OpenOffice for AutoCAD

There are several options available for free computer-aided design software.

AutoCAD is the best known and most expensive computer-aided design (CAD) software. OpenOffice is a free office suite software package that includes Draw, a graphics package that sometimes can take the place of a 2-D CAD program.

Features

Downloadable free of charge, OpenOffice Draw aids in the computer creation of graphics and diagrams, including the ability to design a 300cm by 300cm poster. Users can manipulate graphical objects on the screen in two or three dimensions and create and manipulate vector graphics in scale. They can place frequently used tools around the screen for immediate accessibility.

Limitations

OpenOffice Draw works in a variety of units, metric or English, but not mixed units such as centimeters and meters at the same time. Users must present fractions in decimal form. Also, it is mouse-driven, lacking a command line mode.

Alternatives

BRL-CAD and RibbonSoft's QCAD Community Edition are two other open-source CAD systems users can download free.

References

• OpenOffice: Draw
• University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Instructor Mick Alderson: Using OpenOffice Draw Module as a CAD Program
• OSalt (Open Source as Alternative): OpenOffice Draw

Resources

• BRL-CAD: Open Source Solid Modeling
• RibbonSoft: QCAD