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nopeda 
Newbie
Joined: 25.Jun.2016
Location: United States
Using: not applicable
Status: Offline
Points: 11
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 Topic: Please help finding program to learn basics with..
Posted: 25.Jun.2016 at 18:10 |
Hi,
I've never done anything with any type of CAD program but would like to learn the basics of how to draw some simple architectural things, and things like tool sheds, and work chests. I'd like a free program that will allow you to save your projects and print them out, and something that isn't going to expire after a trial period ends, if there are any such programs. It doesn't have to be anything that will do 3D. Maybe at some point in the future I'll want to move on to something more complicated, but just to start with I'm looking for something free and easy to learn the basics with, if there is any such thing available. I don't mind paying a few bucks for something if necessary, but this is just for curiosity about how to learn the basics so I don't want to spend a lot on anything.
Thank you for any help or suggestions! David
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Robert_D
Senior Member
Joined: 21.Oct.2013
Location: United States
Using: BricsCAD v25, AutoCAD2006
Status: Offline
Points: 208
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Posted: 25.Jun.2016 at 21:33 |
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Draftsight (free) is well regarded.
Once mastered, the migration down the road to AutoCAD (or one of the many clones) should be relatively painless.
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John Connor
Senior Member
Joined: 01.Feb.2011
Location: United States
Using: AutoCAD 2018
Status: Offline
Points: 7175
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Posted: 26.Jun.2016 at 00:19 |
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Exactly the same answer he got over at CADTutor along with a link to the website where he can download the program.
If Draftsight doesn't suit you there is always nanoCAD or BabaCAD.
Another option is a low cost CAD program such as Bricscad or Zwcad. Both are AutoCAD clones and can be purchased for as little as 25% of the cost or less depending on the version.
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"Humans have a strength that cannot be measured. This is John Connor. If you are reading this, you are the resistance." <<AutoCAD 2015>>
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nopeda
Newbie
Joined: 25.Jun.2016
Location: United States
Using: not applicable
Status: Offline
Points: 11
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Posted: 26.Jun.2016 at 03:53 |
 John Connor wrote:
Exactly the same answer he got over at CADTutor along with a link to the website where he can download the program.
If Draftsight doesn't suit you there is always nanoCAD or BabaCAD.
Another option is a low cost CAD program such as Bricscad or Zwcad. Both are AutoCAD clones and can be purchased for as little as 25% of the cost or less depending on the version.
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Thank you guys for your suggestions! There's no telling how much time it will save me from messing around with inferior alternatives.
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nopeda
Newbie
Joined: 25.Jun.2016
Location: United States
Using: not applicable
Status: Offline
Points: 11
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Posted: 26.Jun.2016 at 04:41 |
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Well, I tried for about an hour to get a version of DraftSight that will work. I'm using Windows XP and apparently the 2016 version won't work with that. I've tried to find something that will but don't have all night. If anyone can suggest a download that will work I'll try it asap. Otherwise I'll go back to hunting around for something again when I get off work tomorrow night.
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John Connor
Senior Member
Joined: 01.Feb.2011
Location: United States
Using: AutoCAD 2018
Status: Offline
Points: 7175
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Posted: 26.Jun.2016 at 12:16 |
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You're going to need to upgrade to Windows 7 at the very least. If that is not an option due to cost then consider downloading Ubuntu or Fedora (Linux) and then the beta version of Draftsight for either one of those operating systems.
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"Humans have a strength that cannot be measured. This is John Connor. If you are reading this, you are the resistance." <<AutoCAD 2015>>
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nopeda
Newbie
Joined: 25.Jun.2016
Location: United States
Using: not applicable
Status: Offline
Points: 11
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Posted: 26.Jun.2016 at 16:59 |
John Connor wrote:
You're going to need to upgrade to Windows 7 at the very least. If that is not an option due to cost then consider downloading Ubuntu or Fedora (Linux) and then the beta version of Draftsight for either one of those operating systems. |
They never made a version of DraftSight that works on XP?
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Robert_D
Senior Member
Joined: 21.Oct.2013
Location: United States
Using: BricsCAD v25, AutoCAD2006
Status: Offline
Points: 208
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Posted: 26.Jun.2016 at 18:05 |
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I believe they dropped XP support from DraftSight 2015.
Don't know where you can find a DL to prior release.
Suggest you register on their forum, may be someone there with a legacy version to help you.
Edited by Robert_D - 26.Jun.2016 at 18:06
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nopeda
Newbie
Joined: 25.Jun.2016
Location: United States
Using: not applicable
Status: Offline
Points: 11
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Posted: 27.Jun.2016 at 06:03 |
Robert_D wrote:
I believe they dropped XP support from DraftSight 2015.
Don't know where you can find a DL to prior release.
Suggest you register on their forum, may be someone there with a legacy version to help you.
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I did register here:
http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/community/
Maybe that's the wrong place? I didn't see any link to any forum(s). Do you know of a better URL?
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John Connor
Senior Member
Joined: 01.Feb.2011
Location: United States
Using: AutoCAD 2018
Status: Offline
Points: 7175
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Posted: 27.Jun.2016 at 14:48 |
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Did you try a search using the following criteria?
"draftsight"+"windows xp"
Maybe there is an independent website that has the older version you need.
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"Humans have a strength that cannot be measured. This is John Connor. If you are reading this, you are the resistance." <<AutoCAD 2015>>
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