Expert: Bob - 7/10/2009

Question
Bob,
We are intrested in purchasing a cad program for our office (not architect or designer , just a lowly builder) it has been suggested we purchase Turbocad and we want to make sure that if we do it is able to open and read drawings sent to us by architects using autocad. Are they compatible? Will we have the ability to red mark the drawings we receive?  Thanks you

Answer
Hi-- I am tempted to say, "Pardon me, but YUK!!" -- is TurboCAD so much cheaper than AutoCAD LT that it is worth your worry and time to make sure everything is compatible? (my recollection is that it's a few hundred dollars cheaper).

You don't make it clear whether you want to draw on your own, not just mark up -- I am replying re markups, mostly.

I cant answer any questions about other software, except when I happen to know the answer for sure -- in this case, I don't know for sure what you are asking. TurboCAD's website ought to.

But actually, we don't think builders are lowly. In fact, Autodesk made FREE software for you to open and mark up AutoCAD drawings.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=10277611

Shame on the sleeping architects who have not told you this.

I suggest you download the free software and see how it works out.
If, for some reason, you decide you need AutoCAD, the LT version does most of the 2D operations.  Research the Autodesk website for more info.

I hope this helps --- FREE anything is cheaper than buying something. (I just did look up the T-cad -- yes, it is cheap, and you can do  a free trial ---but I suggest again that the worry over whether it's right might be expensive for you. This is your decision, not mine to make.)

BOB