Autocad versus Archicad

[jana...@gmail.com]

Hi,

Don't know if this is the best place to post this question: I was
wondering how Archicad compares with Autocad.

My dad is an architect in India with a small firm of his own and he
does mainly residential and commercial work. He is looking for a good
CAD program and has been offered a good deal on ArchiCAD by the local
sales rep. This would mean huge cost savings for him and he is
considering this deal.

HIs draftsmen are familiar with AutoCAD though and other consultants in
the city seem to be using AutoCAD predominantly.

On his behalf therefore, I had a few questions:

1.) How easy is it to get re-trained in ArchiCAD?

2.) Will there be compatibility issues with opening, saving and
printing drawings between the 2 programs (in case his consultants send
him a dwg file)?

3.) How easy is it to use? How accurate and fast is it? IS it better
for certain types of drawings (2D versus 3D)

4.) How does it compare with AutoCAD in other respects?

5.) Are there any other issues that he should be aware of?

I am not even sure I've asked the right questions, but your replies
will help me (and my dad) get a better idea of what we should choose.

thanks,
Jan

[kivunik...@gmail.com]

Hi Jan,

About Archicad, its the best for your Dad, I have just convinced a
student trainee to shift from AutoCad to Achicad, he has done great
tasks he couldnt do in AutoCad, and about compatibility, Archicad opens
autocad DWG formats and no problemd at all. The beauty of Archicad is
that it speaks fluent Architecture. 3D is superb, Elevation generation
is perfect and saves time. Archicad is built on the virtual Building
concept which makes it a better CAD programe for Architects by far.

Phil

[Synapse Syndrome]

<jana...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1153974734....@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...

ArchiCAD is easier to learn and less frustrating to use. The .dwg
import/export works very well once you figure out how to scale them properly
and maybe you need copies of the AutoCAD .shx fonts to make things look
right.

AutoCAD might be the industry standard, but it is not the best tool for
architecture. You may also want to consider Revit, which is similar to
ArchiCAD and now owned by Autodesk, so it is likely to become the market
leader. But I have used both and I know that ArchiCAD is the better
program.

ss.

[Chris Chan]

This is something that makes me mad - what makes AutoCAD 'the industry
standard'? Who says so? What makes dwg so good - it is a 'dumb' file
format with no intelligence in the transfer between systems.

Archicad has had ifc support for years... surely this is the industry
standard as it is a universal format with predetermined intelligent
standards. But do you hear Autodesk going on about that?

And a nice little fact I heard recently... Archicad has over 70%
sharehold in the 3d / BIM marketplace... I don't know if that is only
the UK... but what does that suggest for the industry standard?

"Synapse Syndrome" <syn...@NOSPAMgomez404.elitemail.org> wrote in
news:BaKdnR0fzqQ...@bt.com:

[siwar...@gmail.com]

As far as I know and as far as I use the CAD proggie, then ArchiCAD is
the best for architecture or interior needs. AutoCAD or Revit is far
behind AC, revit not as hood as AC. The good things is from ArchiCAD
you can convert the files into many format, it can import AutoCAD
files. You can create an object in 3dsMax and convert it in archiCAD
into GDL object and appears perfectly, now ArchiCAD has a Maxon Form
plugin too.

ArchiCAD has many plugins that will make our works easier, like duct
work, or many tools from CAD Image. When you draw in AC, you draw
instant 3D plan, no need to extrude, revit does this too but not enough
powerful like AC. You can instant view your 3D and you can instant
render it too with integrated lightworks rendering engine. Or you can
use Cinema4D or Artlantis to render with amazing result.

The bad thing about AC is you must search hardly for GDL object,
because this kind of object not many like 3ds object but you must make
it or search hard in web. But you can use 3ds object too.

ArchiCAD is very easy to learn, and getting harder when reach the
advanced skill, but it worth. Speaking accurate, AC same accurate as
AutoCAD.

I never get a problem when import DWG, DXF files into AC.......