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ME10 Dynamic Drafting - 2002 - Release 11.0 |
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ME10 Dynamic Drafting - 2002 - Release 11.0 |
CoCreate have put a lot of effort into the latest version of their incredibly successful 2D baby ME10. Recent press releases gave a pretty good picture of what we should expect - and expectations have been high.
Never before have so many enhancements been implemented on the basis of feedback and recommendations of users themselves. The ideas and creativity of users have provided CoCreate with the foundation to build a fresh and exciting version worthy of an existence in the 21st century. The big challenge has been to implement these ideas in a robust and user-friendly way.
ME10 Dynamic Drafting has, for the first time since "8.7", provided major enhancements outside the sphere of the WUI and 2D-to-3D migration. For example, those of us who have recently had to rely on Hewlett-Packard's "MEPrint" solution will be pleased to know that 11.0 provides macro control of the printer selection and configuration process. Drawings may also be printed directly from a browser without actually having to start ME10. This does not require a license either!
Other very useful enhancements include: "Drag and drop" parts browser in the WUI - making parts management as easy as it can ever be expected to be. Projected Reference Point (PRP). Provides a means of projecting the intersection point of two non-parallel lines to one point. This point is displayed as an extension of the two lines and a point. The great thing about this is that PRP is associative and can be dimensioned. (Pity it doesn't work with arcs and circles.) Text placement before text input; giving a clear picture of how the text will look - including font and text settings! This also applies to text editing. Load and create HPGL and HPGL/2 files. Great news for users of HPGL plotters! Reference lines can now be linked to dimensions. |
System/Interface improvements that should be mentioned are: More "Windows-like" implementation of classic menus and tables in the WUI. Menu clicks in the WUI can now be set to react on mouse button clicks and not just lifts. An elegant implementation of hybrid classic/WUI menus - "Mixed". New colors here! "Page Up" bug fixed in WUI. Use "Page Down" (!) to access previously used manual commands. File compression is now handled within the ME10 code - no decompression problems now! Line patterns have been improved allowing not only user-definitions but also preventing virtual "open" corners. Graphics performance has been enhanced with double-buffering and selective box representation of certain element types, parts etc. When exiting ME10 asks to save the drawing only if it has been changed. AutoCAD 2000 support for DWG/DXF read and write. Namespaces have been introduced to help avoid unintentional deletion or modification of system INFOS. |
Problems still exist though. For example in the WUI viewports still suffer from always being hidden under menus and tables. This problem first showed up in 10.50 and is particularly apparent when using Dynamic Viewports (eSupport macro). It would also have been nice if CoCreate had seen fit to fill the holes in the INQ system. It is still quite a big job to get information about particular elements and environment settings.
As a design tool in itself - it is particularly satisfying to see the new name "ME10 Dynamic Drafting". This goes a long way in consolidating its position as a valuable partner to OneSpace Designer (aka. SolidDesigner). The name-change will also help to support many ME10-based companies in their reasoning behind continued use of 2D at some level in their design process.
To summarize: ME10 2002 is probably going to establish itself as a replacement for the very successful 8,7 release. Bugs may turn up but CoCreate have invested such a lot in 11.0 that fixes will be made available very quickly in order to avoid disappointment. In cooperation with users CoCreate are already planning for future versions. Enhancements will, like now, be based upon the users' own requests. So, keep sending them your good ideas - no matter what they may be - because it pays off in the end!
Not forgetting a Merry Christmas and Happy New ME10 2002!