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How are we supposed to use this software at all without the ability to save to pdf?

subscription extortion

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#1 Ryan Nadeau

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Posted 02 June 2015 - 04:39 PM

How are we supposed to use this software at all without the ability to save to pdf?

 

This is blatant extortion. Forcing users to pay $45 a month for your subcription service just so we can use the software at all.

 

Has anyone found a workaround for this? Currently I am trying to print to a software that saves as a pdf, but this screws up the scaling on full sized plans and is slow and inefficient. I was in the process of switching to another design software because of the pathetically bad support and horribly limited framing / roofing options this software has, so I cannot bring myself to give them another $45 when I am about to junk their trash software anyways.



#2 Steve and Carla Farnam

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Posted 02 June 2015 - 05:09 PM

Ryan,

 

Maybe explain a little more what you are trying to save to PDF. I use the Softplan+ subscription, find it worth every dime.

All of my projects can easily be saved to PDF using Softplan settings. As to the roofing and framing options I can assure you

that you can frame as complex roof as you would like. This all takes some time and practice like any software. I am not currently

at my Softplan loaded computer but if you could send me an email with " Softplan Roof Framing" in the subject line I will be happy 

to send you some complex roof framing examples modeled in Softplan. After experiencing what sounds like similar frustrations when

first using Softplan I would encourage you to learn a little at a time as in the end I think you will be pleased with the results.

 

Steve    srfxc@aol.com



#3 Steve Haarmann

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Posted 02 June 2015 - 06:02 PM

What version of SoftPlan are you using?

Plan sets allow you to print directly to pdf.

If you have an older version of Softplan then a product like CutePdf is used by many.

 



#4 Keith Almond

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Posted 02 June 2015 - 06:42 PM

How are we supposed to use this software at all without the ability to save to pdf?

 

This is blatant extortion. Forcing users to pay $45 a month for your subcription service just so we can use the software at all.

 

Has anyone found a workaround for this? Currently I am trying to print to a software that saves as a pdf, but this screws up the scaling on full sized plans and is slow and inefficient. I was in the process of switching to another design software because of the pathetically bad support and horribly limited framing / roofing options this software has, so I cannot bring myself to give them another $45 when I am about to junk their trash software anyways.

 

Firstly, the ability to save to PDF is secondary to producing working CAD drawings. The people on site will NOT be building from a PDF, but will have hard copies of the drawings.

 

Secondly, There is ABSOLUTELY no reason to expect that any software NEEDS to save to PDF.

 

And thirdly, if YOU need to save to PDF, there are any number of options available to you. If you are using 2016 then Plan Sets has an export to PDF option (not sure about 2014, as I didn't use the plan sets then). If not, then installing ANY of the FREE PDF printer drivers will give you that ability.

 

No-one is forcing you to pay $45.00 per month for anything. That was purely your decision. Softplan have always provided DEMO disks for anyone who wants them. If you don't like Softplan, then don't pay for it!

 

If you are trying to print to a "SOFTWARE" that screws up the scaling on full sized plans, then use a different one. I have never yet used a PDF printer driver with Softplan that can't scale it correctly. I think that you will find that there's EITHER a box you need to check that's unchecked OR a box you need to uncheck that's checked.

 

"horribly limited framing / roofing options" ... Softplan is a full featured CAD system that is capable of detailing virtually anything that you can build. However, it's CAD --- COMPUTER AIDED DRAFTING --- with the emphasis on AIDED. You have to design it, and Softplan will draw it. You may have to learn how to use it first.

 

"Pathetically bad support" ????? With that attitude, it's a wonder that you get any support at all. Maybe ask nicely ....

 

Bottom line .... If you don't like it, don't use it. Buy something better ... Good luck with that!


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Keith

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

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#5 Martin Livingston

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 05:32 AM

Here are two screen captures showing two ways to generate PDFs . I hope it helps.

Attached Thumbnails

  • PDF capture 1.png
  • PDF capture 2.png

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#6 Keith Almond

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 06:09 AM

I suspect that Ryan ISN'T paying the extra for REVIEW, so that's probably not an option.


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

#7 Ryan Nadeau

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 11:55 AM

I am using 2014. The 1 year review just ran out and I no longer can save or export to pdf. The people on site do not use cad documents because they would normally use printed documents. Printed documents are generated by PDF's that are printed by a local printing company, NOT CAD DRAWINGS.

 

As for roofing options, ever try to do a parallel chord truss in softplan? It is literally the most simple possible roofing truss available and used very extensively in contemporary designs or basic industrial buildings. Softplan 2014 does not have the ability to generate this truss and over a month of emails back and forth with support shows that their staff cannot generate this either.

 

I have had so many problems with this software that support has not been able to help with. None of which are really that complicated. The fact that I now lose my ability to export to pdf without paying them a monthly fee (what I consider to be an extemely basic and common feature for pretty much every graphic or design software on the market) is beyond rediculous. It strikes me as a scam that you lose an essential function of the software that then requires a subscription. There is literally no other element of softplan + that is even worth a dime to me. So they are blackmailing you to use software you have already paid for by rendering it extreemly inefficient.



#8 Ryan Nadeau

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 12:09 PM

I appreciate the responses and attempts to help by forum members. I was hoping someone had a work around that I had not thought of. Printing plan sets to adobe pdf works, but not properly and it is very time consuming because it does 1 page at a time, and does not print to 24x36.



#9 Thomas Roman

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 12:15 PM

There are multiple FREE PDF printers available... CutePDF is one such option, and was mentioned in this thread.. it WILL print to 24x36, or any other sheet size, easy peezy... perhaps try BATCH PRINTING with these PDF print drivers?

 

Don't MSWord and EXCEL require "add-ons" to save to PDF? (they used to)...

 

This issue speaks to the way that Adobe has completely captured the market to be the defacto e-document format ... this was not always the case...



#10 Thomas Roman

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 12:21 PM

I am using 2014. The 1 year review just ran out and I no longer can save or export to pdf. The people on site do not use cad documents because they would normally use printed documents. Printed documents are generated by PDF's that are printed by a local printing company, NOT CAD DRAWINGS.

 

As for roofing options, ever try to do a parallel chord truss in softplan? It is literally the most simple possible roofing truss available and used very extensively in contemporary designs or basic industrial buildings. Softplan 2014 does not have the ability to generate this truss and over a month of emails back and forth with support shows that their staff cannot generate this either.

 

I have had so many problems with this software that support has not been able to help with. None of which are really that complicated. The fact that I now lose my ability to export to pdf without paying them a monthly fee (what I consider to be an extemely basic and common feature for pretty much every graphic or design software on the market) is beyond rediculous. It strikes me as a scam that you lose an essential function of the software that then requires a subscription. There is literally no other element of softplan + that is even worth a dime to me. So they are blackmailing you to use software you have already paid for by rendering it extreemly inefficient.

print companies DO NOT need PDF files to make prints..

 

Most print companies can direct you to the print drivers for their printers, and you can down-load those print drivers and "print to file".... I used to do this all the time... but now use FREE PDF print drivers, or ReView..


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#11 Keith Almond

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 12:23 PM

Don't know whether AutoCad now prints to PDF, but it never used to either.

 

I also have CutePDF on my system, and it's NEVER not been able to print a PDF to scale. Although I haven't tried batch printing, so I can't comment on that.


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

#12 randolph cohn

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 12:28 PM

i also use CUTEPDF and i once tested it's accuracy so

i printed pdf's using same drawing on 5 different pdf print drivers,

 

cutepdf was the most accurate but we're talking about a few inches off

over a 50' length

 

and "REMEMBER"  you don't measure with a hand scale on a drawing

or so we're told in architectural college.


randy

v10 to future 2016+ ;)


#13 Keith Almond

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 12:38 PM

......  The 1 year review just ran out .......

 

I'm really not understanding what you are saying here. ReView is a one shot payment. Once you have bought it, then you should have it forever.


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 Ryan Nadeau

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 01:04 PM

I guess we had a 1 year trial of the review functions. It no longer exists on my copy of softplan. I have tried 3 different print drivers for pdf. They all have issues for scale and method. I have no "batch print" function available. It copies each page to a separate file 1 page at a time and requires me to name them all, and once its done combine the files back to 1 file. The scale is always off, there is a wierd crosshatch issue with shaded areas. The whole print to pdf is a total fuckaround waste of time.

 

After an hour bouncing around the phone system of softplan they want another $400+ dollars for a simple feature that is absolutely standard with every other design software both architectural and graphic.

 

What a bunch of thieves.



#15 Thomas Davis

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 01:33 PM

I appreciate the responses and attempts to help by forum members. I was hoping someone had a work around that I had not thought of. Printing plan sets to adobe pdf works, but not properly and it is very time consuming because it does 1 page at a time, and does not print to 24x36.

 

I have noticed issues when exporting PDFs to Adobe as well.

I do have Review, but most of the time I use a PDF writer and have never had issues with scale.

I use PDF995  http://www.pdf995.com which installs as a print driver, just like Adobe pdf. The only draw back is the "batch" printing.

If I want all my PDFs in one file, I have to combine them using Adobe, but that only takes one minute to do.

 

PDF995 has a free version, but the paid version is only $9.95 and removes the pop up advertising windows during the printing process.

The free version has pop up ads (not watermarks) that get in the way and slows the process of creating PDFs.


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#16 Gary McKeon

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Posted 03 June 2015 - 10:19 PM

I have used CutePDF for many, many years and NEVER had a scaling issue. Used it with Autocad, Softplan as well as a couple of others. Sounds to me like its something on the printers end of things not having the correct settings. Again, NEVER had scaling be off. Still use it for autocad work. 

 

As for softplan not being able to do some different things yep, that is correct. It is also true of every single software out there. Without exception. I have found that if I can send an example to tech support of something I need to do, spd or dwg, and this is what it should look like then they have almost always been very receptive and helpful. A couple of things they couldn't get worked out though and I work around it. Parallel chord truss? Make one. You really only need one of them for your section so, until they are added to our truss profiles, just draw it manually. Not that big of a deal, really. If you are looking for a software that can do everything, well, good luck with that! Doesn't exist. Lots of good friendly help right here for any situation you might need assistance with though.



#17 Ron Globke

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Posted 05 June 2015 - 07:46 AM

I have used the pdf995 for years and through many versions of softplan.  It seems to me to work the best, and has all sizes of paper already set up.   http://www.pdf995.com.


Softplan User Since 1996 (Softplan 2016+)


#18 randolph cohn

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Posted 05 June 2015 - 02:16 PM

i've also never had a scaling problem using any of the pdf printers and i've used at least a half dozen.

 

i take that back,  when i tested a few pdf printers one time using the same drawing,  i was a couple of inches off in about 50' (1/4") but i can live with that.

as long as you have a dimension on the drawing,  there should be nothing to worry about unless your construction crew

measure the drawings.


randy

v10 to future 2016+ ;)





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