Quirky - that is what I am talking about

[Ron Ravenscroft]

Looks like this thread is nearly dead, but I think it served its purpose. Chief Architect is awesome! but, we would like to see:

1. Better line control - primarily line weights.
2. Better interface - more modern and better thought to the tools.
3. Better 2D tools in general. This would include what 2D tools can do like map images.

...and if CA wants to come up with a better naming scheme that would be cool, but not high on the needed list. I think that would be better for CA as a company and make architects feel better their software is not just a light upgrade to what their own clients buy at costco. It just happened the other day, a local builder asked me what I used and I didn't mention CA. If the naming thing can change I think many of us will come out of the closet.

I think that Chief coming from an orgin of "House Building" makes it difficult for them to see what you and others have been talking about. As Architects we want to show a design concept of a project as Johnny as shown us. Vectorworks and other programs come from the design side of things. I not sure the present Chief code will allow that, in many ways we are talking about apples and oranges. I fnd myself printing an elevation line drawing, applying makkers then scanning it for a presentation. I have tried the watercoler template but find it limiting.
Chief is still the fastest way to draw a plan, add a roof, and do elevations. I'd love to see the next step in the near future.
Thank you all for a great discussion. We need more like this.

[fcwilt]

in many ways we are talking about apples and oranges.

I believe you are correct. But I think we may be dealing with a change in technology\culture\something.

Think back to the time when scribes labored over desks, copying books by hand, doing beautiful illuminated letters. Now we have printing presses, publication for the masses at low cost, publications scanned into computers and delivered via the internet to e-book readers. Cost, not beauty, drives the mass market.

Blue prints were once blue, then one day along came Xerox and things changed.

Folks used to talk on phones, now it seems, sometimes, that texting is taking over.

The artistic element of this business may be facing a similar change with the advent of fast computers, ink jet printers and software like CA.

I don't think most builders care if someone labored with love and care over a beautiful set of plans - they have work to do and as long as the plans allow that, they are good to go.

Someone, who's name escapes me, said something to the effect that things need to be adequate to the task at hand and no more.

When it comes to providing visuals that allow the customer to understand what is to be built and documents for the builder that allow him to do his job, CA is more then adequate.

In very broad terms the question becomes, does the world, at this point, need anything more, to do what needs to be done?

[johnnyprc]

I don't think most builders care if someone labored with love and care over a beautiful set of plans - they have work to do and as long as the plans allow that, they are good to go.

Taking the drawing appearance out of the argument, its my assertion (along with most architects) the process and attention to these details will result in better design/architecture. Allowing yourself to be engulfed with how everything looks speaks to the kind of work someone does - inevitably resulting in better everything. Call it: honing a meticulous nature. Better drawings also convey better instruction, and could very well lead to the builder grasping something better than he otherwise would.

Also, we are just asking for the tools to make the choice. Programs like Vectorworks, Revit, and others do this - why can't CA. How difficult is it to include better 2d tools? CA does the more difficult things well, I think they can spend a little time on improving things architects would like to see in this program. The comments on this thread show designers/architects would like to see CA improve their 2D tools.

[fcwilt]

Allowing yourself to be engulfed with how everything looks speaks to the kind of work someone does - inevitably resulting in better everything.

I understand that you believe this to be true - and you may well be right - however, based on my experience, I do not believe it to be true to a meaningful degree.

That said, I am ALL in favor of anything that will attract more customers to CA - so if better 2D tools will do that, let's add 'em - the sooner the better!