I haven’t spent much time working with DataCAD. In fact, probably more time getting stuff out of it, for other platforms, than creating anything in it! However, news of a new release caught my attention.
I remember going to an AutoCAD launch years ago, maybe r14?, and they mentioned a future where smart objects would replace line work enabling you to build a 3D virtual model. I also remember thinking – while they said it – don’t waste your time showing me the new widgets in AutoCAD, just give me those smart things!
The object model hinted at became a reality a short time later with the release of Architectural Desktop. At the time ArchiCAD users probably wondered what all the fuss was about…
Then along came Revit offering coherent building models capable of retaining, even responding to, design intent thanks to a database structure and parametrics. Even ArchiCAD users noticed and I suspect, maybe reluctantly, thought that was smart…
But reading this review of DataCAD 12 I thought I’d gone through a time warp;
Wow, that’s still considered new and smart in 2008?DataCAD Gets Smart - Cadalyst AEC
"So if a sliding glass door is added to the model, it will automatically cut the hole in the wall planes and add all the appropriate geometry of the sliding glass door. If the designer then decides she wants that door to be a double French door instead, she does not have to redraw anything; she just tells the program to make the door a double French door, and the wall and door geometry will automatically change."
