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| Author | Dedicated yet simple 2D FloorPlanning program for System 7? (Read 13902 times) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bolkonskij
Administrator 1024 MB  Posts: 2023 
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on: November 09, 2023, 08:55
I know, I could use the Draw module of Claris Works (as I do with my Garden layouting) but then I wonder if there's anything more sophisticated (yet not complicated) out there? I've found FloorPlan Plus on the Mac Garden, but the review doesn't sound too promising. What I'm looking for in terms of features - 2D presentation, metric system, a ruler and it'd be nice if I could just drag & drop various furniture onto the plan without the need to become too artistic myself. Any suggestions? |
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cballero
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1024 MB  Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #1 on: November 09, 2023, 15:53
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Since you are looking for a drawing program, SuperPaint may not be ideally suited for the task since I think everything gets rasterized since I'm not sure about how it saves it's layers. I'd imagine the same goes for Photoshop? Even though I tend to use it for just about anything  I wonder if Aldus Freehand would be user-friendly enough? I know it can output to EPS I'm sure, as well as other similar Mac-friendly formats, including its own. It was a darling with design folks back in the day but I'm also recalling average folks liked it a lot too, and from what I can remember, it seemed to be just a tad friendlier than Adobe Illustrator, which offers a pretty advanced drawing toolbox as well 
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mac-cellar
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128 MB Posts: 176 Gotta love System 7
Reply #2 on: November 09, 2023, 17:07
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@Bolkonskij: I've used FloorPlan Plus - found an old boxed copy somewhere. Before buying some new furniture a couple of years ago, I used it to create a floorplan of the family room area in our house. The application got the job done, but it is quirky and takes some getting used to. Even with a printed manual, I experienced a fair amount of trial and error. After reading the review on Mac Garden, I would concur with the author.
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MTT
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256 MB Posts: 394 SSW7 Oldtimer
Reply #3 on: November 10, 2023, 00:43
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You could add the more sophisticated (yet uncomplicated) "ClarisDraw" to your arsenal of S7T friendly Mac apps Has all of the features you're seeking - 2D presentation, is metric (and imperial), has a ruler (with draw to scale options), drag & drop various furniture and appliances, etc. Includes a good selection of clipping libraries. Plus with your ClarisWorks familiarity, a somewhat similar interface and perhaps a smaller learning curve. There's (currently) Dutch, (US & UK) English, German, and French versions to choose from.
Last Edit: November 10, 2023, 01:00 by MTT
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wove
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1024 MB Posts: 1363
Reply #4 on: November 10, 2023, 13:32
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There is also Claris CAD. I do not think it was ever very popular and I have no idea if it was any good. Claris products all used a very similar UI, so it might be an easier entry point if you are familiar with other Claris products.
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Bolkonskij
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Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #5 on: November 11, 2023, 17:13
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Thanks for all your suggestions. I was looking something more specific than your average graphics editor, hence Floorplan Plus was tempting. I've briefly tried it but as mac-cellar noted, I couldn't wrap my head around it. Maybe one good to have a manual for, indeed. I've now settled with good old MacDraw, drawing up the rooms and furniture on System 7.1 on my IIci now. It's rather crude, but it should suffice. Too bad there isn't a really nifty application for this. Should be well within the realms of any 68k Mac and I always thought there was a market for that back then. From home users to realtors ...
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MTT
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256 MB Posts: 394 SSW7 Oldtimer
Reply #6 on: November 12, 2023, 02:10
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Old MacDraw ? Not the 1984 MacDraw, I presume ? ClarisDraw is MacDraw, renamed and updated with additional features, and has both native 68k and PPC support. Timeline; MacDraw > MacDraw II > MacDraw Pro > ClarisDraw. Afterwhich, "Draw" was shelved along with Claris Corp's demise, and Apple's brutal restructuring (thanks Steve  ). When we lost other goodies like HyperCard, Home Page, Claris Cad, Organizer, etc.Anyway... here's a few more (from the MG) which may have some merit. 123 Home Design <- PPC only - Systems 7.5.3 (at least) to 9.2.2 ArchiCAD 5.0 <- 68K/PPC according to description Design Your Own Home Suite <-says 68K, maybe is as v2 claims to be... Design Your Own Home Suite v2.0 <- 68K Draw module (description) Design It! 3-D <- 68K/PPC according to description Drawingboard <- 68K/PPC according to description Dreams <- 68K Looks great, but likely SSW6 only (1988) DYOH Architecture <- 68K similar appearance to MacDraw -metric ? Expert Home Design <- 68K -Beware anything calling itself "Expert" MacDraft 4.x <- 68K/PPC according to description
Last Edit: November 14, 2023, 00:14 by MTT
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Bolkonskij
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Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #7 on: November 15, 2023, 07:42
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Actually, I used the good ol' version 2 of MacDraw from..1987? 1988? Gave me a very crude 2D top-down view of rooms, but I wanted to get started. It is a very bare-bones approach I could have done with any other graphics program too and I certainly would have loved more sophistication, but what can you do. The list you proposed is awesome. Whilst my initial appetite was covered by MacDraw now, I'll go and try your suggestions out of interest. Might also help somebody else looking for alternatives. Thanks so much for compiling it.
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MTT
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256 MB Posts: 394 SSW7 Oldtimer
Reply #8 on: November 16, 2023, 02:19
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With the exception of ClarisDraw, I haven't used used any of those other listed items. They're only what I've found in a search of the MG. I did install 123 Home Design and it looks like it could be fairly usable in a novice sense, but it is PPC only. Most of the others appear to be aimed at the more experienced trades or drafts person. That could be my lack of experience showing through there, too. MacDraft 4 is interesting as it seems to combine CAD with spreadsheet data enabling you to factor in costs of all components during planning. - the PDF manual DL from the MacDraft 4 page has a review which gives this info, plus it pointed to it's biggest rival software at the time, called "Blueprint" (also at the MG). One user comment I spotted at the MG praised Blueprint 2.x as being his favorite CAD software. Ignoring the technical-drawing screenshots on the Blueprint page, the last screenshot there does show a very clean looking 2D drawing of a floor plan. If any of these turn out to be suitable for you, that would be great. Yet do try ClarisDraw if you can find the time. It does tick a lot of boxes for me, in that it is more advanced than MacDraw, without a hefty learning curve. It also supports layers, meaning you can add features in separate layers and turn them on or off, to see how they look or fit. Plus it has a good clip-art library of common furniture items and fittings, which you can just drag and drop into your drawings. Perhaps of consideration too, is that you can import MacDraw II or Pro documents directly into ClarisDraw, which could save a lot of time if you've already made designs in MacDraw.
Last Edit: November 16, 2023, 04:28 by MTT
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Bolkonskij
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Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #9 on: November 16, 2023, 09:46
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That sounds great. I'll definitely give "upgrading" to Claris Draw a chance this weekend. At least before trying other software on my IIci. Yesterday updated the PiSCSI (formerly RaSCSI) because I was suspicious of it causing the freezes the IIci experienced before. (no freezes / crashes for hours since I unplugged it!)
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cballero
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1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #10 on: November 16, 2023, 17:13
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Take number two, lol I (thought?) I had posted an updated message on SuperPaint, oh well.. SuperPaint actually is both a drawing and paint program in one; no wonder I absolutely loved it back in the day!  It should fit the bill along with other drawing programs of the time. I really liked moving back and forth between the paint and drawing environments, even if it most likely didn't have too much in the drawing area: consider it more of a Swiss Army knife for drawing
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wove
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1024 MB Posts: 1363
Reply #11 on: November 16, 2023, 22:37
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The mention of SuperPaint doing both drawing and paint made me think of Deneba Canvas, which is also paint/draw. Deneba also made Deneba CAD which is also on Macintosh Garden. It is a PPC only application. Version 1.0.6 is on the Garden, but there was also a version 2 which is not on the Garden. Deneba CAD is compatible with AutoCad and it came with libraries of pre-drawn items like furniture.
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Bolkonskij
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Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #12 on: November 18, 2023, 12:28
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I've just installed ClarisDraw and updated to 1.04. Interesting tidbit - it doesn't seem to be able to import MacDraw II files! It does recognize MacPaint and PICT files in the same folder, but no MacDraw II files. That's very much surprising given it's basically the official successor bearing the almost same name.
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MTT
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256 MB Posts: 394 SSW7 Oldtimer
Reply #13 on: November 18, 2023, 13:19
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It does. By default, the installer should have installed the MacDraw II XTND translator into the "Claris Translators" folder - in the "Claris" folder, inside of the "System Folder". There are two "Claris XTND filters" for MacDraw conversions, one is labelled "MacDraw II 1.1" and the other, "MacDraw Pro". If you can't see the filter in the Claris Translators folder. It's located inside of install disc #4 if you want to manually add it. [Edit] I used the example file "Floor Plan #2" as found in the MacDraw II downloads from the MG to test it working. Here's a couple of screenshots. 1: The XTND Translator doing its magic for ClarisDraw, on "Floor Plan #2". 2. "Floor Plan #2" freshly opened in ClarisDraw, ready for editing. 3. Adding a dash of color to "Floor Plan #2". 4. "Floor Plan #2" showing dimensions -the conversion has retained layers. Shown here turned on in the illustration. -Not metric, as it's a US or Brit example file. Also showing wiring and water schematics.
Last Edit: November 19, 2023, 07:27 by MTT
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Bolkonskij
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Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #14 on: November 20, 2023, 11:38
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Thanks, MTT. I need to go back and check. I was perplexed it wasn't supporting it but all the other formats. I find the Claris Draw installer a bit messy (in lack of a better word) ... I went with the easy installer first. Upon success, it told me I nonetheless need to do an extra round of install if I want all the artwork (which I want). So I ran the installer a second time. Guess now I'll be in for third time. oO
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