Comparing Visio with Smartdraw

[In Home Technology]

I need a simple way to recreate floor plans so I can mapout with symbols the low-voltage wiring for the homes I work on. I'm trying the trial version of Smartdraw, and I'm not impressed. I can't try the trial version of Visio, I'm still running Win98. I was hoping the group, especially those who use the program for floor plans, could tell me a little about it. I want to be able to draw a line, and quickly change the length so it represents the lengths of the various walls. How well does Visio do this type of work.

 

[Al Edlund]

I (among others) use visio to calculate cable runs for floor diagrams
(network cables). It requires a little bit of VBA/Macro coding to make the
information available to the user. The real strength of the tool is that it
is extensible, based on how much effort the user wants to put into it. It is
not a CAD tool .
Al

I need a simple way to recreate floor plans so I can mapout with symbols

the low-voltage wiring for the homes I work on. I'm trying the trial
version of Smartdraw, and I'm not impressed. I can't try the trial version
of Visio, I'm still running Win98. I was hoping the group, especially those
who use the program for floor plans, could tell me a little about it. I
want to be able to draw a line, and quickly change the length so it
represents the lengths of the various walls. How well does Visio do this
type of work.

 

[Randall Arnold]

Visio would be ideal for this. I'm using it (for one) to layout possible
additions and modifications to my home. I am including layouts for phone,
cable and Cat5e routing. Visio excels at placing rooms, walls, entries, etc
as well as diagramming services.

While not a CAD tool as Al pointed out, it has sufficient CAD-like qualities
for what you are wanting to do. In fact, I prefer using Visio to do
facilities layout over AutoCAD.

Randall Arnold