Replies

1. 
   Piffin | Jan 07, 2007 11:30pm | #1

   Punch isn't even in the same class as Chief or SP. I haven't used it but have read reviews and from users. I think I've only heard one say he was happy with it and that was stock type stuff - nothing custom. I would not consider it professional quality from what I've heard and read.

   Chief used to be slightly easier learning curve than SP.

   I use SP.

   Try our you advance search button off on the left to search CAD, Softplan, Chief, and Vectorworks to find previous discussions.

    

    

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   Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
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2. 
   blue_eyed_devil | Jan 08, 2007 01:22am | #2

   Punch and Home Architect (the scaled down version of Chief Architect) won't work for a "real" builder. I know, I've got both.

   I acutally like Home Architect. I learned it in one sitting.

   Heres a jpg of a simple floor plan that I whipped up for my school project. I don't intend to build off this plan, only to hand it to the architect as my concept plans. I could sketch them badly on a yellow legal pad, or I could use Home Architect.

   If Chief Architect is as easy as Home Architect, I'd suggest that. I got Home Architect as a trial drawing plan back when I had windows 95. I still use it for simple floor plans. It doesn't do such a hot job for anything else though. I tried Punch to see if it was better. It was better at elevations, but I didn't like it for floor layouts.

   For what I use it for, I'm satisfied having both of them. I've only invested about $50 total.

   Hey,  don't knock it...the local Zoning administrator thought my floorplan was excellent and it would be good enough to apply for a rezoning on  the 40,000 sf school project. We will need a plot plan though. Now, where did I say I put my Punch? I gotta get that plot plan done.

   blue

   "...if you just do what you think is best testing those limits... it's pretty easy to find exactly where the line is...."

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1. 
   txlandlord | Jan 09, 2007 02:54am | #8

   Not a bad plan blue. those would certaily work in rural Texas and the Hill Country.

   Attached is a Softplan floor plan for BuiltBetter to consider

   Opps, I forgot to attach the drawing.

   Edited 1/8/2007 7:03 pm ET by txlandlord

1. 
   Piffin | Jan 09, 2007 02:58am | #9

   forget something there? 

    

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1. 
   txlandlord | Jan 09, 2007 03:05am | #12

   Gettin old Piff, gettin old, but I seem to not be as forgetful as I wuz in da old daze when I wuz unda da influence.

1. 
   Piffin | Jan 09, 2007 03:45am | #15

   Nice layout there.Why the twin offices? His and hers conflicts? 

    

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2. 
   txlandlord | Jan 09, 2007 06:03pm | #18

   They are both academics, and they have no children in the house. He is a school superintendent and she is highly educated, serving as a social work counselor. Both hvae book collections and wanted private home offices. 

2. 
   txlandlord | Jan 09, 2007 03:02am | #10

   BB, here is a floor plan created in SP.

   On the Softplan users forum there was a poll done by AIBD (American Institurte of Building Designers) posted with AutoCAD, Softplan, Chief and another CAD program listed, adn who uses what program. Softpan was second to AutoCAD in the amount of users by only a few, with Chief having about 1/2 the users as SP.

   I have used SP since 97 and have the latest version. It does all I need and more, a great investment, paying for itself over and over. The support for SP and the users forum is great.  

   
3. 
   BillHartmann | Jan 09, 2007 04:49am | #16

   "Home Architect (the scaled down version of Chief Architect)"Not exactly.You are talking about Borderbund 3d Architect. It used to be a sub-set of CA. But starting at version 5 (IIRC) 3D Arch switched to a different CAD engine and it is very much different from CA.The "home" version of CA is now sold as BH&G Home Designer.It comes in several flavors..
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

1. 
   blue_eyed_devil | Jan 09, 2007 05:57pm | #17

   Thanks for clearing that up Bill. I kinda suspected that there were some significant differences because Mike claims that the learning curve for Chief is tough and Broderbund Home Architect was very easy.

   blue"...if you just do what you think is best testing those limits... it's pretty easy to find exactly where the line is...."

   From the best of TauntonU.

3. 
   nazard | Jan 08, 2007 03:08am | #3

   IMHO, Punch is a waste of money.

1. 
   stevent1 | Jan 08, 2007 03:34am | #4

   Punch costs less than going out to dinner. (Entry level $50)

   Chuck S

    

    

   live, work, build, ...better with wood

   Edited 1/7/2007 9:43 pm ET by stevent1

   Edited 1/8/2007 8:28 pm ET by stevent1

1. 
   Piffin | Jan 08, 2007 05:22am | #5

   Would you advise tryuing to build a house with a $2.49 hammer? 

    

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1. 
   stevent1 | Jan 08, 2007 05:36am | #6

   Probably. (Not)We had Auto Cad 2004 with Pro Ligna but most plots were done with Punch. Just too easy.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood

1. 
   blue_eyed_devil | Jan 09, 2007 02:09am | #7

   Steven, that's intersting to me because I recently had to draw some plots and I thought I tried Punch and couldn't get it to work for me. I ended up scanning and doctoring (with Paint!) some photocopy of an old survey.

   blue"...if you just do what you think is best testing those limits... it's pretty easy to find exactly where the line is...."

   From the best of TauntonU.

2. 
   MisterT | Jan 09, 2007 03:05am | #11

   U gotta spend at least 300$ on a hammer...

   and to think that I can remember when that was a big example of Gov. waste...Peace

1. 
   txlandlord | Jan 09, 2007 03:08am | #13

    

   U gotta spend at least 300$ on a hammer...

   Yea, one with a trigger attached to a compressor and hose.

2. 
   Piffin | Jan 09, 2007 03:43am | #14

   Yup. I've got a few of those $300 hammers. One has a hose that plugs into a compresor and two have little cans of gas 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!