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  2. What’s New in DraftSight 2024

DraftSight 2024 Features

DraftSight 2024 is a robust DWG design solution featuring a refined UI, tool palettes, layer palette, and the ability to merge layers for file size reduction. It introduces data link for Excel integration and efficient reference attachment. The update also brings enhanced hatch editing, improved layer control, a Mac OS Ribbon UI, and the unique ability to import CATIA drawings as DWG files. Explore all of the new features in DraftSight 2024.

Tool Palettes

Streamline the process of creating drawings and maintain uniformity. Access all your frequently utilized commands and functions conveniently in a single location. Guarantee that newly generated elements adhere to predefined standards throughout your drawings.

Layer Palette

Exercise greater layer control with the Layer Palette for all your layer commands within a single, accessible interface. The transition from a dialog box to a versatile palette not only enhances the visual workspace but also promotes efficiency. Now, you can efficiently manage your layers without interruption. This means that you can focus on your drawing, making adjustments to layers, and organizing your project, all while keeping your drawing in view.

CATIA Drawing Import

The DraftSight 2024 release includes support for CATIA drawings allowing you to collaborate with your supply chain with clarity and precision. You now have the ability to import CATIA drawings directly into DraftSight and open them as DWG files with no manual conversion required.

Enhanced User Interface

Navigate standard views and isometric views with ease by using the newly introduced View navigator in DraftSight 2024. Experience reduced eyestrain and enhanced feature visibility with the default Dark mode interface. In addition, a new workspace, CAD General, has been introduced. This workspace organizes all the tools in a conventional manner, similar to other CAD software’s, ensuring a smooth transition for DraftSight users.

Data Link

Introducing the new Data Link feature in DraftSight 2024. Now you can easily embed Excel files, maintaining real-time accuracy through two-way communication. Enhance your data management and foster cross-file collaboration with this advanced capability.

Merge Layer

DraftSight 2024 brings the Merge Layers feature, a robust tool designed to consolidate multiple layers into a single layer. This new addition simplifies complex drawings and allows for the organization of related entities, leading to optimized drawings that enhance efficiency and ensure precision in both 2D and 3D projects.

Attach Multiple Xrefs

Now you can conveniently attach multiple reference files at once. To utilize this feature, click "Attach Drawing" and choose the desired files, including image PDFs and DGN files. Reduce time spent managing file paths and get back to drafting quicker with this great new addition to DraftSight 2024.

Export Sheet

Now with DraftSight 2024 you can rapidly create new drawings from existing files without loss of detail. Export all the visible entities of the active sheet viewports in model space to a new drawing. This feature enables you to improve the legibility and focus of specific sections, areas, or views within your drawing by exporting scaled representations of model space, title blocks, and other annotative elements, including dimensions and notes.

Ribbon Based Interface for MacOS

Experience enhanced Ribbon UI for DraftSight on macOS. In the previous Mac version, the interface was menu-based with limited customization options. Now, macOS users can enjoy a unified, optimized user interface, providing the same experience as our Windows users.

Make Flat Snapshot Improvements

In DraftSight 2024, a significant improvement has been made to the Make Flat Snapshot command. Now, you can easily link foreground and hidden lines to specific layers from the Flat Snapshot dialog, enhancing organization and enabling swift visibility adjustments based on layer associations.

Reshaping Hatches

Explore the latest enhancements in DraftSight's hatch functionality, providing users with greater flexibility when reshaping hatches, all without the hassle of recreating them. This is achieved by breaking the associative link between the hatch and its original boundary, unlocking a range of grips surrounding the entire hatch. These grips empower users to execute a multitude of actions, including stretching, vertex insertion, and converting to arcs.

DraftSight Features

Feature Comparison

 

 Professional*Premium**MechanicalEnterpriseEnterprise Plus
Basic Tools 
Draw tools (Line, Polyline, Arc, Circle, Ellipse, Table, Hatch, Cloud, Block...)
YesYesYesYesYes
Modify tools (Move, Copy, Rotate, Array, Scale, Trim, Chamfer, Split...)
YesYesYesYesYes
Layer, Block, Group, Print
YesYesYesYesYes
Spline Editing with Fit and Control Vertices 
YesYesYesYesYes
Hatch Fill and Gradient
YesYesYesYesYes
Discarding Duplicate Entities
YesYesYesYesYes
Quick Modify: Copy/Move/Rotate/Scale
YesYesYesYesYes
Insert Centerlines
YesYesYesYesYes
Pasting to Active Layer
YesYesYesYesYes
Layer Preview
YesYesYesYesYes
View Navigator
YesYesYesYesYes
Productivity Tools 
Toolbox (BOM, Revision Table, Hardware, Holes, Welding/Surface/Finish Symbols…)YesYesYesYesYes
Design Resources LibraryYesYesYesYesYes
Batch PrintingYesYesYesYesYes
Tool Palettes YesYes Yes
Merge LayerYesYesYesYesYes
Drawing CompareYesYesYesYesYes
Pattern (Linear, Polar, Path)YesYesYesYesYes
Automatic Dimensioning & Dimension Arrangement YesYesYesYesYes
Dimension PaletteYesYesYesYesYes
Mass Properties CalculationsYesYesYesYesYes
Quick Input MethodsYesYesYesYesYes
Using Formulas in Table CellsYesYesYesYesYes
Viewport Layer FreezingYesYesYesYesYes
Block Attribute ManagerYesYesYesYesYes
G-Code GeneratorYesYesYesYesYes
Power TrimYesYesYesYesYes
Image TracerYesYesYesYesYes
Pack and GoYesYesYesYesYes
Publish to DWF format YesYesYesYesYes
Create & Edit Custom Blocks  YesYes Yes
Sheet Set Manager  YesYes Yes
3D Tools (3D Modeling, 3D Drafting, Solid Editing, Mesh, etc.) YesYes Yes
Constraints YesYes Yes
Mechanical Tools 
Open, edit and create Mechanical DWG files  Yes  
Create, edit Bill of Materials (BOMs)  Yes  
Edit and create part references  Yes  
Insert part reference Balloon annotations  Yes  
Automatically apply part references to Toolbox hardware  Yes  
Support for ANSI, ISO, Din, JIS, BSI drafting standards   Yes  
Interoperability Tools 
Dynamic Blocks ViewingYesYesYesYesYes
Dynamic Blocks Editing YesYes Yes
Auto/Visual LISP ImportYesYesYesYesYes
3DEXPERIENCE® Marketplace IntegrationYesYesYesYesYes
Data Link - Excel to DraftSight YesYes Yes
3DExperience Marketplace IntegrationYesYesYesYesYes
HomeByMe IntegrationYesYesYesYesYes
3D Content Central IntegrationYesYesYesYesYes
3DEXPERIENCE, DELMIA, SOLIDWORKS Electrical, PDM ConnectorsYesYesYesYesYes
PDF UnderlayYesYesYesYesYes
DGN Import/Convert & UnderlayYesYesYesYesYes
CATIA drawing importYesYesYesYesYes
PDF Import YesYesYesYes
Customization Tools 
Application Programming Interface (API)YesYesYesYesYes
SVG scalable icons for HD displaysYesYesYesYesYes
Dark mode YesYesYesYesYes
Macro RecordingYesYesYesYesYes
Enterprise Tools 
Network License  YesYesYes
Deployment Tool  YesYesYes
Technical Support  YesYesYes
*Professional & Enterprise have the same features, with the exception of PDF import (see matrix). The only differences are the licensing model, deployment tool, and support model. Contact us for more information.
**Premium & Enterprise Plus have the same features. The only differences are the licensing model, deployment tool, and support model. Contact us for more information.
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