Vcad comes in two versions: Standalone and integrated with Autodesk Construction Cloud, this version is called Vcad for ACC. In this article we will see what are the differences between the two products, registration procedures, features of the trial versions, and everything you need to know.
Vcad Standalone
Vcad Standalone is the version of Vcad that can be used after registering in this portal.
After registering, creating an account and logging in, it is necessary to choose a subscription plan.
Once this is done, you can start using Vcad Standalone. Click here for the registration guide.
Vcad for ACC
Vcad for Autodesk Construction Cloud is a direct integration between Vcad and Autodesk’s CDE. Using it is very simple, just activate the Vcad app found in the Autodesk store and log in at https://vcad360.vcad.it/ using your Autodesk credentials. To use Vcad for ACC, it is not necessary to register on this portal. Click here for the registration guide.
Viewer and file formats
Vcad Standalone supports two viewers, an Open viewer and the Autodesk Platform Services viewer (formerly Forge). The Open viewer supports only IFC format while the APS viewer supports IFC, RVT, NWD, NWC, STL, OBJ, DGN and DWG formats. Other formats will be added over time. To activate APS in Vcad, you must have an APS account. Click here for the activation guide and here for Autodesk Platform Services pricing.
Vcad for ACC instead uses APS, as it is included in the user’s Construction Cloud account. The supported file formats are, of course, the same as those described above.
File managers
Vcad Standalone uses the file manager in this portal. After activating a subscription plan you will be able to upload files and download the Power BI templates available.
Vcad for ACC is a web platform in its own right. After activating the Vcad app and logging in using their Autodesk credentials, the user has an interface that is basically a replica of their Autodesk Construction Cloud. From here you can process files and download Power BI templates.
Trial version
Trial versions of both versions of Vcad last for 10 days. While in Standalone you can convert and use only one file at a time, in Vcad for ACC you get 10 files. The trial version has the same features as the paid version, none excluded.
Workflow differences
The major difference in using the two versions lies in the fact that in Vcad Standalone the user must upload the files they want to use from this portal, and the same applies to any file updates. In Vcad for ACC this is not necessary since the files it uses are those already present in the user’s Autodesk cloud.
This results in greater efficiency and speed in template creation as well as greater convenience of use.
Views and phases for Revit files and ACC file versions
Both versions of Vcad allows you to download templates from each view and phase of Revit files. When downloading the template, the user can select a view or phase and download a template that contains related data and geometries.
In Vcad for ACC, however, it is possible to manage versions. Each time a file is updated, a new version of the same file is created. Vcad for ACC allows you to create templates from each version and update the report with a different version with a simple click of the mouse. In Vcad Standalone this management is not allowed.
Multimodel runtine federation
In Vcad for ACC users can federate models at runtime. This feature allows users to federate different BIM models at runtime and download templates in seconds that contain the data of all the models used as well as the geometries linked to them. It is also possible to align models via a web interface.
This capability is not present in Vcad Standalone.
What the two versions have in common
In general, the thing in common of the two products is the end result, that is, the reports. Regardless of the version used, each user will be able to convert their BIM files and download preconfigured Power BI templates. In this respect there are no major differences.
The price of the two versions is based on the number of concurrent BIM files the user processes for report creation and is the same regardless of the version used.
