Replies

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Nov 19, 2003 01:43am | #1

   as far as i know.. the big 3... Chief, Softplan & Vectorworks and most of the others all allow you to design partial buildings.. they just look funny

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

2. 
   Piffin | Nov 19, 2003 03:46am | #2

   Any part you want with Softplan.

   I usually draw the wall that the addition will abutt at least. One reason is that I will be doing something to that wall, window into a door or close off a window openning altogether.

   Tou can select materials items and objects to identify whether to include them in the materials list or not.

   Frankly, the more I think about it, one would be negligent as a designer if he did not draw at least the exosting portion that abutts. Otherwise, ther is no way of locating the addition for elevation or plan dimensions.

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

3. 
   mmoogie | Nov 19, 2003 04:29am | #3

   Tim,

   Vectorworks. Litereraly 5 minutes to drw this, export a jpg, and post it.

   Steve

4. 
   mmoogie | Nov 19, 2003 04:48am | #4

   Tim,

   Vectorworks. About fifteen hours to measure existing structure, and then draw the two blank boxes that represent the existing structure with the hand-detailed greek-revival entablature and columns done pretty accurately, and the sun-room addition. For concept only. 1st draft.

   Steve

1. 
   JerraldHayes | Nov 19, 2003 05:34am | #5

   Hey Steve great examples! BUT (and that's a big but there) how long did it take for you to understand and get proficient enough with VectorWorks to be able to do that kind of work so quickly.

   My point being that Tim or anyone else who looking for CAD shouldn't think that if they buy a program like that that next week they'll be able to draw a simple model like you first example in just 5 minutes.

   ( I do VectorWorks work in spurts every couple of months and even then I find that every time I've been away from it for a while it takes me a day or so again to get back into it again and remember just how I used to do things. But then again that's happens to me whenever I stop doing carpentry for a while too. I go back to it and that first day when I'm reading the tape measure upside down everything I cut is a half an inch too short. God I hate when that happens)

   But then again they should also realize that after they learn it how it can save them time and trouble makes the learning curves worth it all.

   View Image

   ParadigmProjects.com | Paradigm-360.com | Mac4Construction.com

1. 
   TLJ | Nov 19, 2003 05:49am | #6

   Thanks Mike, Piffin, & Steve.

   Great examples Steve.

   Piffin, you are right of course. What I meant to say what that I want the existing structure to stay distinct from the addition so that it (the existing) stayed static while I tweaked the addition.

   I've gotten the marketing package from Softplan. In fact, a salesman has been calling me trying to get me to buy it. Lucky I didn't give him my cell phone number.

   I haven't had time to even look at it yet. But it's one of those must do things to move my business along.

   Thanks everybody for your input.

1. 
   Piffin | Nov 30, 2003 05:55am | #9

   "What I meant to say what that I want the existing structure to stay distinct from the addition so that it (the existing) stayed static while I tweaked the addition."

   What you do is to draw the existing and save that drawing titled "original" or whatever. Then each adition or change you try, save as option "A", "B" etc. That method works wityh pretty much any PC windows software.

   Let that SP salesman catch you.

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   mmoogie | Nov 19, 2003 06:49am | #7

   Jerrald (and Tim),

   Yes that is a big "but". I started when VW was at version 4. I tried for months to teach it to myself to no avail. The manual was worthless. Fianlly got a third-party book, and it clicked. Also took a two-day seminar when it was at version 7 that really helped me learn how to use the classes and layers. I'm on version 8.5 and they have gone way ahead of me to 10.5.

   I use it sporadically (every few months or so), and it does take me some time to wrap my head back around it whenever I'm away from it for a while. I find that I'm even confused if I walk away from a drawing for more than a few weeks and then come back to it, because there are a million ways you can approach organizing the drawing, especially if you are doing option a,b,c, etc. I try to develop a methodic approach to organizing the classes and layers.

   I mostly use it for conceptualizing things for clients who can't visualize. I do have a project coming up that I have to produce full working drawings for a whole house for. If anyone has a good reference for what should be on such a set of drawings and how they should be organized, I would love to hear from you.

   I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to how long it would take to pick up VW from scratch right now.

   Steve

   Edited 11/18/2003 10:55:29 PM ET by STEVENZERBY

3. 
   BobKovacs | Nov 19, 2003 02:30pm | #8

   "I go back to it and that first day when I'm reading the tape measure upside down everything I cut is a half an inch too short"

   That's cuz you only cut it once, if you cut it again, it might fit- though it'll probably still be too short....

   Bob

1. 
   TMinor | Dec 09, 2003 05:55pm | #10

   If you cut it too short, just use the board stretching tool. That ought to do it. ;)