Drawing Software

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tx2step

Senior Member
Location
North Texas, DFW area
I'm looking for the perfect software to make electrical drawings (floorplan, one-line riser, etc.) for both new installations and for record drawings.

Perfect=
1. cheap
2. easy to learn and use
3. powerful
4. flexible
5. comprehensive
6. easy to customize and modify
7. good support
8. interfaces well with other software (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, etc.)
9. Did I mention cheap and easy and powerful?

I've been looking at Visio Pro 2003: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010857981033.aspx
and at SmartDraw: http://www.smartdraw.com/exp/ste/home/

Have any of you used them?

How do you like them? Pro's & Con's?

Do you have any other suggestions or recommendations?
 
Re: Drawing Software

I have Visio Pro 2003, seems to work well. I only used the older version when I was in school for computer networking. I have it on my computers now, but just never had a need to do any drawings. There are a lot of templates in there for construction work, so it should work fine for you.

You might be able to get a trial version off of Mircosoft's website, so check there before you buy.
 
Re: Drawing Software

Visio hands down. There is a trial version at Microsoft. You create stencils and then drop them onto your drawing. Some are premade, such as limit switches, you can rt click and change contacts from open to closed.
Send me a PM and I'll email you a drawing I've done....
 
Re: Drawing Software

Have y'all looked at the SmartDraw software?

Here are some of their electrical symbols:
http://www.smartdraw.com/exp/fpn/symbols/index.htm (basic electrical symbols are the 3rd down)

How does their library compare with that in Visio?

And they say that they're better than Visio Pro:
http://www.smartdraw.com/buyinfo/volume/visio.htm

And I know that they wouldn't lie... would they? ;)

How do the features and capabilities compare between the two software programs?

I'm not concerned that Visio Pro is a little bit higher -- they're close enough in cost.

I'm only concerned with ease of learning, ease of use and which will work the best in the end for making comprehensive electrical drawings.

Doesn't anyone else have any other software that they recommend?

Edited to fix address to see symbols.

[ September 16, 2005, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: tx2step ]
 
Re: Drawing Software

I like Visio as it integrate with the other MS office products. When I insert a bill of materials in excel format, then edit the bom, the edits are done in excel, but saved in Visio. The key to visio is all the stencils you have, they automatically resize to the drawing scale. I have a title block that is automatically filled in with the drawing name, file, drawn by etc.
 
Re: Drawing Software

Tom, I sent a PM to you.

How complete is the collection of electrical symbols (for use on building electrical floor plans) that comes with Visio Pro 2003?

How difficult is it to create new electrical symbols?

[ September 19, 2005, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: tx2step ]
 
Re: Drawing Software

Turbo Cad bought at Office Max for $50. Can open any type of dwgs including Auto Cad. Doesn't have any bells and wistles but it works.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top