FAQ
Faq category: System Requirements & Hardware Compatibility
What are the improvements to Carlson over previous versions? (a running thread)
+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.
What you should know about purchasing Carlson Software
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Carlson Platform Options
Carlson Software’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.
Carlson includes the latest version of IntelliCAD with every purchase.
The full-AutoCAD-based program can be AutoCAD, AutoCAD Map, Land Desktop, Civil 3D or other vertical – but does NOT include AutoCAD LT.
Carlson Survey and Takeoff can also be purchased and installed standalone with embedded AutoCAD (also known as the OEM version).
The embedded AutoCAD (OEM) programs include a limited, stripped-down version of AutoCAD that has functionality similar to AutoCAD LT.
The embedded AutoCAD (OEM) programs do not include IntelliCAD and do not require a separate purchase of AutoCAD.
The embedded AutoCAD (OEM) programs are a completely separate install than the programs that run with IntelliCAD or separately purchased license of full-AutoCAD and, although both programs can be installed on the same computer, the programs cannot be “combined”. For instance, if you own a license Survey OEM and also a license of Carlson GIS with IntelliCAD and need to access commands in both programs for work on a single drawing (.dwg) file, you would have to close the drawing out of the Survey OEM and then open it in the GIS program to do the work there.
Retail Pricing for Carlson Software
| Program | Retail Price of Standalone | Retail Price of Network | That CAD Girl Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select Suite - Pick 6 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 4,750 | $ 5,225 | * See in store |
| Select Suite - Pick 5 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 4,350 | $ 4,785 | * See in store |
| Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 3,950 | $ 4,345 | * See in store |
| Select Suite - Pick 3 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 3,550 | $ 3,905 | * See in store |
| Select Suite - Pick 2 (from Survey, Civil, Hydrology, GIS, Point Cloud Basic, CadNet) | $ 2,950 | $ 3,135 | * See in store |
| Survey | $ 1,950 | $ 2,145 | * See in store |
| Civil | $ 1,750 | $ 1,925 | * See in store |
| Hydrology | $ 1,250 | $ 1,375 | * See in store |
| GIS | $ 1,095 | $ 1,205 | * See in store |
| Takeoff Suite (Construction, CADNet, Trench, GeoTech) | $ 7,500 | $ 8,250 | * See in store |
| Construction | $ 3,750 | $ 4,125 | * See in store |
| CADNet | $ 1,595 | $ 1,755 | * See in store |
| Trench | $ 1,595 | $ 1,755 | * See in store |
| GeoTech | $ 1,595 | $ 1,755 | * See in store |
| Takeoff with embedded AutoCAD (OEM) | $ 9,000 | $ 9,900 | * See in store |
| Survey with embedded AutoCAD (OEM) | $ 2,995 | $ 3,295 | * See in store |
| Other Software or Hardware | Request Pricing or *See in store |
Carlson Software Annual Maintenance
If it is renewed prior to expiration, maintenance costs 10% of the retail price of the software. See Upgrading Carlson Software below for more information about renewals after maintenance has expired.
Carlson’s Annual Maintenance is NOT available for embedded AutoCAD (OEM) products, for SurvCE or for SurvPC. It is only available for IntelliCAD/for CAD-based products.
Carlson’s policy on Software Maintenance can be viewed by clicking here.
| Program | Retail Price of Standalone | Annual Maintenance for Standalone | Retail Price of Network | Annual Maintenance for Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select Suite Pick 6 | $ 4,750 | $ 475 | $ 5,225 | $ 522.50 |
| Select Suite Pick 5 | $ 4,350 | $ 435 | $ 4,785 | $ 478.50 |
| Select Suite Pick 4 | $ 3,950 | $ 395 | $ 4,345 | $ 434.50 |
| Select Suite Pick 3 | $ 3,550 | $ 355 | $ 3,905 | $ 390.50 |
| Select Suite Pick 2 | $ 2,750 | $ 275 | $ 3,025 | $ 302.50 |
| Civil Suite | $ 3,950 | $ 395 | $ 4,345 | $ 434.50 |
| Survey | $ 1,950 | $ 195 | $ 2,145 | $ 214.50 |
| Civil | $ 1,750 | $ 175 | $ 1,925 | $ 192.50 |
| Hydrology | $ 1,250 | $ 125 | $ 1,375 | $ 137.50 |
| GIS | $ 1,095 | $ 109.50 | $ 1,205 | $ 120.50 |
| Takeoff Suite | $ 7,500 | $ 750 | $ 8,250 | $ 825.00 |
| Construction | $ 3,750 | $ 375 | $ 4,125 | $ 412.50 |
| CADNet | $ 1,595 | $ 159.50 | $ 1,755 | $ 175.45 |
| Trench | $ 1,595 | $ 159.50 | $ 1,755 | $ 175.50 |
| GeoTech | $ 1,595 | $ 159.50 | $ 1,755 | $ 175.50 |
Upgrading Carlson Software
Upgrading Carlson’s non-OEM desktop products is done through the Maintenance Plan.
If it is renewed prior to expiration, maintenance costs 10% of the retail price of the software. If Maintenance is not renewed prior to expiration, a 1-year Maintenance Plan costs 15% of software list price and increases by 5% per year after the expiration date.
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.
| Maintenance Status | Annual Maintenance (Percentage of Retail) | Expiration Fee (Percentage of Retail) | Total Fee (Percentage of Retail) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current | 10% | 0 | 10% |
| 1 year behind | 10% | 10% | 15% |
| 2 years behind | 10% | 20% | 20% |
| 3 years behind | 10% | 30% | 25% |
| 4 or more years behind | 10% | 40% | 50% |
Sample Upgrade & Maintenance Renewal Pricing
| Program | # of Years Expired | Retail Price | Total Fee (Percentage of Retail) | Total Fee to Upgrade and/or Renew Maintenance for 1 Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survey | 0 maintenance is current | $ 1,850 | 10% | $ 185.00 |
| Survey | Less than 1 maintenance has expired | $ 1,850 | 20% | $ 370.00 |
| Networked Survey | Less than 1 maintenance has expired | $ 2,035 | 20% | $ 407.00 |
| Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4 | 0 maintenance is current | $ 3,950 | 10% | $ 395.00 |
| Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4 | Less than 1 maintenance has expired | $ 3,950 | 20% | $ 790.00 |
| Networked Civil Suite or Select Suite Pick 4 | Less than 1 maintenance has expired | $ 4,345 | 20% | $ 869.00 |
The cost to upgrade Carlson’s OEM products varies depending on the program and how many versions behind you are.
Follow this link then click on Request a Custom Proposal to request upgrade pricing.
Competitive Upgrades
Follow this link then click on Request a Custom Proposal to see if additional discounts are available.
System Requirements for Desktop Software
Because it changes from version to version, my “go-to” answer is going to always point to this page where Carlson lists the minimum system requirements for running Carlson with embedded AutoCAD (OEM), on top of AutoCAD and with IntelliCAD.
You may also keep an eye on our System Requirements and Hardware Compatibility FAQs for the latest information.
30 Day Trials
Then click on Request a 30 day Trial Serial Number
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.
Technical Support & Training
You can see all the opportunities for training with That CAD Girl here and you can follow these links for to see our FAQs about the training and technical support available from Carlson and That CAD Girl.
What are the system requirements to run Carlson Software in the office? Do I need a monster computer?
+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
What data collectors, GPS and total stations can I run with my Carlson SurvCE or SurvPC?
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What versions of AutoCAD & IntelliCAD & Windows does Carlson run on top of? And what about AutoCAD LT? (a running thread)
+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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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 |
What are the system requirements to run Carlson SurvPC?
+Click here to review the minimum system requirements for SurvPC.
If I use Carlson Survey in the office, do I have to use SurvCE on my data collector?
+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:
How can I install Land Desktop on a Windows 7 computer?
+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.