AutoCAD 2004 and 2009 features comparison

[jhooper3d]

G'Day,
this is my first post here.

My supervisor is keen to gain a feature comparison between AutoCAD 2004 and 2009 both full AutoCAD and LT.
I have downloaded the release comparison Matrix from the Autodesk website comparing 2006 and 2009, but would like to see, more specifically what features are different from 2004.

Thanks in advance

Jim

[archie.manza]

Hello there!

IMOO,
-The New Ribbon of Autocad 2009 is a good one, easy to cusomized.
-Quick Access toolbar was also a Workspace Saver than what Autocad 2004-2008 have. I think this was the concept of Microsoft Office.
-Menu Browser can also store more than 9 recently access files.

We have Autocad 2009, but we seldom use it because of the drawing problem that came form another software that's why we still stack on Autocad 2007 & 2008.

On the otherhand, let's wait for the others to give their opinion.

[ccowgill]

Welcome to AUGI. Typically with each release, AutoDesk has a list that shows all the changed, new, removed system variables and commands for that release. Maybe you could find the ones from 05, 06, 07, 08, and 09, summarize them and submit them to your supervisor.

[irneb]

Check out the reviews here: http://www.caddigest.com/subjects/autocad/reviews.htm It goes all the way back from 2000 to 2009.

Basically, what I've noted:

2005: Tables, Fields, Sheet Sets, Better DWF Export, Standards Tool, Layer Filters, MText improvements, Tool Palettes, Zoom to object, relative paths for images, copy defaults to multiple, MTP (Midpoint between 2 snaps), purge registered apps, background batch plotting.
2006: Command line can be hidden, dynamic input, dynamic blocks, better data extraction from attributes (and other properties), better MText (e.g. indents), hatch editing, autocomplete commands, recent input, smooth zooming, consecutive zoom / pan grouped so zoom previous works better, selection preview, semi transparent area selection, Undo option inside many commands (such as Copy, PLine, etc.), Rotate & Scale has Copy option, multiple offset, Join command, better multilines, custom drawing scales, QuickCalc with units convert, central customization in CUI files, drawing recovery manager, DWF's can include block properties & attributes
2007: 3D creation & editing much improved, rendering improved, underlay DWF's in drawing, XRef manager as palette, Express tools layer incorporated into standard acad, publish to 3D DWF, includes AutoDesk's PDF plotter driver, save back down to R14
2008: Annotative scaling, multileaders, text & dim improvements, better tables (multi column & better formulae), viewport overrides, dim instead of off when isolating, lighting improvements for rendering, On/Off layers in DWF undelrays, import/underlay MicroStation DGN files, impression toolbar, Layer States directly openable & xref interoperability, xclip allows holes, CUI amended for easier customization, available for Vista on 32 & 64 bit, LT 2008 has all these except Data Extraction & Rendering Light Improvements.
2009: New user interface based on Vista & Office 2007 (but unlike M$'s version this is customizable), 3D navigation improvements (steering wheel), Layer Manager as Palette, Record actions to Lisp (to make easy macros), longitute / latitude & location import from Google Earth, export PS layout to MS, find & replace text inside blocks / xrefs, supports muli CPUs / Cores, 64bit version runs much faster than 2008-64, subscription give free Impression, most used properties part of the Quick Properties panel in the ribon (old Properties Palette still available),

[jpaulsen]

I used Google to find the 2006 matrix. It goes back to 2000.
http://www.amsystems.com/products/autocad/autocad-2006.asp

[robert.1.hall72202]

Basic design tools are present in all versions.
I could get the same job accomplished in each AutoCad release.

2009 does have a features that make the user more productive.

A few benefits:
1. Dynamic blocks have cut out chances for drawing errors
2. Design review has made data more accessible to coworkers
3. Fields have handled some basic calculations, again no errors.

[irneb]

Basic design tools are present in all versions.
I could get the same job accomplished in each AutoCad release.

2009 does have a features that make the user more productive.

A few benefits:
1. Dynamic blocks have cut out chances for drawing errors
2. Design review has made data more accessible to coworkers
3. Fields have handled some basic calculations, again no errors.I wouldn't go as far as to say 2009 is the reason for this. All 3 benefits were available in AC2006, some where just improved in 2007 & 8. AC2009 has some other benefits, like a non-modal layer palette & faster 64bit. But IMHO 2009 doesn't add that much over 2008 (unless you like the "spiffy" new UI), to justify the cost. The only reason I'd be willing to upgrade to 2009 (over 2008 ) is if I was forced into using a 64bit windows. For that matter, I didn't like 2007 over 2006, but 2008 made me look up with wide eyes (major reasons: Annotative Scaling, Multi Colum Tables, and better Data Extraction). Initially 2009 looks very different, until you realize the actual tools haven't changed much.

You're definitely correct in saying any release could produce the same. I'm of the opinion R14 is still the least buggy of all the Windows based versions. The only thing it doesn't have, which I can't live without anymore, is multiple layouts. Thus I'd say 2000 is probably the oldest release I'd be willing to work on.

[jhooper3d]

Thank you everyone
your responses have been very helpful!!!

Regards

Jim

[james.c]

I am a building services drafter. We get a lot of backgrounds from the architects that come in many shapes and sizes. We have a 4 step lisp routine to aid us with this. Does anybody out there have a lisp routine or similiar that

1. turns on and thaws all layers
2. bursts all entities
3. explodes remaining entities
4. changes the colour of the background to one colour
5. changes the text style to suit
6. flattens the drawing
6. etc etc.
7. purges and audits

I know this is quite old fashioned but we are still required to produce 2d drawings in most cases.

Thanks

Regards
James from New Zealand

[irneb]

I'd not actually do this ... it's too much work, and you have to do it every time the Arc sends a new revision. I'd rather just XRef the Arc DWG into mine, set all its layers to the same colour & freeze / thaw as needed. Then if a new revision I just save the new version over the old - all done! Only any new layers need to be changed to colour & freeze / thaw - which the Layer Notifications can show you.

One thing though, you may have to change everything in the Arc DWG to colour ByLayer. That's why I try to enforce a Colour ByLayer ONLY strategy here - it just makes XReffing so much more powerful.

[james.c]

thanks for that the only problem is that the architects drawings are poorly structured in these cases. They even have some stuff drawn on layer 0, and stuff on wrong layers.

Please tell me more about layer notifications though and how I may be able to utilise this feature.

[irneb]

thanks for that the only problem is that the architects drawings are poorly structured in these cases. They even have some stuff drawn on layer 0, and stuff on wrong layers.That's bloody disgusting! Being an arc myself, I KNOW there's ABSOLUTELY NO reason (except maybe laziness and stupidity) to not use layers properly.


Please tell me more about layer notifications though and how I may be able to utilise this feature.Basically layer notifications are turned on by default. Whenever a new layer gets created in the drawing (through manually making it or bringing it in together with a xref / block insert; you can set these - see attachment) a pop-up is displayed telling you there's some new layers you hadn't seen before.

As an example, I've overlaid an Interior Designer's drawing onto my Architectural Plan. Clicking the pop-up that shows at the bottom right (or double click the Unreconciled New Layers icon in statur bar) opens the Layer Properties Manager with a new Group called Unreconciled New Layers. Here you can change their colours / linetypes / freeze / etc as needed. Then select them, right-click and Reconcile (so you don' get waned again). See the 2nd attachment.