ISD - Online Help / Documents

This page provides you with links to the Online Helps^* for our products HiCAD (2-D/3-D for all industries) and HELiOS (PDM/PLM) and other tools. In addition, you will find links to other important documents here, such as the "Installation Notes" etc.

* As the help is updated regularly, you should clear the browser cache from time to time - especially after updating to a new major release or service pack.

Please note our current information

Printing SZAs via HELiOS

From HELiOS 2023, information on the HiCAD sheet structure will be used for printing SZA files via HELiOS. From now on, this information will also be transferred to HELiOS when saving an SZA. For inventory data that has not yet been resaved, this information is still missing and printing via HELiOS is not possible.

Error when saving in HiCAD due to C++ Redistributables

On 12 November 2025, Microsoft unfortunately released a faulty version of Visual C++ v14 Redistributables. Installing this "Microsoft Visual C++ v14 Redistributable (x64) – 14.50.35710" causes serious errors in programs that previously ran without errors. In HiCAD, this prevents drawing from being saved.

If you are affected, you must first uninstall the faulty C++ Redistributables and then install an older or newer version. A detailed description can be found here.

Discontinuation of the ISD.PDM.API

Before carrying out a HELiOS update for an older HiCAD version, please note that from HELiOS 2022 omwards, the previous ISD.PDM.API will be discontinued and replaced by the new API from Helios.Interface. If you use customisations that use functionalities from the previous ISD.PDM.API, you must update the customisations to the new API before carrying out the HELiOS update.

Discontinuation of Oracle

As of HELiOS 2022 (Version2700), Oracle will no longer be officially supported as a database system! Please migrate to a SQL Server as soon as possible.

Discontinuation of HELiOS 32-Bit and HiCAD Viewer 32-Bit

As of HELiOS 2022 (Version number 2700.0) there will no longer be a 32-Bit version available for HELiOS and HiCAD Viewer. However, the interface to 32-Bit applications such as Office will still be possible and is not affected by the discontinuation of the 32-Bit installation of HELiOS.

Discontinuation of length measurements deviating from mm

HiCAD 2021 and 2022 only support drawings with the unit of measurement “Millimetres” (mm). The unit of measurement is saved in the corresponding SZA, FGA or KRA file when saving a drawing or a part. Attempts to open drawings with a different unit of measurement or to insert parts with a unit of measurement different from mm will be blocked.

Discontinuation of Mircosoft Office 2010 interface

From HELiOS 2021 (Version number 2600.0) on, we will no longer support Office 2010 in the HELiOS – Office interface.

Discontinuation of Office interfaces for Office 2013, 2016 and 2019

Microsoft® has discontinued support for Office Versions 2013, 2016 and 2019 and no longer releases security updates for these versions. Therefore, starting with HELiOS 2026 (Version 31.0), Microsoft Office interfaces for Office 2013, 2016 and 2019 will no longer be supported.

Discontinuation of EPLAN Electric P8 2.9 Interface

Starting with HELiOS 2026 (Version 31.0), EPLAN Electric P8 Version 2.9 and older versions will no longer be supported. Before installing or updating, please check whether your current interface is supported by HELiOS.

Discontinuation of various HiCAD modules

Starting with HiCAD 2026 (Version 31.0), the following HiCAD modules will no longer be supported:

HiCAD classic and HiCAD creator: The extension modules that previously required HiCAD classic or HiCAD creator now require HiCAD solution. Customers with a maintenance contract for one of the two modules will automatically receive HiCAD solution when they update.
HiCAD Sheet Metal suite: Customers with a maintenance contract for HiCAD Sheet Metal suite will automatically receive Sheet Metal suite premium when they update.
Metal Engineering suite classic: Customers with a maintenance contract for HiCAD Metal Engineering suite classic will automatically receive HiCAD solution when they update.
Report Manager professional: The additional functionality of the Report Manager professional has been integrated into the Report Manager.

Discontinuation of "old" OpenGL versions

From HiCAD 2021 on, only OpenGL version 4.3 is used in all HiCAD modules. Until now this was only the case with the module HiCAD Point Cloud. This means that HiCAD 2021 can only be run on computers whose graphics card supports OpenGL Version 4.3 or higher. To avoid possible problems with onboard graphics cards, we recommend using a stand-alone graphics card. Further information can be found in the HiCAD 2021 News.

Discontinuation of Windows® 10

Microsoft® will discontinue support for the Windows® 10 operating system in October 2025. For compatibility reasons, HiCAD 2025 SP2 and HELiOS 2025 SP2 are the last versions of our CAD and PDM systems that support Windows© 10. HiCAD 2026 and HELiOS 2026 will no longer run on Windows© 10.

Discontinuation of Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and 2014

Microsoft® discontinued support for SQL Server 2012 in July 2022 and no longer provides security updates. As a result, SQL Server 2012 will no longer be supported from HELiOS 2025 onwards.
Also, Microsoft® discontinued support for SQL Server 2014 in July 2024. Therefore, SQL Server 2014 will no longer be supported from HELiOS 2026 onwards.

Discontinuation of "old" HiCAD itemisation

As of HiCAD 2019 the "old" itemisation, i.e. the itemisation that was used up to HiCAD 2017, will only be available for model drawings that were already itemized with these functions. From HiCAD 2021 onwards, only the "new" itemization will be supported. Please also read the information given in the