- What is the difference between
RainCAD Suite and RainCAD?
- Is Photoscapes included with RainCAD
Suite, RainCAD or EcoCAD?
- How long does it take to learn?
- How long does it take to complete a
design?
- What
kind of computer do I need?
- Do
I need to purchase any additional software such as
AutoCAD®?
- Can
I import or export drawings from other CAD programs?
- Do
I have to pay for technical support?
- How
hard is it to get the property into the computer?
- Does
it do the design for you?
- Can
you do the irrigation and landscape design on the
same plot plan?
- Does
it create a material takeoff or an
estimate/proposal?
- What
equipment comes standard in the databases?
- Is
it easy to draw a curve?
- Can
I scan in a plot plan?
- Can
I fill an area with a brick or some other pattern?
- Will
it print on my dot matrix, ink jet or laser printer?
- Do
I have to have a plotter to print on big sheets of
paper?
- Lines
drawn on the screen look jagged. Do they print that
way or are they straight?
RainCAD Suite is the combination of RainCAD and EcoCAD
including both landscape and irrigation design
capabilities. In addition, there is a small module for
accent lighting and drainage design. RainCAD Suite
also includes Irricalc
for water management capabilities.
RainCAD is for irrigation design only and does not
include Irricalc.
No. Photoscapes is a stand alone imaging program that
is not included with any of the CAD programs.
That really depends on the person and their previous
computer skills. If you already know how to use a
computer with Microsoft Windows, you have a head
start. There are eleven lessons in the tutorial which
accompanies the program. Each lesson takes
approximately one hour to complete. Once you finish
the tutorial and create a couple of small residential
designs, you should be up and running. From this point
on, the more you become familiar with the software,
the faster you will get.
This depends on several factors:
- How big is the plot plan?
- How much detail to you want to add to the
drawing?
- How well do you know the program?
For example, there are some experienced users who can
draw a piece of property (say a single dwelling on a
lot that is 120' X 80'), layout the sprinkler symbols,
group them into zones, pipe the zones together, place
the control valves and run the mainline in thirty to
forty minutes. If you want to size the pipe, calculate
system hydraulics, add hatching for a brick patio or
sidewalk, create a material takeoff, create a legend,
and add installation details, it may take up to an
hour to an hour and fifteen minutes.
Please refer to the section on System Requirements at
the bottom of product information page.
No. When you purchase any of our software programs,
you get all of the software you need other than the
operating system itself! RainCAD Suite, RainCAD and
EcoCAD all come with a 100 percent complete version of
DesignCAD 3D Max as the base CAD program.
Yes. We base RainCAD Suite, RainCAD and EcoCAD on a
CAD program called DesignCAD 3D Max from Upperspace
Corporation. DesignCAD will import AutoCAD DWG files,
DXF, IGES, WMF, HPGL and XYZ Coordinate files created
in other programs. The program will export your
drawings to AutoCAD DWG files, DXF, IGES, RIB, VRML,
WPG and WMF file formats.
No. Technical support via email or fax is free. We do
not offer telephone support. In addition, you can
receive technical support from Upperspace for any
questions relating to DesignCAD 3D Max.
It's really very easy! There are multiple ways you can
enter the plot plan.
- You can draw the plan with a mouse.
- You can type in the information using an X, Y
coordinate system, or a distance and angle
system.
- You can scan the image directly in into
DesignCAD 3D Max. You can design directly on top
of the image, or you can then simply trace over
the image. You can also make use of
DesignCAD’s Auto Trace command to
automatically trace the image.
- If you own a digitizer, you can digitize the
plan using the puck.
No. Although the software will automatically place
sprinklers or plants, automatically draw lateral line
pipe and automatically size all of the pipe and more,
it does not do the entire design for you. We refer to
the software as a design tool, not a designer. If you
go to the store and purchase an accounting software
program, it does not make you an accountant. The same
is true for RainCAD or EcoCAD. Although these programs
are great tools, you must have the knowledge to create
an irrigation or landscape design.
Yes. DesignCAD supports 1,000 individual drawing
layers. Each layer is like a separate sheet of paper.
You will draw the plot plan on several layers, the
irrigation on other layers, and the landscape on
additional layers. To view or print only the
irrigation portion of the design, simply turn off the
layers that hold the landscape material.
Yes. Simply click on Material/Estimate from the drop
down menus. Select the categories to appear in the
report and sort them in any order you desire. Click on
the OK button and the program will calculate a
complete bill of materials. The program will calculate
all of the materials necessary to install the design
and price them according to the information in the
databases. The only items that are not being counted
are the change in direction fittings in the field such
as the 45, 90 degree and tee fittings.
RainCAD and RainCAD Suite come complete with
irrigation equipment from Hunter, Irritrol Systems,
Nelson, Rain Bird, Toro and Weathermatic. In addition,
there are databases with Febco, Watts and Wilkens
backflow prevention devices. There is a database of
water meters ranging from 5/8” up to 6” in size.
The pipe database includes 17 different categories of
pipe in both English and Metric Units of measurement.
The categories include poly, PVC, copper and
galvanized. Pipe sizes range from 1/2” to 12” in
size. You may add additional equipment to any of these
databases. EcoCAD and RainCAD Suite include a database
of more than 2,500 individual plant listings. The
plants are broken out into six different categories.
You may add categories and plant material to the
database. RainCAD Suite includes a database of accent
lighting equipment from Loran and a database of
drainage equipment from NDS. You may add manufacturers
and equipment to these databases as well.
Yes. Select the Curve command by clicking on a icon,
pressing a hot key, or from the drop down menus in
DesignCAD. Once the command is selected, simply click
on the screen with the mouse to set points. A curve
will appear on the screen. It will bend at each point
set. If you make a mistake, simply press the Escape
key to back up. Once the curve is complete, press the
Enter key to end the command. If you still need to
manipulate the curve, choose the Point Select Mode
tool to bend the curve in another direction.
Yes. DesignCAD 3D Max will allow you to scan an image
directly into the program. You can then design
directly on top of the image, or use tools such as
DesignCAD’s Auto Trace command to trace the image.
Yes. There are 123 different hatching patterns
including 70 new patterns available in DesignCAD. You
can select the layer on which to draw the pattern, the
color, the angle, and the scale of any hatch pattern.
Yes. DesignCAD 3D Max will print to any printer you
have as long as you have the correct device driver to
run the printer. If you are printing out of any other
Windows program now, you can print out of DesignCAD as
well. If you have any questions on device drivers,
call the manufacturer of your printer.
No. Although plotting is an excellent choice, it is
not the only way to get a big printout. In DesignCAD,
you can select the scale in which you would like to
print or plot your drawing. For example, if you print
a residence at a 1" equal 10' scale on 8
1/2" X 11" paper, it might print on six
sheets of paper. The software will automatically
divide the drawing up on each separate sheet. You can
then tape the sheets of paper together and copy them
onto a larger sheet at your local copying center.
Lines appear jagged on the computer screen because the
screen is made up of small individual pixels. When a
drawing is sent to the printer, the lines and curves
will print as smooth objects without jagged edges.
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What
is the difference between RainCAD Suite and RainCAD?