Between the Lines

TeknoChronicles of Z Does BIM

The TeknoChronicles of Z Episode 7 “Sweatin' the Details” is now available on the AutoCAD Exchange.

“Uh oh. The zipper on TJ's TeknoTard is stuck. But Z is more focused on designing cool skyboxes for a new stadium. So of course, he's implemented a BIM process with Autodesk Revit at the core, and he's using AutoCAD to extend the power of BIM. Good for the stadium design. Bad for TJ. “

 

http://autocad.autodesk.com/?nd=humor

Another great feature of the AutoCAD Exchange is the Ask an Expert where you can ask questions to the weeks expert.

July 13 – 17th the featured AutoCAD Expert on AutoCAD Exchange the Expert will be Robert Bell.  Robert will be taking your AutoCAD questions.

New Autodesk Beta Website

New and exciting changes have been introduced to Autodesk’s Beta Program where we invite customers to test and provide feedback on pre—release product so that we ship the highest quality of product possible.

The Autodesk MyFeedback Beta platform was retired by May 31st, 2009 at which  point the new Autodesk Community officially came to life at http://beta.autodesk.com.

Autodesk beta participation has grown considerably since we started our online beta communities in 1999.  I joined Autodesk in 1998 on the Beta Team back when we still shipped CD and printed guides. I had been an Autodesk customer and involved in multiple Autodesk betas. I knew I could make a difference for customers and loved a good challenge. We went from a small email lists and doing a couple products to well over 30,000 participants in over 140 countries using over 60 Autodesk products. It is time to upsize again to a new Autodesk Beta Community.

Make sure to sign up for the new Autodesk Feedback Community site before the busy beta release season in the fall. The sign up takes only a few minutes to enter the information about your Autodesk product use and hardware you intend to use to test the pre-release beta software. We need you to provide the critical customer feedback which is vital to shape the future of all Autodesk products.

http://beta.autodesk.com –> New User Signup

Cheers,
Shaan

The TeknoChronicles of Z - Episode 6 Mayor May Not

You need a mid-week laugh, so thanks to the AutoCAD Exchange there is a new episode of the TeknoChronicles of Z posted.

http://autocad.autodesk.com/?nd=humor

The TeknoChronicles of Z - Episode 6: Mayor May Not

Also

Check out the AutoCAD Exchange for more great humor and networking with fellow AutoCAD users.

Cheers,
Shaan

Job-seeking Architects, Engineers, and Designers in the Bay Area - Autodesk Assistance Program Networking Event

Meet, greet, and learn

Join Autodesk and Ideate for Autodesk Assistance Program networking event at the Autodesk Gallery at One Market. In partnership with Ideate, Autodesk is hosting a networking event for job-seeking architects, engineers, and designers in the Bay Area. Meet potential employers in your field, network with peers, and learn more about how you can benefit from the Autodesk Assistance Program.

Date: Tuesday, June 9
Time: 6 PM.–8 PM
Location: One Market, second floor

Autodesk Gallery at One Market Map

Please RSVP to Angela Simoes at angela.simoes@autodesk.com.

Autodesk Sustainable Design Survey

The Autodesk Simulation User Experience Team would appreciate your feedback on the relative importance of different types of energy analysis data during the early conceptual design phase of a project. 

Who Should Participate?
Architects, Designers, Energy Analysts, Mechanical Engineers focusing on HVAC, and those who are doing design work with a focus on sustainability.

Please forward this survey to any colleagues in these roles who may be interested.

Sustainable Design Survey link
Survey will be active: June 1 – 8, 2009.

Thank you,
Autodesk Simulation User Experience Team

AutoCAD 2010 Language Packs

I wanted to point out an important detail in my blog post AutoCAD 2010 Language Packs German and French Available

You can only install within language families currently. This means that customers in the Americas are not able to download a Japanese language pack and customers in Japan are not able to download Traditional Chinese. Currently there is no EMEA European subscription customer support for language packs.

Language Families:

Americas
English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese

Japan
English, Japanese

Chinese and Korean Asian Markets
English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

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

Autodesk MyFeedback Portal and Forums Closing May 30th 2009

Our current MyFeedback platform used for running Autodesk product betas has grown way beyond its originally designed structure and we are looking to introduce you to a new Autodesk Feedback Community over the next few month. We are also reorganizing the management of Autodesk betas. Beta projects will be managed individually on this new community by each of the four Autodesk Divisions.

We will be retiring MyFeedback on May 30th 2009. We will be moving future betas to our new Autodesk Feedback Community server.

Q&A
Q: Where is this new Autodesk Feedback Community?
A: The new Autodesk Feedback Community is located at http://beta.autodesk.com . You can sign up at http://beta.autodesk.com/signup now.

Q: Will my account be automatically migrated to the new Autodesk Feedback Community?
A: No, you will need to sign up on this new Autodesk Feedback Community at http://beta.autodesk.com/signup

Q: Will I need to sign up again or can I use my old MyFeedback login?
A: With this new Community you will need to sign up for a new account.

Q: What does this mean for non-beta related forums?
A: The new Autodesk Feedback Community will only support active beta projects. There will not be futures or miscellaneous discussion forums hosted.

Q: What will happen with existing forum posts, will they be available after May 30th?
A: The server will be offline and access to content and posts will be unavailable. You can keep a local archive on your machine by following the instructions

Q: Will there be NNTP access in the new Autodesk Feedback Community?
A: Yes, in the beta projects in this new community you will have the choice of HTTP:, SMTP email, and NNTP to participate in the discussion forums.

Want to archive discussion newsgroup content offline?
Many people choose a NNTP newsreader because you can use them to download newsgroup content and work with it while you aren’t connected to the Internet. You can download the forum posts to your Outlook Express or Windows Mail in Vista, and FreeAgent  for later review.

NDA Reminder
All content from the MyFeedback website and discussion forums are considered confidential and not to be disclosed or publicly published.

Remember May 30th 2009 MyFeedback will be redirected to http://beta.autodesk.com and you will need to sign up to continue Autodesk beta testing of products at http://beta.autodesk.com.

We appreciate your past participation and hope you will join the new Autodesk Feedback Community. Things will be different but give it some time to adjust to all the changes. After signing up and your account is approved on the new Autodesk Community you will receive an email. You will then be able to login and see if there are any beta projects you would like to be considered for. You may also receive an email invitation to a specific beta asked on your profile. Most Autodesk beta projects start in the Fall so some may not get into a new beta for a few months.

Sincerely,
Shaan Hurley

Get Certified with the 2010 Beta Exams for AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit Architecture, and AutoCAD Civil 3D

The Autodesk Professional Certification program is pleased to announce the release of the 2010 beta exams for AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit Architecture, and AutoCAD Civil 3D.

• Gain a competitive edge by getting 2010 Certified (you must take both the associate and professional level exams in a specific product if you are not a 2009 certified professional However if you are a 2009 Certified Professional you only need to take and pass the 2010 associate exam.)
• Customer cost $25 per test by using the consumer shopping cart.

The beta period is open for a 2 week period for each exam,ending on May 20 & 22^nd, depending on which exam.  We encourage you to take advantage of this period so that you can update any existing certification or earn your first certification at a low cost. 

Why do we beta test our exams?

Whenever a new exam is created, the exam items need to be calibrated and tried out within a testing situation. In order to do this, exams are made available in a Beta format.   After the items are tested within the Beta setting, each item is analyzed statistically and reanalyzed for technical accuracy, appropriateness, and readability.

What customers should expect when participating in Beta testing?

• The exam may contain small errors (this beta is to catch and correct these any errors.)
• Exam questions may or may not be the same ones that appear on the final exam (this is why your feedback is important.)
• Scoring may not be immediate, but will most often take place 6 weeks after taking the exam (score reports will only be delivered directly to the test takers.)
• You will be asked to provide feedback on a short survey at the end of the test (thank you in advance.)
• Test takers will be notified via email when their score is ready so valid email addresses are important.
• You have the chance to provide feedback via a survey at the end of the test to help influence a better test.

How can you participate?

1. Purchase a 2010 exam using the consumer shopping cart at http://autodesk.starttest.com. Be sure to download exam objectives to help you better prepare for the exam.
2. Contact an Autodesk Certification Center near you by using the locator at www.autodesk.com/certification. Be sure to contact the Training Center to confirm they are participating and to schedule your beta exam.
3. Make sure sure to take the exam by May 20 or May 22 (to be valid for 2010 certification status.)

Beta Program Information

May 5 – May 20 

• AutoCAD 2010 Associate
• AutoCAD 2010 Professional
• Inventor 2010 Associate
• Inventor 2010 Professional

May 7 – May 22

• Revit Architecture 2010 Associate
• Revit Architecture 2010 Prof (imperial)
• Revit Architecture 2010 (metric)
• Civil 3D 2010 Associate
• Civil 3D 2010 Professional (imperial)
• Civil 3D 2010 Professional (metric)

Access to Training Guides and Exam Objectives

If you have any questions about the Beta testing program, contact certification@autodesk.com.

Best of luck in your certification challenge!
Shaan

New TeknoChronicles of Z - Episode 4: Rabid Prototyping

A new episode of the TeknoChronicles of Z has been posted on the AutoCAD Exchange as well as YouTube. This is the fourth episode and titled “Rabid Prototyping” Take a break and watch this video to get a mid-week laugh.

TeknoChronicles of Z - Episode 4: Rabid Prototyping http://autocad.autodesk.com/?nd=humor and on YouTube

If you have not been following the funny series The TeknoChronicles

• TeknoChronicles of Z Trailer
• The TeknoChronicles of Z - Episode 1: Z No Evil
• TeknoChronicles of Z Episode 2 - General Malaise
• TeknoChronicles of Z General ShadowFinger’s Benign Design in 3D Contest

• TeknoChronicles of Z Episode 3 – Supply Chained

Cheers,
Shaan

Fake or Foto – Take the Challenge

With computers and visualization software becoming more and more powerful it is getting more difficult to tell real from computer generated. Take this fun little challenge. I got 8 of 12 the first time and 12 of 12 the second time learning from my mistakes.

Take the Challenge

Using Autodesk Showcase I have two real-time renderings that are almost impossible to tell from a real object. Autodesk Showcase is downright amazing for visualization of your 3D content.

 

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD 2010 Now Available on the Autodesk Student Engineering & Design Community

The Autodesk Student Engineering & Design Community has posted AutoCAD  2010 English 32 bit and 64 bit on the http://students.autodesk.com.

 

Students and faculty, the registration is free! All you need is a valid, school-issued email address or an invitation from a faculty member. Join thousands in this community with Autodesk software downloads, tutorials projects, show of your work, network with others and experts, and explore industry careers.

 

Students worldwide hold our future in their hands. Help encourage a young person to consider Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Environmental, Science, and Math fields of study.

 

Cheers,
Shaan

Autodesk Design Research Open House

Join the PSEB User Research Group in the Autodesk San Francisco Design Gallery for a behind-the-scenes look at how Autodesk designs the software you use. Sip a drink. Browse the gallery. Learn how Architecture, Design and Engineering professionals like you improve Autodesk products through usability studies and focus groups.

When:  Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Time:   5pm to 8pm
Where: Autodesk Gallery, One Market Street, Floor 2. San Francisco CA, 94105. Map
Admission is free. RSVP online to add your name to the guest list. Your name must be on the list to enter the building.

Event highlights:

• Chat with Autodesk software designers and engineers. They’ll describe how they researched and built features in Autodesk's 2010 line of products including AutoCAD®, Revit® Architecture, Autodesk Inventor™, and Autodesk® Green Building Studio®.
• Browse the Autodesk design gallery. Peek behind the one-way-glass to watch a software usability session in action.
• Watch or join a 15-minute focus group or software usability session.
• Network with local professionals from organizations such as SEAONC-YMF, ASHRAE, AIA-BAYA, USGBC-Emerging Green Builders.
• Get informed as the US Green Building Council summarizes what you need to know about the June 2009 changes to the LEED accreditation.
• Chat with Aerotek representatives. Aerotek is an international recruiting and placement firm that is a recognized leader in staffing for the Architecture and Engineering industries.

The gallery is a very cool location with many interesting displays.

More of my photos of the Autodesk Gallery are located on my Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/ or Autodesk Gallery tagged photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/tags/autodeskgallery/

For more information about the Autodesk Gallery, visit http://www.autodesk.com/thegallery.

Cheers,
Shaan

New Autodesk Blog – What a Mesh with Guillermo Melantoni

Guillermo will be blogging in English and Spanish about AutoCAD 3D and AutoCAD workflows. The blogs name, What a Mesh http://whatamesh.typepad.com/

If you have seen AutoCAD 2010 and all the cool new 3D features such as the new mesh object then you will now know the person behind that as well as responsible for the nice AutoCAD 2010 building design on the product literature and packaging.

 
Here is a previous post about Guillermo and his bio which will explain a great deal about his focus, background, and his efforts around 3D.
Between the Lines: AutoCAD 2010 and 3D

Please join me in welcoming Guillermo to the CAD Blogosphere. I hope you will be bookmarking his blog as well as following his RSS feed as he is sure to have some great topics in his blog.

Cheers,
Shaan

New Autodesk Blog – Without a Net with Tom Stoeckel

There is a new Autodesk blog in the CAD Blogosphere Without a Net. Tom Stoeckel, global technical lead for AutoCAD product support will be the main host and joined by Tom Bradley, division manager for Autodesk product support, and Dan Scales, an AutoCAD product support specialist.

I have personally known Tom for many many years as both a coworker and friend back when he was a developer of the much beloved AutoCAD Express Tools and then later in AutoCAD core programming teams and now as the Global Technical Lead for AutoCAD Product Support. This blog should be one on your regular reading list and RSS feeds as well Tom has a Twitter account.

Tom is also a Mac user and I am sure interested in the Mac Survey I posted which has been hit by over 1000 people an hour beating up my poor little server today.

 

“The purpose of "Without a Net" is to provide the latest information on support issues, technical solutions, fixes, and tips for AutoCAD. This blog is not intended to replace the usual AutoCAD technical support, Knowledge Base, or Web Support; these are still your best avenue for getting quick resolution to your support issues. "Without a Net" is intended to supplement those sources by providing up-to-the-minute information on new issues and trends that we are seeing in AutoCAD product support. Followers of this blog may find a safety net, if you will, for support issues that are affecting them right now. We'll also toss in a few AutoCAD tips and tricks along the way.”

 http://withoutanet.typepad.com

You can stay current with our posts by following us on Twitter and subscribing to our RSS feed.

I also have a Twitter and Facebook feed
Facebook
Twitter http://twitter.com/mrcadman

Cheers,
Shaan

The New Autodesk Impression 3 is Now Available for Download

I just found Autodesk Impression 3 on the Autodesk Subscription Center for download by Autodesk Subscription customers. Autodesk Impression 3 beta testers for project Corradino on Autodesk MyFeedback will receive a copy of it as thanks for their feedback and participation.

I mentioned Autodesk Impression 3 not too long ago showing off my simple Koi pond design.
Blog Post Autodesk Impression 3 Details

Below is my simple koi pond design in Autodesk Impression 3. I was able to import the pond layout from a DWG file from AutoCAD 2010. One of the time savers is the DWG file for the pond I used changes (we all know projects change several times) all I do is select Update and my 2D rendering is updated to reflect the changes with the styles applied. It does not force you to start from scratch again like a photo raster editing application would.

Some of the high level improvements in this new release:

• Adaptive Gradients - Cool!
• Layer Enhancements - Like the new drop-down list with layer tools added to the Layers palette toolbar.
• Style Books
• Color Books - RAL Added and Pantone updated.
• Style Library Wizard
• Global Style Controls - Like rotate
• Block Improvements - Including the ability to create a new block from a selection by right-click. And you can use the ‘B’ key to create a new block. and being able to easily identify blocks.
• 2010 DWG file formats

• Fortified with 12 essential vitamins and minerals completing a fun and well balanced breakfast.
  
  And more.

So Autodesk Subscription customers can go download Autodesk Impression 3 now!

For those interested in Autodesk trivia for project codenames, Corradino was named after Corradino D'Ascanio who invented the first helicopter.

I love Autodesk Impression and have shown it around the world and heard many ooohs and ahhhs. Many I spoke with stated they can get their individual style back into the project design phase and provide an alternative look to a photo realistic rendering. In many cases you cannot distinguish a hand rendering from one in Autodesk Impression unless of course you are looking at the billable hours to create it as Autodesk Impressions' goal was to take a several day process and reduce it to around 20 minutes.

Cheers,
Shaan

Autodesk Assistance Program Offers Help to Displaced Workers

“Designers, Engineers and Architects Can Receive Software, Training, Certification and Other Company Resources to Help Extend Their Skills and Improve Employability’

Press Release

Listen to Steve Blum discuss the program in a video on the Autodesk YouTube channel.

For more information about the Autodesk Assistance Program, please contact your local reseller, or contact Autodesk directly at assistance@autodesk.com or visit www.autodesk.com/assistanceprogram.

I think it is the right thing to do, for all. Assistance on software, training and certification for those currently displaced in the workforce. I have quite a few friends in this category now. On the bright side I have had some of the people I know that had been looking for work recently get hired, and I hope that positive trend continues. Sometimes a person with pride still needs a hand up in the process.

Sincerely,
Shaan

AutoCAD 2010 Language Packs German and French Available

AutoCAD 2010 language packs are now available for download from the Autodesk Subscription Center. This is new, in the past you had to install a complete single language version an may have had to create multiple language deployment images. Now you create one deployment image with the language packs in it.

Currently there is French, and German language packs for the 32-bit and 64-bit AutoCAD 2010. More languages will be available shortly.The language packs are not a full install image.

.

If you need to provide AutoCAD to users in one or more languages, you can download language packs from the Autodesk Subscription Center to the installer that will allow you to deploy the product in the languages you need to support.

Language packs can only be included in an administrative image during the creation of the deployment. When creating the deployment image (standalone or network licensed) you select the MSI for the language pack downloaded from the Autodesk Subscription Center. In my case I downloaded the AutoCAD 2010 German Language Pack.

Creating the multi language AutoCAD Deployment Image:

When I was creating the deployment image I selected the “Add Language” option and then browsed to where I extracted the German language pack and selected the MSI.

 

Now when users install from this admin image they would then have the choice to install the English or German AutoCAD 2010.

Creating the multi language AutoCAD Standalone:

I can also do standalone installation from the DVD with another language. You can place the language pack on the local machine or a network location and then a user can point to the language pack and add the language to their installation.

 

You can only install within language families currently. This means that customers in the Americas wouldn’t be able to download a Japanese language pack and customers in Japan wouldn’t be able to download Traditional Chinese. Currently there is no EMEA European subscription customer support for language packs.

Americas
English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese

Japan
English, Japanese

Chinese and Korean Asian Markets
English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

Cheers,
Shaan

I Need Your Input on AutoCAD for the Apple Mac OS X

I now use both an Apple Mac and a PC.

At Autodesk we are always trying to stay in tune with our customers and the industries they are in as well as their needs. So what does this have to do with a Mac, the AutoCAD product team would like your feedback and opinions in a short survey to help shape the future of the next generation of AutoCAD products for the Apple Mac OS X Operating System and hardware.

(survey now closed)

Past AutoCAD on a Mac article Between the Lines: Run AutoCAD on a Mac

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.

AutoCAD Mechanical 2010 and other Autodesk Manufacturing Products Shipping

The worlds best manufacturing industry design applications are shipping!
If you are a customer on Autodesk Subscription.check out your Subscription Center for a download “electronic fulfillment” option.
If not the box is on its way all over the world.

 

 

 

• AutoCAD Electrical 2010 English
• AutoCAD Mechanical 2010 English
• AutoCAD Inventor Suite 2010 English
• AutoCAD Inventor Professional Suite 2010 English
• AutoCAD Inventor Routed Systems Suite 2010 English
• AutoCAD Inventor Simulation Suite 2010 English
• AutoCAD Inventor LT Suite 2010 English

I have used all of these products in production at some point or another except one as I am no electrical engineer. Digital Prototyping is not just a word, it is a competitive advantage in mechanical design.

Cheers,
Shaan

Download AutoCAD 2010 Free

If you are located in United States and Canada you can currently download AutoCAD 2010 in a fully functioning 30 day trial version.

You can try the new features like the new Free-Form modeling with the new 3D mesh objects, convert mesh to solids, geometric constraints and parametrics, PDF underlay, Dynamic Block enhancements, Hatch enhancements, 3D Printing, performance increases, and more. Get Details on Features

Go ahead and download and give AutoCAD 2010 a spin around the blocks.

Download a 30-Day Trial

AutoCAD Exchange Community Launched

There is a new free online community for AutoCAD users named AutoCAD Exchange http://autocad.autodesk.com

This new site by Autodesk will feature many videos, Ask the Expert sessions, featured customers like Hollywood's Eddie Paul. There will also be some fun content like The TeknoChronicles of Z series, and even Roger Penwill CAD related cartoons. There is also the ability for members to share content and AutoCAD tips.

It should be another great resource for all AutoCAD users to bookmark and join.

There is also a CAD Management series I filmed in February with CAD Management guru Robert Green. It is amazing how they say the camera adds ten pounds to you, but I see it can also make me look hair challenged especially when appearing with Robert Green's healthy full head of hair. ;-)

Quite a bit in the AutoCAD Exchange community, and more as it begins to grow.

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD DWG TrueView 2010, The Free 100% DWG Viewer

Autodesk has provided a free DWG Viewer AutoCAD DWG TrueView for a few years now and there is a new release of it coming with the Autodesk 2010 product releases.

AutoCAD DWG TrueView is based on exactly the same code as AutoCAD allowing you to view, measure, turn on/off layers, and plot just like you can in full AutoCAD.

Autodesk DWG TrueView is a gem with not only the ability to view DWG files from AutoCAD 2.x and up to AutoCAD 2010 a span of 27 years and 24 releases but also batch convert DWG files.

 

Autodesk TrueView also has DWG Convert built in. From the main TrueView menu just select DWG Convert and then select all of the drawings you want to batch convert.

You can even bind Xrefs, Purge, Set default Printer to None, Audit and fix, replace Page Setups, and place all files in a Zip file or specified directory. It supports the following formats for conversion:

AutoCAD 2010

AutoCAD 2007

AutoCAD 2004

AutoCAD 2000

AutoCAD R14, AutoCAD LT 98, AutoCAD LT 97

So, a free DWG Viewer and DWG Conversion tool from the source of AutoCAD based on the same AutoCAD code, and all for free no strings attached. The new 2010 version should be available for download very soon.

http://www.autodesk.com/dwgtrueview

Cheers,
Shaan