On PC CAD1.0

On PC CAD is a free CAD drawing application that facilitates a user-friendly working environment for creating home designs and layouts to save as .p3d projects.

Old, yet functional tool

The setup operation doesn't take long and requires minimal attention. However, this program hasn't received updates for a long time and doesn't seem to be in development anymore.We have encountered OS compatibility issues that stopped us from installing it on newer Windows, but they were resolved by launching the installer in compatibility mode for Windows XP.Although it's outdated, the interface doesn't show this. The main window of On PC CAD has a simple and elegant appearance, neatly displaying all options in the menu bar and toolbar. An example file is provided to give you an idea of how it works.

Draw walls, doors, windows and furniture

In order to draw, it's necessary to select the object type, such as wall, door and window. In case of the wall, you can click and drag to create and bind wall shapes, while doors and windows can be built by just clicking inside walls.The utility has a library with multiple styles of furniture when it comes to the bathroom, bedroom, building structure, external setting, fitted kitchen, garage, living room, study, veranda or terrace, and miscellaneous objects. These can be previewed and selected to insert into your CAD design.

Modify object properties and view settings

The mouse mode enables you to edit object properties, such as height from floor. It's possible to zoom in and out, delete or redraw items, display measurements, hide rulers and the grid, change the grid size, increase wall thickness, view a weak or strong hook, and add notes. Projects can be saved as .p3d files and printed.

Evaluation and conclusion

CPU and RAM consumption was minimal in our tests, and the app didn't hang, crash or indicate errors. Although it's not as feature-rich as other CAD tools, On PC CAD is easy to use by beginners looking to create basic home plans without the hassle. Plus, it's freeware.