Topic Title

[Clay Rogers]

Please pick the answer(s) which best describe your current use of DataCAD. You may select more than one answer. If you would like information about upgrading your DataCAD, or if you have other comments, or you'd like your e-mail address removed from our list, please send us an e-mail at: info@datacad.com You can also call us to place an order at: 800-394-2231

Basically, D12 is fine for me.
I use it daily. Still do ALMOST ONLY construction documents, hardly any 3d. When I do I use Sketchup.
Sure would like to see MORE improvements on making CD's easier to produce.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE GOT ANY NEW SYMBOLS, APPLIANCES, FURNITURE, CABINETS???????????????

Things to make production drawings faster and easier to put together.
How about ways to make inputting catalogs pics, brocure details, spec data, etc into drawings less of a chore?

seems I have to get out the maunual, that hardly answers the question of "how to____" anymore, anytime I want to do something a little different.
Course, wouldn't mind sun tracker, integrated with O2c, as an add on. But to get the whole new version for that, nah

Seems like it has been forgotten that working drawings make up the lions share of the work. Would like to see a revamp of DCAD like the old days, for "computer" software to make life easier to produce things like cross sections, interior elevations, creating details, door/ window schedules,etc.- better tutorials for the things that are ALREADY in DCAD12.

Course, I am getting ready to retire in a few years, but will still keep working if hired, so some of these things do not matter that much to me, but still would like things to be more intuative. I still do not use D12 to what I consider it's full potential, I am sure of it. How can you help me do that???
thanks.

DCAD has long been up to the business tasks I have for it. If DataCAD was truly fluid back and forth between SketchUp, I would be interested in an upgrade. That is, if I could draw full architectural construction and presentation drawings - 2D and 3D - in DCAD with the ease that exists drawing in SU, I would upgrade DCAD. But, honestly, if I could fully draw both of these same drawing types in SU, with the ease that presently exists there, I would go to SketchUp only - sorry :>(

I only went from earlier DCAD versions to DCAD12 to stay in the race with communicating graphically with consultants who use AutoCAD. Further, I deeply resent AC's annual renewal fee vs. steep purchase price choice. Finally, for my purposes, DCAD is the best most direct tool for creating architectural drawings; all my colleagues who are, like me, sole practitioners, use DataCAD, one of whom is on your Beta list.

For what it's worth, I started using DataCAD and a computer for the first time when - years ago - DCAD precipitously dropped it's price to $150 a copy - I had never even even owned a computer! My desire to own and use DCAD came before my desire to own and use my own computer! :>)

I find it interesting when people say they haven't upgraded for several versions. And then say that they would like to see certain improvements in the program. For one thing, if you are 3 or 4 versions behind, how would you know what improvements have been included since the version you are working on? Who knows, maybe very improvements you want are already there. But maybe not. The other thing is, how do you expect them to continue to improve the program if you are not willing to support that improvement by upgrading. Which is where they get the money it takes to continue to upgrade the program. I can understand somebody not upgrading if you think the program is perfect the way it is and you don't want to see any changes. Then not upgrading makes perfect sense. I can also understand not upgrading when the economy is bad and cash flow won't allow the upgrade. But to say that an old version is fine for you and then say you would like to see improvements doesn't make any sense at all.

Up until any new upgrades past 12, I have always upgraded. But I spent 3 1/2 years working out of state due to the economy crash here in Florida from 2008 until June of 2013 when the company I was working for ran out of work. Now I am back in Florida trying to scare up enough work to pay bills. When the work and cash flow allow it, I will upgrade again. Right now, I am just too cash strapped to acquire the upgrade.

I guess having 2% of the respondants say they use another CAD says quite a lot for DataCad.

- I like DataCAD best for CAD software!

- I use DataCAD occasionally at home, for sideline projects / etc.

- I use DataCAD mostly for 2D construction documents.

- I have begun to like SketchUp for 3D ... It's easy and fun. I haven't done enough models lately to figure out if some 3D things are done best in SketchUp, while other 3D things are still done best in DataCAD.

- I have not played with DataCAD's smart 3D stuff.

- At my job, where I make a living, UNFORTUNATELY the company's software is AutoCAD/Revit. I don't think that will ever change (at this company). I do not have a license for these for myself. I do need to find a good free/cheap AutoCAD clone for myself ... to view/translate AutoCAD files.

- Since DataCAD is now just something that I use occasionally at home, I don't keep up to the latest version (sorry).

I started with DCAD 5 and upgraded to DCAD 12 over the years. Used it for all my drawing needs for my small construction company.
Currently there is no work, so I call myself retired. I am very happy with DCAD 12 and don't see the need to spend the money to upgrade and learn all the new features.
Thanks

Roger

Since I haven't worked in over three years, I am essentially involuntarily retired. If I do get new work, the company I do contract work for has insisted on switching to AutoCAD and Revit only, so I am trying to learn Revit. Additionally, my wife has terminal liver cancer (discovered about a year ago) and I am serving as her 24 hr. nurse, so not much time is going in to learning Revit. If I had work, I don't know when I would do it.

Sorry to hear that, Dick. My prayers and best wishes to you and your wife.

Prayers for you guys for sure Dick. You guys hang in there.

DataCAD is generally a nice cad and this has been my primary working tool for the last two decades almost... I am currently still using X3 as it generally satisfies my need for basic modeling and drawing. There are two issues with DataCAD that keep me from upgrading, but hopefully these will be addressed in the future.

With the fast spread of BIM software, 4D will probably become the standard pretty soon, thus it may become necessary to use a cad that will support this idea. We already use Revit in the office to cope with the stream, and switching to an expensive Autodesk product or some other software may prove inevitable in the future. I have also learned to use 3d max for more sophisticated geometry and rendering. I often generate geometry with DataCAD followed by elaborating with 3d max. Finetuning is of course much more fun this way. Although these two play in different leagues, the straightforward simplicity of DataCAD in certain cases easily surpasses the tens of options of 3d max.

I am happy that DataCAD can generate .o2c. This extremely condensed format is still one of the best ways to present 3d models over the web. When .o2c came into being, I had high hopes. Today, it looks like .o2c has almost vanished from the picture: the player is not supported by most of browsers and surprisingly - no progress in the Mac direction... Probably Sketchup with its ease to also generate and modify geometry has taken over this role. Of course, all this has nothing to with DataCAD, but if .o2c worked better, DataCAD would score as well : )

I'm retired and don't need any upgrades.