[nzlug] Architectural CAD

[David Harrison]

On 9/03/2007, at 11:23 AM, Vik Olliver wrote:

> On Fri, 2007-03-09 at 11:17 +1300, Olwen Williams wrote:
>> The two most used programs for architects are probably Archicad and
>> Autocad.  Both are very expensive.  Archicad is specifically designed
>> for architecture and has NZ addons for our type of building.  There
>> are tutorials available.  Archicad also does not run on Linux as far
>> as I know, but there is a Mac version as well as the Windows version.
>
> An architect near me is using Qcad at least some of the time.

Open source CAD software is very thin on the ground and what is there  
is not nearly as capable as commercial software.
QCad is certainly the best I alternative I have seen (http:// 
www.qcad.org/qcad.html) but even here it is only providing 1980's  
level functionality.

If the architect you know is doing work professionally she will find  
that biting the bullet and running Windows/OSX reasonably low priced  
CAD product like Vectorworks or Archicad will make her financially a  
lot more productive. Also don't consider running Windows 3D CAD  
products in a VMWare session on Linux, if the software does run the  
experience will not be much fun at all.

CAD is a very complicated activity compared to most things you can do  
on a desktop, if she doesn't know much about the subject she should  
really try to see some demos and talk to other architects in the area  
on their thoughts. The NZIA chatlist is a good place to talk about  
this if she is a member and the local resellers for Archicad and  
Vectorworks are always good for showing off their products and  
handing out free demos.

Regards,


David