I've been using Autodesk Land Development Desktop 3 exclusively for more years than I care to admit. Since it doesn't run on anything higher than XP, I've come to the realization that I need to move on. Anybody have any ideas on what is a package for surveying that is similar to LDD3, that will run on Windows 10? I love my software, so comfortable with it, knock out surveys in a flash, and can share with clients and colleagues who are not too picky. I'm 65 yo and don't want to have too steep of a learning curve, or a huge cost at this stage of my career. There has to be someone in my shoes out there.
I would recommend Carlson Survey. I used to work with LDD 2004 and the transition was simple and intuitive. Carlson is the best IMHO...light years ahead of LDD...
I have not used LDD before but I will recommend Carlson Survey. Have been very useful for the field to finish and their drafting options. Have been churning out plans faster with them than before.
Thanks guys, I was sort of leaning toward Carlson. Went to a demo for it, and the interface was very similar to LDD. Not a lot of the Autocad Civil over the top features, that the typical small practice will never use. Do you use the Intellicad or Autocad versions?
techls, post: 373756, member: 6448 wrote: Thanks guys, I was sort of leaning toward Carlson. Went to a demo for it, and the interface was very similar to LDD. Not a lot of the Autocad Civil over the top features, that the typical small practice will never use. Do you use the Intellicad or Autocad versions?
IntelliCAD is finally stable enough. I am satisfied with it. Start there, then you can always spend more money later to add AutoCAD if you want to.
techls, post: 373756, member: 6448 wrote: Thanks guys, I was sort of leaning toward Carlson. Went to a demo for it, and the interface was very similar to LDD. Not a lot of the Autocad Civil over the top features, that the typical small practice will never use. Do you use the Intellicad or Autocad versions?
I am using the intellicad version. While I still am used to autocad keyboard commands which is different with intellicad, the functions in Carlson makes up for it.
You might want to spend the extra money to get the AutoCAD based version of Carlson. There is a wee bit steeper learning curve to using the IntelliCAD version. And the IntelliCAD still has a tendency to crash at odd moments, even when not doing anything computationally intensive.
For what its worth, LDD3 will run on win 7 & 8. That said, I recently moved companies, the on I left was still running LDD3, the new one Carlson Civil 16. Took me about a month to get up to speed. Still miss some LDD3 functiond but the new software is far superior.
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How do I get LDD3 to run on Windows 7?
As an avid ex-LDD user, I can tell you that Carlson Survey is the best way to go. I also recommend getting the AutoCAD Embedded version for now. (Running the Intellicad version on top of AutoCAD just does not appeal to my economic sensibilities.)
The ONLY thing that you lose from LDD is the ability to use custom LISP routines You DO NOT lose the LDD key board - Quick Keys.- commands. The pgp file can be added and modified as you need.
I did not find the learning curved steep at all. Spend a few bucks on Jennifer DiBona's books and make a training class or two from a Carlson Trainer an d it will be a quick and easy transition.
Like the good old Softdesk days, there are tons of powerful commands that are "hidden", well not really hidden, just not wherwe you are used to them being located or that you tend to over look.
As an avid LLD 3 user for many years. We had civil 3D 2007 through 2014 sitting on our desk that we never used. We finally made the jump and moved up to civil 3D 2014. The learning curve wasn't much and all the techs are doing good on the new civil 3D. Might be a little more expensive then the rest of the software, but most of our clientele still uses AutoCAD and this works seamlessly with them. Now the key is we have 2017 sitting on the desk waiting for install we'll see how that goes
Thanks to all for their insight. Software transition is always a scary move, especially when you have a workflow that doesn't wait for the user to learn how to do what he/she already knows in the other package. Should have done this in 2008 when I didn't have much else to do.
techls, post: 374487, member: 6448 wrote: Thanks to all for their insight. Software transition is always a scary move, especially when you have a workflow that doesn't wait for the user to learn how to do what he/she already knows in the other package. Should have done this in 2008 when I didn't have much else to do.
To me the key word is transition, I was faced with the same thing as I was an avid LDD user. I have been surveying for 50+ years and was fighting learning new software and was hoping to make it to retirement with the software that I was using. It became a pain to continually have to convert drawing that I received from clients down to my version (2008) of software. I had the new software on subscription but was afraid that my workflow was too critical to start using it so all I was using it for was to convert the newer drawing back to something that I was already comfortable using, but being concerned about the end of XP, I was able to get training and help with the creation of styles in Civil 3D and I am now back up to speed with it doing my simple drawings and topoÛªs and ahead on some things. What has really been a bonus for me is the Geolocation feature that allows me to prepare preliminary georeferenced drawing to work from before I ever go to the field, often within 1 to 2 feet, certainly close enough to find something.
I started using it for my new jobs knowing that I could fall back on LDD if I felt that the timeline demanded it, but being able to prepare the preliminary drawings actually put me ahead of where I had previously been.
If an old dog can learn new tricks, I would think that anyone that has several years left, could also.
Ed
ekillo, post: 374499, member: 773 wrote: If an old dog can learn new tricks, I would think that anyone that has several years left, could also.
Yesterday I successfully installed an old copy of LDD3 that I had on my Windows 10 laptop. Followed the instructions that Paul D linked. Arrrrrrrr, mateys.
I really would not want to go back to using this software, mostly because the software lacks field to finish capability without the survey module. And even if you have the Survey module the field to finish in LDD is pathetic compared to Carlson or C3d. Then there is the file compatibility issue. And a thousand other little tweaks, no one of which is a big deal but taken together adds up to being worthwhile.
It's good for an old dog's brain to switch things up once every couple of decades anyway.
techls, post: 374487, member: 6448 wrote: Thanks to all for their insight. Software transition is always a scary move, especially when you have a workflow that doesn't wait for the user to learn how to do what he/she already knows in the other package. Should have done this in 2008 when I didn't have much else to do.
Had done my switch over many jobs when I was frustrated with my current software. Figured tearing my hair out for new software was better than being stuck. True enough, spent weekends in office trying to figure out the baby steps and countless emails to my dealer and carlson technical support. But if you ask me was it worth it? I know it was as now with my new workflow I actually save more time in the office than previously. Sweets do not taste as sweet if it is taken before a bitter medicine aint it?
