Between the Lines

Autodesk is Closed from July 1st to the 5th 2004.

Autodesk will be closed Thursday July 1st through Monday July 5th for the July 4th Holiday. I will be volunteering for my sons Boy Scout troop 39 selling taco salads at the Marin County Fair. Cheers, -Shaan Read more →

Welcome to Another CAD Related Blog - Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology

I was looking through all of the referring URLs to this blog, and noticed a new CAD related blog from Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology and School of Engineering. I hope the blog for CPIT takes off. The students will gain a great deal of exposure to how others use CAD around the world and some great tips and tricks. Blogs are a great resource and can point many to other resources around the web with a more personal or... Read more →

"Go Postal" Contest First Entries Received

I have started receiving post cards from around the world from Between the Lines readers for the "Go Postal" Contest. The winner of the first entries actually came from Mike Burke in New Zealand. Mike sent three post cards shown at the left. This is all for fun and I will throw out some free prizes at the end. Spread the Word! Send the post cards to: Shaan Hurley "Go Postal" c/o Autodesk Inc. 111 McInnis Parkway San Rafael California... Read more →

Marin Autodesk Users Group July 8th, 2004 Meeting

Come one come all and get your Autodesk questions answered. In addition to meeting the fine members of MAUG, you will be witnessing my warped humor and relaxed geek presentation style. Please do not come expecting too much, and you will leave very satisfied . When: July 8th 2004 Time: 6 to 8 pm 111 McInness Parkway, San Rafael California Who: Shaan Hurley, Autodesk Beta Mgr & Tech. Marketing Mgr. What: Shaan will discuss System Variables, Commands, and ways to... Read more →

Nice Tutorial from Down Under on Architectural Desktop

There is a very nice tutorial on space sketches in Architectural Desktop on the blog RobiNZ by Robin Capper of New Zealand. Check Out RobiNZ Space Sketches in Architectural Desktop Tutorial Cheers, -Shaan Read more →

Have I Snapped? Updated 6-22-04

I was inspired by a web page " LA to Oregon at Mach 9"which recorded a trip from Los Angeles to Oregon and then sped up the video. Update 6/22/04: I again video taped my commute just yesterday the 21st of June 2004, and posted the resulting video after processing. It was a much lighter commute than normal for some odd reason. The Windows Media video (.wmv) is 320 X 240 and is 7 minutes long. In 7 minutes, you... Read more →

10 Electronic Technologies That Changed Construction

There is a nice article in the Engineering News-Record issue on June 12, 2004. It lists AutoCAD by Autodesk as number two in the list of the ten technologies to change the construction industry in the past 20 years. 10 Electronic Technologies That Changed Construction (source enr.construction.com) Computer Aided Design - CAD Pioneers Gave Desktop PCs A Full Range of Electronic Drafting "AutoCAD was created to bring CAD capabilities to the newly introduced desktop IBM PC and allow "serious computer-aided... Read more →

“Is DWF an ‘open’ file format?”

Yes, consider the following: Published Spec Published Toolkit source code Sample code Standards based ZIP/ZLIB XML OpenHSF JPG/PNG/bitonal-G4-TIFF In addition: Free Windows Printer driver "Autodesk DWFWriter" to produce DWF from any Windows application. Free Windows Autodesk DWF Viewer. For more information please see: http://www.autodesk.com/dwf http://www.autodesk.com/dwfit DWF v6.0 Toolkit The DWF™ 6.0 Toolkit allows you to develop applications that read or write multi-sheet drawings in DWF™ (Design Web Format™) format. Autodesk DWF Viewer With Autodesk DWF Viewer, a small, free, downloadable... Read more →

Who Uses or Abuses PowerPoint?

Need some great tips on presentations, organizational communications, and the proper use of PowerPoint? The use of PowerPoint in presentations is not a natural or easy thing. It seems to me that you get 40% of presentations show to little, 40% show too much and end up reading the slides to you, and about 10% really do a great job of balancing the highlights and keeping the audiences attention and making the subject memorable. I have seen and done my... Read more →

More Teaser Screen Captures of the Autodesk DWF Viewer 5 Beta and 3D DWF

During lunch I took a 3D part (.ipt) from Autodesk Inventor 9 and created a quick 2D drawing (.idw). I then created 2 DWF files, one is a 2D DWF and the other a 3D DWF. Both are viewed in the Autodesk DWF Viewer 5 beta. This is a screen capture of the 2D .idw drawing in Autodesk Inventor 9 Beta. Click the image to see a larger view. This is a screen capture of the 3D .ipt part in... Read more →

New Beta Opportunity & Sneak Peek at 3D DWF

3D & DWF! You can enroll for the opportunity to beta test the new Autodesk DWF Viewer 5 Beta (free version) and preview 3D DWF! This Beta release of Autodesk DWF Viewer includes: 3D DWF - View, navigate and print 3D DWF files. You can also pan, zoom, Orbit, show and hide components, select wireframe and shaded views, navigate to standard views, navigate assembly structure, isolate components, and view component and mass properties. Markup Browser - View and navigate markups... Read more →

AutoCAD White Papers Are a Great Resource

The AutoCAD White Papers web page link click here AutoCAD 2005 Comparing AutoCAD 2005 with Previous Releases (pdf-75Kb) Benefits of Network Licensing (pdf-85Kb) Successful Network Installation of AutoCAD in a Large Design Firm (pdf-342Kb) Planning a Successful Network Installation of AutoCAD 2005 or AutoCAD 2005-Based Products (pdf-319Kb) Installing the Network License Manager for AutoCAD 2005 or AutoCAD 2005-Based Products (pdf-135Kb) Creating Deployments for AutoCAD 2005 or AutoCAD 2005-Based Products (pdf-130Kb) Working with AutoCAD 2005 and Section 508 (pdf-42 Kb) AutoCAD... Read more →

AutoCAD Release History Document in Italian (La storia di AutoCAD in italiano da Emanuele Cinelli)

Emanuele Cinelli of Italy took a great deal of time and effort to write a document on the History of AutoCAD in Italian. La storia di AutoCAD in italiano da Emanuele Cinelli Download AutoCAD History Document Cheers, -Shaan Read more →

How to Save an R14 DWG from AutoCAD 2004 and 2005 Products

Since AutoCAD 2002 the AutoCAD R14 DWG has not been a built in option. You can still convert your drawings to the R14 format for free. Can only be used with AutoCAD 2004-based products, AutoCAD 2005-based products, AutoCAD LT 2004, or AutoCAD LT 2005. Converter converts any AutoCAD® drawing file to AutoCAD® Release 14, AutoCAD® 2000, AutoCAD® 2000i, AutoCAD® 2002, AutoCAD® 2004, and AutoCAD® 2005 file formats. Batch Drawing Converter allows conversion of pen widths to lineweights and the addition... Read more →

More Great Feedback on this Blog

Shaan, I just wanted to give thanks to you for the excellent job that you've been doing on the B.T.L. Blog. I check it everyday, I can honestly say that it's the best place for quick info on AutoCAD. The content that you give is excellent, easy to read, and very timely. I know there are lots of places to get info on AutoCAD but the B.T.L. Blog is among the best. Keep up the great work! Bill Goetz Peter... Read more →

The Great Post Card Hunt Project "Go Postal"

I want to start a fun project which will when completed result in prizes and a web page showing the submissions in a image gallery as well as possibly at Autodesk University 2004. So all you need to do is send a post card from where you are. There will be judging based on first received, most sent, most unique, most remote, most exotic location, funniest, and so on. I will also be placing all the post cards on my... Read more →

The New AutoCAD & LT 2005 Bible Coming in July from Ellen Finkelstein

AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD LT 2005 Bible Ellen Finkelstein ISBN: 0-7645-6989-9 What can I say about Ellen. She has been a great person the years that I have known her and she takes a real nice approach to teaching a product and features in her books and her website http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/AutoCAD_tips.html. Ellen also started the tradition of people sending me cookies and others have followed such as Darren Young who sent me about 40 pounds of cookies. Wiley::AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD... Read more →

New AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 2005 Books Released

Mastering™ AutoCAD® 2005 and AutoCAD LT® 2005 By George Omura Released June 2004 ISBN: 0-7821-4340-7 | EAN: 9 780782 143409 | UPC: 0252-11-443408 From the publishers website: The Definitive CAD Resource Updated for 2005 Mastering AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD LT 2005 is a fully updated edition of Omura's enduring masterpiece. Once again, he delivers the most comprehensive and comprehensible coverage for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT users including information on the Sheet Set Manager, field command, table tool and the software's... Read more →

Autodesk Subscription Customer Quick Reference

I am providing a download of a nice quick reference document for Autodesk Subscription customers. I believe all subscription customers will be receiving one of these as well as other stuff by mail in the near future. Autodesk Subscription is the easiest way to keep your design tools and learning up-to-date. For an annual fee you get the latest versions of your licensed Autodesk software, web support direct from Autodesk, self-paced training options, and a broad range of other technology... Read more →

Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning NHL hockey team just won the Stanley Cup! What a series. Tampa Bay Lightning: 2 Calgary Flames: 1 -Shaan Read more →

Attn: AutoCAD Users in Chicago, London & Tokyo

The AutoCAD team is interested in improving the 3D and presentation graphics/rendering part of the product. Would you be interested in a personal visit with members of the AutoCAD team and discussing your use of 3D (whether in AutoCAD or any other CAD or design product?) Email Eric Stover by June 14th 2004 at [email protected]. Cheers, -Shaan Read more →

SnagIt 7.1 is Released!

I simply could not work as productively without SnagIt from techsmith.com. I use SnagIt daily for various tasks and image captures for various outputs like tutorials, articles, documentation and much much more. I can even perform quick image editing tricks using just their built in Image Edit instead of firing up Fireworks or Photoshop. And it is all for under $40 US. They are also a great bunch of people. From their press release this morning: "What's New? Increase your... Read more →

The New AutoCAD 2005 Layer Manager and Filters

Lee Ambrosius of hyperpics.com and his blog "Beyond the UI" posted a good aticle on using the new AutoCAD 2005 layer dialog. Link to Layer Manager Article Cheers, -Shaan Read more →

Great CAD Resource "RobiNZ Blog"

Robin Capper has a great blog going on CAD, Design, and other great stuff. Robin is located in New Zealand and is a CAD Manager for a retail company. RobiNZ Blog: http://rcd.typepad.com Example Articles: ADT Workflow - Modelling Benefits Site Mass Studies in Autodesk Architectural Desktop Cheers, -Shaan Read more →

Why I No Longer Enable Commenting...

I had to discontinue the article commenting due to spam commenting. Although I recieved some really great comments and feedback from visitors here, some web based advertisers have started to exploit blog commenting as another spam method. I will check into what can be done to allow commenting while keeping those low life web spammers out. Sincerely, Shaan Hurley Read more →