Which Is the Best Version of AutoCAD?

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Which Is the Best Version of AutoCAD?

AutoCAD is a powerful and widely-used computer-aided design (CAD) software that has been evolving and improving over the years. With each new version, Autodesk, the company behind AutoCAD, introduces new features and enhancements to make the software more efficient and user-friendly.

But which version of AutoCAD is the best? Let’s explore some of the most popular versions and their key features.

AutoCAD 2019

Key Features:

  • New Drawing Compare Tool: This tool allows you to compare two versions of a drawing side by side, highlighting the differences between them. It’s a handy feature for tracking changes made during collaboration.
  • Shared Views: With this feature, you can easily share your drawings with others who don’t have AutoCAD installed. It creates a web link that allows them to view and comment on the drawing using a web browser.
  • Purge Redesigned: The Purge command has been redesigned in AutoCAD 2019, making it easier to clean up unused layers, blocks, styles, and other objects from your drawings.

AutoCAD 2020

Key Features:

  • New Blocks Palette: The Blocks Palette provides a visual gallery of all the blocks in your drawing. You can easily insert blocks by dragging and dropping them from the palette into your design.
  • Purge Improvements: Building upon the improvements made in AutoCAD 2019, AutoCAD 2020 introduces additional options for purging unreferenced items from your drawing, helping you keep your files clean and optimized.
  • Enhanced DWG Compare: The DWG Compare tool has been enhanced in AutoCAD 2020, allowing you to compare and highlight differences between two versions of a drawing with greater accuracy and ease.

AutoCAD 2021

Key Features:

  • Drawing History: This feature allows you to track and access all the previous versions of a drawing. You can view the changes made over time, compare versions, and restore older versions if needed.
  • Xref Compare: AutoCAD 2021 introduces the Xref Compare tool, which enables you to visually compare two versions of an external reference (Xref) attached to your drawing.

    It helps identify changes made to referenced drawings.

  • Improved Performance: AutoCAD 2021 brings performance improvements that make working with large and complex drawings faster and more responsive. It optimizes processes like opening files, saving, regenerating layouts, and more.

Conclusion

In conclusion, each version of AutoCAD comes with its own set of features and improvements. The best version depends on your specific needs and requirements.

If collaboration and sharing are important to you, AutoCAD 2019 with its new Drawing Compare Tool and Shared Views feature might be a good choice. If you deal with a large number of blocks in your designs, AutoCAD 2020’s Blocks Palette can greatly enhance your workflow. And if you work on complex projects or require better performance, AutoCAD 2021’s Drawing History and improved performance might be the way to go.

No matter which version you choose, it’s important to stay updated with the latest releases and take advantage of the new features and enhancements that Autodesk continuously introduces. Stay informed, experiment, and find the version that suits your needs best!