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Architosh Staff (info@architosh.com)
22 July 2001 Updated: 23 July 01

 

MWNY: VectorWorks demonstrated on Mac OS X

We casually walked up to the VectorWorks folks showing an early beta of VectorWorks on Mac OS X. Nemetschek (formerly Diehl Graphisoft) has always been faithful in coming to the East coast Macworld expos and this year was no different.

VectorWorks on OS X is still a ways off. Described as a late alpha by the Nemetschek guys, the product looked like it was coming along fine. The Aqua-fied interface looked not too different than under OS 9, with the exception of the tops of tool bars and palettes.

At this point, we were told, the focus was on getting the core code ready for OS X and getting things to work well. The development build that was running wasn't really demo'd for us per se. Apparently although it was running there were some polygonal issues to be addressed.

When we step back and look at the big picture Nemetschek really gets brownie points for even coming to the show since their original 90 day promise to get an OS X version complete has since expired. We talked to them about that...why an OS X version is taking so long to complete and here is what they shared with us (though be cautioned, this is not necessarily the official word, of which we will be trying to obtain from senior management in a future interview). [Editor's note: Nemetschek North America spokesperson, Deirdre Kidd, later contacted us about some innaccurate information relayed to us from this report. Below in red-organge are some clarifications as to the OS X efforts and its time-table.]

Is it early Beta or Late Alpha?

Although we were told that there is a full team working on the effort, things haven't been that smooth. The reason, apparently, has to do with old code and the size of the application. While not a behemoth like Maya for OS X with over 26 million lines of code, VectorWorks is a longtime Mac application with a lot of new technologies and transformations that have taken place over the last few major revisions.

We are now told that the reason why the Carbonization process has taken so long has been the shear scope of the work, not because of any older code.

"The re-engineering of 9 is what is making the carbonization of VectorWorks possible. The sheer enormity of VectorWorks requires a great deal of man-hours to make this happen. We have just recently received help from Apple and MetroWerks and as a result, we are now making tremendous headway which has in fact sped up this process" -- Deirdre Kidd, Nemetschek NA.

As for a release date we are now being told that San Francisco is too far off and that VectorWorks for Mac OS X "will be released in the next few months, certainly before Macworld."

And there is another reason why an OS X version might take much longer than planned: VectorWorks 9.5. Yes, the next version of VectorWorks is in major development and planned for a Fall beta period. Normally, we are told, the beta periods are planned to be up to four months long. That times nicely with Macworld Expo SF 2002.

For those who are VectorWorks users the fact is that an OS X version has barely passed the alpha/beta line may not be too pleasing news. However, don't despair too much. This word come from the expo guys, not the lead programmers who really know what lies ahead and what work is still involved.

As for the difficulty of Carbonizing an application like VectorWorks, we hope to hear more information soon. And we may have something to say about that as well in a near term report.

We'll endeavor to learn more real soon and give you a more accurate update. We are now planned to do an interview with Sean Flaherty, CTO of Nemetschek North America later in the week.

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Macworld Expo News and Features

MWNY: Keynote and Expo Summary Notes - [jul 22] New!

MWNY: Ashlar announces new product line - [jul 22] New!

MWNY: Alias/Wavefront makes splash at Macworld! - [jul 22] New!

MWNY: VectorWorks demonstrated on Mac OS X - [jul 22] New!

MWNY: Shockwave takes on 3D, new partners sign on - [jul 22] New!

Keynote Predictions: Crystal Ball 2001 New York - [jul 18] Hot!

Architosh Firm Profile: Interview with Luminetik, 3D Macintosh Studio - [jul 17] Hot!

Architosh to Cover Macworld Expo - Notes - [jul 17] New!

Pre-New York Meditations on the Possible - [jul 17] New!

Architosh Feature Interview: Microspot Ltd talks Technical CAD on the Mac - [jul 12] New!


MacCAD news: Nemetschek initiates 2001-2002 Learning Tour - [jul 12]

ArchiCAD used for design of tallest residential skyscraper - [jul 12]

Mac3DNY.org renames and sponsors Teapot Awards - [jul 9]

Mac3D: Mac Cinema4D user creates masterful short film - [jul 9]

MacCAD: Free SPOTLIGHT Training by Nemetschek - [jul 9]

Quesa Group has QuickDraw 3D API on Mac OS X - [jul 6]

OpenDWG Alliance has Mac OS X code libraries available - [jul 6]

Microspot Sponsors Architosh Forum Prize Contest! - [jun 29]

MacCAD news: VectorWorks for Mac OS X news - [jun 29]

Tomorrow last day to get Electric Image (3D Toolkit) for $99 - [jun 29]

Architosh.com - What's Coming Up in the Near Future - [jun 29]

Architosh - Status Reports: Autocad, G4's and Other Info - [jun 29]

Mac3D market needs new Wildcat II graphics card - [jun 28]

MacCAD: Nemetschek NA finalizes VectorWorks 9.0.1 update - [Jun 28]

AEC Newsletter CAD/3D platform poll, go show Mac support! - [jun 26]

OS X news: Autodesk seems to have taken a fancy to dock... - [jun 22]

Mac3D news: Japanese 3D tool, HexaSuper 2 for Mac - [jun 22]

VersaCAD 2001 Mac shown at AEC Systems - [jun 22]

Apple not at AEC Show, inexplicable or not? - [jun 20]

MacCAD news: VectorWorks LANDMARK is now officially shipping - [Jun 20]

MacCAD news: ArchiCAD to implement National CAD Standards - [Jun 20]

Mac3D news: 3D Nature intros Z-Buffer Compositor for LightWave 6.5 - [jun 19]

MacCAD news: Cigraph ships two new ArchiCAD plugins - [jun 19]

Graphisoft intros ArchiFM 7 WebServer in Europe - [Jun 19]

ArchiFM WebServer to be announced by Graphisoft - [jun 15]

Online Design Tools site counting Mac visitors - [Jun 15]

MacCAD news: EON to work with ArchiCAD/GDL - [Jun 15]

MacCAD news: new interactive 3D technology headed for OS X - [Jun 15]

Mac3D news: Get ElectricImage 2.9 for just $198 now - [jun 13]

Mac3D news: Hot new tools from Japan need US attention - [Jun 13]

Mac3D news: TGS/Eovia offer Amapi 3D v4.15 for free - [Jun 13]

Mac3D news: dvGarage intros new 3D Training Kit - [Jun 13]

Dr. Bott's DVIator for ADC-displays now shipping - [Jun 13]

Mac3D news: POV-Ray for Mac OS and OS X - [jun 12]

Macs ousted for CAD Lab at Sacramento High School - [jun 8]

Revit attacks Autocad market, actually good for Mac users? - [jun 8]

Q: Need for Macintosh CNC Milling Software - [jun 8]

MacCAD news: Interstudio announces DigiCAD 3D 6.0 - [jun 6]

Macintosh Facilities Management software options - [jun 6]

MacCAD news: Apple seminar on new ArchiCAD 7.0 - [jun 5]

Map Resources updates site with new map finding facilities - [Jun 1]

Microspot ships new MacDraft 5.0 CAD program - [Jun 1]

Q: Need for Mac Facility Management software - [Jun 1]

Mac3D: LightWave 6.5 presentation, Apple Market Center New York - [may 30]

Home automation software for Mac, useful to architects/builders - [may 30]

280+ Architecture Firms show support of Macintosh - [may 29]

Architosh's AIWUG updated: 300+ member firms and growing - [may 29]

Mac3D news: MCnurbs Creator 2, updated for VectorWorks 9 - [may 25]

Mac3D news: Cinema4D XL 7 offers new radiosity engine - [may 25]

Mac3D news: Strata ships new 'Strata 3DPlus' - [may 22]

Mac3D news: Strata updates Strata 3DPro to v.3.5 - [may 22]

Cool news coming out of WWDC-2001 - [may 22]

Summary of Apple Store Opening Action, Links - [may 19]

Mac3D News: Looks like Blender is coming soon! - [may 18]

Mac3D News: Running Radiance on OS X, instructions - [may 18]

Mac3D News: VRML on the Macintosh - [may 16]

Learning more about Mac OS X - [may 16]

Mac Aircraft design software - part 2 - [may 16]

Architosh is TenLinks.com 'Site of the Week' - [may 15]

Hot Door introduces 'Perspective' for Illustrator 8 & 9 - [may 15]

Mac3D: Aircraft design software and Object-Maker - [may 15]

StudioDESK: Is Autodesk looking at the Mac again? - [may 11]

Q&A: Any Mac software for designing aircraft? - [may 11]

Mac Architect: Apple to host free BOA CAD seminar - [may 10]

MacCAD News: VectorWorks and PowerBooks, map ancient cities - [may 9]

VectorWorks helps student win International competition - [may 9]

A Mac version of MECcheck in the works - [may 9]

MacCAD News: Autocad sales down, Mac CAD up? - [may 9]

Architosh Forums: Multi-Prize Giveaway - [may 9]

New Architosh Highlights:

Firm Profile: Of the Place Itself, A vernacular Modernism in Austin - [may 2] New!

Introducing our Architosh Digital Practice Guide - [may 2] New!

DPG: Finding Macintosh CAD/3D and AEC software - [may 2] New!

DPG: Our Macintosh Hardware Guide - [may 2] New!

DPG: Searching our DPG FAQ Guides - [may 2] New!

DPG - FAQ: What 3D Mac apps are there for industrial designers? - [may 2] New!

DPG - FAQ: What apps are available for managing building projects? - [may 2] New!

New Architosh Site Area Content!

New Digital Practice Guide - [may 2] New!

New Revised CAD/3D Forums - [may 2] New!

New Edutainment Site Area - [Jan 9] Architosh

New Feature: Communication, Design and the Internet - [Jan 9]

Mac OS X Page: Comparative Table - Win2000/Linux - [Jan 9]

Building a Macintosh CAD Workstation - [Jan 9]

Building an Apple Server Solution - [Jan 9]

New Find Facilities and Sherlock Tips - [Jan 9]


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