Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Floorplan Software for Macs?

Posted by Cliff on from the tools-for-digital-architects dept.

jgardner asks: "I was asked by my employer to create a scale drawing of the floorplan for our company's buildings. Using Illustrator or Freehand and building everything from scratch seems too time expensive. I spent a long time online looking for a program which is designed to create floorplans, but only found expensive, high-end products. I need something inexpensive, and it just needs to draw flooplans. No 3D modeling, or walkthroughs required. There are plenty for PCs that are under $100. So far for the Mac, I have only found Architecture 3.03, by Abracadata. This program was originally written for OS 6.x, so it is very old, and has severe limitations. Does anyone know of a better Mac alternative? Maybe even an inexpensive set of tools for Illustrator or Freehand? Preferably OS X, but I can boot into 9 or operate in Classic if forced to."

5 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. floorplan hackers! by dema · · Score: 5, Funny

    Anyone know why when I searched for "Mac floorplan software" in google I got a ton of mac warez/hacking sites? I guess a lot of pirates these days have grown, and need to design their new super 1337 pad.

  2. Paper by nado · · Score: 2, Funny

    I would use paper and a pencil and then scan it. Just make sure you pick a nice scale so that you can do the math in your head.

  3. Free option! by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 5, Funny
    Hey, don't forget--Glider Pro is now free!

    Design your entire home from the ground up and test it for paper-airplane-friendliness!

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  4. You are all silly. by DAQ42 · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Sims.
    The original one.

    The original concept of the application was to design a layout design program. Yeah, it's "semi-3D" but you can view it from multiple perspectives.

    so yeah.

    --
    Don't Ask Questions. I don't know the answers and even if I did I wouldn't tell you.
  5. Pencil and paper by gerardrj · · Score: 2, Funny

    Works every time. Has nearly zero learning curve or Internet research time.

    You might want to have the office supply staff invest in a straight edge and a drafter's/architecht's scale and a few circle/shape templates. If you want to go overboard, a few different hardness pencils and a small colored pencil set.

    In all the hardware mentioned should run less than $100.

    Unless you already have them, aquiring the measurments of the buildings will take more time than drawing them, whether on computer or by hand.

    --
    Article X: The powers not delegated... by the Constitution...are reserved...to the people