Before You Begin

Upgrading from DataCAD 8 - 10

If you are upgrading from DataCAD 8, 9, or 10, you will need to be aware of changes to the
drawing file format, directory structure, file and folder names, and program default settings. The
What’s New in DataCAD? file located in the Help directory contains more details about new
features and enhancements that have been added to DataCAD since version 11. Due to the
fundamental nature of these changes, DataCAD must be installed into a new program folder. The
installation program will not allow DataCAD to be installed in the same folder as prior versions.

If you are installing DataCAD on a computer with a prior version, you may have existing
program preferences and customized support files like wall types, door types, window types,
hatch patterns, and line types. During installation, you can choose to copy some of your settings
and files to your DataCAD program folder automatically. You will need to copy other support
files manually. Customizable files (such as drawings, XREF drawings, symbols, and templates)
are not automatically copied into your DataCAD program folder during installation. You need to
decide which of these files, if any, you will copy into your DataCAD program folder.

These instructions will help you update your DataCAD software. We recommend that you make
a complete backup of your program data and support files before you install this upgrade and
before you modify, copy, or convert any data or support files. If you don’t make a backup, you
may not be able to recover from an error or program failure.

New Directory Structure

DataCAD 8 through 10 were installed in a folder named DataCAD. The folders shown in the
Older Versions column have been replaced by the folders shown in Version 11 and later column.

Older Versions Version 11 and later

\BMP \Bitmaps
\Default \Default Drawings
\DWG \Drawings
\CHR \Fonts
\Help \Help
\LYR \Layer Files
\DCX \Macros
\Materials \Materials
\o2c \o2c Objects
\PLT \Plot Files
\FRM \Report Forms
\SUP \Support Files
\SYM \Symbols
\TPL \Templates
\TEMP \Temporary Files
\Textures \Textures
\XFER \Transfer
Drawing Files
DataCAD drawing files have a new file format. This is primarily due to the enhancement to a
double-precision database. All existing DataCAD drawing files (DC5) are automatically
converted to the new format when you open them. When you close the drawing files, they are
saved in the new format with the AEC extension (the original DC5 is not overwritten). Once you
have converted your drawings, all future edits should be performed in the AEC file. This applies
to all DataCAD drawing files, even if they are used as a default drawing or an XREF.

You can convert several drawing files at once by selecting multiple DC5 files in the File\Open
dialog. Once they are open, select File\Close All. The resultant AEC files will automatically be
saved at the same location as the DC5 files. DataCAD will convert DC5 files to AEC files, but it
will not convert AEC files to DC5 files.

(Pro) Default Drawings

DataCAD cannot use your existing DC5 default drawings until they are converted to AEC files.
Therefore, we recommend that you convert your existing default drawings, if any, before you
create any new drawings. Default drawings may be converted from DC5 to AEC using the
method described in the “Drawing Files” section of this document.

(Pro) XREF Drawings

We recommend that you convert your XREF drawings from DC5 to AEC before you attempt to
open the master drawing file in which they are inserted. If you don’t convert them, the XREFs
could be flagged as orphans since they are not valid AEC files yet. If they are flagged as
orphaned XREFs, you will need to convert the XREF drawings and resolve their orphaned status
in the Reference File Manager.

If the XREFs remain in their original folders when you open the Master file, DataCAD will
attempt to automatically convert them from DC5 to AEC format provided that Automatically
Convert is checked in the XREFs section on the Drawing tab of Program Preferences. If they are
not found in their original location, DataCAD will search the current drawing folder and attempt
to convert them. If they are not found there either, they will be flagged as Orphans.

Symbols
DataCAD 11 introduced a powerful new feature called the Symbol Browser. This toolbar lets
you view and use all of your symbol folders without cumbersome template files. By taking
advantage of the Symbol Browser toolbar, you will probably find that you no longer need your
existing template files. In addition, the symbol libraries that are included with DataCAD have
been reorganized into a logical directory structure, making symbols easier to find.

DataCAD symbol files have a new file format and use the file extension DSF. DataCAD can
read existing symbol files (with the SM3 extension) as well as the new DSF file format. You can
access your existing symbol libraries with the Symbol Browser by setting the path to your
existing symbol folder. DataCAD automatically creates DSF files when you save symbols.
Support Files
DataCAD has a variety of support files used for different purposes; you can customize many of
these files. You may have modified some of your DataCAD support files in a previous version or
installed add-on products for DataCAD which updated them.

The DataCAD installation program allows you copy your existing program preferences and
customized files. If you chose to copy these files, they will be copied into your DataCAD
program folder during installation.

Files copied from DataCAD 8 - 10

Support File Type Original Location Filename
Fonts DataCAD\CHR\ *.CHR
Report Forms DataCAD\FRM\ *.FRM
Toolbox Macros DataCAD\DCX *.DCX
Hatch Pattern Definition File DataCAD\SUP\ DCADWIN.PAT
Hatch Pattern Preview Settings File DataCAD\SUP\ DCADWIN.PAT.INI
Keyboard Macro File DataCAD\SUP\ DCADWIN.MCR
Line Type Definition File DataCAD\SUP\ DCADWIN.LIN
Command Line Alias File DataCAD\SUP\ DCADWIN.DCA
Dimension Style Files DataCAD\SUP\ *.DIMSTYLE
Palette Files DataCAD\SUP\ *.RGB
o2c Rendering Settings Files DataCAD\SUP\ *.DMF
Text Style File DataCAD\SUP\ TEXT.STL
Wall Style File DataCAD\SUP\ WALL.STL
DWG Translator Color Mapping Files DataCAD\SUP\ *.TBL
DWG Translator Settings Files DataCAD\SUP\ *.INI
Shader Light Settings Files DataCAD\SUP\ *.LIT
Default Angles DataCAD\SUP\ DCADWIN.ANG
Default Decimals DataCAD\SUP\ DCADWIN.DEC
Default Distances DataCAD\SUP\ DCADWIN.DIS
Default Scales DataCAD\SUP\ DCADWIN.SCL
Toolbar Files ..\SUP\MENUPOF\ *.KEY, *.BMP
Spell Checker User Dictionary File DataCAD\SUP\ USERDIC.TLX
Plotter Pen Settings Files DataCAD\SUP\ *.PEN
Default Drawings DataCAD\DEFAULT\ *.DC5
 Files copied from DataCAD 11 and later
Support File Type Original Location Filename
Fonts DataCAD\Fonts\ *.CHR
Report Forms DataCAD\Report Forms\ *.FRM
Toolbox Macros DataCAD\Macros *.DCX, *.DMX
Hatch Pattern Definition File ..\Support Files\ DCADWIN.PAT
Hatch Pattern Preview Settings File ..\Support Files\ DCADWIN.PAT.INI
Line Type Definition File ..\Support Files\ DCADWIN.LIN
Command Line Alias File ..\Support Files\ DCADWIN.DCA
Text Style File ..\Support Files\ TEXT.STL
Command Line Alias File ..\Support Files\ DCADWIN.DCA
Dimension Style Files ..\Support Files\ *.DIMSTYLE
Palette Files ..\Support Files\ *.RGB
o2c Rendering Settings Files ..\Support Files\ *.DMF
Plotter Pen Settings Files ..\Support Files\ *.PEN
Text Style (Obsolete) ..\Support Files\ TEXT.STL
Wall Style File ..\Support Files\ WALL.STL
DWG Translator Color Mapping Files ..\Support Files\ *.TBL
DWG Translator Settings Files ..\Support Files\ *.INI
Shader Light Settings Files ..\Support Files\ *.LIT
Default Angles ..\Support Files\ DCADWIN.ANG
Default Decimals ..\Support Files\ DCADWIN.DEC
Default Distances ..\Support Files\ DCADWIN.DIS
Default Scales ..\Support Files\ DCADWIN.SCL
Toolbar Files ..\Toolbars\ *.*
Hatch Patterns ..\Hatch Patterns\ *.DHP
Line Types ..\Line Types\ *.DLT
Spell Checker User Dictionary File ..\Support Files\ USERDIC.TLX
Pen Tables ..\Support Files\ *.PEN, *.DPF
Default Drawings ..\Default Drawings\ *.AEC

Files copied from DataCAD 12 and later

Support File Type Original Location Filename
Wall Types ..\Support Files\Wall Types *.WLS
Door Types ..\Support Files\Door Types *.DOR
Window Types ..\Support Files\Window Types *.WIN

Text Fonts
DataCAD provides direct support for SHX fonts and TrueType fonts (TTF). DataCAD CHR
fonts are no longer used. However, your existing DataCAD fonts are automatically converted to
SHX format. If you have additional CHR fonts, you can copy them to your DataCAD ‘Fonts’
folder. If you are using TrueType fonts in DataCAD, you don’t need to copy those font files
since Windows manages your TrueType fonts from a central location on your computer.

DCAL Macros
If you have additional DCAL Macros installed with your previous DataCAD version, you can
copy those files into your DataCAD ‘Macros’ folder. DCAL Macros have the file extension
DCX. Some macros may have additional support files or settings files that need to be copied
along with them. In versions of DataCAD prior to 11, macros resided in the ‘DCX’ folder.
The following macros are no longer included with DataCAD and should not be used:
 LyrUtil (Layer Utility)
SymExp (Symbol Explode)
EstLink (Estimator Link)
ViewMast (View Master)

Functionality from LyrUtil and SymExp is built into Layers, LayerSets and 3D Explode menus
respectively. Do not copy LyrUtil, SymExp, EstLink, or ViewMast macros into the ‘Macros’
folder.