ZWCAD 2018 SP2: The Most Powerful Release Ever

DWG/DXF 2018 — Realized with High Compatibility

Through testing more than 100,000 drawings for 3,600 hours, DWG/DXF 2018 is fully supported now. You can create, open and save any drawing in this format, realizing seamless compatibility with different versions of .dwg files. In other words, sharing and co-working become much easier, and the design team or the whole workflow can cooperate more closely and efficiently.

Figure 1. Save the drawing as .dwg 2018 format

Dynamic Input — More Immediate, More Straightforward

It provides command tooltips which display dynamically updated information near the cursor in the drawing area. You can specify options and values in the tooltip box by Pointer Input, Dimension Input and Dynamic Prompts. Without moving your mouse and eyes to select options or input values, it definitely saves your precious time, and you are able to see the updated values of objects instantly while drawing.

Figure 2. Dynamic Input with editable real-time dimensions and a drop-down menu

Hatch with Boundary Grips — Adjust Hatched Objects Anytime

In the past, sometimes you need to remove the boundary grips of a hatched object for specific needs, which makes it impossible to adjust its shape later. But now, since the boundary grips become its built-in part, you can change its shape whenever you want.

Figure 3. Stretch the boundary grips of a hatched pattern anytime to change its shape

Point Filters — Specify Point Easily

Point Filters help specify a new coordinate location by combining the X value of one location, the Y value of a second location, and, for 3D coordinates, the Z value of a third location, simplifying your drawing since no more extra supporting lines or graphics are needed.

Figure 4. Use Point Filters to locate a specific point

Three Plotters Available — One Giant Step to Perfect Output

In this SP2, three plotters in great need are available —

SHPGL/LHPGL Plotters: You can correctly plot PLT files, which are commonly used in the manufacturing industry for machining;

Figure 5. Plot PLT files with SHPGL/LHPGL Plotters

ZWCAD Virtual Eps Plotter: You can plot drawings to EPS files, which can be opened in Photoshop® or other software to create an architectural rendering floor plan;

Figure 6. Plot 2D floor plan in ZWCAD to EPS file and render it in Photoshop®

SVG plotter: You can plot your drawings to SVG file format to create interactive vector graphics, which, unlike raster images revealing the pixels, preserve the original shapes and thus are necessary for web design or other specific workflows that require SVG files.

Figure 7. Plot the drawing to SVG format

For Interface, Comfort is the Priority

Interface has been further optimized by changing the drawing area from light gray to dark gray, which makes your eyes more comfortable. What’s more, by lightening the color of menus in both Ribbon Interface and Classic Interface, more notable contrast is realized to distinguish different areas, bringing you wonderful visual experience with clear layering.

Figure 1. The optimized user interface

Tool Palettes Improved

The Properties option, including the Name, Scale, Rotation, Layer, etc., is now added to the right-click menu of a block or a command in the Tool Palettes, making it convenient for you to edit the properties of a block or a command directly in the Tool Palettes.

Figure 2. The Properties option in the right-click menu of a block

Lock/Unlock Viewports Button

Added to the status bar, this button helps you quickly lock or unlock the selected viewport without changing the status in the properties panel.

Figure 3. Unlock the viewport by clicking the Lock/Unlock Viewports Button

Enhanced Attribute Editor

A shortcut menu including commands like Insert Field, Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete and Select all is added in Enhanced Attribute Editor and prompts when right-clicking the value textbox.

Figure 4. Right-click the value textbox and the shortcut menu appears

BLOCKEDITMODE

It is a new system variable added to control whether REFEDIT or BEDIT is used to edit a block when double-clicking it.

Shortcut Keys to Switch Model/Layout

Now you can switch between Model and Layout simply by pressing Ctrl + PageUp and Ctrl + PageDown.

We believe that the optimization of details actually means a lot to our users, so we spare no effort to enhance your user experience by improving the very tiny points.

Of course, the stability and efficiency have also been significantly increased, together with the important new features mentioned above, the most powerful release is worthy of the name.

Source : https://www.zwsoft.com/zwcad/press-release/in2018/697.html