by Bill Tybring
DraftSight, Free Version
5 Stars: awesome free program
Pros
Fast. Lightweight, both in terms of footprint and system resources. Clean interface. Easy to use and understand, especially for those with past CAD experience. Full 2D feature set. Customizable interface, and has the ability to run simple script macros (such as a one-button print). Dassault and Graebert continue to improve the product with each new release.
Cons
Minor inconveniences persist uncorrected. For example, setting the Library Files Location setting in Tools > Options has no impact on the default directory location when browsing to insert block files. Faulty fast-right-click behavior when using keyboard command shortcuts.
Summary
Given that this is a free program and allows virtually anyone to read and write all versions of .dwg files, a great program. It has become the viewing/markup utility of choice for our company.
DraftSight, Professional Version
2.5 Stars: not quite ready for prime time
Pros
Able to run LISP, VBA, VB.net, C++, C# add-in applications. Price per seat $250
Cons
Required to buy a 5-seat minimum, which raises the price to $1,250.
For those have existing API functions in AutoCAD or Bricscad, be aware that there are a great number of missing functions and a number of bugs that have yet to be corrected. For example, LISP has none of the "VL-" functions are available, and there are no workarounds for many of them, such as the VL-BB functions. A known bug in the ExtMin and ExtMax system variables (renamed getxyurfit and getxyllfit in DraftSight) remains uncorrected thru the last release, V1R1.4. If any of your existing programs rely on these they will fail.
Support calls for main program issues are handled fairly quickly, even if it's just to reply that they hope to correct the issue in the next release. API support tends to be more sluggish, with responses that can be vague, or at times even off the mark. But if you have the tenacity to continue to press your question, eventually you will have an answer -- even if it’s not the one you were hoping for.
Summary
Our company is for now dropping its pursuit of DraftSight Pro as an AutoCAD alternative. Although it shows good promise, there are simply too many missing pieces to make it a viable alternative. We will re-evaluate this software in two years after it has had more time to mature. Bricscad remains our cost-effective AutoCAD replacement of choice.
[Bill Tybring is with Engineering Supt Services at Maysteel LLC in Allenton Wisconsin, and has been an AutoCAD AutoLISP/VBA programmer since 1995.]
Just a correction to one of the authors statements above. Draft sight Professional is available as a single seat Purchase direct from Dassault Systemes Website. It is only the Draft sight Enterprise version that requires a Minimum five seat purchase.
Posted by: Gary Longshaw | Oct 31, 2014 at 12:02 AM
This is a recent change. Until about a month ago, the Pro version was the Enterprise version: minimum purchase of 5 seats from a dealer. Last month, the Pro version was downgraded in status to make it more compatible with SMBs: can purchase only one license online.
Posted by: Ralph Grabowski | Oct 31, 2014 at 05:48 AM
Interesting post. How about 3d; does DraftSight Pro have any 3d tools and/or functionality?
Posted by: Stephen Koroknay | May 03, 2015 at 08:14 AM
It can view 3D models, but has a limited ability to create 3D, because it is not supposed to compete with Solidworks.
Posted by: Ralph Grabowski | May 03, 2015 at 08:37 AM
MANY MISSING ISSUES ---
TO WIT / 1. CANNOT MEASURE A LINE
2. COPY / PASTE DOES NOT EXISTS
??? ??? ??? --- ETC.
Posted by: R. EDWARDS | Jun 30, 2015 at 11:51 AM
TOOLS INQUIRY FOR LINE MEASURE OR ON PROPERTY BOX
Posted by: stan | Dec 08, 2015 at 05:14 PM
Our firm does architectural design of commercial buildings. We currently use autocad release 2000 with architectural desktop. architectural desktop allows us to draw all kinds of walls and the ability to drop in doors and windows. If you are familiar with architectural desktop, I wonder if your program has similar capabilities?
Posted by: David Stallings | Feb 27, 2017 at 04:42 PM
I have also been looking into ProgeCAD. I wonder if it has similar capabilities to autocad architectural desktop?
Posted by: David Stallings | Feb 27, 2017 at 04:45 PM
The best thing to do is to download the 30-day demo of various CAD programs to see if their architectural abilities suit you. In some cases, you will have to get an add-on app that does architectural design.
Posted by: Ralph Grabowski | Feb 27, 2017 at 05:18 PM
The free version of DraftSight is a general CAD package, meaning it is meant for 2D drawings and not specific to any discipline in particular.
The Pro (paid) version of DraftSight is oriented towards mechanical design.
Posted by: Ralph Grabowski | Feb 27, 2017 at 05:18 PM
I want to know more about progCAD....?
email support number
Posted by: Ravi Gupta | Jun 30, 2017 at 03:16 AM