Total Sketch

[Leon Marcus]

Do actual people really think this sketching program is good? I have been using Apex since 1997. in 19 years I have had absolutely NO problems with the software, using it or learning any part of it as it is really very intuitive. So now I am trying to use Total sketch (pro since I had to pay extra to use apex and "got" pro with the required license) and feel like I went from using a "graduate school" level program to a preschool toy.
It constantly wants to tell me I am done drawing an area and I now have to name it when i am really not done drawing. Many times an area I just drew and closed up will suddenly change the length of the last line I drew, the dimension labels are randomly sized making it look like a 1st grade school project that was haphazardly put together.
Another example
So today I had a problem with a lot size. It was an odd shape and I needed to verify the assessor was correct on the total size. So I used Total photometrics option. Followed the instructions and it could not get the sizes correct no matter how many times I set the scale. So I opened Apex and used Apex photometrics. Scale was set no problem, when I drew a line along the file I added the measurements were accurate and I finished the sketch quickly. Tried Total sketch a few times just to see if I did something wrong and it never came up the same no matter how many times I tried.
Whats so hard about just looking at Apex and doing the best to copy it? I cant imagine being happy with this unless every sketch you ever do some how has nice even whole numbers all the way around it.

 

[dbiggers]

Do actual people really think this sketching program is good? I have been using Apex since 1997. in 19 years I have had absolutely NO problems with the software, using it or learning any part of it as it is really very intuitive. So now I am trying to use Total sketch (pro since I had to pay extra to use apex and "got" pro with the required license) and feel like I went from using a "graduate school" level program to a preschool toy.
It constantly wants to tell me I am done drawing an area and I now have to name it when i am really not done drawing. Many times an area I just drew and closed up will suddenly change the length of the last line I drew, the dimension labels are randomly sized making it look like a 1st grade school project that was haphazardly put together.
Another example
So today I had a problem with a lot size. It was an odd shape and I needed to verify the assessor was correct on the total size. So I used Total photometrics option. Followed the instructions and it could not get the sizes correct no matter how many times I set the scale. So I opened Apex and used Apex photometrics. Scale was set no problem, when I drew a line along the file I added the measurements were accurate and I finished the sketch quickly. Tried Total sketch a few times just to see if I did something wrong and it never came up the same no matter how many times I tried.
Whats so hard about just looking at Apex and doing the best to copy it? I cant imagine being happy with this unless every sketch you ever do some how has nice even whole numbers all the way around it.

Then why not just use Apex? That's the beauty of choice. I love Fords and have driven them all my life, but others love Chevy. If you're a Chevy guy, buy and use Chevy.

 

[Leon Marcus]

Thats what I expected, Yes, I am going to "bite the $395.00 bullet" and go back to Apex after giving this a try for 2 months. After so much time wasted with it (total "sketch") $400, $500 even $1,000 is worth it. How hard would it be just to basically copy a sketch program that is proven to be superior to all others? Total does try to but fails miserably.
By the way a better comparison would be Yugo compared to Rolls Royce.
Or like going back to internet access by phone line but the kind when you had to put the phone receiver into a cradle and were lucky to connect in less than 15 minutes compared to fiber optic internet service, Or, lighting a fire with an automatic gas starter or rubbing two sticks together.

 

[CGgonnabee]

APEX 6 is well-worth the $. It's on sale right now for $295 (I just checked the website).

 

[Leon Marcus]

Thanks, yes I agree, it is well worth it. After last night, and this morning, I could not get on the phone fast enough to get a price.

 

[bnmappraisal]

Although I haven't tried the photometrics option (I haven't had a reason to I guess?), I've been happy with the sketching program. Also (knock on wood) have not had a client complain about a sketch

 

[Leon Marcus]

I guess maybe I've been spoiled using Apex for so long. I am used to easy, accurate problem free sketching.

 

[Randolph Kinney]

Although I haven't tried the photometrics option (I haven't had a reason to I guess?), I've been happy with the sketching program. Also (knock on wood) have not had a client complain about a sketch

The basic Total Sketch works for me. I use to use AutoCAD Lite years ago along with clip board to make drawings in the field but as I have upgraded from Windows 2000, now at Windows 7, it is too expensive to buy new AutoCAD Lite software, now $321 annual subscription. I pay $349 for the Silver support for Total that includes all software updates, mapping, etc. A good deal, for me. Your mileage may vary.

I use Total Mobile that has the same Sketch program as the desktop so no problems with importing. No more clipboard.

 

[Tom Woolford]

I've used the Total sketch since it came out and dumped Apex even though I still have an active license. The total sketch for me is fast, accurate and easy to use. Changing platforms for any software whether the OS, sketch, spreadsheet etc is troublesome, and it never performs "as good" as the old one we are used to. That why I'm still using W7, and will until either I or the computer die.

 

[Vermonter]

I've used the Total sketch since it came out and dumped Apex even though I still have an active license. The total sketch for me is fast, accurate and easy to use. Changing platforms for any software whether the OS, sketch, spreadsheet etc is troublesome, and it never performs "as good" as the old one we are used to. That why I'm still using W7, and will until either I or the computer die.

Agree.

Had some difficulty with the change from Apex to Total, but pretty sure it was more me than the software. After watching the tutorials and some practice time I found the free Total sketcher comparable to previous Apex I was using. They're just different.