Why would you need 3 versions of CAD on your PC

[Chris]

I work in IT and we are rolling out new workstations to CAD users. I have no real knowledge of CAD. Could someone comment on the following reasons given to me for wanting 3 versions of CAD installed on a new workstation. We have had a no. of complaints re speed of machines in the past, could this be why?

"Chris,

I would like for both versions of Civilcad  ( 5.71 + 6.7 )installed onto my new pc.
Civilcad 5.71 has easier downloading/adjusting/editing features on it than version Civilcad6.7.

Civilcad 6.7 has better importing/exporting features on it, so would like to keep that as well.

Until I sought out transferring/importing survey data from the Total Station to Civil3D, I still want to do this thru Civilcad.

I also have to transfer over 500 jobs in Civilcad into Civil 3D, & still receive data from external surveyors that is easier to import into Civilcad.

I will want only the latest version of Civil3D 2010 + Autotrack 2010 installed onto new pc.

[andrewp]

Civilcad and Civil 3d are produced by different manufacturers, so they use incompatible file formats. (Sort of like Adobe Acrobat and MS Word - Try transfering a PDF into Word)

By the look of it, your team are moving from Civilcad to Civil 3d.

The process of tranferring jobs from Civilcad to Civil 3d is quite involved, requiring export from Civilcad, then import into Civil 3d.

I usually export from civil cad in 2 seperate formats, then import those into Civil 3d, and tidy it up before it is ever usable.

I don't envy the task of transferring 500 jobs from Civil Cad to Civil 3d.

Civilcad 6.7 is much more capable of handling the exports in a format that Civil 3d can import.

Civilcad 5.71 is still more accepted for it's survey functionality in a lot of areas apparently. I don't use it personally, but I've heard that quite a few people still prefer it over the later one.

As for multiple cad systems, I currently have 4 versions of Civil 3d on my system, 2 of civilcad and 1 of bricscad. All are good for their various functions, and some do things that other do not or don't do well. I also setup and troubleshoot the cad software here and some of our users are on older versions as well.

[SeanT]

apparently Land XML is supported in the later versions of CivilCAD?

cheers,
SeanT

[andrewp]

Yes, version 6+ supports Land XML.

I use a combination of XML and dxf export from civilcad and import the points and surfaces from the xml and the linework from the dxf.

That way you get all the point and symbols used by civil 3d as well as a surface to design to and the linework to make it look right.

[SeanT]

This is an interesting topic and very relevant to many of the Civil 3D users out there.

I'm going to think about doing a webcast on it - 'will be in touch.

cheers,
ST