CutOnce
Healthy Civil 3D models, one save at a time
CutOnce catches the moves that quietly break Civil 3D models while your team is working, not at QC. It stops data-loss commands before they run, checks drawings before they plot, and explains every warning so good habits stick.
- One-time purchase
- No subscription
- Checks and logs run fully offline
- Your logo and colors on every dialog
Example warning, shown before EXPLODE changes anything
Proactive model health for Civil 3D
Most QA happens after the damage is done. CutOnce works at the moment a designer is about to make a mistake, then gives managers the data to see where it keeps happening.
Stops it before it happens
EXPLODE, xref binds, moved xrefs and risky edits get a warning with a red Stop button, before anything in the drawing changes. Plot and publish are checked for stale corridors, missing xrefs and overridden labels first.
Teaches while they work
Every warning says what is happening and why it matters in plain language, with a Learn more link to an article on that exact situation. Point the links at your firm’s own videos and standards. The article opens in a panel inside Civil 3D, and Pro adds Autodesk Assistant for follow-up questions.
Shows you the trends
Model health is logged on every open and save to plain CSV files. Point everyone at a shared folder and see trends across drawings, projects and people, with nothing leaving your network.
Three editions
AutoCAD brings the guard, cleanup, logs and Learn more links to plain AutoCAD, without the Civil 3D checks. Core (3.0) is the complete model health toolkit for Civil 3D. Pro (3.1) adds Civil 3D style management on top, so any drawing can match your template and pasted content stops bloating it, plus Autodesk Assistant follow-ups and per-person logs for shared folders.
| Feature | AutoCAD | Core 3.0 | Pro 3.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guard | |||
| Data-loss guardEXPLODE, BURST, xref bind, moved xrefs, REFEDIT, promoting a data shortcut. Stop before, or Undo after. | Blocks and xrefs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Change impactBefore an alignment, surface or profile is edited, lists the corridors, profiles, sheets and pipes that depend on it. MOVE, STRETCH, ROTATE and SCALE can deselect just the risky object and keep going. | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check before you plotPLOT, PUBLISH and EXPORTPDF check for out-of-date corridors and surfaces, unloaded xrefs and overridden labels. Rebuild everything and continue in one click. | Xrefs only | ✓ | ✓ |
| Standards check on openObjects not ByLayer, broken or unloaded xrefs, xrefs not at 0,0,0, coordinate system and units, overridden labels. | No Civil 3D labels | ✓ | ✓ |
| Growth warning and cleanupFlags unusual file growth on save, then backs up and runs PURGE, purge styles, scale list reset and AUDIT. | No style purge | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn and insights | |||
| Learn more on every warningLinks to the matching article in the Civil 3D Warnings Explained knowledge base, or to your firm’s own content. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn more panel inside Civil 3DThe article opens in a dockable panel next to the drawing instead of a browser tab. It only opens when the designer clicks Learn more. | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ask a follow-up with Autodesk Assistant ProType or pick a question in the Learn more panel. CutOnce copies it with the warning, the article and your project template, and opens Autodesk Assistant. CutOnce sends nothing itself, and every check stays rule-based. | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Health logsHealth, xref, event, backup and opened-drawing logs as CSV. Per-person or shared team folder. Audit a whole folder of drawings. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| One log file per person in a shared folder ProPoint everyone at one network folder and each person writes their own files, such as Health_jsmith.csv, so nobody writes over anyone else. | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Control | |||
| Control CenterEach designer switches every check on or off, and chooses every time or once per session. Normal, light or dark. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CAD manager settingsFirm-wide defaults and locked settings in one plain-text file. Your logo and brand color on every dialog. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Styles New in Pro | |||
| Style MatcherLike Layer Translator, for Civil 3D styles. Pick a template, match the drawing’s styles to it, and move every object and label onto them. Nothing changes before Apply. | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Match the template in one clickSame names, pasted copies like “Existing Major (1)” and identical styles are matched automatically. Anything uncertain is left alone and listed. | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Firm and project mapping filesSave a mapping once and reuse it. Project rules override firm rules. | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Paste guardWhen a paste or insert brings in a pile of new styles, CutOnce says so, with Match to the template, Map by hand or Undo. | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Style change logBackup first, one undo step, and every style change written to Styles.csv. | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Pay once. Pick your team size.
All prices are one-time, in US dollars, with no subscription. The AutoCAD edition is for plain AutoCAD teams. For Civil 3D, choose Core or Pro.
Swipe the table sideways to see every team size.
| Edition | Individual1 user | Team 10Up to 10 users | Best valueTeam 25Up to 25 users | Team 50Up to 50 users | 50+ usersEnterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoCADFor plain AutoCAD | $149 1 user Buy AutoCAD | $990 $99 per user Buy AutoCAD | $1,990 $80 per user Buy AutoCAD | $2,990 $60 per user Buy AutoCAD | Volume pricing for any edition, a rollout plan for every office, and settings and Learn more links tailored to your standards. Contact for pricing |
| Core 3.0Complete Civil 3D model health | $249 1 user Buy Core | $1,790 $179 per user Buy Core | $3,490 $140 per user Buy Core | $5,990 $120 per user Buy Core | |
| Pro 3.1Core plus styles and Assistant follow-ups | $399 1 user Buy Pro | $2,790 $279 per user Buy Pro | $5,490 $220 per user Buy Pro | $8,990 $180 per user Buy Pro |
How this compares: comparable model health and CAD and Civil 3D style management tools are sold as annual subscriptions, from about $110 to $900 per user, every year. CutOnce is paid once. Save one engineer about 5 hours of rework and an Individual Core license has paid for itself.
What each license includes
The software and support are the same at every size. Larger teams get more live setup help.
| Included | Individual | Team 10 | Team 25 | Team 50 | 50+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Users | 1 user | Up to 10 | Up to 25 | Up to 50 | Unlimited |
| Every feature in your edition | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Installer, CAD admin guide, settings file | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free fixes within your version3.0.x for AutoCAD and Core, 3.1.x for Pro | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Help setting firm-wide defaults, locks and branding | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Help setting up a shared team log folder | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email support reply time | 2 business days | 2 business days | 2 business days | 2 business days | 2 business days |
| Live setup session | ✕ | ✕ | 30 minutes | 60 minutes | Rollout plan |
| Learn more links pointed at your firm’s content | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
How upgrades work
- Fixes within your version are free.
- New editions, like Pro 3.1, are paid upgrades.
- Moving from AutoCAD to Core, or Core to Pro, costs only the difference in price.
- Growing from one team size to the next also costs only the difference.
- Your settings, logs and each designer’s choices carry over unchanged.
Know before you buy
- Core and Pro require Civil 3D 2021 or later. The AutoCAD edition requires AutoCAD 2021 or later. Both need 64-bit Windows. AutoCAD LT is not supported.
- Ask a follow-up needs Autodesk Assistant, in Civil 3D 2024 or later. On older releases it copies the question only.
- The out-of-date corridor and surface check before plotting needs Civil 3D 2024 or later. On 2021 to 2023 that check is skipped; xref and label checks still run.
- The Style Matcher is fully supported on Civil 3D 2024 to 2027. On 2021 to 2023 it matches by name.
- Licenses are per named user within one company. An Individual license covers one person on up to two computers.
- Sold as is. Custom checks and training are quoted separately.
- Try the free trial first. No refunds once downloaded.
Running in five minutes
- Get your downloadThe installer and CAD admin guide arrive by email.
- Run the installerClose Civil 3D or AutoCAD, unzip, double-click
Install.cmd. - Confirm it’s runningOpen Civil 3D or AutoCAD and type
CUTONCE-STATUS. - Set it up your wayType
CUTONCEto open the Control Center.
Stephen Walz
More than 20 years in civil design and Civil 3D, Civil 3D instructor at Lawrence Technological University, and Civil 3D author. CutOnce comes from the mistakes he has watched cost teams the most time, which is why every warning teaches the fix instead of just flagging the problem.
Not sure yet? Start with the trial.
The free trial includes the EXPLODE guard, so you can see CutOnce stop a real mistake in your own drawings before you buy.
CutOnce is published by Stephen Walz. Questions: stevewalz@hotmail.com. Warning articles: Civil 3D Warnings Explained. Autodesk and Civil 3D are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. CutOnce is not affiliated with Autodesk.