This is becoming a bit of BS. In 2004, I began using Carlson Survey. It is slick! If a bug popped up, they WROTE A PATCH and sent it on. That happened for every release I used up until and including 2008. I didn't upgrade until 2012 so I don't know if they did it for 2009-2011.
In 2012, the release I got, Carlson Survey 2012 would lose the CRD file unless it was made in the current data folder. The INI file is supposed to link the drawing to it and it didn't. The wouldn't issue a patch for it, but it really was two clicks and I didn't worry about it. They said I'd have to reinstall a new release. That was unacceptable in my opinion.
Fast forward to December of 2014 whereby I upgraded my two seats of 2012 to 2015. We began the arduous process of installing, registering, setting settings, et cetera ad nauseum. Since I don't upgrade every year, and I enjoy a nights sleep every now and then, it takes about a 1/2 of a day of flashing back and forth between the two versions to get all my settings going. It sucks but it's part of life and keeping up.
Well, in this version, 2015 crashes with MTEXT, still loses the coordinate file (not as bad though but I can't figure out why it keeps some and not others), ABSOLUTELY wouldn't recognize my drawing template I use and I had to invent new physics to fix that, radial stake-outs were to the nearest minute, labeling latitude WOULDN'T work and it caused problems, and probably another dozen BS bugs that I didn't ever hit.
So I call tech support, again. They, again, tell me NO PATCHES. I ask why and there is no good answer. One even told me the NEVER did that, to which I argued, to no avail. So, the ONLY option was a complete reinstall of a NEW BUILD (you'd think the designers would put this through the paces before releasing it), so that's what I've spent from 7 a.m. until now doing, is uninstalling and reinstalling it. So far, it seems to have worked the bugs out but why don't they issue a patch anymore? Why is, every year, the release seem more and more buggy? Why? Oh the humanity why?!?!?!?!?!
At any rate, it's working and I'll be upset about it for a few more days but hey, it happens. Should anyone think of upgrading, make for DAMN SURE you get the release in January of 2015 and not August of 2014 lest ye wish and long to have a big tent baptist revival and full frontal lobotomy rather than figure this crap out.
/Rant off/
A couple of guys here upgraded to 2015 back in November. I thought about it for a min and said nah, I'll wait. Glad I did. However, they also said the Jan update (reinstall) did correct most everything.
I have a friend that keeps his subscription current, but won't upgrade until there is a second build of the newest version. Let other people beta test.
Also, if I remember correctly, can't you export and import pretty much all of your settings with Carlson?
I have no idea on the settings. If it's there, I don't know about it. Also, you'd have thought by December 23rd or whenever it was, that build 2 or some beta testing would have gone on. Maybe most of their buyers are like me and their December sales are always through the roof.
I upgrade every year so I can keep current and donate to the company to keep improving the software. But really software has not changed in 10 years. I think we are getting left behind as a Profession in the software as a whole . They have way too many flavors to keep up with.
Most of the problem is in itellicad. While its getting better its still sucks.
I really don't know why they will not port to Briscad . its very stable.I be willing to pay for Briscad and Carlson it would be a great combo.
There is a vacuum in the Surveying Software product line as whole . I am surprised no one has step in.
> I upgrade every year so I can keep current and donate to the company to keep improving the software. But really software has not changed in 10 years. I think we are getting left behind as a Profession in the software as a whole . They have way too many flavors to keep up with.
>
> Most of the problem is in itellicad. While its getting better its still sucks.
> I really don't know why they will not port to Briscad . its very stable.I be willing to pay for Briscad and Carlson it would be a great combo.
>
> There is a vacuum in the Surveying Software product line as whole . I am surprised no one has step in.
This is the AutoCAD OEM 2013 engine.
I always advise customers to install a downloaded version of Carlson software instead of installing from the CD.
If you install from the CD, it is going to go online and download updates the first thing is does so you just as well download the latest build...
Kris,
Go to:
Settings
Carlson Configure
SaveAs
This will save almost all, if not all, of your settings as a configuration file. Then you can use the same dialog box with Load to import/restore them.
Hope this helps
I'm running Carlson 2008 on AutoCAD 2005.
I think I'll hang on to them a few more years.
I've been using Carlson for years now and there are some quirks I've found. I've noticed that the disappearing CRD occurs when I don't use the Set CRD command and only set it at the prompt of another command. I'm sorry to hear that customer service has gone down. They've been great to me in the past.
I had some issues with the earlier builds of 2015 but it's been smooth sailing since the latest build. I hope they get it right for you the next go around.
This is very strange. I got Carlson Survey 2015 in January and had my system totally set up in less than an hour. The secret may be in knowing what custom files to save so that all you have to do is save them to the settings folder of the new install.
Installing updates is an exercise in simplicity. Takes longer to download the *.exe file than it does to be up and running. That's because none of my custom stuff has been touched by any upgrade that I have installed.
The hesitation comes when someone tells you that you must REMOVE the prior load from the computer via the Control Panel "Uninstall/Remove programs". That gives you pause, but if you bite the bullet all will work well. You do not even have to re-enter the registration information. The upgrade down loads and you are ready to go just as before.
I'll admit that some of the new people at Carlson Help are a tad clueless. There's a real nice you girl that really wants to help you, but the poor thing does not know diddly. When you call, ask for Brian, Leonid or Lon. They know their stuff.
If you ever see Mr. Carlson at one of the seminars, go tell him your problem. A guy from my company did that and the next thing we knew there was a Carlson programmer on our door step to look at our problems. He spent two days writing new code for both the field and office. I know of no other company that would have done that.
Carlson's ONLY short coming is in not having local people that can help you with your set-up and configuration. This used to be a VAR responsibility, but nowadays all they want to do is sell the stuff. They cannot see any advantage in spending money to train one of their people to help the client's out. So much for local customer service.
Perhaps your best bet is to find another Carlson user near you that would be willing to help you out. You know how surveyors are; you have enough cold beer and they will tell you anything that you want to know plus a bunch that you wished that they had not shared. +o(
Have to agree re Intellicad.
I have Bricscad. And Intellicad Microsurvey.
I've tried the OEM version of MScad and the difference is amazing.
Intellicad just doesn't match either Autocad OEM or Bricscad.
I very rarely get Bricscad to crash, but Intellicad is prone to all manner of oddities and annoying issues.
Tried talking to Microsurvey to look at Bricscad to no avail.
:good:
> Kris,
>
> Go to:
>
> Settings
> Carlson Configure
> SaveAs
>
> This will save almost all, if not all, of your settings as a configuration file. Then you can use the same dialog box with Load to import/restore them.
>
> Hope this helps
Great tip. I just saved mine. It said there were 16,757 settings saved.
Thanks.
> I'm running Carlson 2008 on AutoCAD 2005.
>
> I think I'll hang on to them a few more years.
C2011 on A2007
Me too. It is working.
:gammon:
Did the same. Apparently if have 15257 settings. Don't know how to measure that.:'(
> There is a vacuum in the Surveying Software product line as whole . I am surprised no one has stepped in.
Ya! Just imagine if Apple created a CAD solution for surveyors, from the ground up...fully integrated from DC to final Plats!
"Not gonna happen...wouldn't be prudent":-D
The numbers just aren't there. It's too specialized a business to create a truly world class vertical software solution for surveyors.
But it sure would be nice.
A bit of trivia, in the beginning, Carlson Surveyor 1 was written for Apple.
Converted to Windows in the early 1980s.
B-)
