Autocad 2009

[Anonymous]

Interior Design: I am getting a job in an office that uses AutCad 2009. I have no experience with auto cad, but use macdraft now and I have taught myself to use other programs. I am hoping teach myself using books.

Should I download AutoCad? Is there a monthly fee?

I see that I can download the program for free. Are there any down sides to that?

Thank you!

[lynn_zhang]

Hi @Anonymous Welcome to Autodesk Community!

AutoCAD 2009 is no longer supported as it's a very old version. We encourage you to try the latest version of AutoCAD (2016) from our website where you can download a free trial for 30 days. If you're a student enrolled in a college or school, you can get a free stuent license from our Education Community. Otherwise, you can purchase a desktop subscription for AutoCAD on a monthly basis.

[Anonymous]

The architect has auto cad 2009, if I use a newer version, can we exchange drawings?
Warm Regards,

Beth Hoffman

cell: 201 463 9543
web:. BHAinteriors.com
facebook:. BHA Interiors LTD

[David_W_Koch]

Are they and you using vanilla AutoCAD, or AutoCAD Architecture?  If the latter, are they using AEC objects, like Walls, Doors and Windows?  AEC objects cannot be saved back to a previous file format in any usable/editable form.  So if they are using AutoCAD Architecture 2009 (2007 format), and you are using a newer version (2010 format for 2010-2012; 2013 format for 2013-2016), you will not be able to exchange files containing AEC objects.

If you are only using each other's drawings as externally referenced "background" files and you are using AutoCAD Architecture, you could use the export to AutoCAD feature to export an exploded version of your file to the 2007 format, which the architect could then externally reference.

If both of you are only using "vanilla" AutoCAD, and you are not using any features that were added/expanded since the 2009 release, you should be able to do a SAVEAS and save a copy of your file back to the 2007 format.

[pendean]

FWIW This is not a forum for Architects, this is a forum specifically for a product called AutoCAD Architecture http://www.autodesk.com/adt

is your employer actually using that? or actual plain AutoCAD http://www.autocad.com

You can download modern versions of either from those webpages, free to use for 30-days after that you need to spend thousands of dollars to use them any longer.

Amazon.com has plenty of good books for beginners on both software, explore as you need.

Good luck with the new job.