MicroSurvey CAD 2023

MicroSurvey brings intuitive calculation tools for land surveyors to popular drafting platforms, including IntelliCAD and AutoCAD.  MicroSurvey CAD 2023 runs on the Intellicad 11.1 engine which provides many enhancements, with a focus on making viewing and visualizing models easier and more effective. Intellicad 11 was a major release that included performance enhancements and new features with a focus on view and visualization productivity tools. The focus for this release was bug fixes, stability, and reliability.

What’s New in Version 23.0.4

What’s New and Improved

• The IntelliCAD 11.1 engine has been added to the program. See the IntelliCAD section for more details.
• Updated the EpcA SDK to 2023.0 for point cloud functionality.
• The ability to disable the xx##xx database warning for point ID’s and line labels through a checkbox in the System Toggles > CAD Drawing Controls.
• MS_RESCALE now retains the designated label style index (1 through 5) for bearing/azimuth and distance labels during the rescale operation for lines. Bearing/azimuth and distance label styles can be defined on the MsAnnotate ribbon in the Defaults section.
• MS_RESCALE will now retain the custom position of point and line labels connected to the MicroSurvey database rather than revert them to the default position. Labels will be shifted from the point node a proportional distance to the increase in text size, this retains the desired spacing between text rows in the labels. To refresh the position of point labels, use the MS_POINTUPDATE command.

 

Bug Fixes

• We have completed many stability and foundational improvements in the background of MicroSurvey CAD 2023.
• AutoMap substitution coding – fixed a defect where sometimes substitution coding would not plot point attributes in the plotted description using the inline code $1. For more information, we discuss substitution coding in depth in this Helpdesk article.
• Save as DWT – Fixed a defect related to saving a DWT with a new filename which caused a crash.
• Wildcards used in the AutoMAP library for drawing linework are handled as described in the help documentation under the heading Wildcards.
• Prompt Boxes for some commands no longer flicker when the mouse cursor is moved.
• ASCII_IN will no longer crash when importing space delimited points without elevations.
• Resolved some problems with text styles not retaining their properties after running the REGEN command.

 

Known Issues

• MS_RESCALE will update aspects of polyline labels to the currently set distance and bearing label style which is the same as in the MicroSurvey CAD 2022.1 release.

 

Important Notes

Migrating your MicroSurvey CAD Settings Between Versions

Most MicroSurvey users have customized MicroSurvey CAD to suit their workflows, CAD Standards and regional requirements.  All customizations are stored as settings files that can be transferred from an older release to a newer release, or between workstations within a company.  Please review this article to ease the process of updating from MicroSurvey CAD 2022.1 to 2023 and to optimize your setup to increase efficiency for all future updates.

Activating or Updating your USB License Key

• Software licenses are stored on the USB key. These must be activated after a new purchase, and usually require manual updates when new versions of MicroSurvey CAD are released.
• The process is the same for both; click here for detailed instructions.
• The USB License Manager program is automatically installed with MicroSurvey CAD; it can be found in the MicroSurvey CAD folder in your start menu. Open it with your USB key inserted and click the “Update Key with New Information” button.
• You must have an internet connection to use the USB License Manager. You may download the program and install it on another computer to update keys when corporate policy and firewalls prevent access from your work network.

Annual Maintenance Subscription (AMS) Program

• If your AMS has expired, you may not be able to update your key to the current version of MicroSurvey CAD.
• For a detailed explanation of the AMS program and how we use product numbers and USB keys to license our software, please review the following article.
• Each key has a different AMS plan, so multiple keys may not have the same expiry date.
• You can confirm your AMS expiry date by reviewing the About screen found in the Help menu.

If your AMS has expired, you can phone us at 1-800-668-3312 or 1-250-707-0000 to renew it. Without a current maintenance subscription plan, you may not be able to update your key to work with the new version.

MicroSurvey Transfer Program for FieldGenius Users

• MicroSurvey Transfer can be downloaded to simplify the transfer of FieldGenius projects from your data collector to MicroSurvey CAD.
• This program has not changed since 2013; previous versions must be updated for newer versions of MicroSurvey CAD.
• Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center is required to install MicroSurvey Transfer. It may be downloaded here.

 

MicroSurvey License Server for Network License Users

• If you have purchased a network license, you must download and install a copy of the MicroSurvey Network License software on your intended license server computer.
• A password is required to install the License Server.

 

MicroSurvey License Portal for Floating License Users

• If you have purchased a floating license, you may visit com/license to review usage statistics on your license.
• After purchase, you will be asked to create a login for the portal.
• Log in to the portal, click "Licenses & Activations", then the desired license to review its details.

System Requirements

• MicroSurvey CAD 2023 is compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. It is not compatible with any 32-bit operating system.  Additional details.
• A free USB port is required for the USB License Key (local workstation or network server)
• Full administrator rights are required to install MicroSurvey CAD 2023, but it can be run by limited user accounts
• For detailed system requirements and recommendations, please review this online article.

Software Requirements

• MicroSurvey CAD Ultimate and Studio require Leica Cyclone Viewer (free download) at a minimum to work with point clouds. MicroSurvey CAD will be fully functional with an unlicensed version.
• Licenses of Leica Cyclone Publisher, Publisher Pro, or Leica Jetstream may be used to access additional functionality.
• Leica CLM (client license manager) is required to license Leica Cyclone or Jetstream.
• Please visit leica-geosystems.com to download any additional Leica products listed above. A registered account is required.

Run as Administrator

• You must run the program at least once elevated with "Run as administrator" access
• Clicking “Run” from the installation package does this automatically
• If this step is skipped, you may run as administrator by doing the following:

1. Right click on the MicroSurvey CAD 2023 icon.
2. Choose "Run as administrator".
3. Select "Yes" on the "User Account Control" dialog when prompted to allow the program to make changes to your computer.

 

• After this step is complete, you may run the program from any user account on the computer, even if they do not have administrative privileges.

Online Resources

• Online release notes
• Known issues
• Tutorials
• Online training courses
• Technical support (1-800-668-3312; free with valid AMS)
• Helpdesk website
• Feature request forum
• Online store

 

 

What's New in IntelliCAD 11.1

What’s New

Review the Intellicad 11.1 release features and benefits video here.

 

Performance

• Faster display of large geographic images.
• Improved performance working with drawings that contain textures when using the WinGL ES graphics device.
• Increased speed when importing map files.
• Faster cursor response in large drawings with no selection preview.

 

Working with files

• Export to .pdf files using an improved interface.
• Specify which sheet to import when importing .xls and .xlsx files.
• Create mesh and polyface mesh entities when importing .obj and .stl files.
• Export to .ifc files.
• Use -BIMATTACH and -IFCIMPORT command line versions. (BIMIMPORT is renamed to IFCIMPORT.)

 

User interface

• Activate a home view or use the rotate arrows using the view cube.
• Access the Track Point, From Point, and Mid Between 2 Points temporary snaps from the Draw ribbon tab (if your program version supports it), Tools > Entity Snap menu, and Entity Snaps toolbar.

 

Selecting and modifying entities

• Choose Undo when using the Copy command to cancel the previous action.
• Choose Name when using the Layer Delete command to specify the name of a layer that you want to delete.
• Explode remote text (rtext) entities in drawings created in another CAD program.

 

Tables

• Insert blocks in table cells.
• Arrange text and blocks relative to each other in table cells.
• Use the EDITTABLECELL command to modify table cells from the command line.
• Merge selected cells by row, column, or all cells.
• Select multiple cells by pressing Shift + arrow keys. Select an entire row or column of a table by clicking the row or column name.

 

Dimensions

• Use the Quick Dimension command to draw a series of dimensions of the same type.
• Create associative center mark and center line entities by using the Center Mark and Center Line commands.
• Distribute equal space between linear or angular dimension lines by using the Adjust Spacing command.

 

Blocks

• Replace blocks with existing external references using the improved Convert Block to Xref command.
• Replace blocks with other blocks using the Replace Block command.
• Use the Quick Block Save command to save entities as a block by specifying only the entities and block name.

 

Explorer

• Use the Explorer to manage multileader styles, multiline styles, table styles, and visual styles.
• Use the DESIGNCENTER command as a shortcut to opening the Explorer in dialog box mode.

 

 

Printing and publishing

• Publish to .pdf files using an improved interface for choosing PDF format options.
• Add sheets easily to the Publish list using the new Add Sheets dialog box, or you can also drag and drop files from Windows Explorer to the sheet list.
• Define custom paper sizes for .pc3 printer configuration files. Working with .pmp files is also easier now.

 

More features

• Turn live sectioning on or off for a selected section entity.
• Use the Align Space command to align model space entities in layout viewports with entities in paper space or other model space viewports.
• Choose alternate fonts when opening a drawing that contains text styles defined with an SHX font that cannot be found.
• Use the Detail Callout block type when defining content of multileader styles.

 

Bug Fixes

 

Working with files

• Fixed issue with saving .dxf files upon exit.
• Several fixes for the AUDIT command, including for layers without names.
• Fixes for exporting images to PDF files and error when exporting to 3D PDF files.
• Fixed issue reading materials and textures when importing .obj files.
• Fixed issue when exporting to a .wmf file.
• Fixed XREFNOTIFY when working with BIM underlays.
• Fixed scaling when attaching .ifc files.
• Fixed unit conversion for railings.
• Several fixes for editing walls.
• Fixed the result when using Undo and Redo after ERASE.
• Several fixes for the BIM Properties pane.

 

User interface

• Several fixes for the view cube.
• Several fixes for the CUI command.
• Fixed display cleanup after using the CLEANSCREENOPTIONS command.

 

Selecting and modifying entities

• Improved grips.
• Selection cycling improved when working with the STRETCH command and when adding new entities with visual aids off.
• Several fixes for the following editing commands: TRIM, FILLET, OFFSET, JOIN, and EXTEND.
• Several fixes for working with arrays.
• Several fixes for polar tracking.
• Several fixes for entity snaps, including Center, Perpendicular, and Apparent Intersection Snaps.
• Several fixes for dynamic input.
• Fixed selection cycling and deselection.
• Fixed PICKSTYLE when working with hatches.

 

Viewing and visualizing

• Several improvements when zooming and panning.
• Several fixes for working with section planes.
• Fixed issue with the lens length set for cameras.
• Fixed failure issue when using the 3DORBIT command.

 

Text

• Fixes for Indian and Korean fonts.
• Fixed issues with numbered, tabbed, superscript, and subscript multiline text.
• Fixed issue with changing the justification of text using the Properties pane.
• Several fixes for text that includes fields.
• Fixed issue when text changes while saving and opening drawings.
• Several fixes for the multiline text editor.

 

 

Printing and publishing

• Printing to .pdf includes fixed recognition of vector quality, margins, and other properties.
• Images and tables are improved in output files created when printing to .pdf.
• Fixed linetype printing on specific printers.
• Several fixes for Sheet Set Manager.

 

 

More fixes

• Press Ctrl + click to activate hyperlinks assigned to entities.
• Several fixes for tables and table styles.
• Several fixes for working with blocks.
• Several fixes for working with geographic data.
• Polylines are now included when using the MSLIDE command.
• Several fixes for leaders and multileaders.
• MATCHPROP now matches the layer state when matching viewports.
• Several fixes for hatches.
• The LIST command is improved.
• The FIELD command is improved.
• Several fixes for the Explorer.
• Several fixes for the UCS icon.
• The result of the system variable, LASTPROMPT, is different from AutoCAD.
• Fixes for the LUPREC and PDSIZE system variables.
• Fixed issue when using the VPSCALE command.
• Changed the switching behavior when using the VPOINT command.
• Several fixes for the LINEWEIGHT command.
• Fixed highlighting of entities when using the GROUPEDIT command in certain scenarios.
• Fixed angle value error after specifying a base point.
• Fixed selection error after using the XCLIP command.

 

What’s New in IntelliCAD 11.0

What’s New

Review the Intellicad 11 release features and benefits video here.

 

Performance

• Faster polyline vectorization.
• Quick Select command is faster by 2x in large drawings.

 

Working with files

• Create startup suites, which allow you to specify the custom applications that start automatically when IntelliCAD starts.
• Export three-dimensional models to an .obj (Wavefront Technologies) file.
• Use the PDF Out command to export directly to a .pdf file. Previously you could export to .pdf files, but the new PDF Out command makes it easier to choose PDF as the output format.
• Import map files by connecting to PostgreSQL, MySQL, and WFS servers.
• Import polygons as closed polylines when using the Map Import command.
  • Support for Autodesk® Revit® 2022 files.
  • In the BIM Properties pane, create and assign visibility states.
  • Attach .ifc, .rvt, and .rfa files using the Attach command.
  • Select, attach, and manage .ifc and .rvt underlays using the Explorer.
  • Use the Audit command to check for errors in .ifc files that are attached as underlays.

 

Viewing and vectorizing drawings

• Use section planes to visualize cross-sections of two- and three-dimensional entities and point clouds. The OpenGL ES graphics device is required.
• View models as though you are walking or flying through them.
• Use the view cube to check the current viewing direction and switch between preset views and custom viewing directions. The view cube displays in the upper right corner of the current viewport, or a different corner that you specify in view cube settings.
• Use the view and visual style controls in the upper left corner of the current viewport to quickly apply a different view and visual style to the model.

 

User interface

• Drag an entity from a drawing and drop it on a tool palette to add the corresponding entity-creation command to the tool palette.
• Specify the font used for text in the command bar.
• Use the new Visualize ribbon tab (for program versions that have a ribbon).

 

Selecting and modifying entities

• Use the 3D Positioner command to move and rotate entities interactively in three-dimensional space.
• Use the Reverse command to reverse the direction of lines, polylines, splines and helixes by swapping the first and last vertices of selected segments.
• Use the Break at Point command to break an entity into two without removing a portion of the entity.
• On the status bar, click Isolate/Unisolate Entities to temporarily hide selected entities or isolate selected entities so that all remaining entities are temporarily hidden. When you’re ready to view all entities again, use the Unisolate Entities command.
• Display selected entities with a glowing highlight effect. The OpenGL ES graphics device is required.
• Choose Hatch Selection and Group Selection in the user interface to toggle whether associated hatch entities are selected when selecting corresponding boundary entities, and whether associated group entities are selected when selecting sub-entities of groups.

 

Fields

• Regenerate field content automatically by using the Update Field command.
• Fields now include sheet set data.

 

Tables

• Use the Match Cell command to copy the properties of a source table cell and apply them to selected cells.
• Apply a cell style and fill color to a table cell directly from the Table Cell contextual ribbon tab (if supported by your program version).
• In the command bar, type -TABLE to insert a table.

 

Printing and publishing

• For the Publish command:
  • Specify the publish folder location before publishing.
  • It's now easier to choose which drawings (if any) and which tabs to load sheets from automatically when the Publish dialog displays.
  • Choose whether to add sheets for the drawing's model tab, layout tabs, or both model and layout tabs.
  • Select multiple sheets and change the page setup or layer state for all selected sheets.
  • Reverse the order of sheets in the sheet list.
• Preview .pdf files before printing.

 

More features

• Use the Facet Model Pipe command to draw pipes as Facet Model meshes.
• When adding a geographic location to a drawing, use a dialog box to more easily specify the location.
• Use the Map Service command to turn geographic map services on and off. When off, the program is prevented from accessing the Internet to display the online map, and the Mark Position, Capture Area, and Reload Image commands are unavailable.
• Use the Model command to switch to the Model tab.
• In the Explorer, select multiple blocks and right-click them to save multiple blocks at the same time.
• When editing blocks in place, choose to automatically select all nested entities.
• The Offset command includes the Layer and Erase options.
• When breaking a dimension, specify two break points to break the dimension manually.
• Create a non-associative boundary around an existing hatch by typing HATCHGENERATEBOUNDARY in the command bar.
• When drawing cones and cylinders as 3D solids, select the height by specifying two points.

 

Bug Fixes

 

Working with files

• Several fixes for working with files linked as OLE objects.
• Fixed issue with the Recover command.
• Fixed trim, extend, offset, join, and break walls.
• Fixed issues with copying, mirroring, and stretching walls.
• Fixed the display of errors when attaching .ifc files.
• Fixed issue when deleting BIM underlays from a drawing.
• Added dimension data to the BIM Properties pane for .ifc files.

 

Selecting and modifying entities

• Several fixes for the Trim and Offset commands.
• Several fixes for modifying entities using grips.
• Several fixes for using entity snaps.
• Several fixes for changing entity properties and using the Properties pane.
• Fixed selection delay in drawings with many groups.

 

Text

• Fixed issue with renumbering multiline text.
• Fixed issue with undoing multiline text creation.
• Several fixes for multiline lists, stacked text, subscript text, and superscript text.
• Fixed issue with displaying BigFonts.
• Fixed issue with the Spell command.
• Fixed incorrect positioning of text after using the DDEDIT command.

Tables

• Improved cell selection, including merged cells.
• Fixed range entry to allow down-up ranges.
• Several fixes for working with table styles.
• Several fixes for working with data links.
• Several improvements to applying and changing cell formats.
• Improved ability to rotate tables.
• Fixed issues when copying and pasting text within table cells.
• Table previews are improved.

 

User interface

• Fixed date and time issues on the Start Page for localized program versions.
• Fixed delay with Start Page loading when not connected to the Internet, and also improved timing of the news feed.
• Several improvements in the Boundary dialog box.

 

 

Printing and publishing

• Print styles and transparency can now be used at the same time.
• Improved printing of gradient hatches with circular boundaries.
• Several fixes to working with printer configuration files.
• Several fixes for print styles.
• Print preview is improved.
• Fixed issue with printing specific underlays.
• Fixed issue when printing hidden entities.
• Fixed issue when republishing a .dsd file that contains references to .pc3 printers.
• Fixed an issue with publishing .dsd files that reference sheets containing large images.
• Fixed issue when opening a .dst file from Windows Explorer.
• Fixed order of publishing sheets from the Sheet Set Manager to PDF.

 

 

More fixes

• Added a grip for inverting x-clip boundaries for blocks the clipping.
• Restored the Quick Select tool to the Properties pane.
• Added the ability to remove items from lists by pressing Delete in several dialog boxes.
• Several fixes for working with geographic locations.
• Several fixes for working with layouts.
• Several fixes for hatches and hatch associativity.
• Several fixes for working with blocks.
• Fixed issue when saving and printing drawings that have external references requiring reloading.
• Fixed issue when copying and pasting in a drawing that contains mechanical entities.
• Fixed crash issue when using Real-Time Orbit.
• Fixed errors produced by using the Subtract command.
• Fixed issues with missing external references.
• Fixed column issue and alignment issue for multileaders.
• Fixed several issues with the Explorer.
• Several fixes for dimensions and dimension styles.