If you’re not sure what to do about the impending DOOM! of losing your perpetual software licenses, perhaps it’s time to consider Carlson Software!

You can follow this link to view my recent Overview Of Carlson Software: All Substance, No Styles webinar.

I posted most of this a long time ago but here are my top TOP advantages of using Carlson Software:

Gives Users Platform Choice
Carlson Software runs on both AutoCAD and IntelliCAD allowing their users a choice of CAD platform. The 2016 version of the software can be run on top of a separately purchased license of AutoCAD, AutoCAD Map or Civil 3d for versions as far back as those built on AutoCAD 2010 (and, in some cases Land Desktop 2009).

The IntelliCAD that is included for Free is a virtual clone of AutoCAD that works natively in DWG format files (no need for import, export or conversion).

Free Technical Support
Carlson Software provides free technical support by phone as well as email, discussion groups and webcasts. This is also Carlson’s way of ensuring that customers have direct input into future updates.

Dynamic Objects are Basic Autocad Entities (Translation: no proxy entities!)
Carlson’s product line creates dynamic objects with basic Autocad text, attributes, lines and polylines. This allows easy sharing between project team members regardless of the version of DWG, DXF or DGN file being transferred.

No Forced Upgrades
Carlson supports all products for all versions and has no product retirement

Carlson Plays Well With Others
Carlson Software’s goal is to have their software be compatible with as many other software and hardware manufacturers as possible. There is a seemingly endless list of “Import from…” and “Export to…” commands in the software.

Price!
Yes, it’s important but I put it at the bottom of this list. The pricing for Carlson Software programs having features comparable to AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT or Civil 3d are very reasonable both for the initial purchase and, optionally, maintenance to keep the latest and greatest version of the software.

Click here to request a custom proposal for adding CADNet to your existing license, for a new “Super-Sweet-Suite” that includes Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS AND CADNet or other Carlson software or hardware products.

Click here to learn more about my webinar series that’s included with every software purchase – We help you buy what you need AND use what you buy…

Seems like every day since Thanksgiving has a name… “Black Friday”, “Cyber Monday”, “Small Business Saturday”, etc. I tried to think of something catchy for today but “Musical Chairs Money Monday” doesn’t roll off the tongue even if it does capture the essence of the next few days.

Until I got in business for myself in 2001 I never fully appreciated how much business was transacted those last few days of the year – or why.  Now I understand it’s like playing musical chairs with your money… Spend! Spend! Spend! to make sure someone ELSE pays taxes on that money instead of you!

With that in mind, I am running some additional specials on software and hardware here at the very end of 2015 – including some specifically for new That CAD Girl customers.

Look for my Newsletter to go out later today (or tomorrow). You can sign up for the newsletter here or request a custom proposal here.

Many of you have already taken me up on the offer to watch the recording of my recent Intro to CADNet: Working with Images and Linework webinar so I decided to do the same with today’s Overview Of Carlson Software: All Substance, No Styles webinar.

There are a lot of changes coming to purchasing options of some of the most widely used Survey and Civil software programs and, along with Carlson’s Year-End Specials, that means there’s no better time to investigate and evaluate Carlson to see if it would be a good substitute for your Land Desktop, Civil 3d, Eagle Point, TerraModel or other program.

Click here to request a custom proposal for adding CADNet to your existing license, for a new “Super-Sweet-Suite” that includes Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS AND CADNet or other Carlson software or hardware products.

Click here to learn more about my webinar series that’s included with every software purchase – We help you buy what you need AND use what you buy…

Well, it says November 1st but I just received an email that they’ve launched this promotion today to coincide with a magazine advertisement! I know a lot of you have been waiting for this promotion and it’s finally here.

For a limited time I’m also offering a special “build-your-own-suite” package that will allow you to choose any 4 of these programs to create the bundle that works best for you: Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, CADNet, Trench or GeoTech.

You can request a custom proposal if you’re interested in the “build-your-own-suite” or visit my online store here to purchase the standard Civil Suite and maintenance.

Remember, all purchases through That CAD Girl make you and your co-workers eligible for a year of our live, interactive webinars (see list of upcoming topics here) so you won’t simply be left on your own to learn a new software. Documentation of attendance will be provided so you may also receive PDH credit from your licensing agency.

We had a great turnout for our LandXML webinar last week and I was excited to have Nathan Crews join us to wrap it up and put a bow-tie on my presentation! Nathan is the developer of LandXML and is the custodian of LandXML.org.

He joined us to explain some of the history of LandXML, give a preview of where LandXML 2.0 is going and also provide an update as to the organizations that are currently (and planning on) standardizing on LandXML.

As a primer, you can read this article from Machine Control Online last year. And, if you missed it, you can register below to watch the 9/17/2015 webinar:

Can’t believe we’re ready to start registration for end-of-year workshops already! What happened to March…?!

We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone again and I’ve gotten quite a few inquiries already wondering if and when and where we’re holding events this year.  As to the when and where, the list is below. We’ve really had a great turnout in the Asheville area for the 1/2 day sessions the past couple years so we’re coming back for a full day this year.

Because we’ve had a good number of people want to attend both days in Statesville or Raleigh we’ve decided to restructure things a bit so that we don’t repeat any major presentation over the two days we’re in one location. That way you can attend both days if you need the credit or are just interested in the material. Although my CAD Tips & Tricks is listed both days in Statesville & Raleigh, I’ll have a completely different presentation each day. The two days in Raleigh will mostly be a repeat of the two days in Statesville.

The registration fee for all events is $99 but an early registration discount is in effect through 9/30 for the Hendersonville (Asheville area) & Statesville events and through 10/31 for Raleigh events.

As always, we’ll have snacks and box lunches along with software, hardware and maintenance renewal specials. And it’s always fun seeing what we can convince Carlson to provide for giveaways at the end of the day!

See links below to register and to download the announcements for each event:

Hendersonville NC Workshop – Mon Nov 16^th, 2015
Read More Here | Register Now!

Statesville NC Workshop Day One – Tues Nov 17^th, 2015
Read More Here | Register Now!

Statesville NC Workshop Day Two – Weds Nov 18^th, 2015
Read More Here | Register Now!

Raleigh NC Workshop Day One – Tues Dec 15^th, 2015
Read More Here | Register Now!

Raleigh NC Workshop Day Two – Weds Dec 16^th, 2015
Read More Here | Register Now!

Carlson is expected to release the 2016 versions of their desktop software packages that include IntelliCAD or run on top of your AutoCAD later this month. If it follows the same pattern we can expect the embedded AutoCAD (OEM) versions of Survey and Takeoff a couple of months later.

The 2016 products can be installed on top of any full-AutoCAD program versions 2010-2016. Since Autodesk didn’t change the DWG format this year, you should be able to open and work with 2016 files with programs based on AutoCAD 2013-2015 without having to save back to an earlier version.

The 2016 release will include IntelliCAD 8.1 which, so far during my limited time testing, seems to be working pretty darn well. I’m excited to see more support for Annotative Text  and a lot of interface enhancements (like a ribbon) that make it look more and more like the brand-name product.

The annual maintenance plan is still the cheapest way to keep your desktop software (ICAD/for CAD) up to date. If you have let your maintenance lapse but think you’re ready to upgrade, now is seriously the time to do it because your pricing to upgrade/reinstate maintenance will go up as soon as 2016 comes out. It’s also nice to be able to immediately get the 2015 upgrade and have access to the 2016 whenever you’re ready.

In addition, Carlson is trying to get SurvCE and SurvPC on an annual release cycle so we should see 5.xx come out this year. With this change, you’ll also see these products start showing up as available for an annual maintenance plan. If you’re running an older version of SurvCE and would like to upgrade, you can upgrade and purchase maintenance to immediately upgrade you to 4.xx and also receive 5.xx when it comes out. One word of caution though – make sure to check the table on this page to make sure the newer versions of SurvCE and SurvPC will still communicate with your equipment.

Request Custom Pricing Here

Request a 30-day Trial Here

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I’ve just updated my list of Upcoming Webinars for the next few months. There are several new and reconfigured sessions and I’ve got Mark Long, Carlson’s Hydrology expert, on board to show a lot of the design capabilities in Carlson Hydrology in March. Mark’s the best and I think you’ll get a lot out of his training.

A couple other classes are on the list because you asked for them! They’re narrowly focused classes on very specific topics: Carlson Annotation, Surfaces and Breaklines and Working with Paper Space, Sheet Set Manager and Creating Custom Title Blocks. You’ll have ample opportunity to ask questions and start using what you learn right away!

Here’s the link to pre-register and, if you’re not eligible to attend for free, here is the link where you can purchase a year’s access to the webinars.

I was able to nail down some dates and content for additional webinars here in early 2014.

I’m very excited to announce that Donnie Stallings, the original author of SurvNet, will be conducting a 2-part, 4-hour webinar for us on April 18^th. From 10-12 Donnie will cover the basics of SurvNet and Least Squares analysis and then, from 1-3, he will go through project datasets that I’m asking you to submit by email here.

SurvNet can reduce multiple types of data (such as GPS, total station and level) at once, so please send us some good examples to use during the demonstration. I’m sure he won’t be able to use all the data we receive but he’ll go through a representative sample.

In addition, I’m happy to have CAD Masters doing a special presentation of their CAD Standards Manager product for us on March 26^th. Based on questions I receive during my CAD Standards presentations at trade shows and training events, I believe you will really like what they have to show. Unlike the other webinars, this webinar is open to anyone who wants to attend – regardless of whether you have recently purchased software or hardware.

Here’s the latest schedule – you can Pre-Register for All Webinars Here:

Tuesday February 11^th 2014 at 12:00 pm ET – Overview of Surfaces in Carlson

Monday March 10^th 2014 at 3:00 pm ET – Introduction to Carlson

Monday March 17^th 2014 at 2:00 pm ET – Introduction to Carlson SurvCE & SurvPC (using SurvPC)
with Jeremy Taylor PLS

Monday March 26^th 2014 at 12:00 pm ET – Introduction to CAD Standards Manager by CAD Masters 
(this webinar is NOT limited to those who have previously purchased)

Monday April 14^th 2014 at 3:00 pm ET – Annotation with CAD and Carlson

Friday April 18^th 2014 from 10:00 – 12:00 ET – Overview of SurvNet Least Squares
with Donnie Stallings PLS

Friday April 18^th 2014 from 1:00 – 3:00 ET – SurvNet Least Squares – Working with Project Datasets
with Donnie Stallings PLS

Additional classes covering Carlson Takeoff, Hydrology, Raw Data Editor, SurvCE Tips & Tricks and Point Clouds are scheduled and will be announced at a later date

As 2013 wraps up I’d like to offer a sincere ‘Thank You’ to all of my customers for your business. I’ve had a lot of repeats from previous years but I’ve also added more new customers in 2013 than I did in 2012 – that’s one thing I look at to determine whether my year has been better than the one before.

Another number that may be surprising is that almost 90% of my software sales so far in 2013 have been to companies who purchased only 1 or 2 seats of software through the year. As much as I love selling a bunch of seats to one customer, I know that larger organizations typically have a larger support system around them. I’m happy I can help out so many of the “little guys”.

The economy has been tough on everyone the past several years but it’s been particularly brutal to those in the land surveying, civil engineering and construction fields. For good or for bad, we’ve all had to figure out just how efficient we can be and how we can get as much work done by as few people as possible and for the least number of dollars.

I hope I’ve been able to help in some way by extending software discounts where possible and training your staff to help your company get the most out of your software investment.

I wish everyone a safe, happy and prosperous 2014!