Revit vs. Softplan
Chris Volk
company.
Now the two drafting departments are trying to figure out a software
platform to use, that will fit the best.
Softplan is the CAD program used by the other home builder.
ADT is the CAD program they use (They are not thrilled with it so are open
minded to a change), and are very interested in Revit.
My question:
Has anybody had experience with both programs they could give a fair
comparison between Revit and Softplan?
Thanks!!
--
Chris Volk
v.valentijn
Softplan probably misses... Revit is very compatible with Acad dwg format,
it keeps layers and stuff. Since the most commonly used CAD sofware is Acad
this is a great pro when you need to exchange files with third parties...
"Chris Volk" <cmvde...@tds.net> schreef in bericht
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v.valentijn
It does look very much the same as Revit... from the look of it even the
methods and results are almost the same. What I couldn't find indeed was..
the compatiblity with other CAD formats.. development of the Softplan
software into the future.
The only reasons to choose one or another seems to be those issues [though I
have never really -worked- with Softplan I cannot emagine.. no.. it is
impossible that it would be any easier or faster then Revit is... Oh, the
renderings I saw on the site look better in Revit I think]. So.. I would say
Revit is probably the better option since it is supported by Autodesk and it
is quite obvious they will have a better chance at making your products as
compatible as possible.. also.. they will survive and continue to develop..
I'm not so sure about Softplan, it probably can't compete with Revit simply
because of the hugeness of Autodesk [it sucks.. but it is probably so]
good lukc with your choises, hope this biased view helped you a little bit..
"v.valentijn" <v.val...@ithema.nl> schreef in bericht
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Greg Cashen
packages in use by contractors, design/builders and residential designers
(read not architects). They are both inexpensive compared to Revit. The are
both very Residential oriented. I know for instance that softplan generates
pretty good cut lists for timber framing, and contractors REALLY like this.
The also generate those neat framing plans, elevations, 3D drawings that
Revit does not...maybe not so important if you're an architect and can
visualize what you have designed, but VERY useful to builders. I think that
Softplan has an add-in that does estimating that is supposed to be pretty
good.
Softplan has been around for some time. I would not expect them to go out of
business or not survive simply because they are not owned by Autodesk. You
can get Demos of all of this software, so you should really try them all out
before making any decision.
The impression I got, and one of the big reasons I went with Revit, was that
the others are TOO residential focused and that limits the applicability.
Also, Revit's families make it more powerful than any of its competitors by
several orders of magnitude as far as I'm concerned. I have done
architectural, civial and structural projects in Revit. I don't think the
others have this flexibility at all.
Greg
"Chris Volk" <cmvde...@tds.net> wrote in message
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Chris Volk
Revit.
Softplan has a cost estimating program that links with Timberline, which is
a not available with Revit
Both programs can read dwg files.
I agree with you on Autodesk and the amount of resources that they are
putting into Revit.
That could help increase the productivity of Revit (estimating)
Just wish I had that crystal ball......................
"v.valentijn" <v.val...@ithema.nl> wrote in message
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Dean Klear
problem with SoftPlan is that each drawing is one level of the house, and it
extrapolates info from the 2d drawing to create a 3d model. Sections,
elevations, and anything that is _not_ a floorplan is not "live," that is to
say, if you generate an elevation, and then move a window, any extra things
like hatches, shutters, or line details do not move with the object that was
edited.
It does have an amazing cost estimating system, and I was able to develop
formulas inside of SoftList to generate very accurate material lists. It
also has an impressive automatic framing system, and I've thought about
exporting walls to SoftPlan from Revit just to save some framing plan
legwork if I ever have to do one again. (God bless commercial work).
However, Softplan isn't nearly as accurate, powerful, or easy to manage as
Revit, so I would recommend it even if you're only doing residential
drafting.
-Dean
"Chris Volk" <cmvde...@tds.net> wrote in message
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David Hogan
> company.
> Now the two drafting departments are trying to figure out a software
> platform to use, that will fit the best.
> Softplan is the CAD program used by the other home builder.
> ADT is the CAD program they use (They are not thrilled with it so are open
> minded to a change), and are very interested in Revit.
probably the way to go, for reasons given by others.
Scott Robinson
software for design builders from Cadsoft. It is based on Acad. so their
will be no issues with .dwg
Scott
"David Hogan" <da...@designscienceinc.com> wrote in message
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Dean Klear
build with, and you only build residential, then SoftPlan isn't a bad
choice. If you do any houses in the 400K+ range, Revit would be a better
choice, because you can actually be creative with the software.
For instance, if you wanted a site plan with multiple levels (say a garage
two feet below the level of the house) it would be a red nightmare in
SoftPlan. Trust me.
Softplan does residential cookie cutter houses probably better than anything
else on the market, and I'm starting to wonder if it's one of the
contributors to the bland reality in the suburbs these days. It's not a
creative tool; it's a manufacturing tool.
-Dean
"Scott Robinson" <robin...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
Mel Persin
been working with Revit since the beginning of this year. I have used
AutoCAD since the early 1980's and worked with ASG, then Softdesk
AutoArchitect from the late-1980's through the mid-1990's. In the
mid-1990's I started working with ADT and found it overwhelming to learn and
use. the ADT basically became just another vanilla AutoCAD seat.
Since the beginning of this year I started a major multi-family low rise
residential project in Revit 5.0 and have since finished two additional
project, one a twelve hundred square foot addition and the other a major
single family residential remodeling project. Revit handled the project
from site development through client and city exterior review presentations
and through all of the revisions that were driven by solving design and
detailing issues and client changes to their program.
Creating a framing plan was not great effort, although it was not
parametrically connected to the building model, but merely a 2D layout for
resolving headered openings and vertical egress.
The Autodesk Revit solution will only get better and provide many of the
features so actively discussed and wish were apart of this software.
For centuries building artisans then AEC professionals hand drafted on a
myriad of sheet media. CAD emerged in the 1960's running on very expensive
main-frame computing systems with equally expensive output devices driven by
users who had to be both designers and programmers. When AutoCAD first
emerged into the PC market in the mid-1980's it provided a new and
inexpensive electronic solution for hand drafting that could be learned and
used by our entire profession. CAD did have an impact on the productivity
and quality of our drawings, but it is a small advancement of the
architectural process and coordination of our documents over the hand
drafted sheets of twenty years ago. Today, even clients, developers,
builders and trades are using AutoCAD to interface with the AEC
professionals.
Many of us AEC professionals have tried a variety of AEC CAD solutions over
the past fifteen years, none have fully addressed our design needs and few
improved the process of coordinating our production drawing or fully
utilizing the information embedded in the CAD database. Most programs only
scratched the surface of providing us features and tools for this new
millennium to be competitive and productive. Autodesk Revit is a program
that delivers the features and tools architects need to be creative, yet
productive; to develop a coordinated set of drawings, yet eliminate errors
and redundancy; and provide a working environment for multi-users, yet
maintain a high degree of interoperability with other CAD and graphic
formats.
Autodesk Revit is the program on the threshold to shed a new light on the
design and documentation process for AEC professionals.
Mel Persin, Architect-AIA
Planning/Design & CAD Documentation
Network/CAD Management & Training
"Chris Volk" <cmvde...@tds.net> wrote in message
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arkatek
and very complicated...
Not for the weak of heart, as they say...
It has good built-in framing and estimating routines, but again, it will
take a long time to learn all it does...
I say use Revit...
Ted
"Scott Robinson" <robin...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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T Olsen
"Mel Persin" <mel...@ameritech.net> skrev i melding
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Douglas Johnson
Douglas Johnson
Architect
"Liberty means responsibility. That's why most men dread it."
--George Bernard Shaw
"T Olsen" <thoo...@online.no> wrote in message
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jerry
Archicad may do framing plans but not much else. I recently joined
a firm that uses archicad 8, it is a nightmare to learn and does
not come close to Revits capabilities. I have used Revit for two
years, it is really painful to have to regress and use inferior
software like archicad. Your best bet is to stick with Revit, it
has the most potential of any cad program out there.