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Letzte Änderung: 17.12.2025

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In this tutorial, I'll show you how to successfully get started with HiCAD. I'll explain the basics of the user interface and how to use its features. The goal is a smooth introduction and a better understanding of the interface.

In this video, I explain the meaning of the colors in HiCAD icons and how to optimize the display for easier use. I demonstrate useful commands and how to use the docking windows.

In the video I explain the basic types of commands in the ICN ( Information + Communication Navigator ) there is. Of course, it is also only a complete BASICS video to get along better in HiCAD. So that one creates the easier entrance or changeover from another CAD system.

ne overview of all symbols in ICN inden them here.

To reset the HiCAD user interface, for example if ICN windows are not displayed despite activation under Settings - Docking windows or if incorrect icons or texts appear in the HiCAD toolbars or ribbons, the HiCADGUIReset.exe tool is available in the HiCAD EXE directory. This tool resets all HiCAD user interface settings, including those in the Windows Registry and in the %APPDATA% directory, to the default state as it is after the HiCAD installation.

For more information not explained in the video about resetting the interface, such as loading and saving the interface, please see here.

In this video I go to the new functions in the status bar "visibility" and "Autopilot”Show what these functions do and how they can be used.

The autopilot options are used when a more precise definition and application of the point capture options is desired to allow the targeted capture of various points.

In this video I show you how to make keyboard shortcuts or your own Ribbon can tinker. This gives you much faster access to the most important commands and you can use HiCAD much better.

With the Parts filter you can search very quickly and easily for different parts in a design in HiCAD. You can search for the most different attributes and properties. With this you can List views / Parts lists and create workshop drawings.

The Designchecker enables a wide range of design checks. These range from general feature tests to specific checks in the area of HCM. In addition, manufacturing-relevant design checks such as the mountability check or the monitoring of the maximum dimensions of parts and assemblies can be performed.

These tests are continuously expanded with each new version. In HiCAD 2026, additional, useful tests are added to check designs for errors even more effectively.

It is often necessary to determine the center of gravity of an assembly in order to move it efficiently. This video clearly shows how to determine the center of gravity of an assembly. This can be facilitated by selecting the appropriate point options, which are selected with the Enter key.

With the Functions Searchs you have the possibility to search for all commands within HiCAD. This opens up new possibilities in learning and deepening HiCAD. The speed of designing increases considerably.

Part statistics in HiCAD gives you the possibility to filter parts, which can have a positive effect on performance. This greatly facilitates the optimization of designs.

In this specific example, the design contained some optical parts that significantly slowed down the display mode change. Therefore, it was necessary to identify and exclude these parts in order to improve the speed of the display mode change.

From HiCAD 2021 it is finally possible to have one Name of the sheet to forgive. Until HiCAD 2020 this was only possible with numbers.

It is possible if you go to the respective sheet with the RMT, then the following command appears.

With "Zoom on detailed view”You can jump directly to the detailed view of an active sheet and process it faster.

Now it is also possible that Active view of a construction to be highlighted graphically. In my example I have only shown this very gently so as not to confuse myself.

You can also switch this on / off and configure it very easily in the configuration. You can get the color values ​​from the Color editor take to set the RGB values ​​(color values).

In HiCAD 2021 SP1 you can select the color directly in the configuration.

The HiCAD color editor is used to define and manage drawing and special colors.

Printing inks

With the new feature in HiCAD 2025, technical views can now be designed even more flexibly. The combined display of hidden line and dashed edges allows for the targeted highlighting of hidden components without cluttering the entire view.

In the properties of a component, you can individually specify whether hidden edges should be displayed as dashed lines. This creates a clear, blended view, which provides greater clarity and precision, especially in detailed drawings—for example, in post-and-beam facades.

This function opens up completely new possibilities for the representation of technical drawings and significantly increases the readability of complex designs.