First Impressions?

[CorBlimeyLimey]

OK, I'll start the ball rolling ...

I will probably never use it, because I have SolidWorks. But for the few minutes I've played with it, it's definitely better than DWGeditor/2D Editor.

What are your first impressions?

 

[Gurjjeet]

Used it to edit some drawings......awsome alternate to ACAD....best feature is that it is FREEEEE....

 

[macduff]

I like it because it has almost a Solidworks feel to it.

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 3.1
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[MikeHalloran]

It's a relatively modest download for a CAD program.

The install proceeded cleanly with no hiccups.

I noodled around with it for a while. It mostly made sense, and responded to commands I've used or obvious variants thereof. It behaved as documented. ... and it was documented.

What impressed me most is that it didn't crash. That's a pitiful accolade, but these days it's just about the highest compliment I could give. So much 'modern' software is produced by idiots and fanbois who don't understand the need for an 'else' clause in a conditional branch statement.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[ishvaaag]

Since Autodesk seems not to be eager to provide file compatibility with DS programs, it seems DS is taking steps towards making such compatibiliy feasible in a bigger degree. As long as it is even free, it can't be but good for the users.

 

[Hrishiis]

Was a bit sceptical about considering migrating to a new software but during the short time I have used it, it has pleasantly surprised me.

On a more detailed note, some options are sort of hidden (which makes you go to the help section a little more often than I'd like but I must say it's not bad).

I wonder when it'll stop being free though.

 

[macduff]

Good question about stop being free, hrishiis. I would like it to replace the add on DWGEditor that comes with Solidsquirts.

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 3.1
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[Hrishiis]

I was looking everywhere for the equivalent of the 'Boundary Polyline' command in DWGEditor (which is sued to sort of 'combine' a bound/closed polyline) and finally found it! It's called 'Bound Area' which is available in the 'Draw' menu. The functionality is pretty similar, and can be easily figured out.

If there anyone looking for it, there it is!

 

[jomofro39]

I just downloaded it and am messing around with it. Looks very snappy, intuitive, and to make your own UI and personal profile seems to be a breeze, which is a big point for me. Hopefully it keeps SOME type of version as free, even when it goes commercial.

 

[macduff]

Stupid question. Does anyone know how to copy and paste from Draftsight to a SW drawing? Doesn't seem to work for me....strange......

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 3.1
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Cannot currently be done, but apparently may be implemented in next release.

Workaround;
Make a block within DS, and insert into SW.

-or-

Drag and drop the DS file (from Windows folder) into SW.

 

[jimnaz]

I downloaded this software and have tried it. I used ACAD for several years so using this interface is intuitive.

All worked as expected except for printing. Try as I may, I have not been able to print anything other than a very small drawing in the upper left of the paper sheets. This happens regardless of the settings in print setup.

Otherwise it appears to be a fine alternative to ACAD for 2D work.

 

[Hrishiis]

Interesting (I thought).

I was just asked by DraftSight to reactivate my licence. It involved clicking one button when the pop-up came up (resulting in an email) but thought it was worth mentioning here.

It asked me whethe I use DraftSight for 'Home/Work' or 'School' use (note that 'Home' and 'Work' were in ONE category). I replied and I then got a message which said I'll have to reactivate the product in one year.

Rishi Mandyam
Automotive Design Engineer
Catia V5 R12 - latest
Chelmsford, UK

 

[debodine]

I am with jimnaz, has good features but impossible to plot correctly. Sorta makes it useless for me. When our engineers use DS (as directed by mgt because it is free) and it comes to me for release, I still open their designs with AutoCad. If I cannot assure correct plotting BEFORE it goes to our Document Archive group, the Document Archive group certainly won't be able to plot it and deliver it to users.

Mgt was forced to give me back AutoCad because I proved to them that DS drawings could not be properly plotted, nor could they be archived with the ability to be properly plotted. Our Document Archive group had to waste a LOT of time going back and forth with engineers before I was able to convince mgt that "free" is not always cost effective if you CAN'T USE THE RESULT.

 

[BlackSmoke]

Program is a nice AutoCAD clone and seems to be reasonably interoperable with AutoCAD for simple drawings. Things we've noted about DraftSight:
-Breaks datalink tables
-Breaks dynamic blocks
-No sheet sets or publishing of multiple layouts
-Lineweights print much thicker, though we can take a file drafted in DS back to AutoCAD for printing.

All-in-all, it's functional enough that we'll be using it in production to reduce the number of floating AutoCAD licenses we require. Indeed, free is good.

 

[ArminB]

I recently downloaded the demo version and I wanted to ask if draftsight is really free? at first, there were no problems running the software but then it stopped working. what can caus this?

 

[MikeHalloran]

Failure to start or to work appears to be DS' not very charming way of telling you to go get a newer version.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[DiegoLGraves]

It opens some native acad files that DWGeditor wouldn't. I just sent an Autocad file back to a customer after modifying it in Draftsite and they were not able to open it. Not sure why yet. I'm still mostly a command line driver so the interface is nothing special yet.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

AutoCAD Version?

 

[badgerdave]

Diego, DS defaults to AutoCAD 2010 file type, try changing it during saving. Production wasn't able to view our files until we changed this.

To make it default to an older version
Go to Tools>Options and select System Options

Then expant the Open/Save As line and change the default for "Save documents as type:"