I recently acquired Chief Architect 7.0 from my cousin who upgraded to version 9.0. I have always want to try to utilize the capabilities of a CAD package, but couldn’t justify the expense. Now I have the package to try out and I am struggling with it. First I tried to use it for a basement remodel and found that it just wouldn’t let me put in the interior dimensions that I needed to layout the room. After several hours of trying I gave up. I now have a screen porch and deck to design (simple enough projects so I thought) that I would like to create drawings for. The client is interested in exploring stick built and post and beam versions of the project. Again I thought CAD my be a good solution but again I struggle to create a simple plan.
Does anybody have any advice or experience using Chief Architect 7.0? I am at the point where I can’t see investing any more time using the trial and error method of trying to figure this package out. I am kind of desperate to get on board with this capability because I can see (theoretically) the value of utilizing a CAD package but this stuff isn’t all that intuitive. My goal is to be able to sit down and use the CAD package in place of drawing out everything on grid paper and be able to quickly generate elevations, and different views to help educate and “sell” the project to a client. Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
Replies
mad... if you acquired it from your cousin.. did you transfer the license from ART?
if not , you have an illegal version of Chief......
version 7 was pretty user friendly.. and there is a good CD training set available.. but you are going to have a hard time getting support unless you have a valid copy
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike thanks for your reply. Licensing details concerning ART can be worked out if I can utilize the product, but I obviously haven't determined that yet. I am simply trying to decide at this stage whether I should invest any further time in this product. So far my experience has not been positive. I was really trying to get a little feedback on whether or not this product is worth the additional upfront learning curve and what experiences others may have had with Chief Architect 7.0 as well as any resources that might be available to help realize the benefits of this tool. If I can utilize the product, I would certainly take the necessary steps to have the license assigned to me or purchase outright.
mad.... the flame is worth the candle... i started with Chief 5.0... some things that were so difficult then are uncommonly easy now...
each version continues to challenge the learning curve.. but that is for the new things incorporated in each version..
i've talked to lots of people about the pros and cons of the most popular 4... Autocad.... Chief.. Softplan... and VectorWorks.. there are other programs out there but none with the installed base of those 4.. the consensus among those who have worked with all of those 4 is that Chief has it's problems.. but it will generate construction drawings faster than any of the others..
my surmise.. Chief And Softplan have about the same learning curve... Vectorworks is a little harder.. and AutoCad harder still..
so.. unless you want to go backwards and get into something like 3D -HomeArchitect.. Chief is a good choice..
now.. as to the licensing.. i don't know how yhou can possibly work that out with ART...the used to be one license.. your cousin's (?).. he still has his and is using a newer version.. his old version cannot be transferred unless he gives up his license..
if he wants to transfer his license to you , ART will facilitate that.. sometimes people decide they no longer want to continue to use Chief ( they may have built the house of their dreams and never use it again ).. or they switched to a company that uses something else... this is when ART , for a cmall fee, will TRANSFER the license.. they will not take one license and turn it into 2..
unless of course, i'm wrong about thisMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
re: the license issue. If the cousin bought a new copy of version 9, and did not upgrade, doesn't the original license for 5 stay with that disk? The cousin would have received a new license for version 9. If the cousin upgraded, then Chief would have asked for the disk and software lock to be returned.Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
no.... that's not the way Chief works.. when you upgrade , you can keep the old versions.. and some have software locks.. some have hardware locks ( user choice)..
theoretically you nmay want to archive version 5 plans and have the ability to recall them and print out original copies ( theoretically)..
typically .. most users will run the previous version for about 6 months to a year before fully switiching over to the new version..
various projects are in various states of competion .. also .. there are some license holders thta have numerous licences and work stations.. i have 3.. some have twenty... most have one..
but it is strictly on an honor system that when you upgrade you do not give or sell your still viable older versions.. lately , this has been getting more and more attention from ART and from the user groups... without a doubt... the user groups want Chief to succeed and continue to support the softwar and produce upgrades.. if unlicensed versions proliferate , that will weaken any softwares ability to suvive..
i started with Supercalc and Wordstar .. anyone know where they went ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike thanks again for the feedback. Long ago (back in the early eighties) I used to work for the company that was one of the original competitors to AutoCAD. The products were “Personal CAD” (P-CAD), then “CADVANCE” and I was actually able to use those products. In any case, I totally understand where you are coming from regarding the licensing issue. Since my current work is remodeling, renovation and some new construction (garages, decks/screen porches...) I have been on the fence about whether or not CAD would be worth my while. So my somewhat well-to-do cousin who bought the version 7.0 package with intent of supporting his "developer" hobby offered me his older version to try out I said why not. My alternative was to plunk down a $1500. My wife/accountant would not approve that expense unless I could prove to her, like all tools, that it was worth the investment.
Unfortunately, the only time I have currently to experiment with CAD is after work or on the weekends when I am either tired from the workday or have chores, kids, honey-do-lists … competing for my attention. To try to make a long story short, I just wanted to determine if this is the right product for me based on ease of use and the type of work I do before I laid out the cash.
It sounds like you, Crosscutter and USANigel have had success with the products based on your comments and encouragement. Thanks much for the feedback I was looking for. I will try to carve out some quality time to dedicate toward the creation of a successful plan to see if I can ignite the flame without burning the candle at both ends. I think what I am hearing is that the commitment to new approach has to be a serious one and is more of journey than just sticking a couple of toes in the water. What I feel like a need at this juncture is a day or two. How did you learn the package?
mad... i had a beta version of autocad back in about '84... drew the space shuttle.. some blocks.. anyways.. i soon came to the realization that learning and becomming and staying proficient in autocad was going to take a lot more time than i could devote to it.. so i gave it up and went back to my drawing board
along about '97 i was feeling pretty frustrated with my board.. the thing about a board is you can only put one project and one drawing on the board at a time..
i looked around and went to JLC live and looked at softplan.. vectorworks and chief.. i chose chief.... bought it and maybe a month later i actually loaded it ( in between aligators )...
had an addition to do..and chief didn't like different floor levels.. this one had about three on the main floor alone..
i went to Maine and took a 3 day course.. learned enough to get my drawings out the door... that was vs. 5.0..
vs. 6.0 had some great VHS tapes by a private contractor .. learned a lot from those
vs. 7. had a training tape or cd ( i can't remember which) but it was pretty good.. you could actually learn the program fro the training aid... get a hold of it.. and stick with it.. Chief really is the fastest and (relatively ) easiest of the bunch to get results from..
you may never become a power-user.. but you can get some very impressive construction drawings out the door..
between chief, my digital camera, and my 24" roll feed HP DesignJet 500 printer.... i can make presentation drawings that sell my projects all by themselves... once you get on board. you can keep upgrading... the big printer with color capabilities is a great sales tool that will fast pay for itselfMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
As you have been using Chief version 7 to see if you like it! There is a section to select interior measurements, I'm using version 9.5 so I don't remember where it is. (seems to move with every version) I think Chief is aimed at new construction, however it does give some great results for the 3d views and i have used it for plans for permits without problem.
hi
its deffinelty worth learning !!! go into the edit tool and click on the defaults ( i think ) in there another menu will pop up and it shouls say surface etc click which on e you want or better yet call your cousin and ask i am using 9.5 in that program you can change the walls by clicking on the wall & the opposite dimension line !!
sign up for the chief talk vbullitein its a good source !!not the egroups !! they e mail you very day :(