Without going into the saga of what bugs we've found in Topsurv, or all of our issues with the software, does anyone know of a way to make it work faster? This seems to be our major hangup - speed. 8.2.1 works about 3-5 times slower than 7.5.3 did, and in some screens, its even worse. The crews are waiting several seconds between topo screens. If the job has lots of points, then it gets even worse. Is anyone else seeing this?
We've had several versions re-installed by our dealer. The lower versions seem to work faster. 8.anything seems to run slow. Could it be something in the re-install that our dealer doesn't know about? Anyone have the secret that they'd like to share?
The secret
The secret is.... Topsurv sucks
Went through the same deal . My concerns fell on deaf ears finally dumped 3 Topcon data collectors and went with Carlson and Hayes fan tam radios that work with the Topcon internal radio. Great setup. Topsurv is crap . I have wasted a lot of money on the crappy software and data collectors . never again. Sorry no fix . I reported many bugs on their support forum and was asked to not post the bugs . So they really don't care... The last 3 years with the Topcon equipment has been a nightmare ......
I beg to differ, topcon gear is great.... Their software blows
In this case it sounds like a problem with the FC2500.
-Have you adjusted the memory usage?
-Did you uninstall previous versions?
-Did you try a cold boot?
-Have you checked the OS and ROM version?
TopSurv v8 is much faster than v7, as the file format is completely different.
TopSurv is built on top of Microsoft Access Database. This can handle lot's of data very well. I do agree that the graphics portion of software can use some enhancements, but this software is very stable and can spin circles around the others, if used correctly. Using the database you have just one file for the entire job that integrates your raw data and coordinate data. No need to carry multiple files.
LeeGreen
Hi Lee:
No, we did not know to do these things, but we'll certainly look into them now (I assume our dealer did). Again - we have gone around and around with our dealer to get the software loaded correctly, but nothing has worked. 8.anything runs much slower than the previous versions (at least on our collector).
Unfortunately, everyone I've talked to who is using this stuff is having the same issues.
All of us have the same dealer, so my thought (and reason for this post) is that maybe they just haven't been trained by Topcon on the proper way to load the new software. We've already spent as much money trying to make this thing work as it cost new, so I'm very close to dumping it all together, like others I know have.
I'll look into those questions you gave me and see if I can figure out anything new. Thanks!
Paul,
You said "We've already spent as much money trying to make this thing work as it cost new, so I'm very close to dumping it all together, like others I know have."
Have you been paying the Topcon dealer for the software upgrades? I can't think of what the charges would be for?
Topcon software upgrades are FREE, and your dealer should not be charging you for the install.
After the initial purchase there should be no further cost to maintenance of a data collector except for batteries or damage.
LeeGreen
I'm referring to the lost time because it has taken us quite awhile to figure some things out (not always the software's fault), and mostly the lost field time because they can't go as fast with this setup as with our survey pro setups. We've had this thing for over a year now, so I don't think it is a familiarity issue at this point (as I did when they first started telling me this stuff).
The really funny thing is that the software worked ok when we first bought the data collector. We didn't understand it at first, and some of the guys were resistant to change in the beginning, so we figured it would get better. It did for awhile, but then we switched to 8.1 and it has been getting worse ever since. The speed is the most frustrating part.
The notes/codes weirdness we can get over by switching to notes, or just using a different character for the space (like a plus sign). When we start getting lots of points in a job (5000 plus), the thing may wait 15-20 seconds in between point stake outs, which it never did before. That is why I'm wondering if there is some magic to upgrading the software that our dealer doesn't know about.
Give me call (see # in profile or www.leegreen.com)
If your are using Control codes for line work in your 3rd party CAD software (ie:LDD, Civil3d, Carlson, Eagle Point, InRoads) you can still use TopSurv to draw the linework and use spaces in the description by setting Topcon control codes such as
ST = Start
CLR = Close Rectangle
PC = Start arc
PT = End Arc
CLO = Close line
It annoyed me at first, but once you learn how to use it works quite well.
We need to adapt and conquer, make the software work for us, not make us work for the software.
Many Topcon dealers/sales reps are NOT survey or computer savy. They just trying to make sales.
I can walk you through a clean install of TopSurv 8, and you should be just like new.
LeeGreen