CAD programmes

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, daltontrees said:

Thanks it looks like a good solid application, but unfortunately it would leave me witht eh same issue I have just now in that it doesn't accept .dwg files.

Yes I think you are right, though I did reply to someone here in 2014 (when I was actually still using it) that it accepted .dwg I think I was mistaken and had to use a separate converter to.dxf and import them.

[Calibre_Consultancy]

ProgeCAD - Suspiciously similar to AutoCAD but comes with a lifetime one off purchase price

[petercb]

QCAD

[Mark J]

@daltontrees What did you end up going for?

[daltontrees]

14 minutes ago, Mark J said:

@daltontrees What did you end up going for?

Currently getting by with QCAD ($40 perpetual). Some of the recommendations I got were not quite what I need. A lot of CAD packages are massive and complex, whereas I just need 2D site plans and dxf compatibility.

 

The real issue seems to be that dxfs are not used much any more and the format hasn't been updated for years. But I am stuck with it because I use PT Mapper and Pocket GIS. 

 

The one problem remains, PT Mapper rejects or messes up some layers from dxfs that have originated as dwgs. Developers regulary throw drawings across that have shadings and hatching and bespoke symbols for cars, trees, whirlygigs, paviours etc. and these do not convert or if they do you end up with a dwg expanded form 4mb to a dxf at 40mb. 

[Mark J]

2 hours ago, daltontrees said:

Currently getting by with QCAD ($40 perpetual). Some of the recommendations I got were not quite what I need. A lot of CAD packages are massive and complex, whereas I just need 2D site plans and dxf compatibility.

 

The real issue seems to be that dxfs are not used much any more and the format hasn't been updated for years. But I am stuck with it because I use PT Mapper and Pocket GIS. 

 

The one problem remains, PT Mapper rejects or messes up some layers from dxfs that have originated as dwgs. Developers regulary throw drawings across that have shadings and hatching and bespoke symbols for cars, trees, whirlygigs, paviours etc. and these do not convert or if they do you end up with a dwg expanded form 4mb to a dxf at 40mb. 

Thanks, I will have a look at that. I don't do much develoment stuff, when I do I have been using Axiscape, which also relies on dxfs. 

My pet peeve is when they throw in a 3D layer onto an otherwise 2D model. 

[Steven P]

A while ago we had a guy with a macro that would screw up a drawing he was sending out - not every drawing of course, just the really really important ones - text and hatches converted to lines, random elevations (on 2d drawings) - but only by tiny amounts so it was still useable but drove the customers CAD guys mad (CAD guys all have 'special interests' type of people).

[Mick Dempsey]