At AU$1,170, Deneba Software's DenebaCAD 2.0.2 provides a financially attractive alternative to Autocad while supplying almost complete support for industry-standard AutoCAD file formats. (The product supports DWG and DXF files. Denebacad can export -- but not import -- DWF, AutoCAD's Drawing Web Format.)
DenebaCAD provides everything you expect in a high-end cad program, from truly striking 3D support (the product even ships with 3D glasses) to 16-digit precision, and the already impressive rendering engine's speed has been cranked up a notch. You'll also find Boolean libraries and groups that you won't find elsewhere. But although you can use Denebacad for all your drafting needs, the product's real strengths lie in architectural design environments, thanks to the program's Design Oriented Technology (DOT).
DOT approaches design from an architect's point of view, from an orthographic perspective of flat elevations, using 2D information to build a 3D drawing. Isometric views (projected elevations) are also available. Through Relative View, you can alter the x-, y-, and z-coordinates to edit your drawing from any viewpoint. Drawing with the working plane always parallel to your monitor ensures an accurate perspective. You can simultaneously open unlimited windows containing the same or different drawings. You might zoom out of a drawing in render mode as you zoom into it in draft mode. When you change the drawing in one window, all windows reflect the change.
Unfortunately, DenebaCAD's menu system may be slightly unintuitive for Windows users. For example, the Help menu doesn't lead to online help (you must rely on a supplied manual), and the Window menu contains options you might expect to find on either View or Tools menus. Still, the price savings pay for a little time to learn a product that meets most CAD needs well.
Deneba Software DenebaCAD 2.0.2
Company: PICA Software
Ph: 03 9388 9588; Fax: 03 9388 9788
Price: AU$1,170.
Rating: 3 Star
6%
2%
