I recently left a large company to set out on my own and chose not to do what it seems many people in my situation have done before: load up my companies drawing templates, code lists, symbol library, and linetypes, and F2F files and sneak them out the door with me.
I've underestimated the challenges in building these up from scratch, even using the Carlson templates as a starting point. I feel like I'm having to rebuild the Great Pyramid of Giza block by block, when I know this work has already been done by thousands of people before me.
I wouldn't dare ask if someone would be willing to share there hard worked templates, code lists and F2F files for typical boundary and topo work, but I am willing to ask if anyone is willing to sell their operation, turn key and ready to go.
Does something out there already exist? Does anyone have a turn key setup of everything I've mentioned for Carlson Survey and SurvPC and would be willing to sell? I would hope to be able to view everything first, but would be happy to pay generous and fair price.
Thoughts?
I recently left a large company to set out on my own and chose not to do what it seems many people in my situation have done before: load up my companies drawing templates, code lists, symbol library, and linetypes, and F2F files and sneak them out the door with me.
I've underestimated the challenges in building these up from scratch, even using the Carlson templates as a starting point. I feel like I'm having to rebuild the Great Pyramid of Giza block by block, when I know this work has already been done by thousands of people before me.
I wouldn't dare ask if someone would be willing to share there hard worked templates, code lists and F2F files for typical boundary and topo work, but I am willing to ask if anyone is willing to sell their operation, turn key and ready to go.
Does something out there already exist? Does anyone have a turn key setup of everything I've mentioned for Carlson Survey and SurvPC and would be willing to sell? I would hope to be able to view everything first, but would be happy to pay generous and fair price.
Thoughts?
Well one thing is for sure. ?ÿYou are a true professional and have integrity. Because you made the choice not to steal from where you left. Thats an honorable thing. ?ÿ I have never built in Carlson but there is a upfront time consuming to get f2f all built and working smoothly on any platform. ?ÿI did one once with terramdol. Because of time constraints I started with there basic code list and templates. I just went through before each project and looked for similar things i would use on my own. ?ÿI just modified it as i went until i had it the way i wanted. ?ÿThings like break like types layers line types etc. ?ÿi hope you find something. ?ÿIt is a time consuming thing for sure.?ÿ
@olemanriver I appreciate the comment. I will confess, while it did start as a matter of principle, I will say it was also my own arrogance.. I was confident I'd be able to build something with scratch fairly easy, while at the same time transitioning from Civil 3D and Trimble Access.. to Carlson Survey w/ Intellicad and SurvPC. Needless to say, I underestimated the challenge. I'm making it work for now, but out of brute force and necessity. I keep trying to work on things, but with so many moving parts it's tough to make it all work. Through it all, I'm thinking this road has been paved before me with proven systems that work. Why I am not just reinventing the wheel, but the hub and the spoke and the axle and the horse and the cart and the reins and so on..
@tfdoubleyou well If you get it all figured out please please share the secret with me. ?ÿI run a small herd of breeding stock of cows. ?ÿMake hay for horse community and surveying and trying to study to licensure. ?ÿ I just try and balance my time as best I can. ?ÿSometimes its like a circus sometimes it goes smooth. ?ÿI am sure someone has something that matches your software and will get you going. ?ÿI would love to be in your situation though. ?ÿI want to hang my own shingle and just take jobs in rural America though. ?ÿI reckon i would have to do more but I love being away from the city. ?ÿGood Luck. ?ÿDon??t worry it will all work out. ?ÿWhat a change though. ?ÿTrimble Access to carlson etc. ?ÿi have not ran a carlson dc regular since the late 90??s. ?ÿI used the office software back then a little. ?ÿ But that is my lacking area is drafting. ?ÿI started in college with manual drafting courses. ?ÿThen finally with a cad 10. I have a ways to go. Lol.?ÿ
In my experience, you are better off building it for the way you work.?ÿ Yes, it is painful, but if you have started with Carlson templates, and know what the shortcomings are, you are well on your way to having something that will work for you.?ÿ Lean on Carlson.?ÿ I've used a lot of different software, and I think they have some of the best tech support in engineering and surveying software.?ÿ I only know of one company with comparable tech support, and they do a very narrow scope thing.?ÿ
Be patient with yourself.?ÿ Budget a little learning time on each project or task.?ÿ Remember the dead guys who did all this with steel and brass and sweat.?ÿ Lean on this forum.?ÿ I've found a lot of useful information here.?ÿ (You do need a thick skin :)_.?ÿ Good luck!
Good for you.
As others have said, just start building it as needed.?ÿ Not sure what your niche is, but if it's mostly boundary and topo, just start out with the basics.?ÿ Create codes for your traverse and monument points, as well as your basic topo features, BLD, EP, CLF, WELL, etc.
After you've done a few jobs, and you have a dwg with most of your layers and you've tweaked your settings, save that one without any linework as your dwt.
Keep modifying as you go, and eventually you'll have what you need for everything.
Years ago I assembled a code list based on Iowa DOT coding standards and modified it to make use of the National CAD Standards layering conventions (DWTs ship with the CAD product).
SurvPC/SurvCE FCL: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sg8nj7mr9p5lokv/IA_Counties.fcl?dl=0
Survey FLD: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7lgwvfg0cd880az/ia_counties.fld?dl=0
I hope this helps.?ÿ
All, thank you for the counsel. I am happy to develop as I go, but had wanted a starting point built on a tested foundation. Ladd, thank you for that, my own efforts had begun at with using national CAD standards as that was what I was familiar with, but as I iterated I had drifted away and simplified.
Thank you all for the contributions.
I did a similar thing a year ago this past January. One of my engineering clients was kind enough to share with me that he would appreciate his deliverables in anything close to the National CAD Standard. So I adopted the NCS and modified it to fit my needs. I should say, I continue to modify it to fit my needs. I was quickly able to pickup the field coding and the CAD deliverables are definitely more consistent. My F2F still needs a few tweaks for line types. It's a lot of work but well worth it.
@bushaxe?ÿ
I was recently contacted by a recruiter and we talked about my background and I asked him about their F2F process. He kind of fumbled, and then mentioned that"We have only one guy that seems to be talented enough to do that kind of work, and in the future, we're planning on going to F2F process when we find time to go that route .."
I closed the door with, "Yeah I get it, most places don't have the time and aren't willing to spend the money to actually develop the processes because it doesn't happen in a week it happens over a system of months maybe even a year depending on how big the organization is...."
Granted, he did mention to me that the survey manager is only an LSi not that that's impossible but when you've got licensed surveyors on staff I'm not sure why there's an LSI who's the survey manager that doesn't make any sense to me.
THRAC OVER.
Carry on.
I think that it would be more work for you to adjust to?ÿ my coding system than it would be for you to build your template and F2f files to your own liking. Not that mine is particularly unusual.
I was going to suggest that you fish around your local government agencies for a template, but it seems that Ladd beat me to it.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ
FWIW, I developed an F2f system on my own time and used it at my last 2 employments, so I had no problems with my conscience when I brought it along to my current situation.?ÿ ?ÿ
If you are leaving a company to compete with them, they wouldn't want you to take their files.?ÿ But if you are leaving the area or going to do a different kind of work, they might give permission.
I worked at the municipality where I lived. When my Surveyor was retiring he encouraged, me to take a copy to continue developing and improving it as the newer versions of C3D evolved. And to insure that when I was talking with prospective employers I could ferret out the nonhackers or non users to keep me from regressing and moving in the right direction.
It's no small feat. I'm lucky I got to work in an organization that was open to sharing, and impressed with people that have enough long term knowledge to develop them, as I'm still a newbie.
@bushaxe?ÿ
I was recently contacted by a recruiter and we talked about my background and I asked him about their F2F process. He kind of fumbled, and then mentioned that"We have only one guy that seems to be talented enough to do that kind of work, and in the future, we're planning on going to F2F process when we find time to go that route .."
I closed the door with, "Yeah I get it, most places don't have the time and aren't willing to spend the money to actually develop the processes because it doesn't happen in a week it happens over a system of months maybe even a year depending on how big the organization is...."
Granted, he did mention to me that the survey manager is only an LSi not that that's impossible but when you've got licensed surveyors on staff I'm not sure why there's an LSI who's the survey manager that doesn't make any sense to me.
THRAC OVER.
Carry on.
I agree it takes time. In my case I see it ever evolving. That could be a real management challenge for larger firms.