[See below for 8-7-2015 update]

Carlson Software made the 2016 version of their desktop software available for download yesterday. The products released include all desktop products that run with the included IntelliCAD or on top of your own AutoCAD-based software. The 2016 OEM/embedded AutoCAD versions of Survey and Takeoff are expected to be released in a month or so.

The programs included in this release include Civil Suite, Takeoff Suite, Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Basic Mining, Geology, Underground Mining, Surface Mining, Natural Regrade, Field, CADnet, GeoTech, Trench, Construction and Point Clouds. Carlson 2016 includes IntelliCAD 8.1 and can also be installed on top of any full AutoCAD-based software from 2010-2016. This includes AutoCAD, Map and Civil 3d but does NOT include AutoCAD LT.

You can see the full list of Carlson 2016 Improvements here.

One thing that’s new for 2016 is that there are separate downloads for 32- and 64-bit systems. You can download the 150731 Build of either file here.

If you are currently on Carlson’s maintenance plan, you can click here to find your 2016 serial number. You’ll need your 2015 serial number and primary contact information for the owner of the software. If you have trouble, feel free to email me and I’ll do what I can to help get you up and going. Or, request a proposal to upgrade or renew your maintenance now.

I can provide a 30 day trial if you’d like to test-drive for a bit and am also offering a free test-drive to one of my upcoming webinars. Starting with tomorrow’s Introduction to Carlson Software – Settings, Setup, Configuration & Points webinar, I’ll be presenting in the 2016 software.

If you’re curious how Carlson compares feature- and price-wise to Civil 3d, Land Desktop, Eagle Point, Terra Model or others, email me or follow these links to request a demo or request a custom proposal.

8/7/2015 Update: One other change to the platform support for Carlson 2016 will be important to a lot of you: Carlson 2016 with IntelliCAD no longer works on top of Windows XP; however, you can run Carlson 2016 on top of an AutoCAD 2010-2016 on an XP machine.

Microsoft released the Windows 10 operating system for PCs this week and a lot of Carlson users have jumped to install the shiny (and free) new thing. I always recommend waiting a few weeks for kinks and bugs to be worked out before installing anything that affects all your program installations and can have such a big impact on your productivity.

However, I’ve heard from a lot of you who’ve already tried it out with Carlson 2015 and even earlier versions. Most have had success but some have called or emailed with questions. I reached out to Carlson’s tech support to ask what Carlson users can expect with Windows 10 – this is the response I received:

We have tested Carlson 2016 on pre-release Windows 10 and did not see any issues in limited testing. We expect to have 2016 compatible with Windows 10 when it ships. We may address some minor issues with Carlson 2015 if they arise, but not older versions.

If you haven’t renewed your maintenance plan or upgraded for awhile, now is really a good time. If you renew your maintenance now, before 2016 is released, you will get an immediate upgrade to 2015 and then will also receive the upgrade to 2016. Also, if your maintenance has expired, your cost to renew maintenance will increase once 2016 is released because you’ll be an additional version behind.

Click here to request a proposal for new licenses, for upgrades or maintenance renewals and find out what other goodies That CAD Girl includes with your purchase.

Update: Carlson has now posted this to their website

That CAD Girl is working with Carlson Software and Advance Acceptance to offer special, low rate financing through 8/31/2015.

Rates of 0%, 1.99% and 2.99% are available for new software purchases and for Carlson BRx5 GNSS Receivers. Minimum purchase is $5000.

A few other details apply – call or email to find out more or click here to download the promotional brochure.

With the end of perpetual licensing for some/most Autodesk products coming on January 16, 2016, Autodesk is running a few promotions to encourage current users to embrace the switch.

Click here for Autodesk’s Buyer’s Guide or email me to request access to the recording of my recent webinar with an Autodesk reseller and Carlson Software programmers explaining how these changes may affect us going forward.

You will want to touch base with your local Autodesk reseller or, if you don’t currently work with anyone, email me for a recommendation…

Some of the promotions include:

• Discounted purchases of AutoCAD LT
• Rebates on new seats, maintenance and desktop subscriptions – Ends July 24, 2015
• Financing options and discounts for multi-year renewals – Ends July 24, 2015

MAYSVILLE, Ky., U.S.A. (August 13, 2014)—  Carlson Survey 2015 OEM is an easy-to-use, intuitive software. Its newest update provides upgrades to the 3D viewer that allows users to apply textures, animation, surface updates, even record movies and import Sketch-Up objects. The software’s popular field-to-finish feature has also been enhanced for 2015 to allow surveyors to do coding on pipe networks that then allows them to build a network of pipes.

Together with Carlson Survey 2015 version, which works on AutoCAD^® versions 2007 to 2015 and comes with the improved IntelliCAD^® 8.0 built-in, Carlson Survey OEM is the number one office software solution for surveyors in the United States.

Read the rest of the press release

Request a 30-day trial

Request a live demonstration

Request a custom proposal

See these products in our Online Store

On May 24, 2012 Carlson posted a new build on their downloads page. This brings the Carlson Civil Suite products, (Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS), Takeoff, Construction, Point Clouds and Mining, etc. up to build 120524 and IntelliCAD 7.x up to 7.1.1644.53233.P. There are a lot of big updates to stability and productivity in this release.

And, just as a reminder to anyone wanting access to more regular updates to IntelliCAD 7.x, send me an email and I’ll help you get access to a separate, private blog being maintained for users interested in trying out test versions of the software before they’re provided to the general public.

Carlson released a new build of their desktop software earlier this week. This includes updates to the IntelliCAD/for AutoCAD versions of Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Basic Mining, Geology, Underground Mining, Surface Mining, Natural Regrade, Field, Takeoff, Construction and Point Clouds.

To confirm your current build number, go to Help > About Carlson. You’ll see the build number on the top line of the text box.

You can download the latest full version or updates to your current installation here.

If you would like to try out any of the Carlson Software products for 30-days, email me here.

For those anxious to try out the very latest and greatest updates in the testing versions of IntelliCAD 7.1, you can also send me an email to gain access to a new blog, “The Little CAD Engine That Could”, administered by Leonid Entov of Carlson Software.

Participation in the testing and access to the blog is by invitation only, so email me and I’ll pass along your request.