Can a good Microstation user move smoothly to using AutoCAD

[rhayes.99001]

Is Microstation compatible with AutoCAD? I have an excellent potential candidate who is well versed on CAD Microstation but not AutoCAD. Is it worth pursuing him, learning curve too great?

[dfarris75]

The learning curve is certainly not too great. The programs are similar in many respects (as far as operation goes and the gui is somewhat similar as well). I came fresh out of tech school where I learned Acad into a company that primarily used Microstation and I found it very easy to learn Microstation. I've bounced back and forth between the two quite a bit in my career and I enjoy using both programs, although I know much more about Acad than Microstation.

[Railrose]

The learning curve is certainly not too great. The programs are similar in many respects (as far as operation goes and the gui is somewhat similar as well). I came fresh out of tech school where I learned Acad into a company that primarily used Microstation and I found it very easy to learn Microstation. I've bounced back and forth between the two quite a bit in my career and I enjoy using both programs, although I know much more about Acad than Microstation.
Corporate is talking about changing our program. I'm glad to know the learning curve won't totally bite.

[Brian Myers]

Is Microstation compatible with AutoCAD? I have an excellent potential candidate who is well versed on CAD Microstation but not AutoCAD. Is it worth pursuing him, learning curve too great?

The key is that the basics are similar, so no, the learning curve won't be huge.. yes, there will be one, but its nothing that can't be handled.

[jaberwok]

Is Microstation compatible with AutoCAD? I have an excellent potential candidate who is well versed on CAD Microstation but not AutoCAD. Is it worth pursuing him, learning curve too great?

Initially he will hate acad because of all the small differences which will seem illogical.
Hopefully, that will quickly pass.

[abertigger]

I was originally trained in Microstation, and now use solely AutoCAD. I found the transition quite easy, as I already knew all of the basics of AutoCAD, but, as others have pointed out, it will drive them mad for the first couple of weeks with different keys doing different things!
At my last company, I used both AutoCAD and Microstation with no problems at all, so they are very compatible, and Microstation seems to mirror a lot of what AutoCAD does, so you will find that there will not be too many troubles in the person who is converting. You will probably also find that they will be able to teach you a lot of tips and tricks, as they will know how to do things in Microstation that you can't do in AutoCAD, which will help you find out how to do them.

[shyj9]

If u have Microstation 95 on board then its easy to learn vice-versa. I learned M.station in my previous co. thru the help from M95. There is a help to compare commands in ACAD & Micro. that doesn't exists in the newer versions of Microstation I belive.

[lmitsou]

We have a guy in the company who never worked with AutoCAD before. He was using Microstation. He recently took a three days beginners course in AutoCAD 2007 Essentials and he is flying now. So my answer to your question, from my experience anyway, would be definitely yes.

[Augi Doggie]

Actually, my experience shows that users switching from Mircostation to AutoCAD have less difficulty than going from AutoCAD to Microstation.

This depends on the version as well, Microstation V8 or V8 XM users will probably find it to be easier to switch to AutoCAD than Microstation V7 or J users.

[Avatart]

We use both Microstation and AutoCad and as much as I personally dislike Microstation, you can flit between the two with relatively little effort. Understanding any vector based package will be an advantage to moving over to AutoCad and will set the learning curve to "steep" (ie, "gain elevation quickly", not "lots of work").

[sturner]

i just got done training five of our Microstation users, we started from square one. they picked it up fast with the only real hitch was explaining PS/MS. all the other concepts were easy for them. it also helps when the users want to learn!

[jaberwok]

Actually, my experience shows that users switching from Mircostation to AutoCAD have less difficulty than going from AutoCAD to Microstation.

This depends on the version as well, Microstation V8 or V8 XM users will probably find it to be easier to switch to AutoCAD than Microstation V7 or J users.


I worked for a while for the research arm of a BIG international infastructure organization.
We had three staff using uStation and three contractors. We (contractors) tried uStn for a few weeks then refused to use it any more. We also produced about four times as much work as the staff guys - but that may just be because they WERE staff guys. :-)

[Avatart]

i just got done training five of our Microstation users, we started from square one. they picked it up fast with the only real hitch was explaining PS/MS. all the other concepts were easy for them. it also helps when the users want to learn!

If your MicroStation users had been using v.8, they would have known about PS/MS. The two are getting closer, but as John.B says, I find that AutoCad users can produce faster than MiSta.

Does anyone have any production metrics for comparing the two? I have a very large job looming over the horizon that the client wants to use MiSta, if I can demonstrate that AutoCad would be faster and cheaper, that may change. If the reverse is true, I might just shut-up about it.

[Augi Doggie]

If your MicroStation users had been using v.8, they would have known about PS/MS. The two are getting closer, but as John.B says, I find that AutoCad users can produce faster than MiSta.

Does anyone have any production metrics for comparing the two? I have a very large job looming over the horizon that the client wants to use MiSta, if I can demonstrate that AutoCad would be faster and cheaper, that may change. If the reverse is true, I might just shut-up about it.
There is no doubt in my mind that AutoCAD is much more efficent than Microstation, finding proof of that in print would be difficult.

I can find you some efficiency white papers on how AutoCAD is more productive than it's older versions. Would that help at all?

[Doodlemusmaximus]

I think the thing is that yes there will be a learning curve of sorts but its the knoledge they hold for doing the main job that is more important. Basically if they know how to do the job then thats 95% of the battle.

[Avatart]

There is no doubt in my mind that AutoCAD is much more efficent than Microstation, finding proof of that in print would be difficult.

I can find you some efficiency white papers on how AutoCAD is more productive than it's older versions. Would that help at all?

Thanks for the offer, but I really want to compare the two side by side.

[DoTheBIM]

it also helps when the users want to learn! Can't say that loud enough or enough times!! We actually have to go the other way, and to add to it we have to go from recent versions of AutoCAD to Microstation 95. Don't ask. We're on the move to Revit now.

[jaberwok]

I've always thought keyboard users were the fastest in acad. uStn doesn't even (in the versions I've used) give that option. It doesn't seem to encourage speed.

[jaberwok]

... we have to go from recent versions of AutoCAD to Microstation 95...

I feel for you. :-(

[NickB]

I think everyone pretty much covered the learning curve.

I do think the speed difference depends on alot of variables, the plain vanilla drafting versions of each I think would be about equal in speed. I can draw a line in ACAD as fast as Mstation and vice versa. The difference may be in the verticals, I haven't had much experience with the verticals in Mstation but have been exposed to them,( civil packages from both). I do know that InRoads will work with both base packages ( again haven't done any production project with it but have opened it in both and messed around) and may prove to be valuable working on mixed projects.

[sturner]

If your MicroStation users had been using v.8, they would have known about PS/MS.true, they knew of it but did not use this feature, or not enough.

[Avatart]

I think everyone pretty much covered the learning curve.

I do think the speed difference depends on alot of variables, the plain vanilla drafting versions of each I think would be about equal in speed. I can draw a line in ACAD as fast as Mstation and vice versa. The difference may be in the verticals, I haven't had much experience with the verticals in Mstation but have been exposed to them,( civil packages from both). I do know that InRoads will work with both base packages ( again haven't done any production project with it but have opened it in both and messed around) and may prove to be valuable working on mixed projects.

I have had some experience in the verticals, especially services (building systems) and AutoCad is far ahead of MicroStation, it's frightening. The electrical package I looked at for Microstation was OK, but the mechanical was dreadful. ABS is not the best package in the world and needs to get alot closer to ADT in terms of functionality and usablility, but it is the package of choice for me.

Structurally and Architecturally there does not appear to be much in it between the two, but I think Revit comes out on top in both these areas, shame I can't use it without a services vertical.