Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2024 on the way

Today, I did a google search for AutoCAD® 2024® and incidentally found some documents for Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2024 are live.

Free Trial is available:

https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/free-trial

System requirement:

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-AutoCAD-2024-including-Specialized-Toolsets.html

AutoCAD 2024 online help is available at:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2024/ENU/

New features in AutoCAD 2024:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-3890D5F7-04CB-4F3B-97FF-7A9577D41852

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Backward compatibility:

AutoCAD 2024 release number is 24.3;  minor increment from previous version (AutoCAD 2023 release number is 24.2). Though I can't find any official announcement at the moment, such release number means that no new drawing format is put forward.  The latest drawing format is almost certainly still 2018.  

Document on managed .NET and object ARX compatibility shows that AutoCAD 2024 keeps using the platform from AutoCAD 2021. Third party applications which works with 2021 version are very likely to work in AutoCAD 2024 version, directly.

Here is the list of AutoCAD versions, with release number since 2004:

AutoCAD Release	Release Number	Supported .NET and ObjectARX SDK	.NET Framework
AutoCAD 2024	24.3	AutoCAD 2024,AutoCAD 2023, AutoCAD 2022, AutoCAD 2021	4.8
AutoCAD 2023	24.2	AutoCAD 2023, AutoCAD 2022, AutoCAD 2021	4.8
AutoCAD 2022	24.1	AutoCAD 2022, AutoCAD 2021	4.8
AutoCAD 2021	24.0	AutoCAD 2021	4.8
AutoCAD 2020	23.1	AutoCAD 2020, AutoCAD 2019	4.7
AutoCAD 2019	23.0	AutoCAD 2019	4.7
AutoCAD 2018	22.0	AutoCAD 2018	4.6
AutoCAD 2017	21.0	AutoCAD 2017	4.6
AutoCAD 2016	20.1	AutoCAD 2016, AutoCAD 2015	4.5
AutoCAD 2015	20.0	AutoCAD 2015	4.5
AutoCAD 2014	19.1	AutoCAD 2014, AutoCAD 2013	4.0
AutoCAD 2013	19.0	AutoCAD 2013	4.0
AutoCAD 2012	18.2	AutoCAD 2012, AutoCAD 2011, AutoCAD 2010	3.51 SP1
AutoCAD 2011	18.1	AutoCAD 2011, AutoCAD 2010	3.51 SP1
AutoCAD 2010	18.0	AutoCAD 2010	3.51 SP1
AutoCAD 2009	17.2	AutoCAD 2009, AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2007	3.0
AutoCAD 2008	17.1	AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2007	2.0
AutoCAD 2007	17.0	AutoCAD 2007	2.0
AutoCAD 2006	16.2	AutoCAD 2006, AutoCAD 2005, AutoCAD 2004	1.1 SP1
AutoCAD 2005	16.1	AutoCAD 2005, AutoCAD 2004	1.1
AutoCAD 2004	16.0	AutoCAD 2004	N/A

Source:  Autodesk AutoCAD 2024 online help

Autodesk App Store review, part 1

 Autodesk App Store: Most Popular & Free Apps for highway design

For the last 12 years, Autodesk App Store (formerly named "Autodesk Exchange Apps") has accumulated an enormous number of Apps (~ 3725 Apps are live on store), of which ~ 1233 Apps are free; ~908 Apps are trial and ~1547 Apps are paid. (Numbers are collected on March 7th, 2023)

Oh wait, 1233 + 908 + 1547 = 3688 < 3725 (What's wrong with the counting? I don't know.). Anyone that want to check the number may go to https://apps.autodesk.com/ 

These Apps cover a wide range of Autodesk software: AutoCAD, AutoCAD verticals (Civil 3D, MEP, Architecture, Electrical...), Revit, Inventor, 3ds Max.... Among them, Apps for AutoCAD accounts for ~25% of all Apps (~ 993 items). Many of them are free Apps, some also have friendly interface with powerful features.

This short article will introduce some Free AutoCAD Apps useful for highway design

1. TL Sight Distance 

Author: Todor Latev

Link download: https://apps.autodesk.com/ACD/en/Detail/Index?id=6906849740879410691&appLang=en&os=Win32_64

Platform: Windows 64 bit, 32 bit; AutoCAD 2018 to 2023

Platform extendable:  May be extend to support AutoCAD 2014 or later (I guess).  Do it yourself

Feature brief description:  Quick draw horizontal sight distance lines along a curved polyline selected as alignment.

Pros: Can be used with AutoCAD, Civil 3D is not required.  Simple, easy to use

Cons: There is no graphical interface, command line only

 

2. TL Polyline to Profile

Author: Todor Latev

Link download: https://apps.autodesk.com/CIV3D/en/Detail/Index?id=7812288025728927700&appLang=en&os=Win64

Platform: Windows 64 bit; Civil 3D 2018 to 2023

Platform extendable:  May be extend to support AutoCAD 2014 or later (I guess).  Do it yourself

Feature brief description:  Convert Polyline 2D to Civil 3d profile

Pros: Simple, easy to use

Cons: There is no graphical interface, command line only.

 

3. Polyline From Profile

Author: iMemorySoft

Link download: https://apps.autodesk.com/CIV3D/en/Detail/Index?id=3240925303390256952&appLang=en&os=Win64

Platform: Windows 64 bit; Civil 3D 2017 to 2020

Platform extendable:  May be extend to support AutoCAD 2014-2016, not support Civil 3D 2021-2023

Feature brief description:  Convert Civil 3D profile to polyline

Pros: Simple, easy to use

Cons: There is no graphical interface, command line only.  Do not support new Civil 3D version

 

4. Quick profile

Author: Uniservice

Link download: https://apps.autodesk.com/ACD/en/Detail/Index?id=5225134488964187076&appLang=en&os=Win32_64

Platform: Windows 32-64 bit; AutoCAD 2018 to 2023

Platform extendable:  May be extend to support AutoCAD 2014-2017

Feature brief description:  Create DTM, Create profile along a polyline or line in AutoCAD. Create Profile view band

Pros: Do not require Civil 3D, friendly graphical interface, rich features

Cons: Not found