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General Design Features
RainCAD™
X Series1.0 |
RainCAD™ X Series 8.0 |
Irricalc |
Photoscapes |
FAQ
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RainCAD Suite, RainCAD and EcoCAD include the following
tools to assist in the creation of your design
documents.
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Drafting Tool
Most of the basic drafting commands may be found in
DesignCAD, however, with the Drafting Tool, you can
easily enter a known distance and simply click on an
arrow for the direction in which you want to move. This
tool allows you to draw lines, change line styles, move
to a new location without drawing a line and more.
Drafting cannot get any easier than this!
Line Styles
The Line Styles command sets the line type and
characteristics for all the entities created after the
command is selected. You can change the default settings
for the line styles in the Line Styles Database command.
The software presets five line styles to make it easier
for you to create a drawing. The five preset line styles
are Building, Property, Driveway, Walkway and Bedlines.
There are an additional ninety-five custom line styles
available for use as well.
Text Zoom
The Text Zoom command will allow you to adjust the size
of the text on the drawing screen. You can select
specific pieces or text to size or all of the text on
the drawing screen. The command does not make a new copy
of the text; it simply resizes the existing text.
For example, suppose the pipe size labels on the RainCAD
drawing are too small and are not legible on the
irrigation plan. Simply select the layer on which the
pipe size labels are drawn and resize the labels using
the Text Zoom command.
Auto Symbol Layout
Allows you to automatically duplicate existing symbols
at an even distance along an existing line or curve, or
along a temporary line. When using this command to
duplicate symbols, you may select one or more symbols at
a time. This command is helpful in duplicating
stepping-stones or other Miscellaneous Symbols.
The No rotation option will leave all copies of the
symbol at the same rotation angle along the line or
curve. The Rotate along line option will rotate the
copies of the symbol at the same angle as the line or
curve. The Random rotation option will randomly rotate
the copies of the symbol along the line or curve.
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Boundary Line
The Boundary Line command creates a limit or border for
automatic sprinkler placement in RainCAD or RainCAD
Suite and automatic plant placement in EcoCAD or RainCAD
Suite. Boundary lines may be given restrictions to
prevent sprinklers or spray from entering an area.
Symbol Label
The Symbol Label command allows you to place the
description of the selected equipment or plant material
on the design screen.
Miscellaneous Symbols
The Miscellaneous command allows you to create a list of
symbols and place the miscellaneous symbols such as
people, furniture, vehicles, stepping stones and more on
the drawing screen. Use these symbols to dress up a
drawing and make it more meaningful or attractive to the
end customer or prospect. The program currently has 118
miscellaneous symbols. You may edit any of these symbols
or create your own.
Legends
The software will automatically create a symbol legend
for the design. You may place the legend on the drawing
screen or open a new drawing and place the legend on a
separate page. You may edit any of the text in the
legend, add more information or delete unnecessary
items.
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Material/Estimate
The Material/Estimate command will calculate a complete
bill of materials for all equipment or plant material on
the design including the length of pipe and control
wire. The command will include supplies for any Tied
Assembly assigned to a piece of equipment or plant
material. You may select which categories will appear in
the report such as quantity, description, list price,
labor rate, wholesale cost and more. You can sort the
categories in any order you desire. You can preview the
report, send it to the printer or export the report in
one of many different formats including Microsoft Word,
Excel, Lotus 123, HTML, XML, ASCII text and more.
Project Information
The Project Information command will allow you to
assign specific information to a design such as the
customer's name and address, percent of profit,
percent of overhead for labor and materials,
miscellaneous fees/permits and more. You may include
the customer's name and address at the top of the
material takeoff or estimate/proposal based on the
Options setting on the Settings tab.
Angle and Distance
The Angle and Distance command is a DesignCAD command
used to calculate the angle and distance between two
points and display the information in a dialog box.
Area
The Area command is a DesignCAD command used to quickly
calculate an area of the design screen.
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Properties
The features available in the Properties dialog box will
depend on which symbol is selected. This feature will
allow you to change all of the characteristics of a
sprinkler symbol. You can change a control valve from
one size to another and calculate the flow through the
valve. If a plant symbol is selected, you can change the
plant characteristics or replace all of the plants on
the drawing of this type to plants of another category
and size.
Options
The Options command will allow you to select the quick
access icons and adjust the order in which they appear
on the toolbar. The toolbar is located just below the
menu selections in RainCAD or EcoCAD. The icons are
shortcuts to the commands available in the program. You
can adjust these icons to display shortcuts to your
favorite or most often used commands.
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Line Styles
The Line Styles Database command allows you to change
the characteristics for the five preset line styles and
ninety-five custom line styles available in the
software. The characteristics give each line style a
different look so that the drawing is more aesthetically
appealing and easier to read. To include a custom line
style in the material takeoff or legend, click on Show
in Material/Estimate and Legend until a checkmark
appears in the box. You may create line styles to
represent metal edging, concrete mow curbs, landscape
timbers, fencing and more.
Global Adjustments
The Global Adjustments command allows you to quickly
adjust each entry in any of the databases. This will
prevent you from having to edit certain characteristics
of the data one at a time. You can make global
adjustments based on the Supplier Code and/or the
Equipment Code assigned to each entry in the databases.
For example, suppose you purchase all of your equipment
from XYZ Distributors. Your business increases from
previous years and XYZ Distributors gives you a higher
discount off your purchases. Using the Global
Adjustments command, you can change the Discount Rate
for every piece of equipment with the assignment of XYZ
Distributors as the Supplier Code.
Here is another example; an equipment code of
"1" is assigned to each of the Hunter spray
nozzles in the Sprinkler Databases. Suppose Hunter makes
a price adjustment to the nozzles. You could make the
change to the List Price of any equipment assigned to
equipment code "1" using the Global
Adjustments command.
Suppliers
The Suppliers Database command will allow you to create
a database supplier names. Suppliers are the
distribution outlets from which equipment or goods are
purchased. You can assign a supplier to each piece of
equipment in the databases to assist in pricing and
discount adjustments. Making use of the Global
Adjustments command will allow you to change information
on each piece of equipment based on supplier assignment.
Company Information
The Company Information command allows you to enter or
edit information about your company. You may print this
information at the top of material takeoff or
estimate/proposal at your option.
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Contents and Index
The Contents and Index command displays an index of all
help screens and allows you to view the screen of your
choice. You can quickly access context sensitive help at
anytime by pressing the F1 key on the keyboard.
Tutorial
The Tutorial Lessons are in the RainCAD or EcoCAD
Installation Guide and Tutorial manual. Not all of the
lessons in the manual have an accompanying practice
screen. For example, Lesson One – Becoming Familiar
with the Software is covered entirely in the manual.
Each lesson will take approximately thirty minutes up to
two hours to complete. To get the most out of the
software, we highly recommend that you complete each
lesson in the tutorial.
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