i am a diehard mac user who has been looking for some time for a viable alternative to AutoCAD LT. right now i do not need 3D capabilities, just 2D drafting for Architectural work. i would like some opinions on how Concepts 2D compares with AutoCAD LT. i have downloaded the demo, but since i cannot save files, it is hard for me to set enough time aside in one sitting to get a good feel for the software.

i am primarily interested in XREFs and layer management. i use XREFs quite heavily in AutoCAD to do overlays of structure, electrical, hvac, etc...

any feed back with regard to how the programs compare would be useful.

thanks

i am having the darndest time trying to figure out how to print from concepts 2D at a specific scale. i have looked at the model to sheets section of the user manual, but i can not get it to behave like the manual and the online demo indicate they should. specifically when i click model to sheed, i get the dialog box, but nothing else happens.

i have tried to input architectural type scales (like 1:96 for 1/8"=1'-0") but it does not accept this scale.

also, i would like to know how to set up sheet templates of my own.

i am begining to get the idea that this software may not be suited to architectural uses. any help in resolving this would be appreciated.

You will need to select the line, then select Pen:Color:Black.

You can create your own pen style (Pen:Style). A pen style includes color, width, and pattern. If you change an attribute of a custom pen style, all objects using the style will automatically update. You may want to set up different styles based on your print scale.

>>i am drawing a house plan at full scale. what is the proper
>>notation to get the print to be scaled to 1/8"=1'-0"?

Try typing (0.125/12=0.0104) in the scale field of the print/page layout dialog box.

I think the sort of problems this fellow is having are important to consider. These little interface snags are very hard to grasp when you start using CU, and I think they constitute the main barrier to new customers.

Putting this right would be a major re-jiggering of the interface, but really it's *got* to be done. The tools and operability of CU are excellent in my opinion, but managing things like the appearance of a 2D drawing, line weights, dimensioning, text, and so forth are wayyyyy to gnarly for most people, and they will just bail before they can dig in far enough to manage this stuff easily.

Because I have to jump in and out of CU, depending on the work I'm doing, I've had to re-learn these aspects of the program a few times, and it is never easy. Interface design is tricky stuff, and I'm not trivializing it (I've done some of it), but some effort here would pay off, big time. I've seen at least three potential customers walk away because of this issue, alone.

>>the appearance of a 2D drawing, line weights, dimensioning, text, and so >>forth are wayyyyy to gnarly for most people,

We've been discussing several things to make setting drawing/object attributes easier. Plus some ideas regarding printing scale and print quality of line fonts. So we've got it on our radar:)

I have the same problem. I enjoy using this software to create 2D drawings, but have trouble printing them to paper with a title block and such. There seems to be much confusion about using the sheet layouts with 2D drawings. Please help Tim!

I have a lot problems with line weights (printing and on display), printing, drawing on scale, ecc..
So I decided to go for a refund!
If the new version of C2D will fix those problems I buy it again...