SolidWorks vs. AutoCAD?

[tedg]

Is there anyone out there in AUGI-Land who's used (or uses) SolidWorks?
If so, can you tell me how does it compare to AutoCAD?

Similarities & Differences?

Menus? Tools? Macros? Programming (Script/Autolisp)?
Layouts (Paperspace etc.)? Commands?

From what I understand it's a 3D modeling program like "Inventor" (which I don't know much about), I'd like to know as much as I can find out.


Thanks.

[jaberwok]

Solidworks doesn't compare to Acad - as you said, it compares to Inventor and to SolidEdge, Pro/E, SolidDesigner, etc..

In all of them you create a model then produce drawings from it.

[Robert.Hall]

AutoCad is by far, the leader for 2d drawings. The price is right and the
software is very sophisticated for its purpose.

[tedg]

Solidworks doesn't compare to Acad - as you said, it compares to Inventor and to SolidEdge, Pro/E, SolidDesigner, etc..

In all of them you create a model then produce drawings from it.

Thanks, what about the other stuff?
How do you interface with it (pull down menus, tool bars, command line)?
Can you customize it (like pgp, lisp etc.)?

[jaberwok]

Toolbars mainly. Like all newer Windows programmes you can choose which toolbars to display and drag buttons around and between them to customise them.

[CADDmanVA]

Toolbars mainly. Like all newer Windows programmes you can choose which toolbars to display and drag buttons around and between them to customise them.

Which can be a rather painful adjustment when you "cut" your teeth on AutoCAD. I still sometimes try to use Command: line functions in other programs.

[whittendesigns]

Toolbars mainly. Like all newer Windows programmes you can choose which toolbars to display and drag buttons around and between them to customise them.

Except Revit....of course!

[jaberwok]

Except Revit....of course!

Really ?

[Mlabell]

Except Revit....of course!

I have never had a problem with customizing what you want displayed as for toolbars and buttons in Revit.

As for solidworks it is a 3D modeling program which can produce 2D drawings from the 3D model. I am sure that you can run vba or some other api, but I am not sure about the lisp/macro abilities since I have not used it enough to comment on that. There really is no such thing as paperspace, but I think a seperate drawing for the 2D paper. (It has been awhile)

[tedg]

I have never had a problem with customizing what you want displayed as for toolbars and buttons in Revit.

As for solidworks it is a 3D modeling program which can produce 2D drawings from the 3D model. I am sure that you can run vba or some other api, but I am not sure about the lisp/macro abilities since I have not used it enough to comment on that. There really is no such thing as paperspace, but I think a seperate drawing for the 2D paper. (It has been awhile)

Thanks for the information.