The Autodesk company creates 3-D, engineering, building and entertainment design software. The company offered a product called AutoCAD Architectural Desktop, or AutoCAD ADT, beginning in 1998, now called AutoCAD Architecture. Autodesk allows a free 30-day trial download of all its software, so that a potential customer can try out the software before buying it.
AutoCAD ADT
- AutoCAD entered the software market in 1982 with its first versions of AutoCAD made for DOS computers. The CAD in AutoCAD stands for computer-aided drawing and refers to 3-D modeling and design software used by computers. The 1998 release of AutoCAD Architectural Desktop aimed the product at building designers and architects. The name of the software has changed several times since the initial release of AutoCAD ADT with the latest release of AutoCAD Architecture slated for March 2012.
Architecture
- The software provides designers or architects with features geared toward architectural design and drafting in the AutoCAD environment. The software allows you to design a building from the inside out, and includes tools to draw all typical building elements, such as windows, doors, walls, fixtures, and outlets. The program can generate sections and elevations, as well as detailed floor plans, suitable for printing when the file is saved to a printer file for a printer capable of producing blueprints.
Computer Aided Drawing
- Using AutoCAD Architecture software requires familiarity with CAD software tools. You will experience an immediate learning curve when working with any type of CAD software. AutoCAD tries to improve that process by providing simple tools and multiple tutorials. The company also hosts Autodesk University, an online free membership website that provides tutorials on how to use the various Autodesk applications.
AutoCAD Building Design Suite
- Though you can purchase AutoCAD Architecture as a standalone product, the company offers a Building Design Suite that incorporates AutoCAD and building information model workflows. The program incorporates construction workflow charts, special tools for design and construction, model-based design and visualization in three different packages: standard, premium and ultimate. Each package offers more tools and features than the lower-priced versions.
