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TurboCAD Pro 17 - README - MAR. 2010
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Welcome to TurboCAD Pro 17. TurboCAD will be an invaluable resource for your day-to-day drawing needs.
This file contains last-minute product information, trouble-shooting tips, and updates to the documentation. Check this Readme file any time you have a question not covered in the User Guide or Help or before calling Customer Support.
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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
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To install and run TurboCAD Pro 17, your computer must meet the following requirements:
Pentium IV Processor.
Microsoft ® Windows® XP 512 Mb RAM
Microsoft ® Vista or Windows 7 1 Gb RAM
300 MB of free hard disk space
64+ MB of swap space
Super VGA (1024 x768) display
High Color (16 bit) graphics card
4X CD-ROM drive with 32 bit drivers
The following items are recommended but not required:
2+ GHz Processor, 2+ GB RAM
3D Graphics accelerator card (see below)
Wheel mouse
Internet connection
Adobe ® Flash™ plug-in required for on-line tutorials.
Your experience with TurboCAD will be greatly enhanced with a newer generation, higher speed CPU, 2-4 GB RAM, and larger display resolution and graphics support.
An optional GPU-accelerated wireframe render mode (based on Redsdk technology from Redway3D®) requires a supported graphic processing unit (either a chip on the board, or on a video card). The latest video drivers are typically required. Newer boards with more power and VRAM generally provide greater performance. To determine if your video card or personal computer uses is likely compatible refer to your System Specifications, or contact the manufacturer of your video card and see if it uses one of the following video chipsets:
NVIDIA chipsets
1. GeForce 8 Series
2. GeForce 9 Series
3. GeForce GTX Series
AMD ATI chipsets
4. R600 family
5. R700 family
INTEL chipsets
6. GMA 4000 family
Windows Vista and Windows 7 Aero display mode causes interference with the Redsdk GPU-accelerated display mode. If you select this option TurboCAD will turn Aero mode off for that session. It affects only the transparency of the application window border.
Please refer to www.turbocad.com for the most up-to-date information.
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ENABLING THE REDSDK ACCELERATED DRAWING ENGINE
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In order to enable Redsdk:
Redsdk is an OpenGL accelerated drawing engine that can substantially accelerate the speed at which 2D entities are drawn. Redsdk is dependant upon Graphics Processor Units (usually found on video cards) which support OpenGL acceleration, and the features of that card. If you do not have an OpenGL GPU or video card you will not be able to use Redsdk.
Switching between GDI mode and Redsdk will require a restart of TurboCAD.
Redsdk conflicts with Aero support for Windows Vista and Window 7. If you switch to Redsdk you will be prompted to allow TurboCAD to turn Aero off.
Similarly, on Windows XP, your computer’s standard Hardware Acceleration mode will be disabled for TurboCAD while Redsdk takes over all acceleration, but standard Hardware Acceleration will continue to be enabled for your other applications.
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INSTALLATION TIPS
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Occasionally, some users report issues installing TurboCAD, or issues running TurboCAD that may be caused by an incomplete installation. These problems are most frequent with users running Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating systems (whether 32- or 64-bit).
If running Windows Vista or 7:
1. Sign on as an administrator
2. Temporarily turn off Data Execution Protection (DEP)
3. Temporarily turn off User Account Control (UAC)
4. Temporarily turn off Antivirus software
5. Select the installer, right click and select Run As Administrator
6. After installing turn on the Antivirus software, and any UAC or DEP you choose.
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IF YOUR CD/DVD DOESN'T AUTO-INSTALL
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If the installation program does not start automatically when you insert
the DVD/CD-ROM, follow these steps:
1. On the Windows taskbar, click [Start].
2. Select Run. (If Run is not a visible option, select All Programs – Accessories – Run.)
3. Click [Browse].
4. Navigate to your CD-ROM drive.
5. Double-click on Setup (or setup.exe).
6. Click [OK] and follow the instructions on the screen.
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KNOWN TECHNICAL ISSUES and LIMITATIONS
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Refer to the TurboCAD Community Forums, for more information about any technical issues, to report bug, or to learn about work-arounds to solve particular problems. Visit http://forums.turbocad.com.
WINDOWS MEMORY RESOURCES
TurboCAD Pro runs most effectively with more RAM. If you find yourself limited in the ability to run multiple applications at the same time, it is recommended that you either close other applications to provide TurboCAD the resources necessary to run effectively, or increase the amount of system RAM. Contact your local computer shop, or your PC manufacturer.
TCSTART.EXE ON WIN7_64 SYSTEMS STOPS WORKING
Note: On some machines, if the TCStart window is not dismissed before the main
TurboCAD window becomes available, you may be unable to work in the TurboCAD
window until the TCStart window is closed.
Symptoms: Both the TCStart window and the TurboCAD window appear in the
task bar. Clicking on the TCStart icon in the taskbar does not bring TCStart to the top.
Clicking in the TurboCAD window results in a “ding” sound.
Workaround: Right-click on the TCStart icon in the taskbar, and choose “Close Window”.
TurboCAD will now be fully operational, and you can load a drawing using File/Open.
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INTERNET FORUMS
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The standard support forums of TurboCAD are a good way of getting the answers that you cannot find elsewhere.
Please make sure that you check the forums regularly for solutions, tips and tricks from the TurboCAD support staff as well as from other TurboCAD users. To access the forums go to http://forums.turbocad.com.
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PROGRAM UPDATES and List
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Check either the TurboCAD Web site, or the TurboCAD Community Forums on a periodic basis to look for product updates.
Updates are typically available from within the Support tab on the TurboCAD Web site at www.turbocad.com.
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TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
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To access the latest customer service and support information, go to www.turbocad.com or check with the TurboCAD product team and with other users at http://forums.turbocad.com.
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