No to the end of Draftsight's free service!

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1

Hello everyone;

On the draftsight website we can learn that the free of charge will end in December 2019.

( https://www.draftsight.com/sites/default/files/multisite/wp-fwk-ms-draftsight/2019-02/DraftSight2019%20FAQ_v1.pdf)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Excerpt:

"What happens to installations of the free version of DraftSight?

If you're using the free version of DraftSight, you may continue to use DraftSight 2018 or

previous versions until December 31, 2019. You may reactivate your free version once more

after the launch of DraftSight 2019. All free versions of DraftSight will cease to run after

December 31, 2019.

PLEASE NOTE: If you decide to download and install the free 30-day trial of DraftSight 2019

Professional, or if you purchase any version of DraftSight 2019, you will not be able to

redownload any previous free version of DraftSight (2018 or earlier). "

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is in line with the new philosophy of dassault/Solidworks, which relies on the end of drawings (see their BIM module).

It seems that the latter are not in line with the manufacturers who, for many of them, still use DWG or DXF formats to communicate their plans to manufacturing workshops, to their suppliers, or for consultation or quotation.

I therefore protest against this announced end of the free draftsight without Dassault offering an equivalent and equally free alternative.

Kind regards.

Maclane.

 

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2

Thin

Now I just installed the 2018 version. It's the last free one then.

This is a shame because it is much more convenient to use than modern Autocad.

Is there any other free software for 2D equivalent to DraftSight?

3

There are some free software such as FreeCad, Qcad or openCad... most of them use the DXF format, having tried them it works small files <5MB (keeping in mind that a 6MB dwg becomes a 33MB dxf!!) but on larger files most of these software forfeit.

Warning: All versions of draftsight will be paid, even if you have installed an earlier version on your computer, activation will become impossible without having to pay .

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4

Hello Maclane:-) :-)

I'm prolonging the discussion a little because you report this

{[ This is in line with the new philosophy of dassault/Solidworks which relies on the end of drawings (see their MDB module). ]}

For the end of the plans, it's not tomorrow the day before, because even in the aeronautics sector where they are very advanced compared to others, well not many use 3D plans, especially among subcontractors.

I say this for the following reasons:

- How many tablets or touch screens do you see in the workshops?

- Still a lot of machinists or fitters do not know how to read the new indications of the industrial standards on drawings, such as  those that indicate for example simultaneously the diameter of a hole and its depth. (I see this when I see annotations on the plans that add the depth dimensions by hand to name just one example).

- Their new attitude, wanting to pay for everything since MDB has to be bought at a very high price (it's a trescherware) in addition to a CAD license, does not encourage modernism. Soon they will put a price of 3000 € for MDB and 6000 € to be entitled to the MEP. Well, to encourage change, we have to make the ancestral MEP prohibitive since in this world there is only one for repression.

- Digitized plans as opposed to paper is that most CAD plans from 20 years ago are unreadable with modern programs, not to mention the obsolescence of magnetic or electronic media. Today, who can still read a floppy disk or an old hard disk that no longer has the same reading protocol. This will require the equivalent of a data manager.

For the anecdote for the asbestos removal of the aircraft carrier Clémenceau, they only had piles of tracing papers glued with dry tape to handle like papyri from the 20th dynasty of the pharaohs.

Keep your TO7 so you can read your plans in 20 Years   (OUarffff gnarff gnarff)

That said, personally, I would prefer to use MDB and ban all MEPs and paper prints which are a waste of time. Not to make MEP my dream anymore since I make 3D which contains all the information if we don't forget the dimensions. In addition, a part or assembly that is a little convoluted is easier to read in 3D CAD although I have used 2D plans for 55 years.

Good to Plutarch he is Ricard minus a quarter  ;-)

 

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5

Hi all

I have the same Pb as you and I downloaded A9CAD. I think it's a good alternative to Draft with a lot of the same commands. Still a few difficulties but I think I'll be satisfied with them.

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6

Hello
As an alternative to Draftsight you can also download our ZWCAD software (Autocad clone): https://www.zwcad.fr/
It is free for 30 days (full version) and beyond 30 days you can continue to work unlimited on the software but on projects of less than 1000 objects. 
This will allow you to continue working on your dwg and dxf files in particular.
Feel free to ask any questions if you would like to know more.

7

They managed it well, they sell it to you for free to compete with AutoCAD and work in parallel with SW and once people use it it becomes payable...

Now the free service always has its limits, the problem is the accumulation of different and varied software licenses that cost!

I dread the cost hoping that it is not a subscription...

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8

Good morning everyone,

 

For our part, we use DW Editor which was delivered with SW until the 2009 version before being replaced by Draftsight.

We do the MEP to make the main quotes and visuals for the customer and the workshop. but we use DWGs to make our nesting of parts in order to program them on the digital.

So if you have a CD of SW 2009 or lower, then you have DWEditor available.

 

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9

After several tries on different free sources:

Librecad:

No registration.

Don't open my factory close-up in dwg-> immediate uninstall

https://librecad.org/

Nanocad (380MB):

Email address to be provided then download link. Registration required (they provide a code) version "english" only?

Easily opens a close-up of a factory in dwg

https://nanocad.com/products/nanoCAD/download/

DoublecadXT (108MB):

Email address to be provided and then download link. License code to type. Then online activation code to type received in the same email as the download link.

https://www.turbocad.com/doublecad-download

Unable to open the factory file. (failed to open...)

 

I test NanoCad for a few weeks and then come back. But at first glance seems quite powerful.

That's it for the freeware (to be checked in time...)

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10

Hello

On another forum you can follow the topic for Draftsight as well, one of the members has carried out many tests on the alternatives that exist today: https://www.usinages.com/threads/draftsight-devient-payant-quelles-alternatives.120124/page-3 

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11

Pfff, Dassault's commercial policy is disgusting!
I believe that at least one DraftSight license should be included in a SolidWorks license.
I knew Draftsight when it was launched, I also contributed to the improvement of this software (as a user), and here's how we are thanked! by taking away something that worked rather well (for the use we made of it).

But no, instead they murder us with exorbitant maintenance contract rates, and when you upgrade to your old SW version, you have to pay for the missing years!!
The worst thing is that their SolidWorks software is not yet perfect, there are many bugs (rather advanced use).

Because don't kid yourself, draftSight new version will also have many bugs and new users will have to wipe the plasters.......

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12

For those who seem to have learned about the subject:

1) they will no longer provide a free license with Solidworks??

2) if the answer to the previous one is: 'if'; what happens in case of a SW license not maintained?? (we were stuck in 2014 for budgetary reasons, we will probably try to shoot at least until 2020/2022  so that it is worth a minimum for the reactivation costs)

13

froussel | 4003 point(s)

 
 

For those who seem to have learned about the subject:

1) they will no longer provide a free license with Solidworks??

Non: All free versions of DraftSight will cease to run after December 31, 2019.

So even the free version already installed (regardless of whether you have Solidworks or not) will stop working on December 31, 2019. And will therefore switch to a paid version...

Version confirmed by our Solidworks reseller.

1 Like
14

To stay "zen", I will say that I was also very "disappointed" with this change.

It seems to me that at least a free version should be provided with Solidworks.

 

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15

Hello everyone ,

For all those who are looking for a reliable and perpetual alternative to Draftsight which becomes paid for rental from January 1, 2020, ZW France offers to switch to ZWCAD 2020 with a very interesting offer.

Of course, it's not free, ZWCAD has never been, but -50% on the price of a standard version of ZWCAD, it allows, for 290€, to have an equivalent to AutoCad, with performance and features superior to DraftSight.

At €99 per year, DS becomes more expensive from the 3rd year. In addition, ZWCAD allows the network license: If you have more than 5 workstations it becomes very interesting (DS does not offer a network license at this price).

Go to this page to compare products,  read the comparison, download ZWCAD and find out the conditions: https://reprise.zwcad.fr

Offer valid until the end of December!

 

16

Hello

@ZW France - ZWCAD&ZW3D, I don't use Draftsight but tell me if I'm wrong about your comparison, in 5 years I'll have Draftsight 2025 but still ZWCA 2020, do you guarantee the operation of it with future versions of Windows, drivers and other components? And if you have to change versions in 3 years, it will still be at 50%? and what does the "*: Price of 290€ applicable only in DraftSight trade-in offer" stand against the 290€?

Kind regards

 

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17

Hello

The theme of the discussion is: " No to the end of free Draftsight "

I find it a bit inflated to come here to slip in a paid proposal of another product!

Have a nice day 

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18

Park... Too bad it was a good little software, which I used at home, but now nothing is free nowadays ... @+

19

I too vote no to the end of the free draftsigth

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20

Hello

I validate the solution @sbadenis I installed it 2 to 3 months ago and it works very well even for very large files. So nothing more to do with draftsight already uninstalled, rest in peace draftsight and long live NANOCAD.

if below the post of @sbadenis

May the Force be with you

https://nanocad.com/products/nanoCAD/download/

DoublecadXT (108MB):

Email address to be provided and then download link. License code to type. Then online activation code to type received in the same email as the download link.

2 Likes