I'm currently using a Microsoft Surface Pro Windows 8 tablet as a combination field data collector, and office mapping computer (this model has the Core i5 Intel CPU,64 bit, 4 GB's RAM, video out). Installed are AutoCAD 2013/Carlson Survey 2013 for the office part, and current Windows PC version of FieldGenius for the data collector. Everything works great. However, I want to try Carlson SurvPC on the tablet. I have installed the demo version of SurvPC, but it is completely unuseable. Upon startup on the Windows 8 tablet SurvPC's screen extends past the edges of the tablet's screen so that many of the necessary control buttons are off the screen.
Has anyone had success using SurvPC with Windows 8?
Thanks,
ibenhavin
I've seen similar things happen with the baby laptop computers (screens, what, about 10", maybe less) where the edges of programs flop off the edge of the screen. I think it has to do with screen/program resolutions (screen resolution can not be made small enough to fit the program, program made to operate within certain resolution range and screen size).
My brother (who has a baby laptop) has seen the same thing with some programs.
Thanks John. Yes, that was what I kinda thought was the problem. However, I have taken the resolution to both extremes, and so far that did not help.
Problem solved. It was something to do with "make size of text and other items larger or smaller. The default is 150%. When set to 100% SurvPC is fine.
I would suggest contacting Carlson Support directly. I checked the system requirements for SurvPC and they don't list Win8 but I bet their techs are working on it and can tell you if there is a way to make it go on your system.
Thanks Stephen. Yes, I had noted Windows 8 was not yet listed. There may still be some issues using Windows 8, as I have had problems with bluetooth. However, the bluetooth issue may as well involve Topcon Hiper SR.
> I'm currently using a Microsoft Surface Pro Windows 8 tablet as a combination field data collector, and office mapping computer (this model has the Core i5 Intel CPU,64 bit, 4 GB's RAM, video out). Installed are AutoCAD 2013/Carlson Survey 2013 for the office part, and current Windows PC version of FieldGenius for the data collector.
ibenhavin
ibenthinking, about going to a similar setup. Can you give some feed back on how it's working for you? Pro or Con.
Hi Scott,
For you and any others interested in trying out a Windows 8 tablet, to use as a data collector, I am listing some of what I have learned from trial & error.
Trying to connect hardware (in my case a Topcon Hiper SR, and a Topcon RC4 component for a QS-1 robot) by selecting bluetooth within (in this case) SurvPC setup screens is not reliable. Connecting this way (my experience) was prolematic to the extreme. Sometimes it works somewhat, but most of the time it just doesn't work at all.
Eventually, what I did discover gives a solid connection was to use COM port connecting of the bluetooth radios. I assume this is due to the SSP (serial port profile) the hardware needs in order to “talk” with the Windows 8 computer. (One of the first things I did with the tablet was to use a Logitech wireless mouse, plugging the Logitech USB radio into the USB3 port of the tablet. Also, a “Start” button was downloaded and installed to give the Windows 8 OS a “Start” button like previous versions of Windows have.)
After pairing the hardware bluetooth radios (to do this select Start, Control Panel, Add a Device, etc.), go to “View devices and printers” (find this after selecting Start then Control Panel, and find this under “Hardware and Sound”). Now, scroll down to the bottom row of devices listed (might be on another row on your PC), and right click on one of your hardwares and select “Properties”. At the top of the Properties dialog box, select the “Services” tab. Now observe the COM port # at the right end of the line (in case more than one COM port # is displayed). In my case the GPS was listed as COM 4, and the RC4 was listed as COM 7. Of course, you will have to repeat the above steps for any other hardware you have to setup.
Now, within the SurvPC Instrument Setup area, select the Comms tab. This is where you select “Cable” as the “Type:” rather than “Bluetooth”. Now select the proper COM port # for the hardware you are setting up. For both the Topcon GPS and the robot a baud rate of 115200 was what worked.
As regards the Microsoft Surface Pro 128GB. One of the main reasons for my buying this model was its ability to be readable outside in bright sunlight. I read somewhere that the screen had a manufacturing process whereby the 2 outer layers were fused together hoping to help eliminate glare. To compare, I have a new Topcon Tesla which has an outdoor readable screen. The Surface Pro was much easier to read in direct sunlight than the Tesla. Not to mention the excellent resolution of this tablet. The screen is 10.6" (total weight is 2.0 lbs.), and professional reviews claim the screen is nearly as sharp as the acclaimed iPAd retina...not to mention the speed. Also, it will reportedly cold boot in about 11 seconds. Plus, you can just hit the button for instant off and on at any time.
I have looked around for some "armor", and have a kit coming. The one I am getting is some kind of carbon fiber film, and of course a clear film for the screen.
Tchau,
ibenhavin
Sounds really cool! Do you have to go through that Bluetooth setup every time you boot up? I think that surface could really be a game changer. I liked the Carlson supervisor okay, but 7 wasn't formatted for that small a screen.
Shawn,
Looks like I was a bit optimistic thinking I could use my tablet with the new data collection software for full-blown Windows. If MicroSurvey/Topcon(Magnet)/Carlson were trying to sell their own brands of data collector hardware I could become skeptical (haha) that maybe they would just as soon not open the door to allow you to use your own (cheap) hardware. I would never want to accuse software/hardware companies of intentionally making their software to not be able to run on open market computers, but...
Anyway, I have wasted a tremendous amount of time and frustration trying to keep the tablet communicating with the GPS & robot but to no avail. It's not worth the effort. I have to believe if software developers really wanted their software to be able to run on off the shelf computers they could easily do so. In the meantime, I have already invested (perhaps wasted) $2500 on FieldGenius for Windows, but I will be keeping the $3000 I had planned to spend on Carlson SurvPC. I strongly advise others to hold onto their money too.
ibenhavin
Check with CPDENT. I may be mistaken, but I believe they run SurvPC on Toughbooks with quite a bit of success. It may be that the software just isn't configured for all of the Win8 changes yet.
Hi Ben
Where you change the setting of the font size? How you did that?
Luis
I tested fieldgenius for tablet or pc and survpc and I had good result the only problem for is in survpc the size of buttons. I think tjat is the surface. I use one HP envy tablet pc and a dell veneu 8 pro
Works fine on Toughbooks because we have avoided Windows 8 like the plague that it is. 😀
Luis, if you are still there...
Sorry Luis,
I just now noticed your question. If you are still looking for the answer I can help you. On the Surface Pro, take the stylus and press and hold on the screen for a couple seconds. When the menu box comes up, select "Screen Resolution". Next, select "Make text and other items larger or smaller". Next, select either "Smaller - 100%", or "Medium - 125%", or "Larger - 150%". Then, select "Apply".
However, before you will have access to the choices for Smaller, Medium or Larger you will have to be sure the box next to "Let me choose one scaling level for all my displays" is checked.
Luis, if you are still there...
Thx Ben!
CPTDENT
What operating system are you running on the Toughbook, and are you still happy with this setup? I am looking at crossgrading an extra license of SurvCE to SurvPC and seeing what that can do for me. Will still have the Allegro CX running SurvCE in case it doesn't work. What model Toughbook are you running, and do you like it? Thanks for any response.
I. Ben Havin, post: 215772, member: 6834 wrote: I'm currently using a Microsoft Surface Pro Windows 8 tablet as a combination field data collector, and office mapping computer (this model has the Core i5 Intel CPU,64 bit, 4 GB's RAM, video out). Installed are AutoCAD 2013/Carlson Survey 2013 for the office part, and current Windows PC version of FieldGenius for the data collector. Everything works great. However, I want to try Carlson SurvPC on the tablet. I have installed the demo version of SurvPC, but it is completely unuseable. Upon startup on the Windows 8 tablet SurvPC's screen extends past the edges of the tablet's screen so that many of the necessary control buttons are off the screen.
Has anyone had success using SurvPC with Windows 8?
Thanks,
ibenhavin
Relative to the SurvPC window extending past the limits of the tablet screen, Carlson has posted a solution in their Knowledge Base (#983) which worked for me, and which might help others trying to accomplish a similar end:
http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/knowledge-base/?action=display_topic&topic_id=983
In short, follow the solution carefully to be sure that Windows is not scaling the SurvPC program.
