Has anyone used DataCAD? One of the home designers we use uses DataCAD and absolutely loves it. DataCAD has a “lite” version for around $300 that he recommended. Apparently it is somewhat common as the PE we/they use has the software too so they can engineer home plans generated in DataCAD. When I asked this designer about how user friendly it is he said that it was fine for him but that was not a good indicator at all since he had been using it for so many years it was second nature. He uses it 8×5 at a minimum. I consider myself very computer literate, but just don’t have the patients to learn clunky software.
There is really just no way I’m ever gonna be able to get off $1000 for a software package that I would probably use only every few months or so, but actually I could cough up the $300 fairly easily.
I was reading the other current thread about Chief Archi. but figured I’d start my own thread rather than hijacking.
The BT search yielded some discussions that included DataCAD but they were at least 5 or 8 years old… Software evolves over time… plus what I’m really interested in is what is the learning curve like with DataCAD?
Just about the only thing I would use it for would be houseplans, with some occasional construction details or change details to help the carpenters understand what the intent is. Some fairly basic 3-D conceptual drawings or even renderings might be nice too.
Edited 2/7/2008 8:33 am ET by Matt
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I can't really comment on most drawing programs, but do a search on SketchUp (from Google). Lots of discussion of that, and there is a free version.
I used DataCAD for 10 years - had to give it up and learn AutoCAD knowing that 90% of design firms use it. DataCad is designed specifically for architects, so you get neat stuff like door and window menus; pick the style, swing, width and it inserts the door or window and cuts and trims the walls for you.
Over the last 4-5 years they have been mimicking autocad, especially with the precision and ability to xref. I never really had a major complaint or fault in the time I used it.
One word of caution - the speed at which I was able to use it depended hugely on keyboard shortcuts. The menus can be a bit laborious to a first-time user and the shortcut keys aren't laid out the best. I understand there have been more changes in the new version coming out - especially with text and text editing.
thanks for the response.
Anyone lese?
I'm bumping my thread... Anyone using DataCAD? Maybe I'd be better off with one of the cheap retail programs that is oriented toward architecture? Don't have the $$ or the time for autocad or similar...
Semi BumpI don't use DataCadI do use ProgeCad 2008, $250.Was using ProgeCad 2006 LT which was a free download with a pesky "If you like it send money to victims of the sunami" Switched computers and consequently os's from XP to Vista. Program didn't work well with Vista <SHOCK> so sprang for the 2008 version.(Tried AutoCad 14 on the vista machine too, won't work, ACAD won't support it, their latest offering is vista compatible though)ProgeCad is compatible with AutoCad, outputs DWG files. probably has some things it won't support but I have not found them yet, But I'm also not a power user.
TFB (Bill)
matt, we use Chief ( VS. 10 ) ... i also have vs. 11 but have not started using it for daily production yet
last year at JLC-Live i saw a program called Envisioneer 4.0...... i was very impressed with it
it does almost everything chief does, would seem to have a faster learning curve
and it costs about half of what a full Chief license does
Piffen mentioned that he had seen Envisioneer also ( Paul uses Softplan ) and he was very impressed with it too
anyways... here's a link
http://www.cadsoft.com/prod_envisioneer.htmlMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore