AutoCAD is a software application for
computer-aided designComputer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
(CAD) and
draftingTechnical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
in both
2D2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
and
3D3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
. It is developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. First released in December 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on
personal computerA personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s, notably the
IBM PCThe IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
. At that time, most other CAD programs ran on
mainframe computerMainframes are powerful computers used primarily by corporate and governmental organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning, and financial transaction processing.The term originally referred to the...
s or
mini-computersA minicomputer is a class of multi-user computers that lies in the middle range of the computing spectrum, in between the largest multi-user systems and the smallest single-user systems...
that were connected to a graphics
computer terminalA computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system...
for each user.
History
AutoCAD derived from a program called Interact, which was written in a proprietary language (SPL) and ran on the Marinchip Systems 9900 computer (Marinchip was owned by Autodesk co-founders
John WalkerJohn Walker is a computer programmer and a co-founder of the computer-aided design software company Autodesk, and a co-author of early versions of AutoCAD, a product Autodesk originally acquired from programmer Michael Riddle...
and Dan Drake.)
When Marinchip Software Partners (later renamed Autodesk) formed, they decided to re-code Interact in
CC is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....
and PL/1 They chose C because it seemed to be the biggest upcoming language. In the end, the PL/1 version was unsuccessful. The C version was, at the time, one of the most complex programs in that language. Autodesk even had to work with the compiler developer (Lattice) to fix certain limitations to get AutoCAD to run. Early releases of AutoCAD used primitive entities—lines, polylines, circles, arcs, and text—to construct more complex objects. Since the mid-1990s, AutoCAD has supported custom objects through its C++
Application Programming InterfaceAn application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
(API). Modern AutoCAD includes a full set of basic
solid modelingSolid modeling is a consistent set of principles for mathematical and computer modeling of three dimensional solids. Solid modeling is distinguished from related areas of Geometric modeling and Computer graphics by its emphasis on physical fidelity...
and 3D tools. With the release of AutoCAD 2007 came improved 3D modeling, which meant better navigation when working in 3D. Moreover, it became easier to edit 3D models. The
mental raymental ray is a production-quality rendering application developed by mental images . mental images was bought in December 2007 by NVIDIA.As the name implies, it supports ray tracing to generate images....
engineIn computer science, a software engine refers to the core of a computer program. Software engines drive the functionality of the program, and are distinct from peripheral aspects of the program, such as look and feel.- Elucidation :...
was included in
renderingRendering is the process of generating an image from a model , by means of computer programs. A scene file contains objects in a strictly defined language or data structure; it would contain geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting, and shading information as a description of the virtual scene...
, it was now possible to do quality renderings. AutoCAD 2010 introduced parametric functionality and mesh modeling.
The latest AutoCAD release is AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD 2012 for Mac. This release marked the 26th major release for the AutoCAD for Windows, and the second consecutive year for AutoCAD for Mac.
Release history
| Official name |
Version |
Release |
Date of release |
Comments |
| AutoCAD Version 1.0 |
1.0 |
1 |
1982, December |
DWG R1.0 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Version 1.2 |
1.2 |
2 |
1983, April |
DWG R1.2 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Version 1.3 |
1.3 |
3 |
1983, August |
DWG R1.3 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Version 1.4 |
1.4 |
4 |
1983, October |
DWG R1.4 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Version 2.0 |
2.0 |
5 |
1984, October |
DWG R2.05 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Version 2.1 |
2.1 |
6 |
1985, May |
DWG R2.1 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Version 2.5 |
2.5 |
7 |
1986, June |
DWG R2.5 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Version 2.6 |
2.6 |
8 |
1987, April |
DWG R2.6 file format introduced. Last version to run without a math co-processor. |
| AutoCAD Release 9 |
9.0 |
9 |
1987, September |
DWG R9 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Release 10 |
10.0 |
10 |
1988, October |
DWG R10 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Release 11 |
11.0 |
11 |
1990, October |
DWG R11 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD Release 12 |
12.0 |
12 |
1992, June |
DWG R11/R12 file format introduced. Last release for Apple Macintosh till 2010. |
| AutoCAD Release 13 |
13.0 |
13 |
1994, November |
DWG R13 file format introduced. Last release for Unix, MS-DOSMS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
and Windows 3.11. |
| AutoCAD Release 14 |
14.0 |
14 |
1997, February |
DWG R14 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD 2000 |
15.0 |
15 |
1999, March |
DWG 2000 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD 2000i |
15.1 |
16 |
2000, July |
|
| AutoCAD 2002 |
15.6 |
17 |
2001, June |
|
| AutoCAD 2004 |
16.0 |
18 |
2003, March |
DWG 2004 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD 2005 |
16.1 |
19 |
2004, March |
|
| AutoCAD 2006 |
16.2 |
20 |
2005, March |
|
| AutoCAD 2007 |
17.0 |
21 |
2006, March |
DWG 2007 file format introduced. |
| AutoCAD 2008 |
17.1 |
22 |
2007, March |
Annotative Objects introduced. First release for the x86-64x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other...
versions of Windows XP and Vista. |
| AutoCAD 2009 |
17.2 |
23 |
2008, March |
Revisions to the user interface including the option of a Microsoft Office 2007-like tabbed ribbon. |
| AutoCAD 2010 |
18.0 |
24 |
2009, March 24 |
DWG 2010 file format introduced. Parametrics introduced. Mesh 3D solid modeling introduced. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 are compatible with and supported under Microsoft Windows 7. |
| AutoCAD 2011 |
18.1 |
25 |
2010, March 25 |
Surface Modeling, Surface Analysis and Object Transparency introduced. October 15, 2010 AutoCAD 2011 for Mac was released. |
| AutoCAD 2012 |
18.2 |
26 |
2011, March 22 |
Associative Array, Model Documentation. August 19, 2011 AutoCAD 2012 for Mac was released. |
File formats
AutoCAD's native file format,
.dwgDWG is a binary file format used for storing two and three dimensional design data and metadata. It is the native format for several CAD packages including AutoCAD, IntelliCAD and Caddie. In addition, DWG is supported non-natively by many other CAD applications...
, and to a lesser extent, its interchange file format, DXF, have become
de factoDe facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
standards for CAD data
interoperabilityInteroperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
. AutoCAD in recent years has included support for DWF, a format developed and promoted by Autodesk for publishing CAD data. In 2006, Autodesk estimated the number of active DWG files at in excess of one billion.
In the past, Autodesk has estimated the total number of existing DWG files as more than three billion.
Languages
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are available for
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
,
GermanGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
,
FrenchFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
,
ItalianItalian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
,
SpanishSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
,
Japaneseis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
,
KoreanKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional,
RussianRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
,
CzechCzech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
,
PolishPolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
,
HungarianHungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
,
Brazilian PortugueseBrazilian Portuguese is a group of Portuguese dialects written and spoken by most of the 190 million inhabitants of Brazil and by a few million Brazilian emigrants, mainly in the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal, Canada, Japan and Paraguay....
,
DanishDanish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
,
DutchDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
,
SwedishSwedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
,
FinnishFinnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
,
NorwegianNorwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
, and
VietnameseVietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of 86% of Vietnam's population, and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by many ethnic minorities of Vietnam...
. The extent of localization varies from full translation of the product to documentation only. The AutoCAD command set is localized as a part of the software localization.
Extensions
AutoCAD supports a number of APIs for customization and automation. These include
AutoLISPAutoLISP is a dialect of Lisp programming language built specifically for use with the full version of AutoCAD and its derivatives, which include AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD Mechanical...
, Visual LISP,
VBAVisual Basic for Applications is an implementation of Microsoft's event-driven programming language Visual Basic 6 and its associated integrated development environment , which are built into most Microsoft Office applications...
, .NET and
ObjectARXObjectARX is an API for customizing and extending AutoCAD. The ObjectARX SDK is published by Autodesk and freely available under license from Autodesk. The ObjectARX SDK consists primarily of C++ headers and libraries that can be used to build Windows DLLs that can be loaded into the AutoCAD...
. ObjectARX is a
C++C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
class library, which was also the base for products extending AutoCAD functionality to specific fields, to create products such as AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Civil 3D, or third-party AutoCAD-based applications.
Vertical integration
Autodesk has also developed a few vertical programs, for discipline-specific enhancements.
AutoCAD ArchitectureAutoCAD Architecture is a version of Autodesk's flagship product, AutoCAD, with tools and functions specially suited to architectural work....
(formerly Architectural Desktop), for example, permits architectural designers to draw 3D objects such as walls, doors and windows, with more intelligent data associated with them, rather than simple objects such as lines and circles. The data can be programmed to represent specific architectural products sold in the construction industry, or extracted into a data file for pricing, materials estimation, and other values related to the objects represented. Additional tools generate standard 2D drawings, such as elevations and sections, from a 3D architectural model. Similarly, Civil Design, Civil Design 3D, and Civil Design Professional support data-specific objects, facilitating easy standard civil engineering calculations and representations.
The following are examples of industry-specific CAD applications built on the AutoCAD platform: AutoCAD Electrical is designed specifically to aid in the creation of electrical controls, AutoCAD Civil 3D is designed to aid civil engineers in the creation of land, transportation, and water systems, AutoCAD Map 3D is designed to aid in the planning and mapping of model infrastructures, AutoCAD Mechanical is designed for mechanical engineers to design parts ranging in all kinds of fields but mainly automotive, AutoCAD MEP is designed to aid in the drawing of plumbing systems, AutoCAD P&ID is designed specifically for creating piping and instrumentation design, AutoCAD Plan 3D is designed to aid users in drawing process plants, AutoCAD Raster Design is designed to allow users to "clean up, edit, and enhance" scanned images, AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite contains AutoCAD and AutoCAD Architecture to create one sign program, AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite is designed to add the drawing of building systems, AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite is designed to allow manufactions to take their drawings from the design stage to the fabrication stage, AutoCAD Structural Detailing is designed specifically for creating steel and concrete reinforcement drawings, AutoCAD Utility Design is designed mainly for electrical drawings involving the creation of both above and underground distribution networks.
AutoCAD LT
AutoCAD LT is the lower cost version of AutoCAD, albeit, with reduced capabilities, first released in November 1993. AutoCAD LT, priced at $495, became the first product in the company's history priced below $1000 to bear the AutoCAD name. In addition to being sold directly by Autodesk, it can also be purchased at computer stores, unlike the full version of AutoCAD, which must be purchased from official Autodesk dealers. Autodesk developed AutoCAD LT to have an entry-level CAD package to compete in the lower price level.
As of the 2011 release the AutoCAD LT MSRP has risen to $1200. While there are hundreds of small differences between the full AutoCAD package and AutoCAD LT, currently there are a few recognized major differences in the software's features:
- 3D Capabilities: AutoCAD LT lacks the ability to create, visualize and render 3D models as well as 3D printing.
- Network Licensing: AutoCAD LT cannot be used on multiple machines over a network.
- Customization: AutoCAD LT does not support customization with LISP, ARX, and VBA.
- Management and automation capabilities with Sheet Set Manager and Action Recorder.
- CAD standards management tools.
AutoCAD WS
In 2010, Autodesk released their first AutoCAD mobile application AutoCAD WS. The mobile app allows registered users to “view, edit, and share” their work wherever they go. The app can be downloaded for free from the
App StoreThe App Store is a digital application distribution platform for iOS developed and maintained by Apple Inc.The service allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with the iOS SDK or Mac SDK and published through Apple Inc.. Depending on the...
for
iOSiOS is an operating system for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.IOS may also refer to:-Companies and organisations:* Illinois Ornithological Society, American state-based bird club...
users or from the
Amazon AppstoreThe Amazon Appstore is a mobile application store for the Google Android operating system and was opened on March 22, 2011. It was launched with around 3,800 applications both free or paid. Developers are paid either 70% of the sale price or 20% of the developer's list price, whichever one is...
for Android users. A registered license is required to use the mobile app. Both the android and iOS versions allow users to save files online and offline when no internet connection is available. Autodesk also announced future plans to store the majority of their software to the cloud (
cloud computingCloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
) starting with the AutoCAD WS mobile app.
Autodesk officially released their
iOSiOS is an operating system for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.IOS may also refer to:-Companies and organisations:* Illinois Ornithological Society, American state-based bird club...
mobile app in September of 2010. This was the start of their mobile application marketing campaign. Since then the release has grown from just the
iPhoneThe iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
to the
iPod TouchThe iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
,
iPadThe iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
, Android phones, and Android tablets. The AutoCAD WS app has several of the desktop AutoCAD features, but is limited in other areas. The app provides the ability to draw lines, circles, and other various shapes. Text and comment boxes are supported features. Colors, Layers, and measurement are also included features found in the mobile app. The latest version, version 1.3, was released on August 17, 2011 and added the following features: unit typing, layer visibility, area measurement, and file management. Both landscape and portrait modes are supported while using the app.
Autodesk announced that they would release their Android mobile app on April 20, 2011. The app is very similar to the iOS app with basically all the same features and abilities. The Android AutoCAD WS mobile app has some unique features not found in the
iOSiOS is an operating system for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.IOS may also refer to:-Companies and organisations:* Illinois Ornithological Society, American state-based bird club...
version. The Android App allows users to insert text or captions by voice commands instead of forcing them to manually input the text into the drawings. This feature is not currently supported on the iOS mobile device.
AutoCAD Freestyle
Built on the AutoCAD platform, AutoCAD Freestyle is a simplified, low-cost (US$149) application that makes it easy to create accurate, professional-looking 2D drawings and sketches. This software has been discontinued by Autodesk.
Student versions
AutoCAD is licensed at a significant discount over commercial retail pricing to qualifying students and teachers, with a 36-month license available. The student version of AutoCAD is functionally identical to the full commercial version, with one exception: DWG files created or edited by a student version have an internal bit-flag set (the "educational flag"). When such a DWG file is printed by any version of AutoCAD (commercial or student), the output includes a plot stamp / banner on all four sides. Objects created in the Student Version cannot be used for commercial use. Student Version objects "infect" a commercial version DWG file if imported.
The Autodesk Education Community provides registered students and faculty with free access to different Autodesk applications.
Microsoft Windows
While the latest release of AutoCAD did not come with a major overhaul, the 2012 version did receive minor improvements. Several small changes were made to improve the 3D capabilities, and some new features were added to enhance the productivity of the program. These changes and features included: increased canvas control, associated arrays, improved 3D model manipulation, and other less noticeable additions. After the release of AutoCAD 2011 for Mac, the Windows version lacked several features found in the Mac version. Several of the Mac version canvas controls have now been added to the 2012 release. To accomplish the goal for better 3D model manipulation, Autodesk did away with the old saved history method and introduced a new plug-in that will automatically be installed, Autodesk Inventor Fusion. This plug-in allows users to directly open and edit 3D models without having to save and export their work manually. When the user is finished editing the plug-in automatically opens the updated version back in AutoCAD. Autodesk also replaced the older array feature with new associated arrays features. This now allows users to duplicate things using three different commands: polar arrays, rectangular arrays, and placing objects along a predetermined path. The new redesigned array feature will also work with both 2D and 3D objects. Autodesk has also chosen to allow users to purchase companion applications directly within the AutoCAD 2012 program. The newest release of AutoCAD also came with new system requirements and recommendations in order to run AutoCAD 2012.
Mac OS
Autodesk stopped supporting Apple's computers in 1994. Over the next several years, no compatible versions for macintosh computers were released. In the fall of 2010 though, Autodesk announced that they would once again support Apple's Mac OS X software in their future version of AutoCAD. Most of the same features found in the 2012 Windows version can also be found in the 2012 Mac version as well. The main difference is the user interface and layout of the program. The interface is designed so that users who are already familiar with Apple's OS X software will find it similar to other Apple applications. Autodesk has also built in various features in order to take full advantage of Apple's trackpad capabilities as well as the fullscreen mode in Apple's OS X Lion. AutoCAD 2012 for Mac supports both the editing and saving of files in DWG formatting that will allow the file to be compatible with other platforms besides the OS X. AutoCAD 2012 currently supports Mac OS 10.6.4 upwards.
AutoCAD LT 2012 is now available through the
Mac App StoreThe Mac App Store is a digital distribution platform for Mac OS X applications developed by Apple Inc.. The platform was announced on October 20, 2010 at Apple's "Back to the Mac" event. Apple began accepting app submissions from registered developers on November 3, 2010 in preparation for its launch...
for $899.99. The full featured version of AutoCAD 2012 for Mac, however, is not currently available through the Mac App Store due to the price limit of $999 set by Apple. AutoCAD 2012 for Mac can currently be purchased only from Autodesk's website for $3995.
See also
- 3ds Max
- AutoCAD Architecture
AutoCAD Architecture is a version of Autodesk's flagship product, AutoCAD, with tools and functions specially suited to architectural work....
- Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...
- Autodesk Maya
- Autodesk Revit
- AutoSketch
AutoSketch is a 2D vector drawing program by Autodesk. It is less powerful than Autodesk's AutoCAD and does not support 3D models.AutoSketch uses SKD and SKF, in later versions, as its native format, but can support DWG and DXF...
- Comparison of CAD editors for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC)
- Design Web Format
Design Web Format is a secure file format developed by Autodesk for the efficient distribution and communication of rich design data to anyone who needs to view, review, or print design files...
- MicroStation
MicroStation is a CAD software product for 2- and 3-dimensional design and drafting, developed and sold by Bentley Systems. The latest versions of the software are released solely for Microsoft Windows operating systems, but historically MicroStation was available for Macintosh platforms and a...
External links