This is the most common question. Typically, HICAD Viewers are offered as freeware for basic viewing and printing. However, advanced features (like saving edited files or exporting to high-resolution formats) often require a paid license.
Note: As of 2024-2025, support for HICAD 2021 is waning. Most developers have shifted focus to subscription-based cloud viewers. You should check the official developer's site (often NTT Data Engineering Systems or similar) to see if the 2021 viewer is still available for download.
Users can turn layers on or off, freeze or thaw them, and change layer colors on the fly. This helps in isolating specific parts of a drawing (e.g., hiding the plumbing layer to view the electrical layout only).
On the left side, you will find the ICN pane. This is the heart of navigating complex files:
If you cannot find the original 2021 installer (as ISD has moved toward newer subscription models), consider these alternatives: hicad viewer 2021
| Tool | Pros | Cons |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| HICAD Viewer 2021 | Native support, free (often), fast | End-of-life; no support for files created after 2021 |
| Siemens NX | Fully compatible (same kernel) | Extremely expensive; overkill for viewing only |
| Autodesk TrueView | Free | Does not open .HIC files without conversion |
| eDrawings | Great for markups | Requires HICAD user to export to .EASM first |
Hicad Viewer 2021 is versatile. Here are the primary file types it can open:
HiCAD Viewer 2021 is a specialized utility developed by ISD Software und Systeme GmbH for viewing, analyzing, and sharing CAD data created in the HiCAD ecosystem. It serves as a bridge between the engineer/designer and other stakeholders (management, sales, manufacturing) who need to access 3D models and 2D drawings without needing a full, expensive CAD license.
While 2021 is not the absolute latest version, it remains a capable tool for legacy workflows, offering a balance of lightweight performance and heavy-duty features typical of German engineering software. This is the most common question
The 2021 version was not a full CAD editor; it was a free-to-use or low-cost visualization tool. Here are its core capabilities:
1. Native File Format Support
It can open and display any file created by HICAD 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. This includes complex 3D assemblies (.HIC), 2D drawings, and part libraries.
2. High-Performance Visualization Even on modest hardware, the 2021 viewer utilizes a streamlined graphics pipeline to handle assemblies with thousands of components without crashing. It supports:
3. Measurement & Inspection Unlike a simple PDF viewer, HICAD Viewer 2021 allowed users to: The 2021 version was not a full CAD
Note: It generally does not allow editing geometry, but measuring is fully unlocked.
4. Markup and Redlining Quality assurance teams used the 2021 viewer extensively for "redlining." Users can add comments, clouds, arrows, and text notes over the drawing without altering the original HICAD file.
5. Export to Neutral Formats This was the golden feature of the 2021 release. Users could convert proprietary HICAD views into:
HiCAD Viewer 2021 is a free utility developed by ISD Software und Systeme GmbH. It allows users who do not own a full license of HiCAD to view, measure, and analyze 2D drawings and 3D models created in HiCAD.
It is an essential tool for collaboration, allowing engineers, project managers, and clients to review designs without the need for expensive CAD software licenses.