Question 1

Can I get progeCAD in my native language?

Accepted Answer

progeCAD currently ships in English, Italian, Russian, German, and Simplified Chinese, with French and Spanish coming soon. Additional languages are in development. Drawings themselves support any language for text content.

Question 2

Can I use progeCAD in any country?

Accepted Answer

Yes — you can purchase and use progeCAD almost anywhere in the world, including traveling internationally with the software. The only restriction is that we cannot sell to countries on the United States Trade Embargo list.

Question 3

How does progeCAD compare to more expensive CAD products?

Accepted Answer

All progeCAD products include a 30-day free trial with full, unrestricted access — no credit card required. Try every command, open your own drawings, and decide for yourself.

Question 4

Are there third-party add-on applications for progeCAD?

Accepted Answer

Yes. progeCAD supports a powerful programming API with full AutoLISP/AutoCAD compatibility, making it straightforward to port existing AutoCAD applications. progeCAD USA also offers industry-specific add-on modules (progeEARTH for survey/civil, and more). Many third-party AutoCAD-compatible applications run on progeCAD without modification.

Question 5

Does progeCAD support digitizers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. progeCAD supports most digitizers via WinTab Windows drivers, providing both a menu area and drawing area for selections.

Question 6

How do I get support while using the trial version?

Accepted Answer

Trial users have access to support directly from the progeSOFT development team. Use the Contact Us page to reach us — we're happy to help you evaluate the software.

Question 7

Where can I find support after purchasing progeCAD?

Accepted Answer

Customers receive access to the progeSOFT developer support portal, our US support team, and the user community forum. iCARE plan holders receive priority response.

Question 8

What are the minimum system requirements for progeCAD Professional?

Accepted Answer

Minimum: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit), Intel or AMD 64-bit processor at 2.0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 5 GB free disk space, OpenGL 3.3 compatible graphics card. Recommended for complex drawings: 16 GB RAM or more, dedicated GPU, SSD storage.

Question 9

How do I uninstall progeCAD?

Accepted Answer

Go to Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find progeCAD in the list, and select Uninstall. You can also use Control Panel → Programs and Features. If you plan to reinstall on a new machine, note your serial number before uninstalling — it was emailed to you at purchase.

Question 10

Where can I download progeCAD if I need a backup copy?

Accepted Answer

You can re-download progeCAD using the link in the original purchase confirmation email. If you can't locate that email, reach out via the Contact Us page and we'll help you find your download link. We recommend saving the installer to a USB drive or external backup as soon as you download it.

Question 11

Where can I get a progeCAD User Manual?

Accepted Answer

The progeCAD user manual (700+ pages) is installed with the software as a PDF — find it under Help → Printable Help inside progeCAD. A printed and bound version is also available in the progeCAD Shop.

Question 12

I never received an authorization code by email after registering. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

First, check your spam/junk folder. If the email isn't there, try registering with a Gmail address (Gmail reliably receives authorization emails — some Yahoo, AOL, and corporate email servers block them). If you still can't complete online registration, reach out via the Contact Us page and we'll coordinate with the manufacturer to issue your code manually.

Question 13

How do I register my progeCAD software?

Accepted Answer

Registration is built into the product. When you launch progeCAD, select 'I have a serial number — register progeCAD.' Make sure you're connected to the internet, enter the requested information, and progeCAD will self-register and generate your authorization code automatically.

Question 14

My computer crashed or I bought a new computer. How do I re-activate progeCAD?

Accepted Answer

Simply reinstall progeCAD on the new machine and go through the registration process with your original serial number. The serial number was included in your purchase confirmation email. If you've misplaced it, reach out via the Contact Us page and we'll look it up for you.

Question 15

How do I move my progeCAD license to a new computer?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: On the old computer, go to Start → Programs → progeCAD → Uninstall progeCAD and choose Automatic uninstall. This de-registers the license and generates an uninstall code (LTC) — note this code if prompted. Step 2: On the new computer, install progeCAD and register using your serial number. If prompted that the software was previously registered, enter the LTC code from step 1. If you have a USB key license, simply move the USB key to the new machine and register — no uninstall code needed.

Question 16

I replaced my hard drive. How do I restore progeCAD?

Accepted Answer

Reinstall progeCAD on the computer and start the registration process with your serial number. When prompted that the software was previously registered on this machine, follow the on-screen wizard — it will issue a new authorization code automatically. If you run into trouble, contact us and we'll assist.

Question 17

I'm getting a 'Document cannot be opened' error when opening a drawing. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

This is often caused by a corrupted drawing file. Use the RECOVER command in progeCAD to attempt repair: type RECOVER in the command bar and select the file. This cleans up internal errors in DWG files. After recovery, save the file and reopen it normally.

Question 18

I inserted a bitmap image and now my drawing won't open. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

This typically happens when using Paste Special to insert an image, which creates a .vbi file in the same directory as your drawing. Delete the .vbi file (it has the same name as your .dwg file but with a .vbi extension), then reopen the drawing. To avoid this in the future, insert images using Insert → Raster Image instead of Paste Special.

Question 19

Text in my drawing is showing the wrong fonts even though I copied the fonts to my computer.

Accepted Answer

Check two things: First, the font path — go to Tools → Options → Paths/Files and make sure the directory containing your fonts is listed. Second, check the icad.fmp file for substitution rules. If a font you have installed is being substituted with a different font, delete that line from the .fmp file.

Question 20

I tried to open an AutoCAD drawing and progeCAD crashed. What can I do?

Accepted Answer

AutoCAD DWG files sometimes contain internal errors that cause problems when opened. Use progeCAD's built-in RECOVER command to repair and clean the file first: type RECOVER in the command bar, select the drawing, let it process, then save the result. This resolves the vast majority of cross-application compatibility issues.

Question 21

I can't copy and paste entities between drawings. What's wrong?

Accepted Answer

The source drawing must remain open while you paste. If you closed it after copying, reopen it, re-select the entities, and copy again using Edit → Copy. Then switch to the destination drawing and paste — do not close the source drawing until after pasting is complete.

Question 22

After pasting from another drawing, linetypes look different. How do I fix this?

Accepted Answer

This is caused by a different LTSCALE value between the two drawings. Type LTSCALE in the command bar in the source drawing and note the value. Then switch to the destination drawing, type LTSCALE, and enter the same value. Linetypes will then display consistently.

Question 23

How do I display line weight (thickness) in the drawing area?

Accepted Answer

Click the LWT button in the status bar at the bottom of the screen to toggle line weight display on and off. Alternatively: Tools → Drawing Settings → Display, then select Lineweight and check Display lineweights.

Question 24

How do I use my mouse to zoom and pan in a progeCAD drawing?

Accepted Answer

Scroll wheel: Rotate to zoom in/out. Press (middle-click) and drag to pan. Double-click to zoom extents. Keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl + Left drag = 3D orbit, Ctrl + Shift + Left drag = Zoom, Ctrl + Shift + Right drag = Pan, Shift + mouse = Pan.

Question 25

The paper size I need isn't listed in the PDF printer dialog. How do I add a custom paper size?

Accepted Answer

Custom paper sizes for the PDF printer are managed through Windows: go to Control Panel → Devices and Printers, right-click the PDF printer, choose Printing Preferences → Advanced, and add a custom paper size there. The new size will then appear in progeCAD's plot dialog.

Question 26

Can I use AutoCAD's .SHX font files with progeCAD?

Accepted Answer

Yes — if you have a licensed copy of AutoCAD installed, progeCAD will automatically detect and add its font paths during installation. You can also add them manually: go to Tools → Options → Paths/Files → Fonts and add the path to your AutoCAD fonts folder.

Question 27

The cursor leaves a trail on the drawing area. How do I fix this?

Accepted Answer

This is a graphics hardware acceleration issue. Go to Windows Control Panel → Display → Advanced Settings and reduce the hardware acceleration level for your graphics adapter. Updating your GPU driver may also resolve the issue.

Question 28

I opened a drawing from AutoCAD and the text alignment is off. How do I fix it?

Accepted Answer

The drawing is using AutoCAD-specific fonts that aren't in progeCAD's font path. Add the AutoCAD fonts directory to progeCAD: Tools → Options → Paths/Files → Fonts, and add the path to your AutoCAD fonts/help folder. Once progeCAD can find the correct fonts, text will display and align correctly.

Question 29

The cursor movement in my drawing is erratic or slow. What can I do?

Accepted Answer

This is usually caused by FlyOver Snaps being too aggressive on a complex drawing. Try setting only one or two snap types at a time (e.g., just Endpoint and Center) rather than all snap modes simultaneously. Right-click the ESNAP indicator in the status bar and choose Settings to adjust.

Question 30

I can't print my drawings. What should I check?

Accepted Answer

First, update your printer driver from the printer manufacturer's website — outdated drivers are the most common cause of print failures. Also check that the print job is being processed by the computer (not the printer's internal memory), which is configurable in the driver settings.

Question 31

Some print options appear grayed out or unavailable. Why?

Accepted Answer

The generic Windows-bundled drivers for many printers don't expose all available print features. Download and install the full driver package directly from the printer manufacturer's website. Once you have the manufacturer's full driver installed, all options supported by your printer should be available.

Question 32

Landscape or rotation printing doesn't work correctly. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Install the latest driver from your printer manufacturer's website. Windows system drivers (installed automatically) are often incomplete and may not support rotation or landscape settings your printer is capable of. The manufacturer's full driver package resolves most of these issues.

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