Overview

DoubleCAD XT Pro v3 is the advanced version of DoubleCAD XT. It is a professional 2.5D CAD application that provides all the power required to get projects done on time, at a fraction of the cost of AutoCAD LT, yet is fully .DWG compatible and packed with more features.

Professional Power

DoubleCAD^TM XT PRO is a 2.5D CAD application with advanced features for outstanding drafting and detailing capability. DoubleCAD XT Pro understands and can import 3D files such as SketchUp, Rhino, and .DWG files to create 2D planar construction views to complete your working drawing documentation. It also includes powerful design tools for architectural and mechanical use.

Familiar Environment

DoubleCAD XT Pro is designed to minimize switching costs, and protect your intellectual property in existing drawings. You will be up to speed quickly, immediately benefitting from advances in productivity that will provide a quick return on investment (ROI).

Excellent .dwg support coupled with the ability to read and write nearly 30 file formats, means you will be able to protect and continue to profit from your existing drawings. Unlike IntelliCAD products, DoubleCAD XT Pro is not trying to be an AutoCAD® clone; rather it is designed as an AutoCAD LT® work-alike by providing a user interface similar to the AutoCAD classic interface. The menus, tools, command line, and other user interface elements will be familiar so that you may quickly move on to exploring our innovative advancements.
With the launch of v3 (see what's new in v3) it should be even more comfortable as many changes have been made to ensure the ESC key, Space Bar, and Enter key behave more consistently. This is so that the muscle memory of AutoCAD users, the reflexive commands so to speak, are consistent right from the start.

Affordable Innovations Enhance Productivity

We've listened to professional designers and drafters, so DoubleCAD XT Pro goes beyond AutoCAD LT to provide more advanced drafting and detailing capabilities at an attractive and affordable price. DoubleCAD XT Pro is for anyone who performs drafting and detailing regularly who is dissatisfied with the cost, lack of innovation, and stagnation of leading 2D CAD applications.

DoubleCAD XT Pro also excels at parametric design with features such as parametric constraints, scripted parametric parts, architectural tools, and parametric AEC objects.

And now with v3 there is support for customization through Ruby scripting in addition to the Software Developers' Kit (SDK) . The Pro version allows for all sorts of routines, features, or full-fledged vertical applications to be developed and added right to the user interface.

Whether you are starting a project with 2D design, or documenting a 3D model created in another application, DoubleCAD XT Pro streamlines workflows as a companion to many third-party applications.

Features

New in DoubleCAD v3 at a glance

• Graphic acceleration (Pro only)
• Ruby Scripting (Pro only)
• DWG 2010 support
• SketchUp version 8 support (.SKP)
• Enhanced Layer manager: Modeless and multi-selection capable
• Purge: Removes unused items, such as block definitions and layers from the drawing to reduce overhead and file size.
• XClip support: Clip Xref insertions to create better presentations and layouts
• Multi-Leader improvements: Create and edit multi-leaders, and multi-leader styles
• Detail Sections: Clip 2D section of your drawing and insert and scale the clip for detail views.
• Print Queue: Manage the printing of all spaces, model and paper. Control layout, and designate printers for each space.
• Multi-select drawings on Open
• Enhanced Command line : For improved readability
• Block & Group Edit in Place : Edit blocks in place within the drawing
• Pick by point hatch: Select internal point of closed boundaries to create hatch pattern
• Double Click customization
• Architectural: (Pro)
  • Muntins for doors and window
  • Bottom Wall modifier
• Measurement info history list
• Re-fillet Polyline radius
• Enhanced View Manager
• Geometric Tolerance Tool
• DWG Line weight support
• Stretch Tool: Rubber band display of selected objects
• Trim: now works with multi-lines

Advantages vs. Autocad

Full features list

Take advantage of the new powerful features that help increase productivity in a familiar user interface that makes it easy to use.
Based on top customer requests and our goal to be the best 2.5D CAD application available, we are excited about the following three major areas of effort that went into DoubleCAD XT Pro v3:

• Performance
• Interoperability
• Customization

Performance up to 60x faster

Enjoy hyper-accelerated graphic performance*. Increase zoom and pan navigation up to 60x faster. Smooth 2D graphics performance is especially noticeable with larger drawing files. With GPU acceleration technology, there's no waiting, no hesitation, no loss of concentration, imagine that.
*Supported graphics accelerators include:
NVIDIA® Quadro FX 1000 & up
NVIDIA® Quadro NVS series
NVIDIA® GeForce FX
NVIDIA® GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9
NVIDIA® GTX series
AMD-ATI Radeon 9500 & up
AMD-ATI Radeon X, HD 2000 & up
AMD-ATI FireGL X
AMD-ATI FireGL V 3000 & up
AMD-ATI FirePro series
INTEL® Integrated graphics series: GMA 3000, GMA X3000, GMA 4000 (GMA = Graphics Media Accelerator)

Redsdk runs in CPU mode with all rendering features available when no graphics accelerator is available.

Interoperability

Do you need to share and receive CAD files with others? DoubleCAD XT Pro v3 has extensive interoperability that supports the latest industry file formats including AutoCAD .DWG 2010/2011, SketchUp v8 .SKP, Rhino .3DM, DoubleCAD .2CD, and more. Enjoy unmatched interoperability with many industry standard design applications. Free yourself to use the best tools to get your job done regardless of attempted monopolies or pigeon-holed design solutions. Let DoubleCAD XT Pro be the tool of choice for your project workflow and break free at last.
DoubleCAD XT Pro is a full featured CAD application that can be used stand-alone, as a replacement, or as a companion seat to AutoCAD based products. DoubleCAD XT Pro plays well with other top AEC applications for a seamless and integrated workflow that is affordable enough for all to use.

Customization

When doing some heavy CAD drafting and detailing, we realize that many tasks can be repetitive or tedious. DoubleCAD XT Pro provides the ability to create customized scripts and commands to help automate tasks and functions so you can work more efficiently.
New to DoubleCAD XT Pro v3 is the support for customization through Ruby Scripting. Those of you familiar with using Ruby Scripts in Google SketchUp should have no problem creating Ruby Scripts in DoubleCAD XT Pro since many of its functions are based on SketchUp Ruby Scripting. Ruby scripts are a modern alternative to lisp and much easier to use. Ruby Scripts can simplify multi-step operations, create new customized tools, and streamline the way you work in DoubleCAD XT Pro.
In addition to Ruby support, the Software Developers' Kit (SDK) is available for the creation of tools, routines, and even large commercial applications. The Pro version allows for all sorts of routines, features, or full-fledged vertical applications to be developed and added right to the user interface.

Plus all of these great features:

Read below for MORE DoubleCAD features.

RUBY SCRIPTING

When you are doing some heavy CAD drafting and detailing work, we realise that many tasks can be repetitive or tedious. DoubleCAD XT Pro provides the ability to create customised scripts and commands to help automate tasks and functions so you can work more efficiently

• Works like Ruby in Google SketchUp
• Add extra functionality to DoubleCAD XT Pro
• Automate common tasks

2D DRAFTING & DETAILING

An important aspect of any CAD tool is its 2D drafting and detailing capabilities. With the majority of all CAD projects ending in 2D drawings, the ability to create or open a 3D design and rapidly and effectively create those 2D drawings is of critical importance. This is why we have chosen to focus DoubleCAD on exactly this task.

DoubleCAD XT Pro excels in its 2D capabilities. The ability to explode viewports makes it easy to create flat 2D vector drawings from any view of the model. The Drafting Palette creates associative views, sections, and detailed views with a single click - even from an Xref. These object views can be dimensioned and annotated rapidly.

Different visual styles allow for materials, fills, even transparent fills and gradients to be used to add effects and visual clarity. Lines and custom line styles allow for colour or width by layer. Polyline segments may have differing starting and ending line widths.
But it all begins with fundamental drawing tools. And in that regard DoubleCAD XT Pro is rich

DRAFTING PALETTE

The Drafting Palette is one of the most powerful features for advanced drafting and detailing in DoubleCADTM XT Pro. It works with solid or surface models, turning 3D designs into associative 2D manufacturing or construction drawings, even when working on an Xref.

PARAMETRIC PART MANAGER

The DoubleCADTM XT Pro Parametric Parts Manager allows you to create and consume parts that remain parametrically controlled even after insertion in the drawing. They are a bit like a 3D dynamic block, an AutoCAD® dynamic block, or a SketchUpTM dynamic component. The key difference is that parametric parts (.PPM files) may be defined using a text description (script). The script defines the structure, editable properties, and outputs that result in a parametrically editable part.

Another use for .PPM objects is to create 2D symbols. Imagine in landscape architecture if you had plants with a different appearance for different seasons, or for different growth sizes at 1 year, 5 years, and 15 years size. The uses are endless.

PARAMETRIC CONSTRAINTS

Parametric drawing provides precision and productivity. You have greater control to enforce design intent, and may very quickly modify a design by using geometric and dimensional constraints. The variable palette allows you to set values to driving dimensions, including formulaic relationships between objects.
• Rapid Revision Productivity
• Geometric Constraints
• Dimensional Constraints
• Pattern Constraints
• Proven Technology

ARCHITECTURAL TOOLS

DoubleCADTM XT Pro includes an integrated suite of architectural tools that accelerate productivity in 2D design and drafting, or in the documentation of existing compatible 3D architectural models. The DoubleCAD AEC objects are AutoCAD® Architecture (ACA) compatible so that .DWG models with ACA extensions may be read, modified, and documented as needed. Some of the great features include:

• Walls & Compound Walls
• Parametric Doors & Windows
• Stairs, Rails, Slabs, & Roofs
• Markers & Schedules
• Styles Management
• Terrain

DRAWING COMPARE - BONUS SOFTWARE

An important new feature in version 3 of DoubleCADTM XT Pro is the bundling of the DoubleCAD Drawing Compare application. This application installs a menu item so that it can be launched directly from within the Tools menu of DoubleCAD. Select two drawings, whether .2CD, .DWG, or .BMP images, and Drawing Compare will perform a visual comparison of the two.
There are options to switch from one to the other, to show only the differences, or to have the differences blink, quickly highlighting where changes have been made. Zoom In or select to Display to Differences to quickly spot any updates.

FILE INTEROP & XREFS

DoubleCADTM XT Pro includes support for dozens of file formats making it an invaluable drafting and detailing companion to a broad spectrum of applications. Open, import, or embed up to 35 file formats and export up to 28, including .DWG, .DXF, .SKP (GoogleTM SketchUpTM), .3DM (Rhinoceros®), .3DS (Autodesk® 3ds Max®), IGES, STEP, .OBJ, COLLADA (.DAE); vector formats include .EPS and .SVG; raster formats include .BMP, .GIF, .JPG, .PNG, .TIF, and more. DoubleCAD reads and writes .DWG and .DXF files from R14 through 2009 (2010 coming soon) including AutoCAD® Architecture extensions.

This broad range of file formats helps to maintain your intellectual property investment supporting older files, models, and parts. It also makes it easy to access parts from vendors or posted on model exchange sites like the GoogleTM 3D Warehouse.

In version 3, DoubleCAD has improved the .DWG filter as well as the COLLADA (.DAE) export. When saving to COLLADA there is a Setup option to Save Blocks. If the application that imports the .DAE file supports COLLAD Instancing (currently SketchUp v7.1 does), then block definitions will be maintained. If the entire model is turned into a block prior to export (ctrl-a, then Format - Make Block), even architectural objects will be converted into blocks and exported as instances.

 

External References (Xrefs)

All of the file formats that may be opened and imported, with the exception of bitmap images may be used as an external reference (Xref). More than 15 of the 3D formats that may be used as an Xref also work with the Drafting Palette. This combination means that the model may be designed in one application, and the views, sections, elevations, and floorplans will be updated when the original model is changed. The designer may continue to work in SketchUp, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks®, for example, while the drafting continues in DoubleCAD.

In version 3 Xref support has gone further than before, with complete control over layers in the Xref, even when controlled through the new Layer Filter function in the Design Director palette. Support for binding an Xref in the document has been added, so that the geometry is converted into a block within the drawing. Once an Xref has been bound it may then be exploded to create simple geometry.

Another new feature is support for the drawing variable $VIZRETAIN which defines how changes will be applied when the Xref is reloaded. Drawings can be saved with Xrefs in .2CD or .DWG format, with those Xref properties maintained - although the .DWG will recognize only another .DWG as an Xref if opened in an application other than DoubleCAD.

For a more detailed look at these great features with video demonstration please go to http://www.doublecad.com

Screenshots

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

Pentium® IV Processor; Microsoft ® Windows® XP with 512 MB RAM; Windows Vista or Windows 7 with 1024 MB RAM; 300 MB of free hard disk space; 64+ MB of swap space; Super VGA (1024 x 768) display; High Colour (16 bit) graphics support; 4X DVD-ROM drive.

Recommended Requirements

Your experience with DoubleCAD will be greatly enhanced with a newer generation, higher speed CPU, 2-4 GB RAM, and larger display resolution. An optional GPU-accelerated wireframe render mode requires a supported graphic accelerator. The latest video drivers are typically required. Newer boards with more power and VRAM generally provide greater performance.
The following are recommended:
NVIDIA® Quadro FX 1000 & up
NVIDIA® GeForce FX & up
NVIDIA® GeForce 6, 7, 8 & up
AMD-ATI Radeon 9500 & up
AMD-ATI Radeon X, HD 2000, 3000, 4000
AMD-ATI FireGL X
AMD-ATI FireGL V 3000 & up
INTEL® Integrated graphics series: GMA 3000 & GMA X3000.