Replies

1. 
   Mike_Smith | May 04, 2000 02:43pm | #1

   *
   paul... there are a few VW's here... and a few chiefs..

   and a host of others...

   RTFA

1. 
   jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | May 05, 2000 04:36am | #2

   *The biggest complaint I have with "Chief" is Mike Smith uses it.

1. 
   Mike_Smith | May 05, 2000 04:44am | #3

   *hmmmm...or huuh?

1. 
   Luka_ | May 11, 2000 09:01pm | #4

   *A one-stop source for shareware, freeware and demo cad programs.......http://www.caddepot.com/

1. 
   jcallahan | May 12, 2000 09:14pm | #5

   *My vote goes to Auto CAD ..... I'm working for a consulting engineering firm at present. I use both R14 and 2000. I like its capability ...... there is not too much you can't draw with it. It is the defacto standard so file compatibility is usually not an issue. Drawbacks are cost and complexity ...... a steep learning curve.

2. 
   Justin_Bayles | May 12, 2000 10:20pm | #6

   *Actually, if you don't need the 3D option, Autocad R14LT is a pretty nice package for a few hundred dollars. We use it where I work to design floorplan changes for wheelchair accessibility.

3. 
   Peter_Yost | Jun 01, 2000 04:47am | #7

   *I'm looking forward to a first time CAD software purchase for designing my own projects. Less important is furniture, plants, and light fixtures. I believe I'm mainly looking for structural elevations. I won't use the software more than five or so times per year; How much should I spend, and what is reccomended? Peter Yost

4. 
   Mike_Smith | Jun 01, 2000 02:12pm | #8

   *if you won't use it more than 5 times a year try turbocad or 3dhomearchitect ...but don't waste your time buying anything else because you will never learn it..the learning curve is too steep for even the most user friendly..if you learn AutoCad Lt or Chief Architect or Vectorworks or Softplan.... it will take several intensive months to learn enough to draw plans.. and then you have to maintain your proficiency...forget AutoCad.. it is a great CAD program.. but it sucks for architectural drawing, it costs too much for what you want.. and it's learning curve is steeper than Chief or Vectorworks..stick to the $50 packages.. or make the commitment..b but hey , whadda i no ?

5. 
   jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Jun 01, 2000 02:48pm | #9

   *3D Home Architect won't do structural drawings. I think that may be the main difference between the 50.00 programs and the 600.00 ones.

6. 
   Peter_Yost | Jun 01, 2000 05:38pm | #10

   *Thanks Jim,& Mike, say hello to my uncle Bob Sullivan in Newport.You're talking to a guy who yesterday needed two large decorative brackets for dormer and almost bought a bandsaw. It seems as though I will be in the business for a while longer, so I'll go for it.Peter Yost Portland OR

7. 
   Walldog | Jun 02, 2000 01:31am | #11

   *How about Pro-Engineer? just kidding. I use AutoCAD for a living and it's good, but a high learning curve for most. AutoCAD LT is a great little package for the price. A friend uses it for laying out his projects. No complaints from him.

8. 
   GACC_DAllas | Jun 04, 2000 04:18am | #12

   *A friend of mine is learning AutoCad 2000. Very time consuming to learn. One of the builders I work for uses AutoCad Light. It makes workable shop drawings.Ed. Williams

9. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Jun 04, 2000 02:21pm | #13

   *Paul; I don't know if you have checked the archives yet, but there is definitely stuff in their about Turbocad and all the other programs. There are several TC users here, including myself. It is an excellent general CAD program, the pro version (6.5 as of now) that compares very favorably with Autocad for only a few hundred dollars (and their are some incredible deals going now to get it bundled with a solid modeling program for a hundred bucks, but that may be only available to existing TC users). That's 6.5 Pro I'm talking about, not previous versions. V7 is being tested now. My Cad guru works with AC, but now prefers TC for many things.But it is a general Cad program, and it doesn't have the automated 'building' tools some of the other architectural programs do, so that is a really important consideration. Anyway, if a general program will do, look at TC. Even the pro version costs half of Autocad LT and you get 3d and rendering.

10. 
    Jack_Way | Aug 10, 2000 07:05pm | #14

    *I'm looking at the Broderbund 3d Design program.Do the CAD programs accept file formats from these cheap packages so that my architect, my Dad, can review my addition plans and produce the structurals from there? He's just too busy to do the initial designs, but if I can get something to him for his review I can get the plans I need to build.

11. 
    Mike_Smith | Aug 11, 2000 01:11am | #15

    *Brdrbnd 3d is the little brother of Chief Architect....i can export by .dxf file to Acad.. but it is especially easy to export to Acad Lite.....i know you can export 3d to Chief....see if Brdrbnd has a web site and ask them if they have a format for exporting...

12. 
    Rob_Cutting | Aug 21, 2000 01:44am | #16

    *I just downloaded intellicad from cadopia.com It looks pretty good (I don't know much about cad yet ,but my dad does and he thinks it is pretty goodHe uses autocadlitebest part is it is free!!!

13. 
    Kevin_Fallon | Aug 24, 2000 06:29pm | #17

    *I often use Visio. Not great for this task, but it works and it's what I had to hand. It has dimensions and "building blocks" like 2X4s and windows. It won't do rendering, but it is quick to learn and inexpensive.

14. 
    Russell_Holdredge | Aug 27, 2000 12:57am | #18

    *I have TurboCad v3 on a Mac, and I don't use it because I do know AutoCad14. It's frustrating trying to learn TurboCad, when I already know how to achieve the same results in AutoCad. Unfortunately AutoCad isn't available for the Mac.

15. 
    Adrian_Wilson | Aug 27, 2000 04:04am | #19

    *This is hearsay only, but Turbocad is best on a pc. the Mac versions have never worked well. Also, TC is now at v6.5 and almost at v7, so there have been a lot of improvements.

16. 
    Rob_Stevens | Aug 30, 2000 12:18am | #20

    *I use Chief Arch. everyday to do full sets of building blueprints & find it very usefuseful.does take some time to get proficient at it ( my drawings get better & quicker quickenme ) but it is user friendly enough that you can start drawing right away. I fully recommend watching the videos. I also have AutoCad Auto Cad't use it any more. For architectural programs under $2000, Chief is hard to beat. As for limitations, learning curve is steep, I am constantly finding out better or faster ways to do things (I've had it for a year). It also requires some "freehand" on the elevations to get of the details right, but you can always make a detail drawing of it with the CAD portion of the program.The benefits of the program outweigh the few minor beefs I have with the software.

17. 
    Bill_Shedwic | Sep 26, 2000 03:49am | #21

    *I designed my large custom home using...Zsoft PC Paintbrush Plus...then took it to a "real" draftsperson to get the full set done. I was a "fair" lead-pencil drafter before that.The best advice you will ever get? Get something cheap, quick and easy to allow you to try your ideas and organize your thoughts...then turn it over to a draftsperson.You're needed elsewhere--unless you're really planning on changing careers.

2. 
   Paul_Nichter | Sep 26, 2000 03:49am | #22

   *
   I don't see too many mentions or questions about design software and the headaches that go with it here at break time. Now I refuse to believe that a bunch of guys who know and do as much as you'all aren't making use of one of the best tools available to stretch your abilities. HOW ABOUT IT? Let's make a place here. I use Soft plan version 9.2 I'm interested in hearing more about Vector works and Turbo cad 6 by way of comparison. How about you guys with Chief architect? What are the strong points? What like you best about what you have? What are its weaknesses? My biggest frustration is that they won't read my mind.... But then neither can my wife and daughter, not to mention the crew....