QuickCAD

[#1]

I've been asked to provide a few choices of software for doing what is
essentially "CAD-lite" -- some basic floor plans with dimensioning, door
symbols, etc. The only hangup is that the user would like to be able to
create elevations of drawn buildings. Can any of you let me know if
QuickCAD, AutoCAD LT, or AutoSketch handles this? The online docs
aren't clear, and while I assume that at least one will do what we need
I don't want to jump in rashly.

Many thanks for your time and help!
Keith
keithc@its.caltech.edu

[#2]

Hello Keith

Both QuickCAD and AutoSketch are very capable of architectural drawing.
Here in Australia AutoSketch is used extensively by our building community
for everything from small units up to multi storey buildings.

I also have a manual that goes through the process of drawing houses. For
info look at http://www.resolv.com.au

Regards
Paul Jackson
Resolve Computing

Keith Counsell wrote in message <37E97344.1359A33D@its.caltech.edu>...
>I've been asked to provide a few choices of software for doing what is
>essentially "CAD-lite" -- some basic floor plans with dimensioning, door
>symbols, etc. The only hangup is that the user would like to be able to
>create elevations of drawn buildings. Can any of you let me know if
>QuickCAD, AutoCAD LT, or AutoSketch handles this? The online docs
>aren't clear, and while I assume that at least one will do what we need
>I don't want to jump in rashly.
>
>Many thanks for your time and help!
>Keith
>keithc@its.caltech.edu

[#3]

Keith.

Any of the packages you're considering will do exactly what you want. I'm an
AutoSketch user and, although I don't use it for house plans, I've seen many
folks' drawings using this package. They're quite professional. It's easy to
use, and the newsgroup seems very active - much more so than this one, for some
reason. Check out the posts there.
http://www.autodesk.com/support/discsgrp/design.htm.

In addition, you can get a workbook/manual specific for AutoSketch (and it will
do for QuickCAD, too) from Paul Jackson. The most useful addition you can have
for these programs. Try
http://www.resolv.com.au/building_industry/order_form.shtml to pick it up if you
decide to proceed.

My suggestion would be to stay away from the AutoCADs for now. I've been told
they take a bit more struggle to get up to speed than the others. Len Rafuse may
spot this post and respond. He uses them all for different applications. Check
back.

Harvey

Keith Counsell wrote:
>
> I've been asked to provide a few choices of software for doing what is
> essentially "CAD-lite" -- some basic floor plans with dimensioning, door
> symbols, etc. The only hangup is that the user would like to be able to
> create elevations of drawn buildings. Can any of you let me know if
> QuickCAD, AutoCAD LT, or AutoSketch handles this? The online docs
> aren't clear, and while I assume that at least one will do what we need
> I don't want to jump in rashly.
>
> Many thanks for your time and help!
> Keith
> keithc@its.caltech.edu

--
http://www.westnet.com/~harvey/

[#4]

Beat me. Story of my life.

H

Paul Jackson wrote:
>
> Hello Keith
>
> Both QuickCAD and AutoSketch are very capable of architectural drawing.
> Here in Australia AutoSketch is used extensively by our building community
> for everything from small units up to multi storey buildings.
>
> I also have a manual that goes through the process of drawing houses. For
> info look at http://www.resolv.com.au
>
> Regards
> Paul Jackson
> Resolve Computing
>
> Keith Counsell wrote in message <37E97344.1359A33D@its.caltech.edu>...
> >I've been asked to provide a few choices of software for doing what is
> >essentially "CAD-lite" -- some basic floor plans with dimensioning, door
> >symbols, etc. The only hangup is that the user would like to be able to
> >create elevations of drawn buildings. Can any of you let me know if
> >QuickCAD, AutoCAD LT, or AutoSketch handles this? The online docs
> >aren't clear, and while I assume that at least one will do what we need
> >I don't want to jump in rashly.
> >
> >Many thanks for your time and help!
> >Keith
> >keithc@its.caltech.edu

--
http://www.westnet.com/~harvey/

[#5]

Hi Keith,

My suggestion is AutoCAD LT...the extra outlay certainly outways the loss of
productivity trying to achieve simple commands in QuickCAD. Based on
earning, say, $100.00 per hour...you will be ahead in no more than 2 days.

I have no experience with AutoSketch & therefore cannot comment.

Cheers,

Ric Norris.
Keith Counsell wrote in message
news:37E97344.1359A33D@its.caltech.edu...
> I've been asked to provide a few choices of software for doing what is
> essentially "CAD-lite" -- some basic floor plans with dimensioning, door
> symbols, etc. The only hangup is that the user would like to be able to
> create elevations of drawn buildings. Can any of you let me know if
> QuickCAD, AutoCAD LT, or AutoSketch handles this? The online docs
> aren't clear, and while I assume that at least one will do what we need
> I don't want to jump in rashly.
>
> Many thanks for your time and help!
> Keith
> keithc@its.caltech.edu

[#6]

Ric Norris wrote:

> Hi Keith,
>
> My suggestion is AutoCAD LT...the extra outlay certainly outways the loss of
> productivity trying to achieve simple commands in QuickCAD. Based on
> earning, say, $100.00 per hour...you will be ahead in no more than 2 days.
>
> I have no experience with AutoSketch & therefore cannot comment.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Ric Norris.

As someone who uses both AutoSketch and AutoCAD LT to do 2D building plans, I
would have to disagree.

Things that are easy to do in AutoSketch are difficult and sometimes apparently
impossible in AutoCAD LT.

I have also quickly trained several people how to make floor plans and layouts
on AutoSketch. One of these people wanted to use AutoCAD also. Before she
could even do simple drawings, she had to take an 8 week course.

Of course if you are coming from an AutoCAD environment, AutoCAD may seem easier
and have better DWG compatibility. If your more of a windows person, AutoSketch
will be easier and DWG transfers are very good.

--
Len Rafuse
Vision Engineering

[#7]

Keith:

An additional note. Len noted that AutoSketch was easy to learn. I agree. I
struggled with it for a while alone at the beginning, trying to figure out what
the simple tutorial was all about. It was taking me hours to do simple things
and I wondered how anyone could use it effectively. And I'm a VERY smart person,
but this computer environment was completely foreign to me. Then I stumbled on
the newsgroup, read it for a while, wondering what all the words meant. I
screwed up my courage and posted a totally stupid question. Voila! I got an
immediate answer, began to see what these people were talking about, and it
became clear to me what the programmers were getting at when they designed it. I
figure it took about two or three days to get to the top of the hill. The
downhill was very fast, all the while slapping myself on the forehead for not
seeing it sooner.

There are some sections of the program that I'm still fiddling with, trying to
get the succession of key strokes just right, but it's become fun to puzzle it
out now. I would highly recommend the AutoSketch program for a new user,
especially with the newsgroup that goes with it.

Harvey

Keith Counsell wrote:
>
> I've been asked to provide a few choices of software for doing what is
> essentially "CAD-lite" -- some basic floor plans with dimensioning, door
> symbols, etc. The only hangup is that the user would like to be able to
> create elevations of drawn buildings. Can any of you let me know if
> QuickCAD, AutoCAD LT, or AutoSketch handles this? The online docs
> aren't clear, and while I assume that at least one will do what we need
> I don't want to jump in rashly.
>
> Many thanks for your time and help!
> Keith
> keithc@its.caltech.edu

--
http://www.westnet.com/~harvey/

[#8]

As a user of Drafix 4.11, AutoSketch 6.0 and AutoCAD Lt 2000 I will agree
with Len Rafuse.

Autosketch (and of course Drafix) is far more productive than AutoCAD LT (or
even AutoCAD)

I have used Drafix for complete architectural drawings for several project
with more than 5.000 m2 (53.819 sq ft)

Håkon ALm
Architect,
Sivilarkitekt Alm AS, Norway

L. Rafuse skrev i
meldingsnyheter:37EA2566.6D1FA171@wn.net...
>
> As someone who uses both AutoSketch and AutoCAD LT to do 2D building
plans, I
> would have to disagree.
>
> Things that are easy to do in AutoSketch are difficult and sometimes
apparently
> impossible in AutoCAD LT.
>
> I have also quickly trained several people how to make floor plans and
layouts
> on AutoSketch. One of these people wanted to use AutoCAD also. Before
she
> could even do simple drawings, she had to take an 8 week course.
>
> Of course if you are coming from an AutoCAD environment, AutoCAD may seem
easier
> and have better DWG compatibility. If your more of a windows person,
AutoSketch
> will be easier and DWG transfers are very good.
>
>
> --
> Len Rafuse
> Vision Engineering
>
>

[#9]

Len:

I think it was Paul Jackson who said he taught a 12-year-old to use AutoSketch
in 15 minutes. It makes me weep.

H

"L. Rafuse" wrote:
>
> Ric Norris wrote:
>
> > Hi Keith,
> >
> > My suggestion is AutoCAD LT...the extra outlay certainly outways the loss of
> > productivity trying to achieve simple commands in QuickCAD. Based on
> > earning, say, $100.00 per hour...you will be ahead in no more than 2 days.
> >
> > I have no experience with AutoSketch & therefore cannot comment.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Ric Norris.
>
> As someone who uses both AutoSketch and AutoCAD LT to do 2D building plans, I
> would have to disagree.
>
> Things that are easy to do in AutoSketch are difficult and sometimes apparently
> impossible in AutoCAD LT.
>
> I have also quickly trained several people how to make floor plans and layouts
> on AutoSketch. One of these people wanted to use AutoCAD also. Before she
> could even do simple drawings, she had to take an 8 week course.
>
> Of course if you are coming from an AutoCAD environment, AutoCAD may seem easier
> and have better DWG compatibility. If your more of a windows person, AutoSketch
> will be easier and DWG transfers are very good.
>
> --
> Len Rafuse
> Vision Engineering

--
http://www.westnet.com/~harvey/

[#10]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions! The response was very
helpful. For those who are interested, I'm going to suggest AutoSketch
based on all of the feedback. It seems to be the most appropriate
choice for the level of expertise and functionality desired.

Thanks again,
Keith