OCAD 11 file compatibility

[RichardE]

I've been playing with the demo of OCAD 11 and the files it produces are locked up so that you can't open/modify them in other versions.
Can anybody confirm that the full version produces files compatible with earlier versions?

Thanks
Richard

[redpossum]

The full version of OCAD 11 will save files back to OCAD 8 format but not to earlier versions.

[RichardE]

Thanks!

Richard

[JK]

Also if you are passing the OCAD 11 files over to a Controller who doesn't have OCAD 11 then he can use the free OCAD 11 viewer to view (but obviously not CHANGE) them.

JK

[Big Jon]

OCAD11 doesn't work with Condes8, not sure about Condes9 (not downloaded it yet!)

[MIE]

The latest version of PurplePen does work with OCAD11 files
(and any earlier versions of OCAD files).

[DJM]

OCAD11 doesn't work with Condes8, not sure about Condes9 (not downloaded it yet!)

A quick look at the Condes website reveals:

Condes 9 supports OCAD 11 map files, including the new OCAD layout layer

and also that Condes 8 is no longer supported.

[RichardE]

Here' another question: what's the actual cost?
On the website it says 8% sales tax will not be charged outside Switzerland, but is UK VAT/duty payable on the imported CD?

Thanks
Richard

[MIE]

Here' another question: what's the actual cost?
On the website it says 8% sales tax will not be charged outside Switzerland, but is UK VAT/duty payable on the imported CD?

Thanks
Richard

My upgrade cost what it said on the website, converted to Sterling by the
credit card company PLUS the foreign currency conversion surcharge.
There were no extra charges. The CD arrived on Xmas eve, 2 days after I'd
ordered it.

[graeme]

and also that Condes 8 is no longer supported.

And you can't save into Condes 8 from 9.
So if you are a controller DO NOT UNINSTALL condes 8 when your club upgrades, because many clubs haven't paid the update.
Yes, I did just get caught out with this one

[kedge]

An alternative solution to the problem might be to use the free Open Source program Open Orienteering Mapper, http://oorienteering.sourceforge.net/, (not to be confused with Ollie O'Brien's Open Orienteering map.)

This can import OCAD 11 files, but OCAD 8 is the only OCAD file format it will save to.

Has anyone else tried using OOM? I drew an urban map using it last summer and was very impressed with it. Its easy to use and seems very stable, although its still in Beta.

What is more, there are versions for Linux and Mac users available as well. And as I said before, unlike OCAD, its free!

[RichardE]

This is all useful stuff. In my opinion, OCAD 11 is not particularly expensive when you look at what it can do.

[kedge]

RichardE wrote

In my opinion, OCAD 11 is not particularly expensive when you look at what it can do.

True, but for smaller clubs with a number of part-time mappers/map updaters the lack of a club licence for OCAD makes its it either very inconvenient or prohibitively expensive.

By contrast, my club have just invested £200+ for a Condes9 licence, but that is for a club rather than an individual licence, and it has already been used by at least 10 of our members for planning/controlling/schools orienteering since the beginning of the year so we are getting value for our money.

The open source/free software available for clubs to use is getting better. Purple Pen improves with each new version, Open Orienteering Mapper is now a viable option for non-professional mapping, and the Irish program Or is fine for on the day results computing at small events, making it possible for small clubs to cut their running costs if they wish to.

[RichardE]

True, but for smaller clubs with a number of part-time mappers/map updaters the lack of a club licence for OCAD makes its it either very inconvenient or prohibitively expensive.


The open source/free software available for clubs to use is getting better. Purple Pen improves with each new version,

Yes, it's the lack of a club licence for OCAD 11 which is the problem. You simply can't have a situation where only a single person has access, far too many ways in which that could go wrong, plus that individual then has to do all the work!

We use Purple Pen all the time and find it excellent, never tried Condes and no reason to, I think.

[DJM]

Yes, it's the lack of a club licence for OCAD 11 which is the problem

Agreed, but the near equivalent to a club licence is the pack of 10 OCAD 11 CS licences they sell for 430 Swiss Francs, or £28.53 per licence at today's exchange rate [NB "CS" stands for "course setting", i.e. the OCAD equivalent of Purple Pen or Condes]