Between the Lines

New AutoSketch Release 10

AutoSketch® 10 has begun shipping and is available via the Autodesk estore, Amazon.com, and CDW. It will be available in both English and German. AutoSketch is the longtime low cost CAD software below $200 used, trusted, and loved by many hobbyist, illustrators, contractors and small business owners around the world.

 www.autodesk.com/autosketch

Autodesk estore purchase link: Click Here

“AutoSketch® 10 2D drafting software provides a comprehensive set of CAD tools for creating professional-quality precision drawings.
Perfect entry-level CAD tool for Hobbyists, contractors, illustrators, designers, and students. Use AutoSketch to create conceptual sketches, architectural drawings, technical illustrations, electrical drawings, product specifications, informative graphics, and much more.

• From electrical details to floor plans, and from conceptual sketches to product specifications, AutoSketch helps you design in a wide variety of fields and applications.
• Getting Started Tutorials get you up and running quickly.
• A customizable work environment provides a flexible and efficient workspace for straightforward drawing.
• Content libraries offer the simplicity of ready-made, drag-and-drop content.
• And DWG™ file compatibility means you can create and share industry-standard drawings.

AutoSketch 10 software provides:

• Fast startup
• Customizable work environment
• Powerful drawing tools
• Instant precision drawing
• Updated DWG file compatibility
• Windows Vista® operating system compatibility”

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)

First Day of Autodesk University China 08

Yesterday was an action packed day of presentations for Autodesk University China 08. It started with some Chinese acrobats and dancers arranging the letters on stage to create Autodesk.

There were many senior executive speakers such as Autodesk’s CEO Carl Bass, Autodesk CTO Jeff Kowalski, Autodesk VP Senior Vice President, Platform Solutions and Emerging Business Amar Hanspal, as well as many Autodesk Autodesk Asia and China executives such as Autodesk Senior Vice President Patrick Williams, Autodesk Global Vice President Huang Jianming, and Vice President of Greater China Aldous Wong.

Autodesk CEO Carl Bass spoke on a wide range of topics including Autodesk and also the global challenges with global warming, resources, and how innovative design can be a critical part of solving these challenges. He also spoke about Autodesk’s commitment to China.

 

Autodesk CTO Jeff Kowalski spoke about technology and innovation in design and how technology can now make things appear truly real as well as how you can experience design before it is real.

 

 

Autodesk VP Senior Vice President Amar Hanspal’s presentation was about my teams products like AutoCAD and the innovation, and how it is critical in the design process. He also spoke about our partner developers building upon AutoCAD, and an Autodesk product to capture existing designs. He is an incredibly inspiring and passionate speaker.

The presentation by Autodesk Global Vice President Huang Jianming was about the 1500 Autodesk employees in China Autodesk China Research & Development (ACRD). This presentation was detailed about all the products they work on and their highly educated backgrounds.

 

Autodesk Senior Vice President Patrick Williams gave a presentation of Autodesk’s footprint in China and described the projects they are involved in. Projects include some of the worlds largest projects as well as a humanitarian project like the Sichuan province earthquake.

 

Later there were experts from many fields such as well known architect 谢英俊 who spoke about efforts to rebuild the earthquake-stricken areas in China's rural Sichuan province using sustainable design and construction methods.

 

 

Bruce Beasley was a special guest an spoke about his digital sculpture exhibition and how he involves science and technology such as 3D printing in his sculpture processes.

Several other Autodesk Senior Vice Presidents spoke at industry sessions such as Buzz Kross and Jay Bhatt.

For anyone wishing to get involved in providing Usability on Autodesk products here in China. Autodesk Chinas own Product Design Manager Itamar Lima Medeiros provided me with the Chinese text detailing getting involved.

欢迎参加用户可用性测试！

什么是可用性测试？

为了测试我们的软件产品是否合乎您的需求，我们想邀请您亲临现场，试用我们的产品。观察员会记录下您在操作时所碰到的问题，聆听您的意见，之后将记录反馈给产品设计人员。您所试用的产品可能尚未定型，也可能处于后期成品测试阶段。无论哪一种情况，您的意见都将影响我们产品的未来！

加入我们！欢迎到我们的AU展台来与接待人员洽谈！

I was not able to attend all sessions as I had to rush back to my hotel across town to work more on my presentations Thursday morning. I learned a great deal about Autodesk China and China. I have so many photos to process and post but wont have much opportunity until the weekend.I am posting them to my Flickr site in the Autodesk University China 08 collection.

 Autodesk University China 2008

I still have a really bad case of jetlag waking me up at 4AM each day. It is 4:49AM currently in Shanghai China.

Best Regards,
Shaan

Lazy Drafter – Is not Really Lazy

Josh Jones has a blog that I read in my RSS feeds named Lazy Drafter “AutoCAD tips for the lazy drafter.”. He writes often about how to make things easier with Autodesk products like AutoCAD.

He is not really lazy, just really smart.

Today’s post is about the “Wicked Cool” and also FREE Autodesk Design Review and the ability to compare changes between two DWF files. In case some were not aware, there is also an Autodesk blog by Autodesk “desker” Volker Joseph about DWF and Autodesk Design Review named Beyond the Paper.

Lazy Drafter Post:
Compare Design Changes in Autodesk Design Review

Thanks Josh for the treat, and Happy Halloween

Shaan

Are you Attending AU 2008, Get Certified on Autodesk Products Free

Are you certifiable?
This year at AU 2008 the Autodesk Product Certification exams are FREE. Just pick up one or more vouchers at the Autodesk Education & Learning booth in the AU 2008 Exhibit Hall. It is first come, first served due to limited space so make a direct and fast line for the Autodesk Education & Learning booth when the Exhibit Hall first opens.

AutoCAD

AutoCAD Architecture

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Autodesk Inventor

Revit Architecture

Autodesk University 2008 Certification-related activities include the following:

• Onsite Testing – AutoCAD®, AutoCAD® Architecture, Autodesk® Inventor®, Revit® Architecture, and AutoCAD® Civil 3D® software. Exams available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Certification Preparation Classes – Classes designed to help you pass the AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor 2009 Associate and Professional Certification exams.
• Academic Certification Class – Educators should be sure to attend Academic Certification: Give Your Students a Head Start in their Design Careers to learn more about offering their students Autodesk Professional Certification at affordable academic pricing.
• Professional Certification Class – Want to hear what it’s all about? For an overview of the new 2009 program, attend Getting Certified: Get the Recognition and Rewards You Deserve.
• Autodesk Bookstore – The spot to purchase Certification preparation materials from Autodesk Learning. In the Exhibit Hall.

More Details: http://au.autodesk.com/event/campusclass/certification/

This is one more reason and benefit why attending AU 2008 is cost effective and a great way to be more productive and network with the best in the world. You can also show your experience and knowledge in a official certification when you return back home to your office.

Cheers,
Shaan

Amazing event by FOCUS Kuwait Users Group Meeting

I presented yesterday in Kuwait to about 450+ people mostly CAD Managers, Architects and Engineering team leads and members of the FOCUS Kuwait users group. Although my computer decided to give me troubles working with the projector so I used another presenter’s machine as Sundar C of Omnix was presenting on AutoCAD for Architects at the event.
Things went very well.

 

 


It was amazing how well organized this users group is and the committee and Binu Mathew, Mohamed Iqbal, Thomas Chandy and many more who worked tirelessly on the events success and helped me greatly. I extend my deepest gratitude to the FOCUS Kuwait committee and the many members that attended. I made many new friends I hope to visit again in the near future. I have never signed so many certificates in one seating or had my photo taken hundreds of times in one day. Speaking with the members was an absolute pleasure and I appreciate all the hundreds of written suggestions and questions which I will be answering.

I would like to sincerely thank the sponsors such as Dr. Jayant Deshpande of Omnix in Dubai UAE who attended and is the Gulf Region Autodesk Distributor for being a generous event sponsor as well as the local Kuwait resellers and partners such as G.I.C. and Al Sarraf computer Services.

I took a photo after dinner of the Kuwait Waters Towers off the Fifth Ring Motorway.

Dubai UAE tomorrow and then home for a few days before heading to Shanghai China for Autodesk University China 08 and then Yokohama Japan (AUJ) for Autodesk University Japan 08.

Cheers,
Shaan

Get Out and Vote on Your AutoCAD, Revit , and Inventor Wish List Items October 2008

No politics, mudslinging, hot air, hanging chads, or cheesy rhetoric involved in this voting.

The AUGI Wish List for Autodesk's products AutoCAD, Revit and Inventor are now open for voting after a month of AUGI members. This voting follows a period of AUGI members submitting their nominations for wish list items for consideration to be added to products.

We at Autodesk take this wish list seriously and try to do all we can from the top voted items. The wish lists are presented to the VP of the division for the products at Autodesk University. Although we cannot add all items overnight and some may be technically challenging, we do review and try to add them to the products and they become some of the favorite additions to our products. We on the AutoCAD Team just added some of them and released them in the AutoCAD Subscription Bonus Pack 1 which will later be added to a future release of AutoCAD. The Bonus Packs are a way to get new features before they are added to the product.

I

AutoCAD Wish List
AutoCAD Wish List Ballot

Inventor Wish List
Inventor Wish List Ballot

Revit Architecture Wish List
Revit Architecture Wish List Ballot

AUGI membership is free and much more than the wish list such as free Autodesk product training classes, networking with 100,000 members, forums, and more. 
Get involved what do you have to lose, instead think about what you have to gain.

Cheers,
Shaan

6 October 2008 New Feature Releases for Autodesk Subscription Customers

On October 6, 2008, Autodesk Subscription members, as part of their benefits, can download the following new feature releases including the new 64-bit versions of Autodesk Revit, Autodesk® Inventor® 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack, training as well as local language training content, and the 64-bit DWG Reader for Autodesk NavisWorks 2009:

• AutoCAD 2009
• Transitioning from AutoCAD 2008 - Simplified Chinese
• AutoCAD Architecture 2009
• Erweiterung für AutoCAD^® Architecture  - German Only
• AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite 2009
• Worksharing Monitor for Revit 2009 - English, French, Japanese
• Batch Print Utility for Revit 2009  - English, French, Japanese
• Globe Link for Revit 2009
• Revit Architecture 2009 64-bit
• Swedish Content Library for Revit Architecture 2009– Swedish only
• AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite 2009
• Worksharing Monitor for Revit 2009 - English, French, Japanese
• Batch Print Utility for Revit 2009
• Globe Link for Revit 2009
• Revit MEP 2009 64-bit
• Swedish Content Library for Revit Architecture 2009 – Swedish only
• AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite 2009
• Worksharing Monitor for Revit 2009 - English, French, Japanese
• Batch Print Utility for Revit 2009  - English, French, Japanese
• Globe Link for Revit 2009
• Revit Structure 2009 64-bit
• AutoCAD Structural Detailing Engine 2009
• Swedish Content Library for Revit Architecture 2009– Swedish only
• Autodesk Inventor 2009
• Autodesk® Inventor® 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack
• Transitioning from Autodesk Inventor 2008 Parts 1 & 2 e-Learning - German, French, Italian, Korean, Latin America Spanish
• Inventor 2009 Essentials e-learning – 40 lessons – Simplified Chinese, Russian, Portuguese
• Autodesk NavisWorks Review, Simulate, Manage
• 64-bit DWG Reader for Autodesk NavisWorks 2009
• Revit Architecture 2009
• Worksharing Monitor for Revit 2009 - English, French, Japanese
• Batch Print Utility for Revit 2009  - English, French, Japanese
• Globe Link for Revit 2009
• Revit Architecture 2009 64-bi
• Swedish Content Library for Revit Architecture 2009– Swedish only
• Video Help for Revit Architecture 2009
• Revit MEP 2009
• Worksharing Monitor for Revit 2009 - English, French, Japanese
• Batch Print Utility for Revit 2009  - English, French, Japanese
• Globe Link for Revit 2009
• Revit MEP 2009 64-bit
• Revit Structure 2009
• Worksharing Monitor for Revit 2009 - English, French, Japanese
• Batch Print Utility for Revit 2009  - English, French, Japanese
• Globe Link for Revit 2009
• Revit Structure 2009 64-bit
• Swedish Content Library for Revit Architecture 2009– Swedish only

At the CAD Midwest Technology Expo in Kansas City Tomorrow Sept. 30 2008

Tomorrow September 30th I will be presenting about AutoCAD, Autodesk Impression, Autodesk MyFeedback, and to the Kansas City AutoCAD Users Group KCAUG on the future of AutoCAD. I will be cutting it close as my flight lands at 12:05. My first presentation on AutoCAD 2009 is at 1:45 to 3:00PM and I am sharing the session with Autodesk’s Pete Southwood speaking on AutoCAD Map 3D and GIS.

This will be the tenth annual event. A full day Autodesk products event with over 40 sessions of workshops, presentations and tips and tricks sponsored by Autodesk Premier Solutions Partner Mid-West CAD.

Registration is required.
http://www.mwcad.com/
http://www.mwcad.com/CADMW08.pdf

My presentation and discussion on the future of AutoCAD will be at 6:00 to 7:30PM to KCAUG (please RSVP).

I will be going to Jack Stacks BBQ in Lees Summit for a bite after the event then flying back home Wednesday morning. In keeping with my invitations to chat while traveling, If you are an AutoCAD user and interested in a discussion about AutoCAD with your team at your office or over a cup of coffee, please send me an email.

Has anyone else noticed the changes to airlines flight patterns? Over the past few months I have been tracking my flights and noticed a dramatic change in paths and angle of climb and decent. I confirmed this unofficially with a pilot that it was due to gas consumption. So flights are now making more direct flights and less time flying around an area by making a smaller flight path to the airport. What caused me to wonder was that I was no longer seeing commercial aircraft on landing approach above my house and instead they were making a tight turn farther up the Salt Lake Valley for their landing approach decent. I use the same equipment I use for my hiking navigation and logs. I use a handheld Garmin GPS to track the flight pattern and the best software for analyzing GPS tracks is TopoFusion Pro.

Cheers,
Shaan

AutoCAD Plant 3D ~ Groovy Piping?

OK so it is not shipping just yet, but if you are a bleeding edge piping designer then this is for you. You can be considered for the alpha and beta testing phases of the product starting now. Stella is the codename in the beer themes for the Plant group following Guinness and others. Did you know Stella is also Latin for star? At least for me I still immediately think “STELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" from the movie 'A Streetcar Named Desire .stella.wav

Follow Ursula’s posted details including a groovy screen capture showing Stella at work. Groovy AutoCAD Plant 3D "Stella" Alpha 1

Cheers,
Shaan

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