Trimble Business Center

1.If I upgrade my BC-HCE will it affect any of the licences we have paid for, or any of the features that are currently available for free with the version I am running?

2.Will I be able to open/work with projects created in 3.22, if I switch to a new version? 

3. Will my colleagues running 3.22 be able to open projects created with the new version or would we need to upgrade all our versions? 

Hello Elaine,

Your files in BCHCE are not backwards compatible.. So you would not be able to open a 4.12 file (the newest version) back in 3.22.  There are MANY changes and features and improvements since the 3.22 version.  You should not lose functionality from 3.22 to 4.12.  More details may be available based on your license as well (support - license manager).  Please connect with your local SITECH as well for more information or let us know if we can assist more.

Scott

Elaine

In addition to Scotts comments

1. Version 4.12 is the current release. Version 5.0 has just been announced.
2. Version 4.12 has the same free capabilities as the version you are running. Version 5.0 does not have the same free capabilities in the software. You will only be able to

• Import data from 3rd Party Sources
• Run the Field Data commands to export data to SCS900, Siteworks, GCS900, Earthworks, etc.
• Import Work Orders from SCS900 / Siteworks
• Review in Plan and 3D Views or surface Slicer
• If imported data has Surface Models in it you will get a Surface Model in BC-HCE. Same for Alignments.
• You will not be able to export data to third party software for free.

1. Any project created in 3.22 can be opened in 4.12 or 5.0
2. Once a project is saved in 4.12 or 5.0 you will not be able to open it in an earlier version of the software
3. Version 5 data can typically be opened in 4.12 but you may have to use CTRL SHIFT Drag and Drop to achieve that as there are new object types in v5 that did not exist in earlier versions - as V5 matures it will not be possible to open in older versions of the software.
4. You can run the free version of 4.12 indefinitely - and then open the 4.12 Project in v5 if needed.
5. If you have paid for functionality in 3.22 it will still be available to you in 4.12 or v5. 
6. Once you have the Survey Advanced Edition or higher of v5, you will have all surface model and corridor functionality that you had in the free version of 3.22 or 4.12.
7. Our recommendation is that you should all be running the same version of the software if you want compatibility. As Scott says, there have been a lot of improvements to the software since 3.22 so you will have significant gains in capability as a result..
8. If you have dropped Warranty on your product, you will need to reinstate the Warranty before you can upgrade the software. I recommend doing that before November 19th as the prices will be increasing on warranty after that date as a result of the new license system with Version 5 release which will be around that time (and at least before end of Qtr 4 2018)

Hope this helps

Alan

That helps answer my questions. 

Thanks!