I'm demo'ing Carlson Survey 2011(embedded AutoCAD) and have a couple questions.
Can you change the point display(colors, etc.) without having to redraw them...like in LDD?
Can you do surface work with just Carlson Survey? I get a message saying it's an unknown command and I'm not sure if it's because it's a demo or not.
As an avid 'right-clicker' it's bugging the heck out of me that my edit menu won't come up when right-clicking. I changed the setting in the AutoCAD Options and in the Mouse Click setting and I can't get any menu to come up.
Thanks in advance!
Call Carlson - they will help you with all of that for FREE!
Note - 2012 is in the pipeline to be released in the next couple of months. Make sure if you buy now they will take care of you when 12 comes out.
Edit the layers colors, not sure about the surface, change your preferences.
I am a very recent LDD 2007 convert to CS2011 running inside Acad2007.
Yes there are some minor operator attitude adjustments to be made.
But well worth it.
Like snoop says utilize their EXCELLENT tech support, they will get you there quickly.
Darn they did not even get the bugs out of 2010 , now they planning 2012 . Enough with this business model,Every year they come out with a new version and its the same as the year before . No real upgrades or features . Killing me . I can see every two years but now its every year . I am done with it . Will be switching to something else .
To change the points color or any other items color/line weight ect... click on the icon beside your layer dropdown arrow to bring up the layers menu. Double click the layers name you wish to edit or just click the color beside it. There are a good bit of suface options availible also...here is a link to the survey manual http://files.carlsonsw.com/mirror/manuals/Carlson_Survey_2009_EmbeddedAutoCAD.pdf Go to chapter 16 to see all the surface options you have at your disposal. Also if you decide to go with carlson I HIGHLY recomend "that CAD girl" for training... She has trained myself and I recomend her to every customer I sell a copy of any carlson package to spend some time with her on "go to meeting". Hope some of this helps
> I'm demo'ing Carlson Survey 2011(embedded AutoCAD) and have a couple questions.
>
> Can you change the point display(colors, etc.) without having to redraw them...like in LDD?
>
> Can you do surface work with just Carlson Survey? I get a message saying it's an unknown command and I'm not sure if it's because it's a demo or not.
>
> As an avid 'right-clicker' it's bugging the heck out of me that my edit menu won't come up when right-clicking. I changed the setting in the AutoCAD Options and in the Mouse Click setting and I can't get any menu to come up.
>
> Thanks in advance!
Yes, you can change the color of the points by going into the Layers Propert Manager and changing the default color of each of the points layers.
Use the drop down menu POINTS->SCALE POINTS ATTRIBUTES to change the size of the text and symbols of the points layers.
You should have a SURFACE pull down menu that allows all the contouring and triangulation stuff.
> Can you change the point display(colors, etc.) without having to redraw them...like in LDD?
As others have mentioned, yes, point display can be changed via the Layer control dialog box. Change the colors of the PNTNO, PNTDESC and/or PNTELEV layer. You can also set these layer colors in your drawing template (DWT) file... sort of a "set it and forget it" type of operation. As a matter of fact, you can even change the position, font style, orientation, etc, of the various attribute IDs (0 - 9) by searching your computer for the srvpnoX.dwg blocks (where X is the appropriate Attribute Layout ID you want to change).
> Can you do surface work with just Carlson Survey? I get a message saying it's an unknown command and I'm not sure if it's because it's a demo or not.
As others have mentioned, yes, you should be able to run any of the commands under the Surface menu (even in demo mode). If there is a particular command that is not working, my first suggestion would be to gracefully exit from the application and restart it (usually takes care of most issues). If that doesn't do the trick, a reboot of your computer might be in order. If that doesn't solve the problem, let me know the name of the command you are having difficulty with and we'll work toward getting the problem resolved.
> As an avid 'right-clicker' it's bugging the heck out of me that my edit menu won't come up when right-clicking. I changed the setting in the AutoCAD Options and in the Mouse Click setting and I can't get any menu to come up.
Make sure you set your mouse click settings via the Settings -- Mouse Click Settings command. You might start with the settings shown below and then experiment with the other settings be enabling/disabling them as desired:
I hope this information helps.
--
Ladd Nelson
I will have to disagree. Carlson has been more than willing to implement my suggestions (usually in the next release). I can usually pick a half dozen new features that i have submitted that are implemented in one way or another. There are a few bugs, but nothing near other programs I have used. When I speak with support, they usually provide a patch within a day or so. Do they lean on users as beta testers.....yes to an extent. One benefit of software staying the same is you only have to learn it once, once your productive, your productive. Let's compare that to the autodesk business model of completely changing the user interface every couple years in order to sell seats to people that want "change". Please Carlson if your listening, perfect what you have. No major changes. I hate the whole MS right click thinking. Think like a surveyor, not a programmer. JRL
I would actually like to hear what software is better for surveyors. I think every time there is a new release there are about a 20 to 50 changes to the software BASED ON USER (surveyors) INPUT. The menus look and feel the same, but Many many small improvements.
For most surveyors, Carlson Survey with embeded AutoCad is the only way to go. When Intellicad gets its act together I will see about recommending that package, but not now.
I am a long time, die hard LDD fan. AutoDesk packed everything together so I have to pay LARGE bucks for a package that I will use only 10% of. That is not economically viable right now, so I talked the company into switching all of our AutoCad seats over to Carlson Survey and I have not looked back since then. Combine that package in the office with the Carlson Field software on a Sony ToughBook for a data collector and you are ready to rock and roll.
There have been absolutely NO COMPATABILITY problems with my plats and maps and the client's software. My personal production level has increased by at least 125%. Editing surfaces and all the auto line work is MUCH faster in Carlson.
I have the ability to use one descriptor list for my auto linework, no matter what the client's requirements are for layers and symbology. I get 98% of all of my line work, symbols, top and invert labels, etc. in less than 2 minutes in a 3,000+ point file.
Carlson works a little different than LDD. It "renames" a few things. All of this you get used to pretty quick.
I STRONGLY recommend training by one of the Carlson College members. That training will pay for itself in less than 30 days.
I have appreciated the training films that That CAD Girl has done, I sat in on a class by Paul Carlson of Carlson Desktop Solutions and I even went to Front Royal, Virginia when that was the ONLY Carlson College site. ALL was well worth the time and costs.
View the list of Carlson College members and touch base with the closest one. They will all travel to train I am sure.
So far the most in depth and valuable training I have taken was the session by Paul Carlson. I highly recommend his services. Just remember, the training is VERY important, no matter how you get it. The user's manual just does not cover it all.
And if you are close to Mississippi and need some help with it all, give me a call. I don't mind showing you how to do stuff at all.
Part of the reason Carlson is releasing a new product every year is to keep up compatibility with the latest Autocad product. AutoCad 2012 has been sitting on my shelf for a couple months now. Carlson 2011 is not compatable. I think if Carlson could offer a stand alone product that was fully under their control, they would have a very very good product.
It's been a couple years now and I am starting to get comfortable (with Carlson). Autodesk is a whole nother issue that I do not want to talk about.
I think you are correct about the training. I have not gotten any training yet and I know I could make the whole process more automated to save time. My last survey was 3500 topo shots and I connected the dots the old fashioned way. I am interested in adopting some sort of line work/layer standards, but it takes time. I have never used Field to Finish.
I run the full version on Autocad 2011 and do not see very many bugs. I'm sure they are there.
JRL
GunMan, to start, go to the Carlson Web site and watch the training videos on Carlson Survey. There's a TON of info there to get you started.
Then find someone in your area that is using Carlson Survey that has all the bells and whistles working and see if they will give you some help with it. You will be amazed at all the stuff it can do automatically.
Then check in with the Carlson college guys and gals and see what 1 to 3 day training sessions are available and where and when and how much.
(Anyone in the Mississippi area send me an email and I will see about helping you out (for free) or getting a REAL training session set up with Paul Carlson for a nominal fee.)
Look, I am a 64 year old Mississippi red neck who strongly resembels his avatar-except I don't have that much hair now. If I figured it out, it cannot be that hard can it? You just need a little push in the right direction.
That is a generous offer.
Dont get me wrong its a great program , I have used it since 2002.. Going from 2010 to 2011 does not get you any Autocad upgrade . Maybe going to 2012 will . But 2011 should have been a mid year patch to fix the issues with 2010 , NO CHARGE. Thats all I am getting at . Used to be every two years and a fix in the middle . I guess thats the way it is . I got version 2007 on my other computer it does exactly the same as the 2010 version on my main computer .
Field to Finish will save you a lot of time, see http://www.tomer-il.com/uploads/F2F-DEMO3D-GEDERA.avi
Exactly The same, is a bit of a stretch, at least for the full version. One thing you paid for was the programming to re-write the program to be compatable with the ever changing Autocad program. I do know that the engineering side has gotten much better, and that was their weakness.
What improvements are you hoping for in 2012? If they are good ideas and you put together a well thought out, short request, they will attempt to include it in the next release. I have worked with Dave Carlson and Lon Watson on several different issues and they are very receptive to new ideas.
