HyperPics: Beyond the UI

Autodesk Design Review is Now Free

Have you stayed away from using Autodesk Design Review for your extended team because of the cost?  Well in the world of DWF and collaboration things just got a little bit better.  Autodesk is now offering Autodesk Design Review for free which allows you to view DWG, DEXF, and DWF files from AutoCAD 2007 for the low cost of FREE, yes I typed FREE. Autodesk Design Review offers many benefits over just being able to open DWG and DXF files, like Markups and viewing animated assembly instructions.  To learn more about this exciting offer, head on over the Shaan Hurley's blog Between the Lines.

Sincerely,
  Lee

Autodesk Offers AU Discount to All

Autodesk is offering a discount of 20% off all of is Autodesk courseware purchased through the eStore from now until December 15, 2005.  This was an offer that was introduced at this years AU and has been extended to include everyone.  There are many great titles that are being offered through Autodesk courseware and I can personally say that many of them are not just something that you will toss in the corner of your workstation and forget about.

Check them out on the Autodesk website.

Use the Promo Code "AU2005" when ordering.

The courses cover a wide variety of products that Autodesk offers including...
AutoCAD 2006
AutoCAD LT 2006
Autodesk Inventor 10
Autodesk Vault R4
Autodesk Revit Building 8
Autodesk Revit Structure 2
and others...

Sincerely,
  Lee

HyperPics and Other Blogs Appear in Autodesk Survey

It has just been pointed out to me that Autodesk is running a survey on industry related blogs.  They are looking for feedback on whether blogs are a valuable source of information to you on topics in the CAD industry.  The questions range from how many times you read blogs to the type of blogs that you read.  It is an interesting survey, so if you want to take the survey; head on over to the Autodesk website.

Sincerely,
  Lee

Autodesk Release DWG TrueView

Autodesk just began release a new product for viewing DWG files and did they pack the thing full of features. Some of the features are listed below...

• It will view 2D and 3D DWG and DXF just like AutoCAD 2006.
• Can read all DWG files from AutoCAD 2 to AutoCAD 2006 spanning 20+ years of files.
• It will support custom objects like Autodesk Building Systems or Architectural Desktop.
• Publish to DWF. You could even Publish many DWG files to DWF.
• 3D Orbit supported and Shademode
• and much more...

This is great for those that want to view AutoCAD files without the need of having to worry about getting a DWF file.  This utility will help to increase workflow internal at a company, especially in production and out in the field. Did I mention it has a sticker price of FREE on it, but free does come at a price of a 100MB download; which still makes it very worth while.

Read more about this DWG TrueView at:
Shaan Hurley's blog Between the Lines
Autodesk DWG TrueView web page

Sincerely,
  Lee

Autodesk 3ds Max 8 Now Shipping

If you are a subscription customer on 3ds Max, you should be receiving your upgrade shortly as it has begun shipping.

This latest release of Autodesk 3ds Max 8 provides new and enhanced functionality in four key areas:

• Character Development – Craft and refine your character animation with advanced rigging tools, motion mixing, and motion retargeting.
• Advanced Modeling and Texturing - Create realtime shaders inside the 3ds Max viewport with DirectX® and .fx support. Accurately texture a 3D model in less time with our new UV pelt mapping feature. This pelt mapping feature drew thundering applause from the crowd at our SIGGRAPH 2005 User Group meeting!
• Comprehensive Development Framework - Customize your pipeline and improve workflow with our robust, well-documented SDK. Build solid MAXScripts in less time with our new MAXScript debugger. Efficiently exchange scene and animation data with XML and use the free, downloadable Autodesk® DWF™ Viewer for review and approval collaboration.
• Data & Asset Management - Share, control, and manage your work-in-progress assets using Asset Tracker and Autodesk® Vault, a full-featured data management and asset tracking solution.

For more information visit the Autodesk Media & Entertainment Solutions web page or contact your local reseller. If you are upgrading from a previous release of 3ds Max or are new all together to 3ds Max, get training from some of the best in the industry like Master Level instructor Ted Boardman at Virtual Partners Training Center.

Sincerely,
  Lee

Autodesk set to Acquire Alias

Autodesk has just announced that it is in the process of acquiring Alias.  So who or what is Alias you might be wonder?  Alias develops award-winning software, custom development and training solutions for the file and video, games, web, interactive media, automotive, industrial design, education and visualization markets.

The company's entertainment customers include: CNN, Digital Domain, Disney, Electronic Arts, Industrial Light & Magic, Factor 5 LLC, Midway Games, Nintendo, Pacific Data Images (PDI)/DreamWorks SKG, Pixar, Sega, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Square Enix Co., Ltd., Warner Feature Animation and Weta Ltd.
Our design customers include AT&T, BMW, Boeing, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Italdesign, Kodak, Kwikset, Mattel, Price Pfister, Renault, Rollerblade, Sharp, Trek Bicycle, Teague and Timex.

To read more about this announcement:
  Go to Autodesk.com
  Read the posting on Between the Lines by Shaan Hurley an Autodesk Blogger

Sincerely,
  Lee

Looking for some articles on AutoCAD Customization?

Are you looking for some articles on AutoCAD Customization?  If you are, you have come to the right place.  I have decided to build a listing of all the customization articles and contributions that I have been involved with over the last couple of years (or more).  Many of these articles were published in AUGIWorld or AUGI HotNews.  I have been involved with some other publications that range from the latest release of the AutoCAD 2006 Instructor book by James Leach and white papers on the new CUI feature found in AutoCAD 2006.  The articles that I wrote for AUGI date back to Jan 2004 till present.  Click here to access the list of contributions and publications that I have been involved with.  As time goes on I will continue to add to the list and add things that I might have missed, and categorize the page so it is easier to navigate.

Sincerely,
  Lee

New Dynamic Blocks White Paper

Autodesk has just released the second part of a three part set of white papers on Dynamic Blocks written by well known author Ellen Finkelstein.

Part 1: Dynamic Block Overview and Quick-Start Tutorial

Part 2: Inventory of Block Editor, Commands, Parameters, Actions, and Parameter Sets

Sincerely,
  Lee

Autodesk Listens to the Voices of its Customers

Still have a few choice things that you would like to say about AutoCAD even after the newest release of 2006?  Maybe you have one of the best ideas and you are waiting for it to be added to a future release.  Both of these are valid reasons that you might want to think about getting involved in the beta programs that Autodesk puts together around each release of its software.

Don't have lots of time to spare?  That's Ok... you give what time you can.  Each person that participates in the beta programs have different reasons for being part of it.  Some just want to get ahead start on learning the ins and outs of the migration process so they have a small learning curve once the final product ships.  Some really get heavily involved with the software because they have a passion for technology and for the products that they use on a daily basis.

So will you be part of AutoCAD 2007 (or whatever the next version is called) before it ships?  Autodesk values feedback from its customers, both good and bad alike.  So get involved today with surveys, usability studies and beta testing.  It is also a great way to network with others in the industry as well, I have met many great people through this experience.

Sign up at the My Feedback Portal by clicking this link.

Sincerely,
  Lee

What to Help Make AutoCAD Even Better?

I have been participating on many different levels over the years that revolve around improving AutoCAD.  Autodesk is always looking for customer feedback in the form of beta testers and even quick surveys.  Even at events like AU they try to set up times and meetings to talk to their customers about things that could be improved to help your work flow.

When I first started participating I thought it was just simply a way for Autodesk to make their customers feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, but if you look at the latest releases of AutoCAD.  The product speaks for itself and all of the many customer asked for enhancements that come directly out of things like the AUGI Wish list and feedback from its customers.

So get out there and make a New Year resolution (its not too late yet) and contribute to the tool that you use on a daily basis.

Hardware Survey
AutoCAD Survey

In the Denver area... Autodesk is conducting a research project on AutoCAD 2006.
Click to enroll

Have more time that you would like to give back in the form of feedback.... then why not sign up to be a beta participant.  Signup at the My Feedback site that is hosted by Autodesk.

Sincerely,
  Lee