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Tips For Generic CADD Users trying out GCP

What is General CADD?  Click Here                                  More Tips Page 2 >>

 

Why Do I Have to Change?

You don't, really.  If you are an old time Generic CADD user like many of us, you may be reluctant at first to even give General CADD Pro (GCP) a try.  We understand this.  You have acquired many useful habits and are pretty much comfortable and happy with the way things are.  Why should you have to change?

The big problem is that Generic Cadd, although a valued and useful friend, was abandoned more than eleven years ago and is no longer supported.  It has stopped growing and improving and does not take advantage of the many benefits available through the newest Windows Operating Systems.  Generic CADD more often than not has trouble working with the latest printers, plotters, video cards, mice and other fascinating new hardware devices available today.  Many loyal users have excitedly bought a new portable computer and when they get it home, they find they cannot get a screen resolution higher than 640 x 480 to work.  Bummer!   And what about those new USB printers and mice?

What you can expect when you run General CADD Pro for the first time!

Well, to be honest with you, if you are like many, be prepared to be a bit shocked at first.  All those menus and buttons, the coordinates placed in the lower right instead of the top.... The visual shock alone can be intimidating.... at first.  Then, once your mind adjusts a little, you will slowly begin to try out various commands.  To your surprise, with the exception of one or two commands, you will find that they are all there and they work the same way as they did in DOS!  Straight lines still draw the same way.  NP is on the right mouse button.  RE, A3, DL, DX, DP, CL, CP, DS, SA, ZW, ZA, TK, EL, CO, WM, MV, ER, SE, OR, SG, XT, RM, OO, UU... all your favorites are right there and work the same way!  Even QU, n, Q is still there!  Go ahead!  Do a DL and load one of the Demo drawings and play with it!  The complete command list is right in the program.  Just type XX   View Command List

While you are playing, if you happen to have a scroll mouse (one of those with the little wheel in between the buttons), give it a roll.  Watch the drawing dynamically zoom in and out.  Try out the new AP command  which allows you to "grab the image by pressing the first mouse button" and pan or drag it around!  Pretty neat, huh?  What else is new?  400+ new features.  Click Here 

One thing you will spot right away is that a GCD drawing is a file that has to be imported.  The native file extension for General CADD Pro is GXD.  When you DL, GCP looks for GXD files.  To load a GCD file you will have to use the LO command.

To get fully up and running, you will have to convert all your Generic drawings, components and fonts to GCP format.  To make this easy and fast for you, we have the new CT convert command.  CT will singly or in batch mode convert all your legacy files to GCP format in just a minute or two.

One of the really neat features of Windows is the ability to get help right when you need it.  To do so, all you have to do is press the F1 key while you are in the middle of a command.  For example, if you type RE for Rectangle and then press F1, the help manual will open on the screen and go right to the page describing the RE command.  Note: to fully use this feature, you need to download the COMPLETE help manual from the web site.  The Demo download only contains an abbreviated version of the manual in order to shorten the download time.  Click here to download the manual

You will find that the manual will be your best friend during the first few weeks.  We have put a lot of time into developing this learning shortcut and we hope you can make good use of it.  Once you get used to working with GCP, you are going to want to explore the 400+ new commands and features that GCP has added to the Generic CADD feature set.  File import/export capabilities now includes support for ACAD 2008 DWG/DXF file format.  If you are a surveyor, you are going to love the new BL, BQ, BD and BG commands!  Check out the section on Printing and Printers and PDF file creation.  The IG command will allow you to insert images like Geo-Tiff Satellite Pictures, BMP, JPG and PNG images into the drawing and save with the drawing.  The list of new features will seem endless!  Read what others who have already made the change have to say.  Click Here

Help is also available in our Free Internet Help Forum.  A lot of valuable information and personal experiences can be had by visiting the Forum often.  Please click here to enter the GCP Help Forum.

A third way to obtain help is to type FB while in GCP.  This will pop up a report form where you can report any difficulty or ask a question.  This form will be automatically emailed to us if you are using MS Outlook or Outlook Express as a mail client.

Well, that's about all for now.  Enjoy your new experience.  And let us hear from you.

Now XP, VISTA and Win 7 compatible!  Give it a try... Download GCP Free Here   www.generalcadd.com/downloads.htm

See you in our Forum!

Jim, Matt & Carl
GCP Development and Support Staff
contact@generalcadd.com

 

Conversion Tips Generic to GCP Click Here

 

 

 

General CADD Pro (GCP)  Windows 2D CADD drafting software featuring 2 letter command structure, windows menus, powerful Macro language, 32 bit accuracy and .DWG, .DXF, .CMP, .GCD, .VCD, .VCS & .MCR file compatibility.

General CADD Products, Inc., 1 Railroad Avenue, Cherry Valley, N. Y. 13320 USA