DesignCAD 2D (Version 7.0) is a relatively inexpensive computer-aided design (CAD) program that is easy to jump right into and begin to create professional-looking drawings.

Installation:  I had no problems installing the program through the Windows Program Manager (File/Run). The setup program creates a new program group with five associated icons. DesignCAD 2D comes on two 3.5" diskettes, and full installation will take up about 6+ meg of your hard drive.

Documentation:  Extensive! This is one of the more appropriately documented packages I've seen. Included are a Tutorial Manual (241 p.), Reference Manual (538 p.), BasicCAD (i.e., programming language) Reference Manual (90 p.), and Quick Reference Card. Online help is provided through the Windows interface. Both the Tutorial and Reference Manuals are excellent, providing step-by-step instructions both for mouse and keyboard input.

The Product:  DesignCAD 2D is an amazingly powerful CAD program with a relatively low cost. Features are extensive, and are far too numerous to detail here (e.g., there are at least four different ways to draw a circle), but I'll try to touch on the most important features. The Main Toolbox and Snap Toolbox contain buttons for many of the most commonly used commands. There is also a Hot Toolbox that can be customized to include the buttons which you use most frequently.

Objects in your drawings can be moved either individually or in groups, making editing a breeze. Lines can be drawn in several ways, including wide, straight, angled, or ending with an arrowhead (eleven different types!). Altogether there are 13 different line types. Parallel and perpendicular lines are easy to generate. Tangent lines can be drawn to a circle, from a circle, or between circles. There is even a command to find an object's center of gravity. Polygons (with any number of sides) are also easy to draw. Several different types of curves can be generated; and you are able to convert a line to a curve entity, a curve to a line entity, or an entity to its vector form. There are several different commands for cleaning up the drawing (i.e., trim, chamfer, fillet, etc.). A single drawing can have up to 256 layers or subdivisions, which can be separated by changing colors; using layers allows you to display, manipulate, or print only certain layers. Text is very easy to add, and can even be displayed in an arc or an "information balloon". Objects can be rotated, slanted, and zoomed. You can use the Mirror command to "mirror" or make a copy of an object. Dimensions for width, height, and length can be easily added to your drawings, and a grid can be displayed for reference; the radius and diameter of circles and arcs can also be added. It is even possible to combine several drawings into one drawing by using the Merge command. A complete macro facility is built-in to the product. The several sample drawings included with the package illustrate just how elaborate you can get with DesignCAD 2D (especially the jets and house plans!).

An especially nice feature is the inclusion of over 500 symbols which can be used in drawings. If you don't find a symbol you need, you can even create your own. The symbol libraries provided with DesignCAD 2D are Architecture (257 symbols), Cabinet (58 symbols), Electrical (44 symbols), Electronics (53 symbols), HYD (hydraulics - 76 symbols), and Piping (38 symbols). The Architecture library contains several symbols for various scales and others which could be used in landscaping layouts. The Hatch command allows selection from 54 different hatch patterns.

One of the best features is the ease of use. I've played around with other high-cost CAD programs and found them very hard to learn and use; DesignCAD 2D is very easy to use through the familiar Windows interface. A telephone number for technical support is provided (not a 1-800 number).

Bottom Line:  This is a very powerful and relatively inexpensive CAD package. It was rated as a "Best Buy of 1991" by Computer Shopper and obtained an "Editor's Choice" rating from PC Magazine (Oct. 25, 1994). These are substantial accomplishments, and (I might add) well deserved. This is a very powerful product and should satisfy most CAD needs. If you're in the market for a CAD program, I highly recommend this excellent product. American Business Computers also has a 3D version of DesignCAD (and it also looks cool!).

System Tested On:  IBM compatible PC (Gateway 2000) with a 80486-DX2 at 66 Mhz; MS DOS 6.2 & Windows for Workgroups 3.11; 8 Mb of RAM & 420 Mb hard drive; mouse

Minimum System:  Windows 3.0 (running in enhanced mode), 4 Meg RAM, math coprocessor (supported, but not required)

I have seen DesignCAD 2D listed for $175 mail order.

American Business Computers, Inc., One American Way, Pryor, Oklahoma  74361  Phone (918) 825-7555  Fax (918) 825-6359