ARES Commander Changelog

What's new in ARES Commander 2025 Build 25.0.1.1245 SP 0

May 2, 2024

Blocks and Data extraction:
Linear associative pattern is missing after save the changes in EDITCOMPONENT.
Geometry draw or modification:
Dimension arrows disappears after use FLATTEN command.
Improvement to retain the Vertical and Horizonal axis values in PATTERN dialog.
OFFSET command doesn't work in ARES Standard for some entity type.
The intersection point on the entity that intersects with the polar guide cannot be recognized.
Unable to modify the remaining trimmed part of Ray/Infiniteline in the EDITCOMPONENT environment.
Graphic System:
ESnap is not recognized on specific conditions with 3D Solids in block.
Improvements to display 3D Solid after EDITCOMPONENT.

New in ARES Commander 2025 Build 25.0.1.1225 SP 0 (Apr 2, 2024)

Main enhancements:
Take over editing session - In the realm of daily collaborative work, it's quite common and often desirable to have multiple users accessing the same drawing within a cloud environment. Providing a mechanism for requesting permission to edit a file when another user already has editing rights can greatly enhance user productivity and simplify their work processes.
Notification palette - We've introduced the new 'Notifications' palette to facilitate workflows such as requesting permission to edit from other users. This palette serves as the central hub for managing these messages, ensuring that users are promptly informed about any relevant requests.
Support MacOS 14.0 (Sonoma) - ARES 2024 SP3 is officially supporting MacOS 14.0 (Sonoma).
Open and Save:
Open and Save: Improved the OPEN command to reduce the time it takes to open drawing files in a specific customer's environment. [DESKTOP-244932]
Save as now works correctly for drawings containing blocks with Annotative scaling factor. [DESKTOP-235090]
Print, export and sheets:
Fixed display mode issue: 3D geometry no longer changes display mode after "Save as PDF" on MacOS. [DESKTOP-240106]
Reduced delay when switching between Sheets and Model in drawing. [DESKTOP-257904]
MacOS printing stability: Fixed a crash issue when printing 3D solids with "Rendered" shade. [DESKTOP-264983]
Fix the issue where PACKANDGO fails to include referenced files. [DESKTOP-275074]
Optimized dialog size: Printer properties dialog on MacOS is now appropriately sized for better visibility. [DESKTOP-275918]
Ensure correct printout when selecting roll size paper in the Canon TA-5300 printer. [DESKTOP-243897]
Optimize the PDF file size generated by ARES Commander 2024 to match that of ARES Commander 2023. [DESKTOP-259218]
Correct the problem of unchanged Custom Paper size settings when using the KIP7170K plotter. [DESKTOP-253941]
Viewport activation stability: Fixed a crash issue when trying to activate a viewport with the Ctrl + R shortcut. [DESKTOP-251953]
Resolved the issue on MacOS: "Publish to PDF/DWF" for a sheet set no longer opens an instance of ARES and gets stuck. [DESKTOP-260345]
Address the issue of printing some lines in white on the sheet. [DESKTOP-254432]
Ensured that the paper sizes list in EXPORTPDF is in the same order as PRINT to built-in PDF. [DESKTOP-241657]
Addressed an issue where the position of the OLE was offset during printing. [DESKTOP-238464]
Resolved an issue where selecting sub-options like 3D wireframe from the ribbon in SHADEVIEW ran _SHADEVIEW when the model space is active in the Viewport. [DESKTOP-88999]
"Model" tab is no longer shown as active and view navigator is absent when opening a drawing saved in sheet area. [DESKTOP-260362]
Resolved a crash issue when editing page setup using Sheet Set Manager. [DESKTOP-264234]
Geometry draw or modification:
Addressed a crash issue when manipulating entities in a specific drawing using MIRROR/SCALE. [DESKTOP-258489]
Correct the incorrect behavior of "TANgent" and "NEArest" ESnaps. [DESKTOP-74938]
Prevent ARES from crashing when moving the cursor around the contour line in a specific drawing file. [DESKTOP-273368]
HATCH now correctly ignores the dimensional constraint "Dynamic." [DESKTOP-256340]
Ensure that "ESnap" remains toggled ON in the status bar after creating gradient/hatch in FILLAREA (Gradient)/Hatch. [DESKTOP-226429]
Resolved an issue where copying a block with constraints would result in an error. [DESKTOP-230539]
Implemented on-demand loading for XtraTools, enhancing resource efficiency. [DESKTOP-268589]
Ensure that entities are created in the Etrack direction and at the correct distance. [DESKTOP-268471]
Internal region of attribute inside boundary is now correctly rendered in HATCH with "Background Color." [DESKTOP-227007]
Improved grip tracking for stretching solids. [DESKTOP-242369]
Enhanced selection highlight: Improved visibility of selection when hovering over "Note" entity with a background mask in POWERTRIM. [DESKTOP-253134]
Fix the issue of E-Track points not tracking properly and displaying extra points. [DESKTOP-252009]
Fixed MacOS issue: Cursor no longer jumps to the command line when Esnap Tooltip is active and putting a value in QInput. [DESKTOP-206322]
Fixed orientation changes when editing rotated texts in some specific conditions. [DESKTOP-259107]
FILLET command "Two entities are non-coplanar" message appears when trying to fillet straight splines intersecting any entities. [DESKTOP-110663]
Correct the display of the incorrect number of elements in the Properties palette for PATTERN (Array). [DESKTOP-267344]
Ensure that FLATTEN command keeps all visible Ray or Infinite lines when confirming to keep hidden lines. [DESKTOP-239597]
Resolve the issue where the clockwise function fails when Associative is unchecked on the Pattern dialog. [DESKTOP-98121]
Fix the problem of changing spacing between elements in the Array (Pattern) dialog box. [DESKTOP-123203]
Resolve the error occurring during the execution of an alias for defining a variable alias. [DESKTOP-44917]
Prevent from crashing when moving entities in some specific drawings. [DESKTOP-265722]
ESnap no longer toggles OFF after execution of the command -HATCH. [DESKTOP-239127]
Enable matching the background color of the hatch to other hatch entities in the HATCH command. [DESKTOP-81537]
Resolved a crash occurring when clicking on the "Preview" button after specifying "Viewport" as an entity in Pattern/Array. [DESKTOP-254863]
Improve the snapping function's performance when snapping with a polygon in the CLIPREFERENCE - Invert command. [DESKTOP-111688]
ALIGNVIEWPORTVIEWS command works as expected. [DESKTOP-229478]
Blocks and Data extraction:
Ensure that changing visibility also updates item names in dynamic blocks. [DESKTOP-255880]
Restore the functionality of the "Alignment" grip in dynamic blocks. [DESKTOP-106640]
Ensure correct unit display for block table properties. [DESKTOP-228317]
Correct the display issue of blocks when changing visibility states. [DESKTOP-228315]
The dimension now remains consistent inside the block during insertion, even in a rotated UCS. [DESKTOP-256999]
Addressed a crash issue when PASTEASBLOCK clipboard content into a new drawing. [DESKTOP-264511]
Prevent dynamic blocks from becoming disoriented/broken after conversion to custom blocks. [DESKTOP-88068]
Optimized performance: Selecting grips of specific custom blocks is now more efficient. [DESKTOP-234474]
Enable the setting of text underline in ATTIPEDIT. [DESKTOP-234253]
Fix the issue of the rotation angle multiplying by the scale factor during custom block scaling. [DESKTOP-252938]
Resolved the error when executing the added block tool in Tool Palettes > Dynamic Block. [DESKTOP-234218]
Annotations:
Address the issue of increased linear dimensions size when turning on all Esnaps. [DESKTOP-261862]
Improve the display of Unicode symbols in ARES. [DESKTOP-253961]
Resolve the issue of incorrect values for some cells with decimal number imported by DATALINK command. [DESKTOP-262408]
Enhance Data Link to support the "Cell range" option. [DESKTOP-258186]
Improved arrow relocation in Multileader after removing the first leader for a smoother user experience. [DESKTOP-240892]
Enhanced SMARTLEADER: Position no longer shifts when center justification is selected. [DESKTOP-245129]
Addressed a crash issue during the insertion of "Field" in a specific drawing. [DESKTOP-255967]
Ensure the visibility of cell content after copying tables. [DESKTOP-251487]
Enhance the Properties palette to adjust the text frame setting. [DESKTOP-117215]
Enhanced highlighting: Found results from reference drawings are now correctly highlighted in place during the FIND command. [DESKTOP-259971]
Resolved a crash issue when using SPLITDIMENSION along with Ray/Xline on an angular dimension. [DESKTOP-253894]
Graphic System:
Zoom stability improvement: Resolved a crash issue occurring when zooming after attaching a particular DWG. [DESKTOP-265459]
Resolve the problem of an unknown 3D solid entity appearing in a specific layer. [DESKTOP-262785]
Addressed a crash issue when trying to render a 3D solid in an attached drawing on MacOS. [DESKTOP-259464]
Correct the display issue with incorrect Line (LineType). [DESKTOP-265653]
Fix the issue where points, except for transparency 0, are not displayed. [DESKTOP-259214]
Smooth navigation: Cursor no longer gets stuck during Zoom In/Out for improved performance. [DESKTOP-257223]
Fix the issue of the image disappearing when zooming in with ARES Commander and Undet Point cloud plugin. [DESKTOP-269265]
User Interface:
Fixed a crash issue when changing the language via the command window [DESKTOP-255969]
All letters are now correctly typed in QInput prompt with the SHIFT key combination under commands like LAYER or BIMSECTION. [DESKTOP-276065]
Prevent the disappearance of toolbars, except for Standard, when changing the workspace. [DESKTOP-252418]
"Model" tab is now correctly shown when opening a drawing saved in a sheet. [DESKTOP-263158]
Fixed an issue where the custom name of a flyout tool was not removable in Tool Palettes. [DESKTOP-233699]
Fixed *MacOS* and *Linux* issue: Options on the ribbon panel are now correctly displayed without being "active/grayed" out. [DESKTOP-267126]
Fixed MIRROR command issue: QINPUT prompt no longer goes missing, and focus remains in the command line on MacOS. [DESKTOP-95752]
Enhance the alias search functionality in ARES. [DESKTOP-119575]
Ensure the migration of icon images with Japanese names from AutoCAD. [DESKTOP-228113]
Addressed an issue where users were unable to open the Help for VIEWNAVIGATOR. [DESKTOP-256656]
Resolved an issue where the "One or more constraints cannot be resolved" message appeared when inserting a block from the tool palette. [DESKTOP-230204]
NOTE / SIMPLENOTE command no longer terminates when calling help with the F1 key, preventing loss of changes. [DESKTOP-259548]
Enhanced navigation: Added a Back button in VERIFYSTANDARDS dialog box for easier user navigation. [DESKTOP-257605]
Fixed a crash issue in the Options dialog search widget when using the Korean language. [DESKTOP-267552]
Ensure accurate display of LineColor in the Properties palette after restarting ARES. [DESKTOP-110785]
Enhanced options: Added the ability to select multiple layers to ignore for standard violation in VERIFYSTANDARDS. [DESKTOP-257621]
User-friendly resizing: VERIFYSTANDARDS dialog can now be resized for better usability. [DESKTOP-257598]
Alphabetical order fix: Layer names are now correctly sorted in VERIFYSTANDARDS command. [DESKTOP-257596]
BIM Features:
Addressed a crash issue when opening a BIM Drawing from the recent list after mapping materials of circular walls. [DESKTOP-264114]
Improved consistency in the layout (Line Weight) when creating sections in BIM Drawing. [DESKTOP-263425]
Drawing tabs no longer flash in the middle of GA upon closing any drawing tab in BIM. [DESKTOP-253314]
Addressed a crash occurring during the execution of the BIMAUTOALL command when comparing BIM Drawings. [DESKTOP-244950]
Enhanced stability: Application no longer gets stuck when using BIMAUTOALL in a sheet. [DESKTOP-265149]
Enhanced import stability: Addressed a crash issue during the import of a particular RFA file in BIM Navigator. [DESKTOP-239157]
No more error echo in commands when BIMSECTION cutting plane is not normal to Walls. [DESKTOP-260897]
Graphical area now updates properly even when discarding a BIM Navigator filter saving process. [DESKTOP-246313]
Resolved Print operation issues in BIM Drawing Automation: Callouts no longer disappear, and fields in the title block are not broken in the PDF file. [DESKTOP-261403]
Addressed an issue where some elements were not properly measured after executing BIM-Dimension in Automation. [DESKTOP-253064]
BIMSECTION is now correctly linked by name to a model, preventing incorrect output for identical names. [DESKTOP-257531]
BIM Drawing is now completely visible after being placed on a sheet. [DESKTOP-264611]
Ensured consistent tile numbering in BIMSPLITDRAWING across Windows and MacOS. [DESKTOP-263991]
The "Place on sheet" button in BIM Navigator is now active when a tile is selected in BIMSPLITDRAWING. [DESKTOP-264498]
Resolved a crash issue when using the BIM Material Mapper to map materials. [DESKTOP-262243]
Viewport boundaries are now hidden by default, preventing accidental deletion of viewports from sheets in BIM. [DESKTOP-262486]
Enhanced material mapping operation: The "Material Mapping" operation in BIM Automation now includes in the refresh. [DESKTOP-234870]
Fixed the issue of an invalid 3-way join in RVT Wall Join for accurate drawings. [DESKTOP-256533]
Cloud and Commenting:
Improved Cloud Storage Upload: Progress state now accurately reflects availability, even when storage is full. [DESKTOP-257227]
Folders now correctly reappear upon clicking in the "Ares Commander" cloud. [DESKTOP-260269]
Deleting text from Title no longer removes text from the description, maintaining user mentions. [DESKTOP-262488]
API and Customization:
Ensure the correct display of dialogs in a specific environment. [DESKTOP-261025]
Address the error preventing the loading of .dcl files with the LISP load_dialog function. [DESKTOP-255133]
Address the initget function error related to ortho mode. [DESKTOP-264146]
Fix the Lisp error occurring when creating arc with a small radius. [DESKTOP-260366]
Correct the description of the icon location when loading .cuix files. [DESKTOP-125208]
Restored functionality: Clicking on a button on the panel preview in CUSTOMIZE now performs the intended action. [DESKTOP-264499]
Include an installer parameter to hide the Migration Assistance dialog and execute migration. [DESKTOP-267792]
Adding a new Ribbon Panel no longer breaks the "Parameters Manager" button in customization. [DESKTOP-183097]
Fixed read-only issue on Linux: *Tool palettes* CUSTOMIZETP > config can now be modified after palette Export > Import back. [DESKTOP-237870]
Provide an installation option to uncheck "Use system proxy server configuration." [DESKTOP-265344]
Include line styles migration in the Migration Assistance process. [DESKTOP-265721]
Ensure migration of the Fonts folder during the installation process. [DESKTOP-266020]
Migration process: Line styles in INCH.LIN and MM.LIN files now migrate from the old version. [DESKTOP-267817]
Correct the presence of Lisp files in the Add-in list when not migrated to the Support folder of the new version. [DESKTOP-266024]
Copy all UI files to the new UI folder during Migration Assistance execution. [DESKTOP-111802]
Ensure migration of the RichLine Styles folder during the installation process. [DESKTOP-266021]
External References:
Prevent crashes when clicking the OK button on the Attach Reference PDF Underlay dialog. [DESKTOP-279300]
Resolved a crash issue when changing the path of a DGN file in ATTACHDGN. [DESKTOP-232063]
Improved identification: GEOTIFF now recognized as such in ATTACHIMAGE command. [DESKTOP-257924]

New in ARES Commander 2024 Build 24.2.1.3136 SP 2 (Oct 5, 2023)

New in ARES Commander 2024 Build 24.1.1.2113 SP 1 (Jun 19, 2023)

Main enhancements:
Drawing order command enhancements.
Add support to display Menu Bar and Ribbon.
DIMSPACE Command.
Ability to insert multiple XRefs at once.
Revit 2023 file format support for BIM Features.
Open and Save:
SMARTNEW command takes the wrong template after changing the application language.
Drawing Recovery Manager was not allowing open autosave files.
Fixed issue to open shape files that display a warning message about color not matching.
Startup time improvements with AMD Graphics Adapter.
Command alias wasn't copied by Migration Assistance.
Print, export and sheets:
Improvements to honor the viewport limits on printing.
Fixed issues with displaying or printing preview text with a specific font.
Some specific hatches were not printed with the "Adobe PDF" printer.
Incorrect behavior of the spinning wheel when printing multiple sheets, it shows progress for each sheet instead of progress for the printing process.
On Linux, "Custom paper size" is no longer displayed correctly (it contains artifacts)
BATCHPRINT command was not generating output for some page layout settings.
"Print to file" option not enabled even after selecting the Printer Name.
Specific pattern entities are not displayed on sheets.
To activate a viewport was taking a long time for some specific drawings.
The EXPORTSHEET command missed some geometries in output when the viewport was created from the region.
Geometry draw or modification:
The display of hatch patterns was incorrect.
Improvements to display hatches on some specific files.
MAKEFLATSNAPSHOT command was hanging when solid entities in large coordinates.
Hatch is getting failed with closed boundaries as well in the attached drawing(closed boundary combinations with arcs)
Closed spline entity appears as not closed (Open boundary detected) at a specific zoom level.
The command BREAKLINE fixed to support modified CCS..
Fixed the application hang when rotate or move hatch "AR-SAND" in some specific file.
Error when trimming "RichLine".
All lines are not loaded when load the Richline style
Cannot cancel "Analyzing boundaries...", Application hangs
XtraTools command was not included on undo list.
Right-click menu option is not automatically popup at Qinput prompt
Undo fails to revert CONVERTSIMPLENOTES/FITTEXT/NUMBERTEXT/ EDITTEXTORIENTATION execution
"Hatch spacing too dense, or dash size too small" appears when annotative text is within a boundary.
Parallel lines can't be created with a specified length,
EDITHATCH command was deleting the hatch when use "Highlight boundary entities" after another operation.
Hatch pattern is not finding Attribute Block / Block as a Text in the "Normal" mode in the internal region.
The MOVE command was allowed to move dimensional constraints independent of associated entities.
Unable to create a hatch in multiple "Open" contours in one go using "Specify points".
Importing a PDF some hatch has "Shattered" appearance.
Application was hanging when selecting entities for Hatch command.
Hatch is not created on blocks with multiple closed areas.
Copy and paste improvements for blocks.
Blocks and Data extraction:
Highlighting behaviour changes after quitting Block Editor without saving
On Tool Palettes properties of the tool are not retained when executing the last tool via ENTER/SPACEBAR key.
The Block was not rendered correctly after editing and when inserted.
"Error" message when inserting the "Custom/dynamic block" tool in GA in the attached drawing.
Annotations:
Linear Dimension value is overridden even when the user types the value.
SimpleNote wasn't mirrored correctly.
Text in "SimpleNote" / "Note" disappears when performing the Zoom In command.
Multileader arrow angle and text position was improved.
When notes are put into a note editor, Hindi or other Indian language texts are incorrect and numerous strings are lost.
Unit of cell data lost after editing without any warning.
When the user selects the "Landing Line First" option in the multileader command, the landing point is continuously going down.
Multileader text and landing line reverted after editing in attached drawing.
Text spacing was wrong in the 2024 version and doesn't regard the changes correctly.
When the user clicks on the graphical area or clicks the "Create Note" button the changes on table cell formula are not accepted.
Graphic System:
Geometries disappear in the viewport when zoom in / zoom out.
Entities disappear when run PAN command outside the graphical area boundary on sheet space.
Decrease memory consumption related to Graphical System improvements.
Zoom in or out performance improvements after selecting some entities.
Preview (tracker) was not generated for the 2nd instance and next
Performance improvements in specific scenarios.
User Interface:
Unable to run commands after run commands to get distance, angle and area.
Some button labels were cropped with scale more than 100% on Retina Monitor.
Add a message to notify the user if the drawing is not valid on the Recovery command.
"Select All" button on the FIND Command dialog wasn't working.
The FIND Command search list wasn't saving the last expression searched.
"View Tiles" toolbar scale control was not updated when migrating settings from previous versions.
Useless RGB colors added to colors list for a hatch pattern tool.
On the Customize dialog, Interface tab, Quick access toolbar, "Show command explorer" & RMB context menu no longer work.
Alias pgp file wasn't imported in the correct way.
Load cuix files by adding more commands than what defined on the file.
Wrong Workspace name when new one is saved.
BIM Features:
BIM Models were not visually correct in different shademodes (many BIM Elements are no longer visible in Shademode = 2D).
Conversion did not consistently work when importing multiple BIM Files, sometimes stopping and crashing as well on pressing ESC key.
Cursor sticks with Mirror grip after clicking over it (Stretch command gets executed).
On the BIM Navigator, Drawings Category remains active after removing the BIM file
In white background model some BIM elements weren't visible correctly.
Incorrect display of windows for BIMSECTION > "Plan" command
The cut graphics properties associated with BIM Section entities are not properly applied.
Cloud and Commenting:
Unable to see permission dialog for files shared by other users as view-only.
After saving the drawing to cloud storage and opening it on another device with the same user, the editing session is not switched to view-only mode on the first Device.
API and Customization:
Function strlen returns wrong string length for unicode strings.
Initget function wasn't working if control bits parameter provided after keywords.
DCL dialogs support Dark UI style.
External References:
Images clipped were considered hidden parts when performing cross selection.
Slow performance when opening drawing having external reference.
"One or more externally referenced documents could not be loaded." message on opening drawing with XRef and referenced file layer is frozen.
Application stability improvements:On this release many areas was improved to avoid unexpected behaviors that lead on close the application, below a summary:
Commands: Trim, Find, Batchprint, Powertrim, Loft
UI: toolbar close
Cloud Storage / Commenting
BIM
XRef on cloud
Tool Palettes
Dimension style
SheetSet Manager
Datalink
GS / Previews: Select entity

New in ARES Commander 2023.1 Build 22.1.1.2087 SP 1 (Jul 26, 2022)

New in ARES Commander 2023.0 Build 22.0.1.2073 Beta (Jun 7, 2022)

Open and Save:
Improvements to open files with specific Architectural entities.
The RECOVER command was improved to make possible display entities in a specific drawing.
Fixed crash when closing all documents.
Print, export and sheets:
The BATCHPRINT received improvements to print specific files, fixed the issues that shitfed to left print output, don't print transparencies when set on page layout selected.
Fixed the issue on Sheet Set Manager where the stamp wasn't printed on the "Publish" function.
Viewports created on other dwg editors are displayed on the wrong scale.
Geometry draw or modification:
New command MEASUREGEOMETRY available.
When Move or Copy entities unwanted circles are displayed.
Application hangs using Shift Key to unselect entities on TRIM command.
Command ALIGN doesn't provide the right result in some scenarios.
Application closes when the hatch command starts with a mouse over a XLine.
Entities with constraints crash the application on command ARRAY.
Blocks and Data extraction:
The -INSERT command was always replacing the block when used in a LISP expression.
It was not possible to extract attributes from blocks with multileader.
Field text does not follow the height defined in active text style.
Annotations:
Application crash on modify "Overall Scale" on Multileaders.
Cell Table height increases when editing cells with date type.
Extra decimals displayed in the cell that sum values from other cells.
The cell format is changed when copy/paste the table in another drawing.
Graphics System:
Closed polylines with global width do not display correct join.
Drawing parts wasn't correctly displayed in the shade move.
The spline entities were incorrectly displayed with LINEWEIGHT turn-on.
Some entities disappear according to the zoom and pan.
User Interface:
In some cases the input box is not near the current mouse position.
The workspace names weren't translated on save workspace dialog.
Window selection with shift key is not working.
BIM Features:
This release supports import Rooms created on Revit models.
The Import process was improved to increase performance and support IFC and Revit that had some problems to be imported on previous releases, the same improvements are valid for the "Reload" function.
Refresh functions were fixed to preserve filters and current view on BIM Drawings, other wrong behavior fixed on after refresh was displayed again some dimension chains deleted.
BIM Drawings was improved to display walls with round shape and for now on should only allow unique names.
The issue with editing the "Properties" tab on Dimension Style when accessed via the "Edit Dimension Style" button was fixed.
Cloud and Commenting:
If the application crashes with a file opened from cloud storage the next time file is opened as read-only.
API and Customization:
LISP Function tblobjname fixed.
Plug-In inherited from IExtensionApplication display message unresolved assemblies.
Help improvements:
Fixed Japanese translations for some topics (i.e. filletedges, editsolid, loft).
Shortcut Ctrl+4 for SSM is not present on "Keyboard Shortcuts".
The topic about "Additional format" from Fields was improved to reflect the current UI.
Application stability improvements:
On this release many areas was improved to avoid unexpected behaviors that lead on close the application, below a summary:
Match Properties
Mass Properties (ACIS)
DataLink
BIM features: to import models or create 2D drawings
Cloud Storage and Commenting
Print out and Print preview
Viewport with Annotation scales
General issues on Graphics Area as rendering, cursor handling or caching
UI: Dimension Style and Color boxes

New in ARES Commander 2023.0 Build 22.0.1.1119 Beta (Apr 5, 2022)

Enhancements:
Contextual Ribbon Tabs - The ARES Commander user interface is now enhanced with contextual ribbons that are displayed when you select specific entities in the graphics area, or when you use certain commands for creating new entities.
ARES Commander offers contextual tabs for the following operations:
Creating and editing hatches
Editing table cells
Editing PDF and DGN underlay
Editing images and external references
Editing annotation entities, dimensions, leaders, multileader, and tolerance symbols.
Data Link Manager - Lets you link a table created within a drawing to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or a CSV file.
DataLink - Displays the Data Link Manager dialog box.
UpdateDataLink - Updates data from an established external data link.
Cycling Selection - Lets you selectively specify entities that are close to or on top of other entities.
View Navigator - The View Navigator is a two ring widget displayed by default in the top-right corner of the graphics area. The View Navigator lets you switch between standard and isometric views of your model with a single click.
ViewNavigator - Turns the View Navigator on and off and controls where it displays.
Drawing Sheet Sets
PackAndGo - From the Sheet Set Manager palette, you can create a package from an entire drawing sheet set or subset, or from a single drawing sheet.
Drawing Sheet List Table - A drawing sheet list table displays as hyperlinks the titles of all drawing sheets from the drawing sheet set. You can create a table of contents inside the drawing listing all subset sheets.
Publish PDF, DWF and DWFx - To improve the ways Sheet Set Manager can export the drawings was to introduce the support to DWF and DWFx, that are format files highly compressed if compared to DWG files and easy to transmit on the internet. And the well known PDF format can be used to export Sheet Set drawings, making it a neutral format easy to share with users that don’t have access to a DWG editor.
Split Multiple Entities - Split command enhancements. The Multiple option lets you select multiple entities and break them at their intersection points with cutting lines. No gaps are created and the split segments remain on the drawing.
New command AlignX - Aligns a set of specified entities according to the first selected one.
Annotation Monitor - As the project evolves, changes may cause the loss of the associativity between Dimensions and their related entities. The Annotation Monitor lets you identify dimensions that have lost their associativity with related entities.
Smart Calculator Palette - The Smart Calculator now displays in a side palette, allowing you to perform calculations and edit the drawing at the same time.
Dark-Style dialogs boxes - All dialog boxes support the dark-style interface.
Open and Save file dialog boxes - Let you navigate through your local drives and your Cloud Storage accounts.
Unified Sharing and Permissions Dialog - The look and feel of the Permissions dialog box have been updated; the changes include new button alignments and resizing.
New system variables:
ANNOMONITOR. Turns on and off the Annotation Monitor.
SELECTIONCYCLING. Controls the display of the cycling selection stack icon and the list for selecting overlapping entities.
DISPLAYVCUBE2D. Controls the View Navigator's display when the 2D Wireframe ShadeView mode is used.
DISPLAYVCUBE3D. Controls the View Navigator's display when the a 3D ShadeView mode is used.
NAVVCUBEDISPLAY. Controls the View Navigator tool display in the graphics area according to the current Shade View mode.
NAVVCUBELOCATION. Specifies the corner in which the View Navigator displays in the graphics area.
NAVVCUBEOPACITY. Specifies the level of opacity for the View Navigator when inactive.
PROPOBJLIMIT. Limits the number of entities that can be changed at one time with the Properties palette.
BIM Features
BIMSection: Each drawing created from the same BIM model is stored in a separate .dwg file. Drawings and labels display rooms and spaces properties that are already defined in the BIM model (for example, the name or the area).
PackAndGo: You can create a package from an all files related to a BIM project.
Unify Materials: When adjacent entities, such as two walls, have the same material, the hatch representing the material is displayed as one entity.
Multi-Component Walls (IFC only): Now, the Material Mapper provides support for multi-component walls. Whenever the BIM object is a multi-component wall, it will be represented with its different layers and you can assign a different style for each material (for example, the insulation with one specific hatch, and the bricks with another).
Rooms and spaces: Rooms and spaces are an important part of detailed plans. Now, drawings and labels display rooms and spaces properties that are already defined in the BIM model (for example, the name or the area).
Revit 2022 File Format Support: With support for the Revit 2022 file format, ARES Commander 2023 enables users to create BIM drawings from the latest RVT files.

New in ARES Commander 2022.1 Build 21.3.1.4329 SP3 (Mar 29, 2022)

New in ARES Commander 2022.1 Build 21.2.1.3103 SP2 (Aug 19, 2021)

New Enhancements:
CLOUD STORAGE: The palette received some small changes on layout to improve usability (DESKTOP-103573).
EXPLODETEXT: The command was added on Xtratools "Classic" menu (DESKTOP-104694).
PASTE: Add option to paste at source position on mouse right-click (DESKTOP-94242).
TABLET: New option to enable or disable Tablet support (DESKTOP-105659).
Fixes:
ANNOTATION SCALE: ARES crash when add or remove annotation scale (DESKTOP-121361).
ATTACHDGN: Crash attaching DGN file (DESKTOP-107324).
BIMDIMENSIONSTYLE: Crash on executing command after rename the dimension style and change style via properties (DESKTOP-109390).
BLOCK: Lines inside block do not display correct line type (DESKTOP-115766).
CECOLOR: Some colors are considered invalid (DESKTOP-114779).
CLOUD STORAGE: DXF files stored on cloud can't be saved back. (DESKTOP-106854).
CLOUD STORAGE: Fixed "Share Options" button is not enabled (DESKTOP-111188).
CLOUD STORAGE: Fixed crash when try save a file open from cloud storage and the file was removed by the user (DESKTOP-99041).
CLOUD STORAGE: Fixed the user can't logout after saving the file (DESKTOP-107392).
COMMENTS: No notification from comments in Kudo to Commander on a newly created drawing (DESKTOP-115370).
CONTINUEDIMENSION: Dimension text is incorrect on CCS changed (DESKTOP-43220).
CUSTOM BLOCK: Some entities disappear when saving a custom block (DESKTOP-99716).
CUSTOM BLOCK: Using EGrips on custom block edit mode makes the hatch unassociated (DESKTOP-106362).
CUSTOMIZE: The dialog size is not automatically updated when clicking on "Show ribbon explorer" (DESKTOP-106797).
DIMENSION: Angular dimension text is rotated 180 degrees when moved (DESKTOP-90460).
DIMENSION: Edit dimension style makes dimension invisible (DESKTOP-106422).
DYNAMIC BLOCKS: Entities incorrectly change the position when a block is modified. (DESKTOP-110223).
ESNAP: Wrong esnap selection using Tab key and QuickInput is turn-off (DESKTOP-108592).
GROUP: Copy not selectable groups create extra groups (DESKTOP-45115).
HATCH: "Origin point" in the hatch grip wasn't working (DESKTOP-56563).
HATCH: Boundary entity is not displayed after use trim command (DESKTOP-81935).
HATCH: Don't display AR-SAND and AR-CONC hatch patterns in specific situations (DESKTOP-104442).
HATCH: Hatch pattern origin setting a different origin point does not impact the result. (DESKTOP-107674).
HATCH: Move entities leave the hatch distorted in specific situations (DESKTOP-104901).
LISP: nentsel function fixed to wait user input if there is pre-selection (DESKTOP-52296).
MLEADER: It's not displayed on other CAD applications when the scale is not 1 (DESKTOP-59226).
NCOPY: Fixed crash when trying to copy from reference drawing (DESKTOP-107954).
NCOPY: The command created geometry on drawing even when canceled (DESKTOP-113140).
PALETTE: Improve update time when resizing palette width (DESKTOP-111016).
PALETTE: Improved to keep the width when changing from float to dock (DESKTOP-111194).
PRINT: Missing geometry on output printing with system printer (DESKTOP-112151).
PRINT: Stretched output for some geometry in viewports (DESKTOP-112152).
QUICK INPUT: Fixed behavior where entities not following mouse direction if CCS is changed. (DESKTOP-95598).
RECOVERY: Fixed incorrect message when open parallel session on first session (DESKTOP-77860).
SCRIPTS: Print command output can't be saved on drawing location (DESKTOP-95937).
SPLINE: Fixed incorrect highlighted entity after join using splinedit command (DESKTOP-110148).
SPLINE: Fixed the continuity broken at closed fit point (DESKTOP-100084).
STARTUP: ARES Commander running on Linux Mint distro is unable to launch when connected to the internet (DESKTOP-113167).
STARTUP: Crash on start with dual monitor connect in Linux OS (DESKTOP-91879).
TEXT: Some annotative simplenote entities move when the file is reopened (DESKTOP-94431).
TEXT: TrueType Fonts display improvements for jagged texts (DESKTOP-52888).
TEXT: Wrong position for texts with middle alignment after move command (DESKTOP-117382).
TRIM: Improved performance to trim hatches (DESKTOP-110918).
TRIM: Polyline converted into spline ignores cutting edges in Trim command (DESKTOP-47017).
USER INTERFACE: Fixed behavior the try display the dialogs and other dialogs on monitor unplugged (DESKTOP-110682).
ZOOM: Improved performance on specific cases (DESKTOP-98500).

New in ARES Commander 2022.1 Build 21.1.1.2204 (Aug 6, 2021)

New in ARES Commander 2020 (Feb 10, 2021)

Drawing Compare:
Compare two versions of a drawing to display the differences with colors
The new Drawing Compare palette allows you to compare the current drawing with another one.
E.g.: Understand modifications made by a colleague, compare two options for the same project, show before and after… etc.
Data Extraction:
Extract information from entities or blocks to a table or a CSV file
The Data Extraction wizard enables you to quickly create a bill of materials or to extract other types of information from your drawings.
Select entities and filter only the data you want to extract. You can further insert it as a table in the drawing or generate a file that can be imported in a spreadsheet.
Custom Blocks Improvements:
Equivalent to the dynamic blocks in other CAD software, you can use the custom blocks to create smarter entities, which size and look will adapt parametrically with additional grips. You may also include a dropdown menu to switch between different types and options for the same block.
Convert dynamic blocks into custom blocks:
You can use dynamic blocks created with AutoCAD as they are. They will keep their intelligence and parameters in ARES Commander. But now you may alternatively use the CBCONVERT command to convert them into custom blocks which definition can be further modified with ARES Commander
Test mode in the Block Editor:
The Block Editor includes now a “Test Block” feature (Command CBTESTBLOCK) to try your custom block definition without exiting the Block Editor.
Distance multiplier and angle offset:
Previously you could already define a value as an increment to eventually limit how an entity would vary in size and avoid, for example, configurations that cannot exist or be produced.
Now, the distance multiplier lets you alternatively specify a factor by which a distance value of the custom block is increased or decreased (for example, double the size after each increment).
The angle offset works the same but with angles. You may, for example, define that entities could only rotate with angle increments of 60°.
Define multiple base points:
Traditional blocks have only one base point. Now custom blocks enable you to define more base points to choose from during insertion. By pressing the Ctrl key you could cycle between them which significantly helps to position and align the block without any further actions.
Grip Editing of Hatches and Gradients:
Manipulate the contour of your hatch or gradient hatch like if it was a Polyline
Select any hatch entity and you will see grips that will help you to manipulate directly the shape. Hovering over a grip point displays also a contextual menu with editing options.
Associative Patterns:
Array copies of the same entity along multiple lines and columns and modify the pattern as you wish
Patterns allow you to replicate an entity following a linear or circular organization or along a path. These patterns are now associative. You can now edit them using grips or by a double-click on the associative pattern.
Lasso Selection:
New selection method to save time!
Use the lasso selection method to specify entities within an irregularly formed contour specified by dragging the cursor.
PCX Print Configuration Files:
Equivalent to the PC3 format in other CAD software
Import PC3 files or create and save new printer configuration files in PCX format. It makes it easy to reuse and share with colleagues the same configuration for successive printings.
Work Faster in 3D:
New OFFSETEDGES and CONVERTEDGES commands
These new commands help you to extract 2D entities from the edges of 3D solids or surfaces.
This is in particular useful to extract construction entities you will use as a reference to create other 3D shapes combining with boolean operations or Push/pull actions.
Customize Your Workspaces:
New CAD General workspace:
The CAD General workspace offers an alternative ribbon to the default “Drafting & Annotation” workspace of ARES Commander. Icons are reorganized to facilitate the switch from AutoCAD or other similar CAD software.
Easily create and save your workspaces:
Reorganize the user interface of ARES Commander as you wish and save your configuration as a new workspace.
Maps for ARES Commander:
Free maps service for ARES Commander subscribers
Search for any address and get street maps and satellite images to insert in the background of your drawings.
This professional map service is developed in collaboration with Esri, the world leader for GIS solutions. Maps are geo-referenced and offer different levels of details depending on the zoom factor.
You can draw on top of these base maps or use the enquiry tools to collect the coordinates of a specific point, the area of a specific selection or the distance between two points.
This plugin relies on web-based service and is free but only if your ARES subscription is valid.
New Markup Features:
The new markup features let you share comments and feedback with a new type of annotation features. Unlike other annotation tools such as text or dimensions, markups do not insert any entity in the drawing, they are like a collaboration layer on top of the drawing. Markups can be created from ARES Commander, ARES Touch, and ARES Kudo. They are synchronized in real-time across all the ARES users and their devices. For that reason, it is a service operated in the cloud. To use markups it is therefore required to use ARES Commander’s Cloud storage palette to save the drawing in Cloud storage.
Get started with markups:
First, you need to use the Cloud Storage palette to enable live synchronization of your drawing
The Cloud storage palette is the blue tab you find on the right inside ARES Commander. The first time you use this palette you will need to connect a Cloud Storage such as Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, Onshape or Trimble Connect.
Next, you can use “Save to Cloud” from the File menu or the command
SAVETOCLOUDSTORAGE to share a drawing with your Cloud Storage.
With the Cloud Storage palette, your drawings will follow you on any device, on ARES Commander, ARES Touch or ARES Kudo. With this palette, you can browse the Cloud Storage to find a drawing and open it for editing in ARES Commander. You keep the comfort to work locally and any modification you save in ARES Commander is synchronized. The drawing is therefore always up-to-date on any device and for each user. Simultaneously, comments and markups will also be live updated.
Comments and Markups:
Both Comments and Markup features are found in the Commenting palette of ARES Commander:
You can show or hide the Commenting palette by doing a right-click in the ribbon area and choosing it in the list.
Comments and Markups are showing up in the same palette. Comments allow you to enter the text that you may link to a selection of entities. In turn, Markups enable you to interact in the discussion about the drawing with other types of annotations.
Use predefined and custom stamps:
Stamps can be used, for example, to indicate if your drawing (or a portion of it) is confidential, draft, approved, rejected, validated… etc.
You can also create your own stamps with custom texts including, for instance, the date of the validation and by whom.
Annotate drawings with pictures:
Frequently an image would tell more about a situation than a large paragraph of text. This is even more true when you are on-site and you are commenting from your smartphone or tablet with ARES Touch.
With Markups, you can insert the images inside the discussion thread of the Commenting palette instead of inside of the drawing. Your Picture Markup can also be linked to a selection of entities and you can include multiple images in the same markup.
New BIM Features:
The version 2020 represents the first step of Graebert’s revolutionary roadmap to build the best-in-class CAD platform to document BIM projects
Building Information Modeling (BIM) software has been around for more than twenty years already. There is a strong interest in BIM because it represents a smarter way to collaborate around construction projects.
Nevertheless, statistics show that less than 20% of the users have transitioned to BIM. Why? The amount and complexity of technical information are increasing with the deployment of 3D, BIM and simulation. Drawings help to organize this information with a higher level of detail, which is in particular needed for execution, operations, maintenance, or legal purposes.
Another major reason is that the files shared with customers represent a liability. Highly detailed 2D drawings are much easier to assess and validate than 3D BIM files in which information is hidden in properties.
This explains why, even the organizations that are massively using BIM, keep employing 3 to 10 times more CAD users working on drawings.
The key problem, however, is that the quality of the 2D output from BIM software is reputedly very poor. There is a broken workflow between BIM and CAD users resulting in a terrible waste of time and resources. More generally, the value of BIM would significantly increase if the BIM data could also be shared, in an efficient way, with the other professionals involved in the project. This is why Graebert is focusing its efforts around drawings and data extraction.
BIM Navigator:
Import IFC and RVT files and filter out only the BIM information you need:
The BIM Navigator palette enables you to import and view one or multiple BIM files in ARES Commander. Supported formats include IFC (versions 2X3, 4 and 4×2), as well as RVT (Revit versions 2011 through 2020). You can further use the filters to show/hide only the objects you need, combining criteria such as the discipline, category, floor, class, or other BIM properties.
Read BIM Properties:
Select objects and read their BIM properties:
While viewing and rotating the BIM project you can select objects. The BIM Navigator will highlight them in the Elements tree and the Properties Palette will display their BIM properties. Alternatively, you may select the objects from the elements tree and they will be highlighted in the project.
BIM Data Extraction:
Export the properties of selected BIM objects into tables in the drawing or CSV files for spreadsheets:
Select BIM entities manually, or from the filters in the BIM Navigator, and extract their BIM data. The wizard helps you to isolate only the properties you need. The data can be inserted as a table in the drawing or exported to a CSV-file for use in Excel or other programs.
BIM Drawings:
Extract 2D drawings from sections of the BIM project
Specify section planes to extract any 2D drawing from the 2D BIM project and use ARES Commander’s CAD tools to further document the project with details or annotations.

New in ARES Commander 2018.2 Build 18.2.1.3108 (Sep 21, 2018)

ARES Commander is now able to read the new DWG format and keeps offering therefore an unrivaled compatibility
Read and modify DWG files up to the latest version of this popular format (R2018). With ARES Commander you can create or modify drawings and save them directly in DWG, up to version 2013-2017 or any previous version. Your files can therefore be further shared with other CAD software such as AutoCAD® or MicroStation®. Other file formats supported include DXF, DWF, DWT or DGN (import).
Connect ARES Commander with your Cloud Storage services and ARES Kudo will synchronize your modifications
Powered by ARES Kudo, the Cloud Storage palette brings the agility of the Cloud to ARES Commander. This palette will show the files you have in Cloud Storage services such as Google Drive®, Box®, Dropbox® or OneDrive®. The palette lets you work on the files locally before automatically synchronizing back any change. You may for example start a project on one computer, continue it on another one and further check the project on site with ARES Touch.
Modern DWG Editing directly in your Web browser:
ARES Kudo runs in your Internet browser. You can read, share and modify DWG drawings online. Nothing to install, nothing to update you can use it from any computer via a simple login.
Share View-only Link:
Use ARES Kudo to generate a URL where your contacts can view the latest state of your project, directly in their Internet browser
With this feature you can turn on and off a link that can be shared to view your file online, for free, without any install. The link is live updated when you modify the drawing and is therefore always up-to-date. When needed you can also close access at any time.
Redefine Base Point of a Block:
Change the base point of a block in your drawing, without exploding it
The new _REDEFINEBASEPOINT command helps you to set a new base point for the blocks. The new base point will apply to the selected block but also to any previous or future insertion. This avoids for example to explode and recreate the block before replacing it.
Block Attributes Manager:
Edit and reorganize Block Attributes properties within a simple dialog
The new Block Attributes Manager (BAM) lets you redefine the attributes definitions of a block in a very intuitive way. You may define if an attribute is visible or not, change the order, the invites, default values and more parameters, directly from a comprehensive dialog.
3D Solids Editing with Grips and Properties Palette:
Use grips and properties palette to modify 3D solid primitives
When selecting 3D solid primitives such as a box or a cylinder you will see new grips that allow you to edit directly the dimensions of the solid. You may also give a direction with your mouse and enter a fixed value with the Quick Input. Alternatively you may change the shape by editing the variables in the properties palette.
Dynamic Custom Coordinate System (CCS):
Enable the Dynamic CCS to automatically align the coordinate system to the face you are editing
The Dynamic CCS can be turned on or off from a toggle in the bottom of the User Interface or by pressing F6. When enabled the CCS is automatically changing as you fly over a surface.
2D and 3D HELIXs:
Create 2D spirals and 3D helices
The HELIX is a new entity that can be used in 2D to create spirals or in 3D to create helices. You may further use an HELIX as an extrusion path and create complex shapes such as bolt threads, circular stairs or ramps.
Formulas in Tables and Export to Excel:
Use formulas in tables without leaving your drawings and improve workflows with Microsoft Excel® with import/export features
When you select a table you will now see a contextual ribbon allowing to insert formulas such as the sum or average of a column or equations. You may also use Paste selected to copy a table from Excel or use the new _EXPORTTABLE command to export a table in your drawing to a .csv file that can be further used in Excel or other spreadsheets.
Annotate with MultiLeaders:
Use MultiLeaders to annotate drawings with a single text and multiple arrows
MultiLeaders avoid to repeat a same text multiple times. You can use it to relate the same text with multiple arrows. The command _MULTILEADER is also associated to the command _MULTILEADERSTYLES to create and manage MultiLeader styles and keep a consistent style across your drawings.
Usability Improvements:
Move entities incrementally with arrow keys, copy entities to current layer or paste content from the clipboard to the current layer
You may now select entities and move them with the arrows of your keyboard by an increment that can be adjusted in the options. This helps to adjust the position of entities in an interactive way.
While using the _COPY command you may also select to copy entities directly to the current layer instead of their original layer. Similarly the _PASTE command allows you to place the content of the clipboard to the current layer.

New in ARES Commander 2017.0 Build 17.0.1.1234 (Dec 25, 2016)

New in ARES Commander 2016.0 Build 16.0.1069 (Dec 15, 2015)

New features for Android version – ARES Touch for iOS: end of Q2 2016
Acclaimed as the most complete CAD solution for smartphones and tablets, ARES Touch is the ideal companion to create, annotate or modify your DWG drawings on the go. You get ARES Touch for free¹ when you buy ARES Commander!
Quick Input:
Dynamic information and input boxes, right next to your cursor
Enter coordinates, angles and distances right next to your cursor. Quick Input also displays dynamic information about lengths, angles, prompts and options. The interaction with ARES Commander has never been so intuitive and fast.
Annotation Scaling:
Smart scaling of annotations on layout sheets and printouts
Annotative scaling adjusts the size and scale of your dimensions, texts, hatches and blocks to the scale of each viewport. Annotations are displayed with consistent and uniform sizes across all viewports in layouts sheets.
Pattern Hatch:
Improve your drawings with hatches using images or blocks – Windows® only²
Create hatches using patterns of images or blocks. Advanced options include scaling, spacing and rotation of the pattern of your choice. PatternHatch is one of the new XtraTools™ commands introduced with ARES Commander 2016.
Curved Text:
New text feature to draw texts along or inside arcs – Windows only²
Create curved text entities along an arc. Some options include text formatting, offset distance and choice between convex or concave sides of the arc. You will find the CurvedText command in the new XtraTools™ menu and tab.
Drawing Tabs:
Switch easily between open drawings
Drawing Tabs are now displayed at the top of the drawing window area. When flying your cursor over one tab you see a preview of the drawing and its different layouts to switch quickly to the desired view.
DGN Import:
Convert DGN files into DWG entities you can modify in ARES Commander
The ImportDGN command inserts content from DGN files (V7 or V8) as a block in your drawing. The .dgn format is popular among users of MicroStation® and some other CAD software. DGN import offers you a higher interoperability with other professionals.
Head-up Display toolbar:
Quick editing options available from a contextual toolbar
This new contextual toolbar appears next to your cursor when you select entities. Shortcuts include zoom to selection, change entity layer, change LineStyle or LineWidth, and the possibility to create a dimension or a block from the selection.
LayerState Manager:
Create and manage configurations of layers
The new LayerState Manager allows you to create and name different scenarios for your layers to easily switch between them. You may for example hide some layers and change their color to show different aspects of the same project.
New selection methods:
Quickly isolate or hide entities in your drawings - search and select entities sharing similar properties
SelectMatching allows you to find similar entities. IsolateEntities and HideEntities let you to show or hide parts of your drawing. IsolateLayers is also improved with new option to lock and fade the remaining layers.
New utility tools for blocks:
New XtraTools ™ commands to manage blocks faster – Windows only²
ReplaceBlock and ReplaceBlockByReference help you substitute existing blocks by others. GetBlockInfo generates a report listing the number of occurrences of each block. Other commands help you to import or redefine block attributes.
More XtraTools™ Commands:
New power features to help you solve tedious tasks – Windows only²
ARES Commander 2016 introduces a new group of productivity-driven commands. Besides PatternHatch and CurvedText or the utility tools for blocks some of these features include Break Lines, Convert a single line text into a multiline one, Make LineStyles by specifying entities , and a Lisp Explorer.
Dimension Location Snap:
Improve the visual impact of your annotations
When activated, this new setting lets you define an incremental distance between successive dimension lines. Radius and diameter dimension lines are also placed at specified angle intervals. Your drawings look cleaner and better organized.
Improved OLE Support (Windows only):
Insert Excel tables or other elements linked with Microsoft® Office
The PasteSelected command provides a paste link option allowing you to use the features of Microsoft Office directly in your CAD drawing to edit the content with the OpenOLE command.
Command name completion:
ARES Commander helps you find keyboard commands
Search for command names and system variables by entering the first letters in the command bar and pressing the Tab key for suggestions.
Multiline Block Attributes:
Create block attributes with paragraphs of text
Block attributes creation and modification is enhanced in ARES Commander 2016. You can now create multiline texts as block attributes and use all the text formatting options available for multiline texts.
Improved Properties Palette:
Properties groups can now be collapsed or expanded
The Properties Palette helps you to browse the properties of selected entities faster. Now you can collapse or expand properties groups which is in particular useful for some entity types that have many properties such as dimensions.
Export WMF:
Export the current view to a .wmf file
The ExportWMF command allows you to export content to a .wmf file. The Windows MetaFile (WMF) format offers you higher interoperability to share with non-CAD Software.
Support for Picture Notes:
Improved collaboration with ARES Touch
Picture Notes inserted in your drawings on your smartphone or tablet with ARES Touch are now displayed in ARES Commander. Picture Notes help you to annotate your drawings with photos and related comments.

New in ARES Commander 2015 (Dec 15, 2015)

ARES Touch for Android:
ARES Touch: The power of ARES Commander on Android tablets (and smartphones).
Discover the first .dwg-based full CAD software for Android tablets. Its user interface is both adapted for touch and intuitive for ARES users. Files are synchronized via Dropbox or Google Drive or shared by USB. You get ARES Touch for free* when you buy ARES Commander!
LicenseToGo:
The new activation dialogs make it very easy to use your license from other computers.
Use your Product Key to activate your license on another computer, eventually under a different OS (Windows, Mac OS X or Linux). You can work from any PC*! Your LicenseToGo will last for up to 5 days and you can renew it after on the same PC or another one.
PowerTrim:
Trim or extend entities faster than with any other CAD Software.
Trim multiple entities in once by moving your mouse around. Just describe a path with your mouse and ARES will trim while you move. If you use the shift key you do the same but with the Extend command.
QuickModify:
Draw and modify much faster by combining these frequently used commands.
Use only one command to perform and combine multiple actions on a same selection of entities: Move, Rotate, Scale and/or Copy without leaving the command.
2D Constraints:
Add intelligence to your drawings and capture the design intent to facilitate further modifications.
Powered by the CDS solver from Dassault Systèmes Spatial, this new set of features will help you to define relations between entities in terms of geometry (stay parallel, perpendicular, tangent...) or dimensions (equal length, proportional, formula...). When you will further modify one element the others will adapt following these constraints.
Dynamic blocks editing:
Dynamic blocks are smart blocks you can configure with options and grips.
Edit dynamic blocks inserted in a DWG drawing by other CAD software such as AutoCAD. You can use the grips to dynamically and interactively modify these “intelligent” blocks and eventually reinsert them in the drawing. Creation of new dynamic blocks is not supported yet.
OnScreen Dimensions palette:
Create or click on a dimension and you will see a contextual button to activate a new floating palette.
Editing dimensions has never been so quick and easy than with ARES Commander 2015! This new contextual palette helps you to edit them directly in the drawing: formatting, styles, tolerances, prefixes or suffixes and more. Modifications can also be saved and reused.
Tables edition:
Quickly edit tables right inside your drawings with a contextual toolbar.
Click inside a Table cell or launch the command EditTableCell and you will get a toolbar with all the options to insert, resize, merge or delete cells, rows and columns.
In-place text editing:
Click on any multiline text (Note) and you will see a new floating dialog for editing.
The Note command (MTEXT in AutoCAD) has been improved with a new contextual dialog to define advanced formatting like on a Word processor but directly in your .dwg drawing. The new Stack dialog helps you create fractions and tolerances in your text.
More bonus tools...:
DiscardDuplicates and ExplodeBlockX help you fix your drawings.
DiscardDuplicates deletes duplicate entities and lets you define advanced settings to fine tune what should be ignored (similar to OVERKILL in AutoCAD). ExplodeBlockX explodes blocks or tables and converts attributes in text (similar to BURST in AutoCAD)
Customize the Ribbon:
Reorganize the User Interface to boost your productivity.
Customize the tabs and panels of the Ribbon to group the tools you need and like. You may also create your own workspaces in addition to the 2D and 3D ones we created for you. Still, one of the workspaces allows you to switch back to traditional menus and toolbars if you prefer.

New in ARES Commander 2014 (Dec 15, 2015)

Fresh and modern look & feel:
The new Ribbon interface introduces a modern and intuitive environment but you can switch back to the traditional interface at any time.
Designed for flexibility, ARES Commander Edition 2014 continues to offer the easiest transition: whether you learned to draw with menus or with the ribbon, you will find instantly a familiar work environment.
Design Resources palette:
This new palette will significantly contribute to increase your productivity by very easily sharing content between files.
You may browse your computer or network to find useful contents to use in your drawing like blocks, reference drawings or images, layers, sheets, styles…
Drawing Standards (.dws files):
Drawing Standards help you to define and check the compliance of your drawing against custom, corporate and industry standards.
You may define some rules for the layers, line styles, dimension styles and text styles and this feature will not only spot the errors but also help you to fix them to achieve conformity.
Fresh look & feel for MAC too:
The Print and Page layout dialogs have been redesigned to meet Mac standards.
No ribbon interface on a Mac! With floating user interface elements, ARES Commander Edition 2014 is not only the most complete DWG CAD Software on Mac OS X, but also the one offering a Mac look and feel. Print and layout configuration dialogs have also been redesigned according to standards on any Mac.
Quick Grouping and Ungrouping:
Group and ungroup entities in two clicks via a right-click shortcut menu.
Groups offer an easy way to combine drawing entities without creating a block. You can later select only one entity to manipulate all the group. Each entity can be in several groups. You may select for example one entity to move all the groups it belongs to.
Layer and Entity Transparency:
Transparency on specified layers help to reduce the display complexity of the drawing.
When you work on a drawing with tens of layers it is sometimes a little confusing, particularly when you receive a drawing with layers created by others and you want to add your own layers. With this feature you may fade selected layers or entities (e.g. hatches) but also define the fading for all the locked layers.
Layer Preview Tool:
The new LayerPreview command offers a quick preview of the content of layers.
When dealing with drawings made of multiple layers it is frequently time-consuming to switch on and off layers to understand what is or is not on each layer. This feature instantly shows the content and lets you either restore the layers as before or after preview.
Layer Grouping & Filter:
We have improved the Layers Manager to better group and filter the layers.
The Layers Manager now makes it incredibly fast and intuitive to group and filter layers. You can organize layers into groups and sub-groups and manage their visibility or lock them. The same layer can belong to several groups and you can simply drag and drop layers into groups. You may also search and filter them.
RichLine Editing completed:
The EditRichLine command has been improved to edit multiple lines entities.
RichLines help you to draw smart multiple lines according to the styles you defined. RichLine editing is now completed with new commands to edit the RichLines like open, closed or merged Tee or Cross, Corner Joint and other options to break and weld.