I would like to buy one of these programs, which one is better?
I've only reading experience of Carlson, but been a Microsurvey user since 1990's?
Just finished a month of trialling 2014.
Really depends on what you want from the program and the work you will be putting it to.
MsCad has an extensive list of applications but some are limited in their features and haven't been worked on for years (20?)
Don't expect miracles from the road routine.
I do a lot of modelling and small designs for parking areas, pads, drainage and that is one area I run into issues with MsCad and is often fickle and freezes.
Other issue that is so frustrating is when it suddenly crashes and takes files with it. No sign of them.
Personally, if I was starting afresh, I wouldn't touch anything with Intellicad.
My long experience, association, has been nothing but frustration.
From PC to PC and new iterations, it never fails to freeze, crash and just give me misery.
I once trialled the Autocad version of 2013 and that was dramatically different.
I bought Bricscad for all my Plan and much of my design work.
Probably best if you want either you trial both.
All the best with your choice.
I cut my teeth on Autocad in every variation. So that to me has always been the standard for commands and drafting. I just recently trialed Carlson 2014 with Intellicad 7.2 and was pleased enough with it to buy it. Here are the reasons:
1. Intellicad V7.2 is way better than the V6.5 that everyone loathes for drafting, including me, and long term it is getting developed to match and compare with newer versions of AutoCAD. You can comfortably draft and run calculations in the new Intellicad. Hatching, Draworder, snapping and just about everything that makes AutoCAD the preferable program were terrible on V6.5. Not true with V7.2. Yes, it still has a ways to go, but like I said. I can comfortably draft with it without loosing my Christianity on a daily basis.
2. It is way cheaper than AutoCAD and has all the funcitonality. Furthermore, I believe Intellicad V8.0 is in beta version right now and I hope that is Kick A$$. I am anxiously awaiting. But long term, I think for the money Intellicad is a viable option. I couldn't have and wouldn't have said then if V6.5 was the only version. Although, I really like the way V6.5 handles surfaces.
3. Carlson gets a lot of what the surveyor does and it is widely enough used to be 'common' in the sense that it will become the standard for the field and office in the near and long term for surveyors.
I am currently drafting and reducing with Intellicad and there have been some kinks with the new version. (Surfaces is way more complicated than it has to be, and there are many steps that could be reduced to one click, but I am making a list and will be soon sending it to Carlson, which I know they will listen and try to implement into their software. That sure as hell cannot be said for ACAD. Not sure about MicroSurvey.
that's my .02' worth on the scene. Email with any specific questions if you like.
All of the above is true, PLUS the tech support that Carlson offers is second to none. There is also the Carlson Survey with embedded AutoCAD option. It costs more, but it is an awesome package. Generally you get what you pay for......unless you are buying Autodesk products, then you get whatever they feel like giving you.
> I would like to buy one of these programs, which one is better?
Please list your 3,4 main areas of work; what do you need the software to accomplish?
I want a full surveyor and economic program, i want to calculate traverses using least square adjustment and drafting..
Furthemore i would learn the program through video training and manual so i want to be user friendly.
I am experienced in both packages , I started with Microsurvey in the 90's and it was a great program but got real buggy in 2002 and was not useable . Looked for an alternative and found Carlson a breath of fresh air and a great program .
My opinion Carlson has more tools to get the job done . But I also like the way Microsurvey does some things . Down side of Carlson is the Points will not stay on a layer you set , the Points groups functions are buggy, slow and and have few options . I find myself wading through points and layers . If I put a point on a layer it should stay on that layer no matter what very frustrating and unorganized .
Both programs will get the job done , I do a lot of engineering surveys and find Carlson the better choice for me .
Intellicad will make both programs a little buggy go for the Autocad package in either . Be prepared to pay bigger bucks o initial cost and upgrades .
I use intellicad and make it work and understand the limitations . I also have a copy of Briscad to handle what intellicad wont . Briscad seems to convert the new autocad entities alot better and is extremely stable. Carlson would suit it self to use it but me thinks they have to much time in intellicad to do it .
Also I own a copy of Traverse PC , and I seem to use it more and more to organize my survey data and process it . It has a bang up Least squares program thats worth the price of the software . I tend to draw my boundarys in this software. It also can pose problems if your CAD user you will find it frustrating but once you get the hang of it you can knock out some surveys quick . The ability to organize the data is 2nd to none . But their extreme stance against Cad will push people away. Like radius they dont have a snap for it , Does not make sense . Also the conversion from Trav PC to cad has some limitations , small ones but a bit annoying if you send out cad files .
If had a wish it would be Carlson with the ability to organize the data like Traverse PC .
>Down side of Carlson is the Points will not stay on a layer you set , the Points groups functions are buggy, slow and and have few options . I find myself wading through points and layers . If I put a point on a layer it should stay on that layer no matter what very frustrating and unorganized .
Not true at all in my experience, and I've been using Carlson for about twelve years.
Get Carlson, you won't regret it.
I am with Glen on this one - never ran into any issues with point management and layers with Carlson.
My problems come when reinserting a file to update coords from a construction project. My point layers get blown away . I am sure it's my own ignorance , but frustrating.
I have never had a a version of carlson that did point groups with out crashing or hanging up. And there is not much you can do with them.
Been running Carlson since 2008 and NEVER have had point groups give me any problems, much less causing a crash.
I love point groups and never have seen the advantage of assigning points to layers instead of using point groups. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
If ANY feature in Carlson seems to cause a crash, then, most likely, you have a corrupt file or bad download. The solution to that is to load the latest build of your software to restore the system. Plus, I always download the .exe file to my computer to reload it later there. Seems like every time I try to open the file and do the install directly from the web site, bad things happen.
Carlson 2014 all the way.
I'm using Intellicad 7, works OK, but really wanting to use the new Intellicad 8 when it is released with Carlson Civil/Survey 2015. It will be 64 bit and all the reports are it is stable.
First off I have been a Carlson fan for going on 10 years. Tech support was fantastic for years, but lately it seems to have slide a bit, but still way better than any alternative I've looked at.
Second, do yourself a favor and get Briscad to do some of the things Intellicad won't do. I run Dotsoft's ToolPac and Mapcad in Briscad. Between Carlson and Briscad I haven't found anything I can do.
Hope this helps.
> My problems come when reinserting a file to update coords from a construction project. My point layers get blown away . I am sure it's my own ignorance , but frustrating.
>
> I have never had a a version of carlson that did point groups with out crashing or hanging up. And there is not much you can do with them.
Why are you, "reinserting a file to update coords from a construction project" ?
I either insert points with F2F or with the Points/Import Text/ASCII File, depending on the situation. And they remain on whatever layers as setup with F2F, or the Point Settings.
CS04 had point group and crashing problems. I haven't had any problems with those since then.
"Between Carlson and Briscad I haven't found anything I can do."
HUH??? :-S :whistle: