CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
22 September 2008
Product News
VersaCAD 2008 for Windows To Ship
Archway Systems, Inc. announced VersaCAD 2008 will ship on October 1.
“Following the lead of Microsoft, the new XML based file format offers the maximum in openness and extensibility,” says Mike Lazear, president and CTO of Archway Systems.
Anthony Frausto, noted CAD expert, had this to say, “2D is a weakness in 3D systems and besides, not all work requires 3D. VersaCAD plays an important part in supplementing 3D systems or as the proper tool for 2D work. VersaCAD has had a glorious history since first introduction, time tested by creative designers in disciplines including: architectural layout, store planning, mechanical designs, schematics and even design of Macadamia Nut processing plants in Hawaii. Quite a few users of high end expensive software like AutoCAD do work that VersaCAD can handle. In fact, more quickly, more productively and at far less cost. Using Google’s SketchUp for 3D conceptual work and VersaCAD Mac for production design drafting makes a lot of practical sense.”
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is an industry standard for application file formats. The basic idea is to give the owners of the data control of the data, rather than the software publisher having the user locked in. Notice that all the new Microsoft Office applications have a new file format with an “x” added. Similarly, VersaCAD’s new file format extension is .2dx rather than the older .2d VersaCAD 2008 can read and write any older file format.
VersaCAD 2008 is tuned to run with Windows Vista while maintaining compatibility with Windows XP, and Windows 2000 . VersaCAD 2008 still has a tiny footprint compared to contemporaries and so can run on computers with smaller memory.
VersaCAD capacity has been increased to the point that it is now only limited by the size of the computer. Drawings have been processed with over half million objects. While not all users of VersaCAD ran into the old limit of 65,000 objects, many users ran into the problem while trying to convert AutoCAD files into VersaCAD format. AutoCAD files had to be split and converted in chunks. That problem is a thing of the past. The translator has been improved not only by incorporating the latest from Open Design, which now includes release 2007, 2008 and 2009, but, also by now including many later AutoCAD entities that previously were ignored.
New features inside VersaCAD include: Recent-files on File menu, Bill of Material added to File menu, Nested Symbols, improved grid, built-in 100 fonts, new organization of symbol libraries by discipline, and much more.
All these changes have been made while still preserving the API for applications so no changes to existing applications are required. Also, VersaCAD’s single keystroke command entry which yields the shortest learning curve and maximum CAD productivity for any discipline.
VersaCAD 2008 is available now for purchase. Price is unchanged at $795 per license ($195 for academic use). Existing subscribers of Premium Service will be sent the new release by October 1. The annual price of Premium Service hasn’t increased in 10 years: $595 for the first license owned. If more than one license owned, the added fee to cover each additional license is just $200. Unlimited corporate licenses are available starting at $1000 per year for small companies on up to $3500 per year for the largest companies. For academic institutions, the unlimited campus license is still a bargain at $595 per year.
VersaCAD Software Availability
VersaCAD software is available through a worldwide network of resellers that can be found via the company’s website at http://www.versacad.co or directly from Archway.
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