CAD AND VECTOR DRAWING

1. Summary
2. Introduction
3. Basic Criteria
4. Vector Drawing Programs Table
5. Notes and Tutorials
6. Data Format Issues
   1. SVG
   2. DWG
   3. DXF
   4. PDF
   5. WMF
   6. Bitmaps

Autocad's DWG and DXF are the defacto standards for vector drawings for both 2D/3D. DWG is proprietary and changing; DXF does not support the newer, more complex object types. The feature which gives SVG utility over DXF is that it is an open format. SVG can be edited in EveWE and DIA. Both programs are diagramming applications which implement "sticky-lines", which are not part of the SVG or DXF file formats and which argues in favor of keeping specialty programs that provide powerful editing functions. SVG is widely supported by browsers nowadays. The major issue with SVG is there is no support for 3D, and may never happen. X3D is the ISO successor to VRML for 3D (look into Flux Player and Flux Studio if you have Windows ME/2000), but neither are widely supported for all types of 3D/4D renderings (meaning that freebies are mighty thin on the ground.) The old standby, Cosmo Player is still viable for VRML in browsers from NIST, of all places (Check out their VRML page). Dabbling in X3D looks possible using X3D-Edit 3.2 (I have not tried this yet.) My current favorite picks in the beginning CAD software category for Windows 98 are:

1. 2D Drafting: SVG and DXF format preferred
   • TurboCAD LE
   • Cadvance
   • A9CAD
2. 3D Drawings:
   • DesignWorkshopLite
   • SoftCAD.3D
3. Diagrams: SVG format preferred
   • EveWE
   • Dia

This page contains programs which offer a free entry path into CAD drawing for Windows 98 users. I compiled this page of vector applications to try and extend my own tool set. From my own observations over the last ten years, the struggle between innovation versus protectionism results overall in most productivity being lost. Hopefully, this page will save you the month I spent searching for, and comparing them, so you won't have to waste it. These versions are generally the last ones which work on the legacy OS, except where the company continues to actively support Windows 98 users.

The goal in this section is to compile a list of CAD applications in Table 1 which meet the following criteria:

• Runs on Windows 98SE -- It's what I have until it breaks; I've a lot invested getting my system set up.
• Free version to use on your PC -- A rarely-used program must not break the bank, but provide a low entry cost to such tools.
• Read/write standard formats -- I'd like to claim some ownership over my own work and have it accessible later.
• Smaller/cleanly-written -- Application must not destroy the house or take too much space--I have to live here too.
• Binary/simple install -- I'm a busy guy, so it has got to just work.
• Decent user-interface -- The best tools conform to the user, not vice-versa.
• Sufficient tools -- Provides enough functionality that it helps me perform my work.

* 2D DRAFTING *

Solid program with many options. Suffers from the same problems many others do in the interface, but is fairly intuitive. CadStd or VectorEngineer are more user-friendly, but have fewer functions.

Features:
1. Help: Excellent help file.
2. Docs: Supports multiple instances of program and multiple drawings per instance.
3. Multitask: Appears stable with multiple documents open in multiple instances of the program. Opening a third instance copied open documents from first two instances.
4. File: dwg, dxf, eps, wmf, plt, fp3, dgn, 3ds, fcw, tcw, tcx, sat.
5. Cursor: Cursor coordinates displayed.
6. MouseMenu: Context-sensitive left and right mouse button menus, including undo/redo and closing polyline without needing a snap setting.
7. Escape: ESC key escapes current operation, but not into select mode--remains in current object draw mode.
8. Select: Select mode requires menu Edit=> Select. Multiple select is with SHIFT key and mouse. Deselect uses same process as select.
9. Object: Editable values displayed at bottom of screen.
10. Copy: Allows ctrl-x/c/v cut/copy/paste of objects between instances as well in between drawings within an instance.
11. Undo: Yes. Didn't undo some continuous dimensioning, but select-editing is clean.
12. Fillet: Excellent chamfer and fillet functions.
13. Delete: Delete-key and ctrl-x both delete selected objects when in object select mode.
14. Move: Left-mouse-click-drag, once object is selected.
15. Dim'n: Yes. Many types. Excellent.
16. Layers: At least 10. Colors interact with pen color choice: "by layer", "by block", or specific color.
17. Snap: Flexible. Snap to circle center is "middle point" option (grid snap off). No apparent angular snap.
18. Draw: Point-to-point defined, with real-time display of object.
19. Redraw: F5, or menu View=> Redraw.
20. Trim: Mostly in Properties window under Modify tab: Fillet, vertex, object trim.
21. Symbols: Symbol libraries (simply a directory) may be created/deleted. DXF symbols may be created/deleted. Excellent.

8-character filenames and limited mouse functionality limits this program, but mouse issue is somewhat offset by the convenience of right-mouse-click or escape-key into selection mode. Status windows at bottom of screen are clickable and bring up context menus to set things like absolute coordinates, rotation, layers, etc. Covers up quick-launch bar on open--select maximize screen in upper right to uncover quick-launch bar.

Features:
1. Help: Yes.
2. Docs: Single instance of program, multiple documents. Select docs via Window=> filename or ctrl-F6. A CadVance 6.5 tutorial.
3. Multitask: Appears stable.
4. File: vwf, dwg, dxf, bmp. Open only: eps, img, jpg, gif, mac, cut, tif, wmf, wpg. Enforces 8+3-character filenames in lower-case.
5. Cursor: Cursor coordinates displayed.
6. MouseMenu: No cursor menu, nor are screen corners of any use. Use menus and status bars at bottom.
7. Escape: Esc-key or right-click escapes current operation, tool still valid. Either one escapes drawing mode and enters select mode.
8. Select: Mode cursor--dark blue cross-hairs with light blue dots off ends. Left-click for single-select, shift/ctrl-left-click for multiple select/deselect.
9. Object: Edit menu for many features of selected object. Takes time to learn.
10. Copy: Supports ctrl-x/c/v cut/copy/paste of objects between documents.
11. Undo: Yes. Whole polylines, not individual segments.
12. Fillet: Excellent chamfer and fillet tools--Proper "cut-in" style fillets and chamfers (can adjust distances and angle of cut).
13. Delete: Key deletes selected objects. Ctrl-x works.
14. Move: F2 or menu Edit=> Move from point to point (vector style).
15. Dim'n: Yes. Deselect objects first.
16. Layers: 255. Color changes all objects on layer.
17. Snap: Hard to find. Settings are in bottommost status bar, 7th from left, left click. Options=>Select sets pixel snap distance. Options=>Miscellaneous=>Snap Pie Angle. Options=>Grid=>Cursor Snap On/Off?
18. Draw: Tool remains with cursor after drawing object.
19. Redraw: Yes (clean-up is imperfect.)
20. Trim: Yes. Point, point, then side to trim. Won't trim gap in line--use menu Edit=> Alter=> Break. (Alter=> Fix is for double lines.)
21. Symbols: Yes. Cadvance format. Best make your own, and cut and paste them.

A simple 2D CAD program ideal for people starting CAD. Selection might prove confusing. It will open CadVance and TurboCad DWG files, but will not save in an acceptable form for them (see DWG/DXF version table. Can use DConvert to convert versions of file formats.) It has quite a number of very nice features, including several "snap to" options which make it easy to align drawing points. Coordinates can be explicitly entered at bottom of screen, which has ongoing directions concerning whether it is expecting a new command, or some explicit coordinate for an object it is in the middle of. Right sidebar displays object details.

Features:
1. Help:
2. Docs: Single instance of program supported, but multiple documents may be opened at once.
3. Multitask: Does not seem to play well with Opera.
4. File: Opens DXF and DWG up to version 2000; saves DXF, DWG, EMF.
5. Cursor: Cursor coordinates displayed.
6. MouseMenu: No left- or right-click pop-up context menus, but right-click escapes current operation and toggles between last tool and neutral mode.
7. Escape: Esc-key or right-click escapes current operation into select mode (indicated by small square with oversized plus-sign.)
8. Select: Single selections with left-mouse, multiple select/deselect with shift-left-mouse (or rectangle select.)
9. Object: Editable values in object info window at right of screen. Surprisingly, no rotation value here, and no zero degree reference if lost.
10. Copy: Copy and paste supported between documents.
11. Undo: Yes, ctrl-z/ctrl-y or Edit menus will undo/redo.
12. Fillet: Limited--must guess at radius, and not a true "cut in" fillet, but a filler curve. No chamfer.
13. Delete: Delete-key, ctrl-x, or Edit=> Cut all will delete a selected object.
14. Move: Inconsistent between modes: If entity is selected (white square with longer cross-hairs), move tool allows "from point" and "to point". (Common to a number of CAD programs, you cannot drag an object while in neutral/selection mode.) If entity is not selected, move tool selection user is prompted to select entity, which selects changes entity lines to dashed; multiple selections can be made; right-click enters neutral/single select mode with current (dashed) selections, which now change to objects with standard blue-square control-point highlighting.
15. Dim'n: Yes, several useful flavors.
16. Layers: 10+ with layers tool. Must type name and click "New" to make new layer. Must select layer and click "Current" to change to that layer.
17. Snap: Yes, several flavors available to mix and match by toggling them in left toolbar.
18. Draw:
19. Redraw:
20. Trim: Yes.
21. Symbols: No. Must copy and paste between documents.

The interface is initially a confusing grid of text-based tool buttons, but it is fairly simple to learn. Tool-tips will apprise the new user of their function, and right-click menus provide context options. The author, Jon Hoke, has quite generously waived his usual registration fee "during the recession", as of January 12, 2009. The interface style hearkens back to the days of pencil and drafting board: A no-coordinates, visual feedback approach. While it doesn't take advantage of some of the power a computer can provide, it can build architectural drawings quite effectively if one is willing to apply themselves to its quirks. Once familiar with the interface, drawing can be a pleasure, but further annoyances include internal format for library symbols, inconvenience finding them, lack of coordinate display, and the cryptic text buttons do take time to learn.

Features:
1. Help:
2. Docs: Single docs, but multiple program instances.
3. Multitask: Stable.
4. File: Open: DXF, JCD. Save: DXF, JCD.
5. Cursor: No cursor coordinates displayed or updated, but some fairly smart snapping functions.
6. MouseMenu: Right-click pop-up context menus
7. Escape: Escapes current drawing operation, ending any more multilines.
8. Select: Four tools below horizontal line at right. Deselect requires right-click menu option, which deselects all.
9. Object:
10. Copy: Requires right-click menu option after selection. Paste is ctrl-v.
11. Undo: Main menu header. Supports 40,000 undos.
12. Fillet: Unsophisticated, but somewhat clever. No chamfer.
13. Delete: When object is selected, delete-key does not work; must use right-click context menu delete function.
14. Move:
15. Dim'n: Yes.
16. Layers: Yes.
17. Snap: Yes.
18. Draw:
19. Redraw:
20. Trim: Yes, a little.
21. Symbols: Yes, internal format, under "Associates".

One of the more user-friendly CAD programs for beginners.

Features:
1. Help:
2. Docs: Single instance of program supported, and single document per instance.
3. Multitask: Does not play well with Opera browser.
4. File: Open: cad, dxf, hpgl, ged. Save: cad, dxf, hpgl, (pdf, postscript, svg in PRO).
5. Cursor: Cursor coordinates displayed.
6. MouseMenu: No mouse pop-up menus, but right-click alternates between last tool used and neutral mode. Ends current operation.
7. Escape: Esc-key escapes current operation into a neutral mode--no select available.
8. Select: All selection requires either selection- or unselection-mode to be set via either of two entire menus: Select=> All/Invert/Entity/etc., and Unselect=> 5 menu options. Separate entire menus provided for select and unselect. Unfortunately, the entity selection process, a huge part of any drawing process, is slow and inefficient.
9. Object:
10. Copy: Requires (1) menu Select=> Entity... (select objects), (2) Edit=> Copy, or Copy tool, (3) Click first point of copy offset, (4) click second point of copy offset vector to paste copy. Has a rather cool couple of tools for creating both rectangular and polar structures of a copied object.
11. Undo:
12. Fillet: Fillets and chamfers only in full version.
13. Delete:
14. Move: Uses a similar "pre-vectored" approach to moving as well as the extra steps for selecting as with A9CAD.
15. Dim'n:
16. Layers:
17. Snap:
18. Draw: Drawing simple, including prompts for each tool step. Lacks cursor pop-up menus, but does have a decent tool window. Toolbar on right.
19. Redraw:
20. Trim:
21. Symbols:

Powerful features for a free demo. Can build 3D wireframes. Nice built-in views. I absolutely love the general look and capabilities but absolutely hate the user interface, which is frustratingly clunky and deliberate--to select an entity, menu=> Select=> Entity (3 seeks interspersed with 3 mouse-clicks) (I suspect the interface was designed by Vogons.) Remapping the interface would morph the experience from the terrible to the sublime, at which point I would buy the full version in a heartbeat. Saving supposedly disabled in 4.0.231, but 4.0.183 did save/open/import/export. The full version ($30) can do 3D modeling with surface shading, dimensioning, and supports IGES, PDF, Gerber, and DXF formats. Native X11 format saves as *.dwg (listed in dialog box as X11) but is not the same as TurboCad and CadVance *.dwg files. Was able to import CadStd DXF file without version alteration.

Features:
1. File: Open: dwg, dxf, gbr, igs, cgm, drw. Save: dwg, dxf, gbr, igs, cgm, drw, eps, pdf, pcl, pos, bmp.

A good beginner's (or occasional drafter's) 2D program. Very small at 1MB. Very clean interface. The lack of being able to open a DXF file, even though you can create and save one, kills this application in favor of TurboCadLE, Cadvance, or A9CAD.

Features:
1. Help:
2. Docs: Multiple instances of program, single document per instance. Part creation/use available in pro version.
3. Multitask: Appears stable with multiple instances of program.
4. File: DXF, VEC. This free version does save DXF files, but does not open them. DXF version number not saved in file (R2.5-R12?)
5. Cursor: Cursor coordinates displayed.
6. MouseMenu: Has good context-sensitive left and right mouse button pop-up menus. Right-click toggles between select mode (smaller square at cross-hairs) and previous tool (larger square at cross-hairs).
7. Escape: Escapes to multiple-selection mode (full cross-hairs and small square). A right-click=> cross-hairs only loads previous drawing tool.
8. Select: Selection by left-click, and deselection by shift-left-click. Click on grip allows drag-adjustment, click on other parts of line allows select (dashed line.)
9. Object:
10. Copy: Allows copy and paste of objects between instances, but must use menu Clipboard=> Paste to initiate the first paste-down of object in other program instance before ctrl-x/c/v will work.
11. Undo: Undo/Redo are large arrows at bottom of toolbox window. Some functions require many clicks to undo: resizing dim'n'd. rectangle took 22. Ctrl-z = undo, ctrl-r = redo.
12. Fillet: None.
13. Delete: When selected (dashed line), object may be deleted with ctrl-x or delete-key.
14. Move: Select move tool=> click object(s)
15. Dim'n: Dimensioning simple in free version. Can move with dimensioned object being resized if used with care.
16. Layers: Has 2 instead of 12 drawing layers.
17. Snap: Default is snap-to-grid; on/off in toolbox or menu Grid=> Setup-Snap Settings=> Grid tab=> Snap to Grid Nodes check-box. Polar snap must be accessed via Polar snap tab=> Use Polar snap check-box. If both polar and grid snap are off, will snap to object grip points. Note some object snap settings take precedence over others. Will snap to line intersections, if set. Could not seem to get tangent and perpendicular snaps to work.
18. Draw:
19. Redraw:
20. Trim:
21. Symbols:

* 3D ARCHITECTURAL *

Design Workshop Lite is a CAD program with 3D capability canted toward concept drawings for architectural applications and provides the ability to shade and render wireframe models and allow complete walk-through navigation. It differs from engineering-style packages in that it has no options for convenient visible dimensioning, though primary dimensions of objects can be adjusted precisely. The website offers excellent tutorials and program has a help file. This is a free version of their other products, a regular version for about $80, and a pro version for under $500. There is a 100 object limit save in the free version, though you can open larger files. Be aware that grouping objects counts as a separate object toward the 100 object limit, but that holes in objects do not. Exports Autocad DXF model version 13 or higher.

Upon opening, the main program window will have a faint 3D grid in perspective. The main menu is in a similar style to other windows programs. There is a toolbox on the left side of the screen containing drawing and navigation functions, and a window on the right for specific information about the current object being worked on.

If you intend accurate positioning, enter corrections in object info window immediately after drawing basic shape and develop a good spatial sense. Besides the 3D background grid, there is always an arrow on the "ground" pointing "North". The zero point is typically on the "floor" about five working units from the corner. +Y movement is South, +X is East, and +Z is upwards. Mouse movement occurs on the current working plane, which is determined by which 3D cartesian tool button is selected--10th, 11th, and 12th down on right side of "tools" box selects the X-Y, the X-Z, and the Y-Z planes, respectively. 13th is for arbitrary reference planes. X-Y Mouse movement is locked into the Z direction only while the alt-key is being depressed ("Z" is perpendicular to the current working plane.) Z-position is maintained after such movement until: (1) alt-left-mouse is used again to move along Z-axis, (2) single digit numbers are pressed which will place cursor that many units along Z-axis, or (3) "space jump" is used (select cursor tool, click on object, hover over a displayed point, and tap spacebar--this changes the z-offset to that of the point you were hovering over.) You can view your model from different directions by selecting the "eye" or "target" icons at the bottom of the tools window and using the mouse, alt-mouse (zoom), and arrow keys.

Drawing procedure and tips:
1. Select menu File--> New Model, which opens another drawing window (old windows must be closed manually.)
2. Change menu Layout--> Preferences--> Dimensions to the values you wish (particularly, the snap grid spacing.)
3. Choose your working plane as described above.
4. Decide where you would like your drawing to be. Models copied and pasted into another window will appear at their original coordinates and orientation.
5. Select a drawing tool. The "cube" (6th down on the left in tools) tends to be use a lot.
6. Consider how you will be drawing. Specific coordinates are shown at bottom, including deltas. Editing can be confusing, too.
7. Draw object (this one is a "cube").
   1. Position cursor at starting corner.
   2. Press left mouse button.
   3. Move mouse to opposite corner (this is approximate cross-section of column)
   4. Press alt-key
   5. Move mouse "upwards" to pull z-length into column
   6. Release mouse button and alt-key.
8. A 2D object such as a polyline can be drawn, doubleclicking final point to finalize an area. Use cursor tool and alt-left-mouse combination to pull on a point of polyline object into the 3rd dimension as an extrusion. Without using the alt key, a 3D object has corner handles intended for resizing and the middle handles will move the vertex perpendicular to its axis (working plane permitting.)
9. Check and correct object info window for basic coordinates and dimensions immediately after drawing if accuracy is desired. If more editing detail is needed for corrections, you can use reshape tool and faces mode tools. The reshape tool (12th down on left) will display line vertices and midpoints. Corner vertices will only resize entire object using mouse unless the control-key is held down. Alt-key allows third-dimensional adjustment of all points. Faces-mode tool (13th down on left) allows one to double-click on an object face and move that face in three dimensions without changing its three-dimensional size or shape. The Arrange--> Flip menu items are also useful because sizing with the object info entry boxes keep the starting point fixed; if the item is symmetrical, you can flip and try entering size value again.
10. Rotate object, if desired. Angle info works in current working plane. You may find that selecting rotation tool (circular arrow icon) and pulling corner around with left mouse button in current working plane while watching angle readout at bottom of screen is sometimes easier. Compound angles require adjusting one working plane at a time.
11. The trim tool (wedge, 11 tools down on left) can be used to draw a clean cut across the face of the brace object. This cut splits object into two separate ones at this line. The overhanging object can then be selected and deleted.
12. Objects may be cut, copied, and pasted in the standard manner (ctrl-x, -c, and -v, respectively. Objects may be selected with the cursor tool and moved incrementally with the arrow keys. With the view tool, arrow jogging changes the view angle instead of the object angle.
13. Convenient features without adding to your 100 object limit can be had by using the hole tool (8 down, left is rectangular, right is polyline) which cuts a negative space through entire object perpendicular to any surface drawn onto after selecting the parent object. The sides of the hole will be visible as a surface even if exactly flush with outside surfaces of your object or other sides of holes. Grouping objects adds one object for each group. Simplify your model to as few objects as feasible and suggest features with holes. It is not for your more attractive renderings, but is very useful. Extrusions may contain any number of points in cross-section, so items such as stairs could be done with a single object, if need be. I recommend opening another window to draw your complex single object. You can set grid size, say to your stair step height, draw the polyline in Y-Z plane, pull into X dimension, and perform a final overall scaling of object. After scaling, add any cut holes in object, as they would be scaled proportionally to some strangle size. This program does not contain algorithms for auto-construction of complex shapes. After completing object, save it, copy it to clipboard, and close this secondary window, returning you to your main model.
14. Program supports multiple files being open, which is handy if you want to open a simple object model and cut-and-paste it into another window.
15. The View--> Lights and Textures menu item will render your wireframe model with the current values for surfaces and light sources. Light sources are simply a "material" sub-choice in the object info window. While impressive results can be obtained, a fair bit of fussing with the added functions will be necessary. As I only need partial realism, I prefer the use of the shaded view versus wireframe view (jump between ctrl-r and ctrl-y, respectively), which hides lines, adds surfaces, and evenly-distributes "lighting", but retains the ability to continue to edit the model while in the shaded view. You will find the shaded version of your drawing does not draw a black line at vertices where two plane surfaces meet, unless the edge is also visible there (useful to tell if objects are actually on the floor, for example.)

Features:
1. File: dw, 3dmf (Quick Draw 3D), dxf, pict object (2D)

Surface-oriented, as opposed to Design Workshop Lite's solids-oriented. Decent interface. 2D or 3D mode. Reads Autocad DXF file format up to version 12. Will not read a Design Workshop Lite export.

Features:
1. File: Open: DXF, M3D, BMP, GMM. Save: DXF, M3D, BMP, GMM, TXT.

Very non-intuitive for a beginner--it is the product of one man's labor-of-love since 1988, so development is mature and has it's own unique quirks. For beginner, I recommend selecting "Files"=> "session para"=> "session"=> and clicking "mode:icon" so it becomes "mode:text", then closing and re-opening program so it takes effect, so you will be able to understand the menus. Like most programs, it doesn't take advantage of the best of user interface design. At the least, it would have been nice if the options were better integrated so their associations were more intuitive. For example, "Views" has two more hierarchical levels of menus where nothing stands out as being important (and many not particularly understandable.) In Design Workshop Lite, good use of mouse and navigation keys allows intuitive (if not always easy) walk-throughs of model. Too many program designers don't step back and see that their program is a mess of logical, yet confusing lists of functions. At least many of the functions don't require too many clicks to get there. On the plus side, it has the ability to create nice shaded perspective views of 3D objects. There are a nice selection of pre-set views and view combinations. No dimensioning nor a number of other useful drafting functions, like most programs of this class. I'd have to say Design Workshop Lite and SoftCAD.3D edges ahead of this program due to the interface.

Features:
1. File: IGES, IDS

Did not try, but apparently quite competitively priced and allows up to 1MB files after 30-day demo. Standard version is for 2D, pro version for 3D. DWF and SAT files at least. Interestingly, current version continues to support Windows 98.

* 3D ART *

Here are some Blender tutorials.

Features:
1. File: Open: blender, vrml2. Save: blender, vrml1, dxf, VideoScape.

Archive size is 20MB(zip)+30MB(tutorials)

* 3D KINEMATICS *

freeCAD is a good student program for studying 3D mechanical motion. It offers motion capture and is used as the core for several other programs.

* DIAGRAMS *

Tiny 88kB application, but mighty! Intended for diagrams. EveWE manual. SVG links. This is the only other SVG support besides DIA I could find on the freebie table, and has a slightly different interpretation of it. I will refer to EveWE as Eve in these sections for convenience. Can embed SVG file in HTML with a simple IMG tag. Can only rotate objects in 90° increments. Text handle (red dot) are positioned vertically-centered to left of text; actual text coordinates default to just off of lower-left of foot of text. During use, occasionally defaults to screen-scaling; recommend using screen-scaling as standard for SVG drawings when using Opera and Eve.

Features:
1. Help: Yes, as separate documents, including .EVE file format and library documentation.
2. Docs: Multiple instances of program (no object copy between), single document per instance. Editable libraries available.
3. Multitask: Appears stable with multiple instances of program.
4. File: Open: eve(native), svg (alpha). Save: eve, svg, emf. Bitmap export available using menu Control=>Copy window to clipboard as bitmap. Import SVG is limited; even simple elements like ellipse will be altered. Will import BMP/GIF/JPEG pictures and performs simple animation. 74k Eve can be embedded inside a graphic file. When importing SVG file, double-clicking on filename will automatically place it, single-clicking + open will attach it to cursor for paste-down. SVG options: export object trims to size, page saves pixel size of working area. Important note concerning Eve and Opera compatibility: When exporting objects as SVG, Eve generates leading zeros for all four of SVG tag's viewBox attribute values. Opera cannot parse the leading zeros in 1st value and svg objects will likely not display properly. If 1st value (X) has leading zeros or 3rd or 4th values (W and H) are zero, Opera defaults to (0,0) upper-left-corner coordinates and default screen coordinates, ignoring viewBox attribute entirely.
5. Cursor: Cursor coordinates displayed in pixels.
6. MouseMenu: Has context-sensitive right mouse button pop-up menus for selected object. Multiple left-mouse-clicks cycle through several object modes, but have not yet fully explored these.
7. Escape: No escape.
8. Select: Selection by left-click, and deselection by left/right-click away from object. Click on grip allows drag-adjustment. Menu Control=>Selection rectangle. Select all.
9. Object: Right-click after selection brings up context-menu on object. Has object ownership, but have not explored this.
10. Copy: Cannot copy and paste elements from other instances of EveWE. Copy and paste functions are curiously performed by menu Control=>Duplicate selected elements. Can only cut/copy/paste (Ctrl x/c/v) with text, and that while in text object properties window. Bitmap export available using menu Control=>Copy window to clipboard as bitmap.
11. Undo: None.
12. Fillet: Only allowed for rectangles as part of this special object. Use of such features for user-created library objects is unknown.
13. Delete: Delete-key or menu Control=>Delete selected elements.
14. Move: Select and left-mouse drag, or menu Control=>Move selected elements.
15. Dim'n: None. Would have to be explicitly drawn.
16. Layers: One layer.
17. Snap: Sticky-lines will snap to nearby objects. They use path tag and are not intrinsic to SVG.
18. Draw: Objects are brought from menu and pasted only singly in a default form before altering.
19. Redraw: Not as such. May occasionally wish to force screen redraw by bringing up other program windows.
20. Trim: No.
21. Symbols: Individual SVG objects can be exported and imported to and from working diagram as EMF and SVG. Can create libraries of composite objects in a native, but well-documented, format which seem to become part of document--not external libraries. To use them, one would import a diagram which has the library you want. The best way to have symbols in this program is to import an array of them at once as a sort of template and keep them on hand (note EveWE use of "template" means preferences for appearance of document). The only advantage I see to having a "library" is you can access the symbols near the bottom of Elements menu. Could conceivably use bitmap import into objects to give them a more detailed appearance.

    Eve SVG import/export bugs:

    1. Eve generates leading zeros for all four of SVG tag's viewBox attribute values on export (values are right-justified in 6-character fields.) Opera cannot parse the leading zeros in 1st value and svg objects will likely not display properly. If 1st value (X) has leading zeros or 3rd or 4th values (W and H) are zero, Opera defaults to (0,0) upper-left-corner coordinates and default screen coordinates, ignoring viewBox attribute entirely.
    2. Eve generates and maintains EOL chars x0D x0A after an opening text tag.
    3. Eve generates 1 leading, and 1 trailing space in text tags around a block of visible text on export. Importing and exporting adds 1 space more on each end. After 2 spaces each, non-breaking-space characters are added. Performed again, tspan tags appear.
    4. Eve adds 8 to each text coordinate on import (Eve-drawn files just exported are okay.)
    5. Eve adds 8 to SVG tag height on import.

    Dia

    Also, here. Unfortunately, version 0.94 is the last to support Windows 98. Slightly quirky, being a pre-1.0 release, but amazingly easy to use. The SVG and DXF file options are definitely a plus. While this DXF file has text, only the flow chart portions are seen when opened by several CAD programs. Has libraries of shapes like flowcharts and electronics in Toolbox window under menu File=>Sheets and Objects. The DOS window + 2-more was awkward (2 windows to bring forward and resize), as was the constant DOS grumble that it couldn't load MS Sans Serif 8 (which might slow it a little). Can insert full-color images in BMP, GIF, and several other formats (oddly, not JPEG). Loading an SVG file into Opera 9.63 results in maximized fonts. Apparently Opera does not properly interpret the SVG tag's CSS text style attribute. Breaking each of the six text fields into their own text presentation attributes (or at least the size attribute) and multiplying text size by 0.8 is a workaround for this SVG interpretation problem:

    • Dia save format, within style attribute: <text style="fill: #000000; text-anchor:start; font-size: 5; font-family: sans; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal" x="2.55" y="11.15">TEXT</text>
    • Reformatted with separate attributes: <text fill="#000000" text-anchor="start" font-size="4" font-family="sans" font-style="normal" font-weight="normal" x="2.55" y="11.15">TEXT</text>
    • Simplified (will use default font): <text x="2.55" y="11.15" font-size="4">TEXT</text>

    I have not yet tested the effect of different fonts, which will display in slightly different apparent sizes. A simple search-and-replace of <text with <text font-size="0.6" was successful in getting Opera 9.63 to display a flowchart export from DIA.

    Features:
    1. File: Open: Dia XML, svg, dxf, xfig. Save: Dia XML, svg, dxf, hpgl, eps, png, tex, cgm, wpg, xfig, xslt, dia shape.
    2. Library: Yes. Program crashed once or twice during editing. Can save your own drawing as a Dia shape file for import into library. Format is plain text XML in a familiar mark-up style, but non-standard format.
    3. Sticky-lines: Yes, all line tools, including straight, ortho, bezier, poly, and arc.

    Dia SVG import/export bugs:

    1. Dia generates text tag script which utilizes the style attribute. Opera 9.63 does not properly parse CSS style attribute for text as generated by Dia. Workaround: At a minimum, extract the CSS style attribute element text-size="0.8" as its own presentation attribute, and any other elements which would cause problems if ignored.
    2. May need to ensure text-anchor="start".
    3. An imported Dia file shows extra arrowheads. Re-exported, new Dia file exhibits tags for connecting lines shortened (0.4868cm) to accommodate a second arrowhead. This pair of polygon tags are inserted between the connecting line tag and the current pair of arrowhead polygon tags. Process continues to add arrowheads and shorten line.

    Jans' Diagrams

    Easy, small program (1MB). Only user-defined shapes are in a separate plain-text file (UserShapes.xml). This file can be manually edited to provide more than the four sticky connection points that the program's shape editor allows (as well as more shape construction points, of course). I was not able to determine what standard (if any outside this program) the shapes tag in this file conforms to. This program, Eve, and Dia provide the advantages of "sticky lines" and some insertable objects. Libraries have their own native format.

    Features:
    1. File: dgr
    Return to table of contents

    ---

    Data Format Issues

    SVG

    From a free and open perspective, SVG is desirable. Ignoring for now the many commercial programs available, the free entry suggests the Dia editor and Eve Web Edition, with SVG Factory as a useful converter utility. Dia has numerous file format options, including DXF. The Opera browser will display SVG, Open Office supports an "SVG-like" environment with an import filter, and CKEditor can edit SVG from within the browser using Javascript and plug-ins. The utility of these programs for SVG is limited however, as their import/export abilities are a bit incompatible.

    SVG in HTML: Opera will link or include SVG with simple tags:

    • <a href="MyDrawing.svg">Test svg link here!</a>
    • <img SRC="MyDrawing.svg" WIDTH="100" HEIGHT="100"> (img scales to fit; embed keeps size and adds scroll bars)

    Coordinates: In the SVG element, the width and height attributes establish a viewport of that size in screen-space. The viewBox attribute provides x,y coordinates of upper left corner of viewport in user space, followed by the width and height of viewport in user-space units, which effectively act like divisors for width and height attributes in screen-space (defines upper left coordinates of viewport and scales user-space to fit screen-space.) Example: <svg width="4cm" height="5cm" viewBox="0 0 64 80"> creates user coordinate units for drawing of 1/16th of a cm. The location of the viewport on the screen is determined by styling code, but defaults to upper left. Default viewport size is in pixels, but may be cm, mm, in, em, or en which are precisely defined, but of varying accuracy on the screen depending on the user's system.

    Coordinate transformations: <g transform="translate(0,3) scale(1, -1)"> The drawings inserted before the end-group tag will first have their coordinates vector-translated by (0,3), then the y-coordinates multiplied by -1.

    Drawing edges: When stroke-width results in less than 1-pixel widths, Opera degrades gracefully using a gray-scale. Opera renders what should be one pixel black as a 1- or 2-pixel gray-scale from 0.4 to 1.5. If viewBox scales objects 20X, what formerly was sub-pixel is now 20X larger and is cleanly scaled down to 2-pixel widths, where the gray-scale take over once again. Lines are centered on coordinates so lines at borders are only half visible. Thin line precisely on simple coordinates will disappear along right and bottom edges, and be just visible along left and top edges.

    Comparing SVG File Structure: (Eve, DIA)

    1. XML tag: (Note tag delineated by "<?" and "?>"; no closing tag)
       Attributes:
       1. version="1.0"
       2. EVE: encoding="iso-8859-1" (proper encoding declaration renders file intelligeable.)
       3. DIA: encoding="UTF-8" (Doesn't seem to care which one is used, in this case.)
       4. EVE: standalone attribute not used.
       5. DIA: standalone="no"
       Tagged Content: (No closing tag.)
    2. !DOCTYPE tag: (No closing tag.)
       Attributes:
       1. svg
       2. PUBLIC
       3. "-//W3C//DTD SVG 1.0//EN"
       4. EVE: "http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-SVG-20010904/DTD/svg10.dtd"
          DIA: "http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/PR-SVG-20010719/DTD/svg10.dtd"
       Tagged Content: (No closing tag.)
    3. SVG tag: (Closing tag at end of file.)
       Attributes:
       1. EVE: width=" 138px"
          DIA: width="10cm" (width of viewport in screen-space)
       2. EVE: height=" 170px"
          DIA: height="12cm" (height of viewport in screen-space)
       3. viewBox=" 12 8 69 85" (X,Y,W,H) (maps user-space to screen)
          EVE: Adds leading zeros to first value. If leading zeros or W or H are zero, Opera defaults to (0,0) corner(!)
       4. id="Xeve3000000000000000" (EVE only; 20 char fixed field; seems to include filename as part of ID.)
       5. preserveAspectRatio="none" (EVE: "none" scales user-space to fit screen-space; if gone, defaults to true.)
       6. text-rendering="optimizeLegibility" (EVE only, when set)
       7. shape-rendering="crispEdges" (EVE only, when set)
       Tagged Content: All remaining file content before closing tag.
       1. defs tag: (defs tag in EVE file only. First tag in SVG tag.)
          Attributes: None.
          Tagged Content:
          1. filter tag: (filter tag in EVE file only. Closing tag at end of filter.)
             Attributes:
             1. id="negativefilter"
             2. filterUnits="objectBoundingBox"
             3. x="0%"
             4. y="0%"
             5. width="100%"
             6. height="100%"
             Tagged Content:
             1. feColorMatrix tag: (EVE file only; for adjusting image sat/hue/lum.)
                Attributes:
                1. type="matrix"
                2. values="-1 0 0 0 1 0 -1 0 0 1 0 0 -1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 "
                Tagged Content: (No closing tag, but "/" just befor ">".)
       2. rect tag:
          Attributes:
          1. x="2.45"
          2. y="2.15"
          3. width="9.05"
          4. height="3.55"
          5. EVE: style attribute not used.
             DIA: style="fill: none; fill-opacity:0; stroke-width: 0.001; stroke: #ffffff"
          6. EVE: rx="0"
             DIA: rx attribute not used.
          7. EVE: ry="0"
             DIA: ry attribute not used.
          8. EVE: fill="none"
             DIA: fill: none in style attribute.
          9. EVE: stroke="#000000"
             DIA: stroke: #000000" in style attribute.
          10. EVE: stroke-width="1"
              DIA: stroke-width: 0.001 in style attribute. (also seen as 0.1)
          11. EVE: fill-opacity not used.
              DIA: fill-opacity:0 in style attribute.
          Tagged Content: (No closing tag, but "/" just befor ">")
       3. ellipse tag:
          Attributes:
          1. cx="249" (center x coordinate)
          2. cy="249" (center y coordinate)
          3. rx="250" (radius x coordinate)
          4. ry="250" (radius y coordinate)
          5. fill="none"
          6. stroke="#000000"
          7. stroke-width="1"
          Tagged Content: (No closing tag, but "/" just befor ">")
       4. polygon tag:
          Attributes:
          1. fill="none"
          2. stroke="#000000"
          3. stroke-width="1"
          4. points=" 30,-1 50,9 60,29 55,44 40,57 20,57 5,44 0,29 10,9" (First point not duplicated at end.)
          Tagged Content: (No closing tag, but "/" just befor ">")
       5. line tag:
       6. text tag:
          Attributes:
          1. style="fill: #000000; text-anchor:middle; font-size: 0.8; font-family: sans; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal" x="18.2" y="10.475">CommoditySpecSites.x
             Opera: Cannot parse style attribute properly (DIA output). Pull individual attributes out on their own (particularly font-size.)
          2. fill="#000000"
          3. text-anchor="middle"
          4. font-size="0.8"
          5. font-family="sans"
          6. font-style="normal"
          7. font-weight="normal"
       7. path tag: For complex shapes. Eve: partial ellipse default is shown. "Sticky-lines" are paths--not instrinsic to SVG.
          Attributes:
          1. stroke="#000000"
          2. stroke-width="2"
          3. fill="none"
          4. transform="rotate(-100)" (Eve: 90° increments only)
          5. d (path expression)
             Elements:
             1. M 43 13 (Move to x,y starting point)
             2. A 20 20 0 0 0 18 38 (Draw elliptical arc)
                1. rx--horizontal radius (20)
                2. ry--vertical radius (20)
                3. rotAngle--working rotational angle (0)
                4. LargeArcFlag--Draw larger/smaller arc (0 is smaller)
                5. SweepFlag--Draw clockwise/counterclockwise (0 is ccw)
                6. x--final x coordinate for end of arc (18)
                7. y--final y coordinate for end of arc (38)
             3. C 18 7 10 -10 38 40 30 -30 42 25 46 43 (Eve: 2 cubic beziers for sticky line, bezier)
                1. x1 of beginning control vector
                2. y1 of beginning control vector
                3. x2 of ending control vector
                4. y2 of ending control vector
                5. x' of ending point (beginning x coordinate of next element)
                6. y' of ending point (beginning y coordinate of next element)
             4. L 37 32 (Draw line to coordinates)
             5. Z (Close path to starting point)
          Tagged Content: (No closing tag, but "/" just befor ">")
       8. use tag: Internal hyperlink to svg for incorporation.
          Attributes:
          1. xlink:href="#balloon"
          2. x="0"
          3. y="0"
          4. width="200"
          5. height="100"
          Tagged Content: (No closing tag, but "/" just befor ">")
       9. image tag: External hyperlink to svg file for incorporation.
          Attributes:
          1. xlink:href="Balloon.svg"
          2. width="200"
          3. height="150"
          4. x="40"
          5. y="90"
          Tagged Content: (No closing tag, but "/" just befor ">")
       
       

       DWG

       Autodesk's DWG formats and their later DXF formats are clear industry winners. So much so, that litigation about it is just heating up. Like all things proprietary, both DWG and DXF have had many format revisions. The following table will help you navigate this confusing jungle.

       AUTODESK FILE FORMAT VERSIONS (DWG / DXF)
       File Text	Version Name	Other Autocad	Internal Format	A9CAD v2.2.1	CadVance v6.5	TurboCad LE v4.1	DConvert v1.0	CadStd Lite 3.7.0	VectorEngineer QT 1.0	SoftCad.3D v1.16
       MC0.0	Rel. 1.1
       AC1.2	Rel. 1.2
       AC1.4	Rel. 1.4
       AC1.50	Rel. 2.0
       AC2.10	Rel. 2.10
       AC1001	pre-2.5	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC1002	Rel. 2.5			Open		Open	Open/Save			DXF Open(?)
       AC1003	Rel. 2.6			Open		Open	Open/Save			DXF Open(?)
       AC1004	Rel.9			Open		Open	Open/Save			DXF Open(?)
       AC1005	pre-R10	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC1006	Rel.10			Open	Open/Save	Open	Open/Save			DXF Open
       AC1007	pre-R11	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC1008	pre-R11	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC1009	Rel.11/12	LT R1/R2		Open	Open/Save	Open/Save	Open/Save	DXF Open/Save	DXF Save	DXF Open/Save
       AC1010	pre-R13a	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC1011	pre-R13b	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC1012	Rel.13	LT95		Open			Open/Save
       AC1013	pre-R14	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC1014	Rel.14, 14.01	LT97/98		Open			Open/Save
       AC1500	pre-2000	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC1015	2000/2000i/2002			Open/Save			Open/Save
       AC402a	pre-2004a	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC402b	pre-2004b	-	Internal	-	-	-	-
       AC1018	2004/2005/2006	All
       AC1021	2007/2008/2009	All

       You can text-view your DWG file and look at the string at the beginning of your file to determine file format version, or you can use the DWGinfo utility. The output of A9CAD can be back-converted from AC1015 to AC1009 using this free DWG/DXF version/format converter utility. Conversions between DWG and DXF R12 are theoretically provided by the CadVance v6.5 installation as an option from the developers, but the page is old and I don't seem to have it (unless it is in the current Windows installation executable for old v6.5, which may be why it opens and saves in both formats--just a guess.) Both TurboCad and CadVance open and save both DWG and DXF, though, so this may not be critical.

       The bottom line is if you want to work with DWG format, you can use any of the above three applications, but you may also need the DWG version converter to export the file to a different version. For example, an Autocad DXF format version 2000 file created by A9Cad v2.2.1 would have to be converted to Autocad version 12 for earlier programs like CadVance v6.5 and TurboCad v4.1.

       DXF

       The Autodesk DXF format was created so they could "share" data with other applications. The format approximately mirrors the DWG version table above. It's clear that DXF R12 became popular around the time of Windows 98, as several programs support it: The three DWG programs above and CadStdLite, VectorEngineerQT, and SoftCad.3D. The DConvert program is invaluable for DXF conversions, as well. PCB Artist, another printed circuit board design software package given out free as a lost leader for their PCB fabrication business, has a "DXF" export function which will not import into any of these programs that I could find, even after applying DConvert, which successfully processed the file.

       PDF

       PDF might be occassionally useful, depending on the tasks at hand, though it is proprietary and does change format periodically. Most tools for it cost money and the readers cannot extract text. I use XPDF when I need to extract text. Other PDF content extraction is another nightmare I have not yet had to face. Current versions allow active content, so has become a vector for malware.

       WMF

       An obsolete Microsoft vector format succeeded by EMF. Neither compare well with any other vector format. A free utility at SVG Factory can take the vector data in a WMF file and convert it to an SVG file. I'm not seeing it display in Opera, but there is a plain-text file.

       Bitmaps

       Any of the bitmap formats are very useful as an end-user rendering of views and are commonly available.

       Return to table of contents