AutoCADder

After performing the MacOS survey (see AutoCAD for Apple Mac - please no) it looks like Autodesk really means to release a native version of AutoCAD for Mac.

This is a blurry leaked screen capture of possible AutoCAD Mac version:


It doesn't look like a fake but you never know with these leaked pictures...

When they really detach the platform user interface from the core functionality, it shouldn't be difficult to make also an AutoCAD for Linux, or AutoCAD for Google Chrome.

Labels: Apple, AutoCAD, Linux, Mac

A very useful utility appeared today on CAD Forum. The LTFly tool creates linetypes (dashed lines with texts) as you go.

Imagine you need to create a series of lines labeled "LINE1" to "LINE9" or pipe lines labeled "D30" to "D300". You can label the lines separetely with masked texts or you can create manually the encoded .LIN files with linetype definitions and load the text linetypes in your drawing. With LTFly I was able to just type the text and the linetypes were created automatically. This can be a real time saver in some situations.

Labels: AutoCAD, linetype, text

The lightweight drafting version of AutoCAD - Project Cooper - is now available for all users worldwide from the Autodesk Labs web.

Cooper may be compared to AutoSketch or to Autodesk Project Draw. It understands DWG files (saves to DWG, reads its own DWGs). I had limited success reading in some DWG files from full AutoCAD. 3D drawings and drawings from vertical versions of AutoCAD are currently not supported, normal AutoCAD drawings work fine.

Cooper (currently free) is an interesting CAD tool for beginners and occassional users. You can draw precise drawings and diagrams, work with layers, publish to DWF and PDF.

Labels: AutoCAD, Project Cooper

Or as we say in Germany "Einen Guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr". I wish a happy and prosperous new year 2010 to all visitors of my blog.

For mere 3 months the latest AutoCAD version number will be synchronized with the calendar year. In March we will get a new baby, AutoCAD 2011....

My collegue has found an interesting problem in one of the drawings he worked on (AutoCAD 2010). Every operation on this rather large file started with a delay (about 10 seconds) accompanied with a progressbar "Scanning the drawing".

We have checked all usual suspects - purged the drawing, annotation scales, loaded applications, references - but nothing helped. It was strange that the same drawing worked OK on another computer. So we have also tested the influence of the graphics card but again - no success.

Finally we have compared the system variables on both computers and found the culprit. The variable SHOWLAYERUSAGE was "on" on the slow computer. Switching it off has fixed the problem.

Labels: AutoCAD, DWG, slow, variable

I admit, I like to experiment. So I was happy to test AutoCAD and other Autodesk software in the new Windows 7 operating system.

AutoCAD (and even more Inventor) is known to be rather touchy to the version of operating system and even to some OS service packs. You cannot simply upgrade your operating system and rely on that your AutoCAD version will keep to be compatible. It probably won't.

As our company plans to upgrade to Windows 7, the tests have to be done in any case. Better sooner than later to avoid any bad surprises. So I have used the German version of Windows 7 Enterprise (64-bit) and the German versions of AutoCAD 2010, LT 2010, Architecture 2010, Map 3D 2010 and Inventor Professional 2010 (all in 64-bit versions).

The first potential problem could be the installation. But all installations of these applications went smoothly. Then I tested each of the applications in a series of typical functions. I have not tested the performance as I have installed it all on a new PC (HP Z400) so I had no comparison with Vista or WinXP on the same machine.

Here are the results:

• AutoCAD 2010: all worked fine, except not being able to open one password protected drawing
  
• AutoCAD LT 2010: the same as for AutoCAD 2010
  
• AutoCAD Architecture 2010: all worked fine
  
• AutoCAD Map 3D 2010: a sample drawing connected to a MDB database did not work (probably a MDB driver problem)
  
• Inventor 2010: all worked fine (Vault was not tested), except running Excel invoked from an iPart table; then I found an Autodesk fix for that
  

I have also tested AutoCAD 2009 and it worked also well. Autodesk will probably not support officially it but some older versions may also work well in Windows 7. And if not, you can always use the virtual WinXP compatibility box in Windows 7.

So if you have machines capable of running Windows 7 (preferably in the 64-bit version) - i.e. lower specs than for running Vista - and if your peripherals are supported in Windows Vista (Windows 7 use the same drivers), I recommend to switch to Windows 7. AutoCAD and Inventor are not any obstacle to do this.

Labels: 64-bit, AutoCAD 2010, compatibility, Inventor 2010, Windows 7

All Autodesk software of the 2010 family got a facelift. Subscription customers can now download their "Subscription Advantage Pack".

This extension adds several functions to your software. These functions differ from product to product. A small group of commands is added to AutoCAD 2010. Much larger set of functions is added to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010, Inventor 2010 and Revit 2010. Architecture and Civil software gets an additional tool (a separate Windows application) - ImageModeler. This tool creates 3D CAD data from a set of photographs (previously sold separately).

Subscription Advantage Packs can be downloaded from the Subscription Center. It is worth to do so.

Labels: Subscription Advantage Pack