- Performance
DraftSight performance is improved with switching between sheets, zooming and panning operations, and file opening times.
- Start Page Tab (DraftSight Premium Only)
The Start Page tab centralizes key operations and creates a smoother user experience when you open DraftSight.
- Ribbon Optimization
DraftSight has an updated ribbon layout and workspace to improve usability. The ribbon tabs have reduced clutter and distributed commands across additional tabs for better accessibility.
- Powertools Ribbon Tab (DraftSight Premium Only)
The Powertools ribbon tab has additional tools on it to streamline your workflow.
- Contextual Ribbon for Gradients and Patterns
The contextual ribbon has tabs for the HATCH and PATTERN commands. This enhances productivity by reducing the time spent on finding the commands.
- Manipulating ViewTiles (DraftSight Premium Only)
You can resize ViewTiles by adjusting boundaries, merge ViewTiles when boundaries align, and create new ViewTiles with one click or using CTRL+drag.
- ViewTiles Controls
You can access ViewTile controls in the upper-left corner of each ViewTile (viewport). This gives you convenient access to settings for changing views, adjusting visual styles, and configuring display options. You can modify these settings without navigating through menus or toolbars by clicking within the bracketed areas.
- Floating Document Windows (DraftSight Premium Only)
With floating document windows, you can open drawings in separate windows outside the main application in DraftSight Commander. The windows offer flexible views of multiple drawings side-by-side or across multiple monitors. This functionality provides additional workflow options and enhances productivity by facilitating comparisons, copying and pasting, and multitasking.
- ECW Images
DraftSight supports the Hexagon Enhanced Compression Wavelet (.ECW) image format. .ECW files use efficient compression, making them ideal for large-scale images such as aerial and satellite photography. The files can include embedded map projection data, enhancing their usefulness in geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing applications.
- CCS Icon Customization
The CCS icon represents the current orientation of the coordinate system. You can adjust this visual indicator to suit your preferences or the needs of a particular project.
- Color Books (DraftSight Premium Only)
DraftSight supports custom color palettes, also known as color books (.acb files). These give you access to standardized color palettes within projects. Color books are ideal for professionals who rely on precise color standards for branding, industry compliance, or consistent representation of materials.
- PCX Print Configuration Files (DraftSight Premium Only)
DraftSight supports .PCX print configuration files, providing functionality similar to the .PC3 format in other CAD software.
- Managing Missing External References
You can manage missing external references more efficiently with tools in the References palette. When a referenced file is moved or renamed, you can update the file path once. DraftSight offers to use the same path for other missing references if it finds matching files.
- Insert Formula Column in Data Extraction
The DATAEXTRACTION command allows for .CSV output and customized fields for mathematical formulas.
- Diesel Expressions
The FIELD command supports Diesel Expressions, enabling dynamic text that automatically updates based on drawing properties or user inputs.
- MTEXT Command
You can create and edit multiple columns within MTEXT entities. With the in-place text editor, you can add columns with equal widths and consistent gutters (spaces between columns), and adjust the height with grips.
- RENAME Command
The RENAME command supports wildcard characters, making it easier to find and rename multiple named elements at once. You can filter matching items in the RENAME dialog box and rename multiple objects more efficiently.
- Copying with SCALE Command
The SCALE command includes a Copy option. With this option, you can preserve the original entities while generating scaled duplicates.
- Power Dimension Tool (DraftSight Mechanical Only)
The Power Dimension tool provides an advanced and efficient way to create precise dimensions. It selects an appropriate dimension type based on the selected geometry, which ensures consistency and accuracy in technical drawings.