No exporting no importing, just working on the file. Do you have LISP routines and macros that you use in the other CAD package? Well, DraftSight Professional lets you use those, too! Best of all, you work in the native DWG format. In addition, the learning curve is virtually nil if you have prior experience. In fact, you're actually getting more with DraftSight than a full suite of AutoCAD. What about functionality? Are you getting an apples-to-apples CAD program? In short: YES! Look at the rest of the comparison chart: Below is a snapshot comparison of the two from DraftSight's website. ĭraftSight is most similar to AutoCAD, however, the biggest difference between these two systems is the price. We cover in full detail the difference between each DraftSight package as well as its cost and features here. What is DraftSight?ĭraftSight is a 2D CAD system that is available in a few different packages: Professional, Premium, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus. So if you're managing 2D CAD data in its native form, having access to a dedicated 2D CAD tool, like DraftSight, is ideal. There is too much overhead in 2D data for a program meant to deal primarily with solid geometry. While SOLIDWORKS can open and work with 2D data, it is not a 2D CAD editor.
The long answer is a little more complicated.
You have a historical repository of 2D engineering data that is still actively in use.Ī question I get asked a lot is, "Can SOLIDWORKS work with my 2D CAD data?" The short answer is yes.Your customer offers 2D data like DXF's and DWG's.Even with all of the advanced 3D solid modeling tools available on the market, having access to a 2D CAD tool can help perform tasks your 3D CAD software can't.