Open Roads Designer Upgrade suggestions

We are working on an ORD project as a sub-consultant to another firm. We share terrain models, corridors, alignments, etc. Our partner firm is using ORD Version 2018, Release 4, Update 6 (10.06.00.38). We were considering updating our software to ORD Version 2019, Release 1, Update 7 (10.07.00.56), but before doing so, we would like to make sure that our partner firm is not going to have problems accessing data we are creating with the newer version.

Is there a possible compatibility issue between these two versions? 

Thanks,

Christopher A Mexas 

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  • Hi Christopher,

    Data is not backwards compatible, so you wouldn't be able to take data back from update 7 to update 6. You should be able to reference it in or open it as Read Only, but not edit it.

    Its OOK to take data forward from an older version to a newer one, but once its been touched in the newer version, the same rule applies as above.

    Hope this helps your decision, but if you have further questions, let us know.

    Simon Pegg

    Bentley Civil Support



  • Is there a proposal for those of us who work with multiple clients and do not have control over their process to upgrade or not? We are working with a number of clients in ORD, and ONE of them just updated to the new version, which leaves us in a little bit of a pinch. That client has the software on two or three machines, upgrading is a simple process. We have other clients with hundreds of users and IT requirements that new software be tested and verified before installation. 

    What is the process to install two versions of ORD on a single computer to work with multiple clients?

    Steven Litzau, P.E. - Senior Consultant

    www.envisioncad.com

    ORD - 10.12.02.04 / 10.10.21.04 / 10.10.01.03 / 10.08.01.33
    Power GEOPAK / Power InRoads - 08.11.09.918
    Civil 3D - 2021 / 2022 / 2024

  • Steven, were you able to figure this situation out? we're in the same boat with two clients working on different versions..

  • I am continuing to press Bentley on this issue through a Service Request (SR). Currently, they have added additional enhancements for installation of multiple versions and backwards compatibility, but have not offered any proposed processes to address this issue. Additionally, they have not been able to confirm that anything is currently in development to address this significant defect in implementation. If that is the case, we are probably 2 or 3 releases before something is integrated into the product, so likely 6-9 months from a potential solution. This, if you are keeping track,  is about the time that Bentley has said they will discontinue licensing for the legacy products. 

    When this issue has been raised over the last year, there has either not been an answer provided, or responses have implied an "it's not my job" mentality. (Which is accurate, those here supporting the forums are not tasked with product development, but that no apparent effort to escalate or engage other resources has been made is frustrating.) One of these responses encouraged submitting an SR, so I have done that. 

    I don't know how to get further answers regarding these concerns. If anyone has ideas, please feel free to share them. If you want to joining me in expressing the situation through an SR, feel free to reference mine.

    SR #7001043131 - ORD Version Incompatibility

    The key point I am trying to get to in this is this: What is the process for me as a consultant to work with different clients operating with different Bentley civil applications or versions both now and in the future?  

    The following enhancements have been requested or identified:

    Enhancement 1085802:[Backward Compatibility] Backward Compatibility with OpenRoads Designer Versions

    Enhancement 1085804:[Compatibility] Compatibility across the Products (OpenRoads, OpenRail, OpenSite)

    Enhancement 1062282:[Installation] User request ability to have multiple versions of ORD installed on same machine

    Vinod, I am sorry I can not be of more help, but I have started to make this a significant effort on behalf of the civil design community and will continue to do so. I work with several large governmental agencies who are developing their ORD configurations, and the manner in which this concern is addressed could have drastic, wide ranging implications on those configurations, so having some idea of even direction would be useful as we advise them.

    To not completely ignore the present issue. We have been able to be working in only two versions at a time, so my current workaround is an installation of the older version on my personal computer. One thing that is on my plate for testing is the creation of virtual machines, either locally or potentially through some cloud services, but their is additional cost considerations for those resources that seem to make them nonviable for small organizations like the one I work for. 

    Finally, to any Bentley Colleagues who may encounter this thread. If you can point us in a direction begin to answer this question, we would be grateful. 

    What is the process for me as a consultant to work with different clients operating with different Bentley civil applications or versions both now and in the future?  

    Steven Litzau, P.E. - Senior Consultant

    www.envisioncad.com

    ORD - 10.12.02.04 / 10.10.21.04 / 10.10.01.03 / 10.08.01.33
    Power GEOPAK / Power InRoads - 08.11.09.918
    Civil 3D - 2021 / 2022 / 2024

  • Thank you for the detailed answer, Stephen. Its unfortunate that Bentley hasn't come up with a solution for this. I'll try the virtual machine route now to see if that helps.

  • Just to bring this thread to the present day. Can somebody just confirm to me that if I upgrade to ORD 2020 Release 1, any new models I create in the new version will NOT be able to be opened by any of my colleagues who are still on ORD 2019? 

  • Alan, that is correct. The civil schema used by 20R1 and 20R2 is compatible between these two versions but not the previous versions. 

    Steven Litzau, P.E. - Senior Consultant

    www.envisioncad.com

    ORD - 10.12.02.04 / 10.10.21.04 / 10.10.01.03 / 10.08.01.33
    Power GEOPAK / Power InRoads - 08.11.09.918
    Civil 3D - 2021 / 2022 / 2024

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