Useful tools

Letzte Änderung: 17.09.2026

Individuelle HiCAD-API-Lösungen: Wenn Standardfeatures nicht genügen, entwickeln wir passgenaue Zusatztools. Durch die Kombination aus CAD-Expertise und modernster KI-gestützter Tool-Entwicklung optimieren wir Ihre Arbeitsabläufe nachhaltig.

Save valuable time when requesting site quotes! This tutorial shows you how to start an automated hole analysis in HiCAD using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + J. You'll immediately receive a clear HTML report of all profiles and sheets, including summaries of diameters and hole types. Checking imported IFC data also becomes incredibly easy.

Frame profiles are typically mitered – but how can this process be automated for an entire structure? We present a useful tool that cuts your railing infill profiles quickly and precisely. See for yourself how the script identifies the straps, performs the machining, and documents the status directly in the attributes. A must-have for every HiCAD user who wants to optimize batch processing.

The Design Checker in HiCAD allows designs to be automatically checked against custom rules and enables properties to be visualized directly on the component. Using glass panes as an example, it becomes clear why length and width values ​​may be swapped depending on the sketch orientation—and how these dimensions can be displayed as arrows and dimension text. The Design Checker also marks incorrectly oriented glass panes with a specific symbol, allowing the correct orientation to be verified at a glance. Since the checks are fully extensible, the Design Checker can be tailored to specific design and quality requirements, making quality assurance in steel, metal, and glass construction noticeably faster and more reliable.

A script from the ISD Austria tools generates 3D weld seams in HiCAD in a fully automated process: simply select a surface, specify the weld type and throat thickness, and instantly obtain a clean fillet weld within the 3D model. Whether creating continuous or intermittent welds—complete with start and end offsets, segment lengths, and spacing—all parameters are fully adjustable, including color and bill-of-materials relevance. Optionally, the script can add weld preparation details such as bevel depth and angle, representing the weld as a profile to ensure accurate data analysis. Since the script allows for the deletion, editing, regeneration, and toggling of weld visibility, the process of creating weld seams in steel and metal construction becomes noticeably faster and more flexible.

HiCAD’s standard sheet metal export function deliberately excludes glass components because they consist of multi-part structures, and selecting the wrong side—particularly with stepped glass—would be easy to do. The "Glass as DXF" script from the ISD Austria tools fills this gap by specifically exporting glass panes and glass units as DXF files. The only requirement is that the parts have been positioned—meaning position numbers have been assigned. The script lists all glass components in the design, automatically detects stepped glass, and allows for custom DXF filenames. During export, the stepped glass is identified and neatly assigned to two separate layers.

A custom-developed HiCAD plug-in makes part attributes instantly visible: a single click on a component suffices, eliminating the need for the standard double-click dialog. A specific input mask appears depending on the part type, ensuring that items such as sheeting, insulation, and other components display only the attributes actually required. The mask editor allows users to import fields from existing masks, create header groups and tabs, and verify the layout via a live preview. Assignment is managed through freely combinable attribute rules, and data is stored in the HiCAD "Custom" folder to ensure that customer-specific modifications remain cleanly separated from the standard configuration. Features such as search functionality (by part number, position number, or part type) and multi-selection capabilities round out the tool, noticeably accelerating attribute management in steel and metal construction.

A parametric configurator adds a tool to HiCAD that constructs complete grille doors and gates in just a few minutes. Based on the rough opening dimensions, air gap, and threshold, parameters such as the number of leaves, the active leaf, lock orientation, and width distribution are defined. A live 3D preview displays every change instantly while providing key data such as the clear frame opening, number of bars, clear bar spacing, and profile weight. The profiles are sourced directly from the HiCAD catalog and supplemented with grille bars, rebate strips, lock cases, and escutcheons, as well as hardware such as dowels, screw anchors, and hinges. Clicking "Build" automatically generates the complete 3D model, featuring a clean assembly structure and automatically created intersections.

An AI-assisted configurator transforms a simple sketch in HiCAD into a complete glass railing. The drawn lines define the layout and the height is generated automatically; a dialog allows the user to specify whether the glass is face-mounted or top-mounted, as well as corner details, segment lengths, glass composition, and orientation. The appropriate handrail profile is selected via a preview function, while butt connectors and the specific gaskets required for the chosen glass are determined automatically. Since every generated component is assigned a feature, the railing can be modified at any time, with only the removed parts being deleted. The tool includes a fully automated manufacturer catalog containing over 2,500 parts, stored in the HiCAD catalog in STEP and KRA formats, complete with coordinate systems and shape hashes.

Using HiCAD and the HiCAD MCP Server, a facade surface can be divided into a clean facade grid in just a few steps. The grid layout tool takes the surface from a DWG sketch or directly from the 3D model and applies the layout from the reference surface to all other surfaces, ensuring consistent joint patterns throughout. Parameters can be adjusted via manual input or drag-and-drop, while offset rows, coatings, and semi-finished products—such as ALUCOBOND—are defined directly within the dialog. Various options regarding profiles, rotation, and spacing are available for the substructure, with brackets and insulation represented symbolically in the cross-section. The generated sketches form the basis for the installation plan, after which facade panels, brackets, substructure rails, and reveals are automatically inserted—with the ability to make changes at any time via the feature.