AutoCADder

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

Autodesk has just released the first Service Pack - or "Update" how it is called now - for AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010. It fixes a quite unusual number of problems including some potentially serious ones, so install it ASAP.

The calculation bug seems to be fixed as well - see ill AutoCAD.

Don't try to install this SP on non-vanilla versions of AutoCAD (Mechanical, Civil...).

(via Between the Lines)

Labels: AutoCAD 2010, SP1, Update 1

This is to apologize for not updating this blog for a couple of weeks and leaving your valuable comments unmoderated (hidden). I was ill and now I am recovering. But it is a lot better now.

It seems that I am not alone in my illness - AutoCAD has a light headache as well. It errs in one of the basic operations any engineering software should perform - integer arithmetic.

Try yourself - open the QuickCalculator (Ctrl+8) in AutoCAD 2010 and throw him one of the most complicated mathematic problems that mankind should solve, the calculation of the difference: 120-62.

I know, I know, some smart brains among you would claim this makes 58. But think again. And look at the result AutoCAD invents: 57. You can even verify it with the 'CAL command - the same. And now who is right?

I wish AutoCAD 2010 (and myself) a speedy and full recovery...

Labels: AutoCAD 2010, bug, calculator

If you need a list of the new commands and variables introduced in AutoCAD 2010, there is a README file displayed at the end of the AutoCAD installation. Traditionally, this Readme doesn't list all of the new commands nor variables. And traditionally, a more complete list can be found on Hyperpics and CAD Forum (and variables).

This time the Readme doesn't list any obsoleted commands in version 2010, but still I have found one - the JOGSECTION command (now as SECTIONPLANEJOG).

In terms of the number of new commands (and especially variables, AutoCAD 2010 is one of the major releases (see also my older post for A2009) - with 55 new commands and 67 new variables (using the CAD Forum database numbers).

Here is the graph with the number of new commands in the latest AutoCAD releases:

Labels: AutoCAD 2010, commands

A good book writer (author) has many readers - and similarly a CAD designer (good designer) has many consumers (viewers) for his CAD data.

That's why it is important to have applications capable of reliable viewing of CAD formats. Autodesk has two of them, both of them free, and both were just released in a new "2010" version.

Autodesk DWG TrueView 2010 is a free DWG viewer. It is basically a cut down version of full AutoCAD so you can be sure that it displays, plots, measures and converts your DWG and DXF files exactly the same way as AutoCAD. The downside of this is that the installer is huge - 180MB, and also running TrueView takes quite a lot resources.

If you prefer lightweight applications and lightweight data, you will like Autodesk Design Review 2010. This a viewer for DWF and DWFx design files which can be easily published from any Windows application. And not only a viewer. In Design Review you can print, measure and first of all markup (redline) CAD data. And the markups can be brought back into AutoCAD. Version 2010 introduces ribbons and the ability to open DWG, PDF, DGN and JT files. DWG files are not viewed directly but they are first converted to DWF (in the background, with DWG TrueView). The added support for PDFs is quite surprising but it goes in line with the PDF support added in AutoCAD 2010.

You can download these two new applications from www.autodesk.com/dwgtrueview-download and www.autodesk.com/designreview-download

Labels: AutoCAD 2010, DWF, DWFx, DWG, viewer

The 24th version of AutoCAD - AutoCAD 2010 - was released today, March 24th.

There are lots of smaller enhancements and a couple of big ones in ACAD 2010. The biggest are 1) 3D modeling and 2) parametrics.

The 3D modeling capabilities now available in AutoCAD are better (and easier to use) than 3D tools of many specialized "3D" CAD software applications, including the existing versions of Autodesk's own Inventor and Revit. The same applies to parametrics - it is similar to the dimensional and geometric constraints available already in Inventor, but now in AutoCAD parametrics is available to "masses", to much wider audience. Most of other new functions was covered in my previous post. I am waiting for the localized German version.

To support AutoCAD users and let the communicate better, Autodesk has launched its new community web site - AutoCAD Exchange.

Labels: AutoCAD 2010

The new AutoCAD 2010 should use the SSE2 extended instruction set in modern CPUs. This instruction set allows hardware-assisted (read: faster) computations of some mathematical functions and transformations which are quite frequent in CAD applications. Software source-code compilers have usually a simple switch for support of the SSE2 set.

The SSE2 set is supported in Pentium 4, AMD Athlon 64, AMD Opteron and higher processors. There is little chance you install AutoCAD 2010 (or any other 3D CAD) on a PC older than that.

I haven't seen any benchmarks on how much faster will a CAD software run with SSE2 enabled but this is one of the good ways to make a software faster.

But remember - if your AutoCAD installation is refused or you get "The application could not be initalized" erros, make sure you have a CPU with the SSE2 set supported and enabled.

Labels: AutoCAD 2010, CPU, SSE2

Yesterday, Autodesk has revealed the secrets of its new flagship product - AutoCAD 2010.

Well, some of the secrets were already known or were expected - see e.g. my posts about the new DWG format, about dynamic blocks, or constraints, plus the usual common practice of embedding the Extensions (Bonus Packs) from the previous version. But this doesn't lessen the fact that the new AutoCAD 2010 (aka "Gator") is fast and bites.


The most important new functionality in ACAD2010 is: freeform 3D modeling, parametric drawings (and blocks, constraints) and raising the PDF format at (almost) the same level as DWF(x).

Freeform modeling opens new options for conceptual modeling in AutoCAD. I like the freedom of arbitrary conversions between solid and surface models, even on organic shapes. Plus you can print your 3D models on a 3D printer - well you probably don't have one, but AutoCAD allows to use a print provider (public service).

Parametrics resembles the Inventor sketch environment. The autoconstrain function will analyze your 2D drawing and applies the detected constraints automatically. You can simply make your drawings parametric using a dimensioning-like procedure. Parametric drawings change their shape just by changing a numerical parameter.

The publishing functionality now mixes the DWF and PDF formats in common dialogs. So you can decide which format you will use. You can now read in (underlay) PDF files and even osnap to their geometry.

There are more new features in customization (context ribbons), hatches, texts, dimensions, viewports, measuring, etc.

AutoCAD LT 2010 will have most of the new functions (except 3D and parametrics) and some older limitations of the LT version will fall (align, attribute extraction, non-rectangular viewports...). But don't forget - Autodesk is not just AutoCAD (and LT). The full "2010 family" of Autodesk products has more than 50 members!

Labels: 3D, AutoCAD 2010, DWG, LT 2010, parametric, PDF

Parametric constraints for AutoCAD geometry is something that has been discussed for several releases already. There were even some beta tests when AutoCAD 2009 was to be released last year. Remnants of these tests has been inadverently left in the code of the released version - this is why AutoCAD 2009 knows the variables CONSTRAINTRELAX and CONSTRAINTSOLVEMODE (with no apparent functionality - yet).

It is very probable that some kind of constraints will make it to the next release - 2010. This could bring AutoCAD forward as many designs are parametric by nature and using constraints can simplify the process of both the initial design and later design options.

Labels: AutoCAD 2010, constraint, parametric

Yes, I know. You think AutoCAD 2009 doesn't need to learn PDF - it is already there. But the results of its PDF printing/publishing were less than perfect in many situations.

With the release of "AutoCAD 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack 2" AutoCAD is much more fluent in PDF. This bonus pack (available to subscription users only, and - strange enough - only for the plain AutoCAD) adds new functionality in PDF publishing and in attaching PDF files.

The published PDFs are now smaller and faster to transfer - the TrueType texts are represented by true fonts, not just graphics. You can include layer information in PDFs and control line merging.

More important is the PDF import functionality. No, you cannot perform true import of PDF files. Just like with DWF files, you can only attach PDF files as underlays of your DWG drawings. But it is enough for most situations, especially when you can now osnap to the underlaying geometry in PDF (just like in DWF) files. Similarly to DWF you can also Clip and Adjust the referenced PDF files, suppress their layers and select specific page numbers from multipage PDF files.

Many disadvantages of PDF (vs. DWF) are now gone but DWF/DWFx is still a preferred format for CAD data.

If you do not hold a Subscription, hold on - AutoCAD 2010 should bring this functionality also for the rest of us.

Labels: AutoCAD 2010, bonus pack, DWF, PDF

Back from holidays, I have found fragments of information collecting on the new features of the upcoming new version of AutoCAD.

Autodesk organizes user meetings in the US where it seeks feedback from existing AutoCAD users. Concluding from this and similar information we can estimate the new functions and features of the "AutoCAD X", the new version which will be probably called "AutoCAD 2010".

• Command Line will be still there
• AutoLISP will be still there
• I bet AutoCAD will add another programming tool - VSTA
  
• The drawing format will change - Autodesk says it updates the DWG format every 3rd release, and AutoCAD 2010 is the third release after 2007; there may be even a substantial change in the drawing format (a XML-based DWG like in MS Office?) - this would allow a much better extensibility and longevity of the file format.
• Dynamic blocks will be enhanced. As there were plans for a parametric AutoCAD extension, I wouldn't be surprised when we see parametrics for entities in AutoCAD 2010.
• 3D modeling. There are still too many limits in using AutoCAD as a conceptual modeling tool. Autodesk will probably address these limits.

The drums are still distant and the outlines of the new features are in a haze - but the expected release date (March 20092010) is not that far in the future and it seems that AutoCAD 2010 will be one of the major releases of AutoCAD.

Labels: AutoCAD 2010, DWG

The AutoCAD product line manager at Autodesk - Eric Stover - said in the Techworld interview that:

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