The IntelliCAD Software History...

Many people equate CAD software directly to AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. A large share of the general public is still totally unaware that there are many other CAD programs, even many other *types* of CAD, as well as different CAD file formats and standards. Even fewer are aware that software exists which brings AutoCAD level functionality to the public at a much more reasonable price level.

The first commercial CAD systems required specialized hardware and extensive administrative overhead to keep in operation. In 1982, a team of 15 released the first successful stand-alone CAD that worked on commodity PC hardware. It was based on a previous work by Mike Riddle called MicroCAD, and was originally planned to assist with "desktop automation" tasks. This new concept was called AutoCAD.

AutoCAD introduced other concepts to the general public: the first open CAD exchange format specification. This Data eXchange Format, or DXF, soon became a defacto 2D CAD standard, supported by virtually all platforms. This move ironically helped assure AutoCAD's place as a market leader. The DXF specification was kept basic, only allowing translation of geometry necessary to communicate with downstream applications. Ownership of AutoCAD was still required to read the binary DWG data which stored the complete drawing, including copious attributes and data.

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD (progeCAD)progeCAD Professional

In the 90's VISIO Corporation (now owned by Microsoft) set forth to provide a practice alternative to the overly-priced AutoCAD. This software would provide a similar methodology and interface, support AutoCAD scripts which are written in a version of LISP, and, most importantly, reliably read and write AutoCAD DWG files as it's native file format. The software was called IntelliCAD.

When Microsoft purchased VISIO, it declined to enter into the DWG drafting software market. Instead, the IntelliCAD code base was to be further developed by a member consortium called the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium, or ITC. ITC members are permitted to use the developed code base in their own commercial end-user products, including DWG converters and viewers.

progeSOFT is based on beautiful Lake Como, Italy. They are an executive member of the ITC and offer the most reliable AutoCAD alternative on the market today. This product was once called "progeSOFT IntelliCAD", but is now simply referred to as progeCAD. progeCAD DWG CAD offers an affordable package of additional features and support, including DWG block manager, PDF read write, DWF, O2C and ECW support, eTransmit, full rendering and ACIS 3D mechanical modelling. They offer stand-alone, IntelliCAD network and USB license and registration options, as well as competitive upgrades from other CAD software.

Several progecad components are not supported in this standard version:

- VBA for applications, extension and integration
- ACIS® extended 3D libraries and solids modeling
- 3rd party value added features such as Express-Tools pack
- Complete ALE library of 10,000 drafting blocks (limited version included)
- PDF Import and Export
- Raster to Vector Conversion
- Most progeSOFT extensions such as Find and Replace
- eTrack and eSnap from
- JPG 2000 and ECW (Enhanced Compression Wavelet) support
- More advanced REFEDIT (in-place Block editing)
- Raster File manipulation and other advanced functions

Free tutorials for progeCAD IntelliCAD are provided at the producer website.