Cadalyst-Mobile-CAD-Software-Roundup

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CADALYST LABS REPORT Navigator Mobile v4.00.01 (iOS) Mobile CAD viewer Overall Grade: A- Pros: Robust object property reporting; virtual walkthrough of building projects. Cons: No markup or comment function; available for iOS only. Price: Free Bentley Systems 800.236.8539 www.bentley.com AEC professionals who visit jobsites may find that Bentley Navigator Mobile is just what they have been looking for. Navigator Mobile is more than a simple mobile CAD viewer — it’s a powerful viewing and field information tool. Navigator Mobile is available for iOS devices only; users can download it from the Apple App Store. It is most commonly used in conjunction with ProjectWise technology for project collaboration, and plugs directly into workflows that ensure secure viewing, authoring, searching, and the delivery of feedback from the reviewer to the other project stakeholders. Those users who take iPads to the jobsite can carry a wealth of information that supplants the plan sets of yesterday. With just a few taps, users can pull up their project models or PDF files to access details, cost estimates, or other text-based information. Object data is by far the most robust that we have seen in a mobile solution, and could easily challenge many desktop applications. Accessing, changing, or creating model views is intuitive. Navigating the 3D presentation is easy, and navigation is quick Navigator Mobile’s object property window rivals some desktop applications. to respond to standard multitouch input. With Navigator Mobile’s unique walkthrough tool, users can manipulate two virtual on-screen “joysticks” to visually tour a project while it’s still under construction. While Navigator Mobile doesn’t support DWG or DGN files, it utilizes i-models, which can include content from any common AEC design application. Users publish i-models using free plugins available at www.Bentley.com/iWare or any Bentley product, or access them through ProjectWise Explorer Mobile or Field Supervisor. CadFaster Collaborate v2.0.3 (iOS) Mobile CAD viewer/collaboration tool Overall Grade: B Pros: Unique model viewer and collaboration tool; real-time screen-sharing experience. Cons: Requires expensive desktop application plugin; no industry-standard file support; available for iOS only. Price: Free, plus cost of required desktop plugin. CadFaster +358 40 168 3398 www.cadfaster.com CadFaster Collaborate is a mobile CAD viewer meant for the 3D AEC and MCAD markets, but it really shines as a mobile collaboration tool. Users can view and comment on building information modeling (BIM) models while on the go, plus they can comment and conduct live screen-sharing markup sessions, all without needing any CAD software on their PC or iPad. CadFaster accomplishes this by using a plugin for desktop CAD applications that exports either an EXEformat or iPad-compatible file. Therein lies the downside of CadFaster. First, the plugin software license for the desktop CAD application is rather expensive. While the CadFaster mobile application is free, the plugin licenses cost between $189 and $389 for a one-year subscription. In addition to the cost, the workflow of sharing models via EXE files raises concerns because many IT departments treat EXE files as a threat, stripping them from e-mails and refusing domain users the admin rights needed to execute them. Although the real-time collaboration options are very impressive, the concerns of cost and potential corporate security policy violations mean this CAD viewer and collaboration tool is not for everyone. CadFaster is available as a free download from the Apple App Store for the iOS mobile operating system. The plugins needed to publish the CadFaster models are available CadFaster’s file directory interface makes it easy to find your current drawing. CadFaster offers excellent real-time collaboration options, such as the object visibility options shown here. for Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks, Autodesk Revit, Bentley SELECTseries, and Nemetschek Vectorworks. Versions are available for the Windows and Mac platforms; all can be purchased from the CadFaster site. Users who find that CadFaster fits both their budget and their IT department’s security requirements will find a truly interactive mobile CAD viewer experience. The application is intuitive and quick to respond, with fast, smooth zooms and model rotation. Unique to CadFaster is the ability to share screens between iPads and even desktop workstations, with the collaboration session hosted by any participant. Also useful is the real-time commenting ability that attaches annotation to the drawing for sharing with others across the CadFaster cloud servers. Editor’s note: The company states that MyCadbox 2.0 will be released soon and will replace CadFaster Collaborate. It also reports that this new version addresses many of the concerns stated here. 6 www.cadalyst.com cadalyst Special Report Summer 2014
CADALYST LABS REPORT cadTouch v5.0.0 (Android) Mobile CAD editor Overall Grade: A- Pros: Wide range of tools; DWG, block, and raster image support. Cons: File support limited to DWG/DXF; 3D mode is beta; no camera access from app. Price: Free cadTouch Software www.cadtouch.com CadTouch is a free mobile CAD editor with plenty to offer the experienced CAD user. It’s available for the Android and iOS operating systems; I looked at the Android version. Rather than a typical mobile user interface that places as few controls on the screen as possible, this application opens with control ribbons on three sides that contain all of the tools needed for drawing, editing, and properties information. The expandable menus offer more refined tools, and helpful tool tags identify each one when it is touched. Viewing drawings is very intuitive, with common multitouch interface mechanisms. Linework is crisp and quickly responds to The cadTouch tool palettes, with flyout menus for drawing view manipulation in both 2D tools, are easy to use. and 3D modes. Note that while 3D mode is quick and responsive, it is currently in beta. While linework creation and editing will be easy for experienced CAD users, novices will require a longer learning curve. The application installs with a library of more than 20 blocks. The free version supports the industry-standard DWG and DXF formats, plus PDF and JPG. Images are easily imported to drawings from the mobile device’s gallery, although the app lacks direct access to the device’s camera. Sharing files is limited to e-mail attachments or a workstation connection. Easy-to-use drawing tools include polylines, hatches, and freehand sketching. Layers and linetype control are easily accessed from the Properties bar, as is object property information. Inquiry tools include angle, length, and area. All of the standard editing tools, such as move, copy, offset, and many others, are included and are easy to use. New drawings can be created in the free version of cadTouch, but export is not possible. No account is required for the free version, so no online storage is included with the application. CadTouch Pro ($19.99) looks and functions the same as the free version; export functions, however, are unlocked. Users can share files via connection to a workstation, with iTunes for instance, or via e-mail. Exported file support includes DWG, DXF, PDF, and PNG. The free version of cadTouch comes with more than 20 blocks in its library. TurboViewer v1.5.0 (Android) Mobile CAD viewer Overall Grade: B- Pros: Opens native DWG/DXF files; easily customized views and viewstyles. Cons: Counter-intuitive controls; 3D rotation somewhat difficult to manage. Price: Free IMSI/Design 800.833.8082 www.imsidesign.com TurboViewer from IMSI/Design is a fast, easy-to-use, and very capable mobile CAD viewer. No account creation is necessary to use the application, as it works with locally stored drawing files; this makes it a prime performer in situations where data connections are not available. The iOS version of this app provides markup functions, but the version of TurboViewer for Android reviewed here does not. (The company states that an update for the Android version, scheduled for release by the end of August 2014, will include editing and markup functions.) The application was quick to respond and easy to configure to change visual styles for both 2D and 3D drawings. All of this combines to make TurboViewer a good choice for the mobile user who needs CAD viewing functionality. TurboViewer’s control layout is very spartan, displaying only four buttons once a file is open. Traditional view controls would have been much preferred to TurboViewer’s current user interface. TurboViewer enables users to view a variety of filetypes, and it includes native support of DWG/DXF files. Files may be opened from within other applications, such as e-mail. TurboViewer’s interface is fully developed and well laid out, making the change to mobile very comfortable for desktop users. There’s no online storage included with the free version. TurboViewer Pro ($19.99) adds viewing tools such as x-ray with transparency range, edge color range, custom perspective view, and materials. It also includes tools for layer management and layout support. Pro users also receive free telephone and e-mail support from IMSI/Design. The Pro version supports DWG/DWF/ DGN files, plus more than 20 CAD file formats. The TurboViewer CAD viewer in 2D display mode. TurboViewer in 3D display mode. Special Report Summer 2014 cadalyst www.cadalyst.com 7
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