What's new in 4MCAD25

General 

• Redesigned on the latest ICAD13.0 engine and the new ODA 2024.12 libraries.
• Increased speed even when handling drawings with numerous blocks, external references, and 3D Solids
• Enhanced performance of zoom and pan commands even in very large drawings with a high number of entities
• Reduced memory usage when opening and closing drawings

Enhanced Performance 

• Ability to create and edit advanced blocks using parameters, actions, and visibility states.
• Assignment of layers to AEC entities and management of these layers.
• Ability to create and customize AEC entity styles (e.g., walls, windows, doors, stairs).
• Automatic creation and addition of blocks to the Tool Palette with a simple drag-and-drop from the Windows File Explorer.
• New command for direct conversion of RVT files to IFC.
• New command for automatic adjustment of the Z-coordinate of all entities in a drawing.
• New "Super Hatch" command to fill an area using a selected image, texture, block, or external reference.

Data Import/Export

• Ability to export data from .dgn/.ifc/.rvt/.rfa files, external references, advanced blocks, and AEC entities.
• Creation of filters for exporting data that meets specific conditions.
• Selection of entities for import from IFC files and setting import options.
• Export of the active viewport to a BMP (.bmp) file.
• Ability to load and save print stamp setting files (.pss).

 

4MCAD: Summary of Features

DWG format full compatibility

• Native .dwg file support
• Read/Write to Autocad format 

Interoperability – working with files

• Full support of Autodesk® Revit® files
• Import IFC files (4MCAD PRO)
• PDF to CAD conversion -DWG file (4MCAD PRO)
• Import Revit files (RFA and RVT format files) (4MCAD PRO)
• Import/Export IGES format files (4MCAD PRO)
• Import/Export STEP format files (4MCAD PRO)
• Import/Export ACIS 3D Solids *.sat
• Working with point clouds – attaching point cloud .rcp/.rcs files
• Import 3D Collada *.dae
• 3D PDF  Export
• Export - 2D/3D *.pdf, *.svg, *,dwf, *.bmp, *.emf, *.wmf, *.dwf & *.stl file extensions
• Open/Save - *.dwg, *.dxf, *,dwf, *.dxb & *.dwt file extensions
• Export three-dimensional models to an .obj (Wavefront Technologies) file
• Import map files by connecting to PostgreSQL, MySQL, and WFS servers
• Use the Audit command to check for errors in .ifc files that are attached as underlays
• Export to .pdf files using an improved interface.

BIM entities/objects (4MCAD PRO)

• ADT Objects (architectural desktop objects): Creates ADT walls, openings (windows, doors), curtain walls, stairs, ramps, roofs, rails, studs, joists etc
• Conversion of entities to walls and slabs.
• Steel Elements: creates steelwork elements: profiles, plates, bolts, studs, joists etc.
• Wood Elements: creates woodwork elements.
• Creation of elevation lines and section lines.

3D Solid Modelling (4MCAD PRO)

• Conversion of entities to three-dimensional meshes or surfaces using the Convert to Mesh and Convert to Surface commands.
• Facet Modeler to draw these 3D entity types: box (FMBOX), cone (FMCONE), cylinder (FMCYLINDER), pyramid (FMPYRAMID), sphere (FMSPHERE), and torus (FMTORUS).
• Draw construction lines using the new Construction Line command.
• FM3DCONVERT and FMEXTRUDE commands to convert more types of three-dimensional entities to other types of three-dimensional entities.
• Editing of the 3D entities of the new Facet Modeler: 3D convert (FM3DCONVERT), extrude (FMEXTRUDE), intersect (FMINTERSECT), revolve (FMREVOLVE), subtract (FMSUBTRACT), and union (FMUNION)

Interface

• Tool Palette (acad-like Tool Palette)
• Ribbon menus & menu bar interface, both together at the same time.
• Α number of facilities and auxiliary tools such as Quick CUI command, Right-click a drawing tab to see options for the tab, Cursor Types (regular, gunsightand XOR when overlapping a same color area), “Save Workspace” command for saving a workspace and its settings, “Close All Others” command to close all drawing windows except the current one and many others.
• Home view or use of the rotate arrows using the view cube.
• New Visualized ribbon tab

Blocks and External references

• Insertion of Dynamic blocks
• Convert Block to XRef to convert each occurrence of a selected block to an external reference.
• Find and replace blocks (4MCAD Standard & 4MCAD PRO)
• Block Library with up to 1000 blocks (4MCAD PRO)
• Block Library Manager (4MCAD PRO)
• Insertion of blocks in table cells

Selecting and modifying entities

• Selection Filter command to display the Selection Filter pane (allowing to filter and select entities by layer, color, entity type, and linetype).
• Selection Cycling tab to specify how to select when selecting entities that overlap.
• Overkill command to delete or combine duplicate or overlapping entities.
• View and select a range of actions on the Undo/Redo toolbar
• Thicken command to convert surfaces and meshes into three-dimensional solids with a specified thickness (4MCAD PRO).
• Additional grips and properties to polygons, rectangles and break lines, for smart editing.
• Break at Point command to break an entity into two without removing a portion of the entity.
• 3D Positioner command to move and rotate entities interactively in three-dimensional space.
• Capability to explode remote text (rtext) entities in drawings created in another CAD program.

Viewing

• Advanced Photo-realistic 3D Rendering (4MCAD Standard & 4MCAD PRO)
• Raster Image Support (4MCAD Standard & 4MCAD PRO)
• Graphical Block Preview
• CAMERA command to create and modify view settings for a drawing

Text

• Work with multiline text using right-to-left fonts.
• Create additional types of lists for multiline text.
• Resize text using the Scale Text command.
• Draw a circle, rectangle, or dashed line around text using the Enclose Text with Shape command.
• Position text within a defined space using the Text Fit command.

Print

• Export Layout to Model (.dwg)
• Publish drawings to DWF and DWFx.
• 3D Printing files
• Auto Publish command to automatically create electronic files (.dwf/.pdf) from the current drawing.

APIs

• Microsoft .NET 4.5 API - .NET wrappers for architectural objects.
• Load IRX applications automatically in IntelliCAD via the registry.
• Autodesk® Development System (ADS) support
• Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications - VBA 7.1 (4MCAD PRO)
• LISP support (including DCL)

Enhanced Performance

• High performance when snapping to .pdf files, blocks with many nested entities and point clouds.
• Zoom and Pan, extremely fast for clipped external references.
• Opening external reference files much faster.
• Enhanced performance when selecting by window.
• Incremental saving of .dwg files is supported, providing much faster saving of large .dwg files that contain only a few changes.
• Faster polyline vectorization.
• Quick Select command is faster by 2x in large drawings.
• Faster display of large geographic images.
• Faster cursor response in large drawings with no selection preview.

CAD features 4MCAD Classic 4MCAD Standard 4MCAD PRO AutoCAD Full AutoCAD LT Native .dwg file support  √ √ √ √ √ *.dwg file support for v2.5 up to Latest Version √ √ √ Classic Toolbars and Ribbon GUI support √ √ √ √ √ MicroStation *.dgn native Open file support √ √ √ Open/Save - Supports *.dwg, *.dxf, *,dwf, *.dxb & *.dwt file extensions √ √ √ √ √ Export - Supports 2D/3D *.pdf, *.svg, *,dwf, *.bmp, *.emf, *.wmf, *.dwf & *.stl file extensions √ √ √ √ √ Import - Supports 3D Collada *.dae √ √ √ Import/Export - Supports ACIS 3D Solids *.sat √ √ √ √ STEP & IGES Import/Export √ √ Vectored PDF files Import for direct editing √ √ √ √ √ BIM support *.ifc, *.rvt/*.rfa √ Attach point cloud .rcp/.rcs files. √ √ √ Support for command Line √ √ √ √ √ Support for 3D surface commands √ √ √ √ Facet Modeler for lightweight 3D drawings. √ √ √ √ Support for 3D Solids modeling √ √ Architectural entities such as walls, windows, doors, openings, stairs, railings & slabs, etc. √ Block Library with up to 1000 blocks √ CTB color table files / STB style table files √ √ √ √ √ 3D PDF  Export √ √ √ √ √ 3D Printing files √ √ √ √ Printing, Publishing with eTransmit √ √ √ √ √ LISP support (including DCL) √ √ √ √ √ Autodesk® Development System (ADS) support √ √ √ √ √ Object IRX for custom entity creation √ √ √ √ √ AutoCAD® software menu (.mnu) and script (.scr) files √ √ √ √ √ Object IRX for custom entity creation √ √ √ √ √ Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications - VBA 7.1     √ √ Raster Image Support (See full list of supported image file extensions) √ √ √ Work with Multiple Open Drawing √ √ √ √ √ Explorer for managing layers, block, line types, and more √ √ √ √ √ Express tools √ √ √ √ Tool palettes √ √ √ √ √ Microsoft .NET 4.5 API √ √ √ √ Script Recorder √ √ √ √ Graphical Block Preview √ √ √ √ √ Dynamic blocks √ √ Find and replace blocks √ √ √ √ PDF to DWG Add-on module  (convert PDF files to DWG files) √ √ Advanced Photo-realistic 3D Rendering  √ √ √ Block Library Manager √ Price (Stand alone versions) 125,00 170,00 270,00 subscription subscription

 

4MCAD is available in four versions:

4MCAD Viewer: CAD Viewing & Printing 

4MCAD Classic: 2D/3D CAD Complete Design (lowest price/highest value for the 2D designers)

4MCAD Standard: 4MCAD Classic + Raster Image + Rendering

4MCAD PRO (Professional): 4MCAD Standard + Files (BIM/IFC, STEP, IGES, Revit-RFA/RVT, +PDF2DWG) + ADT Objects (Conventional/Steel/Wood) + 3D Solids + VBA support + Library Manager

 

4MCAD PRO and 4MCAD Standard are also available in HK (hardlock key) and CK (cloud key) licenses.

More specifically here are all the three different types of licenses:

1. Software Key License

• A unique serial number will be provided for Software activation over internet
• License can be transferred to some other computer using "Deactivate" button in Startup Wizzard
• There is no limit on number of License Transfers
• Internet connection needed during activation and deactivation
• One license will work only in computer at a given point of time
• Need to connect user computer to Internet after 30 days offline

2. Cloud Key License

• A unique serial number will be provided for Software use
• License is controlled by 4M Cloud License Server
• One License will work in any one computer over internet at a given point of time
• No need of activation or deactivation
• Install software in any computer, give the Serial Number, and use it
• Once you exit 4MCAD, license will be transferred back to cloud server automatically
• License can be used in any global location
• This method is ideal for changing work locations
• Internet connection is needed always in client computer for License Communication

3. Hardlock Key License

• USB Dongle and a serial number will be sent physically to client
• Install software in any Windows based computer, connect USB dongle, give the Serial Number and use the software
• Dongle can be shifted to any computer and no need to uninstall/reinstall the software
• No need to contact us even if the computer is formatted or crashed
• No need of internet or LAN connection
• If USB dongle is damaged, a new USB dongle can be purchased. But if dongle is lost, client needs to buy new license

 

4MCAD can be used on a wide range of areas 

See below some examples of what you can do with 4MCAD