Architectural CADD News by Software |
Last Updated : July 29, 2001
AllPlan FT
Nemetschek Systems Inc. ---- http://www.allplan-usa.com
Latest Version : AllPlan 16.2
Web Sites : http://www.nemetschek.com and for USA : CAD Consulting USA = http://www.cadconsulting-usa.com
Online Forum : http://www.webboard.org/%7E13
Note from Architectural CADD : ALLPLAN is a fully integrated, object-oriented, intelligent building design software for Windows 95 and Windows NT. ALLPLAN includes freehand sketching, 2D drafting, 3D design, solid modeling, animation, photo-realistic rendering, and quantity takeoffs all in one inclusive package. AllPlan is one of the most powerful and flexible architectural CADD programs in the industry, it is the number one software in several countries, including Germany. In Feb. 2000 Nemetschek bought the USA company that makes VectorWorks and created Nemetschek USA in Maryland, however, for demo, purchace, and support of AllPlan, you should call CAD Consulting.
Comments from Architectural CADD : AllPlan has had a tough time breaking into the market in the USA, despite its popularity in Europe and despite how powerful it is. In fact the developers were shocked in 1997 when architects did not snap up AllPlan in droves even after showing how vastly superior it is to AutoCAD. Some designers did get it around then, and still use it to achieve a competitive advantage. AllPlan, however, is not a snap to learn, and it really requires an enthusiastic effort and outside help to get going with it. The old versions before 16 also had a very clumsey file transfer with AutoCAD (where the whole drawing could easily end up importing into a single layer if you weren't careful). Thus, when Nemetschek closed their Mill Valley, Calif. offices in 1998 it was almost a death sentence for the software. A new, and enthusiastic VAR started rejuvenating AllPlan in Spring 2001. This, and a vastly improved AutoCAD file translator, show reasonable hope for AllPlan, and, at this point, AllPlan may again be a good choice for designers who need to do unusual designs where they need much more flexibility and design freedom than either ArchitecturalDesktop or ArchiCAD can give them.
Nemetschek also makes PalladioX (formerly Arch14), and add-on for AutoCAD
New Value Added Reseller for AllPlan as of Jan. 2001 :
CAD Consulting USA = http://www.cadconsulting-usa.com
Horst Allwermann
CAD Consulting USA, LLC
27175 Los Arboles, Carmel, CA 93923
831-626-0102 // 831-624-6912 fax
http://www.cadconsulting-usa.com
AllPlan, D-Board, Cinema 4D
Additional Contacts :
Richard Talbott (rtalbott@neteze.com) Richard H. Talbott, Architect, Talbott & Associates, 47 Loring Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941
415.389.6950 voice, 415.389.6961 fax
Ivan Bereznicki <bereznicki@mediaone.net> Ivan Bereznicki, AIA Architect, Cambridge, MA
617-354-5188
Sahad Akiska, AllPlan Consultant
Teaneck, NJ
201-836-2934 // 201-836-3824 fax
AllPlan Designers Group (Boston) ---------------------------------- http://www.architecturalcadd.com/allplandesigners.html
AllPlan Designers Group Support
News :
Feb 21, 2000 Nemetschek Systems Inc. buys DiehlGraphsoft. see full story.
Nemetschek has acquired 70% of MAXON Computer GmbH of Germany, to get into the software market for film, television and Internet.
Articles and Reviews :
AEC Tech News article on AllPlan 16.1 - Feb. 15, 2001
Review of AllPlan - March 1996
Architectural Design Software : A Comparison of ArchiCAD, AllPlan, and AutoCAD - June 1996
Testimonials and Comments :
Testimonial of an Architect Switching from DataCAD to AllPlan - March 1999
From: Naftali Flink <argfn@netmedia.net.il>
Subject: Re: AllPlanFT
<<< Since I do write reviews and give recommendations. I would indeed be interested in your opinions about AllPlan and how it has been so far switching from DataCAD. >>>
Hi Professor Langdon,
The following is the text of what I wrote my fellow Dcadders. In response to your specific question as to how it's been so far. I've been on Allplan since November of last year, or roughly 3 +/- months. Love it !! The programmability (shortcut keys) of the program make it very easy to use after Datacad. Someone else who switched from dcad to AP actually contributed to the AP webboard a file of "hotkeys" similar to Datacad's !! A lot of the drudgery has gone out of my work, really. My compliments to your fine article on Allplan from the past, they also played a role in my initial interest in the program. I think you were right on in saying that Allplan is a logical, even easy progression for a 3D-capable dcadder.
It ain't perfect, as I still wish that multi-line walls were able to be "thicker" on the outside lines, but then again, I probably will never get exactly what I want, unless I hire myself my own programmer, and sit with him/her from start to finish. But I get the feeling that firms like Allplan or ArchiCAD will get there a lot faster than the rest, certainly faster than Datacad !!! It's a VERY sophisticated, well thought out program.
But, on to my "review":
For what it's worth, I'll start off by saying that Mark Madura also wanted to know my main reasons for switching from Datacad to Allplan. So first off, what I wrote back to Mark, because it really is the essence of my decision.
Hi Mark,
I suppose that I simply gave up in believing that Datacad was capable of producing a program of the "intelligence" and capabilities of programs such as Allplan and ArchiCAD. To hear Datacad LLC described as "the dirty dozen", whereas Allplan claims to have 200 of their 600 man firm working constantly on the program, did not help much either.
Unlimited Undos and Redos, boolean capable 3D modeling, built-in Rendering programming w/sunstudies and shadows,, Parametric walls capable of multiple window inserts one on top of the other, in all shapes and sizes, digital terrain modeler, are just some of the many features available.. now .. in Allplan that made it so attractive to me.
I give Datacad all the credit in the world for a great program, ... for its time. But, something seems to have happened in the meantime, a brilliant program/programmers has/have fallen behind, and there's a LOT of catching up to do in so many areas. But,... go ahead, prove me wrong,... and come out with the best program yet !!! All the best, end quote
Now for just a few examples of the many advantages of Allplan ... TODAY... not in 5 years time.
Digital Terrain Modeler, After you input the 3D hites, either by points or by 3d Polylines, and you get a Mesh surface, Allplan gives you the option of creating a thin 3D surface model or a Solid object model of your site, like a wedge of cake, if you know what I mean. If you pick the Solid option, you can then perform boolean operations on it: combining 2 solids, subtracting one solid from the first, etc etc etc. That solid can be used as reference planes for determining wall hites. One can generate an automatic section profile of the DTM, one can do cut and fill, compute cut and fill.....
By comparison, re Datacad LLC's decision to go ahead with including a Site Modeler in the next v8.50, which I didn't really understand in the first place, as many of us, myself included, have already invested in 3D site 3rd party Macro, I find it hard to believe will come even close to Allplan's.
Allplan "walls" are the best in the industry, to my mind. Automatic healing... Multilayer "smart", so intersections of different materials are correct. No more seemingly endless erasing, one-line and two line trimming all the time.
When Allplan does a HLR image, it not only cleans up above and below any door or window, it automatically cleans up any "seam" line between different floors. In short, you get ready to print HLR image at the click of a button, every time, and FAST.
Extremely customizable keyboard, so that even though there are a lot of icons floating around to choose from, one need not use them. Plus "COM" technology, which means when you middle-button click on a Door or a window or a wall or a smart symbol or a stair, you get a menu on-screen list of Context sensitive commands relating specifically to that type of entity, and which Esc-key away with no problem of screen regeneration, whether you're in a textured rendering mode, or simple plan mode.
I could go on, but I think that's enough. I really hesitated a long time about this, as I really didn't want to have to start all over again with a new program, plus the pricing was a factor. For what I have in Allplan costs normally around 6000 USD, I got it for a "deal", as during the transition from V14 to the new V15, Allplan was "on sale" for 4000 USD. But at least I've got a program which costs like A****cad, but is really _worth_ it for Architects.
I'm a "one-man show" office. I don't want to make more money only to have it go for salaries, equipment, rental space because I can't do it all myself. I've done everything from interiors to Synagogues and ritualariums, Renderings, villas to mid-size Apartment buildings to sinple additions.
In short, it was a tough decision to make, and who knows, maybe I'll be proven wrong, and the geniuses at Datacad LLC will really pull another rabbit out of their hat, and come up with the best program yet. I'll willingly eat _my_ hat if that does happen. In any event, Good luck to all, do some _great_ designing !! Naftali Flink
About AllPlan posted to DataCAD forum
Postings -> datacad-dbug@world.std.com - Subscription help: eshu@world.std.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999
From: "Markus H. Geisler" <mhg@mhgeisler.com>
Subject: DBUG> Beyond 8.5
Hope this isn't too long...I'm really looking forward to the 8.5 features, I need them yesterday! And I'm looking forward to some speedy implementation of Spirit features; (and maybe ARCON too?) After reading Mike Smith's repost of the features he'd like to see I guess I have only one thing to say.
ALLPLAN
Before you flame me, let me say that I'm a confirmed DataCAD Architect and I don't intend on jumping ship in the foreseeable future. Especially when I would have to pay $5,000 US for Allplan; learn a new CAD system, and probably have to convert lots and lots of files, etc. I'm writing this because I really want DataCAD to catch up and hopefully take the lead. After seeing the new Allplan, I guess you could say DataCAD definitely has a lot of work ahead. (Then again, maybe not - maybe the Mb software deal will give us the jump we need!)
In explanation, I recently spent several hours with the local Allplan rep./architect. (He talked me into showing me the software even tho' I told him I wasn't interested in switching.) I was totally blown away.
What he showed me was the new ver.15 which is just coming out. It has most everything Mike listed,(tho' the massive interface really needs a facelift - the clean, low screen real-estate DataCAD interface is still superior).
Build the model first, generate the working-drawings from it. I tried to find stuff it just couldn't do. There are a few minor things I would like, but the depth of the program is amazing.
Right now, in my humble opinion as a CAD aficionado, Allplan is way ahead.
They're the ones to beat, and it's their feature-set that DataCAD needs to aim at. As far as I can see, for the things Architects want and need, they're ahead of everyone else with this current release. (I don't understand why they didn't win the last CAD shootout bigtime, unless ver.15 is SO much better then ver.14. The reps' comment was that they didn't feel the last shootout showcased the true depth of their product; just the front end stuff. I would have to agree.) When asked about their participation in this year's Shootout, the rep. was unsure they'd participate this year. (This was only a few weeks ago.)
If they don't, it sure leaves more room for DataCAD to shine!