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APEX sketch integration

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V. Nightshade

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2003
Professional Status
Certified Residential Appraiser
State
California
Just learned that Total 2013 requires APEX version 5 (I've been happily using Version 4 with Aurora. Cost will be $149 plus $50 for an integration license. Has anyone switched to Total 2013 sketcher smoothly? Is APEX 5 an improvement and is staying with APEX worth it? I'm interested in other people's experience with Apex vs. Total's sketcher.
 
I had been using Apex IV with Aurora and was quite comfortable with Apex. Since switching to Total 2013 I have been using Total Sketch. I have completed about 15 sketches with the Total drawing program. There are some things I like better about it compared to Apex and there are some things I like better about Apex. My sketches have taken a little longer with the Total program – probably because I am still getting used to it.

The one think I liked about Apex was the ability to draw the main level, then draw the 2nd level or basement level right over the main level -- making the appropriate changes and then moving the new area. Can’t do that with Total. Total does have the option of drawing the entire main level, then easily cutting out the garage area. That’s nicer. Some of the modify features I like better on Total.

Considering everything – think I would stay with Apex except for the cost. But I’m going to stay with Total Sketch for a while longer and see how it goes after I am more familiar with it. However, I am still considering the option of going back to Apex.
 
I just did a sketch with Total, after prototyping it with Apex, and it worked out pretty well. I agree: some things are faster I think. I don't think I want to buy a new Apex license, so I'm going to work with Total awhile longer. Fortunately I own an Apex license (V.4, no longer supported) and can do free standing sketches.
 
I had been using the alamode sketcher for quite some time. It's OK. But there are some things I really don't like about it when it comes to drawing complex houses which I have a lot of. Lots of weird angles etc. I did draw exclusively with APEX and then since the Wintotal mobile came out I switched to the Alamode sketcher. Frankly I like Apex better because there is more flexibility. So yesterday I looked at the APEX 5 package and I think it is a better sketcher; especially the mobile sketcher. It cost a bundle, and I didn't like that. But if it saves me grief in the field (which I have had with Total Sketcher) it's worth it. So I guess I will see how it works:)
 
I had been using Apex IV with Aurora and was quite comfortable with Apex. Since switching to Total 2013 I have been using Total Sketch. I have completed about 15 sketches with the Total drawing program. There are some things I like better about it compared to Apex and there are some things I like better about Apex. My sketches have taken a little longer with the Total program – probably because I am still getting used to it.

The one think I liked about Apex was the ability to draw the main level, then draw the 2nd level or basement level right over the main level -- making the appropriate changes and then moving the new area. Can’t do that with Total. Total does have the option of drawing the entire main level, then easily cutting out the garage area. That’s nicer. Some of the modify features I like better on Total.

Considering everything – think I would stay with Apex except for the cost. But I’m going to stay with Total Sketch for a while longer and see how it goes after I am more familiar with it. However, I am still considering the option of going back to Apex.

Same situation here. Both have their pluses and minuses. Think if the total sketcher had a few more features, it would be better. Cloning an area is feature I miss from apex.

Done about 20 sketches with it, about half with the mobile app and getting used to it.
 
I am pretty sure you can clone an area with Total. I think you right click the mouse and it says copy area. Then you can paste it. I do it in the field with the mobile sketcher. I press down on the area than it asks me to copy it. I copy and then move it to where I can paste it. Then I just have to define it. So I think it can be done in the main sketcher itself.
 
I am pretty sure you can clone an area with Total. I think you right click the mouse and it says copy area. Then you can paste it. I do it in the field with the mobile sketcher. I press down on the area than it asks me to copy it. I copy and then move it to where I can paste it. Then I just have to define it. So I think it can be done in the main sketcher itself.

It's not quite the same - this is a feature that I use ALL of the time in Apex, and can't get to work in WT. Often the 2nd floor shares some walls, but not all.
 
I have apex V3 & Medina V4. Total sketch will convert V3. I draw the sketches in V3 and convert with total. You can do the same thing with V4 but you have to save the file as V3
 
Tracing the footprint to properly sketch upper and lower levels is vital. You don't want to have to recreate that all the time, especially if you're dealing with angles. And with dormers it's all the easier, send the line to the point with the jump hot key Cntrl J, and then draw out the additional distance. Jump to the other point, then drop the distance back. And most importantly, move the section to another part of the page. If I could not move the sections or sketch with an overlay, I would immediately not be interested. That's lender rules about final sketch never having overlay, it's got nothing to do with the sketch development and ease of the sketch process. If they've disallowed overlay sketching, that's not something I'd like to see in my software. Restrictions are never easy to work with.

I'm still on Apex Medina, and don't want to change. Although not offered for long, I really like the Medina and will hold on to it as long as they let me. It's quick, efficient, simple to work with, and allows all the functions I need.

If you select an Apex product directly it can still work with alamode. You'll just need to pay the apex servicing charge for them to get you activated and integrated into alamode. Then it's as easy as clicking the sketch button.

If you're unsure, why not roll it back and try out the Apex Medina? The old stuff, is oftentimes, the good stuff. It's not over reaching or too technical. Quick and simple, that's what I want from my technical items. All you've got to do is fess up a few hundred extra, or something.

Why did apex and wintotal split up again? I liked it when they were dating.

Sorry if I'm off topic. I'm still on Aurora w Medina, and have no interest in changes. Everything works fine, every time.
 
Unless they've made major changes to T2013 sketcher, the major problem was the lack of being able to draw one layer upon another like the Trout said. The software tries to combine the two areas into one.

That's actually a really poor implementation as compared to almost every other sketching program out there.

I wasted a lot of time with one of Alamode's tech guys last year going over the procedures for sketching tri and quad level houses where there might be 3 levels on top of each other. He wasn't familiar with that style of house and couldn't understand why the levels might need to be drawn upon each other to begin with, or why different levels might overlap each other.

I was told that they were going to implement an onion skin feature where you could draw one level upon another, grayed out, level without having them get combined.

Again, I don't know for certain that they didn't implement that feature, but I seriously doubt it. To me, this combining of multiple drawing levels makes the sketching program useless.
 
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