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What Makes SoftPlan Better Than Chief Architect?

Started by Guest_nVisionTEK_Dustin_* , Dec 16 2018 11:27 AM

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#1 Guest_nVisionTEK_Dustin_*

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Posted 16 December 2018 - 11:27 AM

Hi everyone, I'm new here and would like to have opinions of ex-Chief Architect users on what makes Softplan a better choice.

 

I'm a current Revit advanced user, and have grown increasingly frustrated with how long everything takes, and almost zero residential content available OOTB. I've spent probably well over 1,000 hours developing really nice content, and still run into problems that should be a simple solution, but takes a long time of "engineering" to make a family (or what others call symbols). Revit is great if you are doing commercial buildings, or modern residential with flat roofs. Not so much for residential.

 

Anyways, I've been learning Chief Architect a few hours per week, and so far I like it. I feel it is very easy to use. Although after looking at the features of SoftPlan, I'm still not totally sure Chief is the best software for my needs.  Users on forums have all stated that it's better at pretty 3D stuff than construction documents. It is important to me to have all the tools necessary to create highly detailed attractive construction documents, while also showing attractive 3D views and occasional renderings.

 

I see SoftPlan can export to SketchUp and Lumion, which would solve that if I need to do high-end renderings. In Chief, when creating remodeling project plans, you have to create the existing conditions as a separate plan, and show it as a CAD detail. I'm used to Revit's phase features that allow me to chop up the house as detailed as I want to show existing, demo, and new not only in plans, but in elevations, sections, 3D, ect. Can you do that in SoftPlan with Building Options? Also, has anyone gotten annoyed with always having to right-click to edit anything in SoftPlan? I'm so used to just double clicking in Revit or Chief. Has the file management annoyed anyone, since SoftPlan stores views as separate files? What about SoftTalk? Is that as good as I would think it would be?

 

SoftPlan has their annual sale, so that is why I'm considering it right now.

 

 

 


#2 Steve and Carla Farnam

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Posted 16 December 2018 - 06:09 PM

Dustin this link may be helpful.

http://softplan.com/...ect-comparison/


#3 Steve Haarmann

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Posted 17 December 2018 - 07:12 AM

http://softplan.com/...rison/?hl=chief

 

This thread might help you ...


#4 Guest_nVisionTEK_Dustin_*

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Posted 17 December 2018 - 05:23 PM

Thanks. I did read those threads in the past, but I still would like feedback on my questions if you could. I can't find anywhere exactly how existing/demo/new phases are done using Building Options.

 

Are there any major features of SoftPlan that make it so much better than Chief Architect?


#5 Gary McKeon

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Posted 18 December 2018 - 10:21 AM

As with any program there are different ways of showing different things. In Softplan you can use layers, building options and different wall types. For my plans I don't think I would want any single drawing to show all the different walls: existing vs. new. I would have 2 different plans side by side instead. They would be 2 separate plans fully editable. With building options you view it one way, change the option and you have a different look- whatever that is. I know the effect you are talking about in Revit and, to me, I'm not impressed. I have the program but I don't use it. My preference.

 

As for being annoyed at right clicking to edit: for most everything there are different ways of doing any given command so you have a choice. Quite a number of different edit scenario's allows you to double click and edit. 

 

No matter what program a person uses you have to learn it's structure, system & commands. When you are changing or learning a different program you cannot expect the new program to work like the old one. There may be similarities but it isn't the same. So to hold the new program hostage to the workings of the old one will just limit your abilities on moving forward with the new. You also have to remember just why you are changing in the first place. 

 

Revit is an OK program but it is better suited for commercial work as you said. Chief is a very good program but it has its own way of doing things that may or may not work for you. Softplan is the same thing: a very good program that has its own way of doing things. Having used many different programs over the years I choose Softplan. It works for me and the tech support is top notch. One other thing is that Softplan does a pretty good job of importing and exporting dwg and dxf. Much better than the others. Hope this helps.  


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#6 Paul James

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Posted 18 December 2018 - 11:32 AM

One of the first things I did was set 'edit item' to a shortcut. Also, using the f keys for popup menus is very efficient along with other shortcuts.
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