Topic: Review of Raster to CAD Prg

[Rob...]

It took me a long time to be able to put out a drawing that looked good on paper that didn't have quality CAD work behind it. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to put time and effort into something that won't be used again. My boss used to have to repeatedly say to me, "Forget that, just make it look good!"

[craigr]

It took me a long time to be able to put out a drawing that looked good on paper that didn't have quality CAD work behind it. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to put time and effort into something that won't be used again. My boss used to have to repeatedly say to me, "Forget that, just make it look good!"

Yes, I have gotten that too. But, unfortunately, as a kid my Papa drilled into me the old saying 'anything worth doing is worth doing right'. So, I have taken that a step further and usually spend more time than I probably should, just trying to make it look good.

Really, I try to look at it from a Customer's point of view. They are paying good money for a product, and I want them to feel like they got MORE than their money's worth.

[CAB]

Using my ArchT add on it would take 30 min to an hour to to recreate the floor plan including doors, walls, plumbing fixtures, stair treads and room numbers.
It that out of budget?
I would think it took 15 to 30 minutes fooling with the conversion software.

[craigr]

Using my ArchT add on it would take 30 min to an hour to to recreate the floor plan including doors, walls, plumbing fixtures, stair treads and room numbers.
It that out of budget?
I would think it took 15 to 30 minutes fooling with the conversion software.

You are better than me! - I could not reproduce that Floorplan that quick. But then again, I don't do that kind of drawing. The vast majority of my drawings are wiring diagrams, NOT drawn to scale. I can whip out wiring diagrams very quickly & accurately, but drawing to scale takes me longer.

Also, when working with a converted Raster image, I am 'guessing' at the dimensions of the bldg. As a rule, I ALWAYS scale the bldg. with doors as a reference and scale so a door is 36" wide.  This has always worked for us, (so far).

I wish there were a CAD dwg for every site we work with, but unfortunately, sometimes I have to work with what I get.

One thing that frustrates me, is the handful of times that a site WAS drawn in CAD, but the person / company that possesses the file either will not release it OR they want Hundreds of dollars for the CAD!! - RIDICULOUS!!!   Sometimes, the .pdf will have the 'drawn by' name on the title block. So, I do an 'end run' and simply go directly to the CAD Guy of the Company to ask for the file. Looking for a 'Professional Courtesy' sort of thing. I have NEVER had a CAD guy refuse me a Floor Plan or charge me for it.  Of course, when I have been asked for the CAD of OUR Dwgs, I offer those as well, but simply remove our Title Block first to relieve us of liability.

[CAB]

I scale the same way. Need at least one dimension. I thought of using the free throw line on the BB court. 

The key to speed is a helper program. ArchT is a poor mans Arch Desk Top.

[craigr]

A good amount of ours are Hospitals, not all, but probably 75%. Many of the Small town Hospitals are old and drawn by hand on paper. So, we do what we can.

The BB Court is a GREAT idea!

I wish I had thought of that. I WILL be using that in the Future, (When Available).

I will definitely start looking for other items rather than strictly doors.

Thanks for the idea.