VectorWorks

Vectorworks is a computer-aided design

Computer-aided design

Computer-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 Building Information Modeling

Building Information Modeling

Building information modeling is the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle.BIM involves representing a design as objects – vague and undefined, generic or product-specific, solid shapes or void-space oriented , that carry their geometry, relations and attributes...

 (BIM) software program developed by Nemetschek

Nemetschek

The Nemetschek group is world leading vendor of software for architects, engineers and the construction industry. The company develops and distributes solutions for designing, building and managing buildings and real estate as well as multimedia. According to Nemetschek, the company with all of...

 Vectorworks that is used for drafting, technical drawing and 3D modeling. Vectorworks offers 2D, 3D, production management, and presentation capabilities for all phases of the design process.

History

Vectorworks was previously known as MiniCAD. It was originally developed on Mac OS

Mac OS

Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...

. It was developed by Diehl Graphsoft, now Nemetschek Vectorworks. Alongside MiniCAD, Diehl Graphsoft also released a 2D CAD program for the Mac targeted toward architects called Blueprint.

The version numbers went up to 12 and are numbered from 2008 and on by the year (i.e. currently 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011).

The data files used the MCD extension (from MiniCAD) until version 12. VectorWorks 2008 and onwards use the VWX extension.

Release history

Version	Platforms	Release Year	Key Features
MiniCad 1	Mac	1985	3D editor, hidden-surface rendering, 27 geometric primitives, perspective views, bitmap render editing environment
MiniCad 2	Mac	1986	2D editor, 15 layers, PICT support, unlimited zoom, multi-page support, text input with Mac fonts, bitmap objects, 8 dash styles, symbol library, dimensions
MiniCad 3	Mac	1987	multi-document editing, text rotation, pen and fill patterns, snap and display grid, free object rotation, double-line tool, clip/add/intersect surfaces, fillets, movable origin, layer colors, trim menu command
MiniCad 4	Mac	1988	fly-out tools, text editing at any zoom, double-line polygons, double-line joins, new arc creation modes, general speed increase
MiniCad+ 1	Mac	1988	array duplication, MiniPascal, integrated spreadsheet, symbol folders, spline tool, integrated 2D/3D editing environment, Worksheet, 256 color support
MiniCad+ 2	Mac	1989	DXF translation, EPS export, fully rotatable text, vector hatching, click-click drawing mode, constraint palette, mirror tool, floating tool palettes, combine into surface
MiniCad+ 3	Mac	1991	2D smart cursor, records and formats, data palette, database rows in new worksheet palette, query language for MiniPascal and worksheet, new dimensioning tools
MiniCad+ 4	Mac	1993	wall object, floor and roof objects, walkthrough tool, flyover tool, 3D smart cursor, tolerance dimensioning, user dash styles, section generation, hybrid object environment, mode bar, message bar
MiniCAD 5	Mac	1994	chamfer tool, user definable scales and units, smarter cursor, polyline object, enter group editing mode, unlimited layers and classes
MiniCAD 6	Mac/Windows	1996	object info palette, holes in polygons, export EPSF, ClarisCAD translator, working plane palette, 3D reshape tool, 3D locus object, wireframe and solid editing modes, SDK and plug-in environment, workspace editor, PowerPC-native support
MiniCAD 7	Mac/Windows	1997	lights, sun position feature, dashed hidden-line rendering, associative hatching, auto-join walls, wall framer, math support in numeric entry boxes, dual unit dimensioning, column object, rotatable grid, export DWG, 3DMF export
MiniCAD VectorWorks 8	Mac/Windows	1999	multiple undo/redo, round wall object, wall styles, complete roof object, context-sensitive menus, tools tips and balloon help, reverse translation, QuickDraw 3D rendering support
VectorWorks 8.5	Mac/Windows	1999	introduction of VectorWork Architect, door and window schedules, enhanced wall styles, door and window objects, point plug-in objects, OpenGL rendering (Windows only)
VectorWorks 9	Mac/Windows	2001	introduction of complete Industry Series and RenderWorks, floating-point database, associative dimensions, parametric constraints, callout object, NURBS curves, extrude along path, connect/combine tool, path plug-in objects, tapered extrude
VectorWorks 9.5	Mac/Windows	2002	OS X-native support, 3D Power Pack (non-manifold solids engine, NURBS surface creation, blend edges, shell solid, stitch and trim surfaces, IGES import/export)
VectorWorks 10	Mac/Windows	2002	batch file translation, zoom mouse-wheel support, resource browser, gradient fills, image fills, STL export, faster solids engine, space planning tools, connected walls, seating layout object, export DOE-2
VectorWorks 10.5	Mac/Windows	2003	raster printing, protrusion tool, revolve with rail, perimeter texture mapping for NURBS
VectorWorks 11	Mac/Windows	2004	Viewports, context-sensitive help, SAT file translation, 2D OpenGL acceleration, Sheet layers, roof framer, Artistic RenderWorks rendering, multi-processor support, hardscape object, stipple object
VectorWorks 11.5	Mac/Windows	2004	default lighting, improved freehand tool, recently used fonts list, vector sketch ( no support planned for OS X 10.5 )
VectorWorks 12	Mac/Windows	2005	Section Viewports, 3DS import, worksheet formatting improvements, DTM object, more flexible tool palettes, Organization dialog, view palette, improved door/window/stair/cabinet objects, .SHP file support, class overrides in viewports
VectorWorks 12.5	Mac/Windows	2006	Intel Mac support (Universal Binary), Perspective section viewports, Google Earth export, PDF import, HDRI image support, mesh smoothing
VectorWorks 2008	Mac/Windows	2007	Heads-Up Data Display, Rotate-able 2D Views, Intel Mac support (Universal Binary), Design Layer viewports, 2-Way Worksheets, IFC import/export, GSA-compatible Space Objects, Google Earth export, PDF import, AutoCad(r) and SketchUp6 support, HDRI image support, mesh smoothing
Vectorworks 2009	Mac/Windows	2008	Integration of Parasolid modeling kernel, Pre-Selection Highlighting, Improved Snapping, Snap Loupe, PDF Snapping Support, Visibility tool, 3D modeling improvements, Parasolid X_T import/export, DXF/DWG 2009 support
Vectorworks 2010	Mac/Windows	2009	Making Change Easy. Implementation of easy to use 3D environment, unified views, planar graphics,  interactive dimensioning, automatic drawing coordination, wall sculpting, corner windows,  DXF/DWG 2010 support, SketchUp 7 support, Decal Texturing, Event Planning Suite, and many usability improvements.
Vectorworks 2011	Mac/Windows	2010	Vectorworks 2011 Delivers. Improved 3D Environment, Push/Pull Tool, Extract Planar Objects, New Slab tool, 3D Wall Components, Cinema4D Rendering Engine, New Existing Tree Tool, Improved Focus Point Support, Perfect Preview Text Editing, Scalable Symbols

External links

• Home Page for Vectorworks
• Cadalyst has a review of VectorWorks 2008