In 1985, MiniCad was one of the
first computer modeling programs
developed for the Mac, and the
popular upgrade, MiniCad+, was
the first Mac program to offer an
interactive 2-D/3-D CAD
environment. MiniCad+
introduced the ability to link
"intelligent" symbols, like doors,
windows, and plumbing fixtures, to
a "Worksheet" database, which can
be used to build an itemized
material list and cost breakdown.
Suppose, for example, you have
a $2,500 door budget for a house
you're designing. Using MiniCad+,
every time you draw a door you
can check a user-defined "Door
Schedule" Worksheet to find out
instantly where you stand with
costs (see Figure 1). Better yet, if
you revise the door specification to
replace hollow core birch doors
with six-panel oak doors,