What’s New - Previous Releases

Release 2026

User Interface:

  • New Default Workspace

    • CAD General workspace is now the default workspace when you install the software for the first time. With its familiar layout, CAD General workspace facilitates the switch from other similar CAD software.

  • Ribbon Optimization

    • The tabs of the ribbon have been reconfigured to reduce clutter, distributing commands across additional tabs for better command accessibility. The Home tab now focuses on commonly used commands, enhancing efficiency in your daily tasks.

    • Icons automatically fit even when working on a high resolution monitor.

  • Improved Contextual Ribbons

    • Pattern Editor contextual ribbon. Editing options for linear and circular associative patterns are available now on the contextual ribbon.

    • Hatch Creation and Hatch Editor contextual ribbon enhancements. Hatch Creation and Hatch Editor contextual ribbons now include options for Solid and Gradient fill. Moreover, icons have been reorganized. You can easily switch between various hatch types.

New Mechanical Features:

  • Construction Lines

    • AM_ConstLines. Lets you draw various construction lines. The Construction Lines dialog box groups the tools for adding construction lines.

  • New Dimensioning tools

    • AM_PowerDimension. Power Dimensions are smart dimensioning tools specifically designed for manufacturing drafting and detailing. The AM_PowerDimension command is an all-in-one dimensioning tool that automatically recognizes entities and creates the suitable dimension type. Thus, you can use the same command to create linear, angular, radial, diameter, baseline, and chain dimensions.

    • Power Dimensioning contextual ribbon includes the Format panel, which groups tools for modifying power dimenions.

    • AM_DimCheck. Locates dimensions where the dimension text does not contain the default value.

    • AM_DimAlign. Aligns linear, ordinate, and angular dimensions.

    • AM_DimArrange. Arranges linear and ordinate dimensions in relation to the outer contour of a specified entity.

    • AM_DimInsert. Splits linear, angular, and arc length dimensions into multiple dimensions.

    • AM_DimJoin. Combines two or more adjacent dimensions of the same type into one single dimension.

    • AM_DimMEdit. Lets you modify multiple dimensions simultaneously.

    • AM_DimStretch. Adjusts entities when you stretch or shrink an associate linear or symmetric dimension.

    • AM_InertiaProf. Calculates the moment of inertia for cross sections of 3D solids, such as cylinders, hollow cylinders, rectangular prisms, and hollow rectangular prisms.

    • AM_AutoCLines. Draws vertical and horizontal construction lines on all endpoints of selected entities.

  • New commands for creating Centerlines and Centerline Crosses

    • AM_CenCrAngle. Creates a pitch circle and places holes on it at specified angles.

    • AM_CenCrCorner. Places a hole with centerline cross at a specified distance from two contour lines.

    • AM_CenInBet. Places a centerline along the bisector of the angle between two lines.

    • AM_CenCrFullCircle. Creates a pitch circle and places a specified number of uniformly distributed holes on it.

    • AM_CenCrHole. Place a centerline cross with a hole at a specified center point.

    • AM_CenCrInHole. Places centerline crosses in specified circles.

    • AM_CenCrPlate. Places holes and centerline crosses at a specified distance from an entity contour

    • AM_CenterCross. Creates a centerline cross at a specified point.

    • AM_CenterLine. Creates a centerline at a specified place in the graphics area.

New Commands:

  • Exporting and Importing

    • ImportSVG. Lets you import SVG files and insert the contained geometry as Block into the drawing.

    • ImportSTEP. Lets you import STEP files and insert the contained geometry as ACIS solid objects into the drawing.

    • ExportSTEP. Lets you save 3D solid objects to STEP files.

New Features:

  • Color Books. Specify colors using standard or user defined color books.

    Color books are XML files with .acb extension that store named color swatches. You can type manually or generate color books using dedicated applications. Available color books appear in the Line Color dialog box, which is displayed for any entity that provides color options.

  • Start Page. Access sample drawings and various learning materials. When you launch the software, the Start Page displays. You can start new drawings, search and open existing drawings. A collection of sample drawings is also available, so that you can learn how to use the software.

  • Enhanced Trinity Block Library palette. The Trinity Block Library palette provides advanced library management tools.

    • Uploading DWG files containing multiple blocks

    • Options to define the following data while inserting or editing a block:

      • Block position

      • Block scale

      • Rotation angle

      • Block units

    Within the Trinity Block Library palette, you can display blocks as a tree view or as a grid.

Modified Features and Commands:

  • AI Assist (A3) lets you make selections and modifications using natural language through its dedicated side palette. Simply enter commands such as “Select all lines longer than 5 on the layer Windows” or “Move the selected entities to layer 0” to execute actions instantly. You can also modify properties using the following request: “Change the color of all circles to red.”

  • Note command enhancements. AI-driven tools let you translate, refine writing, checks spelling, and summarize text.

  • SpellCheck command enhancements. The command check the spelling of text entities independently from Microsoft Word.

  • Rename command enhancements. The command now supports wildcard characters. You can quickly find and rename multiple items, such as layer, blocks, and dimension styles.

  • SaveAll command enhancements. The command is now available on the Quick Access Toolbar and in the main menu.

  • AttachImage command enhancements. The command now supports ECW image format. You can insert large-scale images such as aerial and satellite photography in your drawings.

  • Reference palette enhancements. The Path option reestablishes the path to the Reference, reattaches a renamed Reference file, or replaces a Reference file with another file. You can apply the new path to all referenced drawings.

  • Upon saving drawings that contain Reference files, the following options are available:

    • Update relative paths

    • Do not update paths

    • Remember the specified behavior

  • Field command enhancements. The Entity option lets you insert point coordinates in fields.

  • Line command enhancements. You can restrict cursor movement to a direction defined by a specified angle override.

  • Resizable View Tiles. You can change the size of the view tiles in the Model Space.

  • Data Extraction Wizard enhancements.

    • On the Refine Data page, you can add a formula column. Use the formula column to specify arithmetic expressions to calculate results based on the values from the specified columns.

    • On the Choose Output page, you can export the data extraction to CSV format (Comma-separated Values) is an ASCII file format that stores tabular data for spreadsheet or database software. Commas separate cell values. Strings are enclosed by single quotation marks.

New System Variables:

  • STARTMODE. Controls the display of the Start Page.

Release 2025

User Interface:

  • New Dark-style Icons

    Dark-style interface has now colored icons.

  • Floating Windows

    Pull a drawing tab off the main application to create a separate floating window.

    • Display multiple drawings as floating windows, within the same session

    • Use an additional monitor to display floating windows

    • Copy and paste entities between open drawings

  • Options dialog box. Improved search for specific options. A suggestion list with options which contains the sub-string that you enter appears as you type a term or a system variable name. Options display dynamically in the Options dialog box as you hover over search results.

New Commands:

  • Exporting and Importing

    • ExportDGN. Exports the current drawing to MicroStation DGN drawing file format. You can specify how to handle drawing data during the export process. The export process converts DWG entities, such as geometric entities, layers, or line styles and color into the corresponding DGN levels, linetypes and colors based on a specified DGN mapping setup.

    • DGNMapping. Lets you create, modify, rename and delete user-defined DGN mapping setups.

  • Precision Commands

    • DrawingUnits. Converts the measurement units used in the current drawing to other drawing units available in the application. Additionally, the command determines how entities are inserted and scaled into your drawing.

New Features:

  • AI Assistant. AI Assistant offers instant answers through a chat interface as an alternative to search methods.

  • Custom Blocks enhancements.

    • The Parameters palette displays all parameters and custom properties for the custom block definition.

    • CBTable command. Lets you define values for elements and properties within a CustomBlock using a Block properties table.

  • Block Structure palette. All Blocks from a drawing, including nested Blocks are accessible from the Block Structure palette. At any time, you can insert Blocks into your drawing.

    From the Block Structure palette, you can:

    • Display the structure of the Blocks from the current drawing

    • Insert Blocks into the active drawing

    • Delete Blocks from the current drawing

    • Rename Blocks from the current drawing

    • Hide and display Blocks from the current drawing

    The following commands let you display and hide the palette:

  • Visual Styles Manager palette. Visual styles let you control the appearance of entities in the drawing. Choosing a suitable visual style helps you visualize your drawing more clearly. The Visual Styles Manager palette displays all available visual styles. You can select a predefined visual style or define a new one. For each visual style you can display the properties.

    You can also change the visual styles in each view tile using view tile controls.

    Additionally, view tile controls let you change views and visual styles in the current view tile.

    The following commands let you display and hide the palette:

  • View Tile Controls. View Tile Controls are displayed in the top-left corner of each view tile. Use the View Tile Controls to change the following:

    • View Tile configuration

    • View. You can select standard and custom views

    • Visual style. You can select one of the available visual styles

  • Table enhancements:

    • Table AutoFill option. You can automatically fill cells with custom data that follows a pattern or based on data in other cells.

      Additionally, you can define your own customized lists which you can use later to automatically fill adjacent table cells.

    • Table Breaks. A new grip point lets you split a table in two or more secondary tables to create smaller tables that fit better on sheets. Additionally, you can continue to split the table further as long as there are multiple rows available. The option for splitting tables is available also in the Properties palette.

    • Auto Formula. Automatically calculates Sum, Average, or Count of the values in the above or left cells.

    • Insert Blocks in tables. Table cell can include multiple Blocks.

      • TInsert. Lets you insert a Block in a table cell.

      • ManageCellContent. Lets you manage the content of the selected cell. You can add or remove Blocks and change their order.

    • Match cell properties. The CellProperty command applies the properties of one table cell to specified cells in the same table or in different tables.

    • Repeat the last action. With a range of cells selected, use Ctrl + Y or F4 to repeat the last action.

Modified Features and Commands:

  • Dynamic Blocks enhancements. You can convert Dynamic Blocks that have dimensional constraints parameters.

  • Drawing Compare enhancement. New options let you manage differences between drawings:

    • Import and Import All. Import entities that are missing into the main drawing.

    • Remove and Remove All. Removes all entities that are missing into the main drawing.

    • Restore. Restore the state before the current modification.

  • ClipReference command enhancement. You can change the shape or resize clipping boundaries using specific grip points. A special grip point on the boundary lets you invert the clipping.

  • Dimension Styles

    • The Edit Dimension Style dialog box has now tabs.

  • Note command enhancements. You can create multiple columns in multiline text.

  • Scale command enhancements. The Copy option lets you create scaled copies of the specified entities.

  • CSIcon command enhancements. The Properties option displays a dialog box where you can modify the style, size, and color of the coordinate system icon. You can specify different colors for the Model space and for the Paper space.

  • Flatten command enhancements.

    • The Statistics option automatically counts how many entities of a particular type have been modified during the flattening process.

    • The Plane option lets you specify whether to project the specified 3D entities onto the current viewing plan, or on the XY-plan of the current coordinate system.

System Variables:

  • MTEXTCOLUMN. Defines the default column setting for a note.

  • VSBACKGROUNDS. Determines the display of backgrounds in the visual style applied in the current Viewport.

  • VSEDGEJITTER. Determines the display of backgrounds in the visual style applied in the current Viewport.

  • VSEDGELEX. Determines the number of pixels that lines and edges appear to extend beyond their endpoints in the current Viewport.

  • VSEDGESMOOTH. Determines the angle for crease edges in the current Viewport.

  • VSFACEHIGHLIGHT. Determines the display of reflective highlights on faces without materials in the current Viewport.

  • VSFACEOPACITY. Determines the transparency level of a face in the current Viewport. Negative values turn off the effect but are still stored in the drawing file.

  • VSHALOGAP. Determines the halo gap in the visual style applied to the current Viewport.

  • VSINTERSECTIONCOLOR. Determines the color of intersection edges of 3D entities, surfaces, and meshes in a visual style in the current Viewport.

  • VSINTERSECTIONEDGES. Determines the display of intersection edges of 3D entities, surfaces, and meshes in a visual style in the current Viewport.

  • VSINTERSECTIONLTYPE. Determines the linetype of intersection edges of 3D entities, surfaces, and meshes in a visual style in the current Viewport.

  • VSISOONTOP. Determines the linetype of intersection edges of 3D entities, surfaces, and meshes in a visual style in the current Viewport.

  • VSMATERIALMODE. Determines whether to display materials and textures in the current Viewport.

  • VSOCCLUDEDEDGES. Determines whether to display hidden edges for a visual style in the current Viewport.

  • VSOCCLUDEDCOLOR. Specifies the color for hidden lines displayed in the visual style applied to the current Viewport. The default color number is 257 (BYENTITY), which adopts the color of the entity.

  • VSOCCLUDEDTYPE. Determines whether to display hidden edges for a visual style in the current Viewport.

  • VSSILHEDGES. Determines whether to display the silhouette edges of solid entities for a visual style in the current Viewport.

  • VSSILHWIDTH. Determines the width of silhouette edges in the current Viewport. The value is expressed in pixels.

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Release 2024

User Interface:

  • Menu Bar. You can display the menu bar simultaneously with the ribbon.

New Commands:

  • MeasureGeometry. Measures distances, radius, angles, and areas within a single command. Command options are available in the Measure Geometry flyout.

  • ExportSheet. Exports all visible entities from the active sheet Viewport to the Model space of a new drawing.

  • PrintStamp. Displays the Print Stamp dialog box where you can add information such as drawing name, date and time, sheet name, and scale in the specified corner of each drawing and saves it into a file.

  • HatchesToBack. Displays all hatches, solid color fills, and gradient color fills behind all the other entities in the drawing.

  • ReferenceToBack. Displays DWG, Image, PDF, or DGN references behind all the other entities.

  • SpaceDimension. Adjusts the space between parallel linear or concentric angular dimensions that overlap or are not equally spaced

  • TextToFront. Displays text, dimensions, leaders, or all annotations in front of all the other entities.

New XtraTools commands:

  • Flatten. Flattens all specified entities which have a Z coordinate.

New Features:

  • Cloud Storage

    • Comments. You can mention users in comments and picture recordings.

  • Tools Palette. A new palette lets you organize frequently used commands in tool palettes according to their functionality.

  • 3DFindIT palette. Lets you access the 3DFindIt.com platform directly from the CAD application to search suitable models and import them into your drawing.

    • 3DFindIT. Displays the 3DFindIT palette.

  • Notifications palette. A new palette displays in one place all notifications, such as:

    • Software update notifications

    • External reference update notifications

    • Data link update notifications

    • Comment notifications

    The following commands let you display and hide the palette:

Modified Features and Commands:

  • Viewports. You can use various tools to manipulate non-rectangular Viewports:

    • Mirror, scale, stretch, and rotate

    • Clip

    • Reshape using grip points

  • MakeFlatSnapshot command enhancements. New options let you customize flat representation of 3D solid objects and Regions.

    • Display tangent edges in the flat representation

    • Specify the color and the line style for the foreground lines

    • Control the display of the hidden lines

    • Modify the color and the line style for the hidden lines

  • Trim command enhancement. The Behavior option lets you reduce the set of entities taken into account as trimming cutting edges.

  • Rename command. You can rename Blocks, Styles and Views without previously selecting them. You only need to know their name.

System Variables:

  • MENUBAR. Controls the display of the menu bar under the Quick Access Toolbar.

  • PDFSHX. Determines whether text entities using SHX fonts are stored in PDF files as comments when exporting a drawing as a PDF file.

  • TPSTATE. Returns whether the Tools Palette is displayed.

Release 2023

User Interface:

  • Contextual Ribbon Tabs

    User interface is enhanced now with contextual ribbons that are displayed when you select specific entities in the graphics area or when you use some commands for creating new entities.

    Contextual tabs are available for the following operations:

    • Creating and editing hatches

    • Editing table cells

    • Editing PDF and DGN underlay

    • Editing images and external references

    • Editing dimensions, leaders, multileader, and tolerance symbols.

  • Dark-style Dialog Boxes

    All dialog boxes support the dark-style interface.

New Commands:

  • AlignX. Aligns a set of specified entities according to the first selected one.

New Features:

  • Data Link Manager. Lets you link a table created within a drawing to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

    • DataLink. Displays the Data Link Manager dialog box.

    • UpdateDataLink. Updates data from an established external data link.

  • `Annotation Monitor <../html/about_dimensions.html#AMonitor>`_. As the project evolves, changes may cause the loss of the associativity between Dimensions and their related entities. The Annotation Monitor lets you identify dimensions that have lost their associativity with related entities.

  • View Navigator. The View Navigator is a two ring widget displayed by default in the top-right corner of the graphics area. The View Navigator lets you switch between standard and isometric views of your model with a single click.

    • ViewNavigator. Turns the View Navigator on and off and controls where it displays.

  • Cycling Selection. Lets you selectively specify entities that are close to or on top of other entities.

  • Middle-click. Double-clicking the middle mouse button closes the drawing tabs.

Modified Features and Commands:

  • Data Extraction wizard. You can combine information from an entire Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or only a specified range with data

    extracted from drawings. The RefineData page of the Wizard provides access to the Link External Data dialog box where you can set up a link between the extracted data from the drawing and an external spreadsheet.

  • Split command enhancements. The Multiple option lets you select multiple entities and break them at their intersection points with cutting lines. No gaps are created and the split segments remain on the drawing.

  • Dimensions Context Menu. The Precision option lets you display the precision of the Dimension value from 0 to 8 decimal places.

  • Drawing Sheet Sets

    • PackAndGo. From the Sheet Set Manager palette, you can create a package from an entire drawing sheet set or subset, or from a single drawing sheet.

    • Drawing Sheet List Table. A drawing sheet list table displays as hyperlinks the titles of all drawing sheets from the drawing sheet set. You can create a table of contents inside the drawing listing all subset sheets.

  • Cloud Storage. New drawing share options let you manage the cloud storage access:

    • Specify a password to prevent unauthorized access to the drawing.

    • Specify the expiry date options to apply.

  • Open and Save file dialog boxes. New options let you manage local files and files from the Cloud Storage:

    • New folder. Creates a new folder.

    • Delete. Lets you delete a folder.

    • Open file options. Let you open files in read-only mode or with specific character encoding.

    • A context menu groups commands for working with files and folders:

      • Open

      • Delete

      • Rename

      • Browse Containing Folder

System Variables:

  • ANNOMONITOR. Turns on and off the Annotation Monitor.

  • DISPLAYVIEWCUBEIN2D. Controls the View Navigator’s display when the 2D Wireframe ShadeView mode is used.

  • DISPLAYVIEWCUBEIN3D. Controls the View Navigator’s display when the a 3D ShadeView mode is used.

  • NAVVCUBEDISPLAY. Controls the View Navigator tool display in the graphics area according to the current Shade View mode.

  • NAVVCUBELOCATION. Specifies the corner in which the View Navigator displays in the graphics area.

  • NAVVCUBEOPACITY. Specifies the level of opacity for the View Navigator when inactive.

  • PROPOBJLIMIT. Limits the number of entities that can be changed at one time with the Properties palette.

  • SELECTIONCYCLING. Controls the display of the cycling selection stack icon selection_cycling_stack_icon and the list for selecting overlapping entities.

Release 2022

New Commands:

  • Editing Commands

    • EditSpline. Modifies the parameters and properties of Splines or converts spline-fit Polylines to Splines.

    • CopyNested. Duplicates drawing entities that are contained in a Block or a Reference and places copies of them at a specified location.

  • Working with Drawing Files

    • DrawingCompare. Displays the Drawing Compare palette which lets you visually compare two drawings and identify changes that occurred from one version of the drawing to another. HideDrawingCompare hides the palette.

    • VersionHistory. Displays the Version History palette. Lets you compare the current drawing with previously saved versions maintained by a supported Cloud Storage. HideVersionHistory hides the palette.

  • Drawing Sheet Sets

    The Sheet Set Manager palette groups the functionalities for creating, organizing, and managing drawing sheets within a drawing sheet set.

    • SheetSet. Displays the Sheet Set Manager palette. HideSheetSet hides the palette.

    • NewSheetSet. Opens the Create Drawing Sheet Set wizard which lets you create drawing sheet sets based on existing drawings that contain sheets.

    • OpenSheetSet. Loads drawing sheet sets (.dst file) into the Sheet Set Manager palette.

  • Building Information Modeling

    • BIMSection. Creates section, elevation, and plan drawings from a BIM model.

    • BIMMaterialMapper. Displays the Material Mapper palette which lets you map BIM material names to the material available in the BIM Drawings Materials Styles Library.

  • Exporting and Importing

    • ImportSTLasMesh. Imports stereolithography files (STL) and inserts the contained geometry as subdivision mesh objects (SubDMeshes) into the drawing.

  • Printing

    • PageLayoutIn. Imports user-defined page layouts contained in other drawing files (.dwg), drawing exchange files (.dxf), or drawing template files (.dwt) into the current drawing.

  • Utility commands

    • AppCast command. Displays notifications about Service Packs and Updates for the application in a dialog box.

New Features:

Modified Features and Commands:

  • Spline command enhancements. Splines can be defined either with fit points, or with control vertices. Accordingly, you can apply two corresponding methods. The implementation of the Control Vertices method lets specify control points, not fit points through which the Spline passes.

    New options of the Spline command include:

    • Fit points method, Knots option. Determines the method used to fuse the curves between consecutive fit points within a Spline.

    • Control vertices method, Degree option. Specifies the degree for subsequent Spline constructions. You can create Splines of degree 1 (linear), degree 2 (quadratic), degree 3 (cubic), and so on up to degree 5.

  • Print dialog box redesigned. Additional options available on the main dialog box instead of a subdialog.

New System Variables:

  • Spline creation and editing

    • SPLMETHOD. Determines whether the fit points method or the control vertices method applies when creating Splines.

    • SPLDEGREE. Determines the default degree setting for subsequent Spline constructions.

    • SPLKNOTS. Determines the default knot computational method for the Spline command when the fit points method is active (Knots option).

    • PLINECONVERTMODE. Determines whether Polylines are created with linear or arc segments when converting Splines to Polylines.

  • Sheet Sets

    • SSFOUND. Returns the sheet set path and file name in search result.

    • SSLOCATE. Specifies whether the sheet set associated with a drawing is located and opened together with the drawing.

    • SSMAUTOOPEN. Controls the Sheet Set Manager behavior when opening a drawing associated with a sheet.

    • SSMPOLLTIMES. Sets the time interval (in seconds) for refreshing the sheet status in a sheet set.

    • SSMSHEETSTATUS. Specifies the refresh method of the status data in a sheet set.

    • SSMSTATE. Returns whether the Sheet Set Manager is open or closed.

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Note: Due to the renumbering of the software releases, no Release 2021 was delivered.

Release 2020

Licensing:

  • The licensing dashboard is available in the Plugins palette.

New Commands:

  • Drawing commands:

    • InsertBase. Determines the insertion base point for the drawing.

  • Dimension commands:

  • Constraints commands:

  • 3D Modeling commands:

    • OffsetEdges. Creates 2D entities from the boundary of a 3D solid or surface.

    • ConvertEdges. Creates wireframe geometry from the edges of a specified 3D solid, surface, mesh, or region.

  • CustomBlock commands:

    • CBConvert. Converts dynamic blocks from a DWG file into CustomBlocks.

    • CBWBlockAs. Saves a CustomBlock as a separate drawing with a specified name.

    • Test mode. Lets you test CustomBlock definitions without exiting the Block Editor.

    • Alignment element. Specifies an alignment direction for the CustomBlock.

    • Improved activities:

      • Dependent or Independent base point for the Rotate and Scale activity. The Base Type property in the Properties palette lets you specify whether the base point of the Rotate activity coincides with the main point of the Rotation entity or is an independent point.

      • Stretch activity. The Overrides category of the Properties palette groups the following properties:

        • Distance multiplier. Lets you specify a factor by which a distance value of an element is increased or decreased.

        • Angle offset. Lets you specify a factor by which an angular value of an element is increased or decreased.

      • Incremental markers for Stretch and Rotate activities.

  • Security commands:

    • SafetyOptions. Lets you control safety restrictions against malicious executable files.

  • Log file commands:

    • LogFileOn. Writes the contents of the command history to a log file (with .log extension).

    • LogFileOff. Closes the command history log file opened by the LogFileOn.

  • Utility commands:

    • Commands. Displays the list of all commands.

New Features:

  • Data Extraction Wizard. The Data Extraction wizard lets you specify a set of entities or blocks and extract property and attribute information. You can display the result in a table on the drawing or save it in an external file that you can exchange with your colleagues. The ExtractData command opens the Data Extraction Wizard.

  • Associative Patterns. Entities within associative patterns retain their relationships. Associative patterns let you edit them in their entirety instead of changing the individual items in the pattern.

    • The Pattern command has been extended to allow you to create associative linear and circular patterns.

    • The new EditPattern command lets you modify the shape and appearance of associative patterns. You can also edit associative patterns using specific EntityGrips and the Properties palette.

  • Reshape non-associative hatches using grip points. If you disable the link between the hatch and the boundary, you can directly manipulate the shape of the hatch according to a new boundary configuration using the hatch grip points. Hovering over a grip point on a non-associative hatch entity displays a menu with edit options according to the specified type of grip point.

  • Lasso selection. Lets you select entities by sketching a lasso around entities.

  • Geometric center entity snap. Snaps to the centroid of a closed Polyline, planar 3D Polyline, Spline, Region, or planar face of a 3D Solid object.

  • Hatch Background Color. The following options are new to the Additional Options dialog box:

    • LineColor. Determines the hatch line color.

    • BackGroundColor. Determines the hatch background color.

  • New predefined Layer group filters in Layers Manager palette:

    • Reference. Groups all the Layers of externally reference drawings. The Reference filter is automatically created when attaching external references to the drawing.

    • Viewport Overrides. Groups all the Layers containing property overrides from the current layout viewport.

    • Reference Overrides. Groups all the Layer of externally referenced drawings containing layer property overrides.

  • Save Current Workspace. Saves the current workspace configuration as a new workspace. The option is available in the Workspace list, on the Quick Access Toolbar.

  • Reload References option in the status bar. The notification area of the status displays a balloon to indicate that an externally referenced drawing has changed and needs reloading. The options in the right-click menu let you update the references.

  • New shortcuts:

    • Ctrl + Pg Up. Moves to the next working space (sheet or model).

    • Ctrl + Pg Down. Moves to the previous working space (sheet or model).

    • Ctrl + I. Toggles between absolute and relative coordinate during command execution

  • New settings in the Options dialog box:

    • Base Angle Guide display. You can display a guide line along the zero base angle according to the current CCS. (User Preferences > Drafting Options > Display > Polar guides)

    • Display full path in application title bar. Lets you control whether the title bar displays the full path of the active drawing or only the name. (System Options > Open / Save As > Open file > Display full path in application title bar)

    • Rendered entity smoothness option in the Options dialog box lets you specify the resolution of curved surfaces for rendering.

    • Heads-up display delay time. Lets you control the display of the Heads-Up toolbar when selecting entities.

  • Printing

    • Layers in .pdf files. Options dialog box: Use layers in PDF file (PDF v1.5 or higher) option lets you create layers in the PDF file according to the layers in the drawing.

    • Window print range highlight in graphics area.

    • Improved BatchPrint command. Lets you group multiple drawings into a single PDF file.

    • Printer property settings. Lets you specify printer specific property settings to be reused for subsequent outputs. Thus you can override settings of the printers installed on your computer. You can save the printer property settings in configuration files with a .pcx extension.

    • Custom paper sizes are available for built-in printer (PDF, PNG, JPG, SVG, or DWF).

  • Cloud Storage

    • Comments palette

      • Type substrings and use wildcards to reduce the number of displayed comments.

      • Option to sort the comments according to the user name.

    • Markups. Lets you add predefined and custom markups to a drawing.

    • Search field. Searches a file across all Cloud Storage services.

New XtraTools commands:

  • SetBackupFolder. Lets you specify the destination folder for drawing backup (.bak) files.

Modified features and commands:

  • Field. The Entity option lets you:

    • Display entity properties in text

    • Insert formula fields in table cells

    • Insert a Block placeholder field in a BlockAttribute

  • RebuildField. The RebuildField command is available in the annotations context menu.

  • Rotate. Includes the following options:

    • Point option to define a reference angle. Specify two points to define an imaginary line that will be rotated to a new angle.

    • Copy. Lets you create one copy or multiple copies of the specified entities.

  • Copy. The Pattern option of the Copy command lets you create a specified number of copies in a linear pattern. Two methods are available:

    • Create the number of copies at specified displacement, starting with a base point.

    • Create the number of copies evenly spaced between two specified points, in the specified direction using the Fit option.

  • Offset. The Gap type option of the Offset command specifies the gap type to fill potential gaps in offset polylines

  • -DimensionStyle. The Status option lets you display the current values of all dimension system variables in the command window.

  • Loft. The Type option lets you specify whether the lofted entity is a solid or a surface.

  • Sweep. The Bank option allows the entity to rotate along the specified sweep path.

  • Layers Manager palette. The Option button lets you access the Layer options in the Options dialog box.

Other updates:

  • CustomBlock Editor is now Block Editor.

New System Variables:

  • ACADLSPASDOC. Determines whether to load the start.lsp Lisp file once at the start of a session with the software or each time when opening a drawing.

  • ARRAYASSOCIATIVITY. Determines whether patterns of entities are created associative or non-associative.

  • ARRAYTYPE. Determines the default array type for the Pattern dialog box.

  • CROSSINGAREACOLOR. Specifies the color of the selection area during crossing selection.

  • DIMTXTDIRECTION. Defines the reading direction of the dimension text.

  • HEADUPTIME. Sets the delay time (in milliseconds) for the Heads-up toolbar display.

  • LEGACYCODESEARCH. Determines whether the Start In and current drawing folders are included or excluded when searching for executable files.

  • PRESELECTIONEFFECT. Specifies how preselected entities are indicated.

  • SECURELOAD. Determines whether the software loads executable files depending on whether they are located in a trusted folder.

  • SELECTIONAREA. Determines whether the selection areas indicated by a transparent or opaque color fill.

  • SELECTIONAREAOPACITY. Specifies the current level of transparency of selection areas.

  • SELECTIONEFFECT. Specifies whether selected entities are indicated with dashed lines or with luminous lines.

  • TRUSTEDPATHS. Specifies which folders are trusted to load and run executable files from them.

  • WINDOWAREACOLOR. Specifies the color of the selection area during window selection.

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Release 2019

New Commands:

  • Layer commands:

    • Layer palette. Controls Layers and Layer properties with the Layers Manager palette.

    • LayerDialog. Opens the legacy Layers Manager dialog box which was replaced by the Layers Manager palette (dialog box variant).

    • Layers Manager option: New Viewport Freeze. Lets you create a Layer initially frozen in all Viewports on layout Sheets.

    • MergeLayer. Merges one or more Layers to a destination Layer (dialog box variant).

    • -MergeLayer. Merges one or more Layers to a destination Layer (command window variant).

  • RollView commands. The following commands complement the RollView and RollViewCenter commands:

    • RollViewContinuous. Rotates the view in 3D space with continuous motion about a specified pivot point.

    • RollViewFree. Lets you view models interactively in 3D space without constraining the roll.

    • RollViewHorizontal. Swivels the model view left and right about an imaginary vertical axis.

    • RollViewVertical. Tilts the model view to your model up and down about an imaginary horizontal axis.

    • RollViewAutoTarget. Determines how the target point is detected for RollView commands.

  • 3D Modeling commands:

    • PolySolid. Draws 3D solid objects in the shape of polygonal walls.

    • PushPull. Modifies 3D solid objects or bounded areas by extrusion.

    • ChamferEdges. Bevels the edges of 3D solid objects. Includes Face and Loop options.

    • FilletEdges (updated). Rounds the edges of 3D solid objects. Includes Face, Chain, and Loop options.

    • Extrude (updated). Creates solid primitives by extruding closed 2D entities. Includes Surface and Solid options to determine the type of model to create.

  • Drawing Recovery commands:

    • DrawingRecovery. Displays the Drawing Recovery Manager palette to let you recover drawings after unexpected system failures.

    • HideDrawingRecovery. Hides the Drawing Recovery Manager palette.

  • Authentication commands:

    • SignFile. Adds a digital signature to drawing files.

    • VerifySignature. Checks the digital signature of a drawing for authentication.

    • RemoveSignature. Removes an existing digital signature from the drawing.

  • ImportSTL command. Imports stereolithography files (.stl) and inserts the contained ACIS solid objects into the drawing. Counterpart to the ExportSTL command.

  • MirrorHatch command. Determines whether hatches and gradient fills are reflected or retain their pattern direction when you apply Mirror and Flip commands.

New Features:

  • CustomBlocks and Block Editor. Use CustomBlocks when you have several similar Blocks in your project to significantly reduce the drafting time, as well as the number of Blocks that you have to manage and maintain. The Block Editor is an environment where you can draw and modify geometric entities of the CustomBlocks. Additionally, the Block Editor provides the tools for adding constraints, elements and activities to the CustomBlock definition.

    To open the Block Editor, use the EditBlock command.

    The following commands are available in the Block Editor:

    • CBActivity. Creates and applies an activity to a CustomBlock element.

    • CBActivityIcon. Controls the visibility of the activity icons.

    • CBActivityTool. Creates and applies activity to existing CustomBlock element.

    • CBClose. Closes the Block Editor.

    • CBOptions. Displays the Block Editor options.

    • CBValueTable. Displays the Property Value Table dialog box.

    • CBElement. Creates a CustomBlock element.

    • CBElementSet. Creates an element and the associated activity at once.

    • CBSave. Saves the CustomBlock definition under the current name.

    • CBSaveAs. Saves the CustomBlock definition with a specified name.

    • CBHide. Sets hidden entities for the visibility state.

    • CBShow. Sets visible entities for the visibility state.

    • CBVisibility. Displays the Visibility States dialog box.

  • Improved Preview Highlighting and Selection Highlighting. Entities are highlighted when you hover over them (preview highlighting) or when you select them (selection highlighting). See Previewing and Highlighting Entity Selections.

  • Cycling through entities during selections using Shift + Spacebar. Lets you selectively choose entities that are close to or on top of other entities. See Cycling Through Entities During Selection.

  • Trimming of hatches. Trimmed Hatches maintain associativity with changed boundary entities, even if they are divided into different hatched areas. Divided Hatches remain as one entity, but you can use the EditHatch command to separate them into individual entities (dialog box option is Create Hatch for each boundary). The same applies to Gradients. For trimming entities, see Trimming Entities and Trimming Entities with PowerTrim.

Modified Features:

  • 3D Mouse support. The application detects if a 3D mouse is connected to the computer. The commands 3DMouseOptions, -3DMouseOptions, and 3DMouseButtons are obsolete and were removed. See Navigating with a 3D Mouse.

  • Plugins command. Opens the Plugins Manager palette to manage application plugins provided by third-party vendors. Replaces the legacy Plugins dialog box. The HidePlugins command hides the Plugins palette.

New System Variables:

  • LAYERDLGMODE. Determines whether the Layer command opens the Layers Manager palette or the legacy Layers Manager dialog box. By default the palette displays.

  • ISAVEBAK. Controls whether backup copies (files of type .bak) are created each time you save a drawing.

  • ISAVEPERCENT. Influences how often the application performs a full save. A full save takes longer than a partial save.

  • MIRRHATCH. Determines whether hatches and gradient fills are reflected or retain their pattern direction when you apply Mirror and Flip commands.

  • ORBITAUTOTARGET. Determines how the target point is detected for RollView commands.

  • PSOLHEIGHT. Sets the default height for the PolySolid command which lets you create a 3D solid in the shape of a polygonal wall.

  • PSOLWIDTH. Sets the default width for the PolySolid command which lets you create a 3D solid in the shape of a polygonal wall.

  • RECOVERYMODE. Determines whether drawing recovery information is recorded if the system terminates unexpectedly, such as from a power failure, hardware issue, or software problem.

  • SIGWARN. Controls whether the Digital Signature Verification dialog box appears each time you attach an external drawing with a valid digital signature as a Reference to the current drawing.

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Release 2018

New Commands:

  • Helix. Creates 2D spirals and 3D helixes.

  • Block commands. Contains more tools for Blocks and BlockAttributes.

  • MultiLeader commands. Uses advanced leader creation and editing.

  • ExportTable. Exports tables in a comma separated format (CSV) to import them in spreadsheet or database software.

New Features:

  • Moving entities incrementally. Moves selected entities according to a specified increment when you use the Shift + Arrow keys.

  • Copy entities to the active layer. Copies selected entities to the active layer instead of the source layer while using the Copy command.

  • Paste content from clipboard to the active layer. Copies content from the clipboard to the active layer instead to the source layer while using the Paste command.

  • Formulas in table cells. Lets you use formulas in cells with arithmetic operators and the Sum, Average, and Count functions.

  • Dynamic Custom Coordinate System. Temporarily aligns the XY plane of the Custom Coordinate System (CSS) with a face on a 3D solid object when you create 2D or 3D entities. You can switch the Dynamic CCS feature on and off by pressing F6.

  • Extended 3D solid editing using EntityGrips and the Properties palette. Provides more EntityGrips to modify 3D solid objects. The Properties palette provides more parameters to manipulate 3D solid objects.

New System Variables:

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Release 2017

New Commands (since Service Pack 2):

  • Cloud Storage commands. Accesses drawings in the Cloud from the desktop application.

    • CloudStorage. Displays the Cloud Storage palette.

    • HideCloudStorage. Hides the Cloud Storage palette.

    • SaveToCloudStorage. Saves the current drawing to Cloud Storage.

New Features (since Service Pack 2):

  • Cloud Storage palette. Opens drawings from Cloud Storage or saves drawings to Cloud Storage.

  • Hatch Layer. Sets a layer for subsequent Hatches and gradient Fills in the corresponding dialog boxes.

New Commands:

  • Centerline. Creates Centerlines between pairs of Lines, Arcs, and PolyLine segments. You can set the extension for Centerlines to exceed the entities which define the contour. The specific LineStyle for Centerlines is assigned automatically.

  • Pattern commands:

    • Pattern command, Path option. Creates copies of specified entities along a path. The path can be a Line, PolyLine, Arc, Circle, Ellipse, or Spline. Alignment options control the resulting pattern appearance.

    • PathPattern. Creates copies of specified entities along a path (command window variant of the Pattern command, Path option).

    • CircularPattern. Creates copies of specified entities in a circular pattern (command window variant of the Pattern command, Circular option).

    • LinearPattern. Creates copies of specified entities in a linear matrix (command window variant of the Pattern command, Linear option).

  • SplitDimension. Splits dimension and extension lines of Dimension entities where they intersect other entities. You can also join split dimension and extension lines.

  • EditXBlockAttribute. Modifies the BlockAttribute values and properties of inserted Blocks. Property changes include Layer, TextStyle, and other settings.

  • SetByLayer. Changes property overrides of specified entities to ByLayer.

  • ChangeSpace. Transfers entities from Model workspace to Sheet workspace and vice versa.

  • Auto-Completion of commands:

    • AutoCompleteOptions. Sets options to apply auto-completion of command names and command variable names as you type them. It also displays a suggestion list with command and variable names which contains the sub-string that you enter.

    • -AutoCompleteOptions. Command window variant of the AutoCompleteOptions command.

New Features:

  • Multifunctional EntityGrips. Displays contextual shortcut menus that let you quickly edit the geometry of entities in place with Multifunctional EntityGrips.

  • PolyLine editing improvements. The following options are new to the EditPolyLine command:

    • Taper. Tapers the width of the PolyLine from the start point to the end point.

    • Reverse. Reverses the direction of the PolyLine.

    • Add vertex to midpoint. Inserts an additional vertex at the midpoint of the next segment.

    • Convert to arc / Convert to line. Converts the next PolyLine segment to an arc if it is a linear segment or to a line if it is a curved segment.

  • Trimming of Hatches and Gradients. Lets you trim Hatches and Gradients with the Trim and PowerTrim commands. Divided Hatches and Gradients maintain associativity and remain as one entity.

  • Auto-Collapsing of palettes. Collapses palettes automatically whenever you move the pointer away from the palette. Palettes expand when you move the pointer to the title bar of a collapsed palette.

  • Print dialog box improvements. Redesigned the Print dialog box to improve usability. The print preview updates dynamically when you change print settings and shows an optimized preview image before you print.

  • Dialog box layout improvements. Redesigned and rearranged dialog boxes for clarity.

New XtraTools Commands:

  • Annotation Commands

    • NumberText. Inserts sequential numbering to selected text entities.

    • TextFrame. Creates a frame around specified text entities.

    • TextMask. Places a blank area behind specified text entities.

    • TextUnMask. Removes the masks assigned to selected text entities.

    • EditTextCase. Modifies the case style of selected SimpleNote, BlockAttribute, Note or Dimension.

    • EditTextJustification. Modifies the justification point of selected text, paragraph or attribute entities.

    • EditTextOrientation. Rotates selected text, paragraph or attribute entities keeping their current position.

    • FitText. Resizes the width of a text entity to fit between two selected points.

  • Dimension Commands

    • ExportDimensionStyle. Exports the dimension styles from the current drawing to an external ASCII file.

    • ImportDimensionStyle. Imports dimension styles and their settings from an ASCII file (with .dim extension).

  • Block Commands

  • Editing Commands

    • CopyMultiple. Creates multiple copies of the selected entities.

    • OffsetX. Creates new entities by applying an offset to the selected entities.

    • DrawOrderByColor. Modify the draw order of the selected entities based on their color.

  • View Commands

    • AlignViewportView. Aligns the views from one or more viewports to one master viewport to look like one single viewport.

    • AlignWorkspaces. Adjust the zoom factor and position of the current view, based on the alignment points specified in the Model workspace and Sheet workspace.

    • ViewportScaleRatio. Displays the scale of the specified viewport on a layout Sheet.

  • Utilities

    • MakeShape. Defines a Shape based on specified entities.

    • ExportSettings. Exports the current settings to an external file.

    • VariableToScript. Appends selected variables to an existing script file (.scr file).

    • ExportVariables. Exports the system variable values to a script file (.scr file).

    • MergeSheets. Merges several Sheets into a single Sheet.

New System Variables:

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Release 2016

New Commands:

  • DrawingTabs. Shows drawing tabs at the top of the drawing window area.

  • HideDrawingTabs. Hides drawing tabs at the top of the drawing window area.

  • LayerState. Saves, restores, and manages configurations of layer properties and states.

  • HideEntities. Hides specified entities.

  • IsolateEntities. Isolates specified entities by hiding all other entities.

  • UnisolateEntities. Shows entities that were hidden with the IsolateEntities or HideEntities commands.

  • SelectMatching. Selects drawing entities of the same type and with shared properties for subsequent commands.

  • New commands for Annotation Scaling:

    • AnnEntityScale. Adds and removes annotation scales for specified annotative entities (dialog box variant).

    • -AnnEntityScale. Adds and removes annotation scales for specified annotative entities (command window variant).

    • AnnEntityScaleAdd. Updates annotative entities to support the drawing’s active annotation scale.

    • AnnEntityScaleRemove. Updates annotative entities to remove the drawing’s active annotation scale from the entities’ annotation scales.

    • AnnReset. Resets all scale representations of specified annotative entities to their original positions.

    • AnnUpdate. Updates existing annotative entities to match updated TextStyle or DimensionStyle settings.

New Commands (Service Pack 2):

  • ConvertPolyLine. Converts lightweight PolyLines to old-format, heavyweight PolyLines and vice versa.

  • CopyLink. Copies the current view of the drawing to the clipboard and establishes a link to it in the target application.

New Features:

XtraTools provide a set of additional commands to increase productivity in many ways in design process.

  • ATTIPE. Determines the type of pop-up toolbar to display when editing multiline BlockAttributes in place.

  • ATTMULTI. Controls whether you can create multiline BlockAttributes with the commands to define BlockAttribute.

  • FILETABPREVIEW. Determines the preview type when you hover over a drawing tab.

  • FILETABSTATE. Controls the display of drawing tabs at the top of the drawing windows area.

  • SELECTSIMILARMODE. Determines which properties must match for an entity of the same type to be selected with the SelectMatching command.

  • New system variables for Annotation Scaling:

    • ANNOALLVISIBLE. Shows or hides annotative entities that do not support the current annotation scale.

    • ANNOAUTOSCALE. Controls if setting a new annotation scale are added automatically to annotative entities.

    • ANNOTATIVEDWG. Determines whether the current drawing will act as annotative Block when inserted into another drawing.

    • CANNOSCALE. Specifies the name of the current annotation scale for the active workspace (Model, or Viewports on layout Sheets).

    • CANNOSCALEVALUE. Specifies the value of the current annotation scale for the active workspace (Model, or Viewports on layout Sheets).

    • DIMANNO. Returns whether the current DimensionStyle is an annotative style.

    • HPANNOTATIVE. Controls whether new Hatches or filled areas are annotative entities.

    • MSLTSCALE. Determines whether LineStyles on the Model tab or in Viewports of layout Sheets are scaled by annotation scale settings.

    • SAVEFIDELITY. Controls visual fidelity for annotative entities in legacy drawing files (DWG R2007 and earlier formats).

    • SELECTIONANNODISPLAY. Specifies whether annotative entities, if selected, show all representations of the annotation scales assigned to them, or only the original scale.

  • New system variables for Quick Input methods:

    • DYNDIGRIP. Determines which input boxes are displayed as you move an EntityGrip.

    • DYNDIVIS. Controls the Quick Input dimension input method when you stretch an entity using an EntityGrip.

    • DYNMODE. Controls the use of Quick Input pointer input and dimension input methods.

    • DYNPICOORDS. Controls whether the Quick Input pointer input method uses relative or absolute coordinates.

    • DYNPIFORMAT. Controls whether the Quick Input pointer input method uses polar or Cartesian coordinates.

    • DYNPIVIS. Controls the Quick Input pointer input method.

    • DYNPROMPT. Turns on or off the use of prompt tooltips and command input boxes display for Quick Input.

    • DYNTOOLTIPS. Determines which kind of tooltips are affected by appearance settings.

    • TOOLTIPMERGE. Determines whether to merge EntitySnap (ESnap) tooltips and Quick Input tooltips into a single tooltip.

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Release 2015

New Commands:

  • DiscardDuplicates. Removes duplicate or overlapping entities from the drawing.

  • QuickModify. Copies, moves, rotates, and scales entities in one operation.

  • PowerTrim. Trims multiple, adjacent entities by dragging the pointer across each entity. Extends or trims two entities where they intersect at a virtual corner.

  • ExplodeBlockX. Explodes Blocks and converts BlockAttribute values to SimpleNotes.

  • EditTableCell. Inserts, deletes, merges, or resizes cells, rows, and columns in Tables

  • StackOptions. Sets the alignment and size for stacked text in annotations.

  • CustomPaperSize. Manages custom paper sizes for built-in printers (PDF, PNG, JPG, SVG, or DWF).

  • AdjustDGN. Adjusts the appearance of DGN Underlays against the graphics area background. You can adjust fade, contrast, and monochrome values.

  • Migration. Migrates profiles, preferences, file location settings, and UI customizations from a previous version of the software.

New Features:

  • BTMARKDISPLAY. Toggles the display of value set increment markers in Dynamic Blocks.

  • GRIPDYNCOLOR. Controls the fill color of user-defined grips of Dynamic Blocks.

  • TABLEINDICATOR.. Toggles the display of the display of row numbers and column letters when editing Table cells in-place.

  • TABLETOOLBAR. Controls the display of the Edit Table pop-up toolbar to assist editing Table cells in-place.

  • TSPACEFAC. Sets the line spacing distance specified as a text height factor for Notes.

  • TSPACETYPE. Sets the type of line spacing used within Notes.

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