mthd97

Yes Scott, it compares a big scope of CAD apps. How is the US or up over to us down unders?

Hey Scott, try this mate! http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_CAD_editors_for_architecture,_engineering_and_construction_(AEC)

Another waste of time discussion on Revit vs Chief. If you care to look at the history of how Revit came about, you might just see it as a marketing ploy to bring people back to Autocad Yes engineers do love Revit and Autocad because that is what they are used to, 2d cad. The engineers have a huge say in the commercial world and many ArchiCAD users have had to learn Revit for their sakes although they prefer ArchiCAD as Architects and is the better tool for them. AP design was a forerunner of Autocad Architectural desktop and then Revit came about after that. Check Wikipedia to find out the facts but in the end they were used to bring people back to Autocad.

Richard, I like that one allot. Don't get me started on Builder clients they are one of the most presumptuous forms of life existing. One of my Architect lecturers told us to watch for Doctor's and Lawyers as well. Yes I am paranoid after dealing with some of these monsters. I think we have had our fair share of bad clients. Richard, has some very good Ideas on handelling legal matters like these. My FIL is not a builder but he still thinks I owe him a bride price or something like that just for marrying his daughter and I guess we all have our monster outlaw story to tell. I don't fight them I don't let them waste my time. Never be desparate enough to accept any design or drawing job that comes along, we are better off doing some other work if it comes to that.

"Yeaha" I did now! If CA made the effort to do accurate 3d BIM import and export they would be hero's too and would introduce their product to a wider range of user's! Hand them the Ball!

Yes if you need very accurate costing and cut lists you still need to export your drawings to subcontractors to get an accurate cost. Chief could go down this line of program development since the cabinet function is fairly well developed.

If the Seattle Sea Hawks trusted Marshawnd Lynch more they may have not lost possession of the ball and won the Super Bowl by letting him rush the ball over the Touch Down line, a tried and tested method of yardage gain. Sometimes you try new things and they come off for you like the Sea Hawks Touch Down with only seconds left in the quater. Then you try it again and this time it gets picked off. That's how it goes sometimes with new things and some intances it works and in others it doesn't.

Funny Cartoon Lew, looks like he has reached MTBIM? True BIM is good as CAD companies have a target to aim for and some are very committed to reaching that Ideal and goal. For example the work put into 2d and 3d CAD translation tools by some companies is very promising and they do not throw it into the "Too Hard Basket" but keep working on it no matter the obstacles. Materials Lists and Schedules are all part of reaching the goal of good accurate and more complete BIM. So in the case of Commercial CAD more collaboration is needed than in low rise residential BIM so the need for intra operative BIM is greater in ArchiCAD, Revit, Bently and AutoCAD as they are predominantly Commercial Building CAD. So the onus is own low rise CAD is to provide a more complete package that can do the job on its own with little collaboration. BTW how good is the 2d dwg translation in X7? we need to be able to import and export CAD files both exploded an non exploded for better editing.

BIM is just a sales pitch in the end to sell some CAD programs. BIM in reality is a language of 3d visual communication of design Ideas. BIM in its computer language is not universal. CG BIM is more correct CG = Computer Generated. There is no such thing as complete BIM in the computer world yet and may never be in the current commercial world? Old fashioned BIM not computer generated is understood by most of us here since we were born in the hand drawing era. D BIM or Dinosaur BIM, I see my friends tree house, I cut down branches and make my own, ugg. My Brain BIM sees it and builds my own version. MT BIM or Mental Telepathy BIM would not need computers or paper, we could transmit our Ideas like on the "The Planet of the Apes" the episode after a nuclear war where mutants developed mental telepathy. Good thread Rod. Ed, very good Ideas for a ML suggestions lists, please do it. Doug, very wise to say we should ask for what we need. Good comments from all here, I learned some good things here. And Lew you need to be more specific about what you actually need as Doug says. I wonder what those who never used pen and paper will say about BIM in the future.

I have been using Chief for take offs for many years by using a spread sheet and inputting my data from my Chief working drawings. Once I have the model drawn I produce automatic framing plans for floors, walls and Ceilings and use polylines to measure area and draw in 2d items that CA does not automatically generate. Of course you have to do some manual work but at least if you do it that way it is accurate and complete and can be used as an order list. In X7 it should be easier with more items being labeled and of course with the use of schedules in from X6. If I was given a job at CA I am sure I could guide the program engineers to be able to get Chief to do the whole job but it would need an MEP modeler that can produce its own schedules. And the roof trusses would need to be engineered along with bracing and other framing elements that need the same as well as getting any concrete beams and floors engineered as well. That being said you can export your drawings into dwg to the engineers who do those above jobs. All this could be possible automatically by X10 with the right management and direction taken and then they would have all the home builders linning to buy it like hot cakes? Never under estimate the power of visual 3d feedback given by Chief. Even a built in checklist to ensure you have not forgotten any building parts could easily be done but you will still need a disclaimer for yourself and the software company because of human error.

You can put a skylight into a roof plane and make one that looks like a window. If I wanted sloped walls I would use another app that does it with ease for a house like that. For a simple house with a feature wall I would use Chief with work arounds as suggested by others here. X8 might have sloped walls in it if we persuaded administration as that is a very common feature in modern Architecture these days especially in the commercial field.

Hi Len the support number for us in Australia is an 02 number or NSW. Log in and go to the CA website and see it under contact us. I hope they can help you mate.

Things have changed over the last few years with SSA privileges? So did Lew get the beta upgrade to X7 option in his digital Locker? Or did he get an X7 beta trial and is there really any difference between both options? Or did his complaint prompt CA to release the X7 trial early? Is the X7 trial a beta version? Can we clear up the confusion here.

Depends what you mean by Spirit as it has a few different meanings? Yes, time comes when it is best to put a very sick pet down. Yes, it is very good to couple your pets, it gives them company when your not around. We all get sick to the point of dying so we are no better off than a dead creature. Not unless you happen to find a restoration of life and removal of sickness policy in fine print? But then we must comply with the terms and conditions of the policy so we don't void the contract?

Len, have you tried calling support yet? As they may need time to roll it out to all SSA current users if they are updating their policy? V4 was the first metric version I am told?

Putting a pet down or if one dies is like loosing a family member for some of us. We have to grieve in some way and it is not a nice experience. To lose your loyal design buddy would hurt allot. But I hope that having a new baby design buddy when you are up for it will help you grieve and feel a bit better I hope.

Good customer service is what keeps people on board and if policy needs to be adjusted to serve that purpose then good. Companies spend allot of money on advertising but good customer service is good advertising. Why not be fair and give a bonus to long time users or loyal SSA payers? If you keep SSA current for 5 year's straight why not give the next year for free as part of loyal use? If you are business smart you will avoid shooting yoursef in the foot by unfair policy.

Nice hiddem gems in X7, do we need to wait for a seminar to get the full picture?

To cut a long story short It looks like a ceiling plane issue to me and if one was placed in you could sovle most of these difficulties. Todd have you seen any of the training videos on ceiling planes as these might have saved you allot of time, that is of course if you knew about them in the first place?

Been on the beta team in the past but I don't mind waiting to see how advanced X7 will be? Stepped cross sections, has been requested and they have delivered it this time so they do listen. Keep on posting what we think is very much needed and we may eventually get it?

Thanks David, I also saw that the special discount on upgrades is extended till Jan 12. We might get more info by then I hope?

Lew, I was talking upgrade not SSA. I am partly retired at the moment but I do like to see CA improve like you. I hope you get some of your 3d BIM wishes before CAXX?

Was asking for some more sneak peaks, I have seen a couple of them but not enough for me to decide to upgrade yet. I think I will wait till CA puts out the full details before making a decision?

Yes about time, we have had stepped cross sections in other apps for decades now.

May we have some information as to what is in X7 so we can get the sale price please?