When new releases of BikeCAD Pro come out, all owners of BikeCAD Pro receive these updates for free. E-mails are sent out with a link to download the latest version. The program comes in a compressed zip file. It is not simply a patch or something that needs to be added to the existing program. It is the entire program.

The latest version of BikeCAD is called 8.1. On a PC, version 8.1 gets installed in a directory called BikeCAD Pro 8.1 which is completely separate from where any prior version of BikeCAD might have been installed. For Mac and Linux users, the program simply comes in a directory called BikeCAD Pro 8.1. Mac and Linux users can feel free to place this directory next to where ever they may have placed prior copies of the program.

Prior to uninstalling old versions of BikeCAD from your system, you may wish to transfer some files from your old BikeCAD directory and into the new directory. Because they chose the location for storing the BikeCAD Pro program folder in the first place, Mac and Linux users should be able to locate this directory on their system. PC users can easily find this directory according to the instructions here.

All files that might be considered for transfer will be located in the configuration subdirectory inside the BikeCAD Pro 8.1 directory.

The following is a list of files you may wish to copy over along with a description of what each file does:

• fit_advisor.xml (stores fit advisor formulas and settings)
• properties.xml (stores settings from the Startup tab in the Customize dialog box. It is not recommended that properties.xml files from BikeCAD version 6.53 and earlier be reused in version 7 and higher)
• template.bcad (stores the bike design that BikeCAD will display when launched)
• dialogs1(2)(3).xml (stores the size and location of dialog boxes when you exit from BikeCAD Pro, so that the dialog boxes can be restored to their past states when BikeCAD Pro is launched again.)
• csv_props.xml (stores settings from the Configure CSV output tab in the Customize dialog box. If you use a spreadsheet that reads specific fields out of the CSV output file. You should check out this info.)
• BikeCADlang.props (stores language choice. If you've never changed the language of BikeCAD, you won't have this file.)
• BikeCADrecent.props (stores locations of last few BikeCAD files that were opened. This file will not exist in a new installation.)
• BIKE folder (contains all Bike template files.)
• CARGO folder (contains all standard rear cargo loads)
• Colors\Images folder (contains all Images from the advanced color palette)
• Colors\Schemes folder (contains all predefined color schemes (palettes))
• CRANKS folder (contains all standard cranks)
• DIMS folder (contains all Dimensions templates)
• DISPLAY folder (contains all Display templates)
• FIT_ADVISOR_IMG folder (contains all images used to describe Fit advisor fit schemes)
• FORK folder (contains all standard forks)
• FRONTCARGO folder (contains all standard front cargo loads)
• FRONTPANNIERS folder (contains all standard front panniers)
• FRONTRACK folder (contains all standard front racks)
• HANDLEBAR folder (contains all standard handlebars)
• HEADSETS folder (contains all standard headsets)
• LOWRIDER folder (contains all standard lowrider racks)
• LRPANNIERS folder (contains all standard lowrider panniers)
• MODEL folder (contains all Model template files.)
• NOTES folder (contains all Notes template files.)
• PAINT folder (contains all Paint template files.)
• PANNIERS folder (contains all standard rear panniers)
• Pedals folder (contains all standard pedals.)
• PHOTO folder (contains all Photo template files.)
• RACK folder (contains all standard rear racks)
• REARBRAKE folder (contains all standard rear brakes)
• REARDROPOUTS folder (contains all standard rear dropouts.)
• RIDER folder (contains all Rider template files.)
• SADDLE folder (contains all standard saddles.)
• SEATPOST folder (contains all standard seatposts.)
• SPROCKETS folder (contains all standard cassettes.)
• TITLEBLOCK folder (contains all Titleblock template files.)
• TITLEBLOCK_IMG folder (contains any images that may be used in the Title block.)
• WHEELS folder (contains all standard wheels.)

As of BikeCAD version 7.0, there is no longer a need for forks.xml, wheels.xml and reardropouts.xml files. The data in these files can gradually be moved into your new version 7+ library through the following process. When you read in an older BCAD file that has a standard fork, wheel, dropout etc. If it is not already in your new (version 7+) library, BikeCAD will ask if you want to add it to your library. Click okay and it will be added automatically. If you happen to have a collection of BCAD files, each stored with a different standard component which together represents your full collection of standard parts, you could just read in one after the other. If the method suggested above is too laborious for the volume of standard parts you may have stored in your forks or wheels.xml files. Please e-mail them to info@bikecad.ca and new version 7+ standard component files will be sent back to you.

If you've changed your e-mail address, drop a line to info@bikecad.ca to get back in the loop.