Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Macro recorder - potential problem in AutoCAD 2009
CAD Forum alerts to a potential problem in names of action macros. See "Be careful when naming AutoCAD action macros".
Do not give AutoCAD users too much freedom...
Do not give AutoCAD users too much freedom...
Labels: AutoCAD, macro recorder
The CAD Prophecy
Another try to replace AutoCAD - The Prophecy. I am very skeptical about this. There were lots of commercial attempts and some half-hearted open source attempts to make this, but all failed. In my opinion the CAD market does not generate enough passion to replace AutoCAD. The original product is too good and too cheap (speaking about LT). Both commercial development and enthusiasts' efforts make little sense in this situation.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Free JPEG2000, ECW and MrSID image support for AutoCAD
We have received an archive of old paper drawings scanned to a .JP2 format. It took us some time to find out it is a "JPEG 2000" raster format but unfortunately AutoCAD does not seem to support this type of images. We were prepared to convert the files to another, AutoCAD-supported format but then I have found a neat trick.
If you install the free Raster Design Object Enabler for AutoCAD, it not only enables objects coming from the "Raster Design" add-on, but also - as a side-effect - adds many new raster formats to the standard AutoCAD IMAGE and IMAGEATTACH commands. So with this simple enabler you learn your AutoCAD new formats, including JPEG 2000, ECW, MrSID and other useful raster formats.
Raster Design Object Enabler is available for AutoCAD 2009, 2008, 2007 - and probably also for other, older versions - I have not tested the older ones.
If you install the free Raster Design Object Enabler for AutoCAD, it not only enables objects coming from the "Raster Design" add-on, but also - as a side-effect - adds many new raster formats to the standard AutoCAD IMAGE and IMAGEATTACH commands. So with this simple enabler you learn your AutoCAD new formats, including JPEG 2000, ECW, MrSID and other useful raster formats.
Raster Design Object Enabler is available for AutoCAD 2009, 2008, 2007 - and probably also for other, older versions - I have not tested the older ones.
Labels: AutoCAD, format, JPEG 2000, JPG, Raster Design
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
AutoCAD "major" versions in terms of new commands
Is AutoCAD 2009 a "major" or "minor" version?
There are discussions whether AutoCAD 2000i, 2005 or 2009 are really full new versions or just smaller updates, whether the odd versions are better or worse than the even ones (a popular urban legend).
I have used the AutoCAD commands database on the CADforum web site to compare the number of new commands introduced in the individual AutoCAD versions. These numbers differ a lot - especially see the glitch in the chart of AutoCAD 2000 and 2000i (combined) new commands. But the sheer number of commands can hardly express the scope of changes done in the specific version of the software. E.g. a change in DWG file format or a new rendering engine is definitely a major change but it might not be expressed in adding any new commands.
The graph was generated online using the Google Chart API with this chart URL.
Labels: AutoCAD 2009, AutoCAD versions, commands
Friday, April 04, 2008
AutoCAD 2010 will use a new DWG format
The AutoCAD product line manager at Autodesk - Eric Stover - said in the Techworld interview that:
So we can expect a DWG format change in a year or so (in AutoCAD 2010). This complies with Autodesk plans to change the DWG file format every 3 releases (= every 3 years).
The interview itself is about the problems some AutoCAD users have with the DWG2007 format (using internal compression) on WAN links with connection accelerators. These accelerators obviously try to save bandwith by caching and skipping unchanged portions of transmitted files. And internal file compression makes the whole file appear as changed.
I wonder how can Autodesk be blamed about this as internal compression is used in many many file formats, not just DWG.
the new DWG format is due in 2009 with the planned release of AutoCAD 2010
So we can expect a DWG format change in a year or so (in AutoCAD 2010). This complies with Autodesk plans to change the DWG file format every 3 releases (= every 3 years).
The interview itself is about the problems some AutoCAD users have with the DWG2007 format (using internal compression) on WAN links with connection accelerators. These accelerators obviously try to save bandwith by caching and skipping unchanged portions of transmitted files. And internal file compression makes the whole file appear as changed.
I wonder how can Autodesk be blamed about this as internal compression is used in many many file formats, not just DWG.
Labels: AutoCAD 2010, DWG, WAN
Thursday, April 03, 2008
How do you extract your AutoCAD data?
The DATAEXTRACTION command is maybe the most underestimated command (wizard) in AutoCAD. It can do miracles if you want to analyze, schedule and export data from your drawing.
This CAD Forum tip mentions using the Data Extraction wizard for exoprting drawing text but the possibilities of this command are much broader. It is like the ATTEXT and EATTEXT commands on steroids. You can schedule not only block attributes and a couple of block properties but virtually any property of any entity of your DWG drawing.
And you can use this extracted information in a very flexible way - you can export it to a text (CSV) file, update a database or insert (and keep updated automatically) a table back into your drawing. The settings can be saved so you can repeat the extraction easily.
Check this command as it can make your life easier automating some of your frequently used tasks.
This CAD Forum tip mentions using the Data Extraction wizard for exoprting drawing text but the possibilities of this command are much broader. It is like the ATTEXT and EATTEXT commands on steroids. You can schedule not only block attributes and a couple of block properties but virtually any property of any entity of your DWG drawing.
And you can use this extracted information in a very flexible way - you can export it to a text (CSV) file, update a database or insert (and keep updated automatically) a table back into your drawing. The settings can be saved so you can repeat the extraction easily.
Check this command as it can make your life easier automating some of your frequently used tasks.
Labels: AutoCAD, data, extract, schedule
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
AutoCAD 2009 released - the biggest UI change since R14
It is March again. So there must be a new AutoCAD version again... It is amazing how well Autodesk keeps the promised yearly release cycle - with all the delays we can see e.g. at Microsoft. The subscription-paying customers are probably worth keeping the promise. And with the 2009 versions, it seems that these customers under subscription will get more for their money (the Impression software, more extensions, UI updates...).
Autodesk has just released the new AutoCAD 2009 - the version which will be probably known as the "Ribbon version". Not that there are no other enhancements in A2009 but the ribbon is definitely the most visible new feature.
Immediately with the new release, Autodesk has also released the downloadable trial versions of AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009. Unfortunately these downloads are not available here in Europe. Europe is for Autodesk the fastest-growing market but it is either not growing enough or maybe growing too fast -- in any case some benefits are not available for customers outside USA and Canada.
Autodesk has just released the new AutoCAD 2009 - the version which will be probably known as the "Ribbon version". Not that there are no other enhancements in A2009 but the ribbon is definitely the most visible new feature.
Immediately with the new release, Autodesk has also released the downloadable trial versions of AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009. Unfortunately these downloads are not available here in Europe. Europe is for Autodesk the fastest-growing market but it is either not growing enough or maybe growing too fast -- in any case some benefits are not available for customers outside USA and Canada.
Labels: AutoCAD 2009
