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From the AU 2005 schedule: "Special Evening Event - Disney/MGM Studios Party
Relax after a day of classes and enjoy just-for-fun activities such as movies, rides, game shows, and entertainment, along with terrific food and beverages. You'll arrive at a gala opening-night setting. You'll leave with memories of a fabulous evening of "Show Biz."
This should be a fun evening. I will be taking a ton of photos.
Cheers,
Shaan
AU 2005 is becoming a blur to me with so many people (over 5000) and so many classes (over 400). This event really should have been a full 5 days or maybe two weeks to be able to have the time to meet everyone and absorb all of the new training from the classes. I cannot believe what little time I have and how fast it goes.
My personal highlights from Tuesday 11/29/05:
I am just sitting in the hall near the Pacific room which seats 5000 people and uploading more images to the AU 2005 gallery. I will add notes on the photos that I am uploading later as I have to run and get a seat in a minute. The 5000 seats are expected to go fast and I want to see it up close.
Cheers,
Shaan
I just got done posting more photos from day one of AU 2005.
It was an action packed day of classes, AUGI meeting, and the Beer Bust. I am still convinced I was given the AutoCAD booth duty during the beer bust to keep me out of trouble. I was excited to hear my name mentioned by Rich Uphus of AUGI about my participation in the designing of the new AUGI Wish List System. AUGI did a great job.
Robert Kross and John Sanders of Autodesk were presented the Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD wish lists from AUGI president Yoshi Honda.
I am tired and a have a really full day tomorrow with some lab assisting duties, the keynote, the industry session, and then my class at 5PM. Only 4 hours of sleep tonight.
A great day of classes is being followed by an evening of fun. The AUGI annual meeting will be at 7PM tonight and then followed by the AUGI Beer Bust with food, beverages, and of course beer. I will be in the AutoCAD booth so stop on by.
I have been adding photos to the AU 2005 image gallery but not nearly as fast as I have been taking them. The lighting is so dim in the halls and rooms that many pictures are too dark and I definitely do to want to have a flash go off during a class. Today I snuck into Lynn Allen's AutoCAD 2006 class only to have Lynn stop her presentation and call attention to me. I wish I had been invisible as I am sure I turned to a shade of about PANTONE 170 or for those RGB fans approx. R=250 G=142, B=124.
Whatever you do, if you are at AU this year you must see the keynote at 1PM tomorrow. Trust me on this one. I am not sure of the X,Y,Z coordinates or the @?<? for the room but it seats 5000 people.
AU customer attendees should have received some nice goodies in their rooms.
Cheers,
Shaan
What has 10,000 feet, can cripple a hotels Internet backbone, can surround a hotel lobby bar in seconds, come from around the world, and are responsible for designing cool things?
Autodesk University attendees!
AU 2005 is now officially kicked off. With over 5000 attendees and 375 classes this year in Orlando, it is the largest ever. AU keeps growing year over year and it is getting difficult to find locations large enough to accommodate the CAD Geeks.
I spent Sunday preparing for this week but did take time to do a few things.
I am running late this morning but today I will be taking some photos and then working in the AutoCAD booth tonight during the AUGI beer bust so stop by and say "hi". It looks like attendees are using the Dolphin lobby bar as the popular gathering spot similar to what we used the old MGM Betty Boop in Vegas AUs.
The AU 2005 Image Gallery
http://autodesk.blogs.com/photos/autodesk_university_2005/index.html
Cheers,
Shaan
Cell (415) 328-6747
I have now started posting photos from Autodesk University 2005 in Orlando Florida at the Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan Hotels.
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Spread the link to the AU 2005 Image Gallery
http://autodesk.blogs.com/photos/autodesk_university_2005/index.html
If you want to help shape the future of Autodesk products, come find out how to become involved in beta and feedback projects at my Between the Lines session Tuesday at 5PM. Autodesk is always looking to add more and more customers to the thousands worldwide already involved in feedback projects such as beta testing, survey, customer interviews, surveys, visits, test drives, usability, private discussion forums, and more.
A tip for those attending AU this year but have not arrived. Print the $4 off coupon from the AU website for ground transportation. Then near the baggage claim in Orlando Intl. airport go to the Mears shuttle desk. This will save you money. A cab or van can cost $48 one way to the Dolphin and Swan hotel at Walt Disney World but with the coupon it is $25 round trip.
I proved to a few AU attendees on my flight today to Orlando that I do not get to fly first class or get any pampering or perks when traveling. I sat in the last row of the 737 plane in a seat that did not recline and next to the restrooms. If I flew any lower class on the plane I would have been in the cargo hold.
I have already ran into a bunch of people I know such as Alex Wood, Matt Murphy, Ted Boardman, Matt Stachoni, and a few others. It is shaping up to be a huge AU.
I will start posting photos tomorrow.
Cheers,
Shaan
There is now a Autodesk DWF Apple iPod Nano contest. Submit your DWF files and perhaps you will be a winner of one of those cool small Apple iPod Nanos. The contest will run through January 27th, 2006.
This free and unsupported LISP routine was written by Autodesk employee Randy Kintzley. Randy was responsible for many of the hugely popular AutoCAD Express Tools and some great core AutoCAD features . If you get a chance to attend a programming class from Randy it will be well worth it. He has some of the fastest keyboard fingers I have ever seen and can write a write a routine live on the fly from a request in the audience.
This LISP routine will open the last closed drawing when you launch AutoCAD.
Place it somewhere that AutoCAD can find and then load it on startup. You can do this using the AutoCAD command APPLOAD, or just add the following line to acaddoc.lsp
(load “openlastdwg.lsp” ‘(princ))
Thank you Randy!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10162734/from/RSS/
Apparently a new email virus is in the wild and destined to be the largest of the year. It is spreading at 2000,000 copies per hour. Whatever you do, resist the temptation to open and email that appears to be from the FBI or Paris Hilton. Come on, now why would you really think you were receiving a "real" email from Paris Hilton. ;-)
Shaan
I want to thank Melanie Stone of AUGI for reminding me about the past years Autodesk University "AU" class handouts in her Mistress of Dorkness blog.
AUGI now has available for download the awesome handouts from the AU 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 for free to AUGI members. Of course AUGI membership is also free all you need to do is register and you get the keys to 4 years of top notch training. If you want the handouts for next weeks AU 2005 in Orlando Florida you will either need to attend or wait another year for the handouts to be posted to the AUGI website.
AU 2005 and AU Handouts from 2000-2004
Cheers,
Shaan
Only 6 days left before Autodesk University "AU" 2005. This will be my 3rd AU blogging from the event but I have attended all AUs since 1998.
I have now created the AU 2005 photo gallery on this blog. I will be posting photos live from AU next week in addition to blogging. With over 5000 attending AU this year I wont be able to take a photo of each person but if you hunt me down at AU I might place your picture in the gallery.
http://autodesk.blogs.com/photos/autodesk_university_2005/index.html
I expect the traffic to go crazy again if the past AU image gallery hits are any indication. Last year there were 13,000 unique visitors hitting the AU 2004 photo gallery in just one single day.
It slices, it dices....Today the new releases DWF Writer 3 and DWF Viewer 6.5 were launched publicly after beta testing with customers. There are some really nice enhancements in both of these update free products.
What’s New in DWF Viewer 6.5
To get the updated Autodesk DWF Viewer 6.5 go to www.autodesk.com/dwf
What’s New in Autodesk DWF Writer 3
Autodesk® DWF™ Writer for 2D is a Microsoft® Windows® system printer driver for publishing 2D DWF™ files. Click the Publish DWF button or select Autodesk DWF Writer from the printer list in any Windows application. Additionally, use Autodesk DWF Writer for 3D to capture 3D models from OpenGL applications such as MicroStation, CATIA®, UGS® NX™ and UGS® Solid Edge®.
To get the updated Autodesk DWF Writer 3 go to www.autodesk.com/dwf-publishing
You should read what Robin Capper of New Zealand thinks about the new versions in his blog. http://rcd.typepad.com/rcd/2005/11/new_autodesk_dw.html
I have been quiet for the past few days because I am preparing for Autodesk University "AU" which is only a week away and looking to be over 5000 people this year. I have also been traveling this week so time has been scarce.
I have a few posts planned for next week, all I need to do is sit down and write them and then it will be an all AU blog for a week. I will for the third year blogging live from the event with photos being posted from the event floor. I will be the crazed guy running around with my cameras with people fleeing. I will be working in the AutoCAD booth during the AUGI Beer bust in the exhibit hall from 8 until 11PM.
I am not leaking any details but the main stage presentation is a must see this year with some real jaw dropping items planned. It will be at 1PM Tuesday.
I will be arriving Saturday so email me or arrange a meeting with me to chat using AU Connect.
See you at AU in Orlando!
Shaan
Can you survive cold winters in Michigan, have a mechanical background, and enjoy a challenge and working on the future of a great product? Autodesk is looking to add a new position to the AutoCAD Mechanical Team in Novi Michigan. The position is for a Technical Marketing Mgr.
Autodesk will be conducting DWF and Buzzsaw user feedback/usability sessions at Autodesk University. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to pam.polizzi@autodesk.com stating your interest, along with your phone number. Pam will then contact you to set up an appointment.
DWF sessions:
Monday, November 28th: 7:30 - 9am
Wednesday, November 30th: 9:30 - 2pm
Buzzsaw sessions:
Tuesday, November 29th: 7:00 - 9am and 11 - 1pm
Wednesday, November 30th: 9:30 - 2pm
This is a great way to get your feedback on new features and products.
Daryl of DG CAD sent me an email to let me know he is offerering free AutoCAD 2006 Dynamic Block training lessons. Dynamic blocks can be a powerful way to save time and reduce the number of blocks you maintain.
Free AutoCAD 2006 Dynamic Block Training Videos
Lesson 1: Overview
Lesson 2: Stretch - Array - Align – Flip
Lesson 3: Point Parameter - Stretch - Rotate – Flip
Lesson 4: Lists - Lookup Parameters – Lookup Actions – Rotate
Lesson 5: Visibility Parameters – Linear
http://www.dgcad.com/Acad2006.htm
Thank you Daryl!
Do you have free tutorials, tips, helpful blog or website links you wish to offer fellow AutoCAD users, send me an email and I might publish it here for the benefit of the thousands of daily readers.
Happy Friday
Shaan
The AutoCAD Team is looking for participants in Usability sessions at this year’s Autodesk University.
Spaces are limited and you will be notified if you have been added to a session. All sessions will require you to complete and Non-Disclosure agreement onsite. This is another way to help shape the future of Autodesk products and get to see some very cool stuff in the process.
Monday, November 28th
Tuesday, November 29th
Wednesday, November 30th
If you are interested in a session please complete the following survey :
link to sign up survey
The free standalone batch DWG conversion tool DWG TrueConvert is now available for download. DWG True Convert requires no AutoCAD to be present on the system.
http://www.autodesk.com/dwgtrueconvert
Past blog post about this tool and what it does:
DWG TrueView & DWG TrueConvert
Press release of DWG TrueView and DWG TrueConvert
New, Free Autodesk Tools for Viewing and Converting DWG Data Enhance Communication and Collaboration
Microsoft has a new beta website for tuning up your Microsoft Windows. There is also be a nice customizable home page included that I have been using as http://www.start.com for awhile but now it is apparantly migrating to http://www.live.com. The home page is nice and clean and also very easy to add my RSS feeds to the site using an OPML file.
The security and tuning page is http://safety.live.com/.
More things in the works: http://ideas.live.com/
Cheers,
Shaan
From an email to me from DWF Evangelist Scott Sheppard.
I have been tardy in keeping my eye on the number of Autodesk DWF Viewer downloads. We have passed the 9 million user mark and are almost halfway to 10 million. The number of people downloading the free Autodesk DWF Viewer continues to grow due to the popularity and benefits of the DWF format over other electronic formats for CAD documents.
To put this in perspective, each of the following is roughly 9 million:
Though Autodesk now offers the free Autodesk DWG TrueView viewer, the benefits of sharing DWF files versus native AutoCAD drawings endure. DWF files are print-ready, multisheet, AutoCAD version independent, rich in metadata, smaller, read-only, secure, and based on an open format.
Thank you to all of the DWF users out there!
The Autodesk Inventor Team is looking for some feedback in an online survey for customers using both AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor.
Check out the Inventor Teams blog for the details. Link
Cheers,
Shaan
Jimmy Bergmark posted on his blog instructions on how to silently deploy the new and free DWG TrueView to your network users. Now you can deploy the DWG viewer to your network users so they can view their DWG files with the same visual fidelity and accuracy as AutoCAD.
Link to Silent installation of Autodesk DWG TrueView
Thank you Jimmy!
-Shaan
I created a quick visual guide to the differences between redundant and distributed FLEXlm® license servers. Distributed is the preferred method due to the ease at which a server failure can be identified, easy to manage, and can be distributed across a WAN.
Distributed
Redundant
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