JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJjYXJsc29udGhlY29tcGFueSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=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 SoftwareJTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJhYm91dGNhcmxzb25zb2Z0d2FyZSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=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).JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJwbGF0Zm9ybSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=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.
FAQ: What is the relationship between Carlson and IntelliCAD?
FAQ: Is embedded AutoCAD (OEM) more like AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT?JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJ2ZXJzaW9ucyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=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.FAQ: What versions of AutoCAD & IntelliCAD & Windows does Carlson run on top of? Does it run on AutoCAD LT? (a running thread)JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJtb2R1bGVzJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGYSUzRQ==We definitely recommend that you request a 30-day trial and test it for yourself – but here are links to help you decide!
FAQ: What should I buy if I need a basic CAD program (like AutoCAD LT)?
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
FAQ: What features are in Carlson iCAD? (a running thread)JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJyZXRhaWxwcmljaW5nJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGYSUzRQ==
| Program | Retail 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 |
JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJ1cGdyYWRlcyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=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.JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJhbm51YWxtYWludGVuYW5jZSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=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
| Program | Retail 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 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 |
FAQ: What’s the difference between Carlson’s annual maintenance and an Autodesk subscription?
FAQ: How is the price of Carlson maintenance calculated?
FAQ: I can’t seem to keep up with my Carlson maintenance – Can you help?
FAQ: I didn’t buy my software from you, but can you take care of my maintenance and upgrades?JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJsaWNlbnNpbmclMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZhJTNFPerpetual 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!FAQ: Carlson Software End User License Agreement (EULA)
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?
JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJzeXN0ZW1yZXF1aXJlbWVudHMlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZhJTNFBecause 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?JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJ0ZWNoc3VwcG9ydHRyYWluaW5nJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGYSUzRQ==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.
FAQ: Where do I get Carlson support? How much will it cost me?JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjIzMGRheXRyaWFsJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGYSUzRQ==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.
FAQ: Where can I get a 30 day trial of Carlson?JTNDYSUyMG5hbWUlM0QlMjJidXlpbmdmcm9tdGhhdGNhZGdpcmwlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZhJTNFWant 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.
FAQ: That CAD Girl’s top reasons to purchase Carlson Software
FAQ: I’m not in your state/region/country – can I buy my software from you?
FAQ: That CAD Girl Active Coupon Codes (a running thread)
FAQ: Why should I purchase Carlson from That CAD Girl instead of someone else?
FAQ: That CAD Girl’s terms & conditions of sales