Click the "Select File" button above, and choose your CR5 file.
You’ll see a preview, if available.
Click the "Convert file to..." button to extract text information.
Convert CR5 to another file type
To convert CR5 coordinate files to another format, you need Carlson SurvCE or other Cad software.
Convert a file to CR5
To convert other file formats to the "Survey Data File" file type, you need software like Carlson SurvCE or a similar tool.
About CR5 files
The .CR5 file is a proprietary binary coordinate database used by Carlson Software specifically for their SurvCE and SurvPC data collection platforms.
Unlike standard text-based formats, .CR5 files store survey points (Northings, Eastings, Elevations, and Descriptions) in a compiled binary structure. This creates a significant workflow bottleneck: you cannot simply double-click to open them in Microsoft Excel or import them directly into vanilla AutoCAD without specific Carlson plugins or the Carlson X-Port utility. Engineers often find themselves locked out of their own field data when trying to share it with clients or colleagues who do not possess a licensed copy of Carlson Survey.
Best Conversion Targets:
For Spreadsheets & Analysis: Convert to CSV or TXT. This is the only way to audit point data in Excel or Google Sheets.
For CAD Drafting: Convert to DXF or DWG. This allows the survey points to be imported directly into Civil 3D, MicroStation, or standard AutoCAD as drawing entities.
For Legacy Systems: Convert to CRD (the older Carlson format) if working with outdated data collectors.
Convert.Guru analyzes your CR5 file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert CR5 file to , you can use Carlson SurvCE or similar software from the "Survey Coordinate Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to CR5, try Carlson SurvCE or another comparable tool in the "Survey Coordinate Storage" category.
The CR5 Converter Story
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our CR5 converter.