FAQ
Faq category: System Requirements & Hardware Compatibility
[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.
[FAQ431] What are the improvements to Carlson over previous versions? (a running thread)
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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 2018 version of their desktop products on August 31, 2017. Click here to download a PDF of improvements in Carlson 2018 products.
[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 |
[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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[FAQ268] If I use Carlson Survey in the office, do I have to use SurvCE on my data collector?
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Carlson Survey allows you to import, export and convert points and raw data from dozens of different formats and from a wide variety of manufacturers. Carlson Software, as a company, does everything within their power to make their software and hardware compatible with as many other manufacturers’ products as possible. Carlson wants their users to have the option of mixing and matching their software and equipment in a way that works best for their individual needs.
Here are just two examples of many throughout the program allowing you to import, export or convert external data.
The Convert Point Format menu:
The Import Raw File menu:
[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
[FAQ269] What are the system requirements to run Carlson SurvPC?
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Click here to review the minimum system requirements for SurvPC.