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Being a cpu techie (know A LOT more about them then MRR<grin>)...i've had awful experience with: 1) Atlas software. The select with the switch for select and click or something of that nature. The interface is archane and there is no support for elevations. A very steep learning curve. The simple view is well...nasty. It's free...but you get what you pay for...VERY difficult to print large layouts...several pages of print outs 2) Cadrail...buggy. I planned a perfect layout (on screen<grin>) and then it had a snap point glitch. You'd attempt to alter a connection radius and bam...right to the desktop. I tried a clean install and was able to replicate. It was a watered-down autocad...I didn't like it. 3) Cadrail...difficult to use...and also buggy. It repeatedly crashed when I tried to do the 3d view. Since the main reason I used the program was to see the virtual tour...this kind of diminished the value of it. 4) Microsoft Visio XP - About $125 USD. Simple to use...a bit too simple perhap. I've played a bit with it...and well it is amazingly simple for the user to utilize...a small learning curve. I'm using it to map my switches and blocks (yes for those diehard non-dcc people<grin>)...sure you'd use some difficulties to map switches...but if one of us made a MASTER layout <grin>...just drag and click... 5) AutoCAD 2000i+ The KING of drafting anything...but comes with a $2500 price tag. If you can get an older version that will run on a 9x system...go ahead. A STEEP learning curve...but hey...if they can draft cars with it then you know slopes and curves are quite simple...to the millionth of an inch. If you're hardcore and/or have a steep budget...use this. So, my .02 cents...some people will disagree...but my logic is that software developed by a small group of people vs. professional software...there is no comparison of quality, stability, and support. I've used Autocad and Visio 2002 and had nothing but success...to the others...here's a toast to having you off my hard drive!
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