TCW

Revision as of 09:15, 13 May 2009

Title(s): TCW, TurboCAD for Windows

Version ID: 16.0 (Windows), 4.0 (Mac)

Date released: 2009

Date: 1993

Creator(s): Stephen "Yogi" Russell

Contributor(s): IMSI/Design, LLC

Relationships:

• Previous Version(s):
  • TurboCAD v15
  • TurboCAD v14
  • TurboCAD v13
  • TurboCAD v12
  • TurboCAD v11
  • TurboCAD v10
  • TurboCAD v9
  • TurboCAD v8
  • TurboCAD v7
  • TurboCAD v6
  • TurboCAD v5
  • TurboCAD v4
  • TurboCAD v3
  • TurboCAD v2
  • TurboCAD v1
  • InterCAD

• Contains: None

• Syntax Format(s): None

• Family Format(s): Part of the TurboCAD family of formats, which consists of TCW, TCT, and TCX.

Description: TCW is the standard drawing file format for TurboCAD. TCW stands for TurboCAD for Windows. The format was first used with the introduction of the Windows version of TurboCAD in 1993.

History: TurboCAD was created by Stephen "Yogi" Russell in South Africa in 1986 under the name InterCAD. It was created to be a low-cost alternative to AutoCAD. In late 1986, the software was released in the United Kingdom with the TurboCAD name. Milan Systems of America also began selling TurboCAD in the United States in late 1986. To increase interest in the product, Milan Systems began selling TurboCAD bundled with mice from IMSI (International Microcomputer Software, Inc). IMSI licensed the source code from the original developers and released its own improved version in 1990. In 1993, versions of TurboCAD for Mac and Windows were released. Starting with version 4 in 1995, TurboCAD began introducing 3D support, which helped to make the software very successful. Over the next versions, the 3D abilities were greatly increased. In June 2006, IMSI, which had changed its name to Broadcaster, Inc., sold TurboCAD to IMSI/Design, LLC.

Example(s): Example Template - Information and example models of the engineering format.

Identifier: - A URL or other identifier that refers to the engineering format.

Documentation: Documentation Template - Information in general about the engineering format.

File Extensions: tcw

Applications:

• Native application(s): TurboCAD
• Interoperable applications:

Magic numbers: Unknown

Format(s): application/x-ole-storage

Rights: Proprietary License

Sustainability Factors:

• Standardization: - Information regarding standardization attempts with this format.

• Adoption: - Information about how this format has been adopted by other organizations.

• • Licensing and patent claims: - Any licenses or patent claims that the engineering format makes.

• Self-documentation: None

• External dependencies: None

• Technical protection considerations: None

Typical use: CAD, Architectural, Mechanical

File classification:

• Type {Binary, Text}: Binary
• Raster data:
  • Raster data 2D:
    • Is Supported: No
    • Description: TurboCAD uses vector graphics to store the graphical information, instead of raster data. However, a TurboCAD drawing can be exported as raster data.
  • Raster data 3D:
    • Is Supported: No
    • Description: TurboCAD uses vector graphics to store the graphical information, instead of raster data. However, a TurboCAD drawing can be exported as raster data.
• Geometric representation:
  • Implicit representation:
    • Implicit surfaces:
      • Is Supported: No
      • Description: TurboCAD uses a parametric form to represent objects.
    • Implicit curves:
      • Is Supported: No
      • Description: TurboCAD uses a parametric form to represent objects.
    • Point set:
      • Is Supported: Yes
      • Description: TurboCAD can uses sets of points to store geometric figures.
  • Mesh:
    • Manifold surface meshes:
      • Is Supported: Yes
      • Description: Manifold surface meshes are supported in TurboCAD through the use of the ACIS library.
    • Manifold volume meshes:
      • Is Supported: Yes
      • Description: Manifold volume meshes are supported in TurboCAD through the use of the ACIS library.
    • Non-manifold meshes:
      • Is Supported: Yes
      • Description: Non-Manifold meshes are supported in TurboCAD through the use of the ACIS library.
  • Parametric representation:
    • Parametric surfaces:
      • Is Supported: Yes
      • Description: TurboCAD supports parametric surfaces and curves.
    • Parametric curves:
      • Is Supported: Yes
      • Description: TurboCAD supports parametric surfaces and curves.
  • Contour sets:
    • Is Supported: Yes
    • Description: TurboCAD supports contour sets.

• • NURBS:
    • Is Supported: Yes
    • Description: TurboCAD supports the ACIS library allowing it to store NURBS information.
• Multi-resolution models:
  • Is Supported: ?
  • Description: No information on this aspect could be located.
• Dynamics:
  • Kinematics:
    • Is Supported: Yes
    • Description: TurboCAD allows for the rotation of drawings.
  • Assembly:
    • Is Supported: Yes
    • Description: TurboCAD has mechanical assembly tools.
  • Force(s):
    • Is Supported: No
    • Description: TurboCAD does not support forces.
• Boundary representation - Can the format support models with boundary representations?
  • Manifold surface boundary representations:
    • Is Supported: No
    • Description: TurboCAD does not support solid boundaries.
  • Manifold volume boundary representations:
    • Is Supported: No
    • Description: TurboCAD does not support solid boundaries.
  • Non-manifold boundary representations:
    • Is Supported: No
    • Description: TurboCAD does not support solid boundaries.
• Material transparency:
  • Is Supported: Yes
  • Description: TurboCAD supports material transparency.

References: TurboCAD Wikipedia, TurboCAD