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Legal description software
I was probably one of the first owners of a description writing software for autocad. I like it ok, it is customizable and works well. However, they have gone to a subscription model, a fee for each seat, so for each computer using autocad you have to pay up. This doesn’t sit well with me and I looked around for a different source to do this task. I do not like the set-up in C3D, but I did find that Trimble offers it in TBC. So now I’m using TBC and have deleted the fee model. They are almost identical, the only issue is I have to export the figures from C3D to Trimble which is mainly opening up TBC and drag dropping in a block from my desktop.
Sometimes the subscription model for programs will actually hurt their bottom line,,,,,,,,,at least that’s MHO. I know I’m looking hard at C3D and what they charge each year.
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16 Replies
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TBC has the function. I used the similar before in TerraModel.
I use TBC for everything, don’t use any other CAD package. It now has full drafting capability and they are improving it all the time. Like every software there is a learning curve. I’m finding it worth it. Just one package, no AutoCAD, MicroStation, Carlson, etc. You are sort of locked into Trimble Field gear but you can import about any other source in some fashion or another. It will input a great may formats.
I haven’t customized the legal writer in TBC but you can. I usually run it to get the framework with all the numbers and then edit to a full description from there. Works fine for me. It writes to a text file and then I use regular word processing software from there. Can cut and paste back into TBC text what ever you want to place in a drawing. It took Trimble over 15 years to get it together but they finally have. TBC with word, spreadsheet, Adobe pdf, Photoshop, and a few other misc software is all you need. You will need at least the latest TBC Advanced version to enable the drafting functions to complete and plot drawings. I’m about two years in and finally staring to feel comfortable with TBC drafting (maybe 20% of my time using it). A full time user would get there a lot quicker. Self taught, no classes, they do have YouTube videos.
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I hear you loud and clear. I’m an experienced Civil3D and TBC user. Some of the biggest complaints we get about Civil are the price and the lack of survey tools, and if you use TBC, you almost need a second program for drafting. I would agree that no program is perfect, but it doesn’t cost anything to try. Thanks for the consideration!
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TBC has the function. I used the similar before in TerraModel.
I use TBC for everything, don’t use any other CAD package. It now has full drafting capability and they are improving it all the time. Like every software there is a learning curve. I’m finding it worth it. Just one package, no AutoCAD, MicroStation, Carlson, etc. You are sort of locked into Trimble Field gear but you can import about any other source in some fashion or another. It will input a great may formats.
I haven’t customized the legal writer in TBC but you can. I usually run it to get the framework with all the numbers and then edit to a full description from there. Works fine for me. It writes to a text file and then I use regular word processing software from there. Can cut and paste back into TBC text what ever you want to place in a drawing. It took Trimble over 15 years to get it together but they finally have. TBC with word, spreadsheet, Adobe pdf, Photoshop, and a few other misc software is all you need. You will need at least the latest TBC Advanced version to enable the drafting functions to complete and plot drawings. I’m about two years in and finally staring to feel comfortable with TBC drafting (maybe 20% of my time using it). A full time user would get there a lot quicker. Self taught, no classes, they do have YouTube videos.
Trimble has set-up the same subscription model as most other software providers. This would exclude me from using it for drafting. As it works now I use TBC for static and exporting and importing coordinates into C3D plus a few other tasks. So I have one subscription and trade the license between all the seats of the program, if I were to convert to using TBC for everything then each seat would need a license, that would get very expensive just like C3D. It’s easy to trade the license between each computer so that isn’t much of an issue, TBC is a limited time program for me, but C3D is open and used by 4-5 computers most days.
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One big disadvantage small shops or solo is cost of software. If you want full capability and up to date tools you pay a premium. So I use TBC and keep it up to date. Not cheap. Since I work alone I can only use it part time, even more part time for me as surveying is not full time for me. So cost wise I pay for a full seat and only use it maybe 20% of the time.
Larger shops may have 5 full time seats and use them say 80% of the time. Big bill each year but quite and advantage cost/use wise over what I have. My advantage, if there is one, is that I’m not obligated to pay for the operator sitting in that seat, but I don’t have the income they produce either.
Some say the small shop has an overhead advantage. In some ways yes but for good software and field tools NO. My overhead per operator (me) in this respect is probably 5 times that per person of larger businesses. I suppose I could limp along with old out of date tools but choose not to.
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I would say you are doing the right thing, paying for TBC and C3D when TBC can draft for you seems overkill. I haven’t delved into the cad functions in TBC, beyond creating points and exporting views to Google. I have enough fun learning C3D. ????
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I’ve always thought that learning to use complex software cost many times the cost of the software. I’ve spent some time learning AutoCAD and MicroStation in the past but not enough (fortunately). I used TerraModel mostly, but even there the switch to TBC took a lot of effort. So far me to the end its TBC, word processing, spreadsheet, Adobe Acrobat, and Photoshop. Heck, that’s a lot for an old dog, but necessary to compete in the modern environment.
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I started using LegalAid about 10 years ago and will never go back… to anything else.
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I started using LegalAid about 10 years ago and will never go back… to anything else.
I probably have you by at least 10 years, but paying for it each year for six copies is a bit much.
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I just looked at Legal Aid online. It appears to me that TBC basically does the same thing. Just does it inside the program. You would need to open the text file produced in a word processor to final edit. It can be customized but I haven’t messed with that yet.
Legal Aid website says they have a stand alone version that will work on dxf files. So one copy may be all you need.
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I just looked at Legal Aid online. It appears to me that TBC basically does the same thing. Just does it inside the program. You would need to open the text file produced in a word processor to final edit. It can be customized but I haven’t messed with that yet.
Legal Aid website says they have a stand alone version that will work on dxf files. So one copy may be all you need.
I’m very happy with the TBC version, they are almost identical, a bit different when you customize and there are a couple of features that TBC does that I feel work better Since it’s “free”; included in the program I have to have anyway, I’m sold.
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Just wondering if MicroSurvey can open Microstation Files Yet? I want to change software, but I literally have 1000’s of MS files.
Thanks
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Just wondering if MicroSurvey can open Microstation Files Yet? I want to change software, but I literally have 1000’s of MS files.
Thanks
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Sorry Randy, I just saw your reply to this thread! Yes, MicroSurvey can now open and export DGN files, thanks for asking!
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The two I’ve heard about are legal aid and net deed. Net deed sounds like the more important of the 2.
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Does anyone have Terramodel locks for sale? Do you have any Foresight or Foresight DXM locks you’d be willing to part with? Thanks.
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