Between the Lines

AutoCAD 2010 Getting Sticky with Ribbon Sticky Panels

In AutoCAD 2010 products there is now a new ribbon option we call sticky panels. You can now tear off a ribbon panel to the drawing area. It will remain on your drawing area modeless much like a toolbar would.

In this quick bite size example I want to take the Action Recorder off the ribbon to my drawing area for easier access as I want to record and test some macros.

I simply select the panel on the lower panel description name and then hold the left mouse button and drag it off the ribbon. You could do this for other panels you frequently use perhaps the new Mesh panel or the Modify panel.

 

There is are option available on the sticky panel such as the ability to change the orientation of the panel from vertical to horizontal. I can also drag the sticky panel back onto the ribbon in a location I would prefer or select the option to return it to the ribbon which places it back where it came from.

Cheers,
Shaan

Free Autodesk Imagine Virtual Event Today

Tuesday May 19, 2009
10:00 AM. – 5:00 PM. EDT (7:00 AM – 2:00 PM. PDT)

There will be many presentations as well as Autodesk employees posted in the virtual booths to take your questions on the many new products.

I hope to “virtually” see you there as I will be participating in the chat sessions such as “Straight Talk about AutoCAD 2010 Benefits“.

Sign Up Now

Cheers,
Shaan

PS: Only 196 days until Autodesk University 2009!

Autodesk Imagine Virtual Event May 19th, 2009

Find out how to turn "What if" into reality & Why Design Matters

The Autodesk Imagine Virtual Event is an online live event with interactive chat sessions included.

Tuesday May 19, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EDT
7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PDT

Sign Up Now

Agenda

The Autodesk Imagine Virtual Event Agenda May 19, 2009

10:00am–5:00pm EDT / 7:00am–2:00pm PDT

• Exhibit Hall Open

11:30–12:00pm EDT / 8:30–9:00am PDT

• What's New in Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions for Mechanical & Electrical Engineers
• What's New in Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010
• What's New in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010
• What's New in Autodesk Revit MEP 2010
• Infrastructure Modeling / Mapping and GIS
• Autodesk Solutions for Entertainment: What's New in Maya 2009

12:00–12:30pm EDT / 9:00–9:30am PDT

• Take Design Further: Lynn Allen's AutoCAD 2010 Tips & Techniques

12:30–1:00pm EDT / 9:30–10:00am PDT

• Autodesk Solutions for the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

1:00–1:30pm EDT / 10:00–10:30am PDT

Scheduled Chat Sessions:

• AutoCAD LT 2010: PDF output and underlays
• What is Digital Prototyping and What's in it For Me?
• The Latest and Greatest in Autodesk Revit
• Infrastructure Modeling / Mapping and GIS
• Best Practices: Autodesk Solutions for Entertainment
• Autodesk Solutions for the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

1:30–2:00pm EDT / 10:30–11:00am PDT

• 3D Conceptual Design inside AutoCAD 2010

2:30–3:00pm EDT / 11:30–12:00pm PDT

• What's New in the Autodesk Vault Product Line for Data Management
• What's New in Autodesk Solutions for Industrial Design & Visualization
• What's New in Autodesk Revit Structure 2010
• What's New in Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2010
• What's New in Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2010
• Join the Conversation: Design Matters – when managing utility networks
• Autodesk Solutions for Entertainment: What's New In 3ds Max 2010

3:00–3:30pm EDT / 12:00–12:30pm PDT

Scheduled Chat Sessions:

• Autodesk Manufacturing Software Solutions – Indentifying the Right Products for You
• Rock & Road: Dig into AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010
• Design Matters: When Managing Utility Networks
• Autodesk Solutions for Entertainment: Production Workflows

4:00–4:30pm EDT / 1:00–1:30pm PDT

Scheduled Chat Session:

• Straight Talk about AutoCAD 2010 Benefits

I hope to see you there as I will be participating in the chat sessions such as “Straight Talk about AutoCAD 2010 Benefits“.

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD 2009 Update 3 Released Today

In an effort to continue to improve the quality of our products we are releasing a free AutoCAD 2009 Update 3 after it has completed customer beta testing. This update (Service Pack) includes both AutoCAD Update 1 & Update 2.

 

 

Who Should Install This Update?

• AutoCAD 2009 32-bit & 64-bit
• AutoCAD LT 2009 32-bit & 64-bit
• AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite 2009 32-bit & 64-bit
• AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite 2009

Downloads

• AutoCAD 2009 Update 3 http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL13271527
• AutoCAD LT 2009 Update 3 http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL13271636
• AutoCAD 2009 Update 3 for Revit Architecture Suite http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL13271534
• AutoCAD 2009 Update 3 for Revit Structure Suite http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL13271518

ReadMe Document

Fixes Include:

AutoCAD 2010 - Rotate Layout View with Viewport, Like a Ninja

AutoCAD customers have been asking for the option to rotate the view with their associated viewport. This was a top item in the AUGI AutoCAD Wish List June 2007 submitted by Bill N. (link).

With the AutoCAD 2010 based products we have added the ability to rotate objects in a viewport with the viewport easily without having to become a UCS ninja master.

You can select the viewport and when you rotate it the view rotates with the Viewport. There is a new AutoCAD System Variable VPROTATEASSOC which is set to a value of 1 by default and will rotate the view with the viewport. You can set VPROTATEASSOC=0 to have the Viewport rotate with the Viewport.

Viewport before rotating. You can use the command ROTATE and select the viewport boundary, or select the viewport boundary and then use the grips to rotate.

 

When you rotated the viewport in past releases of AutoCAD it resulted in the following result.

 

The default in AutoCAD 2010 rotates the view with the viewport.

Keep the wish List items coming!
AutoCAD Wish List Submission Form

Cheers,
Shaan

Creating Complex Boundaries with AutoCAD and 2D Hand Rendering Styling

I was doing some planning work for a new pond in my backyard and thought I would share a cool AutoCAD tip.

When drawing a 2D layout drawing of my yard’s landscaping I was presented with the problem of duplicating the flowerbeds border with the grass regions. Instead of copying and drawing outlines which could cause problems with the splines I used for the curved shapes, I used the trick of creating a new boundary polyline with a Hatch. Below is a tutorial on how you can do the same trick and as a bonus showed my design styled in Autodesk Impression.

So in this image you see the 6 regions I want defined for a polyline on a separate layer, but the boundaries of these objects is not drawn yet.

What I did was hatched the 6 regions I wanted to create a boundary for using the AutoCAD command BHATCH.

 

I then double-clicked on the new Hatch which brings up the Hatch Edit dialog. I then selected the option to “Recreate Boundary” then accepted the default option to create a Polyline and boundary not Reassociate the Hatch to the new boundary.

 
 

Now delete the Hatch object and you are left with a polyline boundary of the regions you hatched. This is much faster than other methods to create the new boundary layer. I could also just keep the Hatch objects on a separate layer and even use AutoCAD Fields to display the square footage of my grass covered areas. In a past popular blog post “StarBacks BBQ Floor Space Planning with AutoCAD FIELDS” I showed how to show a hatch objects area and even use that area value for an AutoCAD or Excel table and calculations. As Matt Murphy would say “ That’s Wicked Cool”.

 

To make the design nice and visually pleasing instead of just a collection of lines, I styled my design using Autodesk Impression. Below are the hand rendering styled images created with Autodesk Impression 3 in less than five minutes.

The best part is the rendering is vector based drawing and if I update the DWG file I can simply update the rendering in Impression instead of starting back from scratch in a raster editing program or using traditional pens, markers or watercolor.  In less than five minutes I imported the DWG and styled it in a colored pencil then changed my mind and in less than one minute changed to an overlapping marker style.

 

Autodesk Impression is a free download for many Autodesk Subscription customers.

Update 5/11/09
Tom Kelly pointed out another excellent method to create  the outline of a region in the comments to this post. Use the Boundary command “BO”. So many commands, so little time. Thanks Tom.

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD 2010 Test Dynamic Block

In past releases of AutoCAD you could develop a nice Dynamic Block but had to save it to see if it worked and then re-enter the Block Editor (BEDIT command) to tweak and tune it, and repeat.

Now with AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 in the Block Editor there is the ability to test your block speeding up the creation of powerful Dynamic Blocks.

You can access this new Test Block option from the Block Edit ribbon or using the AutoCAD command BTESTBLOCK when in the Block Editor.

Cheers,
Shaan

Autodesk 2010 Product Codenames

For those interested in Autodesk trivia, this is for you. When software is being developed it does not have a formal name, and is often referred to as a codename project throughout development and beta testing. The names are selected by the teams and some take great liberty and humor in their selection while some may align with their products theme.

Below is the only complete listing of Autodesk internal codenames for 2010 projects thus far.

More AutoCAD 2010 Blog Articles

Last Thursday AutoCAD 2010 was announced by Autodesk and beta customers were released to be the best spokespeople for the release. Below are more blog posts I found over the weekend on AutoCAD 2010 and the launch events in San Francisco with customer bloggers. The AutoCAD customer bloggers that attended were encouraged to express their own perspective and opinions (good or bad), and suggestions on the new release.

It is powerful for me and Autodesk to hear the perspective of bloggers who use the product day to day and what they truly think.

• CAD-a-Blog: AutoCAD 2010 Revealed
• CADman-Do: AutoCAD 2010 Rollout - Behind the Scenes
• AutoCAD 2010 - First Look at Parametric Constraints | The CAD Geek ...
• AutoCADder: AutoCAD 2010 is coming
• Autodesk not listening? The response, part 2
• Autodesk not listening? The response, part 1
• CIVIL 3D ROCKS: Want to See AutoCAD 2010? Watch the recording of ...
• RobiNZ CAD Blog: AutoCAD 2010 Webcast Recording Onine
• RobiNZ CAD Blog: AutoCAD 2010 Backstage Pass Event Bloggers
• Autodesk releases AutoCAD 2010 taking 3D Design and Documentation ...
• JTB World Blog: No VBA installed with AutoCAD 2010
• It is Alive in the Lab: Autodesk Labs at AutoCAD 2010 Blogger ...
• News from the "Real World": Let the AutoCAD 2010 Blogging Begin!
• It’s on it’s Way « Map 3D and Murphs Law
• RobiNZ CAD Blog: A day with CAD Bloggers Shaan & Steve
• CADit: AutoCAD 2010 - Preview Guide
• JTB World Blog: AutoCAD 2010 fairy tale
• CAO : AutoCAD 2010 dans les bacs à partir du 24 mars
• Autodesk Releases AutoCAD 2010 Family of Products
• CADDHELP: AutoCAD 2010 is coming

AutoCAD 2010 Other Enhancements aka The Frosting

In addition to some of the new features (Parametric Design, Free-Form Modeling and 3D Printing) introduced in AutoCAD 2010, the AutoCAD team also made many enhancements to many features that are already part of AutoCAD based on customer feedback. Some of these are:

Dynamic Blocks

• Easier to author dynamic blocks
• Easier to understand and later edit authored behavior
• More flexible and powerful dynamic blocks with Constraint Parameters
• Test block without exiting Block Editor
• More compelling authoring environment

Deployment

• Added the ability for a CAD Manager to create Advanced User Profiles
• Dynamic paths in the registry
• All user-customizable support files should be installed to Roaming AppData by default
• Allow choice for support content location

Performance

• Improved graphics fidelity, stability and performance through GS Architectural projects
• Unified precision and temporary graphics for a consistent user experience in 2D and 3D
• Layer Manager Performance improvements

Hatch

• Red Circles indicating areas where invalid boundary were detected for area being hatched
• Stretchable, resizable hatching using grips
• Improvements to hatching large coordinate objects
• Performance increase

External References

• The ability to attach PDF’s as underlays (including OSnap capability to the PDF file)
• Inverse X-Clip for all reference files (Image, DGN, DWF, DWG, PDF)
• Reference files Fading/Dimming (XDWGFADECTL)
• Show but don’t print the frame of reference files capability
• General Reference commands on Ribbon for Attach, Clip and Adjust
• XREF: XCLIPFRAME (2 displayed not plotted)

Printing and Publishing

• Improved PDF publishing
  • including reduced file size
  • True type fonts
  • ability to print file with PDF
  • quick export to single or multi-sheet PDFs from Ribbon Panel
• Improvements to the Publish Dialog box
• Performance improvements when publishing to DWF and DWFx with layer information

3D Enhancements

• Enhanced Section Plans (can now generate one layer in block per layer in drawing)
• Point filters ( for Vertices, faces or points)
• 3D Gizmo improvements
• Added the new Scale Gizmo
• Right click brings up all gizmo options for Rotate, move and Scale
• Align Gizmo to World USC, Current USC or face of an object
• Ability to relocate Gizmo
• Larger graphical representation of the Rotate, Move and Scale gizmos
• Conversion of polyface mesh coming from 3ds max and Image Modeler into solids (via converting them into a level 0 SubD mesh first).

Ribbon Enhancements

• 3 rows of icons
• Sticky panels
• Improved performance
• Introduction of Contextual tabs
• Express Tools on the ribbon

MLeader Enhancements

• Per Segment Leader Properties
• Multileader attachment updates

Sheet Set Manager Updates

• Sheet and Subset Level Publish Control Improvements
• Insert Sheet list table updates

Action Recorder Updates

• Fix tooltip when using <Enter> key and new task dialog
• Changes to Request User Input & User Message task dialogs
• Insert Macro (Set Base point)
• Action Macro Manager

MText Enhancements

• MText column default
• Change Mtext corner grips to match table corner grips

Seek Integration

• Ability to upload drawings or blocks to Seek

Misc. Design Enhancements

• AUGI Wishlist #5 : Rotating a Viewport Rotates the View in the Viewport - The ability to rotate a rectangular or non-rectangular viewport and have the view of the objects rotate with the viewport.
• MEASURE: Enhanced Measurement Tools
• QUICK VIEW: Model Space Thumbnail Cache
• PEDIT - Reverse Polylines
• SPLINE: Convert SPLINE to PLINE
• Rotating a Viewport Rotates the View in the Viewport
• Quick Properties: Palette Close Issue
• Spell Check: Add Undo Button in Check Spelling Dialog
• ETRANSMIT- Added option to include unloaded references
• PURGE: Erase unreferenced unnamed objects
• Color dialog improvements
• Ability to change color from swatch in layer drop down list in Ribbon
• Ctrl+Click a pline to select just a portion of it
• Polylines can now be sub-selected i.e. segments of plines (also called as sub objects) can be sub selected using CTRL key
• Users can sub select the segments of Polylines during 2D editing commands such as move, rotate etc.
• STLOUT: Ability to select multiple solids
• Find and Replace Usability Enhancements
• Display Model and Layout tabs by default
• Add Preview Checkbox to Insert table
• Enabled Attsync; batman; eattedit; Refclose; RefEdit; -Refedit; refeditname; refset; xclip; xfadectl; xopen; xrefnotify in AutoCAD LT 2010
• Command line and GUI effect name for -3dconfig command now match
• Allow an option to have all horizontal dimensions read left to right and vertical dimensions read bottom to top
• Additions to the CER log: list of stuck modules
• Expose Bind type in eTransmit
• Provide an API to specify that the current drawing being eTransmitted should be opened in the Editor
• Support for Geographic Location in AutoCAD Xref Attach and Insert
• Redo support in RealDWG API
• Better ACA Object support and visual fidelity with export layout
• Introduce a new protocol extension that refedit checkin() can use to determine if a particular object type should get the swapid processing.
• Plot components cleanup
• Allowed an option to have all horizontal dimensions read left to right and vertical dimensions read bottom to top
• The dimension object will support dimension less than 1m with the prefix of “0.” Or “.”.
• Mechanism to allow for vertical Publish add-ons to demand load along with publish
• Exposed bind type in eTransmit
• Provided an API to generate a Thumbnail on a side database
• Provide an API to specify that the current drawing being eTransmitted should be opened in the Editor
• Layer Manager Performance improvements
• Support for Geographic Location in AutoCAD Xref Attach and Insert
• PEdit and JOIN command enhancements
• Turn on SSE2 Instructions
• CUI image editing updates
• CUI performance increase
• Added Ribbon tab for Express tools
• -SPLINE: Convert SPLINE to PLINE (Splinedit)
• PEDIT - Reverse Polylines (Pedit)

Bugs fixed (many)

• yourfile.DWG has a command in progress is often reported at the command line while executing a quick save.  This error usually occurs after the user has been executing the 3DORBIT command.
• Fixed problem that occurred when executing the lisp function  (entmod) on any annotative mtext entity will kill the annotative properties

Thank you to AutoCAD Product Manager Kathy O'Connell, Autodesk Product Designers, and QA personell for helping me compile the list.

Cheers,
Shaan

14 November 2008 New Feature Releases for Autodesk Subscription Customers

On November 14th 2008, Autodesk Subscription members, as part of their benefits, can download the following new feature releases:

Listed in alphabetical order by product

AutoCAD 2009

• AutoCAD 2009 Bonus Subscription Bonus Pack 2 — PDF Enhancements  - English
• AutoCAD 2009: Transitioning from AutoCAD 2008 e-Learning – French, Italian, German, Latin American Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese

AutoCAD Architecture 2009

• German Content Library for AutoCAD Architecture 2009 - (Available in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland only) – German

AutoCAD Civil 2009

• AutoCAD Civil 2009 e-Learning - English

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009

• Subassemblies for AutoCAD Civil and Civil 3D 2009 – French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish

AutoCAD LT 2009

• AutoCAD LT 2009: Transitioning from AutoCAD LT 2008 to AutoCAD 2009 e-Learning  - Japanese

AutoCAD MEP 2009

• Russian Content Extension for AutoCAD MEP 2009 - Russian

Autodesk 3ds Max 2009

• Autodesk 3ds Max 2009: Particles and Effects > Fluid Effects Downloadable DVD - English

· Autodesk 3dsMax 2009: Animation and Rigging > Exploiting Proceduralism Downloadable DVD- English

· Autodesk 3dsMax 2009: Scripting > Scripting a Base Plug-in (Part III) Video Podcast- English

Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2009

• Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2009: Particles and Effects > Fluid Effects Downloadable DVD- English
• Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2009: Animation and Rigging > Exploiting Proceduralism Downloadable DVD- English
• Autodesk 3dsMax Design 2009: Scripting > Scripting a Base Plug-in (Part III)  Video Podcast- English

Autodesk Inventor 2009

• Autodesk Inventor 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack – French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean
• Autodesk Inventor 2009: Essentials Parts 1 & 2 e-Learning – French, Italian, Latin American Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian

Autodesk Maya 2008 and Autodesk Maya 2009

• Autodesk Maya 2008: Rigging and Animation > A Tribute to Attributes Video Podcast- English
• Autodesk Maya 2008: Rigging and Animation > Arm Rigging (Part II &III & IV) Video Podcast- English
• Autodesk Maya 2008: Modeling > Model & Sculpt a Hand (Part III & IV) Video Podcast- English
• Autodesk Maya 2008: Dynamics > Trouble Shooting Dynamics Video Podcast- English
• Autodesk Maya 2008: Scripting > API and Game Development Part III Video Podcast- English
• Autodesk Maya 2009: Dynamics > Compositing with Fluids (Podcast) – English
• Autodesk Maya 2009: Scripting > Taking Maya out of Context (Podcast) – English
• Autodesk Maya 2009: Version Readiness Video Podcast - English

Autodesk MotionBuilder

• Autodesk MotionBuilder: Advanced Facial Rigging Downloadable DVD – English, Korean

Autodesk NavisWorks 2009

• 2004 DWG Object Enabler Extension for Autodesk NavisWorks 2009.1 software – English
• Autodesk NavisWorks 2009 Review: Project Review e-learning – English
• Autodesk NavisWorks 2009 Simulate: Animate, 4D Simulations and Project Presentations e-Learning  - English
• Autodesk NavisWorks 2009 Manage: Effective Project 3D Coordination and Analysis e-Learning  - English

Autodesk® Robot™ Structural Analysis 2009

• Robot Extensions for Autodesk® Robot™ Structural Analysis 2009 software – French, Spanish, Russian, Polish

Revit 2009

• Revit Extensions for Revit Architecture 2009 64-bit – French, Italian, German, Simplified Chinese, Polish
• Revit Extensions for Revit MEP 2009 – Simplified Chinese
• Revit Extensions for Revit Structure 2009 64-bit – French, Italian, German, Simplified Chinese, Polish
• Revit Architecture 2009 64-bit – Traditional Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish
• Revit MEP 2009 64-bit  - Japanese, Simplified Chinese
• Revit Structure 2009 64-bit – Russian, Polish
• Batch Print Utility for Revit 2009 - Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish
• Worksharing Monitor for Revit 2009  - Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish
• German Content Library for Revit Architecture 2009 – (Available in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland only) – German
• Austrian Content Library for Revit Architecture 2009 – (Available in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland only) – German

Cheers,
Shaan (experiencing bad jetlag)

AutoCAD 2009 Article - Much More to AutoCAD 2009 Than Meets the Eye

David Cohn published a new AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009 article “Much More to AutoCAD 2009 Than Meets the Eye” in Desktop Engineering. It is a good and very well balanced article which points out there is more than the initial impression of the interface changes to AutoCAD 2009. David also wrote about the interface changes and that he preferred them, but you can customize and revert back to an older AutoCAD styled interface.

That is one of the strengths of AutoCAD in that you can customize it to your own needs and likes. We knew that if we were to develop the ribbon in AutoCAD that we would have to go above and beyond the ribbon in Microsoft's Office to make it customizable.

So with AutoCAD 2009 the tradition of make it your way and almost 3 ways to most anything continue to the delight of many.

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009 Update 2

In an effort to continuously improve Autodesk products AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009, we have are now releasing the AutoCAD 2009 Update 2 after customer beta testing at Autodesk MyFeedback (http:\\myfeedback.autodesk.com).

This update is to address customer reported issues through product support, discussion groups, subscription support, emails, and reported to the Product Feedback form on Autodesk.com reached by going to www.autodesk.com then selecting Contact Us > Feedback > products or (Autodesk Product Feedback Form) which goes directly to the product team members email and in most cases is responded to.

This update also addresses issues reported by customers sending in the Customer Error Report CER reports. CER reports are the dialog that shows up when you crash Autodesk products and asks for any detailed information what you were doing and you email. We then get this anonymous information and look at what the xml stack trace tells us and determine the culprit and then determine a possible fix and prioritize it. I cannot stress enough if you want to get a problem fixed to be sure to send in each and every CER report whenever you get one. Make sure to add any additional information and your email so we can follow up. Also when you enter your email, you will be notified when your problem has been corrected.

This new AutoCAD 2009 Update 2  is now available on the Updates & Service Packs for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT page and well as notification soon in your AutoCAD Communication Center Live Update feature. Don't forget to read the ReadMe document as it contains some important information such as supported products, install and uninstall steps as well as known issues.

• AutoCAD Updates & Service Packs
• AutoCAD LT Updates & Service Packs

Updated location of available Update 2 downloads:

AutoCAD® 2009 Update 2 (please note Update 2 includes all fixes in Update 1)

 AutoCAD 2009 Update 2 - 32bit (exe - 23635Kb)

 AutoCAD 2009 Update 2 - 64bit (exe - 30498Kb)

 Readme (html - 58Kb)

So what’s in it?

Updates have been made in the following commands and features:

Update 1

• 3D Visual Styles
• Annotation Scaling
• External References (xref) Palette
• HATCH
• Partial Open
• PLOT
• Properties Palette
• Raster Images
• Remote Text (rtext)

Update 2

• 3DORBIT
• Annotation Scaling
• Blocks
• HATCH
• LAYER
• MATERIALS
• Menu Browser
• OPEN/SAVE
• PLOT
• Properties Palette
• PUBLISH
• RENDER

The following defects have also been fixed:

3D Navigation Tools

Update 2

• When you use the ViewCube in some drawings, AutoCAD freezes.

.NET API

Update 1

• When a .NET function with a LispFunction attribute has the return type as object, an exception is thrown in AutoCAD.

Update 2

• If you create a wipeout object through .NET API, a fatal error may occur.

Annotation Scaling

Update 1

• A drawing that contains a large number of anonymous blocks and copies of annotative entities created in AutoCAD 2007 or an earlier release opens slowly in AutoCAD 2009.
• A scale is infinitely enumerated when you insert a drawing that contains the same scale as a block or an external reference (xref).

Update 2

• The scale of annotative text changes when you use LISP entmod() to change the properties of the annotative text.

Attributes

Update 1

• When you attempt to display a tooltip of a multiline text (mtext) attribute that contains 281 characters or more, AutoCAD crashes.
• When you move a block using an insertion grip, mtext attributes move incorrectly.
• When the default value of an mtext attribute in a block contains a field, you cannot edit the attribute text to replace the field with other data.

Update 2

• When a drawing contains xrefs, the -ATTEDIT command fails.

Autodesk Buzzsaw

Update 2

• In the File Navigation dialog box, when you use the Add a Buzzsaw location shortcut option, AutoCAD crashes.

Blocks

Update 1

• When you insert or redefine a block that contains attributes on a locked layer, AutoCAD crashes.
• When you change the scale of a block through the Properties Palette, an attribute displays incorrectly.

Update 2

• When you copy and paste a dynamic block, associative hatches do not work.
• After you redefine a block definition, associative hatches in dynamic blocks display incorrectly.
• When you open a drawing, a polyline in a block may have a very large width.
• After you open a drawing, some dynamic blocks lose their dynamic properties.

Data Extraction

Update 2

• Data Extraction cannot finish operations in some cases.
• The Data Extraction Combine Record Mode > Sum values option does not work correctly.

DGN Support

Update 2

• When you import some DGN files, AutoCAD crashes.

DIM

Update 2

• If alternate units is on and you edit dimension text, the alternate units text is duplicated.

Export a Layout to Model Space

Update 1

When you export a layout to model space the following occurs:

• The linetype scale changes.
• Dimension arrowheads do not display.
• Text does not rotate correctly.
• Drawing properties are lost.

Update 2

• If .NET 3.5 Service Pack 1 is installed and you use the EXPORTLAYOUT command on some layouts, AutoCAD may stop responding.

External Reference ESW

Update 1

• The External References palette does not display when auto-hidden and used with the XREF or IMAGE commands.

Find

Update 1

• When you use the FIND command, AutoCAD does not remain zoomed into an object.

Update 2

• The FIND command performs slowly when you search for text.

Groups

Update 2

• Rollover highlighting does not go away.

Hatch

Update 1

• When you recreate a hatch boundary, it consists of separate line segments rather than a closed polyline.

Update 2

• When you bind a drawing with an xref that contains annotative hatches, AutoCAD crashes.

Hide/Shade

Update 1

• When you plot, objects in an xref are not correctly hidden.

Update 2

• When you use the HIDE command with a drawing that contains text, some objects may not be hidden.

Image

Update 2

• When you attach a corrupted raster image to a drawing, AutoCAD crashes.

Layer

Update 2

• When you zoom to a locked viewport, the Layer palette updates

Layouts

Update 2

• When you attempt to switch layouts in drawings, an Out of Memory crash may occur.

Materials

Update 2

• When you import a 3DS file with texture, AutoCAD may crash.

Menu Browser

Update 1

• You cannot access the menu browser in a non-English version of AutoCAD using the shortcut Alt+Key.

Menu/Toolbar

Update 2

• Some menu macros do not work.

Multileader (mleader)

Update 1

• When created on a rotated UCS, an mleader does not respect POLAR or ORTHO settings.

Update 2

• Mleader custom arrowheads are not brought over to the drawing from the Tool palette.

Multiline Text (mtext)

Update 1

• When you drag and drop a drawing while the In-Place Text Editor is active, AutoCAD crashes.
• When some of the values in the In-Place Text Editor are changed, AutoCAD crashes.
• Some mtext objects with double byte characters display as a single line.

Update 2

• When you edit mtext in a viewport, it may be duplicated in other viewports.

Open/Save

Update 1

• When you attempt to save a file with a long file name, AutoCAD may crash.
• When you drag and drop a file from Windows Explorer into the AutoCAD title bar while in Single Document Interface (SDI) mode, AutoCAD may crash.
• When you attempt to open multiple files from Windows Explorer, only the first selected file opens.

Object Snaps

Update 2

• Osnaps on polylines and mesh objects do not work correctly.

Partial Open

Update 1

• When the OPENPARTIAL system variable is set to 1 and you use the PURGE command, drawings may become corrupted.

Plot

Update 2

• When you plot upside-down, an OLE object does not plot correctly.
• A drawing that contains hatches and gradients may plot slowly.
• When plot area is set to View, AutoCAD LT may crash.

Properties Palette

Update 1

• In the Properties palette, the Dimension Style control may display an incorrect dimension style name.

Publish

Update 1

• In the Publish dialog box, the Publish To setting always defaults to DWF format even if you select a different setting.

Update 2

• When you attempt to publish multiple sheets with PUBLISHCOLLATE=1, only the first sheet of the set is plotted.

Quick Properties

Update 1

• When you change the theme of your operating system while running AutoCAD and then click the Quick Properties window, AutoCAD crashes.

Update 2

• When you edit multiple mtext objects through the Quick Properties palette, AutoCAD crashes.

RECOVER

Update 1

• When you open some valid drawings, you are prompted to use the RECOVER command.

Render

Update 1

• When you use the RENDER command with certain drawings that contain textured objects, AutoCAD crashes.

Update 2

• When you render some drawings, AutoCAD runs out of memory.

Ribbon

Update 1

• When acad.CUI is loaded as a partial CUI, some buttons in the mtext ribbon contextual tab fail.
• On a ribbon panel, you may not be able to move items between rows.
• A ribbon panel continues to display after it is removed from a ribbon tab.
• A button image used on a ribbon panel that is loaded from a resource DLL file lacks a transparent background.
• If you transfer a ribbon panel and a tab, buttons display small.
• Enterprise, main, and partial CUI files display multiple ribbon tabs in workspaces.
• You cannot control a ribbon tab when you use more than one non-AutoCAD CUI file.
• A ribbon tab and/or menu macro may not function properly when referenced from multiple CUI files.
• If you load a CUI file that references a missing BMP file, a fatal error displays.

Update 2

• If the ribbon is displayed and you select portions of a mtext object that contains multiple formats, the mtext object becomes distorted.

Selection

Update 2

• When you select objects in groups, AutoCAD may crash.

Tables

Update 2

• When you edit text with space before or after the text within a table cell, AutoCAD crashes.

Text

Update 2

• When you move text to a new position within a drawing, it disappears.

Tool Palettes

Update 2

• When you attempt to edit the properties of multiple Tool Palette tools, an Out of Memory crash may occur.

Visual LISP

Update 1

• The AutoLISP Redraw function fails to hide or highlight objects.

ZOOM

Update 1

• When you zoom while inserting some blocks, AutoCAD crashes.

Please keep sending in the CER reports and CIP data to improve Autodesk products for all.

Sincerely,
Shaan Hurley

22 August 2008 New Feature Releases for Autodesk Subscription Customers

I was traveling last week when the updates rolled out, but here is the belated notice and list.

On August 22nd 2008, Autodesk Subscription members, as part of their benefits, can download the following new feature releases:

• AutoCAD® 2009
  • Demo for AutoCAD® 2009 Bonus Pack
• AutoCAD LT® 2009
  • AutoCAD LT® 2009 – Advanced Techniques e-Learning
• AutoCAD® Civil 2009
  • Subassemblies for AutoCAD® Civil 2009
• AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2009
  • HEC RAS Import/Export Extension for AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2009
  • Stage Storage Extension for AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2009
  • Subassemblies for AutoCAD Civil 3D® 2009
  • Exploring the AutoCAD® Civil 3D® Environment e-Learning
  • Transportation – Working with Sections and Quantities e-Learning
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009: Essentials e-Learning (Russian)
• AutoCAD® Map 3D 2009
  • FDO Provider for GE® Smallworld
  • FDO Provider for Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008
  • Industry Toolkits for Water, Wastewater, and Electric Utilities (French, Italian, German, Spanish, UK English)
  • Surveying Tools (Korean, Japanese)

• AutoCAD® Revit® Architecture Suite 2009
  • AutoCAD® 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack (includes demo)
  • Revit® Architecture 2009: Essentials e-Learning  (Russian)

• AutoCAD® Revit® MEP Suite 2009
  • Revit® MEP 2009 software (Simplified Chinese)

• AutoCAD® Revit® Structure Suite 2009
  • AutoCAD® 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack (includes demo)
• Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2009
  • Creativity Extension for Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2009
  • Photo Simulators Toolkit Downloadable DVD
• Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design2009
  • Creativity Extension for Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design 2009
  • Photo Simulators Toolkit Downloadable DVD
• Autodesk® AliasStudio™ 2009
  • Advanced Modeling and Surfacing Techniques Downloadable DVD
• Autodesk MapGuide® Enterprise 2009
  • FDO Provider for GE® Smallworld
  • FDO Provider for Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008

• Autodesk® Maya®
  • Anaglyph Stereoscopy Techniques Downloadable DVD
  • API & Game Dev I Video Podcast
  • Arm Rigging II Video Podcast
  • The Creation Cannon Video Podcast
• Autodesk® MotionBuilder®
  • Advanced Facial Rigging Downloadable DVD
• Autodesk® Topobase™ Client 2009
  • FDO Provider for GE® Smallworld
• Autodesk® Topobase™ Web 2009
  • FDO Provider for GE® Smallworld

• Autodesk® Utility Design 2009
  • FDO Provider for GE® Smallworld
• Revit® Architecture 2009
  • Revit® Architecture 2009: Essentials e-Learning  (Russian)

You can download these releases via the Subscription Center.

Cheers,
Shaan

Students, Teachers, Get Your Free Autodesk Design Applications

It is that time of year for students to head back to the classroom and dorms. I just wanted to mention you can get many Autodesk design applications for free as a student from http://students.autodesk.com. From Autodesk Impression,  3D Viz, Revit, to Civil 3D in addition to some curriculum and a community.

 

Unfortunately the there are a couple products missing and I receive emails about, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT the top of the design software food chain as general purpose design products. I am working to see if we can do something about this.

Happy studies,
Shaan

Autodesk Products - Hardware Certification Database is 17.2.0.4 Update

In case you have not seen the note in Communication Center, there is a new update for the Certified Hardware XML Database Update. This contains best product settings and tunings for certified hardware aka graphics cards.

 

You may need to download this file if:

• You have new graphics hardware.
• You have a new driver version for your graphics hardware in the graphics hardware list.
• The status of your graphics card has changed in the database. For example, The Status has changed from Supported to Certified.
• Autodesk or the graphics hardware vendor has resolved issues with your graphics hardware.

The current version of the Hardware Certification Database is 17.2.0.4. If the local version of your database is older than the current version, then your database should be updated.

Like always please review the ReadMe before downloading or installing.

LINK TO UPDATE

The Graphics Hardware List http://www.autodesk.com/autocad-graphicscard

Update Graphic Card Driver http://www.autodesk.com/autocad-graphicscardupdate

Changes from version 17.2.0.3

General Information

Click here to view the complete list of all cards available for this current database.

NVIDIA

• Adds support for the NVIDIA^® Quadro FX 570m 174.71 (7471) for Windows XP
• Adds support for the NVIDIA^® Quadro FX 570m 175.97 (7597) for Windows Vista
• Adds support for the NVIDIA^® GeForce driver version 175.16 (7516) for Windows XP64
  • The following Card has been added
    • NVIDIA^® GeForce 9600 GT
• Adds support for the NVIDIA^® GeForce driver version 175.19 (7519) for Windows XP, Vista , & Vista 64
  • The following Card has been added
    • NVIDIA^® GeForce 9600 GT

AMD

• Adds support for the ATI^® Mobility FireGL V5700 8.503 (6822) for Windows XP
• Adds support for the ATI^® FireGL unified driver version 8.453.1.3 (6758) for Windows XP & XP64
  • The following Card has been added
    • ATI^® FireGL V7700
• Adds support for the ATI^® FireGL unified driver version 8.453.1.3 (555) for Windows Vista & Vista64
  • The following Card has been added
    • ATI^® FireGL V7700
• Adds support for the ATI^® Radeon Catalyst Driver 8.6 (6822) for Windows XP & XP64
• Adds support for the ATI^® Radeon Catalyst Driver 8.6 (590) for Windows Vista & Vista64

AutoCADの索引がまとまっておめでとう！

やっと使える

AutoCAD大事典 (Navigate AutoCAD)
”AutoCAD大事典 AutoCAD LT対応版―実務で役立つワザが満載! (単行本) Navigate AutoCAD AutoCAD LT version"

鈴木 裕二 (著), 伊藤 ゆみ (著)
Authors Yuuzi Suzuki and Yumi Itou

• http://www.adds.co.jp
• http://adds.blog.ocn.ne.jp/

Amazon Japanese
Amazon English

AutoCAD Commands and System Variables in Japanese

• コマンド名からページとタイトルを検索 (Commands & Index)
• システム変数名からページとタイトルを検索 (System Variables & Index)

敬具、
Shaan

25 July 2008 New Feature Releases Now Available Exclusively for Autodesk Subscription Customers

Effective today July 25, 2008, Autodesk Subscription members, as part of their benefits, can download the following new feature releases:

• AutoCAD^® 2009
  • AutoCAD^® 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack 
    (detailed overview of this Bonus Pack planned to be posted today on this blog)
• AutoCAD^® Civil 3D^® 2008
  • PISTE Import Extension for AutoCAD^® Civil 3D^® 2008
• AutoCAD^® Civil 3D^® 2009
  • PISTE Import Extension for AutoCAD^® Civil 3D^® 2009
  • Data Management e-Learning
  • Site Design – Pipes e-Learning
  • Transportation – Alignments e-Learning
  • Transportation - Assemblies and Corridors e-Learning
• AutoCAD LT^® 2009
  • Transitioning from AutoCAD LT^® 2008 e-Learning
• AutoCAD^® Map 3D 2009
  • Merging Parcels Skill Builder
  • Working with Raster Images Online Tutorial Help Files
  • Create, Execute, and Save Complex Drawing Queries Online Tutorial Help Files
  • Cleanup and Publish a Map Online Tutorial Help Files
• AutoCAD^® MEP 2009
  • AutoCAD^® MEP DACH 2009
• AutoCAD^® Revit^® Architecture Suite 2009
  • Revit^® Extensions for Revit^® Architecture 2009
  • Revit^® 2009 Performance Technical Note (white paper)
• AutoCAD^® Revit^® MEP Suite 2009
  • Revit^® Extensions for Revit^® MEP 2009
  • Revit^® 2009 Performance Technical Note (white paper)
• AutoCAD^® Revit^® Structure Suite 2009
  • Subscription Structural Library for Revit^® Structure 2009
  • Revit^® Extensions for Revit^® Structure 2009 (second release)
  • Revit^® 2009 Performance Technical Note (white paper)
• Autodesk^® 3ds Max^® 2008
  • Automotive Visualization Tips and Tricks Downloadable DVD
  • Architectural and Industrial Visualization with mental ray and 3ds Max Downloadable DVD
• Autodesk^® 3ds Max^® 2009
  • Biped Features Version Readiness Training
• Autodesk^® Inventor ^® 2009
  • Transitioning from Autodesk Inventor 2008 Parts 1 & 2 e-Learning in Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Japanese
• Autodesk^® Maya^® 2008
  • Particle Color Inheritance II Video Podcast
  • Model & Sculpt a Hand II Video Podcast
• Autodesk^® NavisWorks^® 2009
  • Object Enablers Technical Note (white paper)
• Autodesk^® Productstream^® 2009
  • Autodesk^® Productstream^® Professional Webserver 2009
    Autodesk^® Data Exchange 2009
• Autodesk MapGuide^® 2009
  • Autodesk MapGuide^® Enterprise Server and Studio 2009 e-Learning
• Revit^® Architecture 2009
  • Revit^® Extensions for Revit^® Architecture 2009
  • Revit^® 2009 Performance Technical Note (white paper)
• Revit^® Structure 2009
  • Subscription Structural Library for Revit^® Structure 2009
  • Revit^® Extensions for Revit^® Structure 2009 (second release)
  • Revit^® 2009 Performance Technical Note (white paper)

You can download these releases via the Subscription Center.

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD LT Webcast Recording Available

Kate Morrical posted that her AutoCAD LT webcast recording is now available to watch by those that were unable to attend. The I didn’t know LT could do that! was held on July 16th, 2008. This was the first AutoCAD LT webcast to share tips, tricks, and shortcuts for users of AutoCAD LT. Kate is a maestro with AutoCAD LT and has a blog dedicated to AutoCAD LT named LT Unlimited.

Watch AutoCAD LT Webcast now!

I am the Autodesk Platform Technology Evangelist

Just mentioning for those that did not know I have a new title. I am is the Autodesk Platform Technology Evangelist and a user of many Autodesk products with time spent in a design seat as a customer.

My job is to listen and speak with customers about what they use, like, and dislike as well as speed bumps in their current workflow that we might be able to help solve together. I also research problems and work with testing and development teams to isolate the potential problems. I also get the geek task of keeping an eye on technology and communicating direct to product managers and the development teams.

I am still the manager of the betas for all Autodesk products hosted on http://myfeedback.autodesk.com and have been for many years so I have contact and experience with all Autodesk product and technology teams and their customers.

I just wanted to clear up my title change confusion and what it really meant.

Cheers,
Shaan

Question – Do You Have AutoCAD HATCH Issues?

AutoCAD HATCH objects are probably one of the most commonly used of the AutoCAD objects, but they do have some limitations and reported issues.

We are looking for examples of problems with AutoCAD HATCH objects so we can research further based on the customer examples we receive. We know there are some issues related due to extreme/large coordinates (object a great distance from the origin 0,0) and the CPU FPU Floating Point precision and rounding but want all examples. If you have an AutoCAD HATCH object issue, please send an email to me with details of the issue such as the version of AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, types of situations it occurs, and a detailed explanation of the problem along with a small sample DWG.

Thank You,
Shaan

AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009 Update 1 (Service Pack)

In an effort to continuously improve Autodesk products AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009 we have just released the Update 1 after customer beta testing at MyFeedback (http:\\myfeedback.autodesk.com).

This update is to address customer reported issues and fixes to issues reported by customers sending in the CER reports. Please be sure to send in CER reports whenever you get one and add any additional information and your email so we can follow up. And yes there is a name change from Service Pack to Service Update. ;-)

 

• Readme (html - 42Kb)
• AutoCAD 2009 Update 1 - 32bit (exe - 18151Kb)
• AutoCAD 2009 Update 1 - 64bit (exe - 25341Kb)

Cheers,
Shaan

Webcast - I didn’t know LT could do that!

Kate Morrical the Technical Marketing Manager for AutoCAD LT will host the first AutoCAD LT webcast to share tips, tricks, and shortcuts for users of AutoCAD LT. Kate is a maestro with AutoCAD LT and has a blog dedicated to AutoCAD LT named LT Unlimited.

When:   July 16^th, 10:00 am. – 11:30 am. Pacific Time

AutoCAD LT: Tips & Tricks Webcast Registration Page

Congratulations Ellen on AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009 Bible being published!

Just saw your announcement for your new book. LINK

Amazon.com LINK

LT Unlimited Blog by Kate

My new coworker Kate Morrical the Technical Marketing Mgr. for AutoCAD LT at Autodesk has a new blog.

LT Unlimited
http://ltunlimited.typepad.com/

  Subscribe