Civil 3D 2010-Gravely dissappointing

[Anonymous]

I have been using Autodesk products for many, many years. Over the last couple of years I have been extremely disappointed. I agree with the direction Civil 3D is attempting to go, however the result of this direction has great cost involved. I have never utilized software as unstable the latest releases.

After several service pack updates I was finally able to use Civil 3d 2009 in a productive manner without frequent "Fatal Error" occurrences. When Civil 3d 2010 was installed, via subscription service, it was discovered that it is even more unstable and a larger "memory hog" than 2009 ever was. The initial purchase price of the software would indicate that the product should be delivered in a state without many complications. I understand that with any new software installation there may be a few bugs to deal with, but this is ridiculous. I can count on crashing, with no explanation, several times per day and the drop in production is unjustified.

Why should I, as a long, standing loyal customer, have to pay for sub par software and absorb the cost in loss of production it returns? Rather than releasing version just because there is a change in year, I would suggest Autodesk release a stable product!!! I am beginning to think I should contemplate some sort of civil action to recoup costs.


Signed,
Waiting on Service Pack for Civil 3d 2010

[Anonymous]

AMEN BRO!!
I have experienced similiar problems. We should have been warned of new system requirements i.e. 64 bit OS, more ram etc.
I am now trapped!! All my files are converted to 10 and apparently there is no going back. As a consumer I paid for a product and didn't get what I paid for. This is imcompetance and/or fraud. My Attorney is looking at various options--some quite ground-breaking. Federal Court may be a venue.I have never heard so many "expletives deleted" in our office, since we upgraded to 10. This is a ripoff!!! Going to 64 bit OS will only solve part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Why would you think that 2010 would be any different? If it took 2 service packs to use the software efficiently for 2009. I'd say it was a bad move to move all of your project forward without testing the software first and deciding if it is stable enough to use in production.

Personally I am happy that autodesk is moving forward to 64 bit. They should have done it years ago.

[Anonymous]

I very seldom post on here because when I do, there is always a response (such as yours) that places the blame on the user not the software developer's lack of attention to error checking.

Good luck to you

[Anonymous]

You should get in on the beta testing of the product. This way you can give feedback to Autodesk on issues that you feel are relevant. There is usually quite a bit of documentation and feedback available before, and in the initial few months of the release to give a feel on whether or not you think the product is stable enough for you to implement. Including minimum system requirements. There are also other factors besides just the software itself the lends a hand in certain issues, like server settings, anti-virus settings, workstation settings, Windows version, these should all be covered by work side by side with the IT Department when preparing your implementation. What else your doing on the computer while your working will also play a factor, streaming music, dowloading files. All of these things play a factor. It does take some serious preperation and stragegizing before implementing these Autodesk products. You can't blame it all on the software though, but you can't blame it all on the user either. They both work hand in hand. I'd suggest the CAD Manager & IT Department work close together in testing, and ironing out as many bugs as possible before making the move to the next version. There's no reason to jump right into it. I usually wait till the first service pack comes out if there are too many issues. Using all the resources at hand 2010 has a lot less bugs and issues in it then 2009. But of course it's all a personal choice.

Brent Daley
Civil Designer/CAD Services Manager
The Land Group, Inc.
462 E. Shore Drive, Suite 100
Eagle, ID 83616
www.thelandgroupinc.com

Civil 3D 2010
Dell Precision 690
Intel Xeon 2.00GHz Dual Core
4 GB RAM, 256mb nVidia Quadro FX 550
Windows 7 64-bit Operating System

[Civil3DReminders]

What response are you looking for? Other than ranting regarding the program, you didn't provide a question that a DG poster could answer. The way I see it is there is two logical responses, the first is someone agreeing with you. You don't seem to mind these because the affirm your frustration. The second is a person conveying that they are not experiencing the same level of frustration that you are, which you seem to take offence to. I usually see the second type response asking for more information such as computer info, what you were doing, etc...

There are two responses to the second response. There is the response that I get from my wife, where she starts complaining that I don't get it and any help I do provide results in more complaining about the issue. This is the response I feel you are projecting. The second response to the second response is to provide the information and get down to the cause of the problem so they can be eleviated, which you don't seem to want to do.

In addition it seems you are neglecting to take into account the feelings of the regular posters on the DG, they post here because the want to help people and they successfully, for the most part, are using the program. Posting a rant, I feel, is the same feeling you get when someone posts and infers that you are the problem and not the software. I wouldn't take it as it being a problem with you, but the posters trying to solve your problem so you can use the program nearly fatal error free.

Christopher

[Anonymous]

If I stick my hand in a bandsaw, is the manufacturer at fault because I
misused it or didn't read the manual?

Just being contrarian....

JW

[Anonymous]

Note: Microsoft® Windows Vista® Ultimate/Business/Enterprise offers better OS memory management over Microsoft® Windows® XP SP2 or SP3. Microsoft Windows XP 64 and Windows Vista 64 are suggested over 32 bit operating systems, due to 4GB of memory being available to applications.

The developer even tells you that they recommend 64 bit OS's., but you still want to blame them for your outdated hardware. Go right ahead and sue too because that will fix things rather than doing productive things like sending error reports and submitting customer support requests.

[ACADuser]

You are entitled to your opinion but the purpose of the discussion groups is for asking questions and sharing information. When someone post's messages that are nonconstructive it is typically met with another opinion and more time than not it just creates a silly back and forth argument. Sure we can express our opinons as we please, but more attention to choice of words is needed to clearly express our intent.

If on the other hand, if you are having trouble with the software state your problem in detail so we can help you.

[Anonymous]

OK you Autodesk masqueraders posing as ordinary posters--You forget one thing in defending AD. It's called MONEY!! Do you think I pay this annual fee as charity??? Autodesk DID NOT recommend minium hardware upgrade UNTIL all of us had problems!! People like you make me very angry!! Daveoith you sound like an Autocad shill. We are working stiffs trying to make a living with an inferior product!! Don't insult our intelligence!!

[Anonymous]

To all who are complaining about my post on this forum...

I was unable to locate a different avenue for my complaint directly to Autodesk. The many error reports submitted have solicited no reponse. Out of frustration I posted here because I knew there would be plenty of complaints to my comments and they would be received by the correct party. Hopefully, a fire is lit under the developer. Furthermore, only one of our projects was converted to 2010. We are just hosed on that one...

To all who tell me to upgrade...

I am running Quad 9550 w/ XP64 and 16Gb RAM.

Thanks for your positive and unfounded feedback

[Anonymous]

That is the beauty, you don't have to live with an inferior product. PowerCivil, Carlson Cvil, ect are all options that people have had success with. You are not stuck with anything.

I'm not defending adesk, I think they are wrong with a lot of things, but the user has to take some responsibility for their actions. The OP actually might have a legit beef, and has the required hardware. You on the other hand haven't offered any helpful information to be able to solve your problems. Edited by: davevoith on Jun 3, 2009 2:28 PM

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't hold the manufacturer responsible for chopping my hand off but I would expect the bandsaw not to quit on me several times per day for no apparent reason. And I REASONABLY expect it to be productive with proper operation!

[Anonymous]

I have a love-hate relationship with Autodesk. Cool product, but frustrating and costly when it doesn't work. LDD was quite stable, but of course it was quite old too. I actually convinced my company to switch from EaglePoint in 2005 because LDD was a much more stable program. They were immediately awed by the productivity boost. Now i've convinced them to move to Civil 3D and as impressed as i am with the majority of the program, I also experience about 10 times the drawing crashes.

Anyways, the one hosed drawing........ Some quick advice on a possible fix. Export a copy of the drawing to a previous version, block the linework from that into a new drawing in 2009, and then get back in to the 2010 version and use LandXML to export all of the object data. Then bring that in via Import LandXML. Should get you back into 2009 without too many issues.

-Mark

[Anonymous]

dnth8:
You have a legit right to beef. I too cannot get any satisfaction from AD I was told -- keep my drawing size to minimum!! This is after I paid my annual fee!! I gave up sending error messages. I also get questionaire asking all sorts of mundane questions. This like buying a Government Motors product and when I complain about vibration over 30 mph and then told to keep it under 20 mph or buy a new drive train!! Defenders are MISSING the point. We PAID FOR A PRODUCT AND WE HAVE A RIGHT (at least in this age of socialism, I think we do) TO EXPECT A SUPERIOR PRODUCT. The dirty little secret is these things are being rushed. NO I DON'T HAVE TO GET IN ON THE BETA TESTING!!

[Anonymous]

Fair enough. But in those cases, you would be willing to detail the
problem to the manufacturer in order to get satisfaction, wouldn't you?
You wouldn't just write them a letter saying, "Your product sucks, it
screwed up my new table project. I want my money back." You would detail
the problems, go through reasonable channels and could expect something.

Vent on, but remember that this is a peer-to-peer channel generally, and
you'd be much more likely to get somewhere by working through the
reseller and the myfeedback forums to actually reach someone to discuss
your problems in detail.

Just my take. You're welcome to go back and search for my LDT rants.
I've been there, done that, and I am merely suggesting that an alternate
feedback methodology can be much more effective.

JW

[Matt.Anderson]

dnth8 -



Have you tried http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1109794 ?



How about reseller? Subscription Support?



Matthew Anderson, PE

[Anonymous]

I AGREE- Fix the Software !
Why is a patch for 9 released AFTER the release of 10?

Money hungry bast%$ds!

[Anonymous]

Sitting on the sidelines, eating popcorn and
watching on this one.... 

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"dnth8" wrote in message
href="news:6194540@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6194540@discussion.autodesk.com...

I
have been using Autodesk products for many, many years. Over the last couple
of years I have been extremely disappointed. I agree with the direction Civil
3D is attempting to go, however the result of this direction has great cost
involved. I have never utilized software as unstable the latest releases.
After several service pack updates I was finally able to use Civil 3d 2009 in
a productive manner without frequent "Fatal Error" occurrences. When Civil 3d
2010 was installed, via subscription service, it was discovered that it is
even more unstable and a larger "memory hog" than 2009 ever was. The initial
purchase price of the software would indicate that the product should be
delivered in a state without many complications. I understand that with any
new software installation there may be a few bugs to deal with, but this is
ridiculous. I can count on crashing, with no explanation, several times per
day and the drop in production is unjustified. Why should I, as a long,
standing loyal customer, have to pay for sub par software and absorb the cost
in loss of production it returns? Rather than releasing version just because
there is a change in year, I would suggest Autodesk release a stable
product!!! I am beginning to think I should contemplate some sort of civil
action to recoup costs. Signed, Waiting on Service Pack for Civil 3d
2010

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The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.



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[Anonymous]

I agree. I have detailed the problems with every error report and there has been zero response. If I did this with a band saw and it screwed up my project. I probably would be drafting a letter demanding my money back!

The problems I am having with the software are so random I can't be overall specific other than "Fatal Error". I have crashed while selecting a line or editing a feature line or switching to model space or editing a corridor or creating a profile view or panning. The drawing size doesn't appear to be the issue either...from 2mb to 50mb.

I refuse to accept responsibility for the problems that are occuring or the lack of response from Autodesk!