38 replies to this topic

[Keith Almond]

Having just worked on a project both at home and at work, I have to say that the way plansets handles Title Blocks NEEDS to be re-thought. I had even copied the chosen title block into the project file. However, my path to the project folder is different on my office laptop, and on my home desktop.

 

As a result EVERY time I opened the project on the "alternate" computer, I got errors and had to add the TITLE BLOCK AGAIN, even from the project folder.

 

This effectively means that that the planset is USELESS unless you pull it up on the computer that generated it.

 

Can your DEVELOPMENT TEAM PLEASE look it this situation and TRY to improve its useability. Even AUTOMATICALLY copying ANY used title block into the project folder and then only looking in the project folder for it/them, would mean that anyone who has access to the project folder can open the drawing on any computer without the message that Softplan can't find the TITLE BLOCK.

 

The current situation is terrible.

 

Thanks.

 

 

[Sam Morgan]

Only took me a few minutes of trying to use plan sets when it was first introduced to find it was completely useless.  I'll stick with multi drawings

[Brent Hyndman]

I logged a suggestion on your behalf. CO-48276.

 

Enjoy the holidays guys.

[Allen McDonnell]

Brent, there needs to be an option to "dislike" comments.   So directly under or above "like this" there can be a "dislike this"

[Keith Almond]

Thank you Brent. Have a great holiday.

[Tom Rogers]

I agree with you Keith.  Definitely needs a fix. 

[Warren Ducote]

I only work on one computer so I don't see that issue. But I love plan sets. Took awhile to get my head around it, but once I did, would not go back to multi-drawings.

[Brad Graber]

Multi drawings have always worked real well for me and I haven't even tried the plan sets.  

[Tim Stockton]

Plan sets have a lot of potential.  I use them regularly for all of my projects, but I must admit, I have experienced the same issue that Keith has brought up.  For some reason, when you copy a project to another folder, the title block doesn't come along with it.  I suppose that if we (me included) are going to use multiple computers for our work, perhaps a cloud method of sharing the project with ourselves might be the best option.  That way, it doesn't matter which machine we access the project from, we still get all of the same files and updates.  The only down sides to this would be if internet services were disrupted and possibly slower response times when opening, saving, etc.  Just some random thoughts out loud looking for the best solution...

[Keith Almond]

... perhaps a cloud method of sharing the project with ourselves might be the best option.  That way, it doesn't matter which machine we access the project from, we still get all of the same files and updates ...

 

That's exactly what I'm doing. Using YOUR key in alternate computer, brings up ALL your cloud based files. the problem is the title blocks are COMPUTER specific. My BOSS cannot pull my files from our backup drive (we have a peer to peer network with individual Softplan installations), without losing the TITLE BLOCKS, and for the same reason I cannot put my files from the cloud from home without losing the title blocks. Unless the title blocks have EXACTLY the same path ... i.e C:\SoftPlan-1\Title Block\Cover - 11 x 17.spd (on my computer) ... on both of the computers, and I can almost guarantee it doesn't - on none of the computers in our office is the path the same - then you get the error in the original post.

[Tom Rogers]

Same here.  All my drafters and builder clients that have Softplan complain about all the error messages with the title block.  Not a problem with one sheet, quite the difference with 24 error messages.  

[Michael Collazo]

Was this ever figured out?

[Dennis Hilborn]

Not in rel. 2018.  I'm not sure if they have it fixed in 2020 since I made the three computers I use the same.  I use a thumb drive to store my working files and transport them back and forth, with a back up on each computer.  The thumb drive has the same name and drive letter on all the computers so it worked in 2018 and I quite having to relocate the title block.

[Michael Collazo]

Not in rel. 2018.  I'm not sure if they have it fixed in 2020 since I made the three computers I use the same.  I use a thumb drive to store my working files and transport them back and forth, with a back up on each computer.  The thumb drive has the same name and drive letter on all the computers so it worked in 2018 and I quite having to relocate the title block.

 

I do not see any change in 2020.

[Dennis Hilborn]

I do not see any change in 2020.

That's wacky.  How can SP keep track of all the other files perfectly and miss keeping track of the title block?  Such a small programming error but it causes a big headache.

[Keith Almond]

I did a test when 2020 came out, and i was able to open a project from our backup with the title blocks in place. I assumed from that, that it had indeed been rectified, but since we're not yet using 2020, I haven't actually been able to test it in a real world situation.

[Dennis Hilborn]

It has not been fixed in 2020.

Just did a test.  Copied a project to a flash drive then opened that project from the flash drive.  The plan sheets DID NOT have the title block.  The titlle block still referenced the old file location.  Everything else opens just fine though.

[Joseph Smith]

Keith, help me understand, did you say your path for Softplan2018 title block is different on your work and home? (they need to be the same)

 

I use a desktop and laptop, the SoftPlan directory tree is identical on both devices.  I have zero issues with title blocks and plansets missing data or anything else.  I have 28 different title block setups for different clients i draw for.  I keep the folders synchronized once daily to the latest modified files.

 

C:\SoftPlan2018

C:\SoftPlan2020

 

Above are my Softplan directories, as long as everything within is identical all procedures function flawlessly.

Below are my data directories, they don't have to be the same however mine are since I synchronize my project data also. (15 years of drawings)(also have a redundant cloud sync of the jobs)

 

X:\Jobs

Y:\Projects\Jobs

\\MYCLOUD-JF7XXX\Public\Project PC SYNC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having just worked on a project both at home and at work, I have to say that the way plansets handles Title Blocks NEEDS to be re-thought. I had even copied the chosen title block into the project file. However, my path to the project folder is different on my office laptop, and on my home desktop.

 

As a result EVERY time I opened the project on the "alternate" computer, I got errors and had to add the TITLE BLOCK AGAIN, even from the project folder.

 

This effectively means that that the planset is USELESS unless you pull it up on the computer that generated it.

 

Can your DEVELOPMENT TEAM PLEASE look it this situation and TRY to improve its useability. Even AUTOMATICALLY copying ANY used title block into the project folder and then only looking in the project folder for it/them, would mean that anyone who has access to the project folder can open the drawing on any computer without the message that Softplan can't find the TITLE BLOCK.

 

The current situation is terrible.

 

Thanks.

[Dennis Hilborn]

Joseph, it may work flawlessly if the directory structure is the same but we really can't expect EVERYONE that we might copy a project to will change their directory structure to match ours.  The title block should follow the project no matter what the directory structure is.

I customize my titleblock for each project and put the drawing inside the project file.  That should be all I have to do to make it work correctly.

I believe the problem is that somebody in the beginning thought we would all use the original SP logoed title block and didn't think about making it work any other way.

[Keith Almond]

One problem is that if you install a new version, it asks about the directory structure ... I ended up with a Softplan-1 directory, which wasn't the same as at home or the other users in the office. The directory structure has to be exactly the same or it won't work. I now loaded my new laptop into C:/Softplan2016, C:/Softplan2018 and C:/Softplan2020 directories which are different again. Also, our IT department got involved in TRANSFERRING OS and files to my bosses computer, and his directory structure is a complete mess and includes a directory called "Transfer" which is causing untold havoc on his system.

 

You can't mandate a completely alike system!