with thousands of general-purpose CAD drafting features such as AutoCAD-similar drawing commands, full native DWG format read-write, PDF import and export, direct 3D modelling and realtime and advanced rendering, extensive block libraries, 3D architecture, tables and data extraction, new 3D model translation from STEP IGES and STL-mesh models as well as countless other tools, progeCAD 2019 will introduce a new suite of civil survey functions.

This new suite of DTM functions offer civil engineers, landscapers, environmentalists, builders and other land-development professionals an easy-to-use set of basic land survey tools for generating terrain profiles and slope lines. Some of the new civil survey commands include:

AUTOSECTION - generate full section detail views with full annotation from drawing contours
SECTIONLINE - create a profile path to be used by AUTOSECTION
CONVERTLCURVES - convert SPLINEs into 3DPOLY usable by AUTOSECTION
SLOPEBLOCK - generate normal or "slope" lines along a single polyline
SLOPEAREA - generate normal or "slope" lines between two polylines

To gererate a new civil section view simply create a new SECTIONLINE through your drawing like so and then select it using AUTOSECTION:

progeCAD 2019 can create DTM section views directly from LINE, 3DPOLY and 3DFACE. SPLINE need to be converted into 3D polylines first, using the "convert level curves" tool (CONVERTLCURVES)

 AUTOSECTION begins with a comprehensive dialog which allows you to customize your new DTM section view or click OK to accept prior defaults. After clicking OK your terrain section view will be generated like so:

 CADDIT is pleased to announce that starting 15 April 2018 all new and upgrade progeCAD 2018 orders from that day will be entitled to a free upgrade to 2019 upon its release on CADDIT.net. For a free 30-day trial of the current 2018 release of progeCAD or for more information about affordable CAD software, visit our website at www.caddit.net.

Upgrade Alibre or Geomagic Design Any Version to V17, Special Offer

CADDIT announces a limited, one-time maintenance fee which will allow CAD users to upgrade to the most current version of Geomagic Design from any previous version of either Alibre- or Geomagic Design. Any customer in Australia who bought Alibre Personal, Alibre Professional, Alibre Design Expert and Geomagic Design Elements, and who are not on current maintenance can subscribe now for one flat fee on the CADDIT.net website until December 31, 2015. Maintenance subscribers receive all updates and support from 3D Systems for a one-year period after booking, so for outdated / lapsed users this represents an excellent return on the original investment and an opportunity to migrate over to the new license system. Note that the exact AUD price is subject to change. Offer applies only to each seat of purchased software. Multiple installed seats on one license will be charged separately. Dongle and network fees may apply seperately.  This offer does not apply to the AlibreCAM, Mfiles/Vault or Dynamics add-ons.

For one flat fee, any user of previous versions of Alibre or Geomagic Design can now update - includes hobby users.

As previously announced, newer versions of Geomagic Design now use a new serial-key based floating license which requires occasional connection to the internet for verification purposes. Users with problematic internet, or having no internet, may wish to take advantage of the new Geomagic Design USB license dongle instead. The USB dongle can be ordered on the same page as CADDIT Geomagic Subscription Renewals.

These offers are only valid for online purchases placed using the following web link:
https://www.caddit.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=74&language=en

At a highly affordable price point, Geomagic Design delivers top-end tools at lower cost, including comprehensive assembly, parametric and direct editing tools, 2D documentation, sheet metal design, motion analysis and integrated CAD data sharing tools. For more information about 3D Systems Australia, Geomagic Design or this promotion, contact CADDIT HERE.

progeCAD 2013 Free Upgrade Offer - Begins 15 August 2012

Sydney, Australia 13 August 2012 - CADDIT announces a global free upgrade offer for all new and upgrade purchases of progeCAD Professional 2011 from CADDIT.net. The free upgrade will be for the upcoming progeCAD Professional 2013 version, after its release. progeCAD 2013 is currently scheduled for release in the next few months. progeCAD 2013 is the first release to have IntelliCAD 7 technology included in the end-user version. Along with this new technology, several new progeCAD features are planned:

• PC3 plotter configuration file support
• New Print Style Manager Interface
• New Printing / Plotting Interface
• AEC visualization (AutoCAD Architectural Desktop objects)
• STL (mesh) and DAE file export
• New Dimension Style Manager Interface
• Advanced Spline Editing
• New wireframe "HELIX" command
• New ACIS Solid "LOFT" command
• CAD Underlays of PDF, DWF and DGN files
• Microstation DGN File Import (selected versions, as underlay)
• New LMAN (Layer Manager)
• Improved Purge command
• Multigrip editing
• New overall GUI style
• Windows 8 Support
• AutoCAD DWG 2013 file format support

Here it is - the very first sneak peek of progeCAD 2013 :)



Lower level enhancements of progeCAD 2013 include the use of several new developer languages (APIs) in progeCAD: true DRX and IRX application support with VBA and VSTA object models for prototype applications, while still supporting legacy SDS and AutoLISP languages making the new progeCAD 2013 an excellent foudation for specialized CAD application development.

The progeCAD 2013 free upgrade promotion begins 15 August 2012 AEST (Australia Sydney Time) for all new full and upgrade orders placed for progeCAD Professional 2011 version (current) ENGLISH LANGUAGE ONLY - including progeCAD Pro, progeCAD USB, progeCAD Network NLM and OFFICE licenses. This promotion does not include progeCAD Standard licenses.

For more information visit our website or contact CADDIT.net HERE.

$99 Alibre Announced, Special Promotion in Australia

PRESS RELEASE (Modified for Australia)
Richardson, TX (August 11, 2009) - Alibre, Inc. (http://www.alibre.com/) today announced the boldest marketing initiative in the history of 3D CAD - making professional grade 3D CAD software, including parts, assemblies, and 2D drafting, available to anyone for under $100. In Australia the promotional price will be AUD $149.00, sold through CADDIT.net.

For a limited time, anyone can get Alibre Design for $99 (regularly $999). Alibre Design is the core CAD component of Alibre's product offering, providing a complete parametric toolset for unlimited 3D part and assembly design and 2D drafting. Capable of creating complex mechanical designs with thousands of components, full assembly motion, automatic 2D drawing updates, and many other benefits, Alibre Design is similar to products such as SolidWorks, Inventor, and Pro/E. Tens of thousands of Alibre Design users in 50 countries and 15 languages use the software to design, verify, and virtually test their products.

With today's announcement consumers have the option of spending $99 for Alibre Design or a minimum of around $5000 for competitors' software. Paul Grayson, Chairman and CEO of Alibre, Inc., says, "Alibre has the unique ability to offer its professional engineering products at a fraction of the cost of the competition. But by lowering the price to $99, the offer is irrefutably the best in the history of 3D CAD. It's absolutely unheard of given the tools we're offering, without restrictions of any kind, and we expect a lot of people and businesses to take advantage. It's really that simple. We also know that our competition can't begin to come close to this, not even within a few thousand dollars."

Alibre is ideal mid range 3D CAD for Australia, offering the best of both worlds in design function, interoperability with other systems like CATIA and Pro/Engineer via Alibre Translate, and - most of all - value. Alibre Design Standard includes the basic 2D/3D design tools as well as Tutorial access, IGES & STEP import/export and Excel spreadsheet driven design. In Australia see CADDIT.net for more information, other countries can see Alibre.com for their nearest representative.

Does Google Abuse Position to Promote Their "CAD" Software?

I am not sure how many follow the PageRank™ system that Google uses for 'assigning a numerical weight (of importance) to a web page'. For some time now Google has been assigning Sketchup.com a higher PageRank(PR 8) than Autodesk.com(PR 7). Could Sketchup.com possibly be a more important resource on the web than Autodesk.com?

According to most web traffic indexes, Sketchup.com doesn't receive a small fraction of the traffic which autodesk.com gets. Autodesk.com is also a much older site than sketchup.com. By Google's own index, Autodesk product names are searched several times more than "Sketchup" as a key word. Most of those searches are strictly related to Google free version of Sketchup. Sales of Professional version of Sketchup don't actually surpass Autodesk - not by a long shot. But Google does happen to own Sketchup.

Here's the problem. I think Google doesn't actually know much (or care) about CAD software, much less the needs of engineers and architects who use it. Some people (like myself) wouldn't even consider the free version of Sketchup to actually be a true CAD program. Yet Google PageRank seems to assume the position that this brand is arbitrarily more important, somehow more significant, more useful than any other CAD resource on the web. This artificial manipulation of "significance" influences the results people see when they search for terms like "CAD".

Is this what happens when a large company in control of a large infrastructure uses that position to cross-promote unrelated products from other sectors? Google could just as easily buy an accounting package tomorrow, brand it as Google something and suddenly their site has PR 8. Just like that.

It's probably true that Sketchup is a significant product, as many use the free version for creating buildings and other features in Google Earth. Other CAD programs, including AutoCAD and progeCAD can do this as well BTW. But would anyone besides Google consider the site (and by natural connection, the product) more significant than ALL other CAD software sites?

Free AutoCAD a Hoax

Autodesk recently published an article reading, in part, "In order to get ahead in the workplace, you need to invest in yourself by increasing your knowledge and expanding your skills.. The program offers... Free Software License*"

The timing for this announcement was probably no accident. Autodesk's paying yearly upgrade buyers (unsubscribed) got a big shock just two weeks earlier when Autodesk unveiled plans to triple their upgrade prices. So this quick fix to bury any bad karma was probably planned weeks in advance.

But is the "Free Software License" really free? Actually the license only lasts for thirteen months. Applicants must be able to prove that they are an unemployed design professional, and give reference to their last place and time of employment. Appearantly it is also watermarked "Educational", so it can't legally be used for any kind of commercial work. In other words, this isn't what you were thinking it was. Autodesk is really just expanding their educational program to include recently unemployed users of their software.

Far from "caring about the little guy", Autodesk continues to relentlessly charge high prices to their paying customers, accost people trying to sell AutoCAD on eBay, drag small businesses to court who try to enable high-end functionality in the lower price Autodesk products like AutoCAD LT and kill open interoperability of their file formats.

Sorry, no free AutoCAD.