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

Draftsight (free) is well regarded.Once mastered, the migration down the road to AutoCAD (or one of the many clones) should be relatively painless.

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.

[QUOTE=John Connor]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.[/QUOTE]
Thank you guys for your suggestions! There's no telling how much time it will save me from messing around with inferior alternatives.

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.

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.

[QUOTE=John Connor]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.[/QUOTE]
They never made a version of DraftSight that works on XP?

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.
Robert_D2016-06-26 18:06:41

[QUOTE=Robert_D]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.
[/QUOTE]
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?

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.

[QUOTE=John Connor]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.[/QUOTE]
I have tried that and will keep trying. I spent this morning's computer time and most of last night's going to:http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/community/where I was led to believe there's an official draftsight forum. By now I don't think one exists at all, but when I get home from work tonight I'll try the instant chat, since I couldn't find an email address. Then I spent my last couple of minutes telling you that  Thank you for your suggestions!

You might want to make an appointment to see your optometrist.You first have to create an account that includes your email address and a password before you are given access to the forum.


John Connor2016-06-27 17:03:36

It's all in how you read the disclaimer on the download page.  All it says is that Draftsight is not SUPPORTED on Windows XP or Vista.  It does not say that it won't run.  So I'm guessing your computer is 32-bit therefore find and download the 32-bit version of Draftsight.  BEFORE you try to install the program create a RESTORE point.  Why?  In case things don't work out you can return your computer to its previous state.  No harm no foul.Did you check nanoCAD?  They list a version for Windows XP.  It too is an AutoCAD clone.

See?  But it is the no frills version called NanoCAD not NanoCAD Pro that you must download.

There is also a free version of LibreCAD that dates to 2011.  It is version 1.0.0rc3.https://sourceforge.net/projects/librecad/files/Windows/1.0/I don't know much about it other than it is open source like QCAD.http://www.qcad.org/en/

John Connor2016-06-27 17:00:44

[QUOTE=John Connor]You might want to make an appointment to see your optometrist.You first have to create an account that includes your email address and a password before you are given access to the forum.


[/QUOTE]
I did that, and they sent an email saying:Dear David Harrison,Welcome to the Communities Platform on swym.3ds.comWe're happy to have you on board.Once you've signed in to swym.3ds.com please check out the videos and information in the Swymer's Hall Community Community.This community will support you as you get started.Best regards, Dassault Systèmes  but that just takes me to the registration page and it won't let me go anywhere else. Is says it's forbidden.

[QUOTE=John Connor]It's all in how you read the disclaimer on the download page.  All it says is that Draftsight is not SUPPORTED on Windows XP or Vista.  It does not say that it won't run.  So I'm guessing your computer is 32-bit therefore find and download the 32-bit version of Draftsight. [/QUOTE]My computer is 32 bit and I did download the 32 bit version from two different places so far. The last one was: http://download.freedownloadmanager.org/Windows-PC/DraftSight/FREE-2012.3.166.htmlDraftsight acts like it will install, then I get the message:Error 1722. There is a problem with this WindowsInstaller package. A program run as part of the setupdid not finish as expected. Contact your supportpersonnel or package vendor. Actionregister_dsAutomationDll, location: ...\dsAutomation...[QUOTE=John Connor] Did you check nanoCAD?  They list a version for Windows XP.  It too is an AutoCAD clone.[/QUOTE]
I probably should try that, having wasted 3 days trying to try Draftsight and not getting anything out of it but more and more wasted time.

I get the feeling you don't have much computer experience and/or are unfamiliar with troubleshooting problems.Error 1722https://www.java.com/en/download/help/error_1722.xml

[QUOTE=John Connor]It's all in how you read the disclaimer on the download page.  All it says is that Draftsight is not SUPPORTED on Windows XP or Vista.  It does not say that it won't run.  So I'm guessing your computer is 32-bit therefore find and download the 32-bit version of Draftsight.  BEFORE you try to install the program create a RESTORE point.  Why?  In case things don't work out you can return your computer to its previous state.  No harm no foul.Did you check nanoCAD?  They list a version for Windows XP.  It too is an AutoCAD clone.[/QUOTE]
I've tried twice so far, but they haven't sent the email they said they'd send. I'll try some more times later I guess. Do you know if it requires Java?

[QUOTE=John Connor]I get the feeling you don't have much computer experience and/or are unfamiliar with troubleshooting problems.Error 1722https://www.java.com/en/download/help/error_1722.xml[/QUOTE]
I remember having had experience with hating Java before. From the link you provided I tried removing older versions as a start, but that did nothing. From their link in case that one does nothing, I tried the link to verify older versions but it couldn't find anything. Trying to remove it manually I went to Add/Remove programs, but it's not included in that list. Doing a computer search I found plenty of Java related stuff, but so far haven't tried removing all that yet. Still never found the Draftsight forum, though I'm registered and can log in. The arrow you referred to doesn't go there. Do you know if nanocad requires Java? Do all cad programs require Java?

I'd seriously consider wiping the hard drive clean and starting over if I were you.  What other types of computer problems are you having?I don't know what CAD programs require Java.  You would have to read through the system requirements for each program and see if it is mentioned. Just read something that said that nanoCAD supports Java Script. 
John Connor2016-06-28 18:25:58