AutoCAD vs. NanoCAD vs. Vectorworks Landmark

Once again, for jobs/companies where you are doing a lot of design and modelling of tanks, pipework or filling machine or basic electronics its fantastic as a 3D and 2D modelling tool, however once again when it comes to testing these actual products in the real world, I feel like AutoCAD is let down by its clunky fitting and spec management and also in very limited in-house engineering simulations.

It is great when cleaning up CAD files and allowing for 3rd party add-ins. It allows you to delete used layers. It would be nice if it saved to smaller file sizes when saving as an older DWG. It is easy to scale drawings and make floor plan layouts. It would be nice if it would pick up the default units that I set for my preference when opening up a converted file from pdf.

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Vectorworks is just as useful for perfectly measured, hard-line CAD drawing as it is for making beautiful presentation drawings and renderings. Tools in the application allow you to transition between working drawings and presentation drawings without modifying the underlying geometry. DWG exchange with other design team members works very well

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• Compatibility of different file formats, and also exports to different file formats.
• CLI Commands as well as internal functions which are exposed can be used for automation of various tasks.
• The new 2025 comes with .NET Core support which helps AutoCAD to connect with Cloud based features.

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• Easy to use
• Great for Drafting
• Opens all CAD files from other systems
• Same commands as other CAD programs

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• I tell people that Vectorworks is CAD for people who know how to draw. You can control the appearance of all the objects on a layer, or you can tweak the way a single object looks. Most of the barriers to producing good-looking, legible drawings are removed.
• Vectorworks Landmark is made for landscape architects.Creating hardscape, planting, and irrigation plans is pretty straightforward.

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• User Interface Customisation: AutoCAD's user interface could benefit from more robust customisation options. Allowing users to rearrange toolbars, menus, and panels according to their specific workflows and preferences would enhance productivity.
• Enhanced 3D Modeling Tools: While AutoCAD is capable of 3D modeling, it's not as intuitive or feature-rich as dedicated 3D modeling software. Streamlining the process and adding more advanced modeling tools would be a welcome improvement.
• Enhanced Collaboration and Version Control: AutoCAD could improve its collaboration tools, such as real-time editing and version tracking, to facilitate smoother teamwork, especially in multi-disciplinary projects.
• Intelligent Object Libraries: AutoCAD could benefit from an expanded and more intelligent library of standard objects and components. This would save time for designers who often have to create custom components from scratch.

• It lacks some functions that AutoCAD has, but for the price, it could be worth it on your end.

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• There's a bit of inconsistency in the operation of some tools that would appear to the user to be more similar.
• Importing complex Revit models takes a long time and, if the model has a lot of symbols in it, the import might not finish.

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Because rarely we [would] rather wait for a whole year to update, sometimes the new updates don't bring many new features and we are still ok with the current version. Also the change of interface is always something that takes time for every partner in the company to get comfortable with. So those are the main reasons we may want to keep the same version.

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We like NanoCAD for what it does for us and will renew or license when the time comes. There is no question of doubt because we are very happy with it.

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It is very usable once you understand the program. I believe there is room for improvement in the 2D to 3D modeling capability. We have to use other apps to 3D model and that can be time consuming and sometimes AutoCAD doesn't transfer work that well between apps. They can improve there.

AutoCAD has the issue of crashing or slowing down the design procedure once a heavy design that includes several disciplines or multiple families/blocks is involved. Customer services gets the feedback from the crash reports but this issue seems like it has never been addressed in the software updates past several years.

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the implementation was realy easy , to set up our workstation we pay for the licenses we are about to use , there was a little bit of delay to get the payment processed to receive the serial but after that the install runs without any problem , so you can fell secure there will be not issue with the implementation.

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I use Revit far more than I use AutoCAD. AutoCAD is great for simple linework, but even then I will often create the lines in Revit and then export to AutoCAD for final touches and printing. AutoCAD is a bit easier for large-format prints, which is why I almost always end up using it after starting in Revit.

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NanoCAD has been the best solution after using other high-priced software systems. It has all the tools I need and no need to upgrade my computer system. I run it on a Windows 11, Core i5 Computer with 8 gb of ram and integrated graphics with no issues. It does not use up much space in my ssd.

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I was an AutoCAD user before switching to Vectorworks when coming to work with my current firm. Vectorworks Landmark includes tools specifically designed for landscape architects - it's not an AutoCAD add-on. The initial investment for a new seat is much less than AutoCAD, and the Service Select program pushes down the annual upgrade cost even more

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• As an educational institute there are no overall business objectives.
• As a negative, the licensing is expensive and we have to limit the number of computers we put it on.
• As a positive, many of our students will have a leg up when entering into programs or companies that use this software.

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• It's free to use
• No need to buy special high end computers

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• There is a learning curve for new employees, as regionally Vectorworks is not in wide use and generally not introduced in the academies
• However, because it is more intuitive as far as WYSIWYG drawing, most people pick up the basics pretty quickly.
• It's a really powerful suite of tools. Sometimes it's good to spend some time afforded by a larger project to explore ways to use the software more efficiently (e.g., improving worksheets, using different smart object tools, etc.)

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