I’m looking for a simple COGO program to work with bunches of coordinate files I already have (in Survey 4 no less). I’m running Win 7, 64 on one computer and XP pro 32 on another. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance and have a great week! 🙂
Have you tried the archived download section at Simplicity ?
http://www.simplicitycogo.com/index.html
Bruce
Not yet, but I will. Thanks!
Idiots are geniuses at breaking Idiot proof stuff, I'm just sayin'.
I am a fan of MicroSurvey Cogo but not much else about MicroSurvey but the Cogo is really a good part of the program. It's not free or cheap, though.
So what is your main CAD program? I have been demoing Microsurvey lately, I like the COGO as you mentioned, but I am finding it a tedious program in general. I am actually finding myself considering Civil 3D for all my CAD purposes. I haven't gave Carlson a good look, but I know it is far cheaper than Civil 3D.
I have played a little with the free version of a program called Progesoft. Looks exactly like AutoCAD, but considerably cheaper. Seems to have many of the command line commands, but not totally sure it is 100% just like AutoCAD...... but at a fraction of the cost, one may be able to work with some possible issues or differences......
We use Civil3D for most things. We have two licenses of MicroSurvey but I am pretty much the only person using it; everyone else in our office uses Civil3D for everything.
I personally own Carlson Survey 2008 and I like it a lot. If it was up to me we would use Carlson for everything. Mostly we use Civil3D particularly for topos because the Engineers are using it.
Compatibility is my biggest concern as well as our own operability in house. Having used a terramodel based program in SMIPlot for so long, it is going to be a huge difference and I want to make the best choice. What are some differences between Carlson compared to Civil 3D and Microsurvey?
Carlson is more menu driven but seems more intuitive to me. I like the inverse by area command much better than the other two choices (actually makes a decent looking report). Also the offset routine is simple and easy to use. Carlson also has a menu driven radial stakeout routine that is really simple to use.
Civil3D is extremely powerful but it baffles me somewhat. Everything is controlled by styles which can be confusing to say the least. Civil3D now has a Carlson style field to finish if you are into that. The Engineers like it if you do the topography stuff in Civil3D because that is their native format. The 3D feature lines are really a nice feature. My feeling is that AutoDesk has made their product extremely intertwined with all sorts of hidden settings and styles; it is unnecessarily complex.
MicroSurvey is OK but a lot of the functions aren't as powerful as Carlson (such as field to finish). The Cogo is somewhat faster (except for inversing) once you figure out how to operate it (it is a little weird at first). Offsets are one at a time which is annoying. There is probably a way to do multiple offsets that I haven't figured out yet. I am sure there are MicroSurvey disciples out there that will say I just haven't had enough training or whatever and it really does all those things well. They may be but I always found Carlson more intuitive for me but I am obviously only one person so what I find intuitive someone else may find annoying.
Carlson and Microsurvey handle curve inverses differently. Carlson asks you if you want to go right or left (an extra step) while MicroSurvey always goes right (subtracts a step but you have to think about direction).
I too prefer the Carlson Survey package and I am fortunate that our engineering techs know how to take my drawings and recreate my surface tin in a few quick steps. So far no problems have surfaced in the recreations. They said it was no real problem because they get so many other style drawings (DGN's, etc.) that recreating the surface from my linework, tin lines, contours and coordinate files was no big deal.( I use the Autocad embedded version so a transition back to autocad products is pretty straight forward.)
I used to be a diehard LDD fan, but when I was able to let the field crews use the same proceedures (descriptore codes, etc.) yet I could do my autoline work and symbol insertion in either my standard setup, or the Corps setup or a client's setup with no change other than selecting a different FLD file, I was hooked.
The cogo portion is robust and offers a ton of options and even I can use it!!
Eagle Point has Data Reduction and Surveyors Companion as add-ons to Civil 3D. Take a look at all your options...
Yeah, that looks pretty good. I think it's based on IntelliCAD. $399 for the basic. There is a Survey/Cogo module add-on for ~$1000, if you want to import/export points, etc. Looks like it runs LISP, which is important to me. There is a 30 day free trial download, including the Survey/Cogo add on. If I had free time I'd download that play with it. Looks like a good alternative to AutoCAD.
Copan -- a very useful Windows COGO program
I don't like to call anything "idiot proof" as it may insult anyone who runs into a problem, no matter how innocent.
I recommend you try UGL's Copan for Windows, which is free.
(My opinion is biased -- i'm one of the programmers.)
One thing I really liked about the program is that they do not use the ribbon hooey garbage that some programs like AutoCAD and MS Office have gone to. I hate the ribbon and have not talked to anybody as of yet who does like it.
The interface of Progecad looks like the old interface of AutoCAD and I had only a couple bumps probably due to slight differences between the programs.
One suggestion that may be useful to you specifically in this situation and to many in various related compatibility situations is to use virtual machines. I use them across multiple operating systems and multiple systems. Another bonus, you can carry your PC in your pocket on a memory stick.
Dave
I like the ribbon. Once I got used to using it, it sped things up greatly. Just thought I would chime in so you knew that there was at least one person who likes it.
James Redmon
I've used PC Survey since 2005 and like its ease, versatility, and relatively low cost. Crashes are rare and I took it into W7/64 without a hitch. Support is very good and rarely needed. Some of the pricier alternatives likely have some fancy features it's missing but thus far I've done without them.
You didn't say what you are going to use it for, but you might check out Traverse PC.
I think they have a demo version.
DJJ
Well, thank you for correcting me. 🙂
It just seems to me that functions can be harder to get to, having to dig deeper into the menus for some of the more "basic" features. But, that could be due to my not being as used to it as you are.
G'day members.
I'm new here:
My name is Barry Graham - retired teacher of Civil/Survey at a Technical College in Victoria Australia.
I have just completed a FREE COGO program that might do what you want.
A program for the graphical solution of Coordinate Geometry computations in Surveying and Civil enginering.
Traverse misclose and adjustment
Intersection of lines, arcs and bearings
Location of points on arcs and lines
Creation of lines and arcs as entities
Calculation of running chainage from entities
Create chained entities offset from existing entities
Measurement of areas within closed figures
Area seek by moving pt. on line, on arc and parallel bdy.
Data enquiries on lines and arcs
Elevation by gradient, points and interpolation
Import/export XYZ data from field files
Create a DXF file
Generate data reports of point coords, lines , arcs and layers
Generate data setouts from occupied points
Data organised in layers
Display options to select/display layers, points, elevations and entities
Routines to translate, rotate, scale and copy data
Print display to the default printer (primitive - points & entities)
Backup and one level of Undo
Extensive help in all routine dialogue boxes
Written specifically for students in Victoria, Australia.
As long as you understand full-circle, clockwise bearings from north you can use this program.
I would appreciate feedback and suggestions
Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia
