CAD packages.
SVBRG are currently looking at introducing more CAD for the recording of historic buildings. . We feel this will speed up the process of drawing and make the final result more consistent. Whilst many people are using Acad our budget is restricted so we are looking at alternatives.
We are currently trialling Qcad. This was chosen as it is within our very restricted budget.
There is a free download for trial purposes which is fully functioning for the first 15 minutes. After which time it still works but with restricted features. Currently we are quite impressed with this program.
Other information
Hints if your trying it out
As we have a number of people trying this out this is a list of useful beginners tips which will be added to as required.
Line types
To get different line types the best way is to create a new layer.The button is the top one on the right. This brings up the layer window.
From here add a new layer and set the line type, colour and thickness.
Anything you draw while on this layer will be in the selected line style.
This is one of the features that is lost after the first 15 minutes so you will only be able to draw normal lines after this point.
Manually entering co-ordinates
Pressinng the space bar allows you to manually enter co-ordinates.It is much quicker and more accurate than doing it with the mouse.
For lines click on two point lines then orthographic so it only draws vertically and horizontally. Move the mouse in the direction you want the line to go, spacebar, type length required, return.
Co-ordinates
Cad co-ordinates start in the bottom left hand corner at 0,0.If you start drawing a square at 1000,1000 and you want it to be 300x300 then you might assume entering 300,300 will be what is required.
This will not give you what you are after. These are true co-ordinates so the square will be between 1000,1000 and 300,300.
What you need to enter is @300,300. This is a relative dimension so it draws the square in the right place.