Multiple users working on same plan in CA X7?


rwlang
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On 10/12/2018 at 1:03 PM, solver said:

 

Yes.

 

Draw initial model containing all floors.

 

Copy the plan and allow others to work on different floors.

 

Then, Copy/Paste Hold Position individual floors back to the base plan.

How are larger design build firms (with large projects) drawing their plans that have staff with multiple CA users? or is CA more geared toward single users per model

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What Eric (Solver above) describes can be done AFTER one has MANY TIMES practiced doing so using simple test plans BEFORE trying this simple, but exacting method on your main plan. This is done by ONE designated user on ONE plan (not multiple users on the same plan. In order for this to not be a complete disaster, each of the individual users would have to carefully and thoroughly get the actions down perfectly before you let them do this on their own.                                                                                                                                                                             BEFORE ANYONE DOES ANYTHING THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMPLETE, COMPETENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS BEFORE DOING IT ON THE MAIN .PLAN FILE, PERIOD.

 

To do otherwise is just inviting disaster.

 

As to multiple users working on a single floor plan together, you might call Chief Architect Sales about this and ask them that exact question. They do have specialized setups for networking Chief for classrooms but I have never heard of such a set up for commercial usage like in a design firm like you are asking about. Call them and find out from the SOURCE first, here all you will get is opinions, from Sales you will get facts.

 

DJP

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1 hour ago, solver said:

 

Chief is designed for single user operation. 

that's unfortunate. We are a high-end, unique custom home builder and we typically draw one house at a time. with a staff of 3 draftpersons it takes us 30-60 days to complete structural shell drawings and millwork/cabinet drawings. It sounds like CA may not be right fit for us. 

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You could try https://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilesync/ or "drop box" service to sync files between computers... Software will detect shared plan changes and update local copies...

 

But two people can not edit "shared" plan file at the same time.

 

I do not know how you guys work, I would: (1) make a copy of the shared plan (2)  change / update this copy plan (3) when ready open shared "plan file" and update it or copy your changes.

 

Software will update every user.

 

 

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1 hour ago, rwlang said:

that's unfortunate. We are a high-end, unique custom home builder and we typically draw one house at a time. with a staff of 3 draftpersons it takes us 30-60 days to complete structural shell drawings and millwork/cabinet drawings. It sounds like CA may not be right fit for us. 

 

Our bread-and-butter is high-end residential, though we also do commercial and institutional. We have several projects proceeding at any time, but we try to keep any single project with the same designer for the life of the project. Of course, this isn't always possible, but we try to limit project swapping. I guess the key is that all our designers are capable of carrying a project from design to construction drawings and through to completion of construction. Our inter-office collaboration is limited to structural calcs, MWFRS design, etc. Our experience is that projects don't fare well when they are shared in Chief; there are so many ways of doing things in Chief that establishing "standards" for the workarounds is impossible - and with custom, high-end residential, you'll need lots of workarounds.

 

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15 minutes ago, rlackore said:

 

Our bread-and-butter is high-end residential, though we also do commercial and institutional. We have several projects proceeding at any time, but we try to keep any single project with the same designer for the life of the project. Of course, this isn't always possible, but we try to limit project swapping. I guess the key is that all our designers are capable of carrying a project from design to construction drawings and through to completion of construction. Our inter-office collaboration is limited to structural calcs, MWFRS design, etc. Our experience is that projects don't fare well when they are shared in Chief; there are so many ways of doing things in Chief that establishing "standards" for the workarounds is impossible - and with custom, high-end residential, you'll need lots of workarounds.

 

how long does your typical home take to draw (ready for pricing)? we produce two sets of drawings for each home (structural shell and millwork/cabinetry) our plans have alot of building and wall sections, details, schedules and interior elevations.  a typical structural set may have 20 sheets with 20-50 millwork sheets

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1 hour ago, rwlang said:

how long does your typical home take to draw (ready for pricing)? we produce two sets of drawings for each home (structural shell and millwork/cabinetry) our plans have alot of building and wall sections, details, schedules and interior elevations.  a typical structural set may have 20 sheets with 20-50 millwork sheets

Nothing is typical, but 200 hours isn't unusual. My two most recent projects that are under construction were 59 sheets and 54 sheets: site & grading; foundations; structural framing and schedules; floor plans; finish plans; reflected ceiling plans; interior elevations; lighting plans; sections; details; and a fairly comprehensive specification. These are houses that take 12-18 months to complete, not including landscaping. Contractors complain about the size of the drawing sets, but when they call with a question I can usually refer them to a specific drawing sheet and detail because the situation has been anticipated. Chief saves time on the front end when we're producing massing studies and general layout, but we lose the time on the back end because Chief doesn't do sections very well, and the CAD tools are poor. We were on AutoDesk products for 20 years, then switched to Chief.

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if person A, B, C all need to work on the plan at the same time - Chief is probably not the software you need

 

If Person A works THEN person B THEN person C - Chief will probably work for you

 

probably best to discuss your needs with CA's sales team to get the best advice

 

Lew

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