GardenCAD Pro

GardenCAD Pro differs from the trial version of GardenCAD in many ways.

• The Save and SaveAs File menu options have been activated.
• We have included the ability to select from a set of  hand lettered fonts.
• A more extensive online help system has been implemented.
• We have introduced a Settings drop down menu to handle such things as text and dimension style settings.
• A set of layers appropriate for landscape work have been pre-set.
• An improved Plant Selector system has been added. the background to each icon has been changed to white to simulate how the symbol will look on paper.
• The cursor now occupies 5% of the screen. The previous value of 100% in GardenCAD Lite was the default value, which was rather distracting for many users (even though it was the way AutoCAD was originally set up). A value of 5% is much better. Hint: do not turn the value to zero via options or you will not be able to effect a trim.
• Tracking is now on when the program starts and has been set to a value of 100 units. Tracking is such a valuable aid that we have decided to turn it on at startup. Setting a value of 100 units helps users in the metric environment because each 'click' as you point in a required direction when tracking is on will move the cursor precisely 100 mm a time. Hint: Users in the Imperial feet and inches system would probably prefer to set this value back to 1.0 so that each step when you are moving the cursor moves one it one foot. Smaller distances are in decimal parts of a foot - 1.5 units equals 1 foot 6 inches.
• The Osnap setting can now be reached via a drop down menu as well as from the status line and is now turned ON and set to END when the program starts - the end osnap is most commonly required. Again by way of comment, we have decided not to turn on all entity snaps via the Grips option as this creates difficulty for beginners - the curor jumps to control points on entities. [Of course, our changes to the osnap setting only affect the startup, you can (and should) change things as you go.]
• A "Properties" entry has been added to the "Edit" pulldown although the properties of an entity can still be selected via right click.
• We have added extra options for drawing circles and arcs. There are four options for circles while there are eight for arcs.  In both cases the options are now in a sub-menu. Try out the last entry for arcs (arc/tangent). This will draw an arc which is tangential to the previous arc or line drawn - a great tool for drawing very smooth and free flowing garden edges.
• We have added an extra entry in the Blocks pulldown for "General Symbols", in addition to the existing "Plant Symbols". This menu contains links to drawing sheets, north points, planting details for advanced shrubs, details for planting on sloping sites, using logos etc.
• Although not yet available, we are working on implementing DXF file handling. This will give GardenCAD users the ability to accept data from other CAD programs and to export designs to them.
• A birdseye navigator system has been implemented.