ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Assuming you are using a pc and not mac:

My first choice would be a product called rhino (rhino3d.com).  They  
are quite amenable to offering a non-profit discount - so the base  
program is $200, instead of $1000....of the many programs i have used  
over the years, with the exception of sketcup, it is by far the  
easiest to learn.  two of the best features?  it continues to evolve  
in open beta, meaning McNeal is incredibly responsive to its users  
needs.  It also has more import/export choices than any other program  
i know.  email their educational sales department - they are very  
helpful.

Having said all that, if all you want to do is produce floor plans  
that can be readily shared via print, use the free version of Sketch  
Up.  You'll find its really more of a three-d program, and pretty  
simple to use....Paul Orselli has created a user group where you'll  
find good info.  However, if you want to port the product over to  
autocad, you have to pay for the premium package and, if i'm not  
mistaken, they no longer offer a museum/non-profit discount, so its  
hundreds of dollars more than the rhino.  and by-the-way, rhino can  
import export the sketch up files.

all of the programs mentioned have trial versions available.  look at  
the galleries, try several, and see which one fits.  be forewarned,  
though, any of them do take a while to reach a comfort level in their  
use.....
	

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]