New Zone tool, improved walls, doors and windows, better DWG and PDF support, new Flip command.
Miscellaneous quality improvements.
UpdatesThis new release addresses a number of issues that were reported, most notably the keyboard shortcuts for the tools now work correctly. We also resolved an issue with the Join and Convert to Wall commands, improved the user interface of a number of items and windows, and improved the functionality of several items.
For the full list of improvements and resolved issues, see the Release Notes.
Optimize your project with better coordination and efficiency using zones.
ProArchitectureThe new Zone Tool in HighDesign Pro offers automatic numbering, stamp, color presets, and schedule support. Zones are part of the Design toolset that distinguishes HighDesign Pro from the other CAD packages.
Zones help you manage and coordinate different aspects of the construction process more effectively. This ensures that each section receives focused attention, reducing the likelihood of conflicts and errors.
With the automated list of the current zones in the project, you can allocate resources more efficiently, keep an active overview of the various elements and manage the parts of the project with Zone schedules.
New editing commands for quick, in-place ediing.
DraftingEditingThe new Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical commands for graphic objects allow quick transformations of the selection by mirroring the object relative to its own horizontal or vertical axis.
Flipping objects can inspire new design ideas and perspectives, helping you explore different visual possibilities.
Doors and windows have a new Alignment Side property that controls which side of the wall the opening aligns with. The alignment is set in the insertion phase and can be changed at any time to flip the window or door without having to modify the host wall.
Also, the surface of doors and windows is now a computable parameter that can be added to schedules, so that you can calculate the total surface of each type of windows and doors.
Conversion from and to DXF/DWG drawings is now more accurate thanks to the added support for color transparency and improved import of splines defined by control points, so that curved profiles now match perfectly those designed by your collaborators.
PDF publishing is also more accurate, especially on the Windows platform.
HighDesign R8.2 is optimized for Apple macOS 15 Sequoia.
Sequoia is a robust update with several new features that enhance productivity and connectivity. macOS Sequoia, like iOS 18, integrates powerful AI features that Apple branded "Apple Intelligence".
Window tiling has been enhanced and now it makes it easier to tile multiple windows on your display in an efficient way.
The new ARM-based laptops have gained much popularity, thanks to their efficient power management, fast performance and improved support by Windows.
Chip makers predict that 50% of the laptop market will be ARM-powered in the next five years.
HighDesign has always been on pace with the latest technologies and the new R8.2 update introduces the ARM64 HighDesign for native performance on ARM-based Windows computers.
The new Help window lets you access the Help and Documentation website directly within HighDesign.
Also, the Help and Documentation website is now much faster and easier to navigate, has a robust search engine, and is available in light, dark and automatic themes that match your workspace.
A much requested feature, HighDesign is now available in Spanish and Portuguese. The user interface, menus and dialogs are now translated in Spanish and Portuguese languages, in addition to English, German, French and Italian.
A much broader community of users can now benefit of the advantages of designing with HighDesign.
Improved Windows experience, more powerful dimensions, improved Adjust Image and Photogrammetry, and many quality improvements.
HighDesign R8.1 greatly improves the overall experience for Windows users.
We have improved the quality of printing and PDF output, especially for files containg filled regions with transparency and paths, and reduced the size of PDF files.
The user interface is now smoother and more consistent with cleaner dialogs and transitions and a better management of floating panels across multiple documents.
Dimensions offer a new option to show the label on an opaque background. When the drawing is particularly complex or the dimension is placed over a pattern, you can now increase its readability by turning on the opaque label background.
Text units are now saved in the project so that you can now always work with your preferred text units regardless of the current linear units.
The Adjust Image panel now features a clearer user interface and an improved Crop tool.
The new Barrel Distort filter allows you to correct the distortions in pictures caused by the convexity of camera lens.
The Adjust Image tool is now quickly accessible from the Object Info panel.
We redesigned the Setup stage of the Photogrammetry tool to make it more usable and easier to use.
Photogrammetry images can now be corrected with the Adjust Image tool.
HighDesign R8.1 includes many stability and quality improvements to tables, Object Info, the Tape Measure tool, polylines and Offset, snaps and snap to grid, and more.
Up to 2X faster, tables, interactive schedules, new symbol navigator, enhanced architectural tools, improved interoperability.
HighDesign R8 boasts of 2x speed improvements in screen refresh, selecting and deselecting, switching views, and user interface. You can now enjoy a faster and smoother experience while working with HighDesign.
Save time handling large files thanks to the improved loading and saving times and a more efficient memory management.
The new visual Symbol Browser lets you navigate and select symbols faster and more efficiently. The HighDesign Symbol library has been reorganized with clearer categories for a more intuitive experience.
Symbols also have a new internal structure that makes them faster, more efficient and powerful with the added support for internal layers.
The new Table tool (SE/Pro) lets you enter and display data with a familiar spreadsheet-like interface that is intuitive and easy to use. Tables also support formulas and functions and can be formatted with a variety of visual styles to best fit your presentations.
Additionally, the tool can import and link Excel worksheets with live updates, making it easier for users to work with data from other sources.
Schedules (Pro): a new project item that extracts information from the project and displays the data in table form. Data can be defined by property filters, grouped, sorted, and displayed with totals and counts.
Schedules are interactive as each row is linked to a project element, so that not only changes to the element are instantly updated on the schedule, but you can also edit values on the schedule and see the changes in the project in real time!
Many elements of the user interface of HighDesign R8 were redesigned for a more efficient use of screen space and easier access to the features.
Most icons have been updated with a clearer and more intuitive look. Tool settings windows are now narrower and better organized. Full screen mode now leaves more space to the drawing area and the toolbox can now be scrolled to show the tool icons on smaller screen resolutions. The new pop-up notifications make it easier to open exported drawings and images.
Walls, openings and columns now have height, surface and volume parameters that can be computed and documented.
You can now flip the opening side and direction of doors and windows with a single click.
The help and documentation website was completely redesigned and reorganized. Most topics were expanded and improved with more through descriptions and screenshots.
The new organization also makes it easier to find the topics and answers.
DXF/DWG compatibility is now faster and more accurate with the improved support for hatches, new support for tables, and overall better accuracy in the translation of complex drawings with layouts.
Multiple linear dimensions can now use the baseline mode in addition to continued.
Creating and editing text blocks and labels is now easier and more consistent.
HighDesign SE is now more powerful and includes the ability to define custom keyboard shortcuts and the Publish to PDF feature.
HighDesign LT is no longer a separate download package, making it easier to upgrade to a higher-level edition at any time.