DynaSCAPE Erfahrungen

User since 2007

Kommentare: Overall satisfaction. I may not have benefited to the fullest from the program by not delving into ongoing training, beyond the original course I took as I made the transition to computer drafting, but I have become adept enough to meet my needs. Sometimes colleagues offer helpful tips or share hacks.

Vorteile:

Dynascape is the only drafting program I have used for my landscape design business since 2007 when I switched to drawing on the computer from hand drafting. It certainly facilitated revisions, as well as copying sections of drawings to different scales for easier communication and sharing with clients. I only use the Design part of the program suite, and it has served me well enough.

Nachteile:

My main computer is a Mac, so the fact that Dynascape is a PC based program has required using the Parallels program as an intermediary. With pending next generation changes to the Apple operating system, I am uncertain whether I will be able to continue to use Dynascape, as I believe Parallel is not immediately preparing to change their program to keep pace with the Apple changes. As I am long overdue for a computer update this a pressing concern for me. I believe Dynascape is in the process of developing a cross-platform version of their program, but it may not come soon enough for me.

Great CAD derived software for landscape designers or landscape architects.

Kommentare: I couldn't be nearly as effective in my profession. The drawings I can create using Dynascape are instrumental in communicating and selling to clients, plus communicating with contractors.

Vorteile:

I appreciate the pre-programmed templates and figures that work well with my designs. This saved a tremendous amount of time when getting started. Thank goodness it can import and export CAD, so I can communicate with engineers and architects, and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.

Nachteile:

I wish they would develop a library of standard engineering / landscape architecture lines and symbols.

Dynascape intuitive but it can be glitchy

Kommentare: Clunky, it is a great concept. I am grateful for it but it is clunky

Vorteile:

Easy of use and the fact that i can build a library of ohotos

Nachteile:

It is glitchy. I lost count of how many times i lost work because it didn’t auto save. Or how many times i had to restart the software because it freezes while trying to finish a task. The concept of the software is nice, but it feels like a software written in the 90s with glitches and poor optimatization. For instance it is library of photos lacks basic plants (encore azaleas), but it allows you to choose pictures from the web. But when u do so your plant catalog file will have 24mb. When I contacted them they told me that i need to optimize the photo using a third party software and then upload it on dynascape. The. You have one menu to export the budget in on location, another menu to export the plant catalog in another location, another one to generate a pdf. Often it fails to create a pdf and you have to turn it off use the pdf repair tool and then export it.

Dynascape Review

Kommentare: I have been using Dynascape Design for about 10 years now and have had an overall great experience with it. Our office just integrated Manage 360 this year, so there are always new things to learn but we have a pretty decent handle on it so far. Intend to spend this winter learning how to use more features of the program.

Vorteile:

Dynascape Design is easy to use, and integrates well with Manage 360. The takeoff tools are great and allow for quicker estimating. Love the plant picture catalog feature but wish there was more plant info included on the PDFs.

Nachteile:

Sometimes Design crashes without warning, but the recover feature is a lifesaver. Just slows down the design process sometimes. Coworkers have mentioned that the timesheets, especially for maintenance services, could be much more streamlined and easier to use.

User friendly and good landscape features

Kommentare: I've been using dynascape for almost a decade. It's quick and easy. Much more user friendly than cad. I use it on every project and have had great success. I normally use black and white much more than color because I rarely make polylines for all my features. You have to know you're going to color before you start designing, otherwise it's a pain to go over all your lines twice.

Vorteile:

I like that you can easily drop in figures - boulders, furniture, t-block accessories, doors/window wells, plants. Good variety of line weights. Good options for paper sizing and scales. Really easy to create a design in minutes. Also moves pretty fast - doesn't trip like other programs.

Nachteile:

Please add multiple sheets per file. I don't like turning layers on and off to see the projects and often, the layers on/off feature isn't necessary. What I need is to see my complete design next to my planting plan, irrigation plan, etc. I usually have multiple files that I need to create a single pdf for, but then if there are changes, I have to open multiple documents rather than just one. The clients don't want 5 pdfs, they just want one file. The pdf quality in Color is not nearly as crisp as black and white pdfs. The color designs are always fuzzier. Lastly, the leaders are not clean enough. When I compare them to autocad, they looks messy and are harder to read.

Manage360

Kommentare: Overall experience has been great. It is a complete program with only minor issues needing resolution.

Vorteile:

Job costing and the ability to give plants a separate overhead markup from materials

Nachteile:

No being able to delete accounts and estimates with jobs attached. I understand why, but feel there should be a work around.

Dynascape long time user...

Kommentare: I love using Dynascape and the installers I work with love that they have an accurate plan to create their masterpieces.

Vorteile:

I started using Dynascape in 2008. Before that time I created hand drawn designs for my customers. Dynascape accentuated my designing ability. Modification is very easy, no eraser needed.

Nachteile:

Modification are a common thing in landscape design work, Library hatching with specific interlock manufacturers patterns is a time consuming. Example, the default Library is Dynascape Patterns, If I choose the Techo-Bloc Library to hatch my Interlock project and after a review notice an error, to re-hatch I need to go find the library again. The hatching reverts back to the Dynascape Patterns. Time is money and this creates a delay.

Needs Improving

Kommentare: When I've used the support email, or have had to move licenses around to new computers, company response has always been quick and thorough. It's my understanding that the company is working on a major upgrade to Design--and I must say it is needed--and I look forward to the results. New designers can quickly learn the basic skills needed to produce a digital design and track their assigned jobs in 360.

Vorteile:

Following the tutorials for Dynascape Design, I was able to learn this software on my own and get up and running in a short amount of time. I use Dynascape Manage 360 mostly for client database features and project management with multiple designers, and for that, it has been easy to learn and keep pipeline details up to date.

Nachteile:

Some of the design features are clunky and not intuitive. I would rather refer to the Design manual to figure out how to figure out a specific feature, however the manual has a poor index and often doesn't explain steps in a clear manner. More symbol options are needed for plant material and other landscape features.

Dynascape Design Review

Vorteile:

Designs are easy and come out looking very professional

Nachteile:

Needs more plant symbol variety. Irrigation design in the software is nearly unusable

long time user

Kommentare: They have improved a lot over the years, but I wish they would add more shortcuts to speed up the design process.

Vorteile:

figures and materials are focused on our industry

Nachteile:

It is expensive and takes a long time to train new users.

Why you should use Dynascape Design

Kommentare: We have used this software since the early 2000's. Have watched the software evolve and grow into what it is today. The software itself is amazing and we wouldn't use any other program to design our landscapes.
We would like the user forum to come back, as it was a valuable tool for the end user to be able to reach out to other users of the software and get ideas, tips and problem solve. Why it was removed years ago was baffling, but it seems Dynascape tends to lean towards having their users pay for help or use of their knowledge base with classes and user paid training. That would be our biggest complaint is everything seems to be "pay to play" mentality at this company.

Vorteile:

The graphics, ease of use and overall user interface is second to none with this software. You will make your investment back in the first design you present to your next client. Everthing you need to design, present and get material quantities and take offs is in this program. Including plant material!

Nachteile:

We want to use 360 manage, but the monthly cost is insane! Most smaller companies can't justify spending $300 a month. ($3600 a year) It's clearly targeting larger companies who need that sort of large crew management etc... but I would guess a big percentage of users of Dynascape are not huge companies. We'll stick with Quickbooks and save over a 3K per year.

Manage 360 review

Kommentare: New hires that do not know how to estimate. They say the way we set up manage 360 makes it very easy for them to learn how to estimate. Also the support offered for manage 360 is awesome. I have been very happy and look forward to new features that are being added often.

Vorteile:

Tracking budgeted time vs actual time. Having the guys use the mobile app to punch in and out. Estimating from the program and change orders. Tracking opportunities.

Nachteile:

Not being able to transfer payroll to quickbooks, but that is a feature that is being worked on now. Or not being able to track cost codes of items and labor into quickbooks.

Dynascape is a valuable must have design tool

Kommentare: We have used the software for 6 years now and it has been a game changer for our company. Before this we would hand draft every design and revisions and take offs would be very laborious. The ability to make the designs look more professional has put us ahead of other companies.

Vorteile:

Being able to do an accuarate take off for estimating.

Nachteile:

Hardscape figures are a little limited. Would like to have access to more figures. Maybe a database online where people can share figures they've built and will share. Also would like to see this available in a online version that can be used from any computer, similar to Google Sketh Up.

Horrible Dynascape Manage 360

Kommentare: Not happy with any department. Seriously thinking of replacing software with another vendor.

Vorteile:

The promise of what it could do but very hard to get to without a caring implementation team.

Nachteile:

Very lengthy implementation process and low customer service from Canadian representatives. Suggest they learn the American customer service standards as they have a lot to learn on implementation customer service.

Incredible Design Software for the Green Industry, but prepare for a learning curve.

Kommentare: DynaSCAPE Design and DynaSCAPE Color have aided in me selling millions of dollars worth of outdoor projects over the years that I have used it. There have been so many clients of mine that have been blown away by the designs after having simple hand drawn sketches done for them before. There is a learning curve, yes, but I believe it is well worth your time and the financial investment to get this software and test it out for yourself.

Vorteile:

I have used DynaSCAPE almost daily for over 8 years as a landscape design professional. I purchased the software - both DS Design and DS Color - for myself and they have paid for themselves numerous times over. Once you have used the software for awhile and have gotten past the steep learning curve it's a great software. There are tons of figures in the library that are already scale to your plan. I like that you can create prototypes for title blocks and save them. The plans I design always come out looking crisp and clean. There are so many great things about this software, I highly recommend it.

Nachteile:

As I've used DynaSCAPE throughout the years, I've only come across a few things that were mildly frustrating. The subscription service to keep everything up to date is semi prohibitive and I have not utilized it. Therefore, I cannot benefit from the updates and customer support. The main challenge - as others have mentioned - is the steep learning curve when you first start using the software. If you're transferring over from a different CAD program, it is going to take you a few months to get used to it, to become proficient in it will take even longer. I am still learning new things about the functions years later.

Drafting with Dynascape

Kommentare: We have used this software since it's begging We started with it before it came onto the market.
We would make periodic suggestions on how it would perform better.
At that time, we also used Vector. At that time we found Dynascape easier to use and a more flexible platform. Although, you still haven't made some of the fixes we would like to see.

Vorteile:

We found it was easy to creates a nice drawing, similar to AutoCadd. We started using the Dynascape program almost since it's inception. It prints quit well using a variety of large format printers. I like the tool options and area fill patterns. Our work is commercial based clients and our drawings some time quite large (36 x 48). Placing notes on the plans is a BIG pain for someone like us.

Nachteile:

Placing notations on plans is difficult. All we can use is a small panel that will only take a few words at a time. Writing the notes in Word and copying to the plans would be a BIG help. Or, enlarge the word panel to accept more words.

Phenomenal product but now quite perfect

Kommentare: Fantastic overall. My issues have generally been minimal but when we have a problem, customer service gets right on it for me.

Vorteile:

The estimate, sales, and job tracking are all fantastic. The crew app is pretty solid and does everything I need it to.

Nachteile:

The billing side is super weak. The connection to quickbooks is horrible. You have to download and run a program on a windows machine in order to sync to quickbooks. It's 2021, I should be able to just hit a button in my browser and have things just sync.

DynaSCAPE Design and Manage 360 - The Great and the Not So Great

Kommentare: Manage 360 is awesome for the operations of our company, and the fact that Design is linked to it for ease in estimating is a great feature. It's just the Design software is really lacking in what it's capable of doing. Autocad and Vectorworks are much better, and much more fluid and logical in their operations.

Vorteile:

Manage 360 is a great program for estimating and managing projects. Its integration with Dynascape Design is time-saving, which is nice too.

Nachteile:

Dynascape Design is very clunky. There's much more potential for this to work better.

Van Zeeland Nursery Review

Kommentare: It has been the first landscape CAD program I used and definitely like it more that regular CAD.

Vorteile:

Images are everything. Having the Plant list and plant photo id software is critical to my sales! copy and paste tool was a great add on!

Nachteile:

Color images could use an upgrade there are several shades of colors for plants I would love to see improved without me having to make my own. Also experiencing several crashes has not been fun.

Bertog Dynascape Review

Kommentare: For our business, it is a design program that makes the most sense. We utilize another landscape based software for our business and are not utilizing 360 otherwise if we didn't have another program we would have considered 360.

Vorteile:

The export to sketchup is very easy, the importing of plat of surveys is a great feature (any way to add engineering 1"=15' scale)? The ease of rendering is great as well. Overall the software is an invaluable tool that allows for quick designing and revisions and is a very well developed program. The criticisms are small in comparison to the benefits of the program.

Nachteile:

Like CAD or similar programs there are endless amount of shortcuts but the training on these shortcuts is difficult to reach. Either an additional training session is require or some deep drilldowns. One example is understanding to to draw a square with four lines and not need to trim the lines. Like sketchup, is there a way to have the program assume you want to end the last line at the beginning of the first? The unexpected crashes/shutdowns have been the largest pain over the years.

Great Product for Landscape Design

Kommentare: DynaSCAPE allows us to produce stunning visual designs quickly and efficiently. The software is super user friendly and the large catalog of figures is great. The sales team came out to meet us when I first implemented and were really a great group of people, friendly and very knowledgeable.

Vorteile:

DynaSCAPE is a fantastic tool for landscape design. I have used DynaSCAPE for about 10 years now and it is by far the best landscape design software on the market. The support team is quick to respond with any issues, and were great to work with on initial setup. Having a huge library of figures as well as the plant scheduling import/export makes designing and bidding quick as well as produces fantastic looking designs.

Nachteile:

For a while in the beginning the PDF export would sometimes not work, but they have since resolved those issues. The consistent updates seem to take care of most bugs that arise.

A product to make your life so much easier

Kommentare: Great piece of software with a helpful support team.

Vorteile:

With this product you streamline and customize every little thing, making it just right for the company.

Nachteile:

Wish the design software was more windows shortcut friendly. There are some, but would be great to have more. Also the price is a big jump when you dont know if its going to be the right fit for your business, but once you get using it, you quickly realise its worth it.

Dynascape Experience

Kommentare: Over all, I do really like the product. It's relatively easy to use compared to AutoCad and its tailored to the type of landscape architecture projects I like to do.

Vorteile:

I find it very user friendly and relatively easy to learn.

Nachteile:

Although the folks I eventually talk with are helpful, I'd have to say that the technical assistance is not as timely as it should be. The few times I've had issues I had to wait a day to get a response. Luckily I was not on a strict deadline but if I was, it could have cost me money or even a loss of reputation by not meeting client expectations. Along the same vein, I have found that the index in my user's manual (v5.4)is not accurate in many areas. It lists incorrect sections for many topics that I've tried to look up, which is frustrating.

Landscape Design

Kommentare: I have had some difficulties or concerns that I was able to share and solve with the techinical staff.
I am not as well versed but did take two pieces of training (one without the program purchased and another after I purchased the program.) Sometimes I think the "trainors" go too fast with their explanations and expect a higher understanding of the product and how to use Dynascape.

Vorteile:

The cost of the product is reasonable. Many clients are pleased with the final design and clarity of the plant list.

Nachteile:

Not understanding how to incorporate bearings and how to import a drawing that I copied from an original paper copy. Need to learn how to take this imported drawing and be able to make a new landscape design from it.

Good CAD Design Software

Kommentare: The models available in Sketch 3D are good quality and useful when you need good tree/shrub/perennial models that aren't available in most other programs.

Vorteile:

The Design program is CAD based, so it you are familiar with CAD, its pretty easy to use. The plant symbols are good and make the drawings look tailored to the landscaping. We only use Manage 360 for pricing and estimation purposes, it works well and the kits are a huge time saver. Biggest advantage to use Manage 360 with Design software is the plant list export feature - export the plants and quantities from the design and import the entire list into the estimate with only a few clicks.

Nachteile:

There could be more/better hatching for pavers, step/wall designations, etc. The Dynascape Color is nice, but very time consuming to get the areas closed for coloring.