IDEA: simple drawing or floor plan program

[techidave]

I have been searching google as well as trying out the Google Sketchup 7.1 but all seem to be to complex. 

I am wanting to make a floor plan of my school on the computer.  pretty much needs only straightlines or boxes, simple text editor.  It doesn't need to be 3d or 2d but just some lines on a page.  If it had a feature that shows the distance of the line in feet and inches while you are making the line that would be fantastic.  Sketchup has this feature.

If there is a program out there that does this, then point me in that direction. 

Any ideas?

thanks in advance,
Dave

[mouser]

see this post:
http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=7356.msg174037#msg174037

after trying many programs i was thrilled with Home Designer -- great program, can do simple things really quickly, can do complicated things with just a little more effort.

[techidave]

It seems to be overkill for what I am wanting.  It isn't free either.  When it comes to CAD, pagermaker type programs, I have virtually no experience with them.  To me, Simple is the keyword.

I also look at the other programs mentioned in Mouser's post but also found them to be more complex than necessary.

But keep those comments coming!

[AndyM]

For really simple stuff I just make a grid in Excel, perhaps both lines and columns at 1/2" and call each box 1 foot.  Use borders for the vertical and horizontal lines and the drawing tool for angled lines.  Text goes in text boxes or cells.   

But only for really simple stuff.

[techidave]

Thanks Andy for what could be a simple solution.  I will have to look at this option. 

Any others?

[techidave]

Andy's idea may work... the jury is still out here.  not quite as simple as I envisioned.

[hamradio]

Might check out the list located here.

[techidave]

Thanks for the list but is still overkill in my opinion.    maybe I will look at publisher or print shop to see what they can do. 

[wetsmellydog]

CadStd lite is extremely simple. It is found here http://www.cadstd.com/lite.html

You might also try drawing in Word. You can make all kind of shapes. Another way to do it is to try is a simple flow chart program. There are a lot of them out there.

[JavaJones]

I use the OpenOffice drawing app for this kind of thing. Works great. You can work to scale and just drag out whatever shapes and sizes you need, change colors, outline things, etc, etc. There's also Sweet Home 3D (open source):
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Sweet-Home-3D/1225390503/1

- Oshyan

[bootz15]

May all your dreams come true 

http://dragonfly.labs.autodesk.com/