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4MCAD Features & Highlights

4MCAD 27: What’s New

4MCAD 27 has been upgraded to incorporate the latest ICAD 15.0 engine and ODA 26.12.0.0 libraries, delivering significant performance improvements, including faster grip and snap operations, substantial speed gains across numerous commands, faster drawing file opening, enhanced LISP performance, and much more.

In addition to its numerous performance enhancements and new features, 4MCAD 27 introduces three major advantages:

a) AI-powered capabilities that open up a new era of usability and productivity, transforming the way users interact with 4MCAD.

b) A powerful collaborative environment that enables multiple 4MCAD users to work simultaneously on the same project, streamlining teamwork and coordination.

c) Intelligent drawing comparison that allows users to compare any two drawings, identify differences, and review changes visually, with modifications highlighted using colors and revision clouds.

AI-powered capabilities (4MCAD PRO)

Use Anthropic® Claude®, Google® Antigravity™, or OpenAI™ ChatGPT® to do a series of tasks, like the following for example:

• Ask anything about how to use 4MCAD to view details and instructions.
• Use plain language to select entities in the current drawing.
• Query a drawing for information, such as a list of layers, blocks, etc.
• Generate and run a LISP application based on a natural language prompt using the /lisp-developer command.

Performance

• Entity snapping and entity snap tracking are refactored for improved stability and performance (Up to 60% faster line creation when using entity snaps).
• Advanced blocks are refactored for improved stability and performance.
• Running .fas and .vlx files is much faster.
• Faster performances when VBA is enabled (i.e. undoing an operation is up to 12x faster and the use of the copy command 2x faster).
• Working with large snapshot slide files is up to 3x faster.
• Working with VBA objects in model space is much faster.

User interface

• Turn selection cycling visual aids on or off from the status bar.
• Switch between the Options and Drawing Settings dialogs directly from each dialog.
• Standard versions of the program include the ribbon, quick access toolbar, and Start page.
• The active prompt in the command bar displays the name of the current command.
• Open sheet set files directly from the Start page.

Working with files

• Export and print drawings to geospatial PDFs, which include coordinate system
• information from the drawing.
• Load compiled LISP applications (.vlx files) and fast-load LISP applications (.fas files).
• Digitally sign drawings using Cryptography Next Generation (CNG) technology.
• BIM objects with a measure to the left edge, center or right edge of doors/windows when placing them on walls and anchor settings for windows/doors.
• Work with the parts catalog of an .rfa file in the BIM Properties pane.
• Import raked walls using custom geometry from .ifc files.
• Other BIM features (Specify the threshold height property for doors, flip curved walls etc).
• Drawing Compare command to compare the current drawing with another drawing to view and work with their differences, which are highlighted with color and revision clouds.
• Create, edit, and compile LISP applications using the Make LISP Application command (includes compiling .vlx and .fas).
• Enhanced dialog box with the Load Application command to manage application files.
• View a slide contained in a slide library (.slb) file (when the FILEDIA system variable is set to 0).

Text

• Right-click a misspelled word to view and select from the list of suggested corrections.
• Check the spelling of text in tables.
• Selecting and modifying entities
• View and modify advanced block properties in the Properties pane.
• Edit polygon viewports using grips.
• Specify the precision for polyline comparisons and conversions independently of other entity types when using the Overkill command.
• Entity snap tracking to track the endpoints of arcs when using the Tangent snap.
• Preview how entities will be modified directly in the drawing when using the Fillet and Chamfer commands.

Tables

• Automatically fill table cells with blocks located in selected cells.
• Use the keyboard to navigate table cells using the Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys.

Layers

• Export group layer filters to .lft files.
• Copy layers and their settings to paste the data into other applications (i.e. Excel®).

Explorer

• Optimize or maximize any column.
• Freeze or unfreeze column positions for layers.

Printing and publishing

• Ability to print shaded viewports located on the Model tab according to visual styles, regardless of how the entities display on the screen.
• Choose the quality, or resolution, to use when printing shaded and rendered viewports located on the Model tab.
• Sheets from .dxf files when using the Publish command.
• Open the Publish dialog box when working with sheet sets to access the full range of publishing capabilities directly from the Sheet Set Manager pane.

More features

• Reverse the effect of several undo actions using the Multiple Redo command.
• Undo and redo changes made to session and registry system variables.
• Test Block command to test advanced blocks in a temporary window.
• Import page setups from .dwt and .dwf files.
• Overkill command also with dimensions and multileaders.
• Add images, external references, and leaders to tool palettes.
• Switch between Microsoft Bing® and Azure® geographic services using the GEOMICROSOFTSERVICE command at the command line.
• Draw revision clouds in polygon and freehand shapes.
• Set varying intervals for linear segments; segments can share the same start and end points but have different interval lengths.
• Fill table cells automatically using pattern-based incrementing for many common sequences.
• Insert a field as all or part of an attribute default value by pressing Ctrl+F in the Edit Attribute Definition dialog box.

APIs

• LISP Debugger Extension: "program" option to specify the path to IntelliCAD, and “cwd” option to specify the working directory.
• LISP: tablet setbutton and several CAutoMLeader methods.
• .NET: .PaletteSet includes a Close method.
• IcARX: OdBrBrep getPointContainment.
• LISP API with advanced block support, read and write UTF-8 formats, (vlisp-compile), (notify_user).
• .NET: PaletteSet.Size, PaletteSet.DockEnabled, PaletteSet.RolledUp, PaletteSet.KeepFocus, PaletteSet.EnableTransparency, PaletteSet.RecalculateDockSiteLayout, PaletteSet.SetLocation.
• IRX: ExternalApplication::ModuleType, IcDbProxyInfoPE protocol extension.
• IcARX: IcDbProxyInfoPE.
• VBA: DimArcLength class, IIcadTable methods, (vla-get-BlockScaling blkObj), (vla-getCellValue tableEnt).
• DCL: JPG and BMP format support.

System variables

• New system variables: AECCYCLEMEASURETO, BLOCKTESTWINDOW, COMPARERCMODE, COMPARESHOWRC, PUBLISHALLSHEETS, REVCLOUDAPPROXARCLEN, REVCLOUDARCVARIANCE, and REVCLOUDCREATEMODE.
• Updated system variables: AFLAGS, TRACKPATH, ETRACKDELAY.
• Updated color default values: BKGCOLOR, CMDLINEBKGCOLOR, CMDLINEKEYWORDCOLOR, CMDLINEKEYWORDBKGCOLOR, CMDLINEKEYWORDHLTCOLOR, CMDLINETEXTCOLOR, CMDHISTORYTEXTCOLOR, CMDHISTORYBKGCOLOR, GRIDCOLORMAJOR, GRIDCOLORMINOR, PSICONCOLOR, and PSPACEBKGCOLOR.

Technical Details 4MCAD27

• Redesigned on top of the IntelliCAD 15.0 engine.
• ODA SDKs updated to version 26.12.0.0.
• Spatial ACIS libraries are updated to version 2026.1.0.0hf.
• LibXL libraries are updated to version 5.1.0.
• Open Cascade platform is updated to version 7.9.0 for importing and exporting STEP
• and IGES format files.
• IcARX development continues with additional functions compatible with the Autodesk® AutoCAD® ObjectARX® API, allowing members to create a single codebase to support both IntelliCAD and AutoCAD application development.
• Source code and add-on applications are built with Microsoft Visual Studio® 2022 and Microsoft Visual C++
• Platform Toolset (v143 14.44.35207 or newer).

Enhancements regarding the previous version 4MCAD v.26

Performance:

• Redesigned on the latest ICAD 14.0 engine and the new ODA 2025.12 libraries
• Increased speed of grips and snaps, as well as acceleration of commands such as Move, Union, View, Break, Copy to Clipboard
• Faster opening of drawings (up to 10× faster), including very complex 3D models and outlines
• Improved performance of LISP files
• Faster entity creation for IcARX applications

New Features: 

• Support for Autodesk® Revit® 2025 RVT and RFA files 
• New Polygon command for automatic creation of polygons with a specified number of sides 
• New Sculpt command for creating 3D solids by cutting and combining surfaces and solids 
• New Spaces command for creating architectural spaces 
• Automatic saving to an “Emergency Saved Drawings” folder if saving fails (e.g., due to network disconnection) 
• Unicode font support
• Generation of QR codes from a text paragraph
   

Data Management & Export: 

• Import of .svg files
• Complete redesign of the Extract Data command for faster and more efficient operation 
• Creation of filters to export only entities with specific properties or entities used in the drawing 

Additional Functions:

• Ability to export drawing windows from the program’s main window to work on multiple screens without reopening the program
• Improved workflow of the Attribute Editor for easy editing of values, text settings, and properties of each attribute in a block 
• Automatic filling of table cells from existing cells 
• Overkill command functionality for entities such as rays, infinite lines, text, multiline text, and hatches 
• Trim command functionality for table entities 
• Redesigned 3D Positioner command with a dialog window for precise movement or rotation of objects along one or multiple axes 
• Multiple layout selection for batch copying, deleting, etc 

4MCAD: Summary of Features

DWG format full compatibility

• Native .dwg file support
• Read/Write to Autocad format 

Interoperability – working with files

• Full support of Autodesk® Revit® files
• Import IFC files (4MCAD PRO)
• PDF to CAD conversion -DWG file (4MCAD PRO)
• Import Revit files (RFA and RVT format files) (4MCAD PRO)
• Import/Export IGES format files (4MCAD PRO)
• Import/Export STEP format files (4MCAD PRO)
• Import/Export ACIS 3D Solids *.sat
• Working with point clouds – attaching point cloud .rcp/.rcs files
• Import 3D Collada *.dae
• 3D PDF  Export
• Export - 2D/3D *.pdf, *.svg, *,dwf, *.bmp, *.emf, *.wmf, *.dwf & *.stl file extensions
• Open/Save - *.dwg, *.dxf, *,dwf, *.dxb & *.dwt file extensions
• Export three-dimensional models to an .obj (Wavefront Technologies) file
• Import map files by connecting to PostgreSQL, MySQL, and WFS servers
• Use the Audit command to check for errors in .ifc files that are attached as underlays
• Export to .pdf files using an improved interface.

BIM entities/objects (4MCAD PRO)

• ADT Objects (architectural desktop objects): Creates ADT walls, openings (windows, doors), curtain walls, stairs, ramps, roofs, rails, studs, joists etc
• Conversion of entities to walls and slabs.
• Steel Elements: creates steelwork elements: profiles, plates, bolts, studs, joists etc.
• Wood Elements: creates woodwork elements.
• Creation of elevation lines and section lines.

3D Solid Modelling (4MCAD PRO)

• Conversion of entities to three-dimensional meshes or surfaces using the Convert to Mesh and Convert to Surface commands.
• Facet Modeler to draw these 3D entity types: box (FMBOX), cone (FMCONE), cylinder (FMCYLINDER), pyramid (FMPYRAMID), sphere (FMSPHERE), and torus (FMTORUS).
• Draw construction lines using the new Construction Line command.
• FM3DCONVERT and FMEXTRUDE commands to convert more types of three-dimensional entities to other types of three-dimensional entities.
• Editing of the 3D entities of the new Facet Modeler: 3D convert (FM3DCONVERT), extrude (FMEXTRUDE), intersect (FMINTERSECT), revolve (FMREVOLVE), subtract (FMSUBTRACT), and union (FMUNION)

Interface

• Tool Palette (acad-like Tool Palette)
• Ribbon menus & menu bar interface, both together at the same time.
• Α number of facilities and auxiliary tools such as Quick CUI command, Right-click a drawing tab to see options for the tab, Cursor Types (regular, gunsightand XOR when overlapping a same color area), “Save Workspace” command for saving a workspace and its settings, “Close All Others” command to close all drawing windows except the current one and many others.
• Home view or use of the rotate arrows using the view cube.
• New Visualized ribbon tab

Blocks and External references

• Insertion of Dynamic blocks
• Convert Block to XRef to convert each occurrence of a selected block to an external reference.
• Find and replace blocks (4MCAD Standard & 4MCAD PRO)
• Block Library with up to 1000 blocks (4MCAD PRO)
• Block Library Manager (4MCAD PRO)
• Insertion of blocks in table cells

Selecting and modifying entities

• Selection Filter command to display the Selection Filter pane (allowing to filter and select entities by layer, color, entity type, and linetype).
• Selection Cycling tab to specify how to select when selecting entities that overlap.
• Overkill command to delete or combine duplicate or overlapping entities.
• View and select a range of actions on the Undo/Redo toolbar
• Thicken command to convert surfaces and meshes into three-dimensional solids with a specified thickness (4MCAD PRO).
• Additional grips and properties to polygons, rectangles and break lines, for smart editing.
• Break at Point command to break an entity into two without removing a portion of the entity.
• 3D Positioner command to move and rotate entities interactively in three-dimensional space.
• Capability to explode remote text (rtext) entities in drawings created in another CAD program.

Viewing

• Advanced Photo-realistic 3D Rendering (4MCAD Standard & 4MCAD PRO)
• Raster Image Support (4MCAD Standard & 4MCAD PRO)
• Graphical Block Preview
• CAMERA command to create and modify view settings for a drawing

Text

• Work with multiline text using right-to-left fonts.
• Create additional types of lists for multiline text.
• Resize text using the Scale Text command.
• Draw a circle, rectangle, or dashed line around text using the Enclose Text with Shape command.
• Position text within a defined space using the Text Fit command.

Print

• Export Layout to Model (.dwg)
• Publish drawings to DWF and DWFx.
• 3D Printing files
• Auto Publish command to automatically create electronic files (.dwf/.pdf) from the current drawing.

APIs

• Microsoft .NET 4.5 API - .NET wrappers for architectural objects.
• Load IRX applications automatically in IntelliCAD via the registry.
• Autodesk® Development System (ADS) support
• Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications - VBA 7.1 (4MCAD PRO)
• LISP support (including DCL)

Enhanced Performance

• High performance when snapping to .pdf files, blocks with many nested entities and point clouds.
• Zoom and Pan, extremely fast for clipped external references.
• Opening external reference files much faster.
• Enhanced performance when selecting by window.
• Incremental saving of .dwg files is supported, providing much faster saving of large .dwg files that contain only a few changes.
• Faster polyline vectorization.
• Quick Select command is faster by 2x in large drawings.
• Faster display of large geographic images.
• Faster cursor response in large drawings with no selection preview.

4MCAD is available in four versions:

4MCAD Viewer: CAD Viewing & Printing 

4MCAD Classic: 2D/3D CAD Complete Design (lowest price/highest value for the 2D designers)

4MCAD Standard: 4MCAD Classic + Raster Image + Rendering

4MCAD PRO (Professional): 4MCAD Standard + Files (BIM/IFC, STEP, IGES, Revit-RFA/RVT, +PDF2DWG) + ADT Objects (Conventional/Steel/Wood) + 3D Solids + VBA support + Library Manager

4MCAD PRO and 4MCAD Standard are also available in HK (hardlock key) and CK (cloud key) licenses.

More specifically here are all the three different types of licenses:

1. Software Key License

• A unique serial number will be provided for Software activation over internet

• License can be transferred to some other computer using "Deactivate" button in Startup Wizzard

• There is no limit on number of License Transfers

• Internet connection needed during activation and deactivation

• One license will work only in computer at a given point of time

• Need to connect user computer to Internet after 30 days offline

2. Cloud Key License

• A unique serial number will be provided for Software use

• License is controlled by 4M Cloud License Server

• One License will work in any one computer over internet at a given point of time

• No need of activation or deactivation

• Install software in any computer, give the Serial Number, and use it

• Once you exit 4MCAD, license will be transferred back to cloud server automatically

• License can be used in any global location

• This method is ideal for changing work locations

• Internet connection is needed always in client computer for License Communication

3. Hardlock Key License

• USB Dongle and a serial number will be sent physically to client

• Install software in any Windows based computer, connect USB dongle, give the Serial Number and use the software

• Dongle can be shifted to any computer and no need to uninstall/reinstall the software

• No need to contact us even if the computer is formatted or crashed

• No need of internet or LAN connection

• If USB dongle is damaged, a new USB dongle can be purchased. But if dongle is lost, client needs to buy new licens