Can anyone recommend an inexpensive (of free) program that can make electronic mods on a drawing.

I'm working thru the final stages of a 1 year long commercial project and part of the specs require for me to submit as-builts. I have several penciled diagrams of how things were done but we'd really like to impress the GC with a clean set.

I've used AutoCAD before but just need a program that can add basic lines to a floor plan.

Any rec's?

Best value for $39 I can E mail you some samples of electrical we did http://www.deltacad.com/

Thanks LK. That looks like a good program. I'll download the free demo and give it a try.

ZW Cad- It’s a Chinese knock off of AutoDesk/AutoCAD, that looks and feels like AutoCAD 2006, and can open and make the same .dwg file types.

It runs about $500 and comes with a 30-day free trial.

I use my MS Word word processor to draw stuff. In it there is a drawing package, sure not as complete as AutoCad, [no 3D for example], but given a bit of practice it can produce astounding results. Etch a Sketch it isn’t!
Just call up the Draw toolbar then customise it to add whatever icons you need - various shapes; squares, ovals /circles, lines, triangles, arrows, fill colors, line colors, text control, text color, size of drawing scales- it will print accurately to scale. I have an A3 printer but it works fine on A4.
Let me say that if you’ve never used a CAD package before, getting results is a long learning curve. I speak as an ex draughtsman- these packages certainly ain’t designed by drafting folks, so don’t think your going to get immediate sparkling results!
I’ll e-mail you a couple of pics* of the ‘word’ screen toolbar I use and a drawing, which will appear shortly here c/o moderator.
[ *For some reason we weren’t able to put Word docs direct into the ECN server last time I tried, but pics worked fine. ]

Hope this helps,

Alan

I taught myself AutoCAD in the early '80's when it came on 5.25" disks. The drawing will be given to me in AutoCAD so I think they'll expect it back in a format they can use. The DeltaCAD can work with DXF files so I probably go that route.
I appreciate all the ideas. This site is awesome.

Have not tried this one yet, but looks promising.

http://www.punchcad.com/full_store....cyZzPTIwMDcrNHRoK29mK0p1bHkrUHJvbW90aW9u

"The DeltaCAD can work with DXF files"

We like it because the engineer, or designers can send us the file on DXF, no problems so far, we had auto cad and it was bulky, and some of the files would corrupt, depending the version, for the $45 it was well worth it.

From Alan Belson:





Click here for larger version

PE&M:



If you have dealt with AutoCAD of any version - and pretty much any CAD Application, there should not be any real shock involved when using a newer package.

Some of the greater things about the newer packages for a GUI (as opposed to real mode environment versions and "Shells") is you may open multiple instances under one running application, along with "Thumbnail Previews" of drawing files.

The commands - in basic form - are still the same, with a few being revised.

LISP routines are more complex, and now VBA is an option.

OLE works much nicer in the newer versions.



I am curious if they will submit the ACAD files in the "Most Recent Version Possible", or if they will give you something from a few releases back!

Also, look out for bloated files with hundreds of layers, and be specific that they bind all XREFs + Shape Fonts (.SPF) before sending the files - or you will be looking at missing reference text and other fun errors!



If you can get the files in Drawing Exchange Format (.DXF), and the Delta CAD Application is able to open it, please let me know what AutoCAD release they compiled the DXF file in, -vs- the version of Delta CAD you have.
(just for personal references)



Darn right this place rocks!!!

BTW, another "CAD Work Around" involves having the sending party submit the CAD drawing as a .PDF plot file (or as a .TIF), then place it as a base layer in your Word or Graphics application.
Insert text, lines and symbols on new layers built up on top of the original base layer.

This works for any contacts whom do not have a CAD Application.

Scott

Hi all.
If anyone is interested, here is a link to a new site dedicated to DeltaCad.
http://dcaduser.itrello.com/page3.html
Here, you can share DeltaCad files with others. There is also a message board. If you use DeltaCad to create wiring diagrams like I do, you can download my electrical symbol files. DeltaCad is a great, inexpensive program to use for wiring diagrams. I highly recommend it.
Kevin

darn i have ver 5 I need ver 6 to open the links on that page

Sorry to hear that.
I posted the wrong link as well. The main site is here.
http://dcaduser.itrello.com/index.html

I just bought another seat of AutoCAD 2008 LT, and for $500 it does just about everything my full version does.

https://www.electrical-contractor.n...showflat/Number/148757/page/1#Post148757

Scott and I checked my Generic CADD to his AutoCAD DXF with this. Anyone willing to let me send it to them to check compatibility with Delta or other CAD? I already know that AutoCAD doesn't handle Generic's fills.
Thanks in advance,
Joe

If it does not handle DWG files, then its pretty worthless in the commercial construction world. We are required by contract to do as-builts in CAD which means DWG.

How about AutoSketch?
This is by AutoDesk the same as AutoCad but their low end version.
Their propaganda says that you can edit a DWG file with AutoSketch.

Amazon lists it for $118.99
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002MAG0A/ref=ord_cart_shr/105-3379851-6261259?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=2753027

You can get AutoCad LT for a 30 day free trial from Autodesk.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=2498418

Amazon lists it for $809.99
http://www.amazon.com/Autodesk-0572...s=software&qid=1194817907&sr=8-1