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AEC Review
CADALYST
New rendering and parametric utilities strengthen DataCAD Plus3D appeal
ataCAD has long been an architect's favorite-all the way back to DOS. DataCAD 9.51 ($995), the base product, includes the old Visual Reality 2 rendering package from Micrografx. Basic DataCAD offers 2D drafting with some 3D modeling. At twice the price ($1,995), DataCAD Plus replaces the rendering package with one called vis and adds an architectural front-end called ZAC (Zone-based Architectural Construction). Note that DataCAD Plus lacks some features, such as xrefs, found in the base product. Although ZAC still has some rough edges, it adds welcome 3D features to DataCAD Plus. In a nutshell, ZAC links building components that belong together-doors, windows, walls, and so forth. When you make a change in the 2D floor plan or in the 3D model, ZAC adjusts the appropriate components in whatever zone of the drawing you specify. You usually do this one room or floor at a time. With ZAC, you can generate updated 2D construction drawings from the 3D model. With plain DataCAD, most of the intelligence goes the other way only-you change the 3D model by editing your 2D drafting. This is still possible (and frankly, preferred) in DataCAD Plus.
We reviewed DataCAD 8.5 in our October 1999 issue. This review update is confined to changes in DataCAD's core and to DataCAD Plus' ZAC and vis components.
New core features
As noted, some of these functions were, at press time, available only in DataCAD 9.51. The company says these features will be added to DataCAD Plus in April 2001 and made available to existing Plus customers at no charge.
Near-global undo/redo. Almost all commands are supported with the Undo/Redo icon-at least commands that modify the drawing file, not commands that modify the on-screen view. You can invoke Undo and Redo continuously during the...