FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact us if you have any queries not covered in this FAQ. You can call us on 012 665 0120 or e-mail us
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact us if you have any queries not covered in this FAQ. You can call us on 012 665 0120 or e-mail us
General
The software can only be purchased from Model Maker Systems or one of its appointed agents. It is recommended that you determine what you need and then request a quotation using the website option: “Get A Quote”. You may purchase the software with full ownership or lease it monthly without ownership.
Once purchased, you are able to download the product from our website. If you opt to use a hard lock (USB) key, the key with installation media will be couriered to you. The product make-up you purchased will be activated via the internet.
Our website has a detailed description of each product and the functionality of its modules under the “Products” tab. On the “Get A Quote” page we also show recommended packages for some disciplines. Some modules may be dependent on others and they will automatically be selected for you. We can recommend modules to you if you send us an email with a detailed description of what your requirements and expectations are for the software. You are also welcome to phone us and discuss it with a sales representative.
If you are unsure about the modules it is of utmost importance that you liaise with us before making your purchase. We would normally suggest the most important modules as per your requirement.
We do not take back purchased products or exchange modules on a package for other modules. If functionality of modules not active in the purchased package is required, these modules may be added at the current pricing cost.
Yes. You may download the full version of a product from our website and activate it for a trial period of 30 days. While using the software in trial mode you must be connected to the internet. There are no restriction on functionality in trial mode and all modules of a product are available. A trial mode may be activated only once on a specific computer.
The software will stop working and you will be given the option to make a purchase. You will receive an email approximately 3 days before the expiry date to notify you.
We do not have a discounted student version but we do give substantial discounts to educational institutions wishing to use our software in educating their students. These institutions also receive free support and upgrades to the software. Certain terms and conditions apply.
Yes you can, but if you purchased only one workstation of a product you can only use it on one of your computers at a time. The workstation you use must have an HL key plugged in or have an SL key authorized on it.
Our main versions’ changes and updates occur in January and July each year. Updates may be downloaded from our website, or a product can be set up to automatically check and download updates when available. Daily changes to the software are only available via the automatic updating facility.
A soft lock (SL) or hard lock (HL) key is used to control the use of the software according to the purchased modules. Both key types may be transferred between computers to activate a product workstation. An SL key is a virtual internet based key that require an internet connection to be available once in any 30 day period to confirm the key. An HL key is a USB key that must be plugged into a computer to activate a product. Since the HL key is a physical item and an integral part of the software, it must be insured against theft or loss for the full price list value of the software product it controls.
Yes, once it is confirmed via an internet connection you may use it offline for 30 consecutive days. Any use of the software with an internet connection will reset the 30 day period again.
We have a function built into the software to authorize or un-authorize an SL key. To transfer use of the software it must first be un-authorized from the computer it is authorized on and then it can be authorized on another computer. For both these actions you must be online.
No. An SL key gives access to the use of a single workstation of a product.
An internet connection and access to our SL server is required to authorize or un-authorize an SL key. You will not be able to do authorization if a server is down. If your software is already authorized on a computer and the server is down or you have no internet, the software will still work in offline mode for a period of 30 days.
Each software package is modular and may have different modules purchased. We use what we call a “setup-file” to control what modules or products may be activated with a specific key. This file is also only valid for a specific version of the software.
No we do not. We only develop, market and support our own products.
Software & features
Billing & Subscription
System Requirements for Optimal Performance
To ensure the best experience with our software, we recommend using a system that meets or exceeds the following requirements:
Operating System
- Minimum & Recommended: Windows 11 (or the most recent version of Windows that is actively supported by Microsoft).
CPU
- Minimum: Intel i5 processor (or equivalent).
- Recommended: Latest Intel i7 or equivalent, as it provides excellent performance for CPU-intensive tasks without the extra cost of higher-end models.
RAM
- Minimum: 8 GB (or the minimum requirement of the installed Windows version, whichever is higher).
- Recommended: 16 GB or more, especially for handling large datasets like DTM points in Model Maker.
Storage
- Minimum: 500 GB SSD for reliable and fast storage.
- Recommended: 500 GB+ NVMe SSD for the best performance and faster data access speeds.
Graphics
- Minimum: An onboard graphics card is sufficient. A discrete GPU (NVIDIA or ATI) is not required for the software, as it does not significantly improve performance. However, a modern GPU can enhance overall system performance and indirectly boost the responsiveness of our CPU-intensive software.
General Recommendation
For the best experience, we recommend choosing the highest available CPU, RAM, and storage options that fit your needs, especially if you work with large datasets.
It will always remain the responsibility of the user to ensure their data input and the resulting output from the software is correct and trusted. Certain functions will however have some checks available to cater for possible incorrect entries by a user.
Our software does not connect directly via cable or other method to any instruments. We do have a utility available for downloading data from instruments. Most instruments can however save data to files and we have various option for loading these data files.
Yes, we do have functionality to capture images and get elevations from GE or export CAD/DTM entities to GE. This is however operating system and GE version dependent. We do not guarantee that this functionality will always work because we don’t know what developments from GE may influence us.
We use a third party add-on utility called “VectorDraw” to read/write DWG, DXF and/or DGN files. This forms part of our installation setup and must always be installed in addition to our own software.
The basic unit of measurement and coordinates used is meter (SI) or feet (US imperial) in LO or UTM system format. We have functionality to convert to/from this to geographical coordinates using the WGS84 datum. Our software may be used with correct orientation in the southern or northern hemisphere. Data can be in any of the following datums : WGS84, Cape Clark, OSGB36, NzTM2000, GDA94.
The most used option is an electronic bank transfer. We do have an option to pay using a credit card through the PayPal payment platform. The PayPal options do carry an extra 10% administrative cost. South-African domestic clients will have the option of payment on account 30 days from invoice date OR to pay on a COD basis with payment prior to delivery/activation of the software. The COD option is currently discounted with 15% against the 30 day option. All exports must be paid upfront and will have the 15% discount applied.
There is no facility to finance the software through us. You are welcome to approach a financial institution for this.
Should it happen that the software is not what you expected, you may cancel your purchase within 7 days of your invoice date. This cancellation request must be in writing and must be accepted by us before it will be confirmed. If you elected to use a hard lock key and you already received the key, it must be returned to us by courier. Only once the key is received by us will the purchase be cancelled. Once the purchase is cancelled you must provide us with bank details for a refund payment.
The cancellation charge will be fixed at ZAR 500.00 (South African Rand).
No, the software is purchased outright and will never expire. We do however, offer an annual support subscription that also includes version updates.
The annual support fee is calculated at 9% of your software’s original purchase price. This remains permanently fixed unless you add modules to your package/s or you don’t renew your subscription within 30 days of the expiry date. Once the support has expired for more than 30 days, an upgrade must be purchased and the support fee will then be calculated according to the current price list at the time.
Ownership of the software will be granted if the same package makeup is leased for a uninterrupted period of 24 months.
No, the lease is a separate cost for using the software.
Approximately 3 days before a lease term expires you will receive an email to notify you of the expiry. You may then make a payment based on the previous lease invoice and send us the proof of payment. We then extend the lease term and invoice you accordingly. Should you wish to make changes to the leased product you must first send us an email with details on the required changes to then get a new quotation for it.
Training & Support
Yes. We provide a PDF guide that assists people with the installation of the software. There’s also a "Help" resource within each program that contains tutorials and detailed info.
No. We provide training at an extra cost as per user requirement. Please see a full explanation under the “Training” tab on our website.
There’s a "Help" resource within each program that contains tutorials and detailed info. We also have additional PDF guides and an ever growing instructional video library.
We provide both telephonic and email support as well as provide remote desktop assistance via the internet using TeamViewer. All our software products also come bundled with online help documentation.
The Model Maker Systems office in South-Africa is open between 08h00 and 16h30 (UTC+2) during weekdays. While we unfortunately do not have support outside of these hours, our team will make sure to attend to your email enquiries and provide you with the help you need as soon as they are available.
The most important aspect is the technical support we provide in making the use of our software a highly productive tool in any business. It also gives you access to always use the latest version of the software. Users close to any of our offices may make an appointment to see one of our support representatives for help on any problem they may have. This is not for training sessions however, and the maximum time allowed per appointment is limited to one hour. Please note that we only provide support to users with an active support subscription.
You will not have access to any of our support services or software updates. The software will still work without a current support subscription if the user remains on the software version he was entitled to during the support term. The onus is also on the user to retain a backup copy of his “setup-file” and installation files for that version.
General
The software can only be purchased from Model Maker Systems or one of its appointed agents. It is recommended that you determine what you need and then request a quotation using the website option: “Get A Quote”. You may purchase the software with full ownership or lease it monthly without ownership.
Once purchased, you are able to download the product from our website. If you opt to use a hard lock (USB) key, the key with installation media will be couriered to you. The product make-up you purchased will be activated via the internet.
Our website has a detailed description of each product and the functionality of its modules under the “Products” tab. On the “Get A Quote” page we also show recommended packages for some disciplines. Some modules may be dependent on others and they will automatically be selected for you. We can recommend modules to you if you send us an email with a detailed description of what your requirements and expectations are for the software. You are also welcome to phone us and discuss it with a sales representative.
If you are unsure about the modules it is of utmost importance that you liaise with us before making your purchase. We would normally suggest the most important modules as per your requirement.
We do not take back purchased products or exchange modules on a package for other modules. If functionality of modules not active in the purchased package is required, these modules may be added at the current pricing cost.
Yes. You may download the full version of a product from our website and activate it for a trial period of 30 days. While using the software in trial mode you must be connected to the internet. There are no restriction on functionality in trial mode and all modules of a product are available. A trial mode may be activated only once on a specific computer.
The software will stop working and you will be given the option to make a purchase. You will receive an email approximately 3 days before the expiry date to notify you.
We do not have a discounted student version but we do give substantial discounts to educational institutions wishing to use our software in educating their students. These institutions also receive free support and upgrades to the software. Certain terms and conditions apply.
Yes you can, but if you purchased only one workstation of a product you can only use it on one of your computers at a time. The workstation you use must have an HL key plugged in or have an SL key authorized on it.
Our main versions’ changes and updates occur in January and July each year. Updates may be downloaded from our website, or a product can be set up to automatically check and download updates when available. Daily changes to the software are only available via the automatic updating facility.
A soft lock (SL) or hard lock (HL) key is used to control the use of the software according to the purchased modules. Both key types may be transferred between computers to activate a product workstation. An SL key is a virtual internet based key that require an internet connection to be available once in any 30 day period to confirm the key. An HL key is a USB key that must be plugged into a computer to activate a product. Since the HL key is a physical item and an integral part of the software, it must be insured against theft or loss for the full price list value of the software product it controls.
Yes, once it is confirmed via an internet connection you may use it offline for 30 consecutive days. Any use of the software with an internet connection will reset the 30 day period again.
We have a function built into the software to authorize or un-authorize an SL key. To transfer use of the software it must first be un-authorized from the computer it is authorized on and then it can be authorized on another computer. For both these actions you must be online.
No. An SL key gives access to the use of a single workstation of a product.
An internet connection and access to our SL server is required to authorize or un-authorize an SL key. You will not be able to do authorization if a server is down. If your software is already authorized on a computer and the server is down or you have no internet, the software will still work in offline mode for a period of 30 days.
Each software package is modular and may have different modules purchased. We use what we call a “setup-file” to control what modules or products may be activated with a specific key. This file is also only valid for a specific version of the software.
No we do not. We only develop, market and support our own products.
Software & features
Our software packages require Windows 7 or later, and the base specs required for the OS are adequate to run our packages. We recommend Windows 10 with at least 4GB RAM and a good onboard graphics screen card for the best experience.
We always recommend the best CPU, RAM and HDD options available to you, especially if your needs include loading large volumes of DTM points into Model Maker.
It will always remain the responsibility of the user to ensure their data input and the resulting output from the software is correct and trusted. Certain functions will however have some checks available to cater for possible incorrect entries by a user.
Our software does not connect directly via cable or other method to any instruments. We do have a utility available for downloading data from instruments. Most instruments can however save data to files and we have various option for loading these data files.
Yes, we do have functionality to capture images and get elevations from GE or export CAD/DTM entities to GE. This is however operating system and GE version dependent. We do not guarantee that this functionality will always work because we don’t know what developments from GE may influence us.
We use a third party add-on utility called “VectorDraw” to read/write DWG, DXF and/or DGN files. This forms part of our installation setup and must always be installed in addition to our own software.
The basic unit of measurement and coordinates used is meter (SI) or feet (US imperial) in LO or UTM system format. We have functionality to convert to/from this to geographical coordinates using the WGS84 datum. Our software may be used with correct orientation in the southern or northern hemisphere. Data can be in any of the following datums : WGS84, Cape Clark, OSGB36, NzTM2000, GDA94.
Billing & Subscription
The most used option is an electronic bank transfer. We do have an option to pay using a credit card through the PayPal payment platform. The PayPal options do carry an extra 10% administrative cost. South-African domestic clients will have the option of payment on account 30 days from invoice date OR to pay on a COD basis with payment prior to delivery/activation of the software. The COD option is currently discounted with 15% against the 30 day option. All exports must be paid upfront and will have the 15% discount applied.
There is no facility to finance the software through us. You are welcome to approach a financial institution for this.
Should it happen that the software is not what you expected, you may cancel your purchase within 7 days of your invoice date. This cancellation request must be in writing and must be accepted by us before it will be confirmed. If you elected to use a hard lock key and you already received the key, it must be returned to us by courier. Only once the key is received by us will the purchase be cancelled. Once the purchase is cancelled you must provide us with bank details for a refund payment.
The cancellation charge will be fixed at ZAR 500.00 (South African Rand).
No, the software is purchased outright and will never expire. We do however, offer an annual support subscription that also includes version updates.
The annual support fee is calculated at 9% of your software’s original purchase price. This remains permanently fixed unless you add modules to your package/s or you don’t renew your subscription within 30 days of the expiry date. Once the support has expired for more than 30 days, an upgrade must be purchased and the support fee will then be calculated according to the current price list at the time.
Ownership of the software will be granted if the same package makeup is leased for a uninterrupted period of 24 months.
No, the lease is a separate cost for using the software.
Approximately 3 days before a lease term expires you will receive an email to notify you of the expiry. You may then make a payment based on the previous lease invoice and send us the proof of payment. We then extend the lease term and invoice you accordingly. Should you wish to make changes to the leased product you must first send us an email with details on the required changes to then get a new quotation for it.
Training & Support
Yes. We provide a PDF guide that assists people with the installation of the software. There’s also a "Help" resource within each program that contains tutorials and detailed info.
No. We provide training at an extra cost as per user requirement. Please see a full explanation under the “Training” tab on our website.
There’s a "Help" resource within each program that contains tutorials and detailed info. We also have additional PDF guides and an ever growing instructional video library.
We provide both telephonic and email support as well as provide remote desktop assistance via the internet using TeamViewer. All our software products also come bundled with online help documentation.
The Model Maker Systems office in South-Africa is open between 08h00 and 16h30 (UTC+2) during weekdays. While we unfortunately do not have support outside of these hours, our team will make sure to attend to your email enquiries and provide you with the help you need as soon as they are available.
The most important aspect is the technical support we provide in making the use of our software a highly productive tool in any business. It also gives you access to always use the latest version of the software. Users close to any of our offices may make an appointment to see one of our support representatives for help on any problem they may have. This is not for training sessions however, and the maximum time allowed per appointment is limited to one hour. Please note that we only provide support to users with an active support subscription.
You will not have access to any of our support services or software updates. The software will still work without a current support subscription if the user remains on the software version he was entitled to during the support term. The onus is also on the user to retain a backup copy of his “setup-file” and installation files for that version.
