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Thread ID: 86555	2008-01-20 21:51:00	Any one use floorplan/map software?	rob_on_guitar (4196)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
632308	2008-01-24 21:45:00	Have found a couple of copies of DCWIN but they won't install. Comes up with a message of corrupted file. Does it work with XP? Will have another go later today. Times ticking by and I have to go out. Go to your Help & Support and type COMPATIBLE This will give you all the required instructions better than I could here. BUT I think you need to have the program up and running in order to use this feature. I don't have any problem (I use XP) although I did have an oddball note crop up occasionally when I shut the program down. I just ignored it and it seems to have gone away. I think you probably do have a corrupted file. If all else fails I could run off a floppy copy for you (can you use floppies?) and go all hi tech and send it by snail mail. Oh and I am up with the times so can also copy to a CD - which I suppose should work OK. Tom Tom	Thomas01 (317)
632309	2008-01-24 21:50:00	Or I can e-mail an attachment if you wish. ;) (This one does work with XP.)	R2x1 (4628)
632310	2008-01-25 05:08:00	Brain wasn't in gear this morning - obviously not enough coffee. With a background of DOS and WinZip I keep forgetting that when Windows shows you the contents of Zip files it hasn't actually extracted them for use. They are now extracted and the program loaded without problems. :blush: Thomas, how's your evaluation of CAD Std going? Better or worse than DCWIN?	Mercury (1316)
632311	2008-01-25 21:34:00	Brain wasn't in gear this morning - obviously not enough coffee. With a background of DOS and WinZip I keep forgetting that when Windows shows you the contents of Zip files it hasn't actually extracted them for use. They are now extracted and the program loaded without problems. :blush: Thomas, how's your evaluation of CAD Std going? Better or worse than DCWIN? Good news Mercury. Somebody else makes the same sort of daft mistakes I also have made at times. Anyway glad to see you are up and running. I am still looking at CAD Std and NO it cannot compare with DCWIN. In fact I still regard CAD Std as unacceptable for all but very simple work. BUT:- It is the free version I am looking at. Not a fair comparison. I have received an offer from CAD Std for me to try out the "pro" version and I will do so. The cost looks very good even if you have to pay for it. DCWIN also has a very good printed manual - or it did. I have a copy and would be prepared to "loan" it to you. I did consider scanning it - but there are just too many pages. Although I never use it these days I would like to keep the manual. Don't know why! As I mentioned before my main reason for looking into other programs is because DCWIN is no longer supported -and is not able to use long file names etc. It is still a cracker of a program, and I will admit, although I still have several drafting programs available to me, I always use DCWIN when I need one. Tom	Thomas01 (317)
632312	2008-01-26 01:44:00	well I have my prof copy of CAD Std. Now lets be honest - a few hours (despite my brilliance) is not enough to learn much about a drafting program. CAD is much more involved than word processing and its so much harder to design a good program. Notice how PCWorld seem to deliberately avoid writing anything about CAD but every issue gets a load of rubbish about games. Trying the prof CAD Std this morning I found some of the differences. The free version leaves out some minor but extremely useful functions like adding fillets or chamfers. Also deleting text. There is a tuition function in the prof version which looks pretty good. I will hate working through it but will. Sadly there still appears to be no SYMBOLS function. That for me makes it unacceptable as is. It is a good simple CAD program for anybody wanting the odd drawing occasionally. If like me you find yourself drawing house plans and you need whiteware, tables, beds, toilets etc, then symbols are essential. Saves hours or work. I have made loads of them using DCWIN and would be more than happy to forward them to you (or anybody else). Tom	Thomas01 (317)
632313	2008-01-26 02:03:00	Then CAD Std. is going to be a serious pain for electrical / electronic circuits, flow charts, or any mechanical construction involving fasteners, gears etc.? What age group is it recommended for on the box? ;) I am unsure of the target market for any system that doesn't have symbols. It is almost as bad as leaving out layers. Other than sending the drawings by electronic means; many draftsmen may find paper quicker and better.	R2x1 (4628)
632314	2008-01-26 21:43:00	Then CAD Std. is going to be a serious pain for electrical / electronic circuits, flow charts, or any mechanical construction involving fasteners, gears etc.? What age group is it recommended for on the box? ;) I am unsure of the target market for any system that doesn't have symbols. It is almost as bad as leaving out layers. Other than sending the drawings by electronic means; many draftsmen may find paper quicker and better. Dead right R2 Of course we didn't have symbols to call on the old days with paper and pencil but we did have those templates with holes cut out of them for things like electrical symbols etc (Even printing templates). So yes I think for the odd electrical drawing etc hand work would be quicker than CAD Std. But Cad Std does have some use - however I agree with you -without symbols its an unfinished program. Hopefully that will be changed eventually. I think they also need to look at the control of layers. Its essential that one can see at a glance which layers are active and also which are protected. I may be wrong here but I think the only way to tell in CAD Std is to actually look at each layer individually. Tom	Thomas01 (317)
632315	2008-01-31 21:10:00	Well I have been in touch with the site for CAD Std. They tell me they are looking into adding symbols for version 4. It's a nice change to find that when you send some one your personal comments and ideas you not only get an answer but are thanked for the interest. I look forward to progress on the program. Tom	Thomas01 (317)
632316	2008-01-31 23:17:00	If somebody could port DCWin to Linux, the world would be a better place. I prefer programs that just do the job without all the frills Smaller is better ;) Full marks to CadStd for responding intelligently to a request.	R2x1 (4628)
632317	2008-02-13 17:52:00	Thanks all, boss was more then happy to fork out for 2 progs so that ended being quite cool. Cheers	rob_on_guitar (4196)
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