FAQ
Faq category: Installation & Tech Support
[FAQ200] What you should know about purchasing Carlson Software
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About Carlson Software, the Company
About Carlson, the Software
Carlson programs work natively and produce DWG format files. There is NO need to convert, import or export – only Open and Save.
The programs are primarily delivered as “vertical” modules that can be installed and run on top of a generic-CAD platform.
Carlson’s desktop modules for land surveying, engineering and construction are built to run on top of the ITC’s IntelliCAD and Autodesk’s AutoCAD platforms. The modules include: Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Geology, Underground Mining, Surface Mining, Natural Regrade, Field, CADnet, GeoTech, Trench, Construction and Point Clouds.
Additionally, Survey and Takeoff are developed and run on top of an embedded AutoCAD (OEM).
You Have Options!
Purchase Carlson with the Platform that's Best for You
Carlson’s desktop programs can be installed as a standalone program on top of IntelliCAD or on top of your separately-purchased, full-AutoCAD-based program.
Each purchase includes a license of the latest version of IntelliCAD – it doesn’t have to be purchased separately.
Your separately-purchased, full-AutoCAD-based program can be AutoCAD, AutoCAD Map, Land Desktop, Civil 3D or other vertical – but does NOT include AutoCAD LT.
The following modules are available with IntelliCAD/for YOUR AutoCAD: Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Geology, Underground Mining, Surface Mining, Natural Regrade, Field, CADnet, GeoTech, Trench, Construction and Point Clouds
Carlson Survey and Takeoff can be purchased and installed standalone with embedded AutoCAD (also known as the OEM version).
Each purchase includes a license of the latest version of embedded AutoCAD (OEM) – it doesn’t have to be purchased separately.
Note that embedded AutoCAD (OEM) is more similar to AutoCAD LT than AutoCAD – so, experienced AutoCAD users may end up missing much of the functionality they are accustomed to.
The embedded AutoCAD (OEM) programs do not include IntelliCAD and do not require a separate purchase of AutoCAD.
Importantly, although both programs can be installed on the same computer, programs installed with the OEM platform will be completely separate from those installed with IntelliCAD/your AutoCAD. This means that you will not be able to work in a DWG file and simply switch between menus – you’ll have to close the drawing in one program in order to open it in the other.
Carlson's Versions vs AutoCAD's Versions
Carlson Software will run on earlier versions of AutoCAD; however, you cannot run a version of Carlson that is older than the AutoCAD. For instance, Carlson 2024 will run on AutoCAD 2018-2024 but Carlson 2022 will only run on AutoCAD 2018-2022.
Which Program or Modules Do I Need?
FAQ: I’m a land surveyor. What software do I need?
FAQ: I’m a civil engineer. What software do I need?
Programs with embedded AutoCAD (OEM)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson Survey with embedded AutoCAD (OEM)? (a running thread)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM)? (a running thread)
Desktop Programs with IntelliCAD/for YOUR AutoCAD
FAQ: What features & menus are in the non-OEM Carlson Survey program? (a running thread)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson Civil? (a running thread)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson GIS? (a running thread)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson Hydrology? (a running thread)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson Point Cloud? (a running thread)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson Construction? (a running thread)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson CADNet? (a running thread)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson GeoTech? (a running thread)
FAQ: What features & menus are in Carlson Trench? (a running thread)
Carlson iCAD
Retail Pricing for Carlson Software
| Program | Retail Price of Standalone (effective 7/10/2024) | Retail Price of Network |
|---|---|---|
| Select Suite - Pick 6 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 4,950 | $ 5,445 |
| Select Suite - Pick 5 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 4,650 | $ 5,115 |
| Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 4,250 | $ 4,675 |
| Select Suite - Pick 3 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 3,850 | $ 4,235 |
| Select Suite - Pick 2 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 3,350 | $ 3,685 |
| Survey | $ 2,150 | $ 2,365 |
| Civil | $ 1,950 | $ 2,145 |
| Hydrology | $ 1,550 | $ 1,705 |
| GIS | $ 1,250 | $ 1,375 |
| Point Cloud Basic | $ 2,000 | $ 2,200 |
| Point Cloud Advanced | $ 6,000 | $ 6,600 |
| Takeoff Suite (Construction, CADNet, Trench, GeoTech) | $ 7,500 | $ 8,250 |
| Construction | $ 3,950 | $ 4,345 |
| CADNet | $ 1,750 | $ 1,925 |
| Trench | $ 1,595 | $ 1,755.50 |
| GeoTech | $ 1,595 | $ 1,755.50 |
| Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM) | $ 9,000 | $ 9,900 |
| Survey with embedded AutoCAD (OEM) | $ 3,250 | $ 3,575 |
Upgrading Carlson Software
Upgrades are managed through the Annual Maintenance Plan which, essentially. allows users to pre-pay for future upgrades. As long as your Maintenance is active at the time a new version is released, you are eligible for an automatic upgrade to the new version.
See additional information about Maintenance below…
Survey and Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM)
Maintenance is NOT available for these products so upgrades are only available after a new version has been released.
The cost to upgrade Carlson’s OEM products is subject to change each year and varies depending on the program and how many versions behind you are.
However, Carlson never charges more than 50% of the current retail price to upgrade any license to the latest and greatest version of the software.
Carlson Software Annual Maintenance
Every new license of Carlson with IntelliCAD/for CAD includes 90 days of free Maintenance. This is Carlson’s way of ensuring that anyone who purchases a new license inside of that 90-day window can be assured of getting the free upgrade.
Renewing Maintenance Before it Expires
Renewing Maintenance is optional for users.
However, if you prefer to keep your software up-to-date when new versions are released, keeping the Maintenance plan active is the best way to do that.
If it is renewed prior to expiration, maintenance costs 10% of the retail price of the software.
Renewing Expired Maintenance
If your Maintenance has expired, you can pay the regular 10% Maintenance fee plus the expiration fee to activate your Maintenance for one-year. While Maintenance is active, you’ll be eligible for an immediate upgrade to the current version AND for automatic upgrades to any new versions released during the Maintenance year.
How Old is Too Old (to Renew)?
For licenses of Carlson with IntelliCAD/for CAD that are more than 4 years old, users can pay 50% of the retail price to activate Maintenance for 1-year.
While Maintenance is active, you’ll be eligible for an immediate upgrade to the current version AND for automatic upgrades to any new versions released during the Maintenance year.
See the tables below for sample pricing for Carlson Maintenance.
Carlson Software Maintenance Fees – per Product
Carlson’s policy on Software Maintenance can be viewed by clicking here
| Program | Retail Price of Standalone (effective 7/10/2024) | Annual Maintenance for Standalone | Retail Price of Network | Annual Maintenance for Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select Suite Pick 6 | $ 4,950 | $ 495 | $ 5,445 | $ 544.50 |
| Select Suite Pick 5 | $ 4,650 | $ 465 | $ 5,115 | $ 511.50 |
| Select Suite Pick 4 | $ 4,250 | $ 425 | $ 4,675 | $ 467.50 |
| Select Suite Pick 3 | $ 3,850 | $ 385 | $ 4,235 | $ 423.50 |
| Select Suite Pick 2 | $ 3,350 | $ 335 | $ 3,685 | $ 368.50 |
| Civil Suite | $ 4,250 | $ 425 | $ 4,675 | $ 467.50 |
| Survey | $ 2,150 | $ 215 | $ 2,365 | $ 236.50 |
| Civil | $ 1,950 | $ 195 | $ 2,145 | $ 214.50 |
| Hydrology | $ 1,550 | $ 155 | $ 1,705 | $ 170.50 |
| Point Cloud Basic | $ 2,000 | $ 200 | $ 2,200 | $ 220.00 |
| Point Cloud Advanced | $ 6,000 | $ 600 | $ 6,600 | $ 660.00 |
| GIS | $ 1,250 | $ 125 | $ 1,375 | $ 137.50 |
| Takeoff Suite | $ 7,500 | $ 750 | $ 8,250 | $ 825.00 |
| Construction | $ 3,950 | $ 395 | $ 4,345 | $ 434.50 |
| CADNet | $ 1,750 | $ 175 | $ 1,925 | $ 192.50 |
| Trench | $ 1,595 | $ 159.50 | $ 1,755 | $ 175.50 |
| GeoTech | $ 1,595 | $ 159.50 | $ 1,755 | $ 175.50 |
Carlson Software Maintenance & Expiration Fees
Carlson’s policy on Software Maintenance can be viewed by clicking here
| Maintenance Status | Annual Maintenance (Percentage of Retail) | Expiration Fee (Percentage of Retail) | Total Fee to Renew (Percentage of Retail) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | 10% | 0 | 10% |
| Expired, up to 1 year | 10% | 10% | 20% |
| Expired, up to 2 years | 10% | 20% | 30% |
| Expired, up to 3 years | 10% | 30% | 40% |
| Expired, more than 3 years | 10% | 40% | 50% |
Sample Pricing for Active and Expired Maintenance Renewal Fees
Carlson’s policy on Software Maintenance can be viewed by clicking here
| Program | # of Years Expired | Retail Price | Total Fee (Percentage of Retail) | Total Fee to Upgrade and/or Renew Maintenance for 1 Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survey | Not expired, maintenance is current | $ 2,150 | 10% | $ 215.00 |
| Survey | Expired for less than 1 year | $ 2,150 | 20% | $ 430.00 |
| Networked Survey | Expired for less than 1 year | $ 2,365 | 20% | $ 473.00 |
| Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4 | Not expired, maintenance is current | $ 4,250 | 10% | $ 425.00 |
| Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4 | Expired for less than 1 year | $ 4,250 | 20% | $ 850.00 |
| Networked Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4 | Expired for less than 1 year | $ 4,675 | 20% | $935.00 |
Carlson Licensing
A purchase of Carlson Software grants a perpetual license to the owner. This means that, once purchased, you “own it” and never need to pay additional fees to use it.
Carlson allows users to “network” their licenses for an additional fee. The fee is 10% of the retail price of the software being networked.
When installing their desktop software, Carlson recognizes 5 different “Reasons for Installation”:
After installation and registration, Carlson provides a Registration Report that includes a “Change Key” and it’s a good idea to save the report and the change key.
And here’s a Pro-Tip for you! The Serial Number screen on your That CAD Girl Customer Portal has a “Customer Notes” section – that’s a great place to save your Change Key and other important information about each license!
FAQ: Does Carlson retire their products?
FAQ: What happens if I get a new computer and need to reinstall Carlson?
FAQ: Can I install my Carlson desktop software on two computers?
FAQ: Is it better to network Carlson than use standalone licenses?
FAQ: Does Carlson Software Still Offer Perpetual Licenses?
FAQ: How do I register my Carlson Software? And what are change keys?
System Requirements for Desktop Software
Technical Support & Training
You can see all the opportunities for training with That CAD Girl here and you can follow these links to see our FAQs about the training and technical support available from Carlson and That CAD Girl.
30-Day Trials
Once you decide to purchase, you won’t even need to uninstall. You can activate your software by simply updating your registration with your purchased serial number.
Why Buy from That CAD Girl?
Once you decide to purchase, you won’t even need to uninstall. You can activate your software by simply updating your registration with your purchased serial number.
[FAQ205] Where can I get a 30 day trial of Carlson?
+Then click on Request a 30 day Trial Serial Number
[FAQ400] Find Answers on your new That CAD Girl Portal
+Find Answers on your new That CAD Girl Portal
If you (or your company) have ever requested a proposal or invoice from That CAD Girl – Congrats! You have a portal!
Every portal is specific for the email address we have on file for you, so – Click here to access That CAD Girl’s Customer Portal then enter your email address.
The availability of tabs on your portal will depend on whether you have been granted Full Access by the primary contact in your company or if you have Restricted Access. Everyone will have Home, Free Webinars and My Training tabs while those with Full Access will have access to Recent Transactions, Serial Numbers and Maintenance Reports.
Clicking on an Estimate – When viewing an Estimate (Proposal) in Recent Transactions, you have different options depending on whether the Estimate has been previously converted to an invoice, is active (unexpired) or is past due (expired).
For active (unexpired) and unconverted Estimates, you can click “Accept & Pay” to convert the Estimate to an Invoice and proceed directly to our payments screen or click “Create Invoice” to convert the Estimate to an invoice and proceed to the Invoice screen.
For past due (expired) or previously converted Estimates, you only have the “Print” button that allows you to export to a PDF.
NOTE: Once an Estimate has been converted to an Invoice using either option, you must return to the Recent Transactions table and open the Invoice to pay.
Clicking on an Invoice – When viewing an Invoice in Recent Transactions, you have different options depending on whether the Invoice is active or past due.
For active (unexpired) Invoices, you can click “Pay Now” to proceed to our payment screen.
For past due (expired) Invoices, you only have the “Print” button that allows you to export to a PDF.
DISCLAIMER: That CAD Girl has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information about your Carlson Software licensing that is provided on this website. Nevertheless, inadvertent errors may occur so all information shall be confirmed and validated directly by Carlson Software prior to use.
Also, clicking on any serial number in the list brings you to a details page where you can add any “Customer Notes” that are helpful to you such as the user name, location or even the Change Key associated to that installation. You can also find the link to download and link to installation instructions.
DISCLAIMER: That CAD Girl has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information about your Carlson Software licensing that is provided on this website. Nevertheless, inadvertent errors may occur so all information shall be confirmed and validated directly by Carlson Software prior to use.
- A list of Upcoming sessions in our Webinar Series with links to pre-register
- A list of webinars that you attended and a button to download a Certificate of Attendance. Note: You can add your professional license numbers on your Home tab and they will appear on your certificates.
- A list of recordings of webinars that you attended
- A list of Upcoming Training sessions that have already been paid for with links to pre-register
- A list of Past Training sessions the user has paid for and attended with a link to download a Certificate of Attendance
- A list of Past Training sessions with links to the recording
Find Answers on your new That CAD Girl Portal
If you have ever requested a proposal or invoice from That CAD Girl – Congrats! You have a portal!
Every portal is specific for the email address we have on file for you and you can access yours by following this link and entering your email address.
The availability of tabs on your portal will depend on whether you have been granted Full Access by the primary contact in your company or if you have Restricted Access. Everyone will have Home, Webinars and Paid Training tabs while those with Full Access will have access to Transactions, Serial Numbers and License Reports.
DISCLAIMER: That CAD Girl has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information about your Carlson Software licensing that is provided on this website. Nevertheless, inadvertent errors may occur so all information shall be confirmed and validated directly by Carlson Software prior to use.
Also, clicking on any serial number in the list brings you to a details page where you can add any “User Notes” that are helpful to you such as the user name, location or even the Change Key associated to that installation. You can also find the link to download and link to installation instructions.
DISCLAIMER: That CAD Girl has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information about your Carlson Software licensing that is provided on this website. Nevertheless, inadvertent errors may occur so all information shall be confirmed and validated directly by Carlson Software prior to use.
- A list of Upcoming sessions in our Webinar Series with links to pre-register
- A list of Past sessions in our Webinar Series with links to the recording
- A list of sessions the user has attended with a link to download a Certificate of Attendance
- A list of Paid Training sessions the user has attended with a link to download a Certificate of Attendance
- A list of Upcoming Paid Training sessions that have already been paid for with links to pre-register
- A list of Past Paid Training sessions with links to the recording
[FAQ420] I’ve Installed My Carlson Software – Now What Do I Do?
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Installing and Registering
FAQ: How do I register my Carlson Software? And what are change keys?
FAQ: Can I install my Carlson desktop software on two computers?
FAQ: What happens if I get a new computer and need to reinstall Carlson?
FAQ: What happens if I get a new computer and need to reinstall Carlson?
Tracking my Licenses and Keeping Up to Date
FAQ: That CAD Girl Customer Portal
FAQ: My Maintenance is Current… Where’s My Upgrade?
FAQ: When I upgrade, do I immediately lose access to the older version of my software?
FAQ: I can’t seem to keep up with my Carlson maintenance – Can you help?
FAQ: Do I qualify for an automatic upgrade to the new version of Carlson?
Technical Support
FAQ: Where do I get support for Carlson Software and how much will it cost me?
FAQ: How can I be sure I’m running the latest build of my Carlson Software?
FAQ: How can I find out when new versions or builds of Carlson are released?
FAQ: Where do I find the build date or build number of my Carlson Software?
FAQ: I think I found a bug in my Carlson Software – how can I get it resolved?
FAQ: What is the latest and greatest version/build of my Carlson Software? (a running thread)
FAQ: What is “The Little CAD Engine That Could” Website?
Training
FAQ: What options do I have for training on CAD or Carlson Software?
FAQ: Am I eligible to attend your Carlson Software webinars for free?
FAQ: Before I buy, can I attend a webinar for free?
FAQ: Does That CAD Girl training qualify for PDH/CEU/continuing education credit?
[FAQ252] Where do I get Carlson support? How much will it cost me?
+It doesn’t matter if you’re on the latest version or on a version that’s 10 years old – it’s always free.
You can email Carlson tech support or call (606) 564-5028. You might also check Carlson’s Knowledge Base site which provides answers to many common questions including KB 1078: Troubleshooting Guide
Because we have Carlson as our backup, That CAD Girl also tries to answer as many tech support questions as we can. You can follow this link to send us a Request for Tech Support.
Pro-Tip!: When calling or emailing for technical support, the first question you’ll likely get from either me or Carlson is “Are you using the current build?”. If you want us to love you even more and help us answer your question in the first phone call, make sure to say, “Oh, by the way, I’ve already checked and I’m using the current build”.
FAQ: Where do I find the build date or build number of my Carlson Software?
FAQ: What is the latest and greatest version/build of my Carlson Software? (a running thread)
[FAQ250] What is Carlson Software’s Maintenance Plan?
And why you should buy it through an Authorized Carlson Reseller
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The maintenance program is available for programs that include IntelliCAD and/or run on top of a separately purchased license of an AutoCAD-based program. The following modules of Carlson office products are available with maintenance: Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Basic Mining, Geology, Underground Mining, Surface Mining, Natural Regrade, Field, CADnet, GeoTech, Trench and Construction.
This maintenance program does not include Carlson Survey or Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM). These programs must be upgraded individually after a new version has been released.
BENEFITS OF MAINTENANCE FROM CARLSON SOFTWARE:
- Automatic upgrades for all modules when a new version is released.
- Unlimited access to Carlson Academy (requires login), Carlson Software’s online learning platform See FAQ: What is Carlson Academy?
COST OF MAINTENANCE FROM CARLSON SOFTWARE:
- An active Maintenance Plan can be renewed annually at a cost of 10% of software retail price.
- If Maintenance is not renewed prior to expiration, Maintenance increases by 10% per year after the expiration date.
- Importantly… Carlson never charges more than 50% of the retail price of any program to upgrade and bring it up to the current version.
WHY BUY FROM AN AUTHORIZED RESELLER?
Regardless of your license status (trial, old, prospecting or current), you’ll always get FREE tech support directly from Carlson. So, why not support another small business by buying from them? In many cases, a Reseller will offer discounts and/or training but, at a minimum, you will gain one more level of support when you need it.
[FAQ430] How do I register my Carlson Software? And what are change keys?
+Pro-Tip! The Serial Number screen on your That CAD Girl Customer Portal has a “Customer Notes” section – that’s a great place to save your Change Key and other important information about each license!
- Initial install or maintenance upgrade of Carlson
- Re-installation of Carlson
- Windows or AutoCAD Upgrade
- Home/Field use. See License Agreement.
- New Hardware (new hard drive, network card, new computer)
[FAQ434] How do I know if I’m running the latest build of my Carlson Software?
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FAQ: Where do I find the build date or build number of my Carlson Software?
FAQ: What is the latest and greatest version/build of my Carlson Software? (a running thread)
FAQ: How can I find out when new versions or builds of Carlson are released?
[FAQ458] What is “The Little CAD Engine That Could” Website?
+Across all software platforms, the nature of bug fixes is that, when you fix one… you might create several more. And the new ones may be absolute show-stoppers that Murphy’s Law guarantees will happen on a weekend when projects need to be completed and no one is on-duty at Carlson to help.
Fear of that happening on a broad-scale is one reason that Carlson only posts a new Build, with updates to both the IntelliCAD and Carlson programs, every few months.
So, as a way to incorporate and test more often, Carlson’s development team has been posting interim TESTING Builds to a separate website – The Little CAD Engine That Could – for many years.
Users who are comfortable working in testing/beta releases of Carlson with IntelliCAD can find additional testing Builds at this website and, if you report a bug to Carlson Support, they may point you here as well.
Two of my favorite things about the posted Builds at The Little CAD Engine That Could are
1) there is a Comment section that allows the developers to describe the bugs that have been fixed in the Build and allows users to provide feedback and comments and
2) in addition to providing links to update to the newer testing Build, they also provide links to revert to previous Builds that may end up being more stable.
FAQ: How do I know if I’m running the latest build of my Carlson Software?
FAQ: How can I find out when new versions or builds of Carlson are released?
FAQ: What is the latest and greatest version/build of my Carlson Software? (a running thread)
FAQ: Where do I find the build date or build number of my Carlson Software?
[FAQ220] What versions of AutoCAD & IntelliCAD & Windows does Carlson run on top of? Does it run on AutoCAD LT? (a running thread)
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Carlson Desktop Software with IntelliCAD or for Your AutoCAD
Carlson can be installed on top of any full-AutoCAD-based program such as AutoCAD, AutoCAD Map, Land Desktop or Civil 3d.
Carlson cannot be installed on top of any version AutoCAD LT.
| Carlson Version | AutoCAD & IntelliCAD Platforms | Windows Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | AutoCAD 2018-2024, IntelliCAD 10.1a and 11.1 | 64 bit Windows |
| 2023 | AutoCAD 2018-2023, IntelliCAD 10.1a and 11.0 | 64 bit Windows |
| 2022 | AutoCAD 2017-2022, IntelliCAD 10.0a and 10.1a | 64 bit Windows 10 |
| 2021 | AutoCAD 2017-2021, Intellicad 10.0a | 64 bit Windows 10 |
| 2020 | AutoCAD 2015-2020, IntelliCAD 9.2 | 64 bit Windows 10 |
| 2019 | AutoCAD 2010-2019, IntelliCAD 9 | 32 or 64 bit Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
| 2018 | AutoCAD 2010-2018, IntelliCAD 8.2 | 32 or 64 bit Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
| 2017 | AutoCAD 2010-2017, IntelliCAD 8.2 | 32 or 64 bit Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
| 2016 | AutoCAD 2007-2016, IntelliCAD 8.1 | 32 or 64 bit Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
| 2015 | AutoCAD 2007-2015, IntelliCAD 8.0 | XP, 32 or 64 bit Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1 |
| 2014 | AutoCAD 2004-2014, IntelliCAD 7.2 | XP, 32 or 64 bit Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1 |
Carlson Desktop Software with Embedded AutoCAD (OEM)
| Carlson Version | Embedded AutoCAD Engine | Windows Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Survey 2024 | 20222 | 64 bit Windows |
| Survey 2023 | 2022 | 64 bit Windows |
| Survey 2022/Takeoff R12 | 2022 | 64 bit Windows |
| Survey 2021 | 2018 | 64 bit Windows |
| Survey 2020 | 2018 | 64 bit Windows |
| Survey 2019/Takeoff R11 | 2018 | 64 bit Windows |
| Survey 2018/Takeoff R10 | 2018 | Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
| Survey 2017/Takeoff R9 | 2013 | Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
| Survey 2016 | 2013 | Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
| Survey 2015/Takeoff R8 | 2013 | Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
| Survey 2014/Takeoff R7 | 2013 | Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
[FAQ411] Download & install your license of Carlson Software (General)
+FAQ: Download and install your Carlson Software (with your AutoCAD or IntelliCAD)
FAQ: Download and install your Carlson Survey with embedded AutoCAD (OEM)
FAQ: Download and install your Carlson Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM)
- Follow this link: http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/software-downloads/
- Use the drop-down box below the prompt “Select product you are looking for”, to select the correct program
- From the drop-down list, select the correct “Product Version”
- Download #1 or #2 will be the full, complete, up-to-date version of the software. Select “Download”.
- During installation, enter your serial number when prompted: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
- Start Carlson Software
- Go to Help > About Carlson
- Pick the “Change Registration” button
- Once the “Add/Remove Serial Number” dialog box is open, pick the “Add” button
- Complete the Registration Information with your new serial number: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
Instructions for installing the network license manager can be found here: http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/knowledge-base/?action=display_topic&topic_id=55.
You can also refer to this FAQ: Download and Install the Carlson Network License Manager
If you need a new (or updated) network license file, please contact Brian Hammer in Carlson’s Boston office. His email is [email protected] and the phone number is 606-564-5028.
[FAQ452] When I upgrade, do I immediately lose access to the older version of my software?
+Actually, when you purchase your upgrade or receive a new serial number by virtue of a maintenance upgrade, nothing happens until you want it to.
Whenever you’re ready to install the upgrade, you can do so on the same computer or on a different computer. When you install and register the license with the new serial number, a 60-day “clock” starts counting down on the older installation. When the 60-days expire, the old license will de-activate and will revert to running in trial mode.
[FAQ027] Are there any problems running Carlson on Windows 10?
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Carlson Software running on Windows 10 seems to present just a couple of issues: registration and graphics card/performance. If you encounter any issues you may also want to check in here to see if you can narrow down the problem: KB 1078: Troubleshooting Guide.
Registration:
When Windows 10 originally came out, Carlson 2015 and earlier versions would not install and Carlson had to change the program to make it work, so Carlson 2016 was the first one supported on Windows 10. Microsoft may have changed Windows 10 since then and it’s possible that these versions will install today.
If you ARE able to install these versions, Carlson will able to help with the registration; however, every time Windows 10 has major update, Carlson products prior to the 2017 release will likely lose their registration and will have to be re-registered because Windows changes the signature that was used for the initial registration. Carlson has re-worked this mechanism to avoid the problem in later releases.
Graphics Cards and Performance Issues:
Carlson KB1108: Slow entities creation and modification on Windows 10
Carlson KB1123: Changing graphics card settings to use your dedicated GPU on a Windows computer
Carlson KB1131: NVidia video card: visual artifacts, pixelized lines, wrong text display
Only one that seems to show up every once in awhile… But it’s Microsoft’s fault!!
Windows 10 does updates – automatic updates – a lot. And, sometimes these updates can mess with your Carlson license registration. Carlson has free technical support so you can always call 606.564.5028 or email them at [email protected] during regular business hours but, if this happens on a weekend, their support staff is probably out enjoying Kentucky bourbon. Or something.
So, when Murphy’s Law strikes, you can refer to this Knowledge Base article on Carlson’s website: Carlson KB 995: Windows 10 effect on previously registered software.
[FAQ457] Working with Carlson’s network license manager
+See also:
Carlson KB 59: What does Network License Manager do?
Carlson KB 211: Troubleshooting the Network License Manager
Carlson KB 612: Carlson Software’s Network License Manager – An Overview
Carlson KB 903: License Manager System Requirements
Carlson KB 218: Sending a Network License To A Remote User (Off-Site) – ADVANCED METHOD
Carlson KB 999: How Carlson Software’s End-User License Agreement Applies to Networked Software
[FAQ026] How can I install Land Desktop on a Windows 7 computer?
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I had actually forgotten about this but recently had to re-install Land Desktop myself and I figured it was worth sharing. This method is not guaranteed but it just might work.
Instead of trying to install Land Desktop from the original DVD, try copying the contents of the DVD to a new folder on the hard drive of the Windows 7 machine. Then, run the installation from there by clicking on the Setup.exe file.
I haven’t tried this with anything newer than Windows 7 but it worked flawlessly on my Windows 7 64 bit computer.
[FAQ471] I lost my data collector with SurvCE, am I outta luck?
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[FAQ315] What data collectors, GPS and total stations can I run with my Carlson SurvCE or SurvPC?
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[FAQ221] What are the system requirements to run Carlson Software in the office? Do I need a monster computer?
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But, Carlson’s core product and IntelliCAD can run on pretty light-duty machines.
The minimum system requirements for running Carlson with embedded AutoCAD (OEM), on top of AutoCAD and with IntelliCAD are posted here.
Updated for 2020: Carlson 2020 software will no longer run on 32 bit machines.
Note: If you are using an Nvidia video card, you will want to make sure you get the driver and updates directly from Nvidia.com and not just let Windows search for updates.
See also: Carlson KB1123: Changing graphics card settings to use your dedicated GPU on a Windows computer
See also: Carlson KB1131: NVidia video card: visual artifacts, pixelized lines, wrong text display
[FAQ231] Is it better to network Carlson than use standalone licenses?
+The only time I’d recommend networking individual licenses such as Survey, Survey OEM, Civil, etc. is if you have 2 or more people who can literally share a license. For instance, if you have a technician who works in one office or on one computer from 8-12 and another who works in a different office or computer from 1-5 then, yes, network away!
Using this example, only one license will ever be in use at any one time so you would only need to buy one networked license that can be shared on multiple computers.
Networking one or more licenses of individual seats can also be beneficial if you have several people using the software part-time. Maybe you buy 3 licenses for 4 to share because only 3 people will ever be using it at the same time.
All that being said, networking one of Carlson’s Suites (Civil or Takeoff) can potentially save a lot of money. Civil Suite includes 4 programs: Survey, Civil, Hydrology and GIS. Takeoff Suite includes 4 as well: Construction, CADNet, GeoTech and Trench. If you network either of the Suites, each of those programs acts like an individual license. Sweet Suite!
So, if you buy one standalone license of Civil Suite, that license is registered to one user who can access any of the 4 programs at will. But, if you network that Civil Suite, you can have one person working in Survey at the same time someone else is working in Civil, while a 3rd person is working in Hydrology and a 4th is in GIS.
Even though this sounds like a great way to save money, you should also be aware that sharing licenses can also become a headache to your staff and lead to some loss in productivity. It’s like anything else, networking the Suites has its pros and cons.
You may also want to refer to this updated FAQ: Working with Carlson’s network license manager for more information.
[FAQ416] Download & install your license of Carlson SurvPC
+When downloading Carlson SurvPC (and SurvCE), you are first required to enter a serial number before being directed to the correct page to download. This is to ensure you have the correct version (due to device compatibility).
How to install and run a trial: During installation you will be prompted for your serial number. If you are installing for the purpose of running a trial, it is not necessary to enter the serial number during installation; however, without a serial number, SurvPC will run in 15-point demo-mode for an unlimited number of days. If you use the trial serial number during installation, it will unlock unlimited points but will also reduce the trial period to 30 days.
- Follow this link: https://web.carlsonsw.com/files/updates/updates05.php?ss_email=&product=SurvPC
- Enter your serial number XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
- Enter your email address (for a trial)
- Click on “Show Files”
- Download #1 or #2 will be the full, complete, up-to-date version of the software. Select “Download”.
- During installation, enter your serial number when prompted: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
[FAQ415] Download & install your Carlson SurvCE
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NOTE: You must have your SurvCE serial number in order to download the installation file.
- Follow this link: http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/software-downloads/?product=SurvCE
- Select your “Product Version”
- Enter your serial number to get access to the download files: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
[FAQ414] Download & install your license of Carlson Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM)
+- Follow this link: http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/software-downloads/?ss_email=&product=TakeOff
- Next to, “Takeoff”, pick “Show Files”.
- From the drop-down list, select the correct “Product Version”
- Download #1 or #2 will be the full, complete, up-to-date version of the software. Select “Download”.
- During installation, enter your serial number when prompted: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
- Start Carlson Software
- Go to Help > About Carlson
- Pick the “Change Registration” button
- Once the “Add/Remove Serial Number” dialog box is open, pick the “Add” button
- Complete the Registration Information with your new serial number: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
Instructions for installing the network license manager can be found here: http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/knowledge-base/?action=display_topic&topic_id=55.
You can also refer to this FAQ: Download and Install the Carlson Network License Manager
If you need a new (or updated) network license file, please contact Brian Hammer in Carlson’s Boston office. His email is [email protected] and the phone number is 606-564-5028.
[FAQ413] Download & install your license of Carlson Survey with embedded AutoCAD (OEM)
+- Follow this link: http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/software-downloads/?product=CarlsonSurveyEmbedded
- Next to, “Carlson Survey Embedded”, pick “Show Files”.
- From the drop-down list, select the correct “Product Version”
- Download #1 or #2 will be the full, complete, up-to-date version of the software. Select “Download”.
- During installation, enter your serial number when prompted: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
- Start Carlson Software
- Go to Help > About Carlson
- Pick the “Change Registration” button
- Once the “Add/Remove Serial Number” dialog box is open, pick the “Add” button
- Complete the Registration Information with your new serial number: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
Instructions for installing the network license manager can be found here: http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/knowledge-base/?action=display_topic&topic_id=55.
You can also refer to this FAQ: Download and Install the Carlson Network License Manager
If you need a new (or updated) network license file, please contact Brian Hammer in Carlson’s Boston office. His email is [email protected] and the phone number is 606-564-5028.
[FAQ412] Download & install your license of Carlson Software (with your AutoCAD or IntelliCAD)
+These instructions are applicable to perpetual licenses, 90-day licenses and 30-day trials for the following modules: Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Geology, Underground Mining, Surface Mining, Natural Regrade, Field, CADnet, GeoTech, Trench, Construction and Point Clouds.
- Follow this link: http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/software-downloads/
- Next to, “Carlson Survey/Civil/Mining/Takeoff for CAD”, pick “Show Files”
- From the drop-down list, select the correct “Product Version”
- Download #1 or #2 will be the full, complete, up-to-date version of the software. Select “Download”.
- During installation, enter your serial number when prompted: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
- When prompted for the platform, select IntelliCAD or your current version of AutoCAD.
If you have previously downloaded and installed this same version of Carlson and have been running it under a trial serial number or you’ve purchased additional modules, you do not need to re-download and re-install.
You can follow the instructions below to update your registration with your new purchased serial number:
- Start Carlson Software
- Go to Help > About Carlson
- Pick the “Change Registration” button
- Once the “Add/Remove Serial Number” dialog box is open, pick the “Add” button
- Complete the Registration Information with your new serial number: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
Instructions for installing the network license manager can be found here: http://www.carlsonsw.com/support/knowledge-base/?action=display_topic&topic_id=55.
You can also refer to this FAQ: Download and Install the Carlson Network License Manager
If you need a new (or updated) network license file, please contact Brian Hammer in Carlson’s Boston office. His email is [email protected] and the phone number is 606-564-5028.
[FAQ410] Where can I download my Carlson Software?
+If you are doing this manually, you will first have to select the correct program and version for downloading. You can choose your Carlson program and version from a drop-down list or, if you’re not sure of one or both, you can also enter your serial number to find the right download.
- For any of the Carlson Software desktop products that run on top of AutoCAD or come with IntelliCAD, select the default product Carlson Survey/Civil/Mining/Takeoff for CAD
- For Survey with embedded AutoCAD (OEM) select Carlson Survey Embedded
- For Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM) select Takeoff
FAQ: How do I know if I’m running the latest build of my Carlson Software?
FAQ: What is the latest and greatest version/build of my Carlson Software? (a running thread)
[FAQ456] I think I found a bug in my Carlson Software – how can I get it resolved?
+If you encounter a bug in the program, you’ll first want to check for updates to see if you’re running the latest build of your program. If not, the latest build might resolve the issue.
There is a link to Check for Updates in your Windows Carlson Software program folder as shown below:
Rather than use the Check for Updates link, you can follow these FAQs to see if the build you currently have installed is the same as the one posted on Carlson’s Software Downloads page.
Once you’ve confirmed you’re running the latest build, you have several ways to submit a request for tech support.
After they have verified it’s a repeatable error/bug, Carlson may handle it a couple of ways. If it’s a stop-work situation for you in the latest version, Carlson will work to correct it and send you updated program files with instruction on how and where to copy them. Anyone else who stumbles upon the same issue will get the same files sent to them.
Your bug fix will be incorporated into the next build of the program when it’s posted to Carlson’s website.
[FAQ233] What happens if I get a new computer and need to reinstall Carlson?
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- Initial install or maintenance upgrade of Carlson
- Re-installation of Carlson
- Windows or AutoCAD Upgrade
- Home/Field use. See License Agreement.
- New Hardware (new hard drive, network card, new computer)
[FAQ232] Can I install my Carlson desktop software on two computers?
+For your 2nd installation, follow the same steps to download and, during the installation process, use your same serial number. The key to NOT getting in trouble is how you register it the first time it launches on the 2nd computer. The image below shows the Install Info tab of the registration dialog box.
You must specify the Reason for Installation from one of these 5 options:
- Initial install or maintenance update of Carlson
- Re-installation of Carlson
- Windows or AutoCAD Upgrade
- Home/Field use. See License Agreement.
- New Hardware (new hard drive, network card, new computer)
For your 2nd installation, you’d choose option #4. It’s a little dated but you can refer to this Knowledge Base article from Carlson’s website explaining these options: Carlson KB 893: Desktop Software Reasons for Registration. This FAQ explains where to find your Carlson Software License Agreement (EULA).
[FAQ269] What are the system requirements to run Carlson SurvPC?
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Click here to review the minimum system requirements for SurvPC.