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| Architosh News Reports | |
| Architosh Staff (info@architosh.com) |
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MacCAD News: New RealCADD for Power Macintosh (only!)
RealCADD is a new Macintosh application from a developer in France. They sent word of it to us last week suggesting it might interest readers. Indeed, there are many reasons why it would interest readers: the more Mac software the better, right? In fact, when it comes to the Macintosh CAD market -- while there may be many programs to choose from -- there still isn't the type of depth you see in the PC space. One area in particular is a bit shallow, and that is the very low-end or consumer-level CAD space. RealCADD can address this market segment; the product is available now as "demoware" for US$59. You may be wondering why the name "Real"? Was it made with REALbasic (TM) perhaps? Actually it was. The developer told us that this product was developed almost exclusively with REALbasic. RealCADD: Features The program authors say that RealCADD works like "MacDraw" (the old venerable program many still cling to today). It's drawing interface looks familiar to most Mac CAD and drawing programs, including programs such as ClarisWorks. Simple palettes with single-function buttons are selected to perform specific task. The typical and elegant old Mac stuff we all love. For a product that cost only $59 and is made with REALbasic, a RAD tool (rapid application development) it offers many of the same features found in CAD products costing as much as $700. To help you draw accurately RealCADD has an 'intelligent cursor', allowing certain shapes and lines to have automatic "attraction" as the program authors call it. Drawn elements snap to the grid, the ends of objects, their centers, intersections, and perpendicular and tangents. Each "attraction" is activated by the touch of a button or by typing on the corresponding letter key (keyboard shortcut). RealCADD features also include an editable palette for modifying the dimensions or coordinates of selected objects, including the ability to use 'arithmetic formulas'. A simple layers palette allows you to setup and edit new layers, determine their scale and determine their visibility. The program features editable hatches, editable arrows and a simplified preferences dialog box for units, etc. To see screen shots of RealCADD click here. At the bottom of that page are directions for downloading RealCADD for a demo version. If you like it you can pay US$59 to Kagi and obtain an unlocking key enabling you to Save. Conclusion It's great to see a entry-level CAD program like this. The Mac market has been needing a simplified, basic CAD program at this price point -- very affordable for consumers looking to design that backyard deck, to do technical drawings for hobbies and other unusual things that don't typically justify purchasing professional CAD products costing in the many hundreds of dollars. RealCADD may also be a great CAD product for junior to cut his teeth on, great for elementary or middle school children and teachers in K-12. Architosh will be reviewing this product soon. We are particularly interested to test it out because it was developed with REALbasic, a RAD tool many say is not complex enough for this type of program development. For more on REALbasic, RAD tools and Mac OS X simplified development tools you may want go here for an interesting article. (Includes screen shots of development tools shipping with Mac OS X DP3.) And if this gets you excited read our iDeveloper and CocoaCard articles. (see below)
Related Architosh Stories on RAD Tools The iDeveloper and CocoaCard Contents Summary CocoaCard- Part 2: Mac software authoring made easy
Other Architosh News and Special Reports Architosh Seybold Report: Mac products for CAD/AEC - Part 1 solidThinking 3D app coming to Mac OS 9 and OS X VersaCAD returning to the Macintosh! iDisk to be powerful tool for AEC and "design pros"
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