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Can this be done in Softplan?


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#1 Tom Rogers

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Posted 09 May 2018 - 09:14 AM

Had a question from a colleague of mine who is looking at some new platforms.  He is trying out all big ones (Revit, Chief, Softplan, etc.)  and he found this.  Not being familiar with ArchChief  I was wonder if anyone else is familiar with this or if we have something similar.  Not sure how well it would actually work but interesting:

 

This might be too smart for SoftPlan, but I think Chief offers it to some degree…

 

Chief has print files (PDFs) set up to read directly from the drawing file, so technically one never has to actively create PDF prints.  One simply goes to the print file and PDFs are created on the fly by accessing the drawing file.  This would be helpful to ensure all vendors have real-time CDs.

 

But it would also be a great resource for sales collaterals / brochures.  We would not have to consistently update and upload new ones every time a change is made to a plan.  The sales agent would go to the print file and a real-time PDF is created as needed.

 

This means the files need to be in the cloud, and then accessible by non-users of SoftPlan drawing files.

 

Does all of this seem possible with SoftPlan?

 


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#2 D M

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Posted 09 May 2018 - 09:47 AM

(I don't use Cute, I have SP+ so my route is always through review)

 

but , .. That sounds similar to just using CutePDF, doesn't it?

 

 


.. invariably, someone will have a simpler solution.


#3 Tom Rogers

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Posted 09 May 2018 - 11:03 AM

I have CutePDF but if it is, it is not something that I am familiar with.  I always worry about automatic PDFs.  Always afraid it wont work one time that a builder or vendor grabs a set and it comes back to bite me with field errors.


"remember... what we are building today, should be what we want in the future"​
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#4 Keith Almond

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Posted 09 May 2018 - 11:31 AM

Chief's site implies that you have to print PDF's through the print dialogue boxes. I don't see any great difference from the EXPORT PDF in the plansets.

 

2018.05.09_13h33m54s_001_.png

 

Admittedly the article is almost a year old, and thing could have changed, but I'd expect that an upgrade this important would have been noted on the website.


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#5 Yvon Gonthier

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Posted 09 May 2018 - 11:47 AM

Maybe it's not an automatic Tom but more of a setup like Batch Pdf from Softplan?



#6 Heath Foster

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Posted 09 May 2018 - 01:00 PM

I can see the advantage in that there is no chance of someone printing an out of date pdf. Cute pdf printer does this already and can be used with Softplan.
But why must you print a pdf??? You can just print the Softplan file it’s always live.

Never mind I misunderstood what he was asking for. A constantly live version of the drawing that is accessible to anyone as a pdf. This is not possible with Softplan. You can share a Dropbox folder or the like but you have to remember to update the pdf after any changes.

#7 Tom Rogers

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Posted 10 May 2018 - 12:00 PM

I agree.  Creating PDFs live is nice but can be difficult if a vender grabs something while you are at lunch and not quite done yet.  I like the way it works currently.  No need to get too smart.  My colleague has erased Chief as a contender.  Looks like it might be Softplan vs. Revit in the finals. :-)   By the way for the curious, they are moving from DataCad. 


"remember... what we are building today, should be what we want in the future"​
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www.residentialproductions.com

 

 


#8 Thomas Davis

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Posted 10 May 2018 - 04:34 PM

It sounds to me like this scenario if SoftPlan+ worked this way. 

​You create a plan set. The plan set is uploaded to the cloud. You give access to the cloud based plan set to a vendor. The vendor prints a pdf from the cloud based plan set.
​The plan set should always consist of your latest greatest drawing files, therefore vendor gets updated set automatically.

 

What you described in the CAD world sounds like an XREF (think Plan Set) to the latest drawing files. The PDF still has to be created from something.



#9 Gary McKeon

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Posted 12 May 2018 - 04:54 PM

I think you summarized it well Tommy. PDF still has to be "created". Not sure how much easier it can get than what Softplan already gives us. Tom, if the choice really is between Softplan and Revit there really is no contest. I cannot for the life of me wonder why anyone would want to use that program for residential work. It boggles my mind! I have the 2016 version and I have recently revisited it just to see why so many people are switching over to it and I can state, without any doubt, that it isn't because its a better program. Does not even come close to being as user friendly as Softplan is. What it DOES have going for it is Autodesk marketing and convincing all of their users and upcoming students that, because it is one of their products it is the best out there and everyone is playing catch-up to them. They also allow unlimited free usage for students and veterans (anything that is printed has a watermark you can't get rid of till you purchase it). Learning curve is pretty steep as well.



#10 Tom Rogers

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Posted 14 May 2018 - 07:23 AM

I totally agree Gary of your thoughts on Autodesk marketing.  Though will have to admit it is a good marketing plan. Get all the ants to follow and no one will know better


"remember... what we are building today, should be what we want in the future"​
Version 10 to Version 2024+ and beyond
www.residentialproductions.com

 

 





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