Showtime for Free DoubleCAD XT

By Kenneth Wong

Last month, IMSI/Design'shome page for DoubleCAD XT showed a half-drawncurtain with the words "Coming Soon!" On February 4, the curtain went up,revealing two versions of the company's new software: DoubleCAD XT Free and Pro($695).

IMSI/Design describes DoubleCAD XT as "a free AutoCAD LTwork-alike." Its premiere coincided with the debut of a slew of Autodeskproducts, including AutoCAD LT 2010. "We'd like to say we timed ]the release ofDoubleCAD XT] strategically for this week," says Royal Farros, IMSI/Design'sCEO, "but the truth is, it's just an accident."

Fig 1. IMSI/Design's DoubleCAD XT (Pro version shown here) is a2D drafting and drawing program targeting the AutoCAD LTusers.

Accidental orintentional, the simultaneous debut of DoubleCAD XT and AutoCAD LT 2010 set thestage for a contest between two products targeting the same user segment: thosein search of affordable, intuitive 2D drafting and drawing tools.

IMSI/Design hopes those who purchase AutoCAD LT licenses to read, write,and share AutoCAD files would consider DoubleCAD XT as a viable alternative. Inthe development phase, DoubleCAD XT was called A/CAD LT, but Farros revealed heand his colleagues renamed their product to avoid a confrontation with Autodesk,whose products AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are frequently referred to as ACAD andACAD LT.

Highlighting DoubleCAD XT's features, IMSI/Design points out thesoftware contains "productivity tools not found in AutoCAD LT," such as "Specialline, arc, and circle tools ]that] automatically create tangent, parallel, andperpendicular entities without snaps," or "multiline, bezier curves, and fixedratio ellipses."

Fig 2.DoubleCAD XT lets you open and work with SketchUp files. Here, a SketchUp modelfound in Google 3D Warehouse is displayed in DoubleCAD XT's Conceptual view(other display options include Wirefame and Hidden Line modes).

The company also points out DoubleCAD XT's compatibilitywith both Autodesk Architectural Desktop (ADT) and Google SketchUp as anadvantage. AutoCAD LT currently doesn't support Google SketchUp files. Accordingto Autodesk's press office, "SketchUp is primarily used for the purposes ofpresentations using model views with added styles, and is not intended for thepurposes of CAD. We will continue to evaluate SketchUp as part of the AutoCAD LTworkflow."

On the other hand, AutoCAD LT 2010 lets you attach a PDFdrawing and use it as an underlay, with the option to snap key points to the PDFgeometry. This feature is not yet available in DoubleCAD XT.

Whereas many freewareproducts are confined to personal and educational use, IMSI/Design says, "Ourfree DoubleCAD XT can be used for unlimited personal and commercialuse."

DoubleCAD XT Pro is priced $695; AutoCAD LT 2010's manufacturersuggested retail price is $1,200. Both the Free and Pro versions of DoubleCAD XTare available now at the product's home page. AutoCAD LT 2010 will be availablein mid-March, according to Kate Morrical, Autodesk's technical marketing managerfor AutoCAD LT.

Fig 3.As shown in this close up of the menu bar, the upcoming AutoCAD LT 2010 willallow you to use a PDF drawing as an underlay.

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Kenneth Wong writes about technology, its innovative use, and itsimplications. He has written for Computer Graphics World, Cadalyst, GameDeveloper, and Manufacturing Business Technology. You can reach him at [email protected],follow him on Twitter at KennethWongCAD, or send e-mail about this report to [email protected].