From: byrne@cstore-next.cl.msu.edu (Eric J. Byrne)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
Subject: Re: CAD for the NeXT
Date: 12 Oct 92 14:10:11 GMT
Organization: Michigan State University


  Here is some collected info I have about CAD for the NeXT...

-------------------------
From a Grady Report ...

Company : Ditek	
Product : DynaCAD
When :	Q4 92	
What :  mechanical CAD package, extensible like Autocad

Company : EclipsE
Product : OpenCAD 2D, 3D
When  : Q4 92
What  :  X ver. of 2D shipping, 3D in Aug; free upgrade to NeXTstep versions

Company : Virtus
Product : WalkThrough
When : Q1 93
What : create and walk thru 3-D spaces

Company : Spatial Tech
Product : ACIS v 1.3
When : Q3 92
What : powerful geometry engine, ennabling technology for CAD, esp 3D


Company : TRW Inc.
Product : Emerald Image Tool
When : Q3 92
What : adding features for richer handling of color measurements

Company : VVimaging
Product : VVprojector
When : Q1 93
What : visualize, analyze 3D data, dynamically load viewers, shapes, proj. 

------------------------------------------------
OpenCAD - CAD package for NeXT
Date: April 15, 1992


Thanks for being interested in the product we distribute. It will be available  
in two different versions:

	OpenCAD 2D	(beginning of next month)
	OpenCAD 3D	(beginning of may)

It currently runs under X Windows (this program has been ported from other  
platforms), but we are developing a totally new NeXTstep interface. The  
NeXTstep version of the software will be available in the last quarter of 1992,  
but purchasers of the X Windows version will be offered a FREE upgrade to the  
NeXTstep version.

I'm sending you the announcement for OpenCAD 2D,  the preliminary price list   
and a comparison between OpenCAD and AUTOCAD (plus some images).A Demo version  
of OpenCAD 2D will be available on the network in a few weeks.

For more information, contact :
	EclipsE S.r.l.
	Largo Posta, 5
	I - 38068 Rovereto (TN) 
	Italy

	Phone: 	+39 (461) 234460
	Fax:		+39 (461) 234358
	E-mail:	roberto@eclipse.sublink.org
	
	                        OpenCAD 2-D

DESCRIPTION

	OpenCAD 2-D is the first CAD available on NeXT computers. It is a  
bidimensional CAD for technical design and project. It was born as 2-D module  
of a 3-D CAD. (The 3-D version will be available soon). 
	Commands can be given by using mouse and menus or  by the keyboard.  
Menus are fully customizable by the user. New macro-commands can be defined and  
included in personalized menus. Multiple windows allow the user to focus on  
different details of the same project.
	OpenCAD includes HPGL as communication protocol. This guarantees  
perfect compatibility with a vast number of graphic peripherals. Drawings can  
be exchanged with other systems by using the standard IGES interface (Initial  
Graphics Exchange Specification). 
	OpenCAD uses a X-Window environment. It has been tested with various X  
implementations on NeXT (Cub'X, Co-Xist and a public-domain X11-R5). A  
public-domain version X11-R5 is available at the cost of the media to customers  
who request it when buying OpenCAD. 
	OpenCAD 2-D users will be able to upgrade to OpenCAD 3-D as soon as it  
will be available.


PRIMITIVES

OpenCAD allows to generate the following primitives:
- Points
- Lines
- Circles
- Ellipses
- Hyperbolas
- Parabolas
- Cross-hatchings
- Text
- Quotation



EDITING

	The package has many  commands for modifying the primitives. In  
particular, available commands for the graphic primitives include  TRIM/EXTEND,  
DELETE PART, INTERSECT, DIVIDE, JOIN, SMOOTH, STRETCH, and MOVE SPLINE POLES. 
	It is also possible to modify the attributes of text and quotations  
primitives (character height and inclination, number of digits, arrow shape,  
reference distance, etc.) 

QUOTATION

	Many OpenCAD commands are available for quoting the drawings. Several  
options can be combined, making quotation an easy and quick task.  Quotations  
are composited primitives, which can be freely modified by the user. Whenever  
the graphic primitives are modified, corresponding quotations are automatically  
updated. Dimensional tolerances can be given directly according to ISO  
standards.
The following commands are available:
	- 2 points
	- line
	- parallel lines
	- angle
	- radius
	- diameter
	- axis diameter
	- incremental (Cartesian coordinates)
	- chain
	- label

as well as the following options:

	- series
	- parallel
	- progressive
	- aligned
	- optimal


CROSS-HATCHINGS

	All kind of cross-hatchings specified by IGES are available. OpenCAD  
can provide the following informations of any cross-hatched area:

	- perimeter
	- area
	- baricenter
	- principal axes of inertia
	- inertia momenta
	- resistence module


MACRO

	A macro is a sequence of commands and operands, grouped so that they  
can be recalled with a single instruction. Macros are defined interactively.  
They can be saved to a library and later recalled by the user, who can use them  
exactly like a normal command.

GSL LANGUAGE

	GSL (Graphic Structured Language) is an OpenCAD module which makes it
possible for the user to interact with the drawing and its elements through  
procedures instead of through normal commands. Such procedures are written in a  
C-like programming language: GSL. 
	Besides having the common functionalities of a structured language  
(like if, while, for  etc.), GSL also offers specific functions for operating  
on the graphic elements which form an OpenCAD drawing. GSL advantages are  
obvious, since it allows to personalize OpenCAD so as to solve user's special  
requirements. 
	Among the GSL utilities we mention the possibility to define object  
(like a chair, bolt, tank or gear) in a parametric way. From parametric   
templates one can then, for instance, obtain rescaled or stretched objects.    
GSL also includes I/O functions which allow to exchange data with other  
programs, such as management software or programs performing intensive  
calculations.

----------------------------------