Caddie UKUG May 2018

The Caddie UK User Group convened at Stonebridge Golf Course near Meriden last week for their Spring meeting. Once again Advanced Computer Solutions Limited were in attendance to provide Caddie workshops to help users maximise the potential of their Caddie software.

Topics covered during the day

During the day we covered a wide range of topics, dealing with matters with potential impact upon users’ day-to -day working, including;

Windows® updates

Drylining made simple using AEC Walls and End Caps

Timber Stud Walls with Double Stud End Cap

Automated AEC Wall creation

AEC scheduling using MText

Scope Manipulation

Velux Rooflights

Model Space Viewports.

Customised AEC content

Try Caddie 23 for yourself with this FREE Download Evaluation

There are no up-coming events

'Loving the scroll through the paper sheets ideal for larger projects when we have loads of paper spaces.'

Andrew Dukesell, principal of DBD Architectural Consultancy Ltd., commenting on some of the new functionality available in Caddie 23

"The new PDF underlay feature is going to save so much time. The ability to snap to precise points on a PDF drawing is really quite amazing; no more guessing and freehand approximation."

Dan Kantorowich

mcdonaldarchitects

Joe Snape discusses how Caddie gives him complete freedom to design, and how the one on one support provided by the Caddie team has enabled him to develop his CAD skills from simple 2D plans to fully rendered 3D architectural building models.

'I find Caddie such a fantastic program to work with as it enables me to create everything I need, no matter what type of drawing or modelling I need to do, with the only limit to what I can design and produce is my own creativity. The Caddie support team are superb too, with Andrew and Sam from ACS Ltd. going well above and beyond to help me whenever I’ve needed assistance.
Before I switched to Caddie, I would struggle to produce even basic CAD plans, but now, thanks to the help and advice I’ve had from the support guys over the last 3 years I’m creating full 3D building models complete with life-like material textures too. The building models I create enable me to produce all of my 2D plans, sections and elevation drawings, plus the 3D views rendered views that enable my clients to get a great understanding of how the finished building will fit into its surroundings. I don’t believe that I could have made such huge strides with any other system and cannot praise Caddie and Caddie support enough for helping me to achieve this, they have been excellent, A* Service.’

Joe Snape

Paul Adams switches to Caddie and prefers it to AutoCAD for drawing his architectural plans, sections and elevations

‘I had been an AutoCAD user since 1996, but found switching to Caddie really straightforward, and I now use it for all my drawing work. My work consists mainly of drawing up existing surveys along with plans, sections and elevations and overall I find Caddie better for drawing.'

Melvyn Shackleton commented on the value of the support provided for Caddie by ACS Ltd.

'If you want your drawing problems sorted rapidly, go to the experts, call Caddie support!'

I first came across Caddie several years ago (I think it was version 8!) and with every new release it just gets better and better. I believe that it is unique in giving every user direct input into the way the software is developed and the fact that the relationship is personal and not via some anonymous help-desk is very important to us. It’s always possible to get a query answered quickly and efficiently which is essential for the smooth running of our practice.

Sebastian Walsh - Hibbs and Walsh Associates Ltd

Colin Logan of 9yards Property Ltd. reflects on how much faster he can draw his architectural plans now using Caddie's smart AEC Build tools...

'I now use Caddie’s AEC Build tools for all my architectural plans, drawing complete and fully hatched walls at a stroke, and adding doors and windows just as easily.

Amazing to think that I used to draw all my walls manually, creating lines and offsets then hatching them all in individually - What a chore that was!'

Updating to the latest Caddie is simple, with inbuilt auto-configuration and migration tools; but with Caddie Remote Assistance you can have the latest updates installed and configured for you, like Martin McGahon of Town & Country Planning Ltd.

'The ACS Support guys were fantastic!

They installed the latest Caddie software update for me, even migrating all my settings, completing the process in a matter of minutes and making the whole upgrade process seamless'.

A longstanding Caddie user's comments on the value of the support he gets through the Caddie Maintenance programme;

'Before calling Caddie support I had spent about an hour attempting to work out why I could no longer enter figures into my Construction Line offset command, but when I called the Caddie support guys, they quickly identified my problem and helped me fix it. It turns out I had caught the 'NumLock' key by accident changing the function of the number pad keys on my keyboard!

I find the support I get through Caddie Maintenance invaluable, and paying for my maintenance by Standing Order means that I can pick up the phone and ask for help any time I have a problem.'

Caddie user Mark Brown of WW Brown & Sons commented on the value of the support he gets through the Caddie Maintenance programme;

'We would have no hesitation in recommending Caddie. We have found Caddie support to be extremely responsive, assisting with any of our queries promptly over the phone and providing invaluable follow-up information'.

Peter Fishenden discovers how easy Caddie 20’s ‘AEC Build’ tools are to use...

'What can I say, WOW!

I was amazed by just how easy Caddie 20’s ‘AEC Build’ tools are to use, and genuinely gobsmacked at the results I was able to produce in such a short space of time. In just over 20 minutes I managed to produce a complete model of my building, even including the roof, which I could view in the form of plans, elevations, or full-on 3D model – and this I’m especially pleased about since it now allows me to show exactly what is going to be built in a form that everyone can understand, not just for those who can read plans and elevations.'

"Caddie is still the best CAD system on market, - I can vouch for that"

Richard Likupe

Palmleaf Architects

'Thank you for the latest You Tube link. Very helpful - have been doing this stuff manually; it is great to see that it can be done automatically.
Look forward to the next YouTube training tip.'

Yours
Bruce Whitehead

The Price Whitehead Chartered Surveyors

YouTube Check out the latest Caddie time saving videos on YouTube videos...

Enhance your workflow…

Comments posted after watching the latest Caddie Killer Tips videos;

Make sure you’re not missing, watch the videos HERE

Andrew Dukesell

Good tips as ever, really like the polygon selection, I wasn't aware of that.

Very useful.

Philip James

Some really useful tips.

Amazing that I couldn't draw a line a few weeks ago. Picking it up very quickly. Many thanks to Tony for his unbelievable patience!! Wish I did this years ago.

Allister Godfrey

Andrew thanks again for a very instructive video, I had forgotten about the poly select ... that's gonna be another of those tools I can't live without!

Allister Godfrey

OMG... I use copy and increment on text A LOT, but I have never paid any attention to copy multiple in the list ... genius!

Andrew, thank-you once again for a VERY informative video!

Philip James of Philip James Architecture reflecting upon his recent move to using Caddie;

'I should have done this years ago...when you first came to see me, in fact!'

‘The Caddie YouTube videos are the best thing you've done, and absolutely essential when one lives and works in north of Scotland as I do; whilst I don’t take in this kind of information too well over the phone I can watch the videos in any spare moment I get, even late at night, and this makes them ideal for keeping me up to date.’

Hugh Mackay, Drafting Services

In-place Block Editing with greying out of remaining drawings Objects

'Just a quick one to thank you so much for the excellent feature regarding the block edit where everything else is greyed out. It really is little tweaks like this that makes Caddie so good. It is fantastic and not only tells you that the block is being edited, it makes it much easier to see and edit.'

Matthew Goddard BSc(Hons) MRICS
For and on behalf of Asset Construction Consultants.

Personal support is essential for creating a successful company

'I would like to say how much we have appreciated CADDIE support over the years (26 years so far!). You have always been very prompt in dealing with any problems we have encountered, a service essential for the smooth running of the practice, so many thanks indeed. The fact that the relationship is personal and not via some anonymous help-desk is very important to us as our practice has been built upon personal relationships with clients and providers alike. We hope that relationship will sustain far into the future.'

Philip Tilbury
Herbert J. Stribling & Partners

Unique access to Caddie's development

‘Almost immediately after switching from AutoCAD to Caddie I realised that Caddie had some big advantages and just how unique Caddie is in giving every user such direct input into the way the software is developed, even for small practices like mine. Whether it’s the fact that it’s a lot more ‘English’ in the way it works or the invaluable and extensive support, be it tweaking an existing command or adding new functionality to solve some new problem; it’s always possible to speak directly with the Caddie guys and get our ideas built directly into the software; incredibly useful, and very refreshing.’

Matthew Goddard BSc(Hons) MRICS
Asset Construction Consultants

Even working on archived drawings is quicker with Caddie

'I now find it quicker and far less painful to export drawings from my old CAD system so that I can load and work on them in Caddie, even if it’s only a 10 minute job!'

Anthony Staig IBC Architects

Caddie - the 'Complete Package'

'We are very impressed and excited about Caddie. It is inspiring to see everything that Caddie can do and it is a major advantage that you have someone you can talk to about needs and implementations to increase productivity.

Finally there is a "complete package" and we can proudly say that we are part of the Caddie family.'

Architects Ink.

Really useful tips in bite-sized chunks

'The Tea Break Tutorials are brilliant because they provide really useful tips in small bite-sized chunks that you can start using immediately, making them easy to remember!'

Stephanie Willcox - Architect

Caddie Tea Break Tutorials

'Thank you - incredibly helpful!'

Wendy

The Tea Break Tutorials are a revelation!

'For anyone who doesn’t benefit from an office full of CAD savvy colleagues, or enjoy the luxury of a dedicated iT department, the Caddie Tea Break Tutorials are a brilliant, short, fast, and easy way of picking up those tips and techniques that can really speed up everyday working.'

Ian Collier Chartered Architect

"These training videos are awesome - there is so much more to Caddie and its great way to discover its full potential."

Graham Rocher

‘Caddie Time-tracker takes the embarrassment out of billing!’

‘Caddie’s Time-tracker enabled me to produce a full listing for all the time I had spent working on my client's drawings at the push of a button.’

‘the Time-tracker printout, detailing ‘Work Time’, Open Time’ and Saved Time, along with the actual time and dates of the drawing sessions made the job of agreeing on the bill easy’

Stewart L Thorley, Building Plans & Design

Read full article…

‘Caddie Tea Break Tutorials’

‘Just a quick email to let you know that we were very pleased to be part of the tutorial yesterday. It was a great way to see what the function does, and so much better than reading about it!

I look forward to trying it out, once I have got the latest version of 19 downloaded.

Bruce Whitehead

Price Whitehead

Chartered Surveyors & Rural Consultants

Read article…

“Thank you very much for your commitment to us - the Caddie Users"

“What we needed was stability and ‘DWG’ compatibility. Caddie has provided both”

“I’m not used to support like this – if more people realised how good it was they would also be using Caddie.”

Having been a KUHLMANN drawing board user in the 80’s I felt safe in the sense that I wouldn't have to adjust to the new technology “Computers”. Then I was introduced to the DOS version of CADDIE. We upgraded to CADDIE 5 Professional and used the programme until the hard drive of the computer gave up and I was forced to upgrade. We installed CADDIE 9, 12 &15. I was familiar with the CADDIE 9 and did not want to adjust to use the “NEW CADDIE”.

How wrong can one be? Ever since I started experiencing the latest version of CADDIE it is an absolute pleasure. If I get stuck, help is just a phone call away.

Thank You CADDIE for an excellent drawing programme.

N J van Rensburg

I have already won a job directly as a result of using Caddie’s 3D. After seeing the model the client immediately gave me the project

My skills have developed rapidly with Caddie and I believe it allows me to produce excellent drawings far quicker than any program I have ever used

After doing the three day Quick Start Course I drew quicker on Caddie than on my old system

Caddie is incredibly quick to use, and also most importantly it’s very easy to learn, irrespective of your previous CAD experience

The key to successful implementation is effective training

With Caddie, changing drawings is now a small rather than a major part of my life

You wouldn't recognize the office now, there is no drawing board, just my Caddie workstation

As an Architect, Caddie draws the way I think.

I really don't know what I would do without Caddie now

Its quite fantastic how Caddie changes your life.

The migration between Caddie 12 and Caddie 14 is seamless. You can’t see a difference until you start to experiment with all the new functions. The backup support form Caddie is still a constant and always satisfactory.
Alphonse de Jong, DE LA REY & CELLIERS ARCHITECTS CC

I have just had my most productive year ever - and that is largely due to using your Caddie software.

After doing the three day Quick Start Course I drew quicker on Caddie than on my old system

'I have found Caddie to be user-friendly and simply wonderful to do architectural drawings with'
'I had no full time training from Caddie. This was my own decision, but Caddie''s consultants were very helpful and understanding by helping me whenever I require help.'
Henry Losper

Caddie saves me the equivalent of two staff

'I used Caddie 9 but Caddie 14 makes things much much simpler', Johannes Mnyandu, Department of Public Works

Your Caddie software has revolutionised the way we work - we produce far better drawings much more quickly – should have changed years ago.