Frequently Asked Questions

SDBOX is a professional CAD add-on for surveying and engineering drawing production. It works inside the CAD environment and brings together survey plan drafting, terrain modeling, maps and geospatial workflows, set-out preparation, building survey tools, CAD productivity and print-ready output.

View the SDBOX Product Overview.

SDBOX is available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, progeCAD, GstarCAD and ZWCAD.

Current general requirements are: AutoCAD 2016+, BricsCAD V20+, progeCAD 2026+, GstarCAD 2021+ and ZWCAD 2021+. Recent full CAD versions are recommended for the best compatibility and functionality.

A full CAD version is required for full SDBOX functionality. Light, LT, Standard or otherwise restricted editions are not intended for the complete SDBOX workflow.

No. SDBOX can be used with both new and existing CAD drawings. A project may start from a survey point file, an existing drawing, a map background, a geospatial file, an image reference or other CAD project data.

No. SDBOX extends the CAD environment rather than replacing it. You can keep your normal drawing, editing, checking and plotting workflow and use only the SDBOX tools that are useful for the current task.

Yes. The generated drawing content remains standard, editable CAD geometry and annotation. Drawings can continue to be edited, checked, plotted and exchanged using normal CAD tools.

No. The Trial is intended to let you evaluate the real SDBOX workflows and is not a reduced-feature demonstration. The current Trial period is 30 days.

Download SDBOX Trial.

Everything already created remains in the drawing as normal CAD content. You can still open, edit, continue, plot and exchange the drawing. Only the SDBOX commands are no longer available after the Trial expires.

No. SDBOX is currently sold as a one-time purchase; there is no annual subscription at present.

No. The same SDBOX installation is used for both Trial and licensed operation. After purchase, the existing installation is activated by license; a different program installation is not required.

The purchased version uses a portable USB Token. SDBOX may be installed on multiple computers — for example office, home and laptop — but one license operates on one computer at a time: the computer where the Token is connected.

The Token can be inserted or removed while CAD remains open.

The available editions include different workflow groups. Compare the current editions and included functions on the SDBOX website before purchase.

Compare editions.

The main SDBOX program folder requires approximately 100 MB. In addition, SDBOX creates and uses C:\sdbox_Tools, which requires approximately 3 GB of free space on drive C:.

This is normal. The main installer installs the basic SDBOX files first. Additional installation windows then download and install the larger auxiliary components and any available SDBOX update.

Yes. Internet access is required during installation because the installer downloads the required SDBOX components. Internet access is also required for automatic updates, online documentation, online map workflows and external web resources.

No. Open the SDBOX installation folder and run zzDownloadZips.exe. It can resume and complete the download of the required auxiliary files.

Yes. A newer SDBOX version can be installed directly over the existing installation. If you have manually modified SDBOX files, preserve those changes first according to the installation documentation.

Yes. The installer checks for the latest available version during installation. After SDBOX has loaded successfully, future version checks and updates are performed automatically when a newer version is available.

SDBOX should load automatically when the CAD application is opened for the first time after installation. Wait until the SDBOX Ribbon tabs or the =sdbox= menu appear.

SDBOX is loaded into each drawing when needed. Select Load SDBOX from the =sdbox= Ribbon tab or menu. After loading, the SDBOX commands are available in the current drawing.

Commands can be run from the SDBOX Ribbon, the SDBOX Menu, the CAD command line or the available SDBOX toolbars. Commands are organized by workflow and category.

No. Individual tools can be used independently. You can start with the workflow you need now — for example survey plan drafting, map backgrounds, DTM, building survey tools or PDF output — and expand gradually.

Yes. With a purchased USB Token license, SDBOX can be installed on multiple computers. The active license follows the USB Token and is used on one computer at a time.

Yes. SDBOX includes tools for survey point import, existing conditions, boundaries, areas, coordinate tables, symbols, annotations, levels, terrain information, grids, statements and declarations, legends, title blocks, checking and print-ready PDF output.

Open the Survey Plan guide.

SDBOX works with processed coordinate point files, with fields such as Code, E, N, Z and Description. It does not perform raw GNSS or total-station observation processing or network adjustment; those measurements should first be converted to coordinate point data.

No. SDBOX can read elevation information from ordinary survey points and use the same point data for plan drafting, triangulation, breaklines, contours, longitudinal profiles, cross sections and volume calculations. A separate set of 3D point objects is not required.

Yes. SDBOX includes cut & fill volume calculations based on triangulated terrain surfaces, together with DTM, contour, profile and cross-section tools.

Open the DTM manual.

Not directly from the point cloud itself. SDBOX volume calculation works from two triangulated surfaces made of 3DFACEs, placed on different layers. Point-cloud data must first be converted or sampled into suitable CAD points or a triangulated surface.

SDBOX includes online map backgrounds, Google Earth workflows, georeferenced images, world files and GeoTIFF, KML/KMZ, SHP, DXF and JSON/GeoJSON exchange, location tools and related GIS/CAD workflows.

Open Maps in SDBOX.

Yes, depending on the SDBOX edition. Building survey workflows include floor plans, sections, elevations, architectural symbols, levels, dimensions, hatches, legends and print-ready output.

Yes, depending on the SDBOX edition. Set-out workflows include point and coordinate documentation, axis geometry, labels, checking dimensions, reference points and field-ready drawing information.

Yes. SDBOX includes plotting tools, pre-set CTB pen tables for different scales and one-click PDF output for technical drawings.

Yes. SDBOX-generated content remains standard CAD content. The drawing itself is not locked to SDBOX and can still be opened, edited, plotted and exchanged normally.

No. SDBOX does not upload drawings, coordinates, project files, CAD files, geospatial files, images or other project data to SDBOX servers.

Internet connections are used for installation, updates, documentation and online resources requested by the user. See the SDBOX Privacy Policy.

Yes, when the selected workflow uses an online map, external website, online documentation or another Internet resource. Ordinary local CAD and drawing operations do not require every command to be online.

Use the alternative initial loading procedure for your CAD platform. The Installation & Usage guide contains separate first-start links for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, progeCAD, GstarCAD and ZWCAD.

Open First Startup instructions.

Select Load SDBOX from the SDBOX Ribbon or menu for that drawing. Once loaded, the commands become available in the current drawing.

Follow the security guidance in the Installation & Usage guide for the CAD platform you are using. Where the CAD asks whether trusted SDBOX files may be loaded, allow the trusted files as required.

SDBOX requires the Windows decimal separator to be the period “.”. Check the Windows regional number settings if numeric input or file data is not being interpreted correctly.

Do not delete SDBOX auxiliary files if they are being used by the drawing. Some commands create files such as world files, *.MLL, *.zzview, *.zvk, *.zvbl or *.yli to store information required by specific SDBOX functions.

Make sure the correct SDBOX version is installed and connect the licensed USB Token. One USB Token license can be used on one computer at a time.

Start with the installation guide, then choose the workflow that matches your project. You do not need to learn all SDBOX commands before beginning.

Use the SDBOX Manual Portal and its Search / Quick links. Detailed command pages, workflow guides and videos are organized by category.

Email cad@sdtopo.net or use the contact form on the SDBOX website. When reporting a technical problem, include your CAD version, Windows version, SDBOX version and a short description of the issue; screenshots or sample drawings are helpful when relevant.

Open SDBOX Contact.