I've been playing around with this 3D Home Architect, and I'm somewhat impressed.

It has a few bugs (like putting 4-ways switches at each switch location when three switches are used for the same light) but overall it works well.

Here's a small floorplan of my existing shanty for a demo:



3D Home Architect Deluxe

I picked up the 3.0 version for $9.99 at Wal-mart, it's very user-friendly and will make my bids more professional looking.

Give it a try if you're looking for a cheap alternative to CAD.

Virgil,

Looks good!
You could use a few more outlets though.

Is this the first program of this type that you have used? If so, how would you rate it's ease of use?

If not your first, how does it compare to others that you have seen?

Bill

Virgil,

You did that drawing with a $9.99 CAD type program?!? Looks REALLY good!!!!

Tell me more - more - more!

What format is the above drawing [on that subject - in regards to the previous thread, I was refering to uncompressed .JPG's - sorry for the corn-fusion!]

Can this program import / export or save files in formats such as .GIF, .JPG, .WMF, .TIF or one of the AutoCAD types .DWG or .DXF?

Does this program use layers?

Can it be OLE'd, or have things OLE'd to it?

I really like the way your posted floor plan looks! If this program has the functions I listed above, I would be very inclined to suggest it for those looking for a CAD app' that's easy to use, low cost and has some of the basic "Share" abilities which are very helpful.

Let me know. I'll be back sometime Friday Evening [PST].

Scott SET

Here's a "3D" view of the kitchen, viewed from the doorway leading from the living room:



Bill, yes there are entirely too few receptacles in my house, but I have converted the ones there to GFCI!

Scott T., therein lies the fault... can't convert at all, I did the "print screen" and crop, copy and paste and all that...

But as far as getting a simple plan on an 8.5 x 11" piece of paper, it seems to do the trick. But, they have to be drawn from scratch....

However, the drawing part is fairly easy, point and click, really, the program does most of the hard work for you, like keeping things square, assuming straight lines, it even builds bay windows...

Bill,

This is the first of its type that I've used.

ModelCad is my only other CAD experience, and it has a steep learning curve.

The latest version (4.0) recently won an award for excellence... (can't remember from whom) The 4.0 version hovers around the $50 mark.

Virgil,

That looks pretty good!
It even shows the porch through the windows!

Does any other program recognize it's format?

The file format is a .PL* file, where the * is the number of the floor (story) that the plan is for... i.e. "myplan.pl1" would be the first floor plan.

I doubt that it is compatible with any other application...