If you want my two cents (and no one asked for it) I understand that ACA is an objects based platform, not a BIM (building information model) program like Revit or even Chief Architect.
I am a certified Chief nutter, just so you know my bias, and I have Revit all for my design and drafting business. Being as Revit is a truly BIM platform it is wildly different from ACA, when you change one aspect like a window or door all the elevations are changed and material lists change to reflect the update. In a word its great.
I find Revit a little cumber sum to use full time though so I mostly stick with Chief which gives me great construction docs and 3D renders.
Andy.
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Newbie here, but also a certified Chief freak with over 3000 posts on ChiefTalk. Unlike Andy here, this is all I have ever used so I am certainly biased. But over the last 10 years or so, Chief has taken me from very small-time design/build, through design/build of custom homes, and now full time into architecture covering residential and light commercial work. Have never had a good reason to go searching elsewhere too much.
Also a big fan of Kerkythea. I have free training videos for going from Chief to Kerkythea but they won't let me post a link till I reach 15 posts. Better get busy I guess.
I've tried many cad programs. I use turbocad. It is a 2D/3D program. It exports and imports numerous file formats. It has great support. Upgrades run about $125.00. I can give you multiple reasons why you might use it. I could also give you multiple reasons why you should consider outsourcing plan development to some one with experience and ability that actually enjoys cad work. It's never been easier and more affordable to collaborate. As a builder I used to try to do as many phases of the job as possible. I found out that some phases could be subcontracted and actually cost me less because the subcontractors specialized in their line of work and had tools, experience, resources, inventory and knowledge that I didn't possess. Food for thought.
HI mics_54, I use TurboCAD Pro 12, well I should say I HAVE it. I was thinking of upgrading to version 14 or 15 for the architectural tools which are not bad.
I sometimes covert to DWG in Chief then render the 3D model in TurboCAD for a little different effect. the Acis renderer is pretty good. I find the 2D cad tools a little difficult though, between ACAD, Chief, Sketchup and other cad programs I just don't have time to learn Turbo well enough I think.
I haven't been around for awhile because I've been spending alot of time with ArchiCAD.
I think it's a great program. You can learn it at whatever level you want. It didn't take me long to whip out some things quickly, but at the same time, the more you do with it the more you realize it's power.
pdf's can be created from many software companies out there, the most notable is Adobe. It's not CAD programs that make pdf's. CutePDF is free to download and you can print anything you want to a pdf. JPEG's I'd stay away from. Many people have their email set to block jpegs because they can contain viruses. All pdf is is a printer driver. It prints to a file.
Most people here would find SketchUp easy to learn and is good enough to limp along to get what you want. If you want professional, you will find it tough to do complete sets and have flexibility in editing your plans.
It's possible, yes. Is there better? Of course. Is it good enough for you? That's only for you to decide.
I would say most programs you can teach yourself in a month or two in your spare weekends to be good enough at it to at least make something decent. It all depends on what you are using the software for.
There are literally hundreds of CAD programs out there and almost all of them let you download trials of the software. If you download one and you like the feel of the program, go for it.
Does anyone use PUNCH home design platinum-16 Version #8 or have a review of it?
It may not be one of the best but I bought 2 at an auction and sold the earlier version on ebay and recouped my cash. I haven't really sat down and worked with it due to time constraints. But I'm sure there are a few folks out there who are considering it as a drawing tool.
It's available now for between $30-$99 But when I got it is was pushing $200.
I think the only thing I took time to play with was the Deck Wizard.
I have a nice set up I would like to share
I started with Home Designer Suite 6.0 from Better Homes and Gardens, a few years ago. I love this program. so as I got better I decided to try out better programs, I tried a few different programs, Punch 400, Auto cad light, Turbo cad, a few others
I finally realized that I have become accustomed to Home Designer, so I bought the 8.0 Professional for $500.00, wow what a program; I’m able to do so much more. The cad block is an upgrade from 6.0 program butt needs more options
On one of my jobs the homeowner was responsible for carpet so he got an estimate from Home Depot
This guy had the coolest tablet PC I ever seen, He had a distance laser that shot the numbers to the pc, all he had to do was set the correct orientation and move on to the next wall, and within minutes had a 2D layout of the second floor
Well I did some research and the pc was around $3500.00 and programs the same,
So I bought a Dell laptop, installed my Home Designer Suite 6 , and I had a cheap version of home depot, At this point I’m pretty good at the program, so I used it on my initial meeting with a prospective client.
Showing them a 2D layout of the new proposed addition and a 3d picture view from any angle, Helped my sales big time
When I get home I export 6.0 from laptop to 8.0 Professional on my main PC, where I’m able to make better drawings, keep in mind 6.0 is as simple as it gets, making fast walls and quick adjustments without a million different option buttons on my screen, like the 8.0
About a year later I was on ebay looking for a new hard drive, Dell GRRR, and found a cheaper tablet pc, $250.00, its better then the Dell laptop, but it’s not as rugged as the better Tablets
Oh I also bought a Palm hand held with the Zip Cad Program. It’s not for me, straight forward cad is too complicated for quick field floor layouts
I spoke to a design programmer at Chief Architect about making a program for the Plam. They told me they would research it as a potential option. Chief Architect called me back about a month latter and told me there’s not a high enough demand for such a program in a Hand held, I beg to differ
I have a used lap-top and Chief X2, I go to a clients house and set that up inside or out then take the measurements with a Fat-Max laser measure then input all the info there.
It'sa great system and very quick without having to have spent a bunch an on special Tablet PC or anything.
These are the current (and the first in months) drawings I'm doing for some carpentry work, the "existing" stuff, as a little outfit I love the program:
JF how easy is this program to use , and much is it?
I sat down today with a rep from Simpson Strong-tie today
They have a new deck design program, cost around $1800.00
Nice program just needs to be festerized
I don't really know how to answer the "how hard/easy it is to learn" question....it's all about how much effort/time YOU are willing to put forth...and of course we all have different learning capapbilities....but with chief (and maybe all the others)...you can play around with the program and see if it meets your needs before you purchase.
Thats why she works for me..!!!!
I don't really know how to answer the "how hard/easy it is to learn" question....it's all about how much effort/time YOU are willing to put forth...and of course we all have different learning capapbilities....but with chief (and maybe all the others)...you can play around with the program and see if it meets your needs before you purchase. 
Linear Mode
