d dealing with the terrible design of the new ADT/LDT CAD environments.  The Inmates are Running the Asylum!

I think it may be time to take a hard look at Graphisoft.

Again from a recent email newsletter-- upFront eZine (grabowski@telus.net)

ArchiCAD v8's new Layout Book organizes a project's entire documentation into one file. Features include automatic page numbering, multiple master pages, and intelligent title block elements. All updates to the virtual building are documented automatically on the final drawing sheets.

Solid geometry operations allow more complex elements, improved bills of materials, and quantity surveys. OpenGL support allows real-time 3D navigation at photo rendering quality, with the building remaining fully editable.

Also new are polylines; faster section generation; the ability to create new elements from the start; a new detail tool; parametric detail markers that meet local standards; and simplified user interface for fewer mouse clicks.

ArchiCAD 8 runs on Windows 2000 and XP; MacOS 9.1 and OS X. English, German and French versions will be available this fall, with other localized versions released through the first half of 2003. http://www.graphisoft.com/products/architecture_and_design/graphisoft_archicad/archicad8/

In related good news, Graphisoft US says that since the beginning of 2002, the subsiduary of the Hungarian software company has added nearly 500 AEC firms to its client roster. Sales of ArchiFM increased by 60% over last year.

In the bad news department, Graphisoft said its Q2 revenues were e6.6 million, a 22.5% decrease from a year earlier. Graphisoft blames the global economic slowdown and its product development cycle, foreign exchange losses, and a change in its goodwill accounting created a e0.7 net loss for the first half of the year. Lower sales in Europe (by e1.4M) were offset by increased sales in North America (by e0.7M).