Editing Getting started with 2D CAD drafting
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− | + | The field of 2D CAD within the AEC industry is currently dominated by AutoCAD, and in particular, the proprietary DWG file format. Heavy reliance on AutoCAD, along with the tight control that Autodesk exerts over the proprietary DWG file format, both stifles innovation and perpetuates proprietary software in our industry. | |
− | + | To make the switch, there are two key ways in which you can make a difference in the industry. The first is by requesting and producing the open DXF format instead of the proprietary DWG format. The second is by switching from AutoCAD to another software entirely. | |
− | + | == Switch from DWG to DXF == | |
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− | = Switch from DWG to DXF = | ||
[[Drawing Exchange Format (DXF)]] is an open format that provides many similar features to [[Drawing (DWG)]]. In general, DXF is much more widely supported and has much better cross-platform support. It is extremely easy to switch. Almost all CAD software has the ability to read and write DXF, so it is simply a manner of making it a habit to use one instead of the other. It is also usually a good idea to specify DXF as a digital deliverable in contracts. Most BIM projects currently specify IFC as an OpenBIM format, but neglect to also specify DXF as an open format. | [[Drawing Exchange Format (DXF)]] is an open format that provides many similar features to [[Drawing (DWG)]]. In general, DXF is much more widely supported and has much better cross-platform support. It is extremely easy to switch. Almost all CAD software has the ability to read and write DXF, so it is simply a manner of making it a habit to use one instead of the other. It is also usually a good idea to specify DXF as a digital deliverable in contracts. Most BIM projects currently specify IFC as an OpenBIM format, but neglect to also specify DXF as an open format. | ||
− | If a DWG file is provided, and it is not possible to ask for the provider to provide a DXF instead, you have a few options. The first is to open the DWG with QCAD or | + | If a DWG file is provided, and it is not possible to ask for the provider to provide a DXF instead, you have a few options. The first is to open the DWG with QCAD or LibreCAD, and then convert it to a DXF yourself. Of the two, QCAD's support for DWG far surpasses LibreCAD, but unfortunately relies on ODA. |
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− | If it is not possible to submit DXFs for a project, for example if a client specifically request only DWGs and you are unable to convince them otherwise (though there may be little technical reason for them to do so), QCAD may be used to save DWGs. | + | If it is not possible to submit DXFs for a project, for example if a client specifically request only DWGs and you are unable to convince them otherwise (though there may be little technical reason for them to do so), QCAD may be used to save DWGs. LibreCAD is unable to create DWGs. |
− | If you have a lot to convert, or if the conversion is unsatisfactory, or if you use neither LibreCAD or QCAD (such as if you are using Blender or programmatically generating DXFs), as a fallback option you may use the proprietary [https://www.opendesign.com/guestfiles/oda_file_converter ODA File Converter], or the proprietary [https://www.opendesign.com/oda_online_converter ODA Online Converter]. Although this is proprietary software, it is mentioned on the OSArch wiki because the | + | If you have a lot to convert, or if the conversion is unsatisfactory, or if you use neither LibreCAD or QCAD (such as if you are using Blender or programmatically generating DXFs), as a fallback option you may use the proprietary [https://www.opendesign.com/guestfiles/oda_file_converter ODA File Converter], or the proprietary [https://www.opendesign.com/oda_online_converter ODA Online Converter]. Although this is proprietary software, it is mentioned on the OSArch wiki because the Open Design Alliance (ODA) has debatably helped improve access the open data standards in the AEC industry due to their work in reverse engineering the DWG file format, and the ODA library is also used in QCAD under the hood, and it is cross-platform. |
− | A comparison table is provided to help people learn the difference between the two formats. | + | A comparison table is provided to help people learn the difference between the two formats. |
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− | = | + | == See also == |
− | + | * [[LibreCAD]] is an alternative to AutoCAD | |
− | + | * [[QCAD]] is an alternative to AutoCAD | |
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− | * [[LibreCAD]] is | ||
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[[Category:Drawing_(DWG)]] | [[Category:Drawing_(DWG)]] | ||
[[Category:Drawing_Exchange_Format_(DXF)]] | [[Category:Drawing_Exchange_Format_(DXF)]] |