The new-look Autodesk 2017 for Mac. Notice the greater access to tools, tabbed drawings and an anchored command line.
In the Mac debut of its industry-leading CAD package, AutoCAD, Autodesk has signaled that improved user experience (UX) is very much in demand with the software’s users.
First up in Autodesk 2017 for Mac’s new features is a user interface overhaul that transforms the software’s interface into a more organized and intuitive space for design. Now users will have access to tabbed drawings that rest above the model space window, a command line interface that’s anchored at the bottom of the screen, an updated status bar and quicker access to drawing, dimensioning and other widely used tools.
Drilling a bit deeper into the redesigned tool set overhaul, users will notice that there are now two tabs that control what commands are readied on the palette. The first tab, Drafting, contains many of the most used Draw, Modify, Dimensioning and other tools that drafters use. A second tab, Modeling, contains many 3D tools along with other features used to render more realistic versions of a project.
Another important feature of the new tool interface is its ability to accommodate every user’s workflow whims. Within each section (Draw, Modify, Dimension, etc.), users can specify which commands they wish to be displayed, making it much easier to access the tools that are heavily used.
In addition to the UX aspects of the new release, Autodesk has also added a new feature to its PDF import tool, giving users greater control over what they can rip from a PDF. Through the use of the Import command, drafters will have the option to choose which pages they want to add to their model space, specify scaling rotation and insertion points, control how text is rendered from the document into the software and more.
As of this release, Autodesk is really tightening up its AutoCAD for Mac package; however, the fact still remains that AutoCAD for Mac isn’t the same piece of software as its PC-based equivalent. A number of tools are still missing from the Mac edition of AutoCAD, and users thinking of switching to an Apple machine should keep that in mind before jumping ship.
Still, AutoCAD remains an indispensable tool for many designers, and if they’re using a Mac, they’ll still be well served by this new release.
To learn more about the additional features in Autodesk 2017 for Mac, visit Autodesk’s blog, where a complete list of enhancements are spelled out in detail.