mixing older FLX, 2005 DWG and 2008 DWG

[kevinnem]

Hello all. First I would like to thank everyone here for thier help with micro survey stuff. The few times I haven't been able to find what I need, my posts have been answered with some really good information.

The issue we have is that at our company we currently have- MS:
2004 only - on 2 machines.
2004 and 2005 on my machine
2005 and 2008 on one machine
2008 on one machine.

As of 1 month ago we are no longer useing 2002 express ...(don't ask...)

We also have a number of legacy FLX files on the server.
Some of these file have been converted to 2005 DWG.


So how do I get everyone working on the same stuff?

My thoughts are 2 fold.

1) legacy FLX files need to be batch converted to 2005 DWG, however, I am not sure what happens if I convert a file, and the directory already has 2005 dwg version in it (that I dont want overwritten).

2) I understand that 2008 DWG files can't read by 2005? or maybe it is just the database protion, either way, what are the issues here(keep in mind we still have some people on 2004)?

So in the end we would all be able to read, and write 2005 DWG files, correct? The DWG files is all we need for MS right? (aka no flx/msd/ect. files).

Kev.

[rwhatman]

2008 Program can read 2005 drawing just fine.

Just write a AutoCAD14 version with the 2004 program
and the 2005 or the 2008 program can read them.

Now 2008 is not backward compatable. So if you
want everyone with the same drawings then update all your
licence to 2008.

[kevinnem]

we seem to have trouble with all these formats.

I have been opening up old FLX files, in 2004. Then saving as 2004 DWG
2005 seems to open these fine.
2008 gives a "can't find data base error"

Kev.

[Richard Sands]

I'd be cautious. If it was me - I'd save/ convert the flx's to dwg with the same name but add something to identify its origin as a flx file.
IE JobAB.flx to JobAB_F.dwg (suggested 'F' as its origin - FelixCad- you can call it anything)
That way if you have a dwg called JobAB.dwg on the system you wont have the nightmare you suggest. I'm not sure if Batch conversion does offer appending anything to the file name having never done it.
Neither the database nor the dwg written by 2008 can be read by 2005.
As Richard W said you need to save backwards from 2008 in an earlier version to be read by 2005.
If you edit the '2005 version of the 2008 dwg' in 2005 then 2008 will still read that and if the name hasn't changed it will also read the 2008 database attached to that dwg. BUT - if you have deleted bits and pieces then the 2008 database may be at odds with the drawing. (Backups are essential before you start playing around too much, but it can be done)
Yell out if you need more help.
Regards, Richard
I did some testing on this today with PowerCAD (not the viewer) with odd results - I started a new thread hoping for some constructive input)

[rwhatman]

we seem to have trouble with all these formats.

I have been opening up old FLX files, in 2004. Then saving as 2004 DWG
2005 seems to open these fine.
2008 gives a "can't find data base error"

Kev.

Will I was told 2008 reads database fine even though I had problems.
in the past. Make sure you have the lastest patch on that 2008 program.

When using the 2004 program save to Autocad14, no higher.
Open with the 2005 program and SAVEAS and write over the name
as a 2004 drawing.

2008 program should now open that 2004 drawing, now at this time
it will be slow as it is updating the database, but from this point every thing should work ok.

Be sure you open the drawing first time though the MSCad 2008 Project Manager and not any other way. I may be wrong on this point. I don't have the 2008 program now so my memory is not as good as it use to be.

[kevinnem]

Okay so basically what I need is 1 common files format that we can all use, from 2004- to 2008.

Is that file format ACAD 2004 (I would assume the newest would work best). Or R14?

I am still trying to sort out in my head all these data base issues. I know that when, in MS2005, you save a 2004DWG file, it also saves a MSD (database) file. What does the 2008 use? And how do I get 2004-2008 all playing nice together.

Sorry if the answer is in the above posts, and already stated, I am just haveing a little trouble seeing the solution here.

Kevin.

[rwhatman]

Okay so basically what I need is 1 common files format that we can all use, from 2004- to 2008.

Is that file format ACAD 2004 (I would assume the newest would work best). Or R14?

I am still trying to sort out in my head all these data base issues. I know that when, in MS2005, you save a 2004DWG file, it also saves a MSD (database) file. What does the 2008 use? And how do I get 2004-2008 all playing nice together.

Sorry if the answer is in the above posts, and already stated, I am just haveing a little trouble seeing the solution here.

Kevin.

Sorry none of them work together. You have to pick a format and make it for everyone.

2004 and 2005 are not for sell so you need 2008 program to have everyone work together.

We have 4 2005 programs. I told the boss all or nothing.
If we go to 2008 we have to buy 3 more.

The one copy we have of 2008 is not been used as it is not compatable.

R14 version was only to convert from the FLX format.

[Glen Cameron]

2004 uses a MSD file for the database
2005 uses the same MSD file for the database
2008 uses a new MSZ file. (the original MSD file is saved and renamed to MS5 as a backup)

If you open a 2004 job (FLX saved to a DWG and the corresponding MSD) into 2005 then it makes no changes and opens it directly. (unless it was an older DWG format, then it would allow you to save it to the newer 2004 DWG format)
If you open a 2004 or 2005 job (DWG and MSD) into 2008, then the DWG is simply opened and the database is automatically converted to the MSZ format. (The DWG file can then be saved in the new 2007/2008 DWG file format, or an older one if desired).
The 2008 database can not be saved back to a MSD format.

2004 can save the FLX as a DWG in AutoCAD 2004 format.
2005 uses the 2004 DWG format by default.
2008 uses the 2007/2008 DWG format by default but can be set to use 2004 if desired.

[kevinnem]

Glen thank you for your time, I will have to read your post a few more times to get my head around the exact implications of it. However, from the custermer stand point , I would like to know what the plans are for future versions. My boss isn't going to go for upgrading all our software to 2008, and yet if I have read correctly, once you have a set files in 2008(namely the .MSZ) , it is no longer backward compatable. Is this correct?

This is going to create a number of problems for us I think.

[Glen Cameron]

The next version, 2009 (or whatever it is called), will continue with the new MSZ database format (as far as I know). You are correct that once a database is in the MSZ format, it can not be converted backward to the older MSD file format.

The new database is a complete redesign compared to the older MSD format, due to many reason, such as alpha-numeric point ids. There is no way to convert it back to MSD.

You can however, do an ASCII export from MicroSurvey CAD 2008, and save the DWG to 2004 DWG format, then open this DWG in MicroSurvey CAD 2005 and import the ASCII file in again to rebuild the coordinate database (not the best solution, but may help some).

[kevinnem]

Thanks again for the reply glen.
Although this is not the information I wanted to hear, I appreceiate you providing reliable and clear information on the subject.

I think we will look in to "down gradeing" out 2008 liecences to 2005, so that our office can all work together again.

Kevin Nemrava