The recently introduced MiniCad+ has incorporated a number of features that enhance its design use in the Macintosh-oriented landscape architectural and design/build office. These features include drawing tools to create smoothly flowing curves, the ability to create and manipulate three dimensional objects, provision of MiniPascal language routines as an option for creating elements, and incorporation of an interactive spreadsheet. It is this last feature that is the subject of this article.

A spreadsheet may be likened to a large pad of paper with column and row intersections forming cells into which information may be placed. Any cell may contain a label, a value, or a formula. It is the formula cells that give a spreadsheet its usefulness in doing mathematical tasks such as cost estimates. The formula cells base their calculations on the numbers entered in value cells or in other formula cells and change amounts automatically as other values are changed. The spreadsheet thus becomes dynamic, continually reflecting changes made in one cell throughout all calculations.

In his LASN article in the November/December 1988 issue, Scott Weinberg, ASLA, nicely outlined the advantages of having the ability to create a linkage between the design plan and quantification and estimation functions. The approach used in MiniCad+ allows the designer to have both the design plan and one or more spreadsheets available at the same time. As items are entered into the plan, they show up on a custom designed spreadsheet. Categories for material takeoffs, cost estimates and adjustments, subtotals of various elements, pricing alternatives, labor and overhead costs, and so on, can be easily incorporated. Since the spreadsheet is user-designed for each job, it can be as simple or complex as needed.

The Interior Courtyard (see illustration) provides an example of a design accompanied by the built-in spreadsheet. Upon opening the MiniCad+ drawing surface, the designer would proceed to do a general sheet layout determining drawing size, scale, units to be used, and display accuracy. In addition to these common procedures, the designer also opens and designs the spreadsheet to supplement the drawing. In the example, the spreadsheet was designed to keep track of material quantities and calculate and summarize costs as elements were added to the courtyard scheme. Columns three and six contain formulas, to be explained below, while the other columns have labels or values as shown.

MiniCad+ has three special categories for objects on a drawing that are to appear in the spreadsheet. These are named’ objects, ‘classes’ of objects, and ‘symbols’. A named object is unique; there may be only one object with a particular name on a drawing. A piece of sculpture might be a named object. Objects in a c1ass may differ in size and shape but must be of the same type; beds of ground cover would fall into this category. Symbols are repetitions of the same element; plants are frequently used symbols in computer-aided design.

To incorporate plants, the designer would proceed to the plant symbol library to select appropriate representations. A symbol is chosen and installed in as many locations as needed. As plants are placed on the drawing, their labels are entered into the DESCRIPTION column of the spreadsheet. A formula, = Count (symName:’Azalea’), would keep track of the number of these plants used. Different plant symbols are used for different plant types or for different sizes of the same plant to keep an accurate spreadsheet total.

The cost per unit of each item is determined and placed in the $ UNIT column and a formula, =C3*E3, is entered in the TOTAL column. A sum function, =Sum(F3..F18), is used to complete the cost summary. While the spreadsheet illustrated here is quite simple, much more complex ones may be developed to meet more demanding jobs.

At this point, the true beauty of the design plan to spreadsheet interaction becomes clear. If the designer needs to adjust the total cost of the job or any part of it, the spreadsheet can be manipulated by specifying different plants or sizes, or making changes in quantities of paving, plants or other elements directly on the design plan. As the items under any name, class, or symbol category are changed in the drawing, their presence, absence, or quantity is quickly reflected in the spreadsheet numbers and cost totals.

At the time of printing, the final format of material may be determined. The drawing may be produced by dot matrix printer, laserwriter, or pen plotter. The number of sheets to be used may be adjusted and the spreadsheet may be produced on the sheet with the drawing or as a separate item.

From initial design set-up to final drawing production, MiniCad+ is powerful, yet easy to use and flexible enough to accommodate the needs of different types of offices; the spreadsheet function is just one of its features that adds considerable value to its use as a design tool.

Note: MiniCad+1.0 is available through Graphsoft, Inc., 8370 Court Avenue, Suite 202, Ellicott City, MD 21043.

LASN would like to welcome Scott S. Weinberg to our staff as Associate editor/Computers and CADD. Scott is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture in the School of Environmental Design at the University of Georgia. Professor Weinberg has both a BSLA and MLA from Iowa State University. Prior to entering the teaching field, he practiced in the St. Louis area for seven years.

Scott was introduced to computers in 1979 (at that time, the Apple II was in style and for 64k of memory, it cost thousands of dollars) while at Iowa State University. It was that year, he taught his first class utilizing the computer.

He is heavily involved with both ASLA and the Landscape Architecture Foundation. Professor Weinberg has worked with ASLA at the national level by providing computer workshops at their Annual Meetings and as a part of the ASLA’s institute for Professional Development. Other activities include chairman of the ASLA Design/Build Open Committee, Vice-Chair of the ASLA Open Committees, Past President of the Georgia Chapter of ASLA, and Publications Committee Chair for the Landscape Architecture Foundation.