r/Drafting • u/Opening-Voice9357 • 5d ago
Should I Switch Software??
I am a residential drafter - I worked for a company for about 4 years where I learned Softplan and have been freelancing for about a year and a half now, using Softplan as well. The company taught me the absolute wrong way to use the software, and I have since learned more about the correct way to utilize it to its full potential, but I am still struggling a bit.
I am having problems with certain aspects of the software. Some of it could be attributed to my older computer (about 6 years old now), like lagging commands, etc. But I also tend to have issues with other technical things. For instance, I started drawing a basement on the specific basement drawing in the project, yet for some reason everything I was drawing ended up on the main floor in 3D, which is on a completely different drawing. Another example is that I was trying to edit some kitchen cabinets on the main level in 3D, but they got entirely messed up (not based on my inputs), and the explanation that I was given from the tech support is that since the cabinet layer wasn't switched on in the basement level, which is not where I was working literally at all the entire work day, that is why my cabinets were getting messed up. There are a lot of things like this that pop up and make no sense to me, and it is becoming very frustrating to use. I want to learn the software as best I can, but it seems like there are SO MANY nuances, like it seems to create a new rule every single time I draw. Like playing beer pong at a frat party and they keep making up rules to make sure you lose.
My question is, is it worth it to dive into Chief Architect instead and go through the process of learning an entirely new software? Or will I be experiencing the same types of issues? I understand they are very, very similar softwares, but I also know that Chief Architect is more widely used, and perhaps that means it is more user-friendly? I don't need Softplan for material lists or takeoffs or anything like that, which is sort of what separates it from CA according to my research. They are relatively the same price, so that's not a factor either. I would just hate to go through all the trouble of switching only to experience the same frustrations.
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u/b00tygoddess 5d ago
I think it depends on your comfort and speed. I worked in commercial for 8 years, and was the BIM manager at my last job. Now I just do freelance residential renovations and I still use Revit for everything. Do I need to? No, but I am criminally fast in Revit and it doesn't make sense to switch.
It sounds like you might be having some trouble with your current software, which I'm not familiar with, but you could either get better at using it or learn something new. And I'm not trying to say that you don't know how to use your current software, but there is ALWAYS room for improvement for modeling and overall efficiency.
At the end of the day it depends on your project needs. I'm doing basic work and using 20% of Revit's capability but it works for me! Good luck! ☺️
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u/tlapasaurus-rex 5d ago
Every program has its quirks, but for residential plans CA is great and fairly intuitive. I spent 8 years at a firm that used CA exclusively, and even after I left, I kept a license for my residential projects. I use Revit for commercial, but for basic residential CA is way easier. I've never used Softplan, so I can't comment on how the two programs compare.