Good evening, would like input on training for civil 3d, but there is a catch.
We currently run LDD2008. We have C3D 2011 but never implemented it. Looks like it's that time to make the switch.
What would be the best way to make this transition? I would think being we are 4+ years older then the new stuff formal training would not be a good idea as we would be learning on 2015 versions.
Any recommendations for online training?
Will need to start from scratch, setting things up and getting the the styles setup.
Thoughts?
Have another glass of the Kool-aid, it will make you feel better. 😛
Before you do anything I would suggest that you need to research your licensing situation. You may find out that the 2011 software cannot be activated anymore. Autodesk is also changing the way it licenses new software, so it may be worthwhile for you to switch to the current version before you start a new implementation.
There is a Mastering Civil 3d textbook published each year, for that version of the program. The book comes with a package of tutorial drawings that you can work through. It's available from Amazon.
The Mastering Civil 3D book is a great place to start. Youtube is also another good place to sit and watch videos of how to do things. You can log onto Autodesk university and watch the videos there as well.
The first thing to do is learn how to set up your template with styles, your descriptor keys, etc.
I transitioned from LDD 2008 to using Civil 3D 2008 for surfaces, then fully to 2014 when I switched companies a couple years ago. They were using Terramodel at the time of my arrival and we're fully on Civil now with hardly any issues. Good luck, hopefully the learning curve is smooth for you.
Every winter we have a refresher from SYNERGIS. Once the construction season starts I usually don't touch an instrument or CAD until the fall when we do our survey/design so it's always nice to have the refresher especially because we're always upgrading to the newest version of ACAD.
www.synergis.com/cad
Thanks for the advice.
I will certainly do the licensing research.
I would expect, being that I have paid for this already that I could activate things as needed to get going. I have been activating it as I have upgraded/changed/added computers. I have two seats paid for so I do not expect to have any issues with that.
Thanks.
Hoping our transition will go smooth as well.
We have been hard core LDD users since I have been in business, have all of our description keys and line work procedures operating well. I have read on here that all our LDD experience doesn't matter. I hope that it will help some.
I was an LDD user and am very happy with my switch to Carlson and avoiding c3d altogether.
The Mastering C3d book is OK, this one is also good and worthwhile:
Myriad youtubes are available.
I made the switch to C3d from LDT last summer when I started a new job. This after about a year of sampling, testing, and reading about it in my off hours. It sure helps to have coworkers at hand who know how it works!
Having a template to work from is a must in C3d. I have found that, more and more, local government agencies that use C3d have templates they are willing to share.
Wish I had some great advice. We were also longtime LDD users. I came into work one day and decided I was no longer going to use LDD and just jumped in to make the switch. We really had no formal training but there were some people in other offices I could call if I had a major problem. I think I only needed to call once or twice.
There will be some very simple stuff that might take you a half hour to figure out the first time, it can be frustrating. The AutoCAD help is bordering on useless, google is your friend. You will be able to google a solution to a problem and get better results than anything else.
There are some things I like better about C3D, but as a rule, I'm not sure for surveyors its any better. For design work, it pretty cool to change one little thing in a drawing and have it update your cross sections, profile etc. automatically. Good luck.
I demo'd the Carlson stuff last year and to tell you the truth, I didn't like it. Not sure what it was, the stuff just didn't give me that warm fuzzy feeling. I may change my mind after diving into the civil stuff.
Couple that with the majority of my engineering clients are using C3D, it just makes sense to take the plunge and get the software I already have paid for up and running.
10.4
1. Expect a LONG learning curve.
2. Don't be surprised when you discover that your time & $$ estimate for the learning curve was far too low...
When I demo'd Civil 3D I got a scared feeling when I moved a spot elevation and the entire surface model changed. No thanks.
> Good evening, would like input on training for civil 3d, but there is a catch.
>
> We currently run LDD2008. We have C3D 2011 but never implemented it. Looks like it's that time to make the switch.
>
> What would be the best way to make this transition? I would think being we are 4+ years older then the new stuff formal training would not be a good idea as we would be learning on 2015 versions.
>
> Any recommendations for online training?
>
> Will need to start from scratch, setting things up and getting the the styles setup.
>
> Thoughts?
C3D 2015 is certainly different...we upgrade regularly, but have held off going to 2015.
The Carlson option is not a bad way to go. C3D IS NOT a survey program. It has some survey stuff, but it is a civil engineering software. It can be made to be productive, but you will need to change to fit it, not the other way around.
My $0.02
> 1. Expect a LONG learning curve.
> 2. Don't be surprised when you discover that your time & $$ estimate for the learning curve was far too low...
:good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good: :good:
I agree with others that say C3D is an engineering program. That being said I do like how it handles points. Big difference from LDD. In fact I think the learning C3D is easier to grasp for a person with no experience faster than it is for somebody who knows LDD very well.
