Between the Lines

AutoCAD for Mac Brochure Download

The AutoCAD for Mac product brochure in PDF format is now available for download.http://bit.ly/bQJq0K

AutoCAD for Mac Launch Event Videos

See the videos of Autodesk's AutoCAD for Mac Launch Event from August 31st, 2010. View the demonstrations & presentations as well as learn more information about the upcoming AutoCAD for Mac product.

http://bit.ly/d1cKec

Friday Fun: AutoCAD Command Line by ArchiteXts

I get a kick out of the cartoonist behind the ArchiteXts series. This week they did a comic on the AutoCAD Command Line.

Link to this comic

Find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Lynn Allen’s Pet Goat Named “Leno”

Lynn Allen has a pet goat named “Leno. Since I had the special opportunity to visit with Jay Leno last weekend in Burbank California, I asked him to autograph the photo of Lynn’s goat named “leno”. I just did not mention to Jay that she also has a goat named “Conan”.

Lynn was so excited when I gave her the autographed photo today.

Isn't he a cute little goat?

The Governing Body of AutoCAD Workspaces

This is a guest post by Michael Beall (www.autocadtrainerguy.com).

Word to the Wise: Workspaces.

Workspace definition (per the Help menu): Workspaces are sets of menus, toolbars, palettes, and ribbon control panels that are grouped and organized so that you can work in a custom, task-oriented drawing environment.

The Workspace named 2D Drafting & Annotation provides several Ribbon panels and tabs containing common features needed for 2D drawings. The Workspace named 3D Modeling provides Ribbon-based 3D-related features. Both of these are good starting points. You can then refine the Ribbon a bit more, then save it as another Workspace.

GOLD STAR TIP: At the office, if you have already ‘arranged’ your Ribbon, I would recommend that you first create a workspace of your current arrangement so you can return to that condition when you’re finished ‘experimenting’.

How to Create a Workspace

1.. To save your current workspace by name, click the Workspace Switching icon on the right half of the status bar, then click Save Current As.

2.. Enter a name for the current workspace, then click Save.

Quandary: How do you update a Workspace with the changes you have made to the Ribbon that you now want to keep?

MAJOR, MAC-DADDY MEMO: If you have created a workspace after configuring your Ribbon, PLEASE save your Workspace before you open the CUI [Customize User Interface] … because when you close the CUI and save your changes, AutoCAD uses the most recently saved condition of your workspace.

How to Update Your Workspace

1.. Make the necessary changes and position edits to your Ribbon.

2.. On the Status bar, click Workspace Switching, then click Save Current As.

3.. In the drop-down list, choose the name of the workspace for the changes, then click Save.

4.. When you see the notice regarding replacing the workspace that already exists, click Replace.

You will find this tip and a couple hundred other insights in The AutoCAD Workbench, available from Michael’s website, www.autocadtrainerguy.com

If you would like to submit a guest post please Email Me for details.

AutoCAD for Mac Launch Video “Things are Getting Better” Download Quicktime.mov version

The catchy new AutoCAD for Mac video available on Autodesk.com and YouTube is now hosted on my blog for those unable to view Flash or YouTube videos in a Quicktime mov.

Download autocad_mac_launch_video.mov (78319.2K)

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD for Mac and AutoCAD WS Launch Event in San Francisco

Last night in the Autodesk Gallery at One Market there was a gathering of press, Autodesk customers, Autodesk employees, and Apple employees to celebrate the new products that were announced.

AutoCAD for Mac A native 64bit Mac application.

AutoCAD WS for the Apple iOS devices such as iPad, iPhone ,iPod.

There were presentations by AutoCAD for Mac Product Manager Rob McGuire, Amar Hanspal Autodesk,Senior Vice President, Platform Solutions and Emerging Business,  Carl Bass  Autodesk CEO, and Ron Okamoto Apple's Vice President of Developer Relations.It was an exciting evening. One of the images stated “AutoCAD for Everyone” Showing AutoCAD for Windows, AutoCAD for Mac, AutoCAD Web, and AutoCAD WS Mobile.

Carl Bass  Autodesk CEO, and Ron Okamoto VP of Apple discuss the iPad	Ron Okamoto VP of Apple “excited about AutoCAD coming to Apple products”
Rob Maguire, Product Manager for AutoCAD for Mac and Amar Hanspal Autodesk,Senior Vice President, Platform Solutions and Emerging Business with a live demo of AutoCAD for Mac	Autodesk CEO Carl Bass demonstrates AutoCAD WS on an iPad live. “tickling the iPad Drawing”
Mauricio Ritzmann of OFCDesk showing his ObjectARX based Interior Design application on AutoCAD for Mac	AutoCAD for Mac Product Designer Matt Stein
Autodesk's Rob Maguire, Product Manager for AutoCAD for Mac and Eric Stover former AutoCAD Product Manager who lobbied for AutoCAD for Mac and gathered all the research to get the ball rolling.	AutoCAD for Mac
Autodesk Employees and Customers attending the AutoCAD for Mac Launch Event	Some of the AutoCAD for Mac Team

I really want a 27” iMac with a Magic Trackpad…Amazing graphics and hardware!

Well time to get back to the Autodesk SF office and meeet with Lynn Allen.

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD for Mac and AutoCAD WS for iOS Devices Announced by Autodesk

AutoCAD natively on the Mac is no longer a myth or urban legend like bigfoot, UFOs, and unicorns.

AutoCAD returns to the Mac after an ~16 year absence.  Customers have made the request, Autodesk listened and responded with a native Mac AutoCAD named (appropriately) AutoCAD for Mac.

Yes, a native Mac 2D & 3D  AutoCAD application utilizing the Mac experience, but still being the tried and true AutoCAD. Now AutoCAD users have a choice of two great platforms Windows and Mac to get their native AutoCAD DWG. You also have much of your customization you rely on such as LISP and Scripts.

From the native Mac User Interface elements such as Menubar to the integration of Cover flow support in Finder to visually scroll through your DWG file previews, multi-touch gestures, making use of the trackpad (love it), search Help and you get a pointer to the location of the command in the Menubar, and even searching for DWG files using Spotlight this is Mac.

This is a Mac experience and AutoCAD 2011 combined, not some Windows application just ported without consideration of the workflow, environment, and Mac user expectations.

  

This project was no simple project, we had to work with14 millions lines of code with technology dependencies to be more platform agnostic. The AutoCAD for Mac was a complete re-write and not a simple port or a LT version. We used the native Aqua User Interface standards on all non-custom interface elements and the underlying code is Cocoa for the Mac OSX and iOS platforms.

Our team had to immerse in the Mac world and learn from the Mac experts worldwide to make sure we understood what they would want and need as well as keeping the power of AutoCAD. It is not everyday you expect to see hardcore programmers in black turtleneck shirts and denim pants, but I am sure it happened. There was a delicate balance that took a great deal of work to accomplish. I am sure it will be an ongoing process as we begin to add more and more features for parity between platforms yet keep the individual character and UI experience unique.

Having mentioned the uniqueness of each platform, the challenges and work involved, there is also one more powerful component and that is AutoCAD. Chances are if you have used AutoCAD, you can use the AutoCAD for Mac with very little training or changes. It saves the same DWG as the Windows versions, so you can have people in a mixed platform working on the same DWG files. It also jhas LISP, a command line, UCS, Osnaps, constraints, parametrics, surfaces, meshes, solids, rendering, Visual Styles, rendering, ViewCube navigation, and more just as you would expect of AutoCAD.

When will it ship? In the fall 2010 and after successful completion of the pre-release beta testing by thousands of Mac using customers and students. It will hopefully be ready for students in Fall classes and needing a free student version of native AutoCAD for Mac from the Autodesk Student Community http://students.autodesk.com. There will be a non educational version as well including a trial download.

AutoCAD WS extends AutoCAD DWG to Apple iOS based devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch, and of course the iPad. This is like the Autodesk Labs Project Butterfly but on my Apple hardware. I have to say this is really nice to be able to edit and view DWG files on both my iPhone and iPad. http://butterfly.autodesk.com/mobile/

Where to find more information?

http://www.autodesk.com/autocadformac

http://butterfly.autodesk.com/mobile/

Autodesk's YouTube Video Channel

Press Release

AutoCAD Exchange http://autocad.autodesk.com

AutoCAD Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/AutoCAD.3D

Cheers,
Shaan
(both a Mac & Windows user)

Display Plot Style in AutoCAD Layout

I received the following question today while in my hotel room in LA and wanted to write a blog post with images to make the solution more clear, and perhaps assist others with the same question.

“My background in paper space is white with color lines, I want to change the color lines to black lines, I did once but is impossible to remember how I did it.”

What we want to do is change the Layouts Plot Style to black and white which is “monochrome”, and then select the option to show the Layout with the applied plot Style just as it will plot.

A Layout is essentially what you plot as a large preview, think of it as a piece of paper. Here we see the drawing with a white Layout background just like paper and the color layer based lines. The only thing not shown is the plot style you may apply to the Layout. In this case we want the color line work that will use the monochrome Plot Style to show as Monochrome in the Layout.

Use the Page Setup Manager. I used the PAGESETUP command at the AutoCAD command line or you can right-click on the Layout tab and select Page Setup Manager.

Now select your layout then select Modify.

Now in the Page Setup dialog in the upper right change the plot style to monochrome and be sure to select the option to "display plot style" as that will make your layout display the monochrome.

Select OK and you are done.

Cheers,
Shaan

New Autodesk Product Support Pages

Visit the new AutoCAD Support, Revit, Inventor and other pages. They are available in English now, with additional languages coming.

Documentation: How-To, Help Files, Tutorials, New Features, Getting Started, etc.

Troubleshooting: Product Support content, workarounds, product use strategies and known solutions to typical issues

AutoCAD Support Page: http://www.autodesk.com/autocad-support

Don’t forget the RSS Feed for Support and Updates: Product Support, Updates & Service Packs

AutoCAD Sneak Peek in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Seattle

If you are located in the San Francisco, Sacramento or Seattle areas, you have a rare opportunity to test drive some new features in AutoCAD and contribute your feedback to future releases.

The AutoCAD User Experience team, in conjunction with Ideate, Inc. would like to invite you to join them for a sneak peek and test drive of a future version of AutoCAD. Members of the AutoCAD team will be there to introduce you to new and enhanced AutoCAD features.

Interested in attending an event in San Francisco, Sacramento or Seattle?

Here’s what Autodesk is looking for:

• Day to day users of AutoCAD or LT
• Users proficient in 2D drafting
• Users interested in or proficient in 3D modeling
• All levels – beginning to advanced

In a casual focus group style, the AutoCAD team wants to let you try out some in-progress features and get your input as they solidify their ideas for an upcoming release. They’ll include time at the end of the session for general feedback and they’ll be happy to discuss any issues or wish list items with you at that time. Your input is critical in shaping the future of AutoCAD and the AutoCAD team depends on and values your ideas.

These full-day events are being held between September 15 - September 24, 2010.

To sign up, please take this brief survey. Seats are limited and we can't guarantee a spot to everyone who fills out the survey; we’ll confirm your event registration by email.

Click Here to Take the Survey

Help Shape the Future of Autodesk Products!

Thanks Bill for the BTL Blog's 7th Year Birthday Wishes in Chocolate

Australian Bill Adams (http://blads.blogspot.com/) and @blads on Twitter wished this Between the Lines blog a happy 7th year in a most remarkable way. He recreated my Canon 5D mkii camera in chocolate.

http://blads.blogspot.com/2010/08/happy-birthday.html

Thanks Bill, you made my week!

Working With AutoCAD Sub Objects in 2D

This is a guest post by Edwin Prakoso (http://cad-notes.com/) @cad_notes on Twitter.

If you work intensively in AutoCAD 3D modeling, you probably already familiar with sub object. You can modify objects quickly and easily using vertexes. Gizmo in AutoCAD is very helpful. It is very easy to create 3D models in AutoCAD now. But have you used sub objects in 2D drawing?

If you are not familiar with sub object, we can use vertices, edges, faces, and solid history. If we work in 2D, we can only use vertices and edges.

But there are still many things we can do with it. Especially in AutoCAD 2011, Autodesk has implemented some nice enhancement here.

Selecting Sub Object

First thing first: how can we select subobject? For vertex, it is very straight forward. Select your object, then you can see the vertices in that object. Click the vertex to select it. We can only select a vertex at a time.

To select edges, you need to hold [ctrl] then click which edge you want to select. You can select more than one edges at a time.

Using Sub Object Selection Filter

If you are working on many subobject selections, then you probably want to use subobject selection filter. You can activate this filter and quickly select multiple edges without holding [ctrl]. You can find it in contextual menu: right click your mouse, and choose which subobject you want to filter.

Working with Vertex

Let us start with vertex. Vertex has many options we can use for modifying objects. Who knows, you probably will like it.

Stretching Vertex

The most obvious usage of vertex is to stretch it. You can lengthen a line; you can change a circle radius, etc. It’s very simple.

Now let us see the input options we can use when we select a line.

1. The default field that will be active is the extension length. If you type 5 then [enter], your line will be lengthen by 5 units.

2. If you press [tab], then your active field will move to another field. If this one is active, you can define the total length here.

3. You can also define the rotation angle, relative to previous angle.

4. And sure, you can define the angle from 0 degree of your current UCS.

Quite nice isn’t it? But remember, you need to have dynamic input active to use it. Probably there are not only 4 reasons to love dynamic input!

Using the Vertex Context Menu

This trick exists more than a decade. I remember I first use it in AutoCAD R.14. After you select the base point, then try to right click.

Let’s focus on the (1) part now. You can modify your objects, and use the vertex as base point right away. You can move, rotate, scale, or mirror your objects right away.

Now let us see the (2) part. These tools will move/copy the vertex (but not the whole object). You can define the base point, or you can simply copy the vertex. You can use it to offset a circle quickly with different offset distance.

Working with Vertex: Enhancements in 2011

Now if you are already using AutoCAD 2011, we can see more usage of this vertex. Polylines mid vertex has several more options.

Now you do not need to activate PEDIT and can add vertex quickly, and even convert the segment to arch! Well, you can also convert an arch segment to line by the way...

But the most fun of the vertex enhancement is for hatches.

Stretch will simply move the hatch from original position. See the other three options! You can define the origin, angle, and scale on the fly!

Working with Edges

What about edges? You can modify the edges without having to modify the whole object. In the sample below, you can create a parallelogram from a rectangle. Simply move the edge.

You can also scale the edge.

Is there any other way you use the subobjects that we may miss?
And which subobject you use the most, and why do you like it?

You will find this tip and more on Edwin’s CAD-Notes website, http://cad-notes.com/

If you would like to submit a guest post please Email Me for details.

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011 Update 1 Available for Download

The Update 1 (aka Service Pack) to AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011 are now available for download. This update addresses several defects and issues reported by customers, product support, and Customer Error Reporting “CER” data.

AutoCAD 2011 Update 1
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL15569492

AutoCAD LT 2011 Update 1 http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL15569738

Please review the ReadMe document prior to installation.

Best Regards,
Shaan

UPDATE August 26th, 2010 ` AutoCAD 2011 Update 1 Removed from Download

On August 23, 2010, Autodesk released Update 1 for AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011. Unfortunately, Update 1 introduced an issue when conducting certain operations that may cause AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT to shut down.  This issue affects a small number of users. We have removed Update 1 and will reintroduce it in the near future when the issue has been resolved. For customers who have already installed Update 1, a hot fix will be posted shortly. Please be assured that Autodesk is wholly committed to the quality of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, and regrets this error. 

UPDATE August 27th, 2010-  AutoCAD 2011 Update 1 Update Hotfix Released
Here is the hotfix for the Update 1 and a updated Update 1 to be released soon.
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL15629571

 

Autodesk DWF Writer 64-bit Version Released

Volker Joseph announced the new 64bit 2D DWF Writer on the Beyond the Paper Blog. We have had several requests for this so that people can create/print a DWF from several applications on the 64bit platform.

blog post Autodesk DWF Writer for 2D: 64-bit Version Released! 

download link download Autodesk DWF Writer for 2D (64-bit)