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The AutoCAD sample nozzle drawing file created by Don Strimbu back in the 80s has come along ways in twenty years. There is now a 3D DWF file fo the updated nozzle that was done in Autodesk Inventor. The nozzle from 20 year old AutoCAD 2.18. The new Nozzle in a 3D DWF in the Free Autodesk DWF Viewer! The animated GIF above just not do the actual free DWF viewer and file justice. You can download the DWF files... Read more →
I have been asked to present on AutoCAD Futures in Austin and San Antonio Texas. This is essentially the same presentation I will be doing at the Houston Texas and Lansing Michigan AUGI CAD Camps. February 23, 2005 San Antonio, Texas February 24, 2005 Austin, Texas For more information on this free event see the San Antonio AutoCAD User Groups web site: http://www.saaug.org/ in the Upcoming Events section. If you are located in the area, try to attend this event... Read more →
The AutoCAD Team came through once again this year and provided more "not for resale" Full version AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT products. This made it possible so that I could fulfill most all requests for product donations for my fourth annual starving students and those in need donations. This year I had received more requests than I had products available from my shelves. I have began notifying those by email that nominated someone or had asked to be considered for... Read more →
I was just informed by my boss to prepare AutoCAD Futures presentations for two of the AUGI CAD Camps specifically Houston Texas and Lansing Michigan. Too bad Houston was not after Lansing as I am sure I will need to defrost after being in Lansing Michigan. I attended the first AUGI CAD Camp in Jacksonville Florida in November 2004. and had a great time. It is a real compressed schedule to fit in one day but the benefits for those... Read more →
I had a great meeting with the AUGI Board today. The AUGI membership is comprised of over 45,000 Autodesk product users as a community to share, educate, and network with fellow Autodesk product users. It is always great getting the AUGI Board together with Autodesk. I have known many of the board members for a long time. I have been a huge AUGI supporter for many years back to when it was known as NAAUG. We discussed the upcoming 5... Read more →
Internally we call them test fests, usability sessions, focus groups, customer research, or gunslingers. No matter what the term used to describe them, Autodesk is always looking for customers to provide feedback on our products. It is extremely important that we observe and listen to the feedback of customers trying new features in our upcoming products or possible design concepts. I can say for the AutoCAD and Viz teams, that no changes or features are implemented without customer input and... Read more →
The video was created in its entirety by a German AU 2004 attendee Helge Brettschneider. He used a few of my AU 2004 photos from my AU 2004 Image Gallery. Make sure to have your speakers turned up for the music! Check it out http://myfeedback.autodesk.com/files/AU2004_usa.wmv Thanks Helge! Shaan Read more →
I could not figure out why I was sent the nice glossy Victorian Homes Magazine February 2005 issue last week. Then after paging through it on page 4 I saw one of my photos had been used and gave me full credit. The photo was one of the haunted (rumored) Haystack Landing house that burned down last year. Cheers, Shaan Read more →
On the afternoon of December 15th, 2004 we reached 5 Million downloads of the DWF viewer in almost exactly 2 years since the launch of DWF 6. The monthly download rate has increased to 330,000 and continues to grow due to the popularity and benefits of the DWF format over other electronic formats for CAD documents. To put this in perspective, each of the following is roughly 5 million: The total population of Maryland or Minnesota or Finland If you... Read more →
Thanks to Betsy Weber and Techsmith I am holding a quick fun giveaway. I have been using Techsmith's products SnagIt and Camtasia for many years on a daily basis. I create almost all of my video tutorials and screen captures using their products and they are indispensable for me personally. Betsy graciously offered up 5 Camtasia and 10 SnagIt licenses for a quick and fun giveaway. So here are the details on how you can share your AutoCAD 2005 and... Read more →
I have ran into this question myself and thought I might share the tip that was given to me from AutoCAD developer Kurt Chase. When you have Mtext you can use the Enter key to break the paragraph or add a space. But when the Mtext is in a AutoCAD 2005 Table Enter moves you to the next cell. What you do is just like in Microsoft Excel and use ALT+Enter. Link to my blog post on using the AutoCAD... Read more →
A few weeks back I mentioned in a post in this blog I had tried the Google Desktop and then un-installed it because I did not like it for multiple reasons. Then I decided to try the new beta of the MSN Desktop Search. Well after a few weeks I am not sure I could do without the MSN Desktop Search. It allows me to search for documents, contacts, files, emails, photos, music, appointments, Outlook Express posts, and instant messenger... Read more →
http://www.dgcad.com/ by DG CAD Consulting has posted a series of free video tutorials on AutoCAD, ADT, and Revit. What they have done is used the New Features Workshop which is in AutoCAD 2005 and then added their own commentary to further explain the concepts of new features. You can also order the video tutorials on CD. I have added this web site to this blogs left side menu of Helpful Resources. Sometimes the most absorbed and memorable training comes from... Read more →
Robin Capper has posted an article and a link to the Dilbert's Ultimate House "DUH". http://rcd.typepad.com/rcd/2005/01/dilberts_ultima.html http://www.dilbert.com/ Press Release link The "Virtual Construction" was by Heartwood Studios located here in the San Francisco Bay Area and also Boston. Where are their DWF floor plans? ;-) This is a really interesting tongue in cheek residential design project with some interesting design specs and also some good laughs from the funniest suggestions list. I do hope Robin finds out the design and... Read more →