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Cadalyst Tips & Tools Weekly
 In This Issue
Volume 15, Number 32
September 13, 2010
 
 

This Week's
Software Tips

Resources

Deals & Freebies

Opportunities & Honors

Books & Training

Mark Your Calendar

What's New at Cadalyst.com

Account Management

 
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 
 New AutoCAD Video Tips
  from Cadalyst & Lynn Allen
•  Zoom Faster
•  Export AutoCAD Drawings to
•  DGN Format
•  Quick View Layouts
•  Bi-directional Linking with
•  Excel and AutoCAD

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Work Faster, Work Smarter
Do you have any tips for using AutoCAD — or any other CAD software tool — more effectively and efficiently? Send them to us! If we publish your tip, you'll earn a gift card you can use to purchase a T-shirt or other prizes in the Cadalyst Store. Use the Submit Tip button below to send us your tip today!

This Week's Software Tips

Maintain Linetype Scales
Tipster Andrew Maser gives us specific variable settings In AutoCAD to maintain linetype scales in various viewports. "When using multiple scales in multiple viewports, it is possible to maintain linetype scales so predefined linteypes look the same, regardless of the different scales." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Pan to a Selected Distance
James Bainbridge shares a method he uses to pan to specific distances in AutoCAD. "I use this function to avoid constantly scrolling in and out, or clicking and panning numerous times to move the display view." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Submit Your Tip

Review Cadalyst's Tip Submission Guidelines, then Submit Your Tip for your favorite CAD software. If we publish your tip, you'll earn a gift card you can use to purchase a T-shirt or other prizes in the Cadalyst Store. Please remember to submit only code and other tips that are your original work (or provide the original source so we can include proper credit) and to tell us which software version you use.

By submitting code, you grant Cadalyst the right to print and distribute your code in print, digitally, and by other means. Cadalyst and individual authors retain all rights to the code; published code is not to be used for commercial purposes.

Got Feedback? To share feedback about one of today's tips, navigate to the tip using the link provided above, then click Comment. The Comment tool is available to registered users of Cadalyst's CAD Tips site.

Tips & Tools Weekly software tips for AutoCAD are reviewed by Cadalyst staff and the Tip Patrol before publication. Use all tips at your own discretion, please. We're sorry, but editors and Tip Patrol members cannot provide assistance with technical problems; please refer to Cadalyst's Hot Tip Harry-Help discussion forum for assistance with AutoLISP and other AutoCAD customization questions.

Sincere thanks to our volunteer Tip Patrol members: Brian Benton, Don Boyer,
Mitchell Hirschklau, R.K. McSwain, and Billy Wooten.

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Resources

3Dconnexion Updates 3D Mouse Driver for SketchUp
3Dconnexion, a provider of 3D mice, has released a free driver update for Google SketchUp. 3Dconnexion's new intelligent 3D navigation feature automatically follows the point of interest to continuously determine the optimal center of rotation when controlling spin, tilt, and roll motions. The latest driver update also streamlines the 3D mouse user interface with a pop-up menu to centralize all 3D mouse-related options.

ESRI Releases Open GeoServices REST Specification
ESRI has released the GeoServices REST Specification, which provides a standard way for Web clients to communicate with geographic information system (GIS) servers through Representational State Transfer (REST) technology. As a result, developers can expose the GeoServices API request structure from ArcGIS Server and other non-ESRI, back-end GIS servers or processors.

Rapidform Launches 3D Scan-to-CAD Conversion Service
INUS Technology, the maker of Rapidform 3D scanning software, has launched a service that automates the process of creating complete CAD models from 3D scan data. InvisHands converts the polygon mesh file from the user's 3D scans into one of many CAD formats.

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Deals & Freebies

Free Autodesk App Will Enable Users to Share AutoCAD Files On iPad, iPhone
Autodesk has announced that a new free app that will extend AutoCAD 2011 to Apple's iOS, will be available this fall through Apple's App Store. The AutoCAD WS mobile application will enable AutoCAD users to edit and share AutoCAD files on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. AutoCAD 2011 for Mac software, which will run natively on Mac OS X, will also be released this fall. Interested users can sign up to be notified when the software becomes available.

Spatial Information Solutions Offers Free Trial of Mapping Accuracy Software
Mississippi State University spinoff Spatial Information Solutions is offering a free evaluation version of Accuracy Analyst to registered users for 30 days. The evaluation version includes data access and the new capabilities available in version 2.3 of the software, but limits the number of checkpoints as well as analytics and report generation capabilities.

BobCAD-CAM Provides Free Demo of BobCAM Pro for Solidworks
A free demo version of BobCAM Pro for SolidWorks is now available from software company BobCAD-CAM. BobCAM Pro now includes advanced toolpaths for complex CNC milling. Newly added features include rest roughing, intermediate slices, pencil milling, and flatlands.

Objet Lowers Price of Alaris30 Desktop 3D Printer
Objet Geometries, a 3D printing technology provider, has reduced the price of the Objet Alaris30 desktop 3D printer to $24,900. The Alaris30 uses Objet's patented PolyJet polymer jetting technology to build models by printing 16-micron layers.

Users Can Try EDrawings Professional for NX Free for 15 Days
Engineering and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions provider Geometric is offering a 15-day trial of its newly released eDrawings Professional for NX version 7.2 with support for NX 7.5. EDrawings is an e-mail enabled collaboration tool designed to ease the sharing and interpretation of 2D and 3D product design data.

Digimation Discounts 3D Content Collections
Digimation, a 3D content provider, has reduced the pricing of its 3D model collections. The Archive Platinum Edition, which includes more than 10,000 models and was formerly priced at $2,995, is now $299. The Archive Titanium Edition, which includes more than 16,500 models and formerly sold for $4,995, is now $599. The Model Bank Library, which includes 1,200 models, has been reduced from $999 to $199.

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Opportunities & Honors

Creaform Sponsors Engineering Project Challenge
Creaform, a 3D digitizing services provider, is welcoming entries for its Put Us to the Test! 2010 Challenge until October 1, 2010. Three winners will be selected to receive a 3D engineering project using Creaform's capabilities, including 3D scanning, reverse engineering, and design. One project valued at $20,000 and two projects valued at $2,000 each will be awarded.

Stratasys Announces Seventh Annual Dimension 3D Printing Contest
Additive manufacturing machine maker Stratasys has launched its Dimension brand's seventh annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge, which challenges students worldwide to submit innovative designs. Nine entrants will win either $2,500 or $1,000 scholarships in the categories of High School Engineering, College Engineering, and Art & Architecture. The deadline for entries is January 31, 2011.

AutoCAD Users Sought for Focus Group Software Evaluation
The AutoCAD User Experience team, in conjunction with Ideate, is seeking day-to-day users of AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT to test drive a future version of AutoCAD and provide feedback. Participants should be located in San Francisco, Sacramento, or Seattle; be proficient in 2D drafting; and be familiar with or proficient in 3D modeling.

E-on, DAZ 3D Announce 3D Character Creation and Rendering Contest
E-on software, a maker of solutions for natural 3D environments, in partnership with character solutions provider DAZ 3D, 3D Artist Magazine, and Cornucopia3D, has announced the 3D Character Rendering Challenge 2010. Professional and casual artists are invited to compete for Vue 9 software and other prizes. The deadline for submissions is October 4, 2010.

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Books & Training

Goldberg Authors Revit 2011 Guide
Publisher Pearson Education, a subsidiary of Prentice Hall, has released Revit Architecture 2011: A Comprehensive Guide ($93), by H. Edward Goldberg. Written for architects, architectural draftsmen, and students, the text emphasizes real-world application in the learning process. Goldberg is a practicing, licensed architect; hands-on user; industry analyst; and former community college and university professor.

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Mark Your Calendar

Webinar: PDM Migration Expert Series
September 16, 2010
Various times
PROSTEP is offering a series of free webinars that will include tips for planning and budgeting a PDM/PLM (product data management/product lifecycle management) migration project, addressing all PLM/PDM/TDM and legacy or in-house systems. Read more

OpenPlant Road Show
September 21–30, 2010
Various cities
Bentley Systems is hosting complimentary OpenPlant Road Show events around the country to demonstrate the new OpenPlant Modeler plant design product. Read more

RTP Product Design Street Faire
September 25, 2010
Morrisville, North Carolina
The RTP Product Development Guild's fourth annual Street Faire is a free, family-friendly outdoor event featuring business exhibits, activities for children, and food. The Guild seeks to improve the regional economy in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, North Carolina, by providing a framework for product developers and startups to work together on products in a collaborative environment. Read more

2010 CADWorx University Conference
September 27–29, 2010
Houston, Texas
CADWorx University will provide demonstrations of Intergraph's CADWorx Plant Design suite, as well as its CAESAR II and PV Elite analysis software solutions. More than 45 classes and labs will be available, and CADWorx 2011 will be previewed. Read more

Webinar: How Tyson Foods Develops Better Products
September 28, 2010
2:00 p.m. GMT
Kimberly Glenn, director of research and development for Tyson Foods, will lead the webinar titled "How Tyson Foods Ensures Compliance and Develops Better Products More Efficiently." Attendees can learn how the company leverages PLM (product lifecycle management). Presented by Oracle. Read more

3D Insiders' Summit 2010
September 28–29, 2010
Westminster, Colorado
At this event, Spatial's developer community will learn how to best utilize and implement the company's 3D software components, see what the future holds for Spatial's products, and network with industry colleagues. Read more

CIMdata PLM Certificate Program — California
October 18–22, 2010
Cypress, California
CIMdata's PLM (product lifecycle management) Certificate Program includes an intimate classroom experience, individual and team-based exercises, and individual evaluations of achievement. Read more

AUGI CAD Camp 2010
October 26, 2010
Wilmington, Massachusetts
This one-day Autodesk product training camp will feature industry authors and Autodesk University speakers, four specialized tracks comprising 13 classes, and networking and technology exhibits. Read more

For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com. Are you hosting an event that you would like to include in our calendar? Submit details at least two weeks in advance to news@cadalyst.com.

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What's New at Cadalyst.com

SolidWorks 2011 Measures Up
The latest release from Dassault Systèmes features automatic dimension re-arrangement, a part de-featuring tool, and simple sharing of parameter values and equations between parts. Read more

Design Makes a Difference for Hardworking Trucks
Even the most prosaic vehicles benefit from thoughtful conceptualization and extensive clay and CAD modeling. Read more

A Preview of the CAD Manager's Survey 2010
Reader feedback helped create this year's survey, which is almost ready for your input. The topics will include demographic data, CAD standards, training, and much more. Read more

CAD Manager's Toolbox: A Free File Transfer Utility Fills the Bill
When it's a hassle to share large files via FTP or e-mail attachment, this program offers a simple alternative. Read more

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