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I have added the DWG format version details from the past 20 years on my unofficial AutoCAD History page. AutoCAD 2005 can read all DWG files back from AutoCAD version 2.5 up to the AutoCAD 2005 format which is a span of 20+ years. AutoCAD 2005 can save back to AutoCAD 2000 DWG format or export to the AutoCAD R12 DXF. There is also the free Autodesk Batch Drawing Converter so you can batch convert DWG files to AutoCAD R14... Read more →
It has been a very busy geological week with all of the earthquakes here in California including a magnitude 6.0 and the potential awakening of Mount St. Helens in South Western Washington just north of my old stomping grounds of Portland Oregon. I was in Spokane Washington back in 1980 when Mount St. Helens erupted the first time and remember all of the volcanic ash everywhere. Now combine this with all of the hurricanes, floods, droughts, and it makes you... Read more →
This update allows you to switch quickly between inches and millimeters as you plot or define a page setup. The other dialog box options now change to display the unit of measurement setting you specify. http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL4735661 http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL4735668 Description of Problem In AutoCAD® 2005, the Plot and Page Setup dialog boxes have been modified so that the units of measurement displayed in the dialog box depend on whether an imperial or metric paper size is selected. However, some countries such as... Read more →
Nicolas Menu (http://www.wild-lights.com/) has created some AutoCAD 2005 exercises in Français (French). You will need the free Autodesk DWF Viewer to view the exercises as well as know Français. http://www.wild-lights.com/CAD/dwf/Exercices.dwf Read more →
From the Autodesk Knowledge Base Document for AutoCAD 2005 (http://support.autodesk.com) http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS84976: After installing AutoCAD from a network deployment, you are unable to load LZW Compressed TIF images or GIF images. Opening a drawing with these images already attached does not load the images. During the installation of the deployment, two DLL files were not copied to the correct location. This behavior is the result. To resolve this issue, copy the files ielzwdec80.dll and egifrd80.dll to the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared... Read more →
If you are like me and communicate with people around the world as most do these days, then here is a great free utility for you from Microsoft. Microsoft Time Zone runs in the system tray and allows you to view the date and time in various locations around the world. You can also quickly and easily add your own personal locations to customize Microsoft Time Zone the way you want. It is based on .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack... Read more →
The below document link for download is from a class at the 2003 Autodesk University. The document was originally written for AutoCAD 2004 and the Tool Palette Extension but is applicable to AutoCAD 2005 as well. Make the Most of Tool Palettes in AutoCAD® 2004 and Beyond By: Heidi Hewett Use tools and techniques to quickly add existing block and hatch content to AutoCAD® tool palettes. In addition, you will explore the most recent tool palette functionality, as well as... Read more →
I was asked in an email from a blog reader "with the free DWF Writer printer driver, why do I still post PDF documents". The answer is quite simple. While DWF is awesome and lightweight, it was designed specifically for CAD vector data. PDF is great at text documents, but it is absolutely bloated and inaccurate with CAD vector data. So when I post word documents I use PDF and when posting CAD vector design documents use DWF. It is... Read more →
Unlike some software application developers, Autodesk has made an enormous effort and commitment to get the error reports for review and investigation to determine the cause and what can be done to resolve the error. Windows Error Reports (WER) are great and have assisted Microsoft in fixing many of the most common issues in their applications and operating system such as Windows XP. The problem is when another application developer relies on the generic error reporting that are sent to... Read more →
I have created a online survey for current and former AutoCAD customers to get a better understanding of why they chose Autodesk or Brand X or perhaps both, and how we can do better. This survey will not be used for any sales activities. I would appreciate if you are a current or former AutoCAD customer if you could take the few minutes to complete the online survey. Link to Survey Sincerely, Shaan Hurley Read more →
"Nancy Fulton, president of OpenCAD International Inc. says, "We decided to make all our drawing and editing tutorials available to the design community. We are aware that many architects, engineers and drafters are looking for work or are changing jobs and we want to help them get the skills they need." Each Complete Support tutorial is a practical, step by step lesson which features dozens of full size images and all source files. There are more than a hundred free... Read more →
Check out Lynn Allen's tongue in cheek Public Service Announcement for Autodesk University 2004. "AUOS" ;-) Click Here Do you have AUOS? Get a diagnosis from "Dr. Lynn Allen" Windows Media Player How to Avoid "AUOS" (Autodesk University Overwhelm Syndrome) Windows Media Player Cheers, -Shaan Read more →
AutoCAD 2005 Webcasts Agenda for September and October 2004 Webcasts are one hour and will run from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST on Tuesdays. Link to Schedule and Webcast Participation Details September 9/21/04 – Customizing Tool Palettes in AutoCAD 2005 Speaker: Heidi Hewett Learn how create and modify custom tool palettes with minimal effort. Regain valuable drawing space while significantly increasing productivity and improving drawing consistency. 9/28/04 – Creating Tables in AutoCAD 2005 Presenter: Heidi Hewett. Learn how to... Read more →
Article by Chris Lindner and Autodesk User Group International "This month we continue our discussion of AutoCAD’s “drag and drop” (DnD) functionality. Last month we focused on the use of DnD in files and folders. This month, let’s get inside AutoCAD and see what DnD has to offer." Click Here Read more →
Article from Lee Ambrosius of HyperPics and Autodesk User Group International Customization Corner - September 2004 "This month we take a look at Tool Palette groups to organize and access content that has been created. Before continuing though, I would like to share some information that I found in response to some questions about last month’s article on Importing and Exporting Tool Palettes." Click Here Read more →
Nice article from Autodesk User Group International Are free trials worth your time? The quick answer is yes, particularly if the alternative is buying software from a third-party developer “blind”—without knowing much about the software or the developer. Still, even free trials can be a waste of your valuable time if the software isn’t given a proper tryout. Here’s some advice from pros about the best way to evaluate software you are considering purchasing. Click Here Read more →
From Steven Papke and Vizdepot.com The VVC (short for Vizdepot Visualization Contests) will be organized into a series of six monthly contests. Each month the type of contest alternates focus between the Charrette and the Challenge. Conceptually speaking, the Charrette is an opportunity for users to focus on a concept or idea that they may have never considered or used before. While the Challenge, on the other hand, is a chance to actively use and apply that knowledge. The Charrette... Read more →
I spent the labor day holiday in the Nevada desert near Baker and Great Basin National Park. I even got a chance to fly around in a small plane while there. I packed for hot weather, but it was snowing in the area the day I had arrived. I posted some photos to my Daily Grind photo blog including a photo of the famous highway 50 sneaker tree. Other items over the holiday was a Beta Programs and MyFeedback unplanned... Read more →
RobiNZ Blog: MindManager For AEC ~ Combining CAD DWF's and Mind Mapping MindManager For AEC ~ Combining CAD DWF's and Mind Mapping I’m always dealing with both CAD files and related projects. Combining Project Information and CAD data for review and presentation was a challenge but it’s just become a whole lot easier. A combination of MindManager and Design Web Format (DWF) allows my Project Plans and CAD data to be easily united. Free viewers for both file formats make... Read more →
On July 21st 2005 I wrote about a spooky house in the town I live in and its billing on the web as "the most haunted house in the world". Link to Orginal Post Well it has now burned down as of Tuesday morning under suspicious conditions. I have received so many emails about this blog posting from local residents, teenagers, and many others. I even had a local firefighter who was at the fire scene email me after he... Read more →