Architectural CADD News by Software
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Architectural CADD News by Software |
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Last Updated : Dec. 22, 2000
GDS
GDS Corp. --- http://www.gdscorp.com/ ------- (GDS, MicroGDS)
Informatix Software International ------- http://www.informatix.co.uk
MicroGDS - a powerful design, modelling, rendering, and drafting tool ideally suited to multi-user and multi-disciplinary environments
MicroGDS Show Review
by Adena Schutzberg
On October 30, about 30 loyal GDS and MicroGDS users gathered in New Hampshire USA to discuss the future of their software. Informatix Software International, Ltd (ISIL) who "cares for and feeds" Classic GDS and currently develops MicroGDS, and Piranesi hosted the meeting. ISIL is a British company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Informatix of Japan. Also sponsoring was the still-existing GDS user group.
Users had been on a roller coaster of sorts as the software, maintenance and upgrades swirled between different companies. The short story, for those who have not followed it goes like this. After starting life in the UK, GDS moved to McDonnell Douglas, GDS Corporation, and finally Convergent Group. GDS was set free in January of 1997 when Convergent Group said it was pulling out of the software business and would support the software for three more years. They'd freeze MicroGDS (which they owned, too) and let go of extra personnel. ISIL soon struck a deal to take on ownership of MicroGDS (v5.1) and Piranesi (then just code) and the maintenance of Classic GDS. A few other companies took care of GDS users in the US (Convergent), Australia (SpatialInfo), and those using GDS in transportation (Bentley). ISIL could create bug fixes, upgrade GDS to newer operating systems and databases, provide technical support, but could not enhance the software. Convergent retained, and still retains, the intellectual property rights. That is, they still own Classic GDS.
The three-year deal between Convergent and ISI to maintain Classic GDS was to end in April, 2000. Before then, ISIL worked out a one-year continuation with Convergent, and contacted users they supported and asked how they'd like to proceed. They were surprised to find many users still using Classic GDS. They found 500 seats in Europe/US and another 60 or so in Japan. Many had existing contracts that meant they must still have live GDS. Others found the expense too high or the obstacles to change far too difficult. Still others simply could not find a suitable replacement. Other users are still running GDS but are not taking advantage of maintenance. This is quite possible since most GDSers I've met were technical enough to provide their own maintenance.
As I spoke with the users in attendance, I heard similar stories. "Why should we change - it does what we need." A large manufacturer with some five attendees from several states noted that it works just fine since they need to do little sharing outside the company. Just in case you think that these users are in dreamland; they are not. A small architectural firm runs three seats of Classic GDS, but the owner makes it clear to his colleagues: get out there and learn something else to assure employability. And, he's considering moving to MicroGDS.
On the PC side, MicroGDS is doing fine. McGarry made it clear that the reseller model was not working for them in the US and they'd be taking their marketing direct. Further, they were looking to use MicroGDS as an engine for vertical applications. There will be four editions of MicroGDS: Compact, Compact 3D (soon), Plus, and Pro. A nightmare for marketing I thought! Actually, all of the software is delivered on a single CD. Different licenses determine the level of software available. The four cover a two by two matrix of options: 2D and 3D, single and multi-user. And, let's be clear, multi-user is NOT a Web site for sharing, but true "more than one user can touch the drawing at a time" -- something quite rare, even in 2000.
MicroGDS discussion area: http://www.informatix.co.uk/discus_gds.
Informatix Software International (UK): http://www.informatix.co.uk
Informatix (Japan): http://www.informatix.co.jp
Integrated Spatial Systems (Australia): http://www.issys.com.au
Ms Schutzberg is editor of GIS Monitor http://www.tenlinks.com/mapgis
