Why my CADD is better than AuoCAD

This started in a thread in the annotation forum and someone suggested this topic, so as one who likes trowing rocks at bee hives, I took up the baton and am going to kick this off.

  • Can you reference the paperspace into another paperspace or a model?
  • Can you reference a file to itself?
  • Can you create multiple models in a single file?
  • Can you display linetypes on 3D polylines?
  • Can you create linetypes that represent real world objects and do not scale with Annotation scale?

Later, after others have added to this list, I will post AutoCAD features that I like that MicroStation does not offer...

Who's next?

Parents
  • Bingo! I just thought about this issue. This week, I was swamped with production work. But our AutoCAD license server kept turning itself off, and then, one of the guys from one of our other offices was platooned to our office for an AutoCAD project. So on three different days, he was on three different PC's. So on day 1, I had to run my special programs to configure Civil 3D to see our customizations. Had he been working in MicroStation, he would have simply launched from the standard icon.

    Day 2 he gets moved to a new PC. Repeat process. Day 3 new PC - but deadlines were at this point at critical mass - so he was forced to work with OTB software.


    Charles (Chuck) Rheault
    CADD Manager

    MDOT State Highway Administration

    • MicroStation user since IGDS, InRoads user since TDP.
    • AutoCAD, Land Desktop and Civil 3D, off and on since 1996
  • Tom, thats because most people newbees speak Acad and cant get their heads around reference files so if you dont know the right way to ask for something that you dont know how to do it or what its called then how can we interpret what they want... we were all newbees once  and I have had terrible experience with Acad users outside world they dont want to share knowledge or can envision different ways to work for god sake they still use colours for line styles instead of WYSIWG where acad has changed so you can do WYSIWG ...

    Where as these forums people  bend over backwards to help... didnt we steer you to Keiths Books...  I and others have even offered to fix files or do the work for them ... not so in Acad world...

    Lorys ( 20 years with Mstn and loving it)

    Lorys

    Started msnt work 1990 - Retired  Nov 2022 ( oh boy am I old )

    But was long time user V8iss10 (8.11.09.919) dabbler CE  update 16 (10.16.00.80) 

    MicroStation user since 1990 Melbourne Australia.
    click link to PM me 

  • AutoCAD:

    On Dimensions:

    ....I can stretch dimensions in all directions from any of the points using stretch, or the grips

    ....I can move dimension text on the fly anytime, anywhere to get it off another crossing dimline

    ....I can disable dimension extension lines on the fly independently on various dimensions on the same dimstyle from one side of the dimension to the other

    ....I can change a dimension's extension line linetype on the fly independently from one side of the dimension to the other

    ....I can change a dimension's arrowhead style on the fly independently from one side of the dimension to the other

    On text:

    ....AutoCAD's text editor is so far advanced above and beyond the text editor in Microstation, everything about AutoCAD's text editor is better.  It is like having microsoft word right there in the text editor.

    On GUI:

    ...Command line - Everything is at my fingertips without much movement with customizable hotkeys and quick keys.  This also keeps my drawing space clean and clear of irrellevant clutter in regards to my current task at hand. Microstation has many dialog boxes that constantly pop up (and a lot of times stay up unless you manually close them, even when they are not needed or you have moved on from that task), these cover up my drawing space and I put many more miles on my mouse in microstation navigating all of the windows, toolbars, pulldowns, moving them to & from, etc... than I do in AutoCAD

    ESC Key:

    ....In nearly every program known to Windows OS, ESC key gets you out of everything and takes you back to Zero.  Select all, select some, start a command, go 3 steps into a 10-step command or menu, etc...ESC gets you out. This includes Microsoft Word, Excel, etc...This includes word processing, PDF programs, C++ programs, video games, AutoCAD.  But, not in Microstation.  This seems a bit out of date.

    On Printing:

    ...AutoCAD printing window has everything you need.  V8i, I feel like I am back in AutoCAD r14 (year 2000) trying to print.

    ...I can zoom in & out on my print preview (again like most other programs that use Windows OS)

    Dynamic Blocks:

    ...AutoCAD has them

    Design Center:

    ...Works a bit more intuitively than Cell Selector in V8i

  • Dimensions - The first two lines in Ms are also on the fly.

    Text - In my opinion you quite right, lets see what Bentley is preparing for the new version...

    ESC key - Can be used similiar if you turn on that option in preferences.

    Print - For print preview I agree with you, in fact some years ago I ask for that and unti now nothing...

               But Print organizer is in fact far far far better that publish.

    Dynamic blocks - In Ms you have DDD.

    If Acad as design center Ms as References and Rasters capabilities that are light years away...

    José

  • Jose,

    1. From what I can tell, if I select a dimension in Microstation, go to the grip where the dimension extension line connects to the element, click and drag, it moves the entire dimension.

    2. I have yet to find a way to move text from dimensions without in turn moving the entire dimension.

    (If there is a way to do these two things in Microstation, please tell me.  It would help me greatly.)

    3. ESC key in Microstation only gets you out of the command, but it leaves any selected items selected.  This is opposite all the items I listed in my comment.

  • www.cad-notes.com/autocad-versus-microstation-which-one-is-the-best - fair comment?

    "AutoCAD was designed as drafting tool. It was the best ever, and still is"

    "MicroStation was optimized as a CAD platform ... So MicroStation is better than AutoCAD? As a CAD platform, yes. But not as drafting tool"

Reply Children
  • CrazyIvan303, totally agree about ESC - it should cancel everything incl whatever's Selected.

    However, in case anyone didn't know, after ESC to cancel current tool and return to Select, a dab on ';' key will deselect whatever - easier than that extra mouse click.

    In fact ';' toggles between Deselect All and Select All - handy.

  • 1 - Yes if you select the first grip, if you do that you only have to put back the dim in the first place. If you select the second one you can put it anywhere you want. Another difference is you can have in a single element up to 50 grips of dims.

    2 - If you select Modify element (keyboard shortcut 7 - 1) and click on the text you can put it anywhere you want it.

    3 - Quite right, if you don't want the elements selected you only need to click on the open space of the view with the mouse. 1 Mouse click vs one click on the Esc key...

    Little things that for me are are very important:

    - Having multi models / Self reference (As Cadcop already mentioned)

    - Use 2 monitor with native multi views on the 2 monitors at the same time. Or in a single one... without having to select the view to continue with the drawing command...

    - Undo the views without undo the action. Or the other way around.

    - In a view you can see one model, on the other you can see the layout for example or other model from the same file.

    José