| Author |
Message |
Matthew Taylor
Guest
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 Posted:
Sat Jul 03, 2004 12:15 am Post subject:
Has anyone used Codebook with AutoCAD or Microstation? |
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Has anyone else had any experience of some software called Codebook from
www.codebookinternational.com ?
Apparently it is an addon for AutoCAD, Microstation & MicroGDS, that
links back to a database to link the drawings that you are creating to
schedules & room data sheets. Its used a lot in PFI healthcare projects
in the UK.
I'm trying to find out more about its usability, as an office where I
work may have to use it on a project in the future.
Has anyone had any experience of it? If so, is it easy to use? Does it
require much in the way of administration to set it up & manage it?
Is it only suitable for large teams working on large projects?
Does it make things easier than they would be otherwise for the people
doing the CAD drawings - or is it more beneficial to the project
managers etc.
Thanks
Matthew
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Dave Preston
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Jul 03, 2004 1:27 pm Post subject:
Re: Has anyone used Codebook with AutoCAD or Microstation? |
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We are a reseller for CodeBook and one of the largest users, currently
having about 12 people using it.
It will run on MicroStation/J and V8, and AutoCad 2002 and 2004. We are
using it on 2005 but it has not been certified for use on that yet.
If you are doing PFI work they will probably insist you use it as you cannot
do the database 'linking' manually. It is not really database links at all,
but the equipment is attributed with CodeBook (ADB) codes, and the database
stores information about every piece of equipment, it's location and what
department it belongs to plus much more
It makes the placement of equipment very easy, and one of the main benefits
is the automatic production of elevations, assuming the elevations of the
equipment have been drawn. Your client may well have produced equipment
libraries already. One of the contracts we are working on does not require
CodeBook and our client does not use it, but the benefit of automatic
elevations is enough for us to use it. In answer to your question it is
meant both for users and provides valuable reporting tools for managers,
like required vs. designed areas and equipment usage. It also has thematic
resymbolisation to highlight things that fall within certain criteria.
We are currently using it on 3 AutoCAD projects and are expecting to start a
MicroStation one soon. With the latest version of CodeBook I believe it is
even possible to use MicroStation on AutoCAD projects, but we have not put
this to the test yet. This could be useful for a mixed CAD environment like
ours where we use both AutoCAD and MicroStation.
If you want more info contact us. You will find details on our web site
www.cadesignservices.co.uk
--
Regards
Dave Preston
"Matthew Taylor" <matthew.DONOTSPAM@NOSPAM.mtaylor.co.uk> wrote in message
news:I-qdnZGITrHsX3jd4p2dnA@brightview.com...
| Quote: | Has anyone else had any experience of some software called Codebook from
www.codebookinternational.com ?
Apparently it is an addon for AutoCAD, Microstation & MicroGDS, that
links back to a database to link the drawings that you are creating to
schedules & room data sheets. Its used a lot in PFI healthcare projects
in the UK.
I'm trying to find out more about its usability, as an office where I
work may have to use it on a project in the future.
Has anyone had any experience of it? If so, is it easy to use? Does it
require much in the way of administration to set it up & manage it?
Is it only suitable for large teams working on large projects?
Does it make things easier than they would be otherwise for the people
doing the CAD drawings - or is it more beneficial to the project
managers etc.
Thanks
Matthew |
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| Back to top |
|
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Matthew Taylor
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Jul 03, 2004 3:01 pm Post subject:
Re: Has anyone used Codebook with AutoCAD or Microstation? |
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|
Many thanks for your quick response. I think I am clearer now about how
the software works. I have a few queries below in response to what you
have told me:
Dave Preston wrote:
| Quote: |
We are a reseller for CodeBook and one of the largest users, currently
having about 12 people using it.
It will run on MicroStation/J and V8, and AutoCad 2002 and 2004. We are
using it on 2005 but it has not been certified for use on that yet.
If you are doing PFI work they will probably insist you use it as you cannot
do the database 'linking' manually. It is not really database links at all,
but the equipment is attributed with CodeBook (ADB) codes, and the database
stores information about every piece of equipment, it's location and what
department it belongs to plus much more
|
I think that this is going to be the case with this firm, that they are
going to be told they have to use it if they work on this job.
| Quote: | It makes the placement of equipment very easy, and one of the main benefits
is the automatic production of elevations, assuming the elevations of the
equipment have been drawn.
|
Does this work like the functionality in programs like Architectural
Desktop & Revit, but with the specific equipment blocks - Or is it
something completely different? Are the elevations produced as 2D files,
or just views taken from a 3D model? Do these 2D views take from the
plan update automatically if the plan is changed? Can you change items
on the elevations which will move them on plan?
| Quote: | Your client may well have produced equipment
libraries already. One of the contracts we are working on does not require
CodeBook and our client does not use it, but the benefit of automatic
elevations is enough for us to use it.
|
Does it come with any standard libraries?
| Quote: | In answer to your question it is
meant both for users and provides valuable reporting tools for managers,
like required vs. designed areas and equipment usage. It also has thematic
resymbolisation to highlight things that fall within certain criteria.
We are currently using it on 3 AutoCAD projects and are expecting to start a
MicroStation one soon. With the latest version of CodeBook I believe it is
even possible to use MicroStation on AutoCAD projects, but we have not put
this to the test yet. This could be useful for a mixed CAD environment like
ours where we use both AutoCAD and MicroStation.
If you want more info contact us. You will find details on our web site
www.cadesignservices.co.uk
|
Someone is coming in to demonstrate it next week I think - The thing is
that I am only in that office 2 days a week though, so may or may not
see it (& if I am not in the director who wants to get it is completely
computer illiterate (we're talking not even email or web browsing).
I may be in touch with you.
Thanks again for the advice
Matthew
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Dave Preston
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2004 2:52 am Post subject:
Re: Has anyone used Codebook with AutoCAD or Microstation? |
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|
--
Regards
Dave Preston
"Matthew Taylor" <matthew.DONOTSPAM@NOSPAM.mtaylor.co.uk> wrote in message
news:kN-dnaU5tM6bD3vdRVn-sQ@brightview.com...
| Quote: |
Many thanks for your quick response. I think I am clearer now about how
the software works. I have a few queries below in response to what you
have told me:
Dave Preston wrote:
We are a reseller for CodeBook and one of the largest users, currently
having about 12 people using it.
It will run on MicroStation/J and V8, and AutoCad 2002 and 2004. We are
using it on 2005 but it has not been certified for use on that yet.
If you are doing PFI work they will probably insist you use it as you
cannot
do the database 'linking' manually. It is not really database links at
all,
but the equipment is attributed with CodeBook (ADB) codes, and the
database
stores information about every piece of equipment, it's location and
what
department it belongs to plus much more
I think that this is going to be the case with this firm, that they are
going to be told they have to use it if they work on this job.
It makes the placement of equipment very easy, and one of the main
benefits
is the automatic production of elevations, assuming the elevations of
the
equipment have been drawn.
Does this work like the functionality in programs like Architectural
Desktop & Revit, but with the specific equipment blocks - Or is it
something completely different? Are the elevations produced as 2D files,
or just views taken from a 3D model? Do these 2D views take from the
plan update automatically if the plan is changed? Can you change items
on the elevations which will move them on plan?
|
Not really like ADT, It just creates standard AutoCAD blocks with
attributes, but the database holds a lot of information about the equipment
and rooms that is represented by the blocks / polylines.
The elevations are produced as 2D files. They are not updated automatically
and a change in elevation will not update the plan, but an elevation can
easily be recreated.
| Quote: |
Your client may well have produced equipment
libraries already. One of the contracts we are working on does not
require
CodeBook and our client does not use it, but the benefit of automatic
elevations is enough for us to use it.
Does it come with any standard libraries?
Yes, but they may not be of use for this client.
In answer to your question it is
meant both for users and provides valuable reporting tools for managers,
like required vs. designed areas and equipment usage. It also has
thematic
resymbolisation to highlight things that fall within certain criteria.
We are currently using it on 3 AutoCAD projects and are expecting to
start a
MicroStation one soon. With the latest version of CodeBook I believe it
is
even possible to use MicroStation on AutoCAD projects, but we have not
put
this to the test yet. This could be useful for a mixed CAD environment
like
ours where we use both AutoCAD and MicroStation.
If you want more info contact us. You will find details on our web site
www.cadesignservices.co.uk
Someone is coming in to demonstrate it next week I think - The thing is
that I am only in that office 2 days a week though, so may or may not
see it (& if I am not in the director who wants to get it is completely
computer illiterate (we're talking not even email or web browsing).
|
That will probably be Talon Solutions, the distributor who know the product
well.
| Quote: | I may be in touch with you.
Thanks again for the advice
Matthew |
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| Back to top |
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Matthew Taylor
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:56 pm Post subject:
Re: Has anyone used Codebook with AutoCAD or Microstation? |
|
|
Dave Preston wrote:
| Quote: | Someone is coming in to demonstrate it next week I think - The thing is
that I am only in that office 2 days a week though, so may or may not
see it (& if I am not in the director who wants to get it is completely
computer illiterate (we're talking not even email or web browsing).
That will probably be Talon Solutions, the distributor who know the product
well.
|
I finally got to see a demonstration of the product, & while it was
interesting in the way it worked, I don't think we will be purchasing it
(Mainly due to the fact that IMHO the office don't have any real
experience of this type of work, so having the proper software is the
least of their problems)
From the demonstration it appeared failry simple to use. I now
understand what you meant about the elevation generation not being like
that in ADT etc. It really is just a way of producing equipment
positionaing drawings etc & would not be a substitute for the
architectural drawings that would be needed of these spaces for
construction - it is only using a nominal ceiling height etc & won't
deal with thinhs like tiling layouts etc.
Although the program seemed to do a very good job of managing data, it
appeared that it did not have the functionality that I might have
expected in terms of managing revisions - It would be easy to end up
printing out new sets of the internal elevations, only some of which had
changed, but having to print out the whole set instead IMHO.
The colouring of plans in terms of area was another useful feature,
which would be useful as a program in its own right - Although I can
tell that QSs would spend their entire time trying to optimise spaces
down to their iseal areas, while not acepting that the fact that the
area was too high was due to more fundamental aspects of the design,
such as the circulation routes & not just something that could be easily
cut off.
Thanks again for your advice.
--
Matthew Taylor
www.mtaylor.co.uk |
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| Back to top |
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Dave Preston
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Jul 19, 2004 2:59 am Post subject:
Re: Has anyone used Codebook with AutoCAD or Microstation? |
|
|
No problem, and the person that did the demo was Guy Moates from our company
8-)
--
Regards
Dave Preston
"Matthew Taylor" <matthew.DONOTSPAM@NOSPAM.mtaylor.co.uk> wrote in message
news:tbidnVP0VutCHWfdRVn-uQ@brightview.com...
| Quote: | Dave Preston wrote:
Someone is coming in to demonstrate it next week I think - The thing is
that I am only in that office 2 days a week though, so may or may not
see it (& if I am not in the director who wants to get it is completely
computer illiterate (we're talking not even email or web browsing).
That will probably be Talon Solutions, the distributor who know the
product
well.
I finally got to see a demonstration of the product, & while it was
interesting in the way it worked, I don't think we will be purchasing it
(Mainly due to the fact that IMHO the office don't have any real
experience of this type of work, so having the proper software is the
least of their problems)
From the demonstration it appeared failry simple to use. I now
understand what you meant about the elevation generation not being like
that in ADT etc. It really is just a way of producing equipment
positionaing drawings etc & would not be a substitute for the
architectural drawings that would be needed of these spaces for
construction - it is only using a nominal ceiling height etc & won't
deal with thinhs like tiling layouts etc.
Although the program seemed to do a very good job of managing data, it
appeared that it did not have the functionality that I might have
expected in terms of managing revisions - It would be easy to end up
printing out new sets of the internal elevations, only some of which had
changed, but having to print out the whole set instead IMHO.
The colouring of plans in terms of area was another useful feature,
which would be useful as a program in its own right - Although I can
tell that QSs would spend their entire time trying to optimise spaces
down to their iseal areas, while not acepting that the fact that the
area was too high was due to more fundamental aspects of the design,
such as the circulation routes & not just something that could be easily
cut off.
Thanks again for your advice.
--
Matthew Taylor
www.mtaylor.co.uk |
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