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Design the future today
Powerful improvements
DDScad is now an important pillar of Graphisoft, and version 18 gives you a wide range of innovations and improvements. The revised user interface, the connection to Graphisoft solutions, and various new tools and functions give you significant advantages in daily OPEN BIM planning. On this page we show you a selection of important developments and functional additions.
What’s new
Dynamic navigation, flexible data exchange, mobile access and more: Have a look at the video and get an overview of the new functions in DDScad 18 and their advantages for you.
General highlights
With powerful improvements to MEP design, calculation, visualization and documentation workflows, DDScad 18 lets you focus on what you do best: design and deliver high-quality Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) projects on time and on budget.
New look – Better usability
Easy cable planning, comprehensive distribution board management, and efficient lighting calculation, are just some of the powerful capabilities DDScad has to offer. Integrated product information makes your design more than just graphical symbols and lines. International standards are considered from sketch to output.
BIMx: visualize, present, and navigate on mobile devices
With this release, DDScad 18 includes a connection to BIMx, Graphisoft’s award-winning presentation and collaboration app. BIMx significantly expands your ability to view and share 3D models, plans, and project information on a variety of different devices and operating systems, anywhere, anytime.
Even more intuitive modeling with the tracker dialog
The new tracker dialog in DDScad 18 makes modeling objects, such as cables, pipes, and ducts or geometric shapes, even easier and more straightforward. The function shows positioning information or geometric parameters of the respective object in real time on the cursor. This allows you to immediately view and edit the most important properties for the design step you are currently performing.
New Pset configurator
Define IFC property sets with more ease and flexibility to implement OPEN BIM processes individually. Thanks to the new and clearly arranged Pset configurator, you can assign standard object properties as well as properties specified by modeling guidelines and client requirements.
BIMcloud
DDScad 18 gives you a connection to BIMcloud, Graphisoft’s platform for project communication and teamwork. With the export function, you can share your data with project participants directly from the software in BIMcloud.
Electrical highlights
Benefit from new functions for flexible and precise electrical design, and improved import and export of IFC specifications.
More flexibility through new cable functions
Planning is much easier in DDScad 18 thanks to several new cable functions. Create new cable types yourself in the properties window, then automatically use them for other functions like creating parts lists and reports. Furthermore, there are also new options to set and display the cables’ bending radius.
Configure personalized layouts for schemas
Design schemas according to your needs using the schema layout configurator. For example, specify the position and spacing of objects, their number in a row, and the text information to be displayed. In addition, you can create templates and use them for new projects.
Quick start your projects with the IFC reference model
DDScad 18 Electrical automatically reads the room information from the IFC file. This allows you to start your OPEN BIM planning without any obstacles. The room data can also be used for other purposes, like creating parts lists.
Design cable ladders and create brackets
Quickly and precisely analyze the filling degree of your cable management system, such as cable ladders, cable ducts, and conduits for low-current and energy cables. With the new function in DDScad 18, you can determine whether your cable management system is dimensioned according to plan, and whether sufficient capacity is available for later expansion.
Shortest path to distributor
When inserting an electrical cable within a cable management system, use the “Find shortest route to distributor” function in the context menu for a connection from the consumer to the distributor. This can also be used to specifically and individually check whether a selected cable takes the shortest path from the electrical consumer to the distributor when changes are made to the system.
Extended system navigator
Information of all components of a circuit are available per click in the system navigator. The displayed information can be shown or hidden according to individual needs.
Multi-edit function
You can now select several lines in a column of the system navigator and change them simultaneously using the multi-edit function.
MP highlights
Take advantage of comprehensive navigator tools for pipe and duct systems, new visualization options, and new detail functions.
Optimal overview of the system with the enhanced system navigator
The significantly enhanced Sanitary, Heating and Ventilation system navigator in DDScad 18 Mechanical and Plumbing provides you with an optimal overview of your pipe and duct systems and allows you to adjust the system quickly and easily. The entire system is now displayed in a detailed tree structure with all the sub-strings components, including predefined information.
New visualization filters: More control over potable water systems
With the new visualization filters for the stagnant water volume and waiting time of potable water pipes, you’ll spot critical situations in your system at first glance. This gives you excellent control over the potable water system you have created.
New detail functions for better planning efficiency
Powerful enhancements and improvements have been made to DDScad 18 Mechanical and Plumbing to significantly support you in your everyday work. For example, dialogs for defining hydraulic circuits and calculation points as well as the cooling load dialogue have been improved.
Maximum temperature drop
The maximum temperature drop is now predefined for the complete circulation circuit to the standard value of 5 Kelvin and can be edited if needed.
Pressure loss due to geodetic height
The “Supply line above sea level” parameter is now automatically determined to consider the pressure loss due to geodetic height for the consumers. This significantly reduces the probability of errors compared to manual adjustments. If necessary, you can manually override the supply line height.
Water heater in cold-water loop system
In addition, DDScad 18 allows you to integrate a water heater, such as an instantaneous water heater, into a cold-water loop system and take it into account in the calculation.
Getting started
Download the software
After clicking the ‘Download now’ button, you will be asked to enter the username and password. If you are a new customer you can find these details on the packaging of your dongle. If you are an existing customer you can find these details in the DDScad 18 download e-mail.
Install the software
Follow our detailed and clearly illustrated installation instructions web manual. You will find all the information you need for your desired setup there.
Updating your dongle
If you change the version or content in your DDScad license, you must also update your dongle. You will find a detailed explanation of the update process here.
A conversion is useful if you want to use the new functions and possibilities of the current version. When converting, however, changes to standards or norms must be observed.
In general, all projects can be converted at any time, but a converted project is no longer functional in one of the previous versions.
Please note: For older projects, you should only ever convert from the previous version to the next newer version. We advise against conversions across “several versions”, as errors can occur here.
Our customer service will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
If you have created a separate project directory for each DDScad version, the project must be copied into the corresponding DDScad 18 project directory.
If the identical project directory is always used regardless of the DDScad version, copying is not necessary.
No, it is not possible to open a converted project with an older version.
No, this is impossible. However, it is possible to transfer the individual user data to the user directory of the new version during the installation process.
If you choose the option to adopt the user directory from the previous version during the installation process, these will also be available to you in DDScad 18 regardless of the conversion process.
If you choose the option to adopt the user directory from the previous version during the installation process, these will also be available to you in DDScad 18, regardless of the conversion process.
Get in touch
Product presentation
Not a customer yet? Get a product presentation for a look at how DDScad can increase your productivity.
Price request
Get a quote for DDScad packages or specialized solutions and the optional add-ons.
Contact us
Talk to one of our DDScad experts, ask questions, and let us help you to find the best software solution for your needs.
System requirements
Check out the minimum and recommended system requirements for a great experience using DDScad solutions and services.