What's new in nanoCAD Plus 11
In addition to autosaving implemented earlier, the incremental saving was added. This greatly accelerates saving of large documents. You manage incremental saving modes in the Save Documents section of the Options dialog.box.
The new version has a number of improvements in undo-redo functionality.
Named Steps
The name of the most recent operation (step) is displayed in the Undo and Redo commands in the Edit menu of the classic interface.
Multiple Undo/Redo
The Quick Access toolbar adds flyout arrows to undo/redo several actions at once. Note that you cannot access the action history list when a command is running (command mode). In command mode, the buttons perform internal undo/redo operations, if any exist.
nanoCAD Plus runs faster with this release.
Selection Sets
Performance is improved over earlier releases when making selection sets. In particular, nanoCAD is now much faster at selecting objects from an existing selection set.
Text Objects
The graphical representation of text objects is optimized. As a result, the image regeneration speed is increased, while the amounts of memory used is reduced.
Blocks
Loading and regenerating files with large numbers of blocks is significantly faster.
Inserting Complex Objects
Inserting complex objects into model space is optimized, and cursor freezing is fixed.
Optimizing Frozen Layers
Documents load faster and react more quickly when they hold frozen layers.
Extremely Remote Objects Optimized
The problem of displaying distorted drawing elements at extremely large distances is gone. You no longer need to regenerate the drawing when zooming or panning to objects located far from the current location.
We implemented new commands for working with OLE objects.
- INSERTOBJ (insert OLE object) command inserts linked or embedded OLE objects from other documents
- OLEOPEN (open OLE object) command opens the specified OLE object for editing with its source application. As a shortcut, you can double-click the OLE object in a drawing.
- OLELINKS (ipdate OLE Links) command opens the Links dialog box for updating and modifying links of OLE objects.
- OLEUPDATEALLLINKS (update all OLE links) command updates all links for OLE objects in the document at the same time.
We added a new programming system called scripts. A script is a text file with the .scr extension containing a set of instructions that run in the nanoCAD command line. Each line of the file contains a nanoCAD command with optional parameters, or a link to another script file. The following script processing commands are added to nanoCAD:
- SCRIPT command loads the script file and then immediately executes the instructions described in the file sequentially.
- SCRIPTCALL command runs a nested script.
- RESUME command resumes the script, should it be paused.
- RSCRIPT command repeats the last script.
Files used by nanoCAD, such as .dwg, .pdf, and .zip, can now be signed with a digital signature. We implemented two ways of signing:
- An internal signature that is created when saving files
- An external signature that can be assigned to any file
These are the commands for creating internal signatures:
- The new DIGITALSIGN command chooses a certificate for digitally signing a file and then sets up signing while saving the file.
- The SAVE command now creates an internal signature during file saving.
- The new SIGVALIDATE command validates digital signatures of files.
Commands for creating external signatures:
- The new SIGNCERTIFICATESCONTROL command chooses a digital certificate for digitally signing a file.
- The new SIGNFILE command creates a file with external signature (“FileName.FileExtension.sig”) for any file.
- The new VALIDATESIGN command validates the external signature of the specified file.
Splines have been enhanced in this release of nanoCAD.
New Spline Creation Method
The new release implements a second way of creating splines: by specifying control points.
New Grips
To edit splines made with fit-point mode, a new type of grip (arrow-shaped) is implemented that changes the direction of tangent vectors.
Rubber-band Line
During spline creation, a temporary rubber-band line is displayed on the screen from one fit point (or control point) to another. You can snap to this temporary dotted line.
Snap to First Point of a Spline
You can now snap to the spline’s start point. Simplifying Splines The new SIMPLIFYSPLINE command optimizes splines by changing their accuracy and the maximum number of control points.
The new EXPORTLAYOUT command exports all visible objects from the current layout to the model space of the new drawing.
The new CHSPAСE command moves selected objects from model space in a layout viewport to paper space, as well as from paper space to a layout viewport.
Obliquing Dimensions
The new DIMOBLIQUE (oblique dimension) command changes the obliquing angle of one or more dimensions.
Angular Ordinate Dimensions
The new DIMAORD (angle ordinate dimension) command creates angular ordinate dimensions.
nanoCAD now offers additional ways of producing output from drawings.
Internal Raster Plotter
We implemented a built-in raster plotter to export drawings in the following raster formats:
Internal DWF and DWFx Plotters
Built-in DWF (design Web format) and DWFx (compressed) plotters are now available.
Isometric View Printing
We improved the printing of isometric views when you specifying a plot area with a rectangular frame.
Verification of third-party print settings
nanoCAD now verifies print settings made by third-party programs. When such settings are detected, the Print command displays a warning message.
Improved Print Preview
You can now specify the number of copies to print in the Print Preview dialog box. (The option is not available when printing drawings to files.) In addition, we made the following improvements to the print preview window:
- Increased the display speed
- Improved the image quality
- Eliminated artifacts created when zooming, panning, and resizing the preview window and the Print dialog box.
LAYERP command
The new LayerP (previous state of layers) command return the drawing to the previous state of layer settings.SHIFT and CTRL Selection
The logic of selecting a group of layers with the SHIFT and CTRL keys in the Layers dialog box is changed to match the method implemented by Windows: CTRL+click adds individual layers to the selection set. SHIFT+click adds contiguous layers to the selection set.
Layer Display Speed
The display speed of long lists of layers in the Layers dialog box is significantly increased, especially when the drawing holds hundreds of layers.
A new feature in nanoCAD is the ability to check that drawings match preset standards.
Setting Standards
The mew STANDARDSSETTINGS command opens the Standards Settings dialog box.
Status Bar
A new button for checking CAD standards is displayed in the status bar when a standards file is connected to the document. A hyperlink in the standards balloons opens the appropriate dialog box.
The snap behaviour in the three-dimensional space is improved for the following cases:
- When the visual style is set to shaded faces and the new OSNAP3DTOP system variable is turned on, then nanoCAD is limited to snapping only to the vertices of 3D objects under the cursor.
- When the visual style is set to wireframe or the OSNAP3DTOP variable is disabled (turned off), then you can snap to the vertices of all objects in the drawing.
The new ADDSELECTED command now adds multileaders and dwg-style tables to selection sets.
The new PELLIPSE variable determines the entity from which ellipses are created:
- When the value is 0, an ellipse object is created.
- When the value is 1, the ellipse is made of a 2D polyline.
You can now edit regions with grips. Click the to switch grip-editing modes:
- Center grip moves the region
- Grips edit the contour of the region
The RMPROXY command get the possibility to delete proxy objects that do not have a graphical representation.
nanoCAD adds several options to the Options dialog box.
Command List Display Delay
The amount of time that elapses before the command completion list is shown can now be specified through the Options dialog: Command line > Use Autocomplete Additional Options > Completion list delay.
Object Fading on Locked Layers
To fade objects on locked layers, specify a fade value with the new LAYLOCKFADECTL system variable.
This value can also be changed through the Options dialog box by choosing Select > Shading objects > Locked layers.
The new version of nanoCAD makes invisible objects (objects with the invisible property) visible. By selecting the new Visibility option in the context menu of the Drawing Manager, you can make visible a single invisible object or a group of them.
Customization of the user interface receives improvements in a number of areas.
Partial CFG File Unloading
In the Customize User Interface dialog box, you can now unload the current partial configuration file.
Import Shortcuts
In the Customize User Interface dialog box, you can now import just the keyboard shortcuts from .cuix and .cfg files.
The new release of nanoCAD makes some changes to the user interface.
Utilities in nanoCAD Menu
The command for displaying the properties of a drawing, as well as the utilities for auditing, checking and working with a document, are added to the application menu and the context menu of the document tab.
Multiline Attribute Editing Panel
The new ATTIPE (in-place attribute editor) system variable changes the style of the Text Format panel that creates and edits multiline attributes.
- When ATTIPE = 0, the short version of the formatting panel is displayed:
- When ATTIPE = 1, the complete panel is shown:
Other UI Changes
- The new CTRL+W key combination displays and hides the Select Objects dialog.
- Dynamic input is now available when creating rectangles with 2 points.
- A new Tools toolbar is added:
- Point Cloud
Text Files Import Wizard for Point Clouds
We wrote a new import wizard dialog box for importing point clouds from text files. It allows you to correctly interpret the point clouds data.
Export
The new NPC_EXPORT (export point cloud) command exports point clouds in the PLY (Polygon File Format) format. This format stores 3D scanner data with many properties, such as color, transparency, normals, and texture coordinates.
Export to DWF, DWFx, STL and 3D PDF file formats is available.
You now have greater possibilities for editing materials used by renderings:
- The functions are separated into three panels: Material Browser, Material Editor, and Texture Editor.
- You can now edit the texture parameters of materials.
What's new in nanoCAD Plus 10
Key features of nanoCAD Plus 10 are:
- new interface style
- support for DWG2018 file format
- increased productivity
- audit standards
- enhanced plot and much more.
nanoCAD visual graphic system that is responsible for rendering 2D and 3D-graphics, has been updated to support the Microsoft DirectX 10 technology. This accelerates the processing time of drawings with large amount of text objects, hatches, blocks and other complex primitives, and reduces the size of memory used.
nanoCAD Plus 10 works directly with the latest version of DWG format. nanoCAD opens and saves drawing files without breaking their internal structure. This ensures the integrity of the built-in DWG format labels which can carry such characteristics as educational version watermark, for example.
A new ribbon-style interface provides modern ways of interaction with application:
Instant switch between classic and ribbon interface by “Ribbon” button makes work very comfortable:
The ribbon structure was initially designed taking into account the ergonomics of the designer, but it does not limit the user in the possibilities of customizing their workspaces. In addition, a powerful mechanism of managing the ribbon interface allows you to instantly switch between different pre-installed workspaces without restarting the program.
Modified Dark Interface style with new icons:
Instant switch between classic and ribbon interface by “Ribbon” button makes work very comfortable:
The ribbon structure was initially designed taking into account the ergonomics of the designer, but it does not limit the user in the possibilities of customizing their workspaces. In addition, a powerful mechanism of managing the ribbon interface allows you to instantly switch between different pre-installed workspaces without restarting the program.
Modified Dark Interface style with new icons:
Semi-transparent interactive tools placed in a drawing working area designed to manage views and visual styles.
Locator
The “Locator” element intents for convenient navigation in a three-dimensional space: rapid dynamic change of orthogonal, isometric, combined and free views. Its orange-dot marker shows current view orientation:
Manage Views
“Manage Views” tool serves for changing views and visual styles of viewport:
Hide elements:
Locator
The “Locator” element intents for convenient navigation in a three-dimensional space: rapid dynamic change of orthogonal, isometric, combined and free views. Its orange-dot marker shows current view orientation:
Manage Views
“Manage Views” tool serves for changing views and visual styles of viewport:
Hide elements:
nanoCAD Plus 10 can check drawings for standards compliance and fix found violations.
STANDARDS command allows to audit drawings to custom standards. Add DWS (Drawing Standard) file or create custom standard to get notification about non-standard elements while opening, saving, printing drawing file.
There are a number of notification mechanisms that alerts user about violations of standards while opening, saving, printing drawing file. It is possible to fix any violation or stay it intact.
Information on each standard violation that has been found, but not fixed, is stored in a drawing. It is possible to disable alerts on such ignored objects in subsequent checks of the drawing. Violations audit can be performed manually and automatically, for example during drawing export, save and print operations.
Information on each standard violation that has been found, but not fixed, is stored in a drawing. It is possible to disable alerts on such ignored objects in subsequent checks of the drawing. Violations audit can be performed manually and automatically, for example during drawing export, save and print operations.
From now on, only the modified DWG data is sent to the file during background autosave, that significantly reduce the time of this operation even on rich documents.
- In addition to its own leader objects, nanoCAD Plus can create and edit multileader objects, manage multileader styles. New MULTILEADER command creates and edits a multileader object, sets its styles.
- Native DWG-tables creating and editing without conversion to nanoCAD-table is available. “.dwg Table” tool allows creating and editing native dwg-tables without conversion to nanoCAD-table. It sets table styles, converts nanoCAD tables to .dwg ones.
- 3D-polyline creation and editing.
- A new Region command creates an object of a “region” type from 2D objects that form closed area.
- The “Stretch” command use pre-selected vertices that makes working with the command more convenient.
Dynamic block processing was improved: nanoCAD Plus 10 completely supports property tables, insertion point management, dynamic blocks parameters correct processing. This ensures that most objects of this type are functioning correctly.
The layers got the “Transparency” property. All objects with “By layer” transparency value will inherit the transparency from the layer that belongs to.
Now it is possible to import WMF and EMF formats, as well as DGN – 2D/3D-format used by the Bentley Systems MicroStation software.
The next stage of program optimization was performed in this version of nanoCAD Plus. The common list of realized wishes, corrected errors and the taken into account notes exceeded seven hundred items.
However, beginning with the 10th version, nanoCAD Plus stops supporting Windows XP due to the need to speed up graphics and overall increase the stability of the program.
However, beginning with the 10th version, nanoCAD Plus stops supporting Windows XP due to the need to speed up graphics and overall increase the stability of the program.