Confirmed Defect - C3D 2015 Survey Database cannot be opened by older versions

[Cadguru42]

It's confirmed now. Any survey database that's been created by C3D 2015 cannot be opened by 2014 or older. This also applies to any survey database that's been edited by 2015 even if it was created by 2014 or older. It is highly recommended to not open, edit, or create a survey database in C3D 2015 if any older versions of C3D will also need access to it. 

Once again the surveying end has been screwed up by a new release. I can't believe something as basic as this gets by development or even the beta testers. 

[Anonymous]

Nothing surprises me anymore with autodesk.  As my commanding office keep preaching to us, "Work smarter, not harder".  Words to live by!

[Jeff_M]

I was a Beta tester. I don't normally use the Survey database, nor was there direction to do any testing of it. Such direction is usually given to new and/or substantially changed commands. As such, I had no reason to do any testing with it, and I'm sure many of the other Beta testers are/were in the same boat. One way to help keep these issues from occurring in the future, sign up to be a Beta tester yourself.

Why this change was not noted anywhere is another matter. In 2014 it was prominently noted in the help.

[Cadguru42]

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@Jeff_M wrote:
I was a Beta tester. I don't normally use the Survey database, nor was there direction to do any testing of it. Such direction is usually given to new and/or substantially changed commands. As such, I had no reason to do any testing with it, and I'm sure many of the other Beta testers are/were in the same boat. One way to help keep these issues from occurring in the future, sign up to be a Beta tester yourself.

Why this change was not noted anywhere is another matter. In 2014 it was prominently noted in the help.

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I don't have time to be a beta tester, although I feel like I'm becoming one anyway. 🙂 So Autodesk directs what the beta users are to test? What's the point in that? Shouldn't the beta testers being using the software in a way that fits their work flows in order to make sure the software isn't broken? That way Autodesk would get better feedback on the different ways the users use their software and not some predetermined methodology that Autodesk thinks people do. It would also allow the testers to see how any new features can be incorporated into their workflows. 

I remember when 2013 came out there was nothing in the help files talking about the changes to the survey database, including that they weren't backwards compatible. http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-Civil-3D-General/2013-Survey-Database/m-p/3399573#M173909

There was nothing regarding a chain based figure versus a vector based figure and there still isn't to this day. It was just another undocumented, seemingly pointless change.

[Jeff_M]

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@engrtech wrote:

So Autodesk directs what the beta users are to test? What's the point in that? Shouldn't the beta testers being using the software in a way that fits their work flows in order to make sure the software isn't broken? 

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We are told what is new/changed that they feel needs testing. In addition, we try to use it as we normally would. Yes, we expose things that were unexpectedly changed and report those as well as any feedback we have on the items they've asked us to specifically test. But if none of us use the survey database, it won't be tested. (I'm not saying there weren't any survey users, as I really don't know what the fields of expertise the others have.)

You say you don't have time to test. Well, with my 3 jobs, neither do I. However, I MAKE the time in order to do my part to help try to eliminate the frustrations you are now seeing with the shipping product. FYI, Beta testers don't dedicate 40 hours a week for months on end. We all do it in the spare time we can make available, be it a 1/2 hour a day, 2 days a week or a few hours a day on the weekends. We're all volunteers and, ultimately, end users just like you.

[mconway]

So, there is no way to repair a 2014 Database that has been opened in 2015 so that is can be opened in 2014?

[Anonymous]

I did the same thing. I opened a survey database in 2016 and now won't open in 2014. i even did a restore previous for the survey datbase files and still no luck. What am I missing?