Meta CAD (M.CAD) User Guide & Technical Drawings | MetaFile Cloud
Precision 2D/3D Technical Drafting & Layer Management with Native DXF Compatibility.
Overview
Meta CAD (M.CAD) is a professional computer-aided design and drafting application engineered for architects, civil engineers, mechanical designers, and students. Running in high-performance HTML5 Canvas, M.CAD delivers full DXF compatibility, enabling users to open, modify, and create technical blueprints without installing heavy desktop CAD software. M.CAD features an intelligent Object Snap (OSnap) engine, infinite layer controls with custom colors and linetypes, precision geometric dimensioning, and an integrated AI CAD assistant capable of generating room layouts, mechanical flanges, and structural schematics from natural language instructions.
Core Capabilities & Features
Full 2D/3D Vector Geometry Engine
Draw lines, continuous polylines, circles, arcs, rectangles, splines, ellipses, hatch patterns, and multi-line technical text with coordinate precision.
Precision Object Snap (OSnap)
Snap accurately to Endpoints, Midpoints, Circle Centers, Quadrants, Intersections, Perpendicular points, and Tangents with visual snap glyphs.
Comprehensive Layer Management
Organize architectural walls, doors, windows, electrical wiring, plumbing, and dimensions into isolated layers with visibility, lock, and color toggles.
AI CAD Assistant & Text-to-Drawing
Prompt the AI: "Generate a 2D floor plan for a 2-bedroom modern apartment with dimensions and doors" to automatically synthesize DXF drawing entities.
Step-by-Step User Guide (How to Use)
Follow these simple steps to start working productively with M.CAD:
Create New Drawing or Open an Existing DXF
Start a new drawing with your preferred measurement units (Millimeters, Meters, Inches, Feet) or import an existing AutoCAD DXF file from your workspace.
Organize Layers & Draft Technical Entities
Create layers for Walls, Doors, Windows, and Dimensions. Turn on OSnap (F3) to lock onto geometric endpoints. Use keyboard shortcuts (L, C, REC) to draft quickly.
Annotate Dimensions & Export to DXF/PDF
Apply dimension lines to show exact measurements. Save directly to your cloud storage or export a DXF file compatible with AutoCAD or CNC laser cutters.
Interface & Ribbon Toolbar Reference
Detailed explanation of every button, menu action, and tool available on the interface:
| Tool / Action | Shortcut / Access | Detailed Functionality & How to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Line Tool | L | Draw two-point linear segments with length and angle readout. |
| Polyline Tool | PL | Create continuous multi-segment lines with connected vertices. |
| Circle Tool | C | Draw circles defined by center-point and radius, or 2-point/3-point diameter. |
| Rectangle Tool | REC | Draw orthogonal rectangular boundaries by clicking opposite diagonal corners. |
| Dimension Tool | DIM | Add linear, aligned, angular, and radial dimension annotations with arrowheads. |
| Tool / Action | Shortcut / Access | Detailed Functionality & How to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Pan & Zoom | Middle Click / Wheel | Hold middle mouse button to pan smoothly; scroll wheel to zoom in and out. |
| Trim & Extend | TR / EX | Trim intersecting line segments at boundary edges or extend lines to meet targets. |
| Offset Tool | O | Create parallel copies of lines, curves, or concentric circles at a specified offset distance. |
Template Library (storage.template)
Explore standardized, professionally pre-designed templates stored in storage.template. You can click Preview (Read-Only) to inspect any template in view-only mode, or click Use / Edit Template to duplicate it directly into your private workspace.
Commercial Office Floor Plan & MEP Grid (DXF)
2D AutoCAD DXF layout with standardized A-WALL, A-DOOR, E-POWER, and DIM layer conventions.
Keyboard Shortcuts Reference
| Keystroke | Action Executed |
|---|---|
| L | Activate Line drawing command |
| C | Activate Circle drawing command |
| REC | Activate Rectangle drawing command |
| F3 | Toggle Object Snap (OSnap) on/off |
| F8 | Toggle Ortho mode (locks lines to 90 degrees) |
| Z + E | Zoom Extents (fits entire drawing into view) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. M.CAD supports AutoCAD DXF format (R12 through 2024), preserving layers, line entities, text, circles, and dimension styles.
Absolutely. M.CAD exports clean 2D vector DXF files with closed polylines, ready for CNC routers, laser cutters, and plasma cutting software.