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Answers to Your Questions About SilicaCAD
Find quick and clear answers to the most common questions about installation, licensing, drawing, rendering and more.Whether you’re a trial user or a licensed customer, our knowledge base and support resources are here to help you move forward with confidence.
Answers to your basic questions on SilicaCAD
General Info
OPERATING SYSTEM:
Windows 8.1® , Windows 10® or Windows 11®
Only 64 bit systems are supported (32 bit up to SilicaCAD 2021 version)
(WARNING: Virtual machines are not officially supported).
CPU:
2.2 GHz or faster (recommended almost 2.5 GHz or more) 64-bit (x64) processor
Not certified for ARM Processors.
For the RasterDraw AI module, the CPU must meet the following requirements: Processor: AVX-compatible (Intel Core i3/i5/i7 from the 2nd generation onward, all i9, and AMD FX/Ryzen). Typically, PCs from 2011 or later are compatible.
RAM:
Minimum 4 GB (8 GB recommended)
DISK SPACE:
4 GB of free space
VIDEO CARD:
For optimum performance, it is recommended to use machines with a dedicated video card nVidia or AMD (nVidia GeForce recommended for 3D and Render)
Windows 7®, Windows 8®, Windows 8.1® Windows 10® or Windows 11®
Windows Server 2008/2008R2®, Windows Server 2012/2012R2®, Windows Server 2016®, Windows Server 2019®,Windows Server 2022®
Follow the instruction of the Registration Wizard which is automatically displayed starting the registration procedure. If you encounter any problem, please get in touch with the Customer Service.
iCARE Subscription Activation
If you received an iCARE Activation Code, visit the iCARE Activation page.
Upgrade Activation
If you received an Upgrade Code, visit the Upgrade Activation page.
If you received an iCARE Activation Code, visit the iCARE Activation page.
If you received an Upgrade Code, visit the Upgrade Activation page.
IntelliCAD is a product developed by the ITC Consortium which comprises different companies from around the world. This guarantees the necessary support in case of any problems which may arise handling such a vast software project. Every company participating as a trading member in the ITC Consortium can distribute products based on IntelliCAD technology. This kind of co-operation guarantees the basic functionality and compatibility. To the basic characteristics of IntelliCAD, SilicaCAD adds a great many of improvements and additional functions which make SilicaCAD the best IntelliCAD version currently distributed on the market.
The best way to assess SilicaCAD’s actual features is to try the product. It is the easiest way to understand whether the declared characteristics correspond to reality. Please go to the Download webpage to request a Trial Version.
First check the Technical section on this FAQ page. If you cannot find an answer to your question, submit a ticket in SilicaCAD Support Center on the Support page of our website.
First check the Orders & Sales section on this FAQ page. If you cannot find an answer to your question, submit your question through our Contact form.
Check the Technical section on this FAQ page. If you cannot find an answer to your question, submit a Ticket through SilicaCAD Support Center on the Support page of our website.
Technical Questions
Installation/Registration
OPERATING SYSTEM:
Windows 8.1® , Windows 10® or Windows 11®
Only 64 bit systems are supported (32 bit up to SilicaCAD 2021 version)
(WARNING: Virtual Machines are not officially supported.).
CPU:
2.2 GHz or faster (recommended almost 2.5 GHz or more) 64-bit (x64) processor
Not certified for ARM Processors.
For the RasterDraw AI module, the CPU must meet the following requirements: Processor: AVX-compatible (Intel Core i3/i5/i7 from the 2nd generation onward, all i9, and AMD FX/Ryzen). Typically, PCs from 2011 or later are compatible.
RAM:
Minimum 4 GB (8 GB recommended)
DISK SPACE:
4 GB of free space
VIDEO CARD:
For optimum performance, it is recommended to use machines with a dedicated video card nVidia or AMD
WARNING: Artisan Render module doesn’t support AMD Graphic Cards
Starting from SilicaCAD 2019 the software integrates the new CUI Editor which has changed the standard SilicaCAD customization procedure for Menu loading and ALIAS management. As a result, some SilicaCAD users remain perplexed by not being able to perform their standard routines.
For this reason, we offer a short video illustrating the new procedure:
Watch how to load Customized Menus and Alias files
Follow the instruction of the Registration Wizard which is automatically displayed starting the registration procedure. If you encounter any problem, please get in touch with the Customer Service.
SilicaCAD can be uninstalled either from Control Panel or SilicaCAD Center for SilicaCAD 2013 and newer versions. For SilicaCAD older versions go to the menu Start> Programs > SilicaCAD 200X pro ENG> Uninstall SilicaCAD Pro 200X
For SilicaCAD 2013 and newer versions:
Uninstall SilicaCAD ® from the old PC through Control Panel or SilicaCAD Centre. Proceed to the new PC and register the program using the same serial number.
For earlier versions of SilicaCAD:
Uninstall SilicaCAD ® from the PC so far used going to the menu:
Start> Programs> SilicaCAD 200X pro ENG> Uninstall SilicaCAD Pro 200X
Proceed to the new PC and register the program using the same serial number.
Contact the SilicaCAD office to communicate the reason of the software re-installation to be in compliance with the licensing agreement.
Drawing
This depends on the font. The opened drawing makes use of AutoCAD fonts. Anyone in possession of a regular AutoCAD license can also use the fonts supplied with AutoCAD in the SilicaCAD program along with the numerous fonts already available in SilicaCAD. Just open the Tools > Options menu and access the Path/File tab > Support paths sub-menu. Double click Fonts and add the fonts installation path. For ex.: C:\Program Files\AutoCAD R14\Fonts. For the 2000 version of AutoCAD the simplex font can be found in Support directory. You can add this path too (For ex.: C:\AutoCAD LT 2000\Fonts;C:\AutoCAD LT 2000\Support) or copy this font to the folder Fonts of AutoCAD 2000. This guarantees a perfect display of any project using the simplex.shx font.
Anyone who owns a regular AutoCAD license can use, besides the numerous fonts available with SilicaCAD, also the fonts supplied with AutoCAD.
To do this, open the Tools menu, under Options in Path/File, Support paths sub-menu, in Fonts add the fonts’ installation path. For ex.: C:\Program Files\AutoCAD R14\Fonts. For the 2000 version of AutoCAD the simplex font can be found Support directory. You can add this path too (For ex.: C:\AutoCAD LT 2000\Fonts;C:\AutoCAD LT 2000\Support) or copy this font to the folder Fonts of AutoCAD 2000. This guarantees a perfect display of any project using the simplex.shx font.
If when SilicaCAD was installed on your PC an AutoCAD installation is already present, the font path will be automatically added to the standard ones.
The fonts used for the drawing’s text depend on the text’s style.
With SilicaCAD it is possible to specify the font to be used in place of other fonts.
Sometimes it may be necessary to use only some types of font for a drawing, or to convert the fonts used into different fonts.
To this purpose the font mapping tables can be used.
If for example drawings are shared with other AutoCAD users, a font mapping table can be used in order to specify the alternative font SilicaCAD must use for the text originally created in a different font.
The font mapping table (FMP) is an ASCII file containing a font mapping for each line.
Each line contains the basic name of the font file (without the path) followed by a semicolon (;) and the name of the alternative font file with the relative extension (for example .shx or .ttf).
It is for example possible to type the following string in a font mapping table in order to specify that the romanc.shx font file must be substituted by the IC-romans.shx font file.
romanc.shx;IC-romans.shx
SilicaCAD comes with a default font mapping table included in the file ICAD.FMP, which is stored in the SilicaCAD folder.
This file can be modified with any ASCII text editor. It is also possible to specify a different table file in the Options dialogue box or by means of the FONTMAP system variable.
How to specify a font mapping table
1 From the Tools menu choose Options.
2 In the Paths/File list
3 Insert the mapping file name (.fmp) in the ‘Font Identification’ box
SilicaCAD’s original setting uses icad.fmp; if no substitution of font is needed, delete or rename the ICAD.FMP file.
Also remember that…
Is it possible to use AutoCAD’s fonts (the .SHX files) with SilicaCAD?
Yes,SilicaCAD is compatible with AutoCAD fonts file .shx.
To do this, open the “Options” menu and select the “File Paths” tab; then add the fonts’ installation path under “fonts”.
For ex: C:\Program Files\AutoCAD R14\fonts;c:\Program Files\AutoCAD R14\support
If when SilicaCAD was installed on your PC an AutoCAD installation is already present, the font path will be automatically added to the standard ones.
If you have original AutoCAD Fonts and want to avoid font substitution of standard ones (Ex. ROMANS.SHX SIMPLEX.SHX)
You also must open the font mapping file, icad.fmp and either delete or comment out the line that makes a font substitution for your AutoCAD font.
For example, suppose you have simplex.shx located at C:\ACADFONT and you click on Tools on the menu bar and then Options to identify C:\ACADFONT as an alternate font directory. But when you open a drawing that uses simplex.shx, the program continues to substitute ic-simplex.shx.
The solution is to open icad.fmp with a text editing program and either delete the line simplex;ic-simplex.shx or comment it out so that it reads:
;simplex;ic-simplex.shx
Then the next time you launch the program it will no longer substitute ic-simplex.shx for simplex.shx.
– Check if the font path is specified correctly in SilicaCAD options. From Tools->Options choose Path/Files tab > Support paths sub-menu, and insert the correct path for your fonts double clicking the Fonts folder. You can add several different paths separated by a semicolon ;
– SilicaCAD makes an automatic substitution of fonts not available, check file icad.fmp (it is stored into SilicaCAD main directory), if a font substitution is present for one you have on the disk, delete this row. Font substitution syntax is OriginalFont;OptionalFont
The font used in the drawing is not present on the PC on which SilicaCAD® is installed. Font installation is required.
or
Make sure that a font search path is present among those displayed in the menu Tools -> Options -> Paths/File -> Support paths -> Fonts. If it is not, add the character “;” after the queued existing routes and then the font path.
or
Verify that the font replacement is not active. Open with a text editor (e.g. “Notepad” Windows) the file “icad.fmp” that is situated in Start menu of Windows -> All Programs -> SilicaCAD 2XXX Pro ENG -> Utility -> SilicaCAD 20XX Professional Center -> Settings -> User Support Folder.
Example:
The font not properly displayed is “romans”. After verifying the installation of the font on your system and therefore the presence of the full path among those displayed in the fonts location (Tools -> Options -> Paths/File -> Support paths -> Fonts), open the file “icad.fmp” and remove the row with the following content: “romans; ic-romans. shx. ” This will avoid the replacement of fonts.
If the font used in the drawing is not present on your PC, install it to see your drawing properly.
If you cannot do that, opening the drawing with SilicaCAD a dialog box for fonts substitution shows up.
Choose the font compatible with the one to replace.
NOTE
To ensure the correct management of installed Bigfonts you must change the file Bigfont.ini
Start -> All Programs -> SilicaCAD 2XXX pro ENG -> Utility ->User Support Folder
this file specifies the language to which the installed font belongs.
SYNOPSIS:
“Name of the font with”; ” language reference number”
CODES OF REFERENCE LANGUAGES:
JAPANESE_CODEPAGE_INDEX = 1,
TRADITIONAL_CHINESE_CODEPAGE_INDEX = 2,
KOREAN_CODEPAGE_INDEX = 3,
SIMPLIFIED_CHINESE_CODEPAGE_INDEX = 5
Example
for a font that is called chinas_fzhjt.shx in simplified Chinese, you will add a row
chinas_fzhjt.shx; 5
To fix the problem, it is necessary to disable the Hardware Acceleration. To do this, access the Display section of the SilicaCAD Options dialog (in the Tools menu > Option) and uncheck Hardware Acceleration.
This is a problem that generally depends on the settings of the FlyOver snap (advanced snaps).
Fly over snaps are a special mode of object Snaps which allow a user of SilicaCAD to display immediately the relevant points of objects (endpoint, centre, midpoint, intersection, etc.).
For complex drawings (several drawn entities) or if a PC is not very fast, the use of this mode can overload the computer.
Should any problem arise, only one value at the time should be set (for ex. only End, Centre, Intersection, etc.); alternatively this function should be disabled and object Snaps should be used only when necessary by means of the relative toolbar.
To set the Object Snaps, position the cursor over the Esnap icon on the status bar in the bottom right corner of SilicaCAD and press the mouse right button.
From the menu, select ‘Settings’
The required snaps should then be selected from the control window.
The FlyOver button can be used for activating the settings of FlyOver Snaps.
This problem occurs when external references (Xref) are used and its re-occurrence can be erratic.
It could happen even after opening and saving the drawing several times.
It relates to all OLE objects that can be inserted (images, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents etc.).
If you have this problem, you just need to delete the .vbi extension file with the same name of your drawing found in the same directory as the .dwg file.
Where:
01. An error message is displayed and the drawing is not opened.
02. An error message is not displayed but the drawing won’t open.
03. The loading of a drawing started but after its completion or before it SilicaCAD® goes wrong.
In all these cases, the file may be corrupted, so it requires recovery:
— Start SilicaCAD®
— From the File > Utility menu choose “Recover”
— Select the damaged file and confirm
— After the procedure it is necessary to save the drawing for the operation to take effect on it.
It is recommended that you use the “Save as” command assigning another name to the recovered file to avoid losing any crucial information that was not recovered.
Where:
The drawing is open, but some of its details are not present
In this case, the file may be corrupted, so it requires recovery:
— Start SilicaCAD®
— From the File > Utility menu choose “Recover”
— Select the damaged file and confirm
— After the procedure it is necessary to save the drawing for the operation to take effect on it.
It is recommended that you use the “Save as” command assigning another name to the recovered file to avoid losing any crucial information that was not recovered.
— Click on the button “LWT” in the status bar of SilicaCAD® to enable or disable the display of line weight.
OR:
— From the Tools menu, choose ” Drawing Settings” .
— Under the “Display”, under the label “Change settings:” choose from: “lineweight.”
— Select “display lineweights”.
— Exit the form confirming with the button “Ok”
The reason could be that the drawing from which you are copying your entities has been closed.
— Make sure the file from which you are copying your entities is still open.
— If it is closed: open the source file, select the entities to be copied using the “Copy” or “Copy with base point” commands from the Edit menu
— Open or switch to the destination drawing keeping the source drawing open, go to the Edit menu and choose the “Paste” or “Paste to original coordinate” commands.
NOTE
The right way to copy is always by using the “Copy” command from the Edit menu.
The “LTSCALE” variable must have been set to a different value.
Check the value of the “LTSCALE” variable in the drawing of origin by typing on the command bar “LTSCALE” and pressing “ENTER”
Move to the destination drawing and repeat the operation described above.
If the value of the variable in the destination drawing is different, change it by typing on the command bar the correct value.
The wheel of the Mouse
rotation -> Zoom IN and Zoom Out
pressed -> Pan in the active window
double-click -> Zoom Extension in the Active window
To use the CTRL key for the Zoom and Pan commands (SilicaCAD 2016 and newer versions), you need to enable Mouse Advanced Functions.
These settings can be found in the menu Express -> Mouse Advanced Functions (variable CTRLMOUSE)
CTRL + Left mouse button pressed -> 3D orbit in the window Enabled
CTRL + SHIFT + Left Mouse button pressed -> Zoom IN and Zoom Out the window
CTRL + SHIFT + Right Mouse button pressed -> Pan in the Active window
SHIFT + mouse-> Pan in the Active window
– Update your printer driver from the printer manufacturer’s website.
– If available, download and install an updated driver from the printer manufacturer’s website.
– If SilicaCAD doesn’t accept some settings available from your system driver, try setting them directly from the control panel.
– Update your printer driver from the printer manufacturer’s website.
– System drivers provided with operating systems could be not fully compatible with your printer, so some options supported by your printer could be unavailable. If available, download and install an updated driver from the printer manufacturer’s website.
– Check the plotter settings for drawing auto rotation for print paper saving
Stored Into the system registry:
– ‘Save changes to Layout’ check box value
– ‘Use Setting from’ check box value
– Header and Footer
Stored into the drawing:
– Print Area
– Fit print area to size of page
– Scale
– Print origin
– Use Line Weight
– Printer
– Paper Landscape/Portrait
– Units
– Upside down set
Stored into CTB files:
– Pens color related to colors table
– Lineweight related to colors table
– Linetype
— Make sure that the “Print Lineweights” option is selected in the “Print” dialog.
If the line thickness is set in the Ctb print file:
— Make sure that in the Ctb file the right thickness is also configured in relation to colours.
If the line thickness is set in the Stb print file:
— Make sure that in the Stb file the right thickness is also configured in relation to the styles.
Like all the print, it depends solely on the printing device installed.
— Open a drawing to be printed
— Start the Plot command
— Select the Name of the printing device (plotter, printer or an output file) in the pull-down list in the Printer section
— After selecting the printing device, click on the Properties button
You’ll see the printing device driver interface that allows to create the custom size (if provided by the manufacturer).
For additional information on creating customized formats by this device, consult the manufacturer’s manual.
Attention:
If SilicaCAD® does not save customized formats, you must go to Control Panel> Printers by Windows
— Access the “Print” dialog by selecting the menu File > Print
— In the list of printers select “SilicaCAD PDF Printer”
— Using the button “Properties” configure the print parameters as a Custom printer, if necessary.
— Set the scale, paper orientation, and print area parameters
— Preview, if necessary, and launch printing
— At the moment of printing you will be asked a name for the PDF file to be generated and its path
Rendering
For SilicaCAD 2017 or older versions.
Save the last rendered image:
From the menu View select Render > Preferences
— Under the tab General press the button “Save Last Render to File” (or “Redisplay Last Rendered Image” to see the created render on the screen)
— Specify the path and the name with extension for your output file and confirm.
Save the render directly to file:
From the menu View select Render > Preferences
— Under the tab General “Render to file” define the desired size and press the button “Render” ( the button on the right of the “File” field )
— Specify the path and the name with extension for your output file and confirm.
Starting from SilicaCAD 2018:
— From the View menu choose “Render > Open render”
— Perform all render configurations you need
— Run render operation by using the “Full render” button
— Use the “Save the last render on file…” button
For advanced settings please refer to the integrated render guide
Updates
Open SilicaCAD®.
Go to the menu Help > About SilicaCAD
The dialog displays the installed version full number (e.g. Version: 8.1 [17.0.16.6] x64 )
In the support area you can find all available updates downloads which will allow you to update your SilicaCAD to the latest version.
Trial Versions
Please visit SilicaCAD Support Center.
Choose the product you are looking for on the Products page of the SilicaCAD website.
NLN Licenses
The detailed instructions can be found in the manual under the Licenses Manager section.
SilicaCAD 2026: manual.
SilicaCAD 2025: manual.
SilicaCAD 2024: manual.
SilicaCAD 2022: manual.
SilicaCAD 2021: manual.
For previous versions, please contact Technical Support.
The detailed instructions can be found in the manual under the SilicaCAD Installation and Usage section.
SilicaCAD 2026: manual.
For this version, you may also refer to this video tutorial.
SilicaCAD 2025: manual.
For this version, you may also refer to this video tutorial.
SilicaCAD 2024: manual.
SilicaCAD 2022: manual.
SilicaCAD 2021: manual.
For previous versions, please contact Technical Support.
The detailed instructions can be found in the manual under the RegData section
SilicaCAD 2026: manual.
For previous versions, please contact Technical Support.
The detailed instructions can be found in the manual under the Groups section.
SilicaCAD 2026: manual.
The Groups option is not supported in previous versions.
The detailed instructions can be found in the manual under the Migrating NLM Server section.
SilicaCAD 2026: manual..
For previous versions, please contact Technical Support.
The detailed instructions can be found in the manual under the Server Settings section.
SilicaCAD 2026: manual.
For previous versions, please contact Technical Support.
There is no answer to my technical problem
If you cannot find an answer to your question, submit a Ticket through SilicaCAD Support Center on the Support page of our website.
Orders and Sales
General
IntelliCAD is a product developed by the ITC Consortium which comprises different companies from around the world. This guarantees the necessary support in case of any problems which may occur handling such a vast software project. Every company participating as a trading member in the ITC Consortium can distribute products based on IntelliCAD technology. This kind of co-operation guarantees the basic functionality and compatibility. To the basic characteristics of IntelliCAD, SilicaCAD adds a great many of improvements and additional functions which make SilicaCAD the best IntelliCAD version currently distributed on the market.
The best way to assess SilicaCAD’s actual features is to try the product. It is the easiest way to understand whether the declared characteristics correspond to reality. Please go to the Download webpage to request a Trial Version.
Get a free evaluation version now!
I need to use software applications that add specific features to a generic CAD. Are there
Thanks to the powerful API programming supported by SilicaCAD®, one can easily develop simple routines or complete and complex applications for the SilicaCAD® software. You can find third-party applications which work with SilicaCAD® on the market. You can find some of them on our website Plugins page.
Through high compatibility of the programming interfaces of SilicaCAD® and AutoCAD®, it is possible to adapt existing applications to run on the SilicaCAD® platform.
Order Information
SilicaCAD sales are handled by appointed resellers or through the online shop. If we do not have a distributor/dealer in your Country you can buy our products online.
Cleverbrige, the leading online sales provider, accepts the following payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Paypal, Wire Transfer.
You can safely enter your entire Credit Card number on the Cleverbdrige secure server which encrypts all submitted information.
If you purchase downloadable products your credit card is charged as soon as your purchase transaction is complete. You receive your software product serial number almost immediately on purchase.
Yes, you can. The SilicaCAD online shop accepts Credit Card and Wire Transfer payment methods.
For credit card verification, your address is not required. On the Bank side form you must provide a valid email address. The invoice will be issued based on the data placed on the order form on SilicaCAD.com or cleverbridge.com
The discount is automatically applied to the order for the same type of product.
Note: These discounts are not applied to the Indian version of the product.
Product Activation
Serials numbers are sent by email after payment confirmation. For new licenses with Credit Card payment serials are sent immediately. For upgrades after the verification of your previous license. With Wire Transfer payments, serials are sent after bank verifications (this takes a few days). If you have lost or have not received your serials, write to: Customer Service
Make sure that your serial number is accurate. Make sure whether the product version corresponds to the serial number version. If the problem persists, please contact our Customer Service
There is no answer to my question
If you cannot find an answer to your question, submit your question through our Contact form.
Corporate Licenses
Corporate licensing is the optimum solution for companies with numerous CAD seats which offers good value for money. Corporate One Site, Corporate Country and Corporate Global licenses allow to activate an unlimited number of SilicaCAD Professional copies on all computers under the company license proprietor name. The territorial limit is the sole restriction of usage and is based on the Corporate license type (One Site, Country, Global). Still, the company, proprietor of the license, may hold SilicaCAD software copies installed on laptops belonging to the company to enable its employees to use SilicaCAD remotely, out of the corporate office.
Corporate One Site license allows the unlimited installation of software copies in the premises of a business (a building or a group of buildings situated in the same location) with the exception of laptops belonging to the organization on which the software can be installed and used by employees even out of the corporate office.
Corporate Country license allows the unlimited installation of software copies in an organization with multiple premises situated within the same country.
Corporate Global license allows the unlimited installation of software copies in an organization which has multiple premises situated worldwide.
The SilicaCAD Professional software is installed and activated on every single PC, so a Server is not required for licensing management. The activation of SilicaCAD can be carried out either on each single PC after the software installation, as in the case of Single Licenses, or by using a specific tool for the network automated installation which allows to activate and install the license during the ins
tallation process. Once all SilicaCAD Professional software copies are activated making use of the tool, the computers with SilicaCAD will be operable even not connected to the network. The tool for automated activation with the instructions is provided on the corporate license purchase.
If you haven’t found an answer to your question, Ask Customer Service
If you’re using a Trial version and need help, Visit Support Center
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