SoftPlan 2018: Major New Features.
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Live Schedules
SoftPlan 2018 includes the option to generate “live” schedules that automatically update as you edit items on the drawing or model. Likewise, any modifications made to the information in the live schedule will update the drawings and model to reflect those changes. According to your preference, live schedules can be turned on or off and include a new Schedule Properties menu that allows changes to be made to an existing schedule’s layout and information fields without starting the schedule generation process over again.
3D Preview
As you draw the plan SoftPlan objects are being generated in 3D, SoftPlan 2018 lets you see the immediate in-model results of your design
decisions while drawing and editing floor plans and other project
drawings.
As you modify a model drawing, the 3D Preview window updates to show those changes in SoftPlan’s rich Shaded mode. Basic mouse and keyboard camera controls can be used to quickly review the three-dimensional appearance of your work.
SoftList
SoftList
The biggest addition to SoftPlan 2018 is the real-time SoftList material estimator.
SoftList generates the material list live, meaning that the report updates automatically as the user designs and makes revisions to the project.
Easy to learn and use, SoftList provides immediate, accurate feedback on material quantities and cost estimates to inform design decisions throughout the project.
SoftList’s layout tools provide complete customisation over the report’s content, format, and appearance, allowing the user to create attractive material list and cost estimate reports that include a host of export and print options.
As SoftList can perform calculations from items on the drawings other use reports can be generated. SoftList is supplied with a variety of preconfigured, ready to use reports.
Some of the reports are:
- Lighting Load - Calculates the watts / m2 for 3 zones on the plans.
- Site Coverage - Reports pecentage of non - permeable area compared to total site area.
- Site Details - This Report displays values of length width and volume of site items where applicable.
These special reports are in addition to the Standard Summary and Detailed material report formats.
The header, image, and footer information is customisable to reflect your company details.
With Cursor Snap enabled and Projection Snap turned on, SoftPlan will automatically create a projection of the current cursor action when referencing a snap point on the drawing.
This projection acts as a preview to assist the action you are performing, which provides a more intuitive drawing experience.
Projection snap can be used for aligning items like posts, walls, symbols and electrical items to name a few.
Projection Snap locates the centre of the room so the ceiling fan can be positioned without the need to add and edit dimensions.
Projection Snap locates and aligns the stud walls so a post can be added in the correct position, without further editing.
The @ Project Information Stamps have been greatly extended to include:
- Client Information
- Builders Information
- Site Details
- Project Data
These information stamps greatly improve speed when used on Plan Sets as they link Project,
client, builder, draftmans, company and plan information to multiple print sheets.
If page numbers, contact details or other information is changed all print sheets are updated.
@DEVICE information stamp added - lists the name of the printer/plotter.
@GFA information stamp added - lists the name Gross Floor Area field from Project Information.
@PROJECT_ADDRESS information stamp added, lists as Street, City, State.
@PROJECT_BLOCK information stamp added.
@PROJECT_DEVELOPMENT information stamp added.
@PROJECT_ELEVATION information stamp added.
@PROJECT_LOT information stamp added.
@PROJECT_NOTE information stamp lists the contents of the "note" field from the Project Options dialog.
Information Stamps can be added in the middle of a line of text.
Information Stamps will wrap if included in a note set to wrap.
Another time-saving feature is the ability to save System Options as a file and then load those options when they are required for a drawing. Providing convenience and increased efficiency, saved System Options files allow you to quickly load particular configurations of SoftPlan System Options when you need them without forcing you to manually change your system’s default settings each time the circumstances call for it.
This is also a useful feature when setting up a second or third computer as it provides and easy way to copy System Options to the subsequent computers.
Cabinets
Extensive work has been conducted on the cabinets
SoftPlan 2018 offers an assortment of new cabinet features that will deliver an unprecedented level of cabinet customisation.
Greater versatility simplifies cabinet design while the addition of more details and options will help you achieve the cabinetry of your dreams in a shorter amount of time.
Here are some of the new cabinet features.
Cabinets
Add
Add Sink command - Adds a sink of your choice to the cabinet.
Add Tap command - Adds a tap of your choice to the cabinet.
Auto Cabinet
Auto Cabinet
Auto Cabinet placement improved on angled walls.
Crown Mold
Crown Mold profile can be edited after it’s added to the cabinet.
Crown Molding placement improved on cabinets with different depths and heights.
Face
Cabinet Faces are defined using Fixed Profiles. As the width of a cabinet face changes width of the rail or style remains constant.
Notice the constant position of the handle in the example, these cabinets are copies of the same cabinet edited to 225mm, 450mm and 850mm wide.
Split Face and Join Face commands added.
Modifying cabinet face layouts in elevation and 3D is very quick. Right click on the existing cabinet face to modify.
Flooring
Cabinets can be set to reference either the Finish Floor or the Subfloor.
The offset measurements will all be adjusted.
Height
Edit Height of a Wall changes Offset of cabinet leaving position unchanged, the top of the cabinet remains at the same height and the bottom moves.
IDs
Cabinets cab identified on drawings with an ID number rather than a name.
IDs can be added to the Cabinet Schedule.
Lighting
Cabinet Lighting displays in Electrical Mode. This makes it possible to add switches and connections.
Toe Kick Lighting added.
Crown Molding Lighting added.
Schedule
Cabinet Face vector drawing can be added to the Opening Schedule.
Symbols
Drawing a symbol beside or between cabinets is smarter.
If the symbol is close to the edge of the cabinet the edges align, if the symbols is closest to the center of cabinet the symbols aligns with the center of the cabinet.
Tall Cabinets
Tall Two Cabinet Faces added to defaults.
Wine Rack
Wine Racks added with the Shelf command.
Cabinet Hardware
Corner Cabinet
Corner (Blind Corner) cabinets only add handles to one door.
Default
Default hardware selections added to System Options.
Doors
Handles can be centered on a door.
Drawers
Hardware handles can be different on the Doors vs. the Drawers.
Cup style drawer pulls added.
A single drawer can have 2 handles.
Legs
Full Height Legs can be added.
Cabinet Shapes
Angle End
Angle End cabinet shape added.
Angle Face
Angle Face cabinet can be added.
Champhered Corner
Chamfered Corner cabinet shape added.
Corner Cabinets
Blind Corner cabinets renamed to Corner cabinets.
Corner Cabinets default to 900mm wide when drawn.
Quarter Round
1/4 round shape is available for the end of a cabinet run.
Countertops
Display | Print
Countertop can print in a solid line while Cabinets dashed. This is the opposite of the default.
Shading On/Off option added.
Edit
Edit in 3D will locate the countertop by default rather than the cabinet.
Nosing
Nosing option Front Edge Only added.
Adds the nosing profile to the front a countertop but not the ends.
Remove
Remove Countertop Overhang command added to right-click menu.
This is a quick way to remove the overhang at the end of a cabinet run when it runs up against a stove.
Waterfall
Waterfall option added.
Adds a waterfall end to a cabinet in a single click.
Wall Transition Material
A Transition Option Added to Wall Materials.
Defining wall types can be a very time-consuming activity while designing a house, and, if a wall definition contains a material such as a brick ledge, even more time is spent creating new wall definitions simply to change the height of that one particular material.
One of SoftPlan 2018’s most time-saving additions is a new “transition” option that is available in the Wall Definition menu. This option provides a convenient method for specifying varying heights for transition materials within a single wall definition and eliminates the need to define multiple walls when the heights of a material should change.
A simple Wall edit allows you to control the height and slope of the transition material so that you can achieve a wide variety of constructions.
This is very useful for stepping walls or sloping the material to follow the grade.
Path Trace Rendering
SoftPlan employs a technique called Ray Tracing to display how light sources directly interact with objects in the 3D model. While the Ray Tracing method is a relatively quick way to produce attractive 3D images, it can only approximate the indirect lighting that is produced from a more advanced lighting technique called Path Tracing.
SoftPlan 2018 adds Path Tracing to SoftPlan’s rendering capabilities which will allow you to produce the best looking 3D imagery yet.
The Path Tracing technique calculates the paths light rays travel as they bounce from point to point on the model until the light energy ultimately dissipates. As you let the Path Tracing process work, the image looks progressively better over time.
The biggest advantage of Path Trace Rendering is that the lighting setup is so much easier.
The resulting indirect lighting, blended with the direct lighting of the Ray Tracing, creates warmer, softer 3D images that will bring an unprecedented level of realism to your models, animations, and final renderings.
SoftPlan 2018 3D initial settings will produce high quality images.
This new Path Tracing and improved Photon Mapping that provides direct and indirect lighting produces softer and more pleasing images.
Interface
An aesthetic overhaul incorporates eye-catching flat icons and sleeker menus that look modern and improve overall organization.