I'm renovating/building some buildings at my folks' place over the year can anyone recommend me some software for producing drawings (don't need Planning standard either, just for own use and conferring with Trades').
Been happy with Visio in the past, it does what I need, but its got a bit pricey... Don't need 3-D rendering or the like.
Tried OpenDraw but hard work and didn't have the flexibility that Visio has with 'scales' - anything else out there?
google sketch up. its free and easy to use
hmm, not quite what I was looking for (maybe need to spend more time with it) - any other recs?
i use Ally Cad, which used to be freeware, not sure now though but have always found it quite useful.
Not wanting to sound a ***t but why not a pencil, paper and ruler
[i]Not wanting to sound a ***t but why not a pencil, paper and ruler [/i]
Fine for one-offs' (and what I've used to now on it), but imagine constantly re-drawing something, and possible errors...
Ive used sketchup for base rasters and then powerpoint for detail.
As an "office" worker as opposed to a CAD operator I find powerpoint faster and easier to use for drawing and scaling. If I were more used to graphics and cad packages I might have stuck with sketchup but I found it labourious.
some of mine:
Powerpoint cross section
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Sketchup floor plan
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Sketchup floor plan with powerpoint detail mark-ups
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I think you can still get a free 30-day trial copy of AutoCAD but this might not give you enough time.
Although, as Stoner's demonstrated SketchUp and Powerpoint are fit for purpose.
Progecad do a free software i believe. I was recommended it as a free Autocad replacement and is reasonably user friendly.
Sketch up if really good though but maybe not for 2d floor plans, but as a modelling tool which is still pretty accurate i dont think you can go far wrong.
Draftsight has a lot of the 2D stuff from autocad... and its free!
Stoner - good ideas there, tbh I've prev used Visio (at work) to just as you've shown - maybe I'll just bite the bullet and buy a copy.
Had a go with Sketch-Up, its good for 'pictures' but not what I was looking for. Do like your Presentation stuff, done same kinda stuff for work.
But bought Visio Pro for £45 (for my son), through here:
http://www.software4students.co.uk/Microsoft_Office_2010-software.aspx
tbh Can't go wrong at that price, and only an extra £2 for the media to be delivered.
If only I knew a student!!! Iv'e been trying to get a version of CAD 2010, 2011 or 2012 now for ages.
[i]If only I knew a student!!! Iv'e been trying to get a version of CAD 2010, 2011 or 2012 now for ages.[/i]
When ordering all it asks for is a student name and school (no way they can check); you then order as parent/guardian.
Obviously the student needs to exist 😉
Donks,
Enroll in night school.
Arrived after 3 days (ordered the 'media' version), full Pro version 🙂
donks. are you after a legit copy or a cheeky one?