DraftSight
 | |
| Developer(s) | Dassault Systèmes |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 2015 / October 13, 2014 |
| Operating system | Windows, Mac OS X, Linux |
| Type | CAD |
| License | Freeware, Proprietary |
| Website | www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight/overview/ |
DraftSight is a proprietary freemium 2D computer-aided design (CAD) software application developed by Dassault Systèmes. It lets users create, edit and view .dwg and AutoCAD DXF files. The user interface is quite similar to AutoCAD.[1] The standalone, single-user version of DraftSight is free until a user saves or prints a document for the first time. They will then be asked to activate the product within 30 days using a valid email address and reactivate after six months and thereafter at 12-month intervals. Activation email and industry sectors must be the same as when initially activated, or the installation becomes unusable and must be installed again. Dassault is known for its 3D CAD software in the Aerospace industry and elsewhere.
File formats
DraftSight allows users to access DWG/DXF files, regardless of which CAD software was originally used to create them, including AutoCAD 2013 from V1R4. According to industry estimates, there are more than two billion DWG legacy files in existence. As stated on its home page, DraftSight uses Teigha Classic for .dwg files and Teigha for .dwg files specifications from the Open Design Alliance to interpret the dwg-file format.[2]
Platforms/operating systems
DraftSight runs on Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 7 (general release), Windows 8 (64-bit) Mac OS X and Linux. As of June 2014 Mac and Linux versions are still in beta release.
The Linux version is supplied in both the Debian .deb format (configured for Ubuntu and its derivatives) and the Red Hat .rpm format (configured for Fedora and its derivatives).
Release history
| Version | Released |
|---|---|
| V1R1.1 | 2011-06-24[3] |
| V1R1.2 | 2011-07-20[4] |
| V1R1.3 | 2011-10-14[5] |
| V1R1.4 | 2012-02-06[6] |
| V1R2 | 2012-05-24[7] |
| V1R2.1 | 2012-07-17[8] |
| V1R3 | 2012-10-05[9] |
| V1R3.1 | 2013-01-25[10] |
| V1R3.2 | 2013-06-28[11] |
| V1R4.0 (1.2.285) | 2013-09-19[12] |
| V1R5.0 | 2014-01-21[13] |
| V1R5.1 () | 2014-03-24[14] |
| V1R5.2 (10.3.442) | 2014-07-11[15] |
| 2015 (11.0.454) | 2014-10-13[16] |
- Initial beta release for Windows: June 2010
- Mac OS X beta I release: September 2010
- General release for Windows: February 2011
- Linux beta release: March 2011
- Mac OS X beta II release: March 2011
Features
DraftSight was designed for professional CAD users and includes the following features:[2]
- Read and write support for DWG/DXF files
- File | Save to DWT/DWG/DXF files back to previous versions ( need email activation)
- Create binary or ASCII DXF files
- Attach image files (.bmp, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, & .tiff)
- Attach external reference drawings
- File | Print to .plt, .jpg, .pdf, .png, & .svg file formats.
- Save as .wmf, .jpeg, .pdf, .png, .sld, .svg, .tif, & .stl
- Multi-page PDF creation
- Publish to eDrawings or Drawings Now
- File | export | Export To *.bmp, *.emf, *.jpg,*.pdf, *.png, *.sld,*.svg, *.tiff file formats.
- Cartesian coordinate system
- Command-line input
- Traditional toolbars and menus
- Wheel-mouse pan & zoom
- Blocks & reference files
- Layers & layer manager
- Polygonal ViewPorts
- ViewPort locking
- Freeze, lock or turn off layers per ViewPort
- Background masks for notes
- Property manager
- View proxy objects
- Dynamic pan & zoom
- Command aliases
- Menu files
- CTB and STB print style tables
- SHX and TrueType fonts
- LineStyle files
- Hatch pattern files
- Templates
Online user community
Dassault Systèmes hosts an open, on-line community SwYm (See What You Mean) for DraftSight users. According to Machine Design magazine, engineers are increasingly turning to industry-specific social networking sites to collaborate on projects.[17] The community also holds training resources.
The DraftSight community has an access to a CAD Library with 2D drawings from over 350 component supplier catalogs, including 3M, Advantech, Asco Numatics, Bosch Rexroth, Cepex, CGI, Clippard, DE-STA-CO, Facom, IFM, Igus, INA/FAG, Mädler, Norelem, Nozag, Parker Legris, Pneumadyne, RS Components, Schmersal, Schmalz, Schneider Electric, Sherex and Zimm.
See also
References
- ↑ Shih, Randy H. (2012). Exploring DraftSight. SDC Publications. p. 14. ISBN 1585037559.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 DraftSight Features
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:4432
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:4796
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:5731
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:7081
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:8652
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:12627
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:14679
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:17044
- ↑ No 'blog posting as of 3 July 2013. Date determined by examining file time stamps in Ubuntu DEB installer package.
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:23848
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:28181
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:29601
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:31853
- ↑ https://swym.3ds.com/#post:33596
- ↑ Machine Design Magazine: "DraftSight has a social networking side."
External links
- www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/overview/ — official DraftSight page
- DraftSight video tutorials
- DraftSight SwYm community
- www.3ds.com — Dassault Systèmes
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