Dotsoft
DotSoft develops CAD productivity add-on utilities (ToolPac, XL2CAD, Word2CAD, MapWorks) for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, IntelliCAD, and Civil3D users. Founded 1988, acquired by Carlson Software in January 2025, the company sells perpetual licenses direct-to-consumer serving individual CAD operators and civil/survey teams.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersFlemingsburg, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Dotsoft does
DotSoft is a privately held CAD productivity software company founded in 1988 by Terry Dotson and acquired by Carlson Software, Inc. in January 2025 following the founder's death. The company develops a suite of add-on utilities that run inside AutoCAD, BricsCAD, IntelliCAD, and Civil3D environments, with its flagship ToolPac product offering over 750 productivity functions spanning drawing control, annotation, block management, layer management, and batch processing. Complementary products include XL2CAD (Excel-to-native-CAD-geometry conversion), Word2CAD (Word-to-CAD integration), MapWorks (civil/survey/GIS tools with native Civil3D and BricsCAD Civil object support, also branded as C3DTools and BCSTools), and specialty tools such as LegalWriter, RevitOffice+, Excel2DWG, and Lisp4CAD. Technology is built on .NET managed API migrated from discontinued VBA, with true 64-bit operation and no Windows DLL dependencies.
The company serves individual CAD operators, surveying/civil engineering professionals, and organizations needing Microsoft Office-to-CAD integration. DotSoft operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model selling perpetual licenses (single and 5/10/15/20 user multi-pack tiers with progressive 5-20% discounts), complemented by 15-day evaluation downloads and free email technical support. Distribution has shifted to the Carlson Software platform and download servers following the 2025 acquisition. DotSoft has held Autodesk Registered Developer status since 1992, Bricsys since 2008, and IntelliCAD since 2017, providing early access to new platform APIs. The company has received industry recognition including a CADalyst Labs Highly Recommended rating (2006) and a CADENCE Magazine favorable review (1998).
Dotsoft firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dotsoft
- Legal name
- DotSoft
- Website
- https://dotsoft.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- DotSoft develops CAD productivity add-on utilities (ToolPac, XL2CAD, Word2CAD, MapWorks) for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, IntelliCAD, and Civil3D users. Founded 1988, acquired by Carlson Software in January 2025, the company sells perpetual licenses direct-to-consumer serving individual CAD operators and civil/survey teams.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dotsoft industry classification
Industry- Product category
- CAD Software Add-ons
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Asset Creation, Pipeline, DCC Integration & Content Management Tools (MPAFAFAL)
Keywords
Where Dotsoft is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Flemingsburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Dotsoft business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Perpetual Software Licenses: DotSoft sells perpetual licenses for all products. Once purchased, the software never expires. Customers receive free technical support via email. The company offers multi-pack pricing with increasing discounts (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) for volume purchases, enabling land-and-expand revenue dynamics. Upgrade pricing is available at discounted rates for existing customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | ToolPac - Single user perpetual license |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | ToolPac - Volume packs (5 to 20 users) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | XL2CAD - Single user perpetual license |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | XL2CAD - Volume packs |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Word2CAD - Single user perpetual license |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Word2CAD - Volume packs |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | MapWorks - Single user perpetual license (all platforms) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Dotsoft product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DotSoft develops and sells perpetual-licensed CAD productivity add-on utilities that run inside AutoCAD, BricsCAD, IntelliCAD, and Civil3D environments. Its portfolio centers on ToolPac (a 750+ function productivity suite) and is complemented by Office-to-CAD integration tools (XL2CAD, Word2CAD), civil/survey/GIS tools (MapWorks and its C3DTools/BCSTools variants), and specialty add-ons such as LegalWriter, RevitOffice+, and Lisp4CAD. All products are sold directly via digital download through the DotSoft/Carlson Software e-commerce site.
Product overview
Dotsoft is a CAD productivity software company offering a suite of add-on utilities for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, Civil3D, and IntelliCAD. The product portfolio centers on ToolPac as the flagship productivity suite (750+ functions), complemented by specialized tools: XL2CAD and Word2CAD for Microsoft Office integration, MapWorks (with C3DTools and BCSTools variants) for civil/survey/GIS workflows, and specialty tools like LegalWriter, Excel2DWG, RevitOffice+, and Lisp4CAD. The company was acquired by Carlson Software in January 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ToolPac: Collection of over 750 productivity functions for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, and IntelliCAD.
- XL2CAD
- Word2CAD
- MapWorks
- C3DTools
- BCSTools
- GeoLocPlus
- LegalWriter
- Excel2DWG
- Lisp4CAD
- RevitOffice+
Products and services
- ToolPac Comprehensive CAD productivity suite with over 750 functions covering drawing control, annotation, blocks, layers, layouts, surfaces, hatch, images, XRefs, and batch processing. Runs inside AutoCAD, BricsCAD Pro or higher, and IntelliCAD and serves architects, engineers, civil, mechanical, and design professionals.
- XL2CAD Excel-to-CAD integration tool that converts Microsoft Excel spreadsheets into native CAD geometry (lines, fills, mtext) with smart linking, automatic updates on drawing open, and support for Excel 2000 through Excel 365 including charts, shapes, conditional formatting, and named ranges. Runs in AutoCAD, BricsCAD, and IntelliCAD.
- Word2CAD Microsoft Word-to-CAD integration tool that draws Word documents in CAD using native geometry, producing bound mtext and table objects linked to the original document with automatic updates on drawing open. Supports Word tables, merged rows/columns, inline images, and bookmarks.
- MapWorks Modular civil/survey and GIS software covering alignments, design, geotechnical data, parcels, points, profiles, sections, and surfaces. Adaptive engine reads and creates native Civil3D and BricsCAD Civil objects, supports coordinate projections, surface modeling, and extensive file format import/export including ESRI formats, LandXML, GPS, and LiDAR. Runs in AutoCAD, BricsCAD, Civil3D, and IntelliCAD.
- C3DTools Civil/Survey Mapping and GIS tools specifically for Autodesk Civil3D 2015 and higher; branded version of MapWorks that reads and creates native Civil3D objects.
- BCSTools Civil/Survey Mapping and GIS tools specifically for BricsCAD Civil v24 and higher; branded version of MapWorks that reads and creates native BricsCAD Point, Alignment, and Surface objects.
- LegalWriter CAD-based tool that creates highly customizable legal descriptions directly from CAD geometry, including a built-in word processor and Microsoft Word export capability for surveyors and attorneys.
- Excel2DWG Add-in running inside Microsoft Excel that produces accurate DWG representations of spreadsheets; results update automatically as spreadsheet data changes.
- RevitOffice+ Plugin for Autodesk Revit that enables placement of Excel spreadsheets and Word documents inside Revit as native geometry (lines, fills, mtext) that plots cleanly and is highly portable; includes additional Revit productivity tools.
- Lisp4CAD Collection of over 300 Lisp functions to increase CAD productivity in legacy environments including older AutoCAD, AutoCAD for Mac (2021+), and BricsCAD Classic/Lite on PC, Mac, and Linux.
Quantifiable outcome
- Most Excel tables process in less than one second with XL2CAD
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Dotsoft
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dotsoft technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
Dotsoft partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Carlson SoftwareflagshipCarlson Software acquired all assets of DotSoft in January 2025 following the passing of DotSoft founder Terry Dotson. Carlson Software pledged to continue Terry's work by remaining responsive to DotSoft customers, providing tech support, and improving the software. Carlson Software had previously worked directly with Terry Dotson for over a decade before his return to private business.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Dotsoft competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- JTB World: JTB World develops AutoCAD productivity apps (Dimension Plus, Layer Manager, SmartPurger, etc.) — a direct peer with comparable add-on utility catalogs targeting the same CAD operator base as DotSoft's ToolPac.
- Hot Door: Hot Door produces CAD and design productivity plugins (CADtools, PerspectiveBox) for CAD/illustrator workflows, making it a direct comparable add-on utility vendor to DotSoft's product portfolio.
- Lee Mac Programming: Lee Mac Programming is a well-known independent developer of AutoCAD productivity tools and Lisp routines, directly comparable to DotSoft's ToolPac and Lisp4CAD offerings for the same CAD operator persona.
- CAD Studio (XANADU): CAD Studio develops CAD productivity utilities, civil/survey tools, and CAD plugins for AutoCAD and BricsCAD — directly comparable to DotSoft's ToolPac, MapWorks, and C3DTools/BCSTools products.
Broad incumbents
- Autodesk: Autodesk owns AutoCAD and Civil3D — the primary platforms DotSoft extends. Autodesk's own expanding built-in productivity features and App Store competition make it a broad incumbent competing for the same wallet.
- Carlson Software: Carlson Software is DotSoft's parent company (Jan 2025 acquisition) and a broader incumbent in surveying, civil, and mining software with overlapping civil/survey functionality to DotSoft's MapWorks line.
- Trimble (Survey/Civil): Trimble is a broad incumbent in surveying and civil engineering software (Trimble Business Center, Civil Construction), competing alongside DotSoft's MapWorks for survey/CAD-related budgets.
- Bricsys (BricsCAD): Bricsys develops BricsCAD, a DotSoft-supported platform and DotSoft Registered Developer partner. As BricsCAD grows AutoCAD-defector share, Bricsys serves as both a partner and a broader incumbent in the CAD ecosystem.
Emerging players
- ActCAD: ActCAD is an emerging DWG-based CAD platform with its own bundled productivity features. As a newer entrant, it represents an emerging alternative whose built-in tools may overlap with DotSoft's add-on value proposition.
- Graebert (ARES CAD): Graebert offers ARES Commander as a DWG-native alternative CAD platform. While not a direct ToolPac competitor, it represents an emerging alternative CAD ecosystem whose growth could shift third-party utility opportunities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Dotsoft social profiles
Digital presenceDotsoft financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dotsoft leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dotsoft funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dotsoft M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dotsoft
What does Dotsoft do?
DotSoft develops and sells perpetual-licensed CAD productivity add-on utilities that run inside AutoCAD, BricsCAD, IntelliCAD, and Civil3D environments. Its portfolio centers on ToolPac (a 750+ function productivity suite) and is complemented by Office-to-CAD integration tools (XL2CAD, Word2CAD), civil/survey/GIS tools (MapWorks and its C3DTools/BCSTools variants), and specialty add-ons such as LegalWriter, RevitOffice+, and Lisp4CAD. All products are sold directly via digital download through the DotSoft/Carlson Software e-commerce site.
Is Dotsoft a public or private company?
Dotsoft is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Dotsoft founded?
Dotsoft was founded in 1988. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Dotsoft based?
Dotsoft is headquartered in Flemingsburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dotsoft make money?
One revenue line is on record: perpetual Software Licenses.
Who are Dotsoft's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JTB World, Hot Door, Lee Mac Programming and CAD Studio (XANADU). Broad incumbents are Autodesk, Carlson Software, Trimble (Survey/Civil) and Bricsys (BricsCAD). Emerging players are ActCAD and Graebert (ARES CAD).
Does Dotsoft have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dotsoft.
What industry is Dotsoft in?
Dotsoft's product category is CAD Software Add-ons. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAFAL, Asset Creation, Pipeline, DCC Integration & Content Management Tools. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.