Well, I got it.
Tech. Support has been good, but you know how frustrating it can be to learn a different CAD package.
There are some videos and webinars for various routines, but nothing for a beginning user. That would be helpful.
Right off the bat, some things to get used to:
Whenever you hover the cursor over entities, they highlight. You can turn this off with SELECTIONPREVIEW at the commandline and set it to 2.
WBLOCK, you must now type not only the name but the path as well. Instead of the file going right to your working sub-directory.
Alias keys, quick keys, ACAD.PGP file.
Carlson Survey 2013 (embedded ACAD) does not allow this (per tech. support)
BUT, if I type A, it issues the arc command
AL issues the align command, ect.
So I know there are some sort of shortcut keys defined, but tech. supports says no they aren't.
Does anyone know how these "shortcuts" are defined, or where I can see which shortcuts are defined? :-S
Search Carlson Survey 2013 in category CAD/GIS/Scaning
Good luck
You can rename the pgp file to Surv.pgp, and put it in C:Program FilesCarlson Survey 2012Support
I don't think that it'll accept all of your shortcuts, but it works with most of the ones that I use.
Go to the discussion group on the Carlson website. Many of your questions are answered there. Dig through all of the posts. There's a ton of info there.
The suggested .pgp file fix does work. AutoCAD doesn't like you to do this and Carlson cannot tell you to do it. But it does work. The built-in Carlson quick keys will take priority, so you may have to adjust your quick key commands.
ALSo, go to this link and spend the $80 on the Carlson Survey 2013 manual. Lots of good info there.
http://www.cadapult-software.com/index.php?osCsid=l7t7obn06m357ga1a4o1b6bef6
I have a WORD.DOC file that I call "Bits and Pieces" that I have put together of all of the odd stuff I have hit and how to fix it. I made this up for the guys in my office to use so I do not have to do mess on their computers all day long. Send me your email address if you would like a copy and I will send it on to you.
I'm not against education, but if you have a working knowledge of ACAD, then I think that you can get the hang of Carlson Survey without classes, or books. Fiddling around with it and asking questions here, will probably do it.
That's just me, though.
My biggest hang-up is/was the Locate on Real Z for points. And especially the fact that you need to uncheck it in 2 places, under Point Defaults and also Field to Finish.
JPH, the day of teaching yourself any complex software package by trial and error ARE LONG GONE. Approaching the new software with a "I wonder what this button do?" will get you through about 10% of the things that are avaiable.
Carlson is an extremely powerful tool, but not all of the bells, whistles and switches are intuitive. Field To Finish can get VERY complex with multiple coding and making it do all your lines, symbols and desired text entries, and that is not something I have seen ANYONE do without the assistance of a book, class or more experienced user.
For example, that $80 dollar book I noted has TONS of insight and information that will treble your productivity once you understand the data, yet I don't think any of the info I just sent out in my word document is in that book.
There's just so much between the lines!! Plus, Carlson is a lot like Softdesk in that there are at LEAST 2 ways to do anything in the package. That's where ANYTHING beyond "pluckabutton" is time, money and effort well spent.
As I said, I did it when I switched from LDD to Carlson Survey, in 2004.
Sure, it took me a while to figure it out, and the real Z thing messed me up a bit in the beginning - but I did manage, without training.
The fact that it was ACAD was huge, as I didn't need to learn that part of the software - except for a few new commands.
I'm sure that it would've been easier and faster, if I'd had training, but I was on my own, and wasn't going to pay for it. My time was free for me.
Thanks, good advice.
I am trying the knowledge base, and waiting for answers.
I will gladly take your file of tips and tricks, I really appreciate it!
🙂