Questions before I buy Bricscad
I am an Architectural designer and i am currently exploring moving away from AutoCAD. I have installed a played around with Bricscad, but I need to ask a few questions before I can comfortably go ahead with the move:
1a. The License: Does the linux license for £270 last for ever? Just with not updates?
1b. If I wanted to buy the updates without going for the license + 1 year subscription option, what would the updates usually cost?
2. How do you interact with the tool menus other than typing out full commands f using the mouse (IE: various optionas at different stages of using a drawing/editing tool: Select: [polly/rectangle/yes/no/delete], etc). AutoCAD allows you to use the cursors to select these options of use shorthand typed commends.
3. Is there any way to get the dynamic display to show you what you are typing into the command line window as well as just measurements?
4. Can you edit components "Out of context"? Bricscad shows the blocks with teh rest of the model faded out and their current rotation/etc remaining. Can I edit blocks out of context ehre they are unrotated/etc?
5. Are there any major differences between the Bricscad interface and AutoCAD that I should be aware of? Or any miscellaneous known issues/limitations?
6. I don't seem to be able to get the Xref Clip to work. It will display the original clipped boundaries from imported DWGs and turn them on and off, but will not define a new one.
7. Bricscad is slower than AutoCAD. Especially to "regen" the display. Is this a know issue and is there a fix? I am running Ubuntu 10.10 with a good Nvidia card.
8. Can Bricscad display lineweights in model view?
Thank you
Comments
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9. "Hatch Edit" is seemingly not yet supported!? Is this true ir it there a work around?
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10. AutoCAD has a line type called "Batting" which makes a line that looks like insulation. This saves SO much time. I cannot seem to find a version in Bricscad. Is there one and if not, how might I be able to get/make one?
11. Can I use of import my AutoCAD plot styles?
Thanks
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1a - 1b - I haven't bothered to update my windows version of Bricscad in years. Works fine and I don't need the latest, so cost = $0. I did buy the Linux version about a month ago though. Hoping to convert my office 100% to linux and shut down the windows boxes. Almost ready.
7 - There's an AutoCAD version for Ubuntu?
I've been using Bricscad exclusively for several years and have no complaints about it. It works as well for me as AutoCAD ever did and the support is better, in my opinion. I'm not sure the Linux version is 100% there yet but I don't have any doubts that it will be soon. - I use the program for 2d drafting only, so I can't speak about it's 3d capabilities. - I have no problem providing .dwg files to consultants that use AutoCAD.
Which thing, if it doesn't work, will cause you to buy the much more expensive AutoCAD license instead?
Good luck.
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1a - 1b - I haven't bothered to update my windows version of Bricscad in years. Works fine and I don't need the latest, so cost = $0. I did buy the Linux version about a month ago though. Hoping to convert my office 100% to linux and shut down the windows boxes. Almost ready.
7 - There's an AutoCAD version for Ubuntu?
I've been using Bricscad exclusively for several years and have no complaints about it. It works as well for me as AutoCAD ever did and the support is better, in my opinion. I'm not sure the Linux version is 100% there yet but I don't have any doubts that it will be soon. - I use the program for 2d drafting only, so I can't speak about it's 3d capabilities. - I have no problem providing .dwg files to consultants that use AutoCAD.
Which thing, if it doesn't work, will cause you to buy the much more expensive AutoCAD license instead?
Good luck.
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1 - The license lasts forever and, for now at least, it gives you access to all version 11 updates. Or I have access to all the updates because I was an early adopter, not sure on this one.
2 - A little popup menu shows up on the top right of the view window with all the options for the current running command.
3 - I don't think so.
5 - The interface is a bit different from autocad, but I actually like it better. I find that most things are placed in more logical locations than in autocad. Bricscad also puts open drawing files on tabs, which greatly improves the time it takes to change from one file to another.
7 - On my machine bricscad is faster than autocad. Regen is almost instant even on 30MB files, although I have an ATI card and not nvidia.
8 - Yes.
9 - Funny... it was working in version 10, or was I dreaming? Must be a regression.
10 - Put this in your ~/Bricsys/Bricscad/V11/en_US/Support/iso.lin file at the bottom after ;; User Defined Linetypes:
*BATTING,Batting SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
A,.00254,-2.54,[BAT,ltypeshp.shx,x=-2.54,s=2.54],-5.08,[BAT,ltypeshp.shx,r=180,x=2.54,s=2.54],-2.540