ProCAD+ Version 1.07

A new version of ProCAD+ has been released.

New version 1.07:

With the introduction of PDF output , both the 26 and 32 bit versions have been released as version 1.07.

New version 1.06:

Since the release of versions 1.03, 1.04 and 1.05, little improvements have been made here and there, usually in response to a user's request, so that neither the version 1.03 manual nor the addendum tell the whole story. This is why version 1.06 has been released. Some features that had been in a trial state have been 'firmed up' and incorporated, while other less successful features have been dropped. The result is a robust piece of software with a new version 1.06 196 page manual that lists all the functions and parameters currently in use, along with a new preference setting and a redesigned Text tool dialogue box. (The 32 bit version is 1.06b)

(Registered UK users will be notified by post for option to upgrade manual.)

New version 1.05:

Version 1.05 has been released mainly to cover bug fixes, perhaps the most important of which is the scaling of !Draw line styles in symbols.

New with version 1.04:

Can now import Ordnance Survey MasterMap files with area filling.
DXF importer improved to include new commands.
ProCAD+ can now import AutoCAD DWG format files.
New %%M CSV commands added.
Can now import and export GIF files, including animated GIFs.
New internal barcode font added.
Date text now automatically updates at midnight.
Select>Extend now works on circular arcs.
Can now load alien files with modifications to the !ProCAD+ !Boot file.
Text 'mail-merge' at points on the drawing.
Text enumerate at points on the drawing.
New function numbers added.
Compatible with Aemulor, running under RISC OS 5 on the new Iyonix machines. Version 1.04b is fully 32 bit compatible.
USB port now supported by Plotter+.

New with version 1.03:

One of the main reasons why many schools had not used ProCAD+ was because it was not available for PC's. Well now it is. wProCAD+ for Windows has just been released and the upgrade of the RISC OS version is largely to improve the sharing of drawings between the two systems. For instance, ProCAD+ version 1.03 can now import and render bitmaps (.BMP files) without using ChangeFSI and the Windows version, wProCAD+ can even render sprites!

Special features in both versions help resolve the translation of fonts.

All you have to do to send a RISC OS CAD file to a PC is to add a '.cad' extension. There is even a utility provided to do this for you; not only for CAD files but other types as well.

Importing a PC file has always been easy as the DOSMap command takes care of it.
DOSMap CAD C33 will sort out CAD files.

Below is a brief list of features added since the release of Version 1.02:

New User Function Box with up to 768 programmable keys
New sprites and long file name support for RISC OS 4.
New Stretch feature with optional aspect ratio lock.
New Bounding box entry in Select menu.
New Compass °N angle mode for angles measured from 90° clockwise.
New Sym button added to the Text tool dialogue box for text alignment to symbols.
Bitmap support plus two new options to show/hide sprites and bitmaps.
JPEG support plus new option to show/hide JPEGs. (Needs RISC OS 3.5 or higher.)
Snaps now work on visible rather than selectable items.
Construction line intersections with objects now snap with Intercept snap.
Layer names are now preserved during DrawPlus file import.
New preference switch to use mm rather than scaled values for setting line widths.
More information reported in Item Info. including lengths and areas of multiple selections and within groups.
Euro symbols added to ProCAD+ & Plotter+ (ASCII 128)
PC TrueType font name interpreter added to ProCAD+ and Plotter+.
New Angle± box in Geometric tool for use with Normal to offset lines.
New View layers option in Zoom menu to disable layers on a per-view basis.
New transformation functions with values changeable through parameters.
Dozens of new numbered functions. (Full list in new manual.)
New up-to-date 186 page colour manual.

This simple list does not tell the whole story. It would take up too much room to explain all the features fully, but I will give one example that may give some idea of what lies behind each bullet item:

JPEG support: This means that you can now drop a JPEG file onto a drawing as you could for a sprite and zoom in and pan over it. The rendering uses the routines available in RISC OS 3.5 and above. If it can't be rendered it will appear as a rectangle with the diagonals drawn in. You can select a JPEG on a drawing and save it as a file, as for a sprite. You can now import and export Draw files containing JPEGs and they will be dealt with correctly. The printing of JPEGs depends on the abilities of your printer driver.

All registered users will have received notification of the upgrade by the end of the first week of November 2001. Up to now all upgrades to ProCAD+ have been free and it is still possible to obtain this upgrade for free, but if you would like the new 186 page colour manual then a fee will apply.

Don't forget: If you haven't sent your registration form back you won't have been notified about the upgrade.

If you have sent your registration form back but have not been notified, it is probably because you are no longer at the same address. Please notify any change of address and you will continue to be informed from time to time of any improvements.

If you have not returned your registration form and have lost it, e-mail me with your address and serial number and I will send a new one.

* * * * *

Upgrades to ProCAD+ 1.07 are available for existing Minerva ProCAD and CADet users.

The product upgrade includes a completely new manual and installation instructions. ProCAD+ will read both ProCAD and CADet files but ProCAD+ files may not be used with ProCAD or CADet.

ProCAD+ requires RISC-OS 3.00 and higher to work. It makes good use of the improvements provided by the latest versions of RISC-OS, including textured window backgrounds and 'desktop' fonts.

Existing ProCAD and CADet users will feel comfortable using ProCAD+. All the good features have been preserved but they have been added to and improved.

Here are just a few examples:

New Drawing file manager that allows directories to be scanned and drawings previewed, as well as managing and extracting symbols from files. (Can even work with squashed files!)
Management of multiple blank drawing frame files.
Main palette increased from 16 to 24 colours, all user definable.
Up to 256 layers and text classes or as few as 1.
Layers may have colours.
!Draw type line styles with thick dashed line patterns and shaped ends, as well as flood fills for polygons and closed curves.
Preferences dialogue box to give improved control over feature settings, including many new ones.
Drawing title, number, creator and revision data stored in file header.
New tool bar arrangements with improved window placement.
On-screen printer and plotter active area border display.
ADJUST clicks on writable icons allow quick adjustments to text values.
Wildcards now permitted in searches and in Find & Replace.
New fixed length options for straight line tool.
Tangents and normals to ellipses and curves.
Isometric projection from flat views.
Shear and rotate projection feature.
Save profiles in a 'CNC-friendly' format.
Saving and copying of drawing styles.
New enumeration features for text tool, including roman, days, months.
New text alignment mechanisms.
More type conversion options. (Most now work on multiple selections.)
New additions and improvements to the Multi-copy tool.
Input and output support for binary DXF files.
Accuracy of arcs increased by a factor of 32.
Plotter driver now supports paper sizes greater than A0 and Hewlett Packard PCL 5 printer language for multi-page plotting, tray selection, etc.

and many, many more...

Upgrade prices

As the upgrade prices were higher than the current sale price, the current prices now are:

From 1st January 2010

Single user licence: £75 + VAT (£88.13)
Licence up to 5 machines: £125 + VAT (£146.88)
Licence up to 10 machines: £150 + VAT (£176.25)
Licence up to 20 machines: £200 + VAT (£235.00)
For more than 20 machines on one site please e-mail for quote.

Prices include UK mainland postage.

Overseas Prices:

Single user licence: £75 + postage
Licence up to 5 machines: £125 + postage
Licence up to 10 machines: £150 + postage
Licence up to 20 machines: £200 + postage
For more than 20 machines on one site please e-mail for quote.

Please e-mail me for postal rates. (Note VAT will be added in EU if no VAT number given)

Buy on-line...

Please e-mail for details or:-

Tel: +44 (0) 1392 214033