or years now I have seen at trade shows many different programs for maintaining and running your business with the aide of the computer. These database programs are designed to take over all the manual bookkeeping you do in your business. They should, if designed properly, make life easier and your business more profitable. Several of these programs have been subjects of feature articles in this magazine. All these programs do essentially the same thing. They keep track of your accounts, scheduling, forecasting, route planning, job or task management, inventory control, purchasing, payroll, and many other tasks as well. It is how each program accomplishes this that is important and makes each program different. So far all these programs have had one item in common. They all ran on an IBM PC or compatible computer system (a computer designed to run just like the IBM PC).

Not any more. For the first time a company has come along that is designing software for the Green Industry on another computer, the Macintosh from Apple Computer. What is so special about that? The Macintosh is the most simple and easy to use computer on the market today. As an example, for someone who has never used a computer it takes an average of three to six months to become completely familiar with the basic functions of an IBM or compatible computer. Then you have to learn how to use each and every program you use with the computer. Each program operates differently and had its own special language or system of codes that you must learn. Some programs have over 500 codes! Not so with the Macintosh. The average learning time is two hours to two weeks. Every program operates in exactly the same manner. Almost none of the programs require you to use special codes. Almost all the commands (directions) are in plain english.

The final proof of the ease of use of the Macintosh comes in the form of the manual. The basic manuals that come with an IBM type computer will sit several inches tall on your desk. The Macintosh manuals are less than an inch thick. Quite a lot less reading to do before you get started. Also, a common trait among Macintosh owners is that they rarely even read the manuals (after first learning to use the computer) that come with new software. This would be a disaster on any other computer.

So, if in general the Macintosh and its software is easier to use and easier to learn, then a software program for landscape professionals that runs on the Macintosh would be the first choice. If it is well written, yes. And Mac WeedMan is a well written program. Mac Weedman is available from Nova Electronics & Software. They have custom designed this program with extensive input from landscape professionals. They are also designing variations of this program that will fill the need for people in all various phases of the industry. There is hardly enough space in a column like this to go into all the details of a program like Mac WeedMan, but if you are interested in a computer system for your business you should look into this system. Nova Electronics is an Apple approved VAR (Value Added Reseller) so they can sell you the software and hardware for a complete system. They provide training and support service as well.

For more information about Mac WeedMan Circle (101) on your Reader Service Card.

Computers are only good for certain tasks. In all fields the computer is used for accounting, record keeping, job management, etc. In the landscaping field there are other uses as well. Although it won't mow the grass yet, computers are very useful in the area of design. Using a computer for designing a landscape or irrigation system is call Computer Aided Design & Drafting or CADD.

Many people ask why they should use a computer system to do the same job that they can do on the drawing board (at a much lower initial cost). The answer to that is time. The computer system will save you much time and money by doing the repetitive tasks for you.

For use on the IBM personal computer or compatibles the most widely used design program is the AutoCAD system. AutoCAD is a professional computer-aided drafting and design system that provides high-performance CADD features in a microcomputer environment. AutoCAD produces technical drawings interactively by manipulating a small number of drawing primitives, such as lines, circles, arcs, and solids, much as a word processor handles text. Changes can be made quickly and easily, and fresh drawings produced without the typical erasure smudges. Valuable drafting time can be saved, freeing up the designer for more time on the creative aspects of a project.

Landsoft, by Landcadd, Inc., is an integrated software package that takes full advantage of all the AutoCAD features. It includes programs that permit a landscape designer with minimal knowledge of computers to produce technical drawings within a few days of practice. Pre-drawn symbols for plants, buildings, walks, irrigation, etc. are available to make the design a simple process.

The E-Z Estimate package allows even more time savings by doing the take-offs and materials estimates for you. By using the estimate package in conjunction with Landsoft you can produce full plans and estimates so quickly and easily that you can afford to present full plans in preliminary meetings with clients.

The advantages of these systems must be seen to be fully appreciated. Not all computer stores are familiar with the particular needs of our industry. The best way to see this system is to contact Landcadd directly. They can give you the names of authorized dealers in your area. For more information on Landcadd Circle Number 100 on the Reader Service Card.

Control Data Acquires Major Agricultural Software Company
Minneapolis, (July 1, 1988)-Control Data's position as a leading supplier of software and information services to the agricultural industry was enhanced today by the acquisition of Datasphere Computer System, Inc.

Datasphere, author of the Terra System, is a leading provider of agricultural software for diversified farms, farm management companies, nurseries, landscape contractors and greenhouses. It will become part of Control Data's Doane Information Services business unit.

"Datasphere and Doane Information Services have very complimentary products, operations and dealers," said "Brian Roth, Vice President, Doane. "This acquisition greatly expands our product line for nurseries, landscape contractors, making us what I believe to be the largest agricultural software supplier in the nation".

Datasphere will remain based in Portland and it's operation will continue to be managed by Richard Buffo, general manager, and Judith Buffo, manager of product development.

Doane information services, with operations in Minneapolis and St. Louis, has been providing management services to farm and agricultural businesses for more than 50 years.

Control Data, with 3.4 billion in revenue in 1987, provides computer products and services for scientific, engineering and business applications worldwide.

Attn: Brian Roth
Daone Information Service
8800 Queen Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55431
(612) 921-6343

Advanced CADD systems like AutoCAD (runs on the IBM PC and compatibles) are perfect for complete landscape and irrigation design work. The time and money saved will more than compensate for the investment. But what about those of us who only do designs as part of our work? Is a CADD system really worthwhile?

Yes! In all companies, large and small, the use of a CADD system has had a significant impact on sales. Drawings created with a computer are both clear and precise, and thus far easier for a customer to study than blueprints. Being able to show the customer very quickly what he has asked for not only hastens the initial consultaion and the whole design phase, but also helps to close the sale. Now it is possible to show the client a finished drawing within hours of a consultation. It's a lot easier for the customer to say "yes" on the spot.

Green Creations, of Dallas, Texas, uses the less expensive Macintosh for design work. The Macintosh has far fewer features than the AutoCAD system (it cannot do automatic takeoffs or compute design costs), but Jerry Hall, owner of Green Creations, says it is the best sales tool he ever purchased.

"I have a library of standard designs that we use as templates for all our work," says Jerry. "When I go to a client to discuss the initial design I bring the Mac along. It's very portable and sets up in minutes. Then I show them some of our standard designs. We pick one that is a good starting point for their project and go from there. Soon we have the rough design drawn and approved by the client. The rest is easy. The best part is that the client has already made the decision to go with us - without even ever being asked!"

There are many other innovative uses for CADD systems, but whatever system you may decide to use, if you are using CADD you will have the competative edge in this market.

LANDCADD, INC. currently has available over 500 construction details for use by any land planning professional. There are between 5 to 10 details on each of the 56 diskettes in this comprehensive collection. That's over 20 megabytes of quality details! The files are available in any of the following formats: AutoCAD drawings (blocks), DXF files, or IGES files. Topics include: curbs & bumper stops, decks & bridges, drainage, erosion control & soil stability, fences, fountains & pools, handicapped site design, irrigation, lighting, parking, paving protective devices, shelters, signage, site utilities, steps & ramps, and walls.

Several major manufacturers are included as part of the detail library, including Bomanite, WeatherMatic and AlphaPrecast. A number of others will be added in the near future. The remaining details are of a general nature and are easily modified by the user for specific projects if the supplied version does not meet a particular need.

All of the details are supplied in a standard format, with a blank "frame" provided if the user wishes to create additional details. This is the most complete set of CAD construction details available, since this is an on-going effort, the library continues to grow.

Pricing for the details is extremely attractive: the user may select any six disks for just $99.00 (that's between 30-60 details). Special pricing on the complete set is $795, a savings of 10%. For order forms or more information, contact: LANDCADD, INC., 10418 E. Tanglewood Road, Franktown, CO 80116 (303) 688-8160.

Plant growth simulation is now available with LANDCADD. Growth is simulated based on actual growth rates and mature plant size for any specified period of time. The plants are cross-referenced by either scientific or common name to a powerful database to visually indicate spatial relationships on a LANDCADD drawing.

Additionally, the plant database can be used as a plant selection program. LANDCADD'S plant selection program is unique because it uses an industry standard format. Instead of creating a data base that can only be used with a special program LANDCADD'S data base can be used with many commercially available products, including PC-FILE and dBASE111. Using this approach, you can utilize the same program for plant selection as you do for client's addresses, or even time management; there is no need to learn another program. Data can also be readily transferred from one program to another.

Plant selection involves specifying certain criteria for plants, and then producing a list of plants which meet those criteria. Searches can be as complex or as simple as desired, and output can be just a listing or a complete report on each plant.

The data base provides information on about 900 plants from every part of the United States. Plant data has been gathered from numerous sources to make this the most complete plant data base available. To access a particular geographic region, climate zones are included as one of the criteria. Thirty three categories provide the user with over 250 variable. The user may specify any combination of these to define a search. For example, a list of plants can be developed based on shrubs with red flowers that grow in USDA zone 5 and are drought resistant.

The Plant Specifier is available for just $295. AutoCAD and LANDCADD are required for plant growth simulation. An evaluation copy of PC-File is included for Plant Selection. For order forms or more information, contact: LANDCADD, INC., 10418 E. Tanglewood Road, Franktown, CO 80116.

Land Planners and designers have access to a powerful package from LANDCADD, Inc. based on the AutoCAD drafting system. LANDCADD provides a series of tablet menus which are totally compatible with the standard AutoCAD menu format. LANDCADD module includes Site Planning and Landscape Design, Irrigation Design, Quadrangle, E-Z Estimate and Plant Specifier. CADD Construction Details and E-Z Word are additional packages that are also available from LANDCADD.

Packaging is as follows:

Professional Land Planner LA Pro Land Planner Plus

Site Planning & Landscape Design Site Planning & Landscape Design
Irrigation Design Irrigation Design
E-Z Estimate Quadrangle
Plant Specifier E-Z Estimate
$1495 (Save $485) Plant Specifier
$1995 (Save $580)

Professional Land Planner CE LANDCADD Complete

Site Planning & Landscape Design Pro Land Planner Plus
Quadrangle Complete set of
E-Z Estimate Construction Details
Over 100 Construction Details (over 500 details)
$1495 (Save $485) $2795 (Save $675)

LANDCADD will demonstrate its new products at the AEC Systems Show in Chicago, IL., May 2-5, 1988. Of special interest will be the new module, QUADRANGLE, which is a contour and terrain modeling program for AutoCAD.

Site Planning & Landscape Design

The Site Planning & Landscape Design module includes simple earthwork calculations, coordinate geometry, parking lot layout, planting plans, a plant data base, and plant growth simulation. A comprehensive 3-D symbols library of plants, people, cars, and sports fields is provided. Other features include a variety of text enhancements, double lines and arcs, additional hatch patterns and lines types. Complete access to all AutoCAD commands rounds out the package which sells for $695.00.

Irrigation Design

The irrigation Design module features commands which allow the user to input data on any brand of sprinklers and specify products with data published by the manufacturer. Spray radii are displayed based on angle of coverage and can be turned off after the design is complete. The program can total the number of GPM's in a user specified zone. Heads can be duplicated in a variety of ways, including triangular spaced arrays. Pipe sizing is done automatically by the program, and PSI loss calculations are stored as attributes that can be recalled and totalled at any point in time. The Irrigation Design module sells for $595.00.

Quadrangle

Quadrangle is an incredibly fast contouring and terrain modeling system for use in conjunction with AutoCAD(R), Version 2.6 or later, as well as the usual features of contour mapping systems: smoothing, labeling, hatchuring, grid mesh views from arbitrary viewpoints and with hidden lines removal. Input its through control points provided as x-y-z coordinates in a test file. Input can easily be created by spread sheets, data base report generators, or manual input. The Quadrangle module sells for $595.00.

E-Z Estimate

Complete quantity takeoffs and cost estimates are accomplished with the LANDCADD E-Z Estimate module. This program can be used in conjunction with any AutoCAD drawing and is fully integrated with the LANDCADD product line. It functions similar to AutoCAD and can be called from inside the drawing editor. E-Z Estimate sells for $395.00.

CADD Construction Details

CADD Construction Details is a comprehensive set of drawings that are easily modified for specific projects. Over 500 details are available for such topics as arbors, curbs & bumper stops, decks & bridges, drainage, erosion control & soil stability, fences, fountains & pools, handicapped site design, irrigation, lighting, parking, paving, planting, playground equipment, railings & protective devices, shelters, signage, site utilities, steps & ramps, and walls. The details are available as AutoCAD drawing files, DXF files, or IGES files, permitting use by most micro CAD users. Each disk contains from 5 to 10 details. The complete set can be purchased for $895.00; any set of six disks for $99.00; any one disk for $24.95.

E-Z Word

E-Z Word is an extremely helpful set of utilities designed for use by anyone who uses AutoCAD. It features inserting a text file from any word processor into your drawing without creating any intermediate files, curved text, bold text, an architectural hand lettering font, outline letters, text editing once text is already in your drawing, breaking text strings into two or more entities, and more. New text fonts include Outline, Solid, Scree, Handlet, Chisel, and MRomans. The program sells for $49.95.

Datasphere Computer Systems Announces Release of Job/Cost Estimating Program

Datasphere Computer Sustems of Portland, Oregon announces the release of its new Terra - Job/Cost Estimating program - for micro computers. The Job/Cost Estimating software operates on a stand-alone basis or can integrate with the Terra Financial Management and Accounting System.

This simple, yet powerful bidding program is designed to allow a landscape contractor to produce an accurate bid in as little as ten minutes. The bidding system uses previously assigned values for components of a job. For example, you define the cost for each operation and labor for a lineal foot of path. When bidding a job, you only enter the number of feet for a path in this job.

You may assign markups for materials, plants, equipment, sub-contractors, rental equipment, labor and for the overall job.

The system allows you to use prices from a standard file, or prices from the inventory file. When producing a bid, the system prints a materials list including plant material and required equipment, as wekk as a sub-contractor and labor list.

If you are awarded the contract, press a button and the information becomes the budget for the job costing sustem. The Terra Cost Accounting system automatically collects cost information from Payroll Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable to produce accurate and up-to-date cost information. You will now know: hours bid, actual hours worked, percent completed, payments received and profit and loss for the job.

Enterprise Accounting

When linked with the enterprise, accounting module program permits the landscape contractor to keep track of all costs and income by client, function or plant variety throughout the entire contract period independent of the accounting year. Terra's flexible user defined inventory coding allows each landscape contractor to "customize" their own system.

Fully Integrated System

The Job/Cost Estimating program interacts with the Terra, General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Asset Depreciation and Payroll modules. Each program module can be purchased separately. They all link with one another as well as with Lotus spreadsheets to give the desired management information along with the ability to do "What If Analysis" with one entry .

Hardware Required

The system runs on the IBM XT, AT and most other MSDOS and IBM PC compatible computers. For more information call Datasphere at (503) 297-9035 or write for a list of the Dealers nearest you.

Datasphere Computer Systems
6443 S.W. Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy., Suite 305
Portland, Oregon 97221

As a landscape professional we encounter many different problems in the field. Often we encounter problems that are new to us and to which we do not have a ready answer. The usual method of solving such problems is to consult with an expert. Sometimes we are lucky and the expert is available (and free) at our local supply house or nursery. Often, though, the search for our answer is time consuming, if not expensive.

Enter the "Expert Computer System". This is a system that is designed to solve problems by emulating human thinking and logic processes. Most of us are used to "normal" computer functions involving mathematical problems, but expert systems function completely different.

There are already expert systems in use in many fields. These systems are being used by doctors to diagnose diseases, by engineers to solve structural problems, and even by writers to rough out basic plots and storylines (no, I don't have one to do this column . . . yet). Now there are expert systems being developed for the Green Industry.

In the area of turfgrass management there is a program being developed at the University of Illinois called "Weeds". The turfgrass research team consists of Thomas W. Fermanian, extension turfgrass specialist, and Rysard Michalski of the Department of Computer Science. The program is an offshoot of another program developed there in the 1970's called PLANT/ds. It was designed to assist farmers in the identification of soybean diseases.

The WEED program will be relatively simple to use. It consists of a series of questions about the weed, starting with the obvious, "Are seedheads or flowers present?". The program goes on from there to ask selectively more complex questions as it narrows the search down. Based on your answers (it even will suggest alternate answers) the system narrows the choices down until it arrives at the correct answer.

Such a system would be ideal in a portable (lap-top) type computer that you could use in the field. I am sure that other expert systems for our industry will soon be developed also.

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Landcadd, a CAD program for landscape design, has come out with two new packages. Now Landcadd is compatible with AutoCAD 2.5 and AutoCAD A/E/C. Also available now is the E-Z Estimate package. This works with Landcadd to provide automatic estimating and parts take off of your designs. Both systems run on any MS-DOS based personal computer (IBM compatible). We will have more information on this in the next issue, but for those of you who can't wait circle number 105 on the Reader Service Card.

I heard an interesting comment the other day. A contractor was telling me that his company had just starting converting over to a computerized office system. He complained the computer was more work than the manual system they had before. He was starting to regret the money he had spent on the new system.

His problem was not the new computer system, but the people who sold him the equipment. Unfortunately that is all they sold him à the equipment. As with many things we buy today the service after the sale is more important than the equipment itself. But not only did the salespeople not give after the sale service, they also did not forewarn their prospective client of the amount of work that is involved in switching over to a computerized system.

If you have a manual accounting and office system in place already and are considering converting to a computer system you can expect from two to six months worth of work. This work will involve the learning process of the system and the actual transfer of data into the computer. And, undoubtedly you will run into some kind of problem. Problems always arise when man meets machine (particularly complex machines). That is where your after the sale support comes in.

Once you make it pass this break-in period, though, the computer will make life easier in certain areas. It will give you greater control over information and in the long run will provide you with in-depth analysis of your business operation. A computer is a good investment, but don't expect it to be all a bed of roses!

Computer aided design and drafting (CADD) is a tool that is fast revolutionizing architectural drafting methods. Since its introduction on the desk top computer approximately two years ago, it has proliferated at a staggering pace. While causing some confusion, the benefits as applied to the artful science of architecture are just too numberous to ignore.

The bottom line for the implementation of CADD is simply "bigger profits and better management." The confusion is generated by the incredible number and different types of CADD software packages offered on the market, and is compounded by just as much variety in hardware. Selecting a system for ones practice becomes a monumental project, especially for those professionals who have no computer experience. In spite of these obstacles there are ways to introduce CADD rather painlessly. First of all, it must be understood that office automation is here and here to stay. The simple truth is that architects have one of the easiest entries into this automated environment. Most good CADD software that is written by architects for architects is architectese. So extrapolating the applications desired are a lot simpler than starting with say accounting. This is particularly true for those practices that are just beginning to think about office automation. Newer developments occurring in the market now suggest that CADD is really the logical place to begin because the later automated practices in an office are going to be dictated by the CADD program selected. CADD is now being tied to integrated programs that range from bills of materials, estimating, hydraulic calculation, structural and finite analysis, word processing, project management, accounting and much more. These can all be interlaced to work as a coordinated package.

Finding a CADD system for your office means searching out vendors who specialize in CADD, preferably those who offer a variety of CADD software and hardware and who provide local support, service and warranty work. Most importantly investigate precise training methods. Remember, after the sale service is more important than low price. So unless you are a CADD expert, find a CADD dealer with the background to provide you with the training and service you will need to make the transion easily.