Expert: Bob - 2/19/2010

Question
Bob. I have no experience with AutoCAD. I am at a small university where all of our work is contracted out. We have no plans for some of our older buildings and newer building plans are hard copy only. I want to submit a budget request for equipment and training for a staff person to learn AutoCAD. Our work will be for internal use only, not for submitting for approval from City Planning. Can you give me an idea of the range of initial budget needed to get started.
Thank you so much.
Michael

Answer
Hi-- Sorry, this is really vague, really lacking in necessary info, to me. Really frustrating to figure what you mean, thus to help you.

I THINK MAYBE you mean you want someone already on staff and already getting a salary to learn AutoCAD and use it.
Sorry, but the PURPOSE of this would help a lot for me to guess the training and which software.
I THINK MAYBE you want to design or remodel something and MAYBE the person involved is qualified to design, so we are not talking training in design.
I WONDER what department you are in and what the purpose is here.

So plase fill me in so that I could feel somewhat intelligent to reply.

BUT -- If someone is just drawing up some conjectural remodels, AutoCAD LT for $1000 or so, and another thousand or less for a moderate computer. If you need to plot large drawings, a plotter is, say $1500, but, if I knew you were in a metropolitan area, I might tell you to send the plotting out to be done.

Also, if I knew where you were, I could estimate training -- local, or they have to travel???
If I knew the experience of the staff, I could speak intelligently to the training -- I cant imagine anyone who was in Arch or Engineering schools since 1990 not knowing AutoCAD.

My opinion is that if you have no one on staff with AutoCAD experience, you are nuts to train someone, rather than hiring a new person with extensive experience. It takes a lot of time, preferably with more experienced users around you, to get proficient.

Please write back with the whole story, and I will be of more help.

Sorry if I am grouchy -- I like to know the facts: it's frustrating to guess (and preach).

BOB