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plan set tutorials learning plan sets

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#1 randolph cohn

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Posted 21 February 2016 - 05:02 PM

plan sets

 

i'm finally going to learn "plan sets"

note: i'm very comfortable using "multi drawings"

 

where are some good places to find "tutorials" on the subject of "plan sets"

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

btw,

I have the benefit of being taught by a seasoned veteran softplan user

who uses plan sets exclusively.

 

btw,  I didn't try to learn because of the negative feedback but from what

I hear and can see, the great majority of any negativity has been corrected

 

I always thought the plan set idea had great possibilities > now it seems to be there

or close enough for government work.


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randy

v10 to future 2016+ ;)


#2 Sam Morgan

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Posted 21 February 2016 - 07:59 PM

I hope you get some good answers on this one.  I've found them useless for the way I work.  I'll stick with multi's 



#3 John Luther

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Posted 22 February 2016 - 09:25 AM

Master - Legendary SP Jedi RC needs some help? https://softplantuts...egory/Plan-Sets

 

I have not checked this tutorial out, compared to the videos in SP+ 2016 my 18 year old son is using, or scheduled to use. 

 

Have a sweet - California Dreamin day Obe Wan. 


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#4 Guest_Derrik Bauer_*

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Posted 22 February 2016 - 11:31 AM

Let us know how you like the change.   I switched to PS's and haven't looked back.


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#5 Keith Almond

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Posted 22 February 2016 - 11:46 AM

One of the other places to get a good tutorial is Right on the START PAGE of Softplan 2016+

 

2016.02.22_12h44m20s_001.png


Keith

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#6 Tom Rogers

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Posted 22 February 2016 - 06:28 PM

It all depends on how your drawings are set up as to whether plan sets work best for you or not.  I grabed them right out of the shoot and love them.  Always thought multi drawing was archaic in use and more like the dark side (AutoCad).  Sets (and templates) are great. 


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#7 Philip Frank

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Posted 23 February 2016 - 06:11 AM

I was a big fan of Multi's too, but I forced myself to try PlanSets a few months ago and have never looked back. Setting up sheets is so much faster. You can preview the look of the actual output, and with Planset templates in 2016, once you set it up, it's drag and drop and export to pdf.

 

My 2 cents....

Phil


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#8 Steve Haarmann

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Posted 23 February 2016 - 08:04 AM

There are definitely some trade offs but I agree that Plan Sets are much faster to set up and provide much more control.

Most who dislike plan sets have probably tried to make them work like multi-drawings and become frustrated.

The automatic borders, scaling, project information auto fill and page numbering are awesome.

Maintaining scale, page numbering, and page order was a real issue with multi drawings.

 

I frequently print to 11 x 17 and 24 x 36 and the plan sets provide a painless way to set up both.

 

I expect to see some improvements in the next version that fill in the blanks.

A project information revision schedule would be a big help.

User defined project information fields or labels would be very welcome.

 

I would NEVER go back to multi drawings now.

Just stick with it and learn how it is supposed to work, keep an open mind, and don't try to make Plan Sets work like Multi Drawings.


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#9 Keith Almond

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Posted 23 February 2016 - 10:22 AM

I agree with Steve, I have found some drawbacks, but worked round them. Still get frustrated occasionally, but wouldn't go back to multi drawings. Plan sets just work better.


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

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#10 Sam Morgan

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Posted 23 February 2016 - 07:59 PM

Here is why I haven't been able to make plansets work for me.  

 

I have my title block/base drawings set up for multi drawings so they are the same for every project.  Page 2 is always the foundation plan and has all the pertinent notes relating to concrete, egress, etc etc. Page 3= main floor, page 4= floor framing, etc etc etc.   The only notes I add to that page would be specific to that job which would end up being on the basement/foundation drawing.  So...when I am finishing a plan, I copy/paste my title block drawings into the specific job folder...use multi to add the basement drawing to page 2, and spend 5 minutes, max, adding any additional notes for that drawings.  I have speed notes for rooms, wall details, etc on those title block/base drawings that just need to be moved around to the appropriate spot and delete ones that aren't used.  If there were a way to take the set up that I've spent years editing and make a plan set template that has all of that info already there, I may find plansets useful.  I can say I haven't spent enough time figuring out if there is a way to make that possible, but what little time I did spend looked like that wasn't doable, so I will stick with multi drawings. 



#11 Keith Almond

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Posted 23 February 2016 - 09:39 PM

Sorry Sam, but I think what you describe it is easily doable in plansets.

 

I have multiple title blocks, in my case since we use 11 x 17 as much as possible they have all the standard notes in different locations and even at 90°. I just choose the relevant title block for each drawing in the set, depending on the shape of the plan. Some give a wide aspect some a tall one.  From what you are describing above, plan sets would work as easily as the multi's, with no need to copy/paste the title blocks, as the project information is in the project not the block. The only real difference would be the notes that you move round - as that would really confuse the title block - but they could be inserted into each drawing as a symbol or even a standard drawing that contains nothing but the relevant notes.

 

So in essence, you would draw your relevant plan insert standard notes (either a symbol or a standard drawing), move around to suit and then add to the relevant page in the planset. Slightly different, but in my opinion as easy as the multi-drawings.

 

The template could even be set to add the relevant plans to the relevant pages automatically. Although I keep meaning to do that with mine, and haven't got round to it yet. I do believe it's possible though.

 

However, if your system works for you, and it isn't broken, then there's little reason to fix it!

 

Not trying to change your mind, just making an observation!


Keith

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#12 Yvon Gonthier

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Posted 24 February 2016 - 08:09 AM

I don't use plan sets because I work a lot with Building Options. So, for most pages, I have many variations. For example, for the ground floor I can have;
A5 Standard ground
A5a Optional ground
A5 corner Standard ground corner unit
A5a corner Optional ground corner unit

So, for each pages, I do one set-up and when I select the active Building Options, then the proper page number (A5, A5a, ...) and the plan identification (Standard ground, ....) appear in my title block because they are also connected to the Building Options.

Also, if a title, name or other is to long for the title block, I can easily adjust the size of the notes.

#13 Keith Almond

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Posted 24 February 2016 - 08:44 AM

To be honest, for anyone interested in using plan sets, I would advise jump in and try it. I'm a great fan of learning by doing, rather than reading. There are plenty of people here to give advise if you get in trouble, and you can't really break anything, because your drawings still exist in their original form.

You can even take a completed project that is was done as a multi drawing, and add plan sets too it. as the multidrawings still exist independently, and are still fully functional. You don't need to do one or the other, you can actually do both if you wish.


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#14 Ron Globke

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Posted 24 February 2016 - 09:27 AM

Here is why I haven't been able to make plansets work for me.  

 

I have my title block/base drawings set up for multi drawings so they are the same for every project.  Page 2 is always the foundation plan and has all the pertinent notes relating to concrete, egress, etc etc. Page 3= main floor, page 4= floor framing, etc etc etc.   The only notes I add to that page would be specific to that job which would end up being on the basement/foundation drawing.  So...when I am finishing a plan, I copy/paste my title block drawings into the specific job folder...use multi to add the basement drawing to page 2, and spend 5 minutes, max, adding any additional notes for that drawings.  I have speed notes for rooms, wall details, etc on those title block/base drawings that just need to be moved around to the appropriate spot and delete ones that aren't used.  If there were a way to take the set up that I've spent years editing and make a plan set template that has all of that info already there, I may find plansets useful.  I can say I haven't spent enough time figuring out if there is a way to make that possible, but what little time I did spend looked like that wasn't doable, so I will stick with multi drawings. 

I was with you on this for a long time Sam.   The transition is somewhat painful when you are used to doing it with the Multi-drawing.   I made the change about a year and half ago, and other then a few hiccups, I like it better in the end.  Printing is the quickest it has ever been.   I wish there were and easy way to make the transition. 


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#15 Keith Owens

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Posted 24 February 2016 - 10:06 AM


 

 

I don't use plan sets because I work a lot with Building Options. So, for most pages, I have many variations.

 

Yvon, plan sets has the option to use custom visibilities within the drawing itself - so you can use different building options in different drawings on the same plan set page.

 

Plan Sets.jpg

 

In reply to the overall topic, I was hesitant to switch from multi-drawings initially because I was skeptical how well they would work with my apartment projects. These files are large and the plan sets do seem a little buggy. For example: I was dealing with this just now - when hovering over the drawing on the plan set page the cursor seems to get stuck more often than not. It can take a few seconds for the cursor to react again. This is obviously frustrating as you're trying to get things done as fast as possible. I've found that if I turn off the visibility of something like detail notes (I have a lot of notes) it will improve. However, I had similar issues with multi-drawings and I don't have these issues with just single family home projects.

 

Despite being a little buggy, I was persistent in getting plan sets set up for these projects and I am pleased with the final results. I use a lot of building options, custom modes, and layers within the sets. For example: I have a 16 unit apartment building plan that is being used to build 9 different buildings. Each building is obviously a different number, has different unit numbers, and has a different orientation on the site. Some buildings have the utility rooms and electrical meters at opposite ends. Some have walkouts. I use different modes to show a view of the entire floorplan at a smaller scale with less detail on 1 page vs. half of the floorplan at 1/4" scale with detailed notes throughout on another page. There are variations on every page of the set. I personally feel that the ability to set up 1 plan set and save as template in this case is invaluable.

 

As others have said, it may not be for everyone's workflow, but it's definitely worth giving a shot.


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#16 Warren Ducote

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Posted 25 February 2016 - 06:49 AM

I fought hard to stay with Multi Drawings and despised Plan Sets at first. But I stayed with it and now I would never go back to Multi Drawings. I will add this: it is in my opinion that It is easier to work with if you have two monitors. I place the Plan Set Page I am working with on one monitor and I place the drawing and mode on the other. Makes it much easier to move notes etc, around.







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