Windows Phone Thoughts: CAD on the Hoof? PowerCAD CE Frees Me From My Drafting Table

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Friday, May 13, 2005

CAD on the Hoof? PowerCAD CE Frees Me From My Drafting Table

Posted by John Walkosak in "SOFTWARE" @ 09:00 AM



Why CAD on a Pocket PC?
I am an Architect. Not a software architect, a real architect who designs brick and mortar structures.

In this era, this means that I spend alot of time drawing on a computer using CAD (Computer Aided Design) to document and investigate my designs. I also have to spend time on construction sites, referring to these same designs.

In the dark old days of the 20th century, I would have to refer to printed drawings on the site. Often during construction, things in the design will change, and I would have to mark these changes on the drawing, and then make the changes to the CAD file when I got back home.

But thanks to the Pocket PC and PowerCAD CE, I can now take my CAD file into the field and view or change it on the fly. Better yet I can have a consultant or a vendor send me one of their drawings via email, and open it directly on my Pocket PC Phone.

There are many ways that the software can be used, and to suit the user's needs, Power CAD comes in multiple configurations.

PowerCAD CE Viewer (US $99) lets you, er, view CAD files. But you can also add comments to a drawing. So, if you are on a jobsite or in the factory, you can be referencing a design, and commenting on things that may need to change. All versions contain these markup functions, and when on the go, these will really be the most used functions. The software lets you draw freehand lines and comments, or use more formal callouts (leaders connecting to a comment box). Since this product is aimed at mobile uses, the third markup option is to use the PowerCAD VoiceNOTES. Typing the command "VN" in the command line prompts you to choose a location. When you click on the where you want to comment, you are taken to a screen where you can start a recording. When you are done recording, you are taken back to the plan view, and there is a new icon on the plan. Clicking on this icon plays back your comment. This is great when on the move, because you don't have worry about writing or typing, or really even looking at the screen. Just walk and talk! As I will discuss below, this was my personal favorite.

PowerCAD CE Classic (US $249) gives all of the functions above, plus adds about 300 2D drafting functions and some basic 3D functions. Because there are so many different functions almost all of them are accessed via Keyboard short cuts. More about this later. This version gives the ability to make redlines in the Added, but beyond this you can also actually change the drawings. You can also start a drawing with one of the tools available in the Classic version.

PowerCAD CE Pro (US $495) gives everything above, and adds the ability to incorporate LISP and C++ programming. This means that you have the ability to program in some functions to automate your work, like automatically design a staircase or automatically number rooms, etc.

PowerCAD SiteMaster CE (US $995) includes everything listed in the packages above, and also has the ability to interface with a couple models of laser distance measurers. This is really an amazing combination of abilities that would allow me to make CAD drawings of existing conditions in the field. I can go into a building, measure all of the elements of that space with the laser measure, and this information is fed into PowerCAD CE Sitemaster, where it is automatically drawn. I just need to add some symbols for doors, etc and voila! I have an accurate CAD drawing. No more making sketches in the field and then using the CAD when I get back to the office. It saves me time, and time is... well, you know...

These four different configurations provide tons of function and lots of options for my wallet.

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