I came across this software and wondering if anyone has used it, any feedback how well it works. Claims to be able to make all the way back to r14 work with win 8.1.
Their software is one of the best investments I've made. Had the same problem with LDD 2006. Thanks to them it works perfectly. Also their tech support, at least by email is superlative. Never had to call them. I'm sure if Autodesk made it Longbow can run it on any windows platform. B-)
Like Backdraft And Other Programs, Autodesk Will Sink Them
They will buy the company and the product will disappear.
I remember using Backdraft in an office that was happy to work in AutoCAD 10. There was a shelf full of newer AutoCAD versions never installed. Backdraft was stand alone and could take any version .dwg (up to 14) and convert it to a lower version in seconds. No version of AutoCAD had to be installed on that computer.
Autodesk bought the company and the product was gone.
Paul in PA
Like Backdraft And Other Programs, Autodesk Will Sink Them
Autocad's TRUVIEW will do that - and it's free. About the only thing I like about Autocad.
I use Longbow for AutoCAD Map 2008 32 bit on a Windows 7 64 bit. Works fine for me.
Generic CADD, too
I bought GenCadd with Don Floans S4 in 1990 because I couldn't pony up for ACAD. Really liked it, 2 letter commands, very fast - just not accurate enough for calcs because of some floating point thingy, or other, but maps looked OK.
ACAD bought 'em up & disappeared 'em to push ACAD LT. That's business, I guess.
Generic CADD, too
I used Generic CADD for a few years in one office along with Simplicity Software.
I liked the 2 letter commands as I had never used them in Carlson before that time.
That office also had Carlson in AutoCAD 14, which was my preference to work on, but the regular drafter got first choice. Big projects were done in Carlson, small lot surveys were done wherever available, usually Generic CADD, whose drawings were sometimes converted to dwgs.
When it was necessary for office work to catch up with field work I would sit where needed. I was slower in GC, but not intolerable.
Paul in PA
Thanks for the comments all. I'm going to move to Carlson but wanted to keep my legacy stuff going for the transition if possible.
What Legacy Stuff ?
You will be pleasantly surprised when opening and LDD project in Carlson, it recognizes it and offers to fix all the LDD bugaboos. You want to say yes.
I worked in and office for a while using Carlson on my laptop. They had multiple LDD stations. When I got a project I would let Carlson fix it. The best draftsman there always appreciated that and could work with it in LDD as long as I also included the updated ascii file. The other drafters were kinda dumbstruck. One principle at that firm was the surveyor who worked in C&G and never cared for LDD either, so they got no sympathy from him.
Paul in PA
Generic CADD, too
I know Don fairly well!! We've talked many times including hiring me. He used to live not far from me when I was in the NC mountains. Wouldn't mind talking with him some more these days since I ain't got better else to do. Might as well try to do something with my mathematics and programming skills.
What Legacy Stuff ?
Using LDD survey civil map overlay acad14, last updated 1999 or so. What kind of bugs does Carlson fix?
Carlson Fixes The LDD Rotation And
Puts the drawing on correct coordinates and sets twist view to match the LDD rotation. It will convert LDD points to Carlson points.
The above depends sometimes on how the LDD drawing was saved.
All in all makes for a happier dwg.
Paul in PA
I have LDD 2 with acad 2000.
Longbow didn't work for me. They did get ACAD to work but not the LDD
There support was very good but after about 3 weeks I gave up.
Perhaps with a newer version it will work for you.
