IMSI Instant Engineer: Ok for simple dwgs?

[Joerg]

My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore. Need a simple
CAD, just for sketches. IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind but I
could not find any reviews. Does anyone here use it?

Supposedly it is AutoCAD compatible so I guess one could use the
occasional AutoCAD model supplied by a parts manufacturer. I think this
SW was bought in from another company (Upperspace?).

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[Robert]

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:CafKh.8826$FG1.7594@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...

My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore. Need a simple CAD,
just for sketches. IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind but I could not
find any reviews. Does anyone here use it?

Supposedly it is AutoCAD compatible so I guess one could use the
occasional AutoCAD model supplied by a parts manufacturer. I think this SW
was bought in from another company (Upperspace?).

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

Did you see that Google is now offering a free 3-D Web App for sketches?

http://sketchup.google.com/

It may be sufficient for your needs.

Robert

 

[Richard Kanarek]

Greetings.

As I dimly recall, both "Instant" and "Quickie" Designer are
simplified, elderly offshoots of the DesignCAD tree. In fact, I
believe that both "Instant" and "Quickie" are more or less identical,
differing only by distribution method (if there is a price difference,
you may want to keep this in mind). Although I absolutely COULD be
wrong (about this and most else in this post ;-), I doubt either has
been kept up-to-date as far as AutoCAD compatibility is concerned --
or in any other way.

I doubt either was popular enough to generate many online comments --
although both have an online forum. I am sure that at least one of
their user manuals were available on line; that may be all you need.
(The programs are sufficiently old so as to probably work. ;-)

If you'll pardon my proffering unsolicited advice, a better tact would
be to pick up a new, but somewhat elderly, version of DesignCAD 14
Express (2D) or MAX (2D/3D). There is surely no 2D drafting command
that DCAD 14 lacks, and it's user interface is both quite good and
efficient. The 3D version's 3D abilities are impressive (for a 2nd or
3rd tier 3D CAD program), and can be disabled entirely for 2D
drafting.

N.B. I specified the 14 version of DesignCAD for several reasons:
+ Obscenely cheap ($5 - $20).
+ Runs on Windoze 95 (yes 95) to XP. Maybe also "Vista", but
who cares? <g>
+ Created (more or less) before programming was outsourced
from Oklahoma to various, ever changing, parts of the third world.
+ Extensive online help system. (The help system in ver 15 was
degraded; ver 16 was too trouble plagued for me to purchase,
and online help in ver 17 is all but destroyed.)
+ Reasonably feature-packed; rather stable/bug free.

Mostly off topic: Punch, an IMSI caliber CAD purveyor (???), is
releasing a new 2D/3D PC/MAC CAD program called ViaCAD (MSRP $99,
www.punchviacad.com, www.keenzo.com - search for ViaCAD). While I
doubt it will be in DesignCAD's class as far as 2D drafting is
concerned, it (and its 3d abilities) may be interesting.

Happy shopping!


Cordially,
Richard Kanarek

P.S. Your "old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore"? Why?
Have the bits rusted? Maybe if you sprayed it with WD40 and let them
soak for a while they would start working again? Gosh, I've never read
an obviously profligate urge so poorly defended! You are clearly
inexperienced. I wish I were. <g>



On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:15:14 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore. Need a simple
CAD, just for sketches. IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind but I
could not find any reviews. Does anyone here use it?

Supposedly it is AutoCAD compatible so I guess one could use the
occasional AutoCAD model supplied by a parts manufacturer. I think this
SW was bought in from another company (Upperspace?).

 

[Joerg]

Robert wrote:

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:CafKh.8826$FG1.7594@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...

My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore. Need a simple CAD,
just for sketches. IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind but I could not
find any reviews. Does anyone here use it?

Supposedly it is AutoCAD compatible so I guess one could use the
occasional AutoCAD model supplied by a parts manufacturer. I think this SW
was bought in from another company (Upperspace?).

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com


Did you see that Google is now offering a free 3-D Web App for sketches?

http://sketchup.google.com/

It may be sufficient for your needs.

I tried that a couple of days ago. IMHO it isn't very suitable for
mechanical drawings and it was really slow. Nice effects with that orbit
function but I need plain vanilla here.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[Joerg]

Richard Kanarek wrote:

Greetings.

As I dimly recall, both "Instant" and "Quickie" Designer are
simplified, elderly offshoots of the DesignCAD tree. In fact, I
believe that both "Instant" and "Quickie" are more or less identical,
differing only by distribution method (if there is a price difference,
you may want to keep this in mind). Although I absolutely COULD be
wrong (about this and most else in this post ;-), I doubt either has
been kept up-to-date as far as AutoCAD compatibility is concerned --
or in any other way.

Hmm, it would not be so good if newer models for AutoCad would error
when loaded.

I doubt either was popular enough to generate many online comments --
although both have an online forum. I am sure that at least one of
their user manuals were available on line; that may be all you need.

That's one reason I asked here. All the review sections wherever I
looked said "Be the first to review this software...". I didn't like
that. Then again I don't mind new stuff from companies that were good to
me before (IMSI was). In the same way that I bought a new car the year
it was introduced. It never failed me in almost 10 years.

(The programs are sufficiently old so as to probably work. ;-)

ROFL! How true. I am still doing my biz book-keeping in Works. Because
it works ;-)

If you'll pardon my proffering unsolicited advice, a better tact would
be to pick up a new, but somewhat elderly, version of DesignCAD 14
Express (2D) or MAX (2D/3D). There is surely no 2D drafting command
that DCAD 14 lacks, and it's user interface is both quite good and
efficient. The 3D version's 3D abilities are impressive (for a 2nd or
3rd tier 3D CAD program), and can be disabled entirely for 2D
drafting.

Thanks. I will definitely take a look at DesignCAD again.

N.B. I specified the 14 version of DesignCAD for several reasons:
+ Obscenely cheap ($5 - $20).
+ Runs on Windoze 95 (yes 95) to XP. Maybe also "Vista", but
who cares? <g
+ Created (more or less) before programming was outsourced
from Oklahoma to various, ever changing, parts of the third world.

Well, that's one reason I switched to Eagle for schematics. Excellent
and fast support. They keep it simple and use a plain newsreader format
for support forums where both staff and other users have free access.
Hardly any other company understands how to keep it that simple. Plus
they speak English quite well ;-)

+ Extensive online help system. (The help system in ver 15 was
degraded; ver 16 was too trouble plagued for me to purchase,
and online help in ver 17 is all but destroyed.)
+ Reasonably feature-packed; rather stable/bug free.

Mostly off topic: Punch, an IMSI caliber CAD purveyor (???), is
releasing a new 2D/3D PC/MAC CAD program called ViaCAD (MSRP $99,
www.punchviacad.com, www.keenzo.com - search for ViaCAD). While I
doubt it will be in DesignCAD's class as far as 2D drafting is
concerned, it (and its 3d abilities) may be interesting.

Happy shopping!


Cordially,
Richard Kanarek

P.S. Your "old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore"? Why?
Have the bits rusted? Maybe if you sprayed it with WD40 and let them
soak for a while they would start working again? Gosh, I've never read
an obviously profligate urge so poorly defended! You are clearly
inexperienced. I wish I were. <g

Maybe I am. At least I wouldn't know how a friend was able to convince
his wife that he needed a new car and that it absolutely had to be a
Cobra. And even got her to agree.

Maybe I give it another shot. It exhibits that dreaded Borland bug
(runtime error) which can be fixed because CAD SW rarely has timing
critical event handlers. Then there'll be the usual printer hassles, DOS
reboot for fulls screen, etc. But at least I had placed a working copy
onto a 3.5" disk. When I bought the program it came on 5-1/4". Just
imagine, a whole CAD program in under 1MB. Those were the days.

On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:15:14 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:


My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore. Need a simple
CAD, just for sketches. IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind but I
could not find any reviews. Does anyone here use it?

Supposedly it is AutoCAD compatible so I guess one could use the
occasional AutoCAD model supplied by a parts manufacturer. I think this
SW was bought in from another company (Upperspace?).

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[JeffM]

Joerg wrote:

My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore.
Need a simple CAD, just for sketches.
IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind

Why that app?

but I could not find any reviews.

Usually a bad sign.

More obscure == More dificult to find help with syntax/UI/feature
problems.

Does anyone here use it?

I never have.

Supposedly it is AutoCAD compatible

So is an app that often gets mentioned in a positive light here:

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:eKmqFsxRvjMJ:www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad_doc_faq.html+community.edition+AutoCAD+DXF+DWG+Copyright+not.Open.Source+gratis+compile+converters

It is gratis for *nix users who compile it themselves
and very affordable for 'doze users.

Even its most-often-mentioned shortcoming
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/browse_frm/thread/b52956fe88f32511/ab5e9a344de2c01f?q=very.large+DXF.files+Qcad+user-interface+not-like-most-Windows-progams
shouldn't bother you (considering that you use EAGLE). ;-)

 

[Joerg]

JeffM wrote:

Joerg wrote:

My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore.
Need a simple CAD, just for sketches.
IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind


Why that app?

Because my old Turbocad is from the same vendor and it's been good to
me. But AFAIK this new package was bought in.

but I could not find any reviews.


Usually a bad sign.
More obscure == More dificult to find help with syntax/UI/feature
problems.

True. But I have bought non-mainstream software before and never really
had a problem. Some were highly unusual, like the one that had an
English GUI but the more hardcore error messages appeared in Swedish.
Luckily our bookstore had a dictionary and the only problem was that I
started craving Saltrulle on hardbread whenever a message popped up.

Does anyone here use it?


I never have.


Supposedly it is AutoCAD compatible


So is an app that often gets mentioned in a positive light here:
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:eKmqFsxRvjMJ:www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad_doc_faq.html+community.edition+AutoCAD+DXF+DWG+Copyright+not.Open.Source+gratis+compile+converters

It is gratis for *nix users who compile it themselves
and very affordable for 'doze users.

Thanks, interesting. Low cost indeed. The fact that they want an extra
five Euros for a PDF invoice is a bit odd though. Almost like a
restaurant charging for toothpicks ;-)

Even its most-often-mentioned shortcoming
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/browse_frm/thread/b52956fe88f32511/ab5e9a344de2c01f?q=very.large+DXF.files+Qcad+user-interface+not-like-most-Windows-progams
shouldn't bother you (considering that you use EAGLE). ;-)

This "new and improved" Google group page is terrible. Didn't let me
read any post after Ken's. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't,
depending on how the wind blows I guess.

Yes, Eagle has it's command set weirdnesses, supposedly remnants from
the DOS days. But it's just like getting used to a righthand-drive car.

Long story short I've got ye olde Turbocad working again this morning.
Had to fix the installer with TPPatch, and then again the executable. No
more runtime errors and it prints alright. Where it gets old is
exporting. You have to plot to file and fish it back out because it only
stores in its native file format. Importing is pretty much impossible
and that alone warrants a new software.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[JeffM]

Joerg wrote:

like the one that had an English GUI
but the more hardcore error messages appeared in Swedish.
[...]I started craving Saltrulle on hardbread
whenever a message popped up.

8-D

JeffM wrote:

Even its most-often-mentioned shortcoming
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/browse_frm/thread/b52956fe88f32511/ab5e9a344de2c01f?q=very.large+DXF.files+Qcad+user-interface+not-like-most-Windows-progams
shouldn't bother you (considering that you use EAGLE). ;-)

This "new and improved" Google group page is terrible.

No arguments from me on that.

Didn't let me read any post after Ken's.

Assuming that you tried all the usual tricks

("Expand all" at the top-left of the page;
click on each username to toggle it collapsed/expanded)...

As I said in a previous thread,
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/browse_frm/thread/49c4def5d998df4e/48c7231ecbf8e0c3?q=to.the.URL+has.highlighted.text+Appending+zz-zz+qq+multiple-times
any post which contains marked text will be auto-expanded
(I marked the part of the QCAD thread I thought was most significant).

Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't,
depending on how the wind blows I guess.

Yup. One thing I noticed is that

if I hover over a link *before* the page is fully loaded,
parts of the JavaScript on the page can break.

If worse comes to worse, I grab the icon in the Address Bar
and drag and drop it to open a new tab.
That usually gets a usable page
--though sometimes it takes several tries.

got ye olde Turbocad working again this morning.
[...]it only stores in its native file format.
Importing is pretty much impossible
and that alone warrants a new software.

Yeah. That nonsense gets old REAL quick.

 

[Joerg]

JeffM wrote:

Joerg wrote:

[...]non-mainstream software[...]
like the one that had an English GUI
but the more hardcore error messages appeared in Swedish.
[...]I started craving Saltrulle on hardbread
whenever a message popped up.


8-D

A former neighbor has a house there and is a hunter. After he brought
the meat for the first time and we pickled it I was hooked. But I am
sure that Saltrulle can ruin your kidneys quite fast.

JeffM wrote:

Even its most-often-mentioned shortcoming
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/browse_frm/thread/b52956fe88f32511/ab5e9a344de2c01f?q=very.large+DXF.files+Qcad+user-interface+not-like-most-Windows-progams
shouldn't bother you (considering that you use EAGLE). ;-)


This "new and improved" Google group page is terrible.


No arguments from me on that.


Didn't let me read any post after Ken's.


Assuming that you tried all the usual tricks
("Expand all" at the top-left of the page;
click on each username to toggle it collapsed/expanded)...

I tried all that. But it happened before. Usually when there is a
south-western breeze it works. Sometimes.

As I said in a previous thread,
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/browse_frm/thread/49c4def5d998df4e/48c7231ecbf8e0c3?q=to.the.URL+has.highlighted.text+Appending+zz-zz+qq+multiple-times
any post which contains marked text will be auto-expanded
(I marked the part of the QCAD thread I thought was most significant).


Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't,
depending on how the wind blows I guess.


Yup. One thing I noticed is that
if I hover over a link *before* the page is fully loaded,
parts of the JavaScript on the page can break.

If worse comes to worse, I grab the icon in the Address Bar
and drag and drop it to open a new tab.
That usually gets a usable page
--though sometimes it takes several tries.


[...]got ye olde Turbocad working again this morning.
[...]it only stores in its native file format.
Importing is pretty much impossible
and that alone warrants a new software.


Yeah. That nonsense gets old REAL quick.

Some, yes. But I can still read my biz files (all of them) into the old
DOS-Works program and do data entry if I wanted to. I am not much of a
fan of Microsoft but I must say they did a stellar job on that one. I
used to do monthly filings with a German agency and they were blown away
by my computer-filled forms. This was before they allowed electronic
filing for anyone except for really large corporations. They told me
that even the local CPAs there couldn't do that back in the 90's.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[Richard Kanarek]

Greetings again!

Regarding:


On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:56:49 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

JeffM wrote:

Joerg wrote:

My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore.
Need a simple CAD, just for sketches.
IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind


Why that app?


Because my old Turbocad is from the same vendor and it's been good to
me. But AFAIK this new package was bought in.

Yes, DesignCAD was produced by (relying on memory) American Small
Business Computers, who sold it to UpperSpace, sold it to IMSI, which
has now bifurcated into two separate companies.

While you might be happy with your elderly IMSI product -- and,
indeed, I have no bad memories about the DOS error IMSI TurboCAD
version I once tried hundreds of years ago -- I'm not sure that the
modern IMSI is as worthy of praise or loyalty. I have heard rumblings
of dissatisfaction in the TurboCAD world (of which I have almost no
contact), and their management of DesignCAD thus far has been
disheartening.


Cordially,
Richard Kanarek

 

[Richard Kanarek]

Howdy,

Regarding your recent post:


On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:59:46 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:
[snip]

When I bought the program it came on 5-1/4". Just
imagine, a whole CAD program in under 1MB. Those were the days.

Wow, a cad program on a 1.2Mb disk. What a hog! *MY* first CAD program
-- CCSD (Complete Computer Service Designer?), an ever more obscure
DesignCAD offshoot -- came on 360K disks. Two. One disk had the
complete CAD program for computers without an 8087, the other one had
the complete CAD program for 8087-equipped computers.

I tell ya, you young'ins don't know how easy you have it! Running a
CAD program on an 8mhz "Turbo XT" you built yourself
(Heath(kit)/Zenith Data Systems); using your TV as a CGA monitor; now
that's real drafting!

 

[Joerg]

Richard Kanarek wrote:

Howdy,

Regarding your recent post:


On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:59:46 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:
[snip]

When I bought the program it came on 5-1/4". Just
imagine, a whole CAD program in under 1MB. Those were the days.


Wow, a cad program on a 1.2Mb disk. What a hog! *MY* first CAD program
-- CCSD (Complete Computer Service Designer?), an ever more obscure
DesignCAD offshoot -- came on 360K disks. Two. One disk had the
complete CAD program for computers without an 8087, the other one had
the complete CAD program for 8087-equipped computers.

Actually the program itself is only 347K. I just looked. The rest is
help texts, examples, models and so on.

I tell ya, you young'ins don't know how easy you have it! Running a
CAD program on an 8mhz "Turbo XT" you built yourself
(Heath(kit)/Zenith Data Systems); using your TV as a CGA monitor; now
that's real drafting!

My first CAD experience was on a Racal Redac system but only briefly
because they had only one seat for umpteen guys. Then came Futurenet
Dash II, on an IBM that sported a whopping 4.77MHz. Wish I was, but I
ain't that young no more ;-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[Joerg]

Richard Kanarek wrote:

Greetings again!

Regarding:


On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:56:49 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

JeffM wrote:


Joerg wrote:


My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore.
Need a simple CAD, just for sketches.
IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind


Why that app?


Because my old Turbocad is from the same vendor and it's been good to
me. But AFAIK this new package was bought in.


Yes, DesignCAD was produced by (relying on memory) American Small
Business Computers, who sold it to UpperSpace, sold it to IMSI, which
has now bifurcated into two separate companies.

While you might be happy with your elderly IMSI product -- and,
indeed, I have no bad memories about the DOS error IMSI TurboCAD
version I once tried hundreds of years ago -- I'm not sure that the
modern IMSI is as worthy of praise or loyalty. I have heard rumblings
of dissatisfaction in the TurboCAD world (of which I have almost no
contact), and their management of DesignCAD thus far has been
disheartening.

Thanks for the hint, Richard. Then it might be better to look for
something else. The question is, what? I know the electronic CAD world
pretty well but not the mechanical one. Oh well, maybe I just put some
more WD40 on my old DOS-TurboCad and keep using it. If I figure out how
to do import and export I'd be humming. Other than that, there is still
that vellum pad from Clearprint. It has never crashed on me ;-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[john jardine]

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:gWMKh.3697$Qw.1296@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...

Richard Kanarek wrote:

Greetings again!

Regarding:


On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:56:49 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

JeffM wrote:


Joerg wrote:


My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore.
Need a simple CAD, just for sketches.
IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind


Why that app?


Because my old Turbocad is from the same vendor and it's been good to
me. But AFAIK this new package was bought in.


Yes, DesignCAD was produced by (relying on memory) American Small
Business Computers, who sold it to UpperSpace, sold it to IMSI, which
has now bifurcated into two separate companies.

While you might be happy with your elderly IMSI product -- and,
indeed, I have no bad memories about the DOS error IMSI TurboCAD
version I once tried hundreds of years ago -- I'm not sure that the
modern IMSI is as worthy of praise or loyalty. I have heard rumblings
of dissatisfaction in the TurboCAD world (of which I have almost no
contact), and their management of DesignCAD thus far has been
disheartening.


Thanks for the hint, Richard. Then it might be better to look for
something else. The question is, what? I know the electronic CAD world
pretty well but not the mechanical one. Oh well, maybe I just put some
more WD40 on my old DOS-TurboCad and keep using it. If I figure out how
to do import and export I'd be humming. Other than that, there is still
that vellum pad from Clearprint. It has never crashed on me ;-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

I've been happily using DesignCad in it's various guises for the past 12
years. Presently using 'DesignCad express V12'. (The same product also turns
up as 'Viacad'.)
Cheap, straightforward to use, no steep learning curve, no programmer
lunacies.
john



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

 

[Joerg]

john jardine wrote:

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:gWMKh.3697$Qw.1296@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...

Richard Kanarek wrote:


Greetings again!

Regarding:


On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:56:49 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:


JeffM wrote:



Joerg wrote:



My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore.
Need a simple CAD, just for sketches.
IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind


Why that app?


Because my old Turbocad is from the same vendor and it's been good to
me. But AFAIK this new package was bought in.


Yes, DesignCAD was produced by (relying on memory) American Small
Business Computers, who sold it to UpperSpace, sold it to IMSI, which
has now bifurcated into two separate companies.

While you might be happy with your elderly IMSI product -- and,
indeed, I have no bad memories about the DOS error IMSI TurboCAD
version I once tried hundreds of years ago -- I'm not sure that the
modern IMSI is as worthy of praise or loyalty. I have heard rumblings
of dissatisfaction in the TurboCAD world (of which I have almost no
contact), and their management of DesignCAD thus far has been
disheartening.


Thanks for the hint, Richard. Then it might be better to look for
something else. The question is, what? I know the electronic CAD world
pretty well but not the mechanical one. Oh well, maybe I just put some
more WD40 on my old DOS-TurboCad and keep using it. If I figure out how
to do import and export I'd be humming. Other than that, there is still
that vellum pad from Clearprint. It has never crashed on me ;-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com


I've been happily using DesignCad in it's various guises for the past 12
years. Presently using 'DesignCad express V12'. (The same product also turns
up as 'Viacad'.)
Cheap, straightforward to use, no steep learning curve, no programmer
lunacies.
john

Can you import AutoCad models and other graphics formats, for example
for large connectors and stuff like that? Is the file exchange with
AutoCad users pretty smooth? Those were (and still are) some issues
after I switched to Eagle because the de-facto standard here in the West
is OrCad. At least for now. Right now that means my layouter who doesn't
use Eagle must trace every schematic I send his way :-(

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Sat, 17 Mar 2007 17:51:11 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

john jardine wrote:

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:gWMKh.3697$Qw.1296@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...

Richard Kanarek wrote:


Greetings again!

Regarding:


On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:56:49 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:


JeffM wrote:



Joerg wrote:



My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore.
Need a simple CAD, just for sketches.
IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind


Why that app?


Because my old Turbocad is from the same vendor and it's been good to
me. But AFAIK this new package was bought in.


Yes, DesignCAD was produced by (relying on memory) American Small
Business Computers, who sold it to UpperSpace, sold it to IMSI, which
has now bifurcated into two separate companies.

While you might be happy with your elderly IMSI product -- and,
indeed, I have no bad memories about the DOS error IMSI TurboCAD
version I once tried hundreds of years ago -- I'm not sure that the
modern IMSI is as worthy of praise or loyalty. I have heard rumblings
of dissatisfaction in the TurboCAD world (of which I have almost no
contact), and their management of DesignCAD thus far has been
disheartening.


Thanks for the hint, Richard. Then it might be better to look for
something else. The question is, what? I know the electronic CAD world
pretty well but not the mechanical one. Oh well, maybe I just put some
more WD40 on my old DOS-TurboCad and keep using it. If I figure out how
to do import and export I'd be humming. Other than that, there is still
that vellum pad from Clearprint. It has never crashed on me ;-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com


I've been happily using DesignCad in it's various guises for the past 12
years. Presently using 'DesignCad express V12'. (The same product also turns
up as 'Viacad'.)
Cheap, straightforward to use, no steep learning curve, no programmer
lunacies.
john


Can you import AutoCad models and other graphics formats, for example
for large connectors and stuff like that? Is the file exchange with
AutoCad users pretty smooth? Those were (and still are) some issues
after I switched to Eagle because the de-facto standard here in the West
is OrCad. At least for now. Right now that means my layouter who doesn't
use Eagle must trace every schematic I send his way :-(

I'm puzzled why anyone would use a graphical tool to do schematics.

It's been a gawd-awful length of time since I even remember seeing
IMSI.

But I don't believe it can do netlists?

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

 

[Joerg]

Jim Thompson wrote:

On Sat, 17 Mar 2007 17:51:11 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:


john jardine wrote:


"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:gWMKh.3697$Qw.1296@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...


Richard Kanarek wrote:



Greetings again!

Regarding:


On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:56:49 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:



JeffM wrote:




Joerg wrote:




My old DOS mechanical package won't work well anymore.
Need a simple CAD, just for sketches.
IMSI's "Instant Engineer" comes to mind


Why that app?


Because my old Turbocad is from the same vendor and it's been good to
me. But AFAIK this new package was bought in.


Yes, DesignCAD was produced by (relying on memory) American Small
Business Computers, who sold it to UpperSpace, sold it to IMSI, which
has now bifurcated into two separate companies.

While you might be happy with your elderly IMSI product -- and,
indeed, I have no bad memories about the DOS error IMSI TurboCAD
version I once tried hundreds of years ago -- I'm not sure that the
modern IMSI is as worthy of praise or loyalty. I have heard rumblings
of dissatisfaction in the TurboCAD world (of which I have almost no
contact), and their management of DesignCAD thus far has been
disheartening.


Thanks for the hint, Richard. Then it might be better to look for
something else. The question is, what? I know the electronic CAD world
pretty well but not the mechanical one. Oh well, maybe I just put some
more WD40 on my old DOS-TurboCad and keep using it. If I figure out how
to do import and export I'd be humming. Other than that, there is still
that vellum pad from Clearprint. It has never crashed on me ;-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com


I've been happily using DesignCad in it's various guises for the past 12
years. Presently using 'DesignCad express V12'. (The same product also turns
up as 'Viacad'.)
Cheap, straightforward to use, no steep learning curve, no programmer
lunacies.
john


Can you import AutoCad models and other graphics formats, for example
for large connectors and stuff like that? Is the file exchange with
AutoCad users pretty smooth? Those were (and still are) some issues
after I switched to Eagle because the de-facto standard here in the West
is OrCad. At least for now. Right now that means my layouter who doesn't
use Eagle must trace every schematic I send his way :-(


I'm puzzled why anyone would use a graphical tool to do schematics.

This ain't for schematics. It is to draw board outlines. I don't do
layouts. When I work with my own layouter things are smooth because he
understands RF quite well. But when a client wants to use their people I
have to take, say, the outline of a VME board (such as the one John
Larkin had just sent me) and draw into that where I want the preamps
placed, where the laser diodes should go, where the ties for the fibers
need to be fastened through drill holes and so on.

I do have a layout module so I could use it for that purpose. But the
instant you have to show something in semi-3D that falls apart.
Although, there are power tools for Eagle that allow a 3D panoramic view
of how an assembled board would later look like.

It's been a gawd-awful length of time since I even remember seeing
IMSI.

But I don't believe it can do netlists?

...Jim Thompson

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[john jardine]

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:jUVKh.13112$FG1.2843@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...
[...]

Can you import AutoCad models and other graphics formats, for example
for large connectors and stuff like that? Is the file exchange with
AutoCad users pretty smooth? Those were (and still are) some issues
after I switched to Eagle because the de-facto standard here in the West
is OrCad. At least for now. Right now that means my layouter who doesn't
use Eagle must trace every schematic I send his way :-(

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

Yep. It's read OK the Autocad files I've had sent.
Will export in Autocad 'format' but not tried it, as I avoid Autocad like
the plague.

".DWG .DXF", another example of sheer marketing clout foisting a proprietry,
poor quality format onto technical users.
john




--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

 

[Joerg]

john jardine wrote:

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:jUVKh.13112$FG1.2843@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...
[...]

Can you import AutoCad models and other graphics formats, for example
for large connectors and stuff like that? Is the file exchange with
AutoCad users pretty smooth? Those were (and still are) some issues
after I switched to Eagle because the de-facto standard here in the West
is OrCad. At least for now. Right now that means my layouter who doesn't
use Eagle must trace every schematic I send his way :-(

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com


Yep. It's read OK the Autocad files I've had sent.
Will export in Autocad 'format' but not tried it, as I avoid Autocad like
the plague.

".DWG .DXF", another example of sheer marketing clout foisting a proprietry,
poor quality format onto technical users.
john


Like PDF? I guess we are all a bit guilty as well as we have allowed it

to be foisted unto us. HTML would be fine for pretty much all
documentation purposes but I guess that format wasn't complicated enough
for the powers to be. And, gasp, it is an open standard. At least it was
until some dudes in the North-West, well, lets not go there again.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[JeffM]

john jardine wrote:

".DWG .DXF", another example of sheer marketing clout
foisting a proprietry, poor quality format onto technical users.

Joerg wrote:
Like PDF? I guess we are all a bit guilty as well
as we have allowed it to be foisted unto us.

I've never been crazy about PDF either, but...

HTML would be fine for pretty much all documentation purposes
but I guess that format
wasn't complicated enough for the powers to be.

I used to think that

....then I used different screen sizes
and several HTML rendering engines
....and finally tried to get them to print as they appeared on the
screen.
HTML is fine when doing what it was meant to do.
Printing documents with a specific layout ain't it.

is an open standard.

As is PDF:

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:AyIllpNZ14cJ:www.oclug.on.ca/archives/oclug/2002-November/025275.html+rather.than.a.committee+Is.PDF.*.*.open.*+*-*-without-*-royalties+list+information+by.Adobe+complete-*-accurate-specification

It's even a *Federally-recognized* open standard:
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:b8-qDKolokYJ:nfbcal.org/nfb-rd/0598.html+FIPS+Making-*-Adobe-PDF-a-FIPS-*-*-*-*-*-*+portable.document.format+miracle+dragged+*-*-advised-that-NIST-*-develop-this-in-conjunction-with-the+Platform.Independence+hypermail+open.format+1995+Federal.Information.Processing.Standard
Despite the doom and gloom of the poster's intro,
the proposal was accepted.