[FAQxxx] I didn’t buy my software from you, but can you take care of my maintenance and upgrades?
+
Yes, we sure can!

If you’ve recently received a Maintenance Renewal or OEM Upgrade notice from Carlson Software, you can follow this link to Request a Custom Proposal from That CAD Girl. Sending us that report helps us help you, so we’re offering additional discounts if you do that.

FAQ: What is Carlson Software Maintenance? And why should I buy it from That CAD Girl?

FAQ: How is Carlson Software Maintenance calculated?


    If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

    [FAQ455] I can’t seem to keep up with my Carlson maintenance – Can you help?
    +
    This is another reason that we recommend that you find an Authorized Carlson Reseller and purchase your maintenance through them! Resellers offer an additional level of support for your purchases and they can help you keep up with your renewals and upgrades.

    Carlson generates and sends renewal notices automatically but they are only sent to you and the Carlson reseller located nearest to you geographically. However, you are free to purchase new licenses, upgrades or maintenance directly from Carlson or any Authorized Reseller.

    If you’ve recently received a Maintenance Renewal or OEM Upgrade notice from Carlson Software, you can forward that report to your Dealer of Choice and ask for them to provide a custom proposal.

    FAQ: What is Carlson Software Maintenance? And why you should buy it from an Authorized Carlson Reseller

    FAQ: How is Carlson Software Maintenance calculated?


      If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

      [FAQ200] What you should know about purchasing Carlson Software
      +

      About Carlson Software, the Company

      Carlson Software is a software developer based out of Maysville, Kentucky. They have been developing land development-focused software since 1983 and their offerings include modules for the land surveying, civil engineering, construction and mining industries.

      FAQ: About Carlson Software

      About Carlson, the Software

      Carlson’s desktop programs run on 64-bit MS Windows-based computers.

      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

      Option 1: With IntelliCAD/for YOUR AutoCAD

      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

       

      Option 2: With embedded AutoCAD (OEM)

      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 typically releases a new version of their programs approximately 4-6 months after Autodesk releases each new version of AutoCAD.

      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?

      We definitely recommend that you request a 30-day trial and test it for yourself – but here are links to help you decide!

      Retail Pricing for Carlson Software

      ProgramRetail Price of Standalone
      (effective 10/16/2023)
      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
      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
      Other Software or Hardware

      Upgrading Carlson Software

      IntelliCAD/for CAD Products

      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

      Maintenance with New Licenses

      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

      ProgramRetail Price
      of Standalone
      (effective 10/16/2023)
      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
      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 StatusAnnual Maintenance
      (Percentage of Retail)
      Expiration Fee
      (Percentage of Retail)
      Total Fee to Renew
      (Percentage of Retail)
      Active10%010%
      Expired, up to 1 year10%10%20%
      Expired, up to 2 years10%20%30%
      Expired, up to 3 years10%30%40%
      Expired, more than 3 years10%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 ExpiredRetail PriceTotal Fee
      (Percentage of Retail)
      Total Fee to Upgrade and/or
      Renew Maintenance for 1 Year
      SurveyNot expired, maintenance is current$ 2,15010%$ 215.00
      SurveyExpired for less than 1 year$ 2,15020%$ 430.00
      Networked SurveyExpired for less than 1 year$ 2,365
      20%$ 473.00
      Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4Not expired, maintenance is current$ 4,25010%$ 425.00
      Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4Expired for less than 1 year$ 4,25020%$ 850.00
      Networked Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4Expired for less than 1 year$ 4,67520%$935.00

      Carlson Licensing

      Perpetual 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.

       
      Network Licensing

      Carlson allows users to “network” their licenses for an additional fee. The fee is 10% of the retail price of the software being networked.

       
      Installing and Re-Installing

      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!

      System Requirements for Desktop Software

      Because it changes from version to version, my “go-to” answer is this FAQ which links directly to Carlson’s website and their recommendations for running Carlson with embedded AutoCAD (OEM), on top of AutoCAD and with IntelliCAD.

      FAQ: What are the system requirements to run Carlson Software in the office? Do I need a monster computer?

      Technical Support & Training

      Carlson Software offers FREE technical support for Carlson Software and IntelliCAD. This is the case whether you are running the latest version of Carlson or one that’s 10 years old or, even, if you’re only trying before you buy.

      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

      Want to try before you buy? Any Carlson desktop software is available for a 30 day trial – just Click here to request a 30 day trial.

      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?

      Want to try before you buy? Any Carlson desktop software is available for a 30 day trial – just Click here to request a 30 day trial.

      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.


        If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

        [FAQ431] What are the improvements to Carlson over previous versions? (a running thread)
        +
        Carlson released the 2024 version of their desktop products on October 16, 2023. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2024 products. They released Survey OEM 2024 on November 3, 2023.
         
        Carlson released the 2023 version of their desktop products on November 1, 2022. They released Survey OEM 2023 on November 14, 2022. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2023 products.
         
        Carlson released the 2022 version of their desktop products on December 30, 2021. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2022 products.
         
        Carlson released the 2021 version of their desktop products on September 23, 2020. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2021 products.
         
        Carlson released the 2020/R11 version of Carlson Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM) on October 21, 2019. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Takeoff T11.

        Carlson released the 2020 version of their desktop products on October 1, 2019. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2020 products.

         
        Carlson released the 2019 version of their desktop products on September 25, 2018. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2019 products.
         
        And, they released the 2018/T10 version of Carlson Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM) on October 20, 2017. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Takeoff T10.

        Carlson released the 2018 version of their desktop products on August 31, 2017. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2018 products.

         
        Carlson released the 2017 version of their desktop products on July 28, 2016. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2017 products.
         
        Carlson released the 2016 version of their desktop products on August 3, 2015. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2016 products.
         
        Carlson released the 2015 version of their desktop products on July 22, 2014. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2015 products.


          If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

          [FAQ420] I’ve Installed My Carlson Software – Now What Do I Do?
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          Just getting started…? Try these FAQs!

          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: What is Carlson Academy?

          Self-Study Training Manuals: 1) Getting Started: Settings, Setup, Configuration and Points and 2) Field to Finish

          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?

           


            If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

            [FAQ430] How do I register my Carlson Software? And what are change keys?
            +
            After installation of any Carlson desktop software program, you will be required to register the serial number that was entered during the install process. After the software and serial number has been successfully registered a report will be displayed on screen. The registration report includes a 5-digit “Change Key” that eliminates most steps in the registration process in the event that you need to re-install with the same serial number.  It is best to print or otherwise save this report for future reference.

            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!

             
            In the first tab of the dialog box you must specify your Registration Method. If you have a change key from a previous registration, you can simply choose the option Already have a change key. Otherwise, choose the option Register to obtain a change key.
             
            2016_RegScreen01

             

             

             

             
            In the next tab you must specify the Reason for Installation from one of these 5 options:
             
            2016_RegScreen02

             

             

            1. Initial install or maintenance upgrade of Carlson
            2. Re-installation of Carlson
            3. Windows or AutoCAD Upgrade
            4. Home/Field use. See License Agreement.
            5. New Hardware (new hard drive, network card, new computer)

             
            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).


              If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

              [FAQ432] Where do I find the build date or build number of my Carlson Software?
              +
              To find the build date/build number of the software you have installed, go to the Help Menu > About Carlson. The build will be listed in the top line of the white text box.

              The number shown here roughly corresponds to the date that the updated file was posted to Carlson’s downloads page using a YY/MM/DD format. You can reference this FAQ to determine the current build of the software you have installed.


                If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                [FAQ433] What is the latest and greatest version/build of my Carlson Software? (a running thread)
                +
                New versions of most Carlson Software desktop products are released on an annual basis (Civil Suite 2016, Takeoff 2016, Takeoff R8, etc) and Carlson field software every 1-2 years (SurvCE 4.0, SurvPC 5.0, etc). However, in between these major releases Carlson will post patches called “Builds” that fix bugs or errors that have been found since the initial release.
                 
                If you are having trouble or suspect you have found a bug, the first thing to do is make sure you have the latest “Build” installed for your version of software.

                FAQ: Where do I find the build date or build number of my Carlson Software?

                 
                You can visit Carlson’s Downloads page to see if a newer Build is available; however, the easiest way to get to the correct page is to go to Help > About Carlson and then click the Registration button from the About Carlson screen to open the Add/Remove Serial Number window.

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                Next, click to highlight your Serial Number and click Downloads to open the download screen specific to your product and version.

                 

                Carlson Survey/Civil/Mining/Takeoff for CAD

                This can be installed on AutoCAD or with included Intellicad.

                The following modules are included: Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Basic Mining, Geology, Underground Mining, Surface Mining, Natural Regrade, Field, CADnet, GeoTech, Trench, Construction and Point Clouds.

                VersionBuild Date
                202410/14/2023
                20239/26/2023
                202210/11/2022
                20213/16/2022
                20209/2/2021
                201912/20/2019
                20185/20/2019
                201711/15/2017
                20166/29/2016
                20157/28/2015
                20148/11/2014

                Carlson Survey with Embedded AutoCAD (OEM)

                VersionBuild Date
                202411/3/2023
                202311/14/2022
                20227/22/2022
                20212/14/2022
                20206/23/2020
                20196/28/2019
                20189/27/2018
                20176/22/2017
                20166/15/2016
                20155/8/2015
                20147/14/2014

                Carlson Takeoff with Embedded AutoCAD (OEM)

                VersionBuild Date
                2022/R1212/1/2022
                2022/R126/25/2022
                2020/R113/10/2021
                2018/R102/26/2019
                2017/R97/3/2017
                2016/R812/11/2015
                2015/R79/26/2016
                2014/R65/16/2013

                SurvPC Data Collection Software

                VersionBuild Date
                7.xx8/29/2023
                6.007/10/2018
                5.0812/8/2017
                5.068/1/2017
                5.054/3/2017
                5.0412/12/2016
                5.039/6/2016
                5.027/25/2016
                4.0711/19/2015
                4.067/23/2015
                4.055/15/2015
                4.0312/17/2014
                3.031/24/2014

                SurvCE Data Collection Software

                VersionBuild Date
                6.172/3/2023
                6.168/16/2022
                6.091/21/2021
                6.089/29/2020
                6.078/4/2020
                6.035/3/2019
                6.021/31/2019
                6.007/10/2018
                5.0812/8/2017
                5.068/1/2017
                5.054/3/2017
                5.039/6/2016
                5.027/25/2016
                4.0711/19/2015
                4.067/23/2015
                4.055/15/2015
                4.0312/17/2014
                3.031/24/2014

                Precision 3D Software (Topo, Drill, Blast and Hydro)

                VersionBuild Date
                20238/25/2023
                20226/16/2023
                20222/28/2023
                20217/15/2021
                20215/14/21
                202012/11/2020
                20198/13/2019
                20181/9/2018
                201711/19/2017
                20166/6/2016
                20156/10/2016


                  If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                  [FAQ434] How do I know if I’m running the latest build of my Carlson Software?
                  +
                  The first time you launch your Carlson Software after a computer restart, the program will usually check in with Carlson’s website to see if a new build of the software has been posted; however, sometimes this automatic Check for Updates doesn’t occur and you have to force it to check.
                   
                  There is a link to Check for Updates in your Windows Carlson Software program folder as shown below:
                   
                   


                    If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                    [FAQ435] How can I find out when new versions or builds of Carlson are released?
                    +
                    You can visit Carlson’s Email Preference Center and sign up to receive emails directly from Carlson for updates.

                    You can also refer to the FAQ below for an active list of the most recent builds for most of the desktop and Carlson field software programs.

                     

                    FAQ: What is the latest and greatest version/build of my Carlson Software? (a running thread)

                    FAQ: How do I know if I’m running the latest build of my Carlson Software?

                    FAQ: Where do I find the build date or build number of my Carlson Software?

                    FAQ: What is “The Little CAD Engine That Could” Website?


                      If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                      [FAQ458] What is “The Little CAD Engine That Could” Website?
                      +
                      The developers at Carlson Software that work on desktop programs with IntelliCAD are constantly chasing bugs and updating the program. In addition, the IntelliCAD developers at the ITC are also updating that platform program regularly.

                      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.

                       


                        If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                        [FAQ027] Are there any problems running Carlson on Windows 10?
                        +
                        Updated August 2019:

                        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.


                          If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                          [FAQ453] How is the price of Carlson maintenance calculated?
                          +
                          If you always want to have the latest and greatest version of your Carlson Desktop Software with IntelliCAD (or with your own CAD), the cheapest way to do that is to keep your maintenance current. If it is renewed prior to expiration, the price will remain the same – 10% of the retail price of the software.

                          However, if Maintenance is not renewed prior to expiration, a 1-year Maintenance Plan costs 20% of software list price and increases by 10% per year after the expiration date.

                          But, regardless of how many years you’ve fallen behind, Carlson will never charge more than 50% of the current retail price of the software in order to bring your license up to the current version.

                          If your license is not currently on maintenance, you can pay the maintenance fee plus an expiration fee which will both upgrade you to the current version of the program AND include any upgrades that are released within the maintenance year.

                          Carlson’s policy on Software Maintenance can be viewed by clicking here.

                          That CAD Girl tries to keep a copy of your most current Maintenance Report uploaded and available to you on your That CAD Girl Customer Portal.

                          Click here to request pricing for your Maintenance Renewals or Upgrades – if you upload a current Maintenance or Upgrade Report you received from Carlson, you may receive discounted renewal or upgrade pricing!

                          FAQ: I can’t seem to keep up with my Carlson maintenance – Can you help?

                          FAQ: What is Carlson Software Maintenance? And why should I buy it from That CAD Girl?

                          Maintenance StatusAnnual Maintenance
                          (Percentage of Retail)
                          Expiration Fee
                          (Percentage of Retail)
                          Total Fee to Renew
                          (Percentage of Retail)
                          Active10%010%
                          Expired, up to 1 year10%10%20%
                          Expired, up to 2 years10%20%30%
                          Expired, up to 3 years10%30%40%
                          Expired, more than 3 years10%40%50%

                          ProgramRetail Price
                          of Standalone
                          (effective 10/16/2023)
                          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
                          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

                          Sample Upgrade & Maintenance Renewal Pricing

                          Program# of Years ExpiredRetail PriceTotal Fee
                          (Percentage of Retail)
                          Total Fee to Upgrade and/or
                          Renew Maintenance for 1 Year
                          SurveyNot expired, maintenance is current$ 2,15010%$ 215.00
                          SurveyExpired for less than 1 year$ 2,15020%$ 430.00
                          Networked SurveyExpired for less than 1 year$ 2,365
                          20%$ 473.00
                          Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4Not expired, maintenance is current$ 4,25010%$ 425.00
                          Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4Expired for less than 1 year$ 4,25020%$ 850.00
                          Networked Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4Expired for less than 1 year$ 4,67520%$935.00


                            If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                            [FAQ470] Maintenance for my SurvCE & SurvPC – Since when?
                            +
                            Yeah, well, that was short-lived. Carlson offered maintenance on SurvCE & SurvPC for only about a year and then discontinued it because there’s no guarantee a new version will come out every year. Carlson has now gone back to a straight upgrade type program. You can follow this link then click on Request a Custom Proposal to request upgrade pricing.

                            If you purchased maintenance during that time feel free to send me a message and I’ll see if you’re eligible for an automatic upgrade.


                              If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                              [FAQ267] Does Carlson retire their products?
                              +
                              Well, to my knowledge, they haven’t retired any yet.
                               
                              That doesn’t mean they won’t in the future or that you’ll get a “we’ll fix that tomorrow!” answer for every problem for every past release… but I am not aware of any programs they have stopped supporting.


                                If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                                [FAQ251] What’s the difference between Carlson’s annual maintenance and an Autodesk subscription?
                                +
                                Other than one being wildly expensive and like doing a stint in Supermax? Just kidding…

                                The main difference between Carlson’s maintenance plan and Autodesk’s subscription is that Carlson’s tech support is not tied to maintenance at all while Autodesk tech support is only available for no additional fee to those who are current on subscription.

                                Also, in the past few years, there have been so many changes to Autodesk’s Subscription policies that it’s practically impossible to keep up and know exactly what you’re getting for that big price tag.

                                Regardless of whether you’re current on maintenance, whether you’ve let it lapse, whether you’re using today’s version of the software or whether you’re using a version that’s 10 years old, tech support is free from Carlson.

                                You can view the Carlson Software Maintenance Policy here


                                  If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                                  [FAQ203] I’m not in your state/region/country – can I buy my software from you?
                                  +
                                  Yes, you sure can!

                                  And sometimes I’m able to give discounts or access to my monthly webinars for new customers so give me a call, send me an email or follow this link and click on Request a Custom Proposal to see what is available!


                                    If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                                    [FAQ451] Do I qualify for an automatic upgrade to the new version of Carlson?
                                    +
                                    Maybe.

                                    With every new license of Carlson that includes IntelliCAD or runs on top of your AutoCAD, Carlson includes 90 days of free Maintenance at no charge. This is Carlson’s way of guaranteeing that, if a new version of the software is released within 90 days of purchase, you will automatically be upgraded.

                                    Also, you have the option of purchasing Maintenance for any of the desktop software with IntelliCAD or for your AutoCAD.

                                    Bottom line: If your Maintenance is current when a new version is released, you’re eligible for an automatic upgrade to the new version.

                                    Follow this link then click on Request a Custom Proposal to get pricing for upgrades or maintenance renewal or even just to request a report of your current licensing.


                                      If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                                      [FAQ456] I think I found a bug in my Carlson Software – how can I get it resolved?
                                      +
                                      In addition to the annual release of new versions of their software (2015, 2016, 2017, etc), Carlson posts minor updates called “Builds” through the year to fix bugs and other problems found after the initial release.

                                      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:

                                      2017_WindowsStartMenu_CheckForUpdates

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                      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.


                                        If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                                        [FAQ450] My Maintenance is Current… Where’s My Upgrade?
                                        +
                                        One of the best things about keeping your Carlson Software maintenance plan up-to-date is that you have access to the latest and greatest version of the software whenever you’re ready to take the plunge! Some users can’t wait to install the newest version as soon as it’s released but others wait for the first new Build to be posted and then go for it.

                                        With the building out of your That CAD Girl Customer Portal, we are doing our best to have all the information you need about your serial numbers easily accessible and available to you.

                                        As soon as possible after a new release, we will post your new, upgraded serial number(s) to your Customer Portal and will upload a new maintenance report showing your new serial number(s). However, if you get to this before we do… you can use the Carlson Software Serial Number Upgrade Lookup site to get your new serial number as soon as it’s released.

                                         

                                         

                                         

                                         

                                         

                                        You will need the items listed below. Your serial number and Carlson Customer ID can be found on your That CAD Girl Customer Portal:

                                        • Your current serial number
                                        • Your Carlson Customer ID
                                        • Phone Number
                                        • Email Address


                                          If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                                          [FAQ230] Does Carlson Software Still Offer Perpetual Licenses?
                                          +
                                          Yes!!!

                                          The change from a perpetual license model (you purchase once and continue to use it forever) to a subscription license model (you pay by the month or by the year for access) in our little CAD corner of the world has sparked a lot of questions, debate and heartburn.

                                          In 2015 Autodesk announced they would be shifting toward a subscription model of delivery for their AutoCAD-based products. Although some Autodesk accounts and products were grandfathered in, any new purchases of AutoCAD are now available by subscription only. And, the kicker, you stop paying, you can’t access the software or your data.

                                          Carlson Software remains committed to the perpetual license model where you, the user, never have to worry about losing access to your software or data. Carlson’s desktop software includes a license of IntelliCAD so, if you ever stop paying for your AutoCAD, Carlson with IntelliCAD can give you another option to open your DWG files. If you want to ensure you have “perpetual” access to all your other data such as points, surfaces, road designs and more – make sure you archive your project data to Land XML files so that it can be retrieved with other land development, survey, civil and construction software programs.

                                          See also: How can I access and use my old Civil 3d, Land Desktop, Eagle Point or Terra Model data?

                                          See also: Get a Perpetual License with Carlson or download PDF

                                          See also: Robert Green’s CAD Manager’s Newsletter #350 Autodesk Goes Subscription-Only in 2016 or download PDF

                                          See also: Autodesk Courtesy Notice: End of Perpetual Licenses Sales, including individual products and suites


                                            If you find the material on this website helpful, please consider supporting That CAD Girl by purchasing or referring others to us for CAD and Carlson Software support and training.

                                             

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