Software Rant

[Irish Pennant]

I've been using a CAD program for years. I bought the anual contrat and have been renewing it for years. The software company was sold and the new owners will not honor the old clients unless they buy their product. Their cad system cost around $4,000.00 plus their anual contract is another $900.00 a year. I went to a different product that's more widely used in the industry. I've upgraded my computer and I would like to get the regisrtation key for 2 of my old cad programs that I have already paid for so I can access some of the legacy files. I own the programs, the new company won't regester the old product and the cad forums don't have an answer. I don't trust 3rd party keys that you have to download. I've heard that there's a sim that plugs into a USB port but they want
$250.00 per program.

Rant over

[uhmw]

CNC's and softwear remind me of computors and autos-Just about the time you pay them off they become obsolete beaters that guzzel profitability. IN the end you might get a whole new tool that comes with modern software and runs on a modern confuser that will become obsolete in a few years-vicious cycle. Might want to mark up your next job.

[Cornbread]

What file format are the legacy files in? .dxf, .dgn, .dwg or something else?

[Irish Pennant]

Originally Posted by Cornbread

What file format are the legacy files in? .dxf, .dgn, .dwg or something else?

PRT.

[weekender]

Coming from the IT industry, the CAD software on both the engineering and manufacturing side of things is HORRIBLE. Even if the software can do some neat things, it generally has terrible functionality, more random errors than Windows ME, and as bad of tech support as you can imagine. I would litterally rather call Dell in India or Microsoft in Quebec than (insert CAD company here) in Milwalkee. It's amazing how many times you can ask them the same question and get a different answer.

I feel your pain.