GstarCAD Professional Changelog

What's new in GstarCAD Professional 2023

Sep 29, 2022

GstarCAD 2023 is greatly optimized in performance by supporting Multi-Core and Parallel processing. The user experience and compatibility are also improved by many practical improvements and new features, such as supporting NAVICUBE, Lisp Debugger, Digital Signature and VPSYNC, etc, as well as offering ObjectARX APIs, improving the display of Palettes, and providing two more valuable tools in the Block Editor.
Performance Improvement:
Multi-Core is supported in GstarCAD 2023, which makes the performance significantly optimized
ObjectARX API:
GstarCAD 2023 is perfectly compatible with ARX 2020 APIs, arx programs can be successfully compiled, loaded and used without modifying code
Digital Signature:
You can attach the digital signature to the drawing, and verify the validity of the drawing by verifying the digital signature information attached to the drawing
NAVVCUBE:
A navigation tool is displayed in 2D or 3D model space, which allows switching between standard and isometric views easier
Lisp Debugger:
You can execute the VLISP command to launch the Visual Studio Code as the Lisp debugger in GstarCAD 2023, in which you are able to edit, and debug Lisp programs conveniently
SYSVARMONITOR:
Monitors a list of system variables and sends notifications when any one of them changes. There are some system variables already in the monitor by default, you can add or remove system variables in the "Edit System Variable List" dialog box
Reset Settings to Default:
If the user's software interface or operation is abnormal because the configuration is accidentally modified, the Reset Settings to Default option in Windows Start menu helps reset GstarCAD settings to default much quicker and easier than doing it manually
VPSYNC:
Synchronizes one or more layout viewports to a master layout viewport to have the exact locations match up, and all synchronized viewports use the zoom factor of the master viewport. It is essential for printing super-long drawings separately or matching up maps precisely
LAYOUTMERGE:
Merges specific layouts into a single layout. All layouts or model are available to be picked, and you can specify an existing layout or enter a new name to create a new layout as the destination layout
ATTIPEDIT:
Provides a quick and easy way to edit the textual contents of an attribute of a block when you feel like editing the attribute values without accessing the attribute editor
CLIPIT:
Clips or removes specified portions of blocks, Xref drawings, images, and wipeout objects by defining polyline, circle, arc, ellipse, text, mtext, or attribute definition as clipping boundaries. And you can set the maximum allowable error distance for resolution of arc segments
CLOSELINE:
If it prompts that the area is not closed when hatching, calculating areas, or creating regions, the CLOSELINE command can immediately mark unclosed endpoints among selected lines, polylines or arcs, and close them conveniently
SVG import and export:
Prints and exports SVG vector image files, and imports SVG regular graphics
Floating Palettes Improvement:
Floating palettes and windows in GstarCAD 2023 provide “Allow docking”, “Auto-hide” and transparency adjustment options, as well as memorizing the locations and settings of floating palettes and windows
HELP System Improvement:
Online Help is supported in GstarCAD 2023, by default, the Online Help will be displayed in your default browser. It offers more frequent information updates, better search experience and guaranteed data security
Dynamic Block Improvement:
In GstarCAD 2023, BAUTHORPALETTE and BTABLE commands are supported to enhance the compatibility of the block editor. Both of them are available only in the block editor
REVCLOUD Improvement:
The “Rectangular”, “Polygonal” and “Modify” options are supported in the REVCLOUD command. You can control the number of grips displayed on a rectangular or polygonal revision cloud, making it easier to create a revision cloud or redefine an existing one
LOCKUP Improvement:
The LOCKUP command supports locking selected objects in a drawing with a password to prevent accidentally being modified or deleted. You can execute the UNLOCK command and input the password to unlock them
DWFIMPORT:
DWF files can be imported to GstarCAD 2023, and are available to be edited after being exploded with EXPLODE or BURST command
Layout Expand Button:
The Layout Expand Button at the left side of the Layout Tabs can open a layout list that allows jumping to any existing layout quickly when there are too many layouts in your drawing and some of them are not visible
CUI Editor:
"Ribbon Control Elements" and "Toolbar Control Elements" items are added to the categories drop-down list in the command list pane of the CUI editor, which you can select to filter and add elements quickly. Also, Layer State Gallery and Layer List Combo elements are added
AI_EDITCUSTFILE:
In GstarCAD 2023, the AI_EDITCUSTFILE command is supported to enhance the compatibility with AutoCAD, which opens the Program Parameters (PGP) text file where you can add or edit your command aliases

New in GstarCAD Professional 2022 (Dec 15, 2021)

Plotting Improvement:
The plotting system is reconstructed in GstarCAD 2022, focusing on the improvement of PDF plotting driver, plotting with transparency and traditional hidden shade plotting. The plotting effect of texts, super large images and curves is more fine and accurate. At the same time, a large number of problems in the old version are fixed.
PDF Plotting Driver:
After optimizing the PDF plotting driver, the TrueType fonts are plotted as searchable texts. Hyperlinks are retained and remain clickable when you plot to PDF. And third-party tools can easily read all information of the PDF plotted from GstarCAD 2022.
Plotting with Transparency:
Except for the gradient hatch with transparency, solid hatches and other objects are all plotted as vectors, the arcs, circles, ellipses, graphics and text boundaries are smoother. And the drawing information after plotted will not be modified, all kinds of objects can be plotted correctly.
Hidden Shade Plotting:
Objects are plotted as vectors with the Legacy hidden option, making the display of plotted files much better.
Raster Images Plotting:
Large raster images plotting performance is improved, images are outputted after being processed, so the output data are much smaller in size. Issues like images disappearing and position changing after modification are solved.
Raster Images Improvement:
There are more raster image formats supported in GstarCAD 2022. The display, the effect after modifying and the speed are also greatly improved when processing large raster images. The effects of brightness, contrast, fade, and highlight modification are more accurate.
Drawing Display Improvement:
ANTIALIAS:
Without anti-aliasing, the inclined lines and curved lines appear jagged, like staircases. When anti-aliasing applied, the jagged effect is eliminated and the graphic are displayed more smoothly. You can also switch the anti-aliasing effect by setting the ANTIALIAS system variable.
Automatic Regeneration:
The drawing is always automatically regenerated when you zoom or pan, that makes operation process smoother and display better.
General Functions Improvement:
Dimension Improvement:
The DIMREASSOCIATE, DIMREGEN, DIMCENTER, Stretch Dimension Group commands and the DIMLAYER and DIMTOFFSET system variables are supported to make the dimension display more reasonable and accurate, and make it easier and faster to modify dimensions.
Multiline Trimming:
The multiline can be easily trimmed or extended by various objects like lines, polylines, circles, arcs, ellipses, splines, etc.
GROUP Improvement:
Most group commands are organized into a Groups Panel in the ribbon, making it more convenient to create groups, edit groups, ungroup and control the group display by clicking icons in the ribbon directly.
New Functions:
LAYULKALL:
You can use the LAYULKALL command to unlock all the locked layers immediately, instead of unlocking them one by one.
CHANGEBASE:
The CHANGEBASE command allows changing the base point position of a block. You can move the base point and keep objects staying in the original position, or move objects and keep the base point staying in the original position.
LAYDRAWORDER:
The LAYDRAWORDER command allows rearranging the layers. You are able to select one or more layers, and bring them to front or send them to back with buttons in "Layer Draw Order" dialog box. You can also change the order of the layers in "Layers to Adjust Draw Order" list conveniently.
FASTSEL/FS:
The FASTSEL/FS command allows selecting all the objects that touch the selected object, including lines, polylines, circles, arcs, texts, Mtexts, ellipses. The FSMODE command controls two different behavior of the FASTSEL/FS command.
SDI (Single Document Interface):
The SDI system variable is used to control the program running on a single file interface or multiple file interfaces. The SDI system variable can not be reset to 1 when multiple documents are already opened in the software.
Add ACET extension interface:
Support for more than 300 ACET interfaces is added to improve the compatibility of LISP interfaces. Some LISP programs that rely on ACET extension interfaces can be loaded and run directly in GstarCAD 2022.

New in GstarCAD Professional 2021 (Oct 20, 2020)

New in GstarCAD Professional 2020 (Dec 11, 2019)

New in GstarCAD Professional 2018 (Oct 17, 2017)

Performance:
Common File Operation
Common Editing Operation
New functionalities:
Array. New array options are available to create copies of objects arranged in RECTANGULAR, POLAR, or PATH pattern. The new array object is a whole (dynamic block). It can be dynamically adjusted by number of objects, spacing and other related parameters through Ribbon panel and Multifunctional Grips.
Clip.
New CLIP command clips a block, external reference, image, viewport, and underlay (PDF or DGN) to a specified boundary. It can be used to replace XCLIP, IMAGECLIP, VPCLIP, PDFCLIP, DGNCLIP commands.
Add selected. Creates a new object of the same type and properties as selected object but with different geometric values.
Multiple. Executes a command repetitively, avoiding press enter or space bar key.
Change to ByLayer. Changes the property of the selected objects to ByLayer including color, linetype, lineweight, and materials.
Section Plane. Creates a section object that acts as a cutting plane through 3D objects and saves the selected section plane as a 2D or 3D block. You can move the section object dynamically in a 3D model or in a surface area. You can use the active section to analysis model by moving the section object in the object. Create cross-sectional views that can be saved or reused.
DWG Convert. Converts one or a bunch of selected drawing files to another DWG version available. The newly generated file can overwrite the original file, and it can also be compressed into a self-extracting EXE file or a ZIP file to facilitate batch format conversion of the entire project drawing.
Hatch to Back. Sets the display order of all the fill patterns to back position from all other objects.
Reverse
Synchronize Attributes
Security
Enhancement:
Display Plot Styles. Improve 2D/3D drawing printing quality via Plot with transparency and Shade plot options. With Display plot styles option you can assign different plot style tables to each layout in your drawing.
Snap Geometric Center. A new snap option (Geometric Center) has been added to improve the snap center of any kind of polygonal object.
Layer Settings
Frame Selection
Command Preview
Show Dynamic Grip Menu
Command Line
Status Bar
Ribbon Commands
Plot Transparency
Shade Plot
Default Windows Printer
Register
More innovative tools:
User interface. Ribbon, command line and status bar enhancements provide better user design experience. Show or hide ribbon to increase work space are, type any command and visualize it at command line and select a bunch of drafting options from status bar.
Area Table. Automatically dimensions and counts the area of closed objects and export the result to a table in the drawing area.
Auto Layer. Command allows you to customize and predefine the associated layer of command to streamline drafting workflow.
Viewport from Model. Quickly screate a viewport on layout space by specifying an area in the model space. And then calculate the viewport size according to the set ratio and locate the viewport in the layout space.
Attribute Increment. Command helps to specify attribute of blocks with incremental value, and to modify attribute value of blocks according to the sort method. This command can increase block attribute value that contains a number or letter.
Free Scale

New in GstarCAD Professional 2017 Build 160929 (Mar 1, 2017)

Block Data Sharing Process:
With previous GstarCAD versions, if a drawing contains a lot of block reference objects, the drawing open speed performance was very slow because those objects store their display data individually, thus data processing and memory usage was very big. In GstarCAD 2017, Block Data Sharing technology is adopted to drastically reduce data display processing and memory usage. If a drawing contains a lot of same block references, only 1 copy of display data is needed for each type of block reference. It significantly accelerates the display speed, allowing fast result when opening drawings, thus guarantees better operability of these objects
Hatch Boundary Search Improvement:
Another improvement of core performance is related to Hatch. GstarCAD previous version was pretty good already. But for some special hatch drawings or boundaries, the boundary search calculation was still very slow or even could not be handled making the system fall into nonresponse state after picking an internal point of the boundary or area to be hatched. GstarCAD 2017 further optimized the algorithm of hatch boundary calculation to ensure great accuracy and fast result when hatching a specific area on the drawing.
Table:
Table function has been required for a while. Finally it is implemented into GstarCAD 2017 now. Although there was a table function in Express Tool in the old GstarCAD versions and MS EXCEL interactive AutoXlsTable as well, these functions were not compatible with AutoCAD. The new Table function is AutoCAD-like Table function with TABLEDITTABLESTYLETABLEEXPORT command group. It is possible now to create and modify table as well as to define the format of table. It is possible to export the table to CVS file and open it on Microsoft Excel.
Transparency:
The new Transparency feature in GstarCAD 2017 allows you specify a transparency value not only for hatch and gradient objects but also for an entire layer. Transparency effects can enhance drawings by reducing the visibility of objects that are intended for reference and is very useful for design like civil engineering drawings, land planning, etc. Besides transparency feature, hatch and gradient objects support multifunctional grips.
Flatshot:
With FLATSHOT command you can create a 2D representation of all 3D objects based on the current view. The edges of all 3D solids, surfaces, and meshes are projected line-of-sight onto a plane parallel to the viewing plane. The 2D representations of these edges are inserted as a block on the XY plane of the UCS. This block can be exploded for additional changes.
Symmetric Draw:
No matter it is AEC or MFG industry, there are many symmetric drawing shapes. The usual way to make a symmetric shape is to draw the first half of the shape and then get another symmetric half by copy or mirror. Now with GstarCAD 2017, it is possible to directly draw symmetrical shapes with Symmetric Draw tool. When drawing the first half you get another half automatically. The default symmetry axis is X-axis, but user can specify Y-axis or any line in the drawing as symmetry axis reference. Users can easily switch on/off this tool by clicking the Symmetric Draw button on the status bar. By the way, Symmetric Draw tool supports all the drawing commands of GstarCAD.
Graphic Compare:
As we know the drawing compare function in GstarCAD can be used to compare similar drawings containing nearly number of drawn objects to each other, especially to compare different versions of revision drawings. Drawing compare can make comparisons between two similar drawings (old DWG and New DWG) and generate them a sseparate files. After pressing COMPARE button within CompareDwg dialog box, the program will generate and open _old and _new.dwg files, where you can see the differences between drawings. Drawing Compare can find out differences (drawn objects) and show the result with different colors, e.g. if a line is modified, removed or newly drawn, it will be displayed in different colors. But there is something else that drawing compare could not accomplish so accurately. Drawing compare can’t insert and show the compared objects on the current drawing working space that you are working at real time. Besides, drawing compare can’t show the details of how the objects were located before they were modified. So the details are very important when comparing objects. Now the new and innovative Graphic Compare tool can do more! It does not only compare two drawings with similar objects geometry and find out the differences but also display the details of any change at the current workspace of your drawing in real time, e.g. if a line is modified, only the changed part of the line is displayed in different color. The unchanged part remains unchanged.

New in GstarCAD Professional 2016 Build 160131 (Jul 8, 2016)

Performance:
Common Operations Performance Optimization:
Common operation tasks including open, copy, move, undo… the performance speed has been enhanced 20%, and users entire drawing efficiency can be improved more than 10% if compared with previous version.
Layout Space Switching Performance Optimization:
In previous versions many users got some time trouble when switching between model and layout space for big or complex drawings. Now GstarCAD 2016 focuses on layout space switching optimization, which reduces time considerably. Especially when switching layouts over twice is even much faster than before.
Objects Visualization Optimization:
GstarCAD 2016 enhances object's visualization and the ability to snap points over these objects more accurate than previous version. Now when performing zoom in or zoom out, over circle(s) or arc(s), no matter how many of those objects you have created, these will keep the same shape (no contour edges displayed) thus you can snap points much accurately, enhancing drafting capability and better object visualization.
Implementation:
This version has implemented the full DGN files support and related commands such as DGNIMPORT, DGNATTACH, DGNADJUST, DGNMAPING, etc. Now you can import and attach as underlay a Microstation native format.
SOLIDEDIT command supports related 3D solid editing options like Union, Subtract, intersect, Imprint Edges, Color Edges ,etc.
Ease of use:
The traditional dynamic input has been improved, so now the dynamic input achieves the command line integration which means a great benefit by gaining more workspace and less eyes concentration.
Now the dynamic input in GstarCAD 2016 displays all options of a command and could select them in different methods. Users no longer need the command line either floated or docked, gaining more workspace to get wider viewing of the drawing and the most important, users will focus directly at the right spot of the drawing avoiding eyes concentration at command line.
Drafting Settings (Auto Complete Command Entry Enhancement):
In addition to dynamic input enhancement, now the auto complete command entry has a light enhancement regarding to command icon display. When type a command using the dynamic input, it displays a list of all the commands whose prefix matches what you've typed plus it will displays all their icons making easier to recognize them at glance.
Polyline objects in GstarCAD 2016 now support multifunctional options. The available functions (Stretch, Add Vertex, and Convert to Arc) can be seen by hovering over a grip, and you can choose an option directly from the context menu that appears. You can cycle through the available functions by pressing CTRL, or choosing one of the options from the right-click menu. Icons next to the cursor indicate the active function.
Invert Fillet has a very wide range of usage particularly in construction and furniture industry. The FILLET command now offers a new option called Invert. You can create a reverse fillet by this option.
MEASUREGEOM command is more powerful in GstarCAD 2016, not only adds the missing options such as measure radius, measure angle, and measure volume, but also sum area and total length.Sum area: Not only can calculate the area of a closed object but also can calculated a closed region area. If there are multiple objects need to be selected, window selection is available.
Total length: Calculates the object length and total length associated with selected arc, circle, polyline segments or line objects. you can either select the single object by click or select multiple objects with window selection.
New additions:
Now within Object Snap tab, you can find a new added option called Distance from Endpoint. This option allows snap a certain distance from any endpoint of objects like line, arc, spline, pline, ellipse arc, mline and any other lines. As long as you pass the cursor over an object from its endpoints, you will see a green snap point at accurate distance.
Now the Options dialog box supports a new tab (Plot and Publish). This tab helps users to control options related to plotting and publishing.