Autodesk in the cloud - AutoCAD WS and the AutoCAD 2011 Subscription Advantage Pack

Since attending the AutoCAD for Mac Bloggers Reception a few weeks ago, I have really been looking forward to this! Autodesk have been running Project Butterfly for some time now and now it has come to fruition as AutoCAD WS which can be found at www.autocadws.com. It goes live today! AutoCAD WS is an amazing app that runs on both Windows and Apple operating systems and provides the ability to upload AutoCAD drawings to the "cloud" (which I am sure you have all heard about). Basically, you are using virtual servers courtesy of new technology to collaborate on the SAME drawing! (Yep, I did say the same drawing). Check it out below.

Your drawings can be stored online and you can view and EDIT DWG files online using a PC or a Mac. How cool is that? You and a colleague could be on other sides of the world and working on the same DWG (time zones and bandwidth permitting!). Not just that, you can run the AutoCAD WS Mobile app on any iOS. You're now thinking, what is an iOS? It means you can run the mobile app on any Apple mobile device, so we are talking iPhone, iPod Touch and the latest and greatest, iPad as well! The mobile app is a cut down version of the full AutoCAD WS but it makes you completely mobile when you collaborate....very useful on a factory floor or a construction site, for example. Those DWG files that you are working on can also be updated direct from full AutoCAD using the AutoCAD WS plugin for AutoCAD. So the DWG files will always be up to date! Running AutoCAD WS Mobile on an iPad seems like a great idea due to screen size but how about on an iPhone or iPod Touch, surely it won't be very clear? Let's check it out!

So above we have it on the iPad, using Edit Text (upper pic) and using greyscale to view looks great doesn't it? As you can see the Apple iOS provides clear, clean graphics and with the versatility of the iPad, you can work effectively and productively. So, what happens if you use an iPhone or iPod Touch? Let's see below.

As you can see, even on a small screen like the iPhone, the graphics are clear and easy to read. You can manage your drawings (upper pic) and use tools such as MEASURE (lower pic), even on an iPhone. How wicked cool is that? :-) Plus, it is available on the iTunes App Store! Click on the link to see.

Another rather cool addition for all you subscription customers out there is the AutoCAD 2011 Subscription Advantage Pack. This gives AutoCAD 2011 subscription customers some rather cool tools as well.

You now have the DWG Convert tool (previously in DWG TrueView) to run in AutoCAD so you can batch convert DWG up and down through DWG versions making life so much easier.

You also have an IGES Import/Export tool making working with 3D models real easy!

So, overall, you have a pretty superb package from Autodesk today; AutoCAD WS for collaboration in the "cloud" plus iOS support and the AutoCAD 2011 Subscription Advantage Pack.

Who says you don't get your money's worth from Autodesk?

Enjoy!

SB

CAD Gorilla - AutoCAD 2011 Essentials released!

I am very pleased to say that CAD Gorilla have released their AutoCAD 2011 Essentials video learning title!

Check out the trailer here....

CAD Gorilla are a focused company who specialise in providing high-quality video learning material for Autodesk users. They also provide video learning titles for Inventor and Revit. They are a great bunch of guys who make learning CAD products fun! Check out their CAD Gorilla trailer with the chimpanzee on the typewriter and you'll see what I mean! LOL :-)

I am honoured to say that I was asked by CAD Gorilla to author their AutoCAD 2011 Essentials course and working with these guys is great. They have enthusiasm for their products but, most importantly, they have a sense of humour. They realise that CAD isn't sometimes the most exciting topic in the world, right? So, CAD Gorilla put their take on it and, hey presto, you have an exciting learning product that is current and packaged in a way that it makes you want to buy it and get learning. I mean, I wrote the AutoCAD 2011 Essentials title and I would go out and buy it, yeah?

CAD Gorilla are worth watching! Check out their other Autodesk titles at www.cadgorilla.com.

Happy CADD'ing!

SB

AutoCAD for Mac Reception - 15th Sept 2010 - London

Well, now I can safely say that I love AutoCAD on the Mac!

Having now had hands-on experience of the new version of AutoCAD running on a MacBook, I am REALLY impressed. But before I wax lyrical (no, I promise not to sing! LOL), lets just break down my brief review in to sections. I will give you a real quick breakdown on the following: -

1. User interface
2. Processing power
3. General prettiness
4. Conclusions

OK, user interface. Well, I have to say that it beats the new Windows ribbon interface hands-down. Autodesk have combined the best parts of the Apple user interface with the best parts of the original AutoCAD user interface to form a highly functional experience for any new AutoCAD for Mac user. I loved the way the main command icons (drawing, modify etc) now live on a vertical toolbar on the left of the screen and are accessed by selecting just three sub menus; Drafting, Modeling and Annotation. Trust me, as a trainer that just makes things SO much easier! It will also make life so much easier for the user. In fact, it reminded me of some of the raster design products out there such as PaintShop Pro and Adobe CS 5 in its simplicity. It is great to see Autodesk simplifying things and making AutoCAD much more usable. Plus, you have the Apple OS interface which, personally, I do prefer. It just works. I guess that could be preference/mindset thing though. Saying that, I have been on MS-DOS and Windows platforms all my working life and you do get "programmed" in to your interface. However, the Apple/AutoCAD interface still wins and will definitely appeal to more seasoned AutoCAD users who have a penchant for toolbars and floating palettes. New user or old user, it really doesn't matter, the new Mac interface just works.

Processing power was not an issue either. Various people tried their hardest to crash AutoCAD on the Mac and yes, they did succeed, but only after loading AutoCAD for the Mac with 3D modeling loads that any regular Windows-based AutoCAD would have probably run and hidden from! AutoCAD for the Mac proved it was more than capable of modeling extremely well in 3D. Also, the screen display during these tests was excellent. Smooth, no jerkiness and a pleasure on the eye, unlike some graphics I have seen on Windows platforms. Various modeling scenarios were performed, such as helices, lofts and sweeps and AutoCAD for the Mac took it all on the chin.

AutoCAD for the Mac will not only provide a capable 2D/3D drafting platform but it will also appeal aesthetically too. Apple provide very good looking bits of hardware. The MacBook is an enviable commodity for those that don't have one (me included!) and they look superb. Combined with a VERY good looking user interface, AutoCAD for the Mac gets ten out of ten for looks and eye-catching screen graphics. It just all looks so good. You can just see all the university students with their MacBooks clamouring to get on to the Autodesk Student Community (student.autodesk.com) to get their student licences of it upon official release!

So what are my conclusions here, you may ask?

Simple. I think Autodesk have invested a lot of time and money wisely in their development of AutoCAD for the Mac. Apple with their computers, iPads, iPhones and iPods have a superb range of technology that I am sure Autodesk will embrace. Also, Apple is de rigeur right now. Fashionable but also very capable. You can run AutoCAD on a Mac and have AutoCAD WS running on the iPad, iPhone or iPod which in turn provides two-way collaboration and communication of AutoCAD drawings and designs. The iPad, for example, provides a superb, lightweight portal for a Facilities Management (FM) function. FM drawings can be made available via AutoCAD WS on the iPad and space can be managed, revised and commented upon on-site (via Wi-Fi or the cloud) and the details sent back to the drawing originator for updating. I noticed that a number of the Formula 1 commentators on the BBC last weekend are now using iPads instead of the old BBC clipboards. Apple is prevalent everywhere and I think Autodesk taking the bull by the horns and utilising current technology like this can only be a good thing.

So, there you go. My quick review of AutoCAD for the Mac.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Shaan Hurley (@mrcadman) for inviting me to the reception and also thank Jackie Hewett for her hospitality when we arrived. Pizza was great! Thanks!

All in all, a very cool evening in the heart of Soho in London!

Happy CADD'ing!

SB

An Apple-flavoured early birthday present! Thanks, Autodesk!

Well, it's official! I am 41 today and feeling about 19-ish (mentally anyway, physically not so sure!).

I had a superb early birthday present from those guys at Autodesk though! It seems that hell may have frozen over and AutoCAD is coming back on the Mac! How cool is that? Plus, there will be AutoCAD apps for both the iPad and iPhone on the Mac OS.
This is SERIOUSLY good news! Not just for Mac owners but just generally. Cross-platform technology like this can only enhance the operability of AutoCAD. Imagine using your iPad to work on live drawings on a factory shop floor or a construction site. The possibilities are endless!

Here's the skinny from the lovely guys at the Autodesk press office!

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., August 31, 2010 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, announced AutoCAD for Mac software. This version of AutoCAD, one of the most widely used software for professional design and engineering, runs natively on Mac OS X and will increase choice of hardware for millions of users around the world. Autodesk also announced the AutoCAD WS mobile application, a new app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch that will allow users to edit and share their AutoCAD designs in the field.

“The release of AutoCAD for Mac marks the return of professional design and engineering software to the Mac platform and an important convergence of power and design. Over 5000 customers have helped develop this product through our beta program and they are delighted to have the choice of a native Mac version of AutoCAD,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Autodesk Platform Solutions and Emerging Business. “The combination of this new version of AutoCAD and the extension of AutoCAD to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is a big step in Autodesk’s efforts to accelerate design and make design more accessible for an ever-greater number of people so they can shape the world around them.”

“Apple is thrilled that Autodesk is bringing AutoCAD back to the Mac and we think it's the perfect combination for millions of design and engineering professionals,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The AutoCAD WS app is a bold new idea, a mobile version of industry-leading design software for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, the world's most innovative mobile devices."

AutoCAD for Mac Built for Mac OS X
AutoCAD for Mac has an intuitive interface that will be familiar to Mac users and makes available many of the powerful AutoCAD features and functionality to customers who choose to work natively on the Mac. AutoCAD for Mac takes full advantage of Mac OS X, including graphical browsing of design files with Cover Flow and use of Multi-Touch gestures on Mac notebooks, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad for intuitive pan and zoom features. User experience design patterns, such as the visual approach to drawing and layout management, have also been incorporated into AutoCAD for Mac.

With support for native creation and editing files in the DWG file format, AutoCAD for Mac also offers easy collaboration with suppliers, customers, clients and partners regardless of platform. Files created in previous versions of AutoCAD will open seamlessly in AutoCAD for Mac, boosting productivity by reducing time-consuming file translation and cleanup of converted data. The value of AutoCAD for Mac is further extended with an extensive API (application programming interface) and flexible customization options that allow for tailor-built workflows, simple application development and adaption, custom configurations for settings and screen real estate options to suit individual workflows and project demands.

AutoCAD Extended to iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch
Autodesk also announced the AutoCAD WS mobile application, a new free* app soon to be available through Apple’s App Store that will extend AutoCAD to Apple’s iOS. The AutoCAD WS mobile application will enable AutoCAD users to edit and share AutoCAD files on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch so they can have real-time collaboration even while on the go.

AutoCAD for Mac will also be offered free* to students and educators through the Autodesk Education Community, where more than 25 Autodesk software products are available for download to inspire learning and help prepare students for successful careers. Autodesk recognizes the popularity of the Mac platform among students and is providing AutoCAD for Mac so they can build needed skills by having access to the same software that design professionals use every day.

Availability
AutoCAD for Mac and the AutoCAD WS mobile application will be available beginning this fall. AutoCAD for the Mac will be available in North America and Europe and the AutoCAD WS mobile application will be available worldwide. For details and purchase options, visit http://www.autodesk.com/autocadformac

The future is bright.....the future is Apple-flavoured!

Happy CADD'ing!

SB

AutoCAD: No Experience Required - Donnie Gladfelter

I am extremely honoured to have been given the chance to review AutoCAD 2011: No Experience Required written by the legendary Donnie Gladfelter of www.thecadgeek.com fame.

Donnie is a recognised expert in his field, both as a consultant and trainer of AutoCAD and has written a superb book for anyone who wants to learn how to use AutoCAD and, as the title goes, there is no previous experience required.

Donnie has created an excellent resource for any novice or existing user who may have only dabbled with AutoCAD. It gives consise, easy to understand instructions on a log cabin project from start to finish from a blank drawing to rendered 3D images.

I also found that it was very difficult to put down! Donnie's writing style is very easy to read and makes for very interesting reading. I loved the way Donnie adds notes and tips and comments that are pertinent to the main commentary. They are very informative and once in a while you think to yourself, "Wow, I didn't know that!" I have used AutoCAD for the last 22 years and I was still finding little tips and tricks that I didn't know about. Thanks, Donnie!

I must tell you about a few things that I really liked about Donnie's AutoCAD book.....

1. I really liked the graphics in the book that showed the AutoCAD icons. Alot of books I have read about AutoCAD make these way too small. In Donnie's book, they are clear and the right size. Cool!

2. The section on the US National CAD Standard was very well explained and clear. Donnie made it very easy to understand.

3. I never knew that the Alt key on the keyboard displayed the AutoCAD keyboard shortcuts! ;-)

4. The 3D section is excellent. Clear and simple. It explains the transition from 2D to 3D really well. Even for a grizzled old AutoCAD veteran like me! LOL.

Overall, a superb learning resource for complete novices and experienced users alike.

Donnie, you have done a great job here by bringing all of the necessary information together in to the one book.

I give it a resounding recommendation to everyone who reads my blog!

if you check out Donnie's blog, www.thecadgeek.com, you can click on the link to get his book and check out his superb blog too. You can also join the AutoCAD No Experience Required group on Facebook!

Job well done, Donnie, and send Willem at Wiley my best wishes!

Happy reading, everyone!

SB

Have any of you tried DWG TrueView yet?

Hey fellow AutoCAD users!

I thought it was about time I blogged again, so here it is!

I often wonder if there is still that them and us situation in many companies. You know exactly what I mean, them non-AutoCAD users, and us AutoCAD users. OK, so we're not talking Luddites and the Industrial Revolution here, but there are still people who will always need to see your drawings and maybe move around in your drawings, switch a layer off here and there and plot your drawing, right? The ones that don't want to be bothered by a big, scary app like full AutoCAD?

OK, so you all say DWF. Plot to DWF and get them to use Autodesk Design Review. Well, you don't even have to do that. You could let them look at your original DWG file.

What!!!??? Let a non-AutoCAD user loose on a native DWG file! Never!

Well, you can!

Just install a lovely little piece of FREE Autodesk software and your DWGs are all safe and sound.

That piece of software is called Autodesk DWG TrueView (see screenshot below).

(The link is www.autodesk.com/dwg if that helps).

As you can see, the screen is just like AutoCAD but without any drawing or editing tools. A DWG viewer, you might say! :-)

The usual interface tools are there: -

• - Ribbon
• - ViewCube
• - Navigation Bar
• - Command Line

So, you can easily get around if you know AutoCAD but you can also easily get around if you don't know AutoCAD too! It isn't rocket science and I am sure any AutoCAD user could teach a non-AutoCAD user to use DWG TrueView in less than an hour.

Here's a challenge for you. If you can install DWG TrueView at work and then teach someone who doesn't use AutoCAD to use it in less than an hour, I will send you some video learning freebies to use at your company or organisation. Just take a photo of the DWG TrueView trainee next to their PC using the product and a photo of the clock when you start training them and then a photo of the clock when you finish training them. Easy! Then email it to me here.

DWG TrueView also includes a superb utility. How many times have you been asked to send drawings out in a different, maybe older, DWG format? If I had a pound (or dollar) for every time I had been asked that, I would not be writing blogs right now. Or maybe I would be, but talking about my lovely villa on my own Caribbean island maybe? ;-)

That utility is called DWG Convert (see screenshot below).

As you can see, you can add as many DWG files as you like and then choose a DWG format you want them to be converted to, or create your own conversion setup if you wish.

You can save the DWG list so that you can convert again if need be and you can also add documents to the list as well.

It is a superb utility and the best bit about it is that it is completely FREE. Who says Autodesk don't give you anything for free, eh? :-)

So, in a nutshell, get over the the Autodesk DWG webpage (see links above) and get DWG TrueView downloaded. It is that easy. All you have to do is fill out a little itty bitty form on the webpage before you download it. Just 30 seconds of your time for some excellent FREE software!

Enjoy your DWGs!

SB

Autodesk Accelerates Design and Visualization with New Design Suite Family

Some breaking news for you!

Autodesk have created a new set of suites combining some of their best software apps in the one package.

There are 3 suites:

* Autodesk Design Suite
* Autodesk Factory Suite
* Autodesk Plant Design Suite

The Autodesk press release runs as follows:
San Rafael, Calif., June 23, 2010 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, unveiled a family of software suites for visual, factory and plant design. The new suites will offer increased functionality, interoperability and provide users with a superior user experience through a simpler, more cost-effective purchasing and deployment process.

“The design suites make it much easier for Autodesk customers to accelerate their design processes and benefit from the wide range of Autodesk design, visualization and simulation technologies,” said Carl Bass, Autodesk President and Chief Executive Officer. “Customers will also benefit from increased interoperability and productivity through access to new features and web services that will only be available as part of the design suite family.”

The suites for visual, plant and factory design are the first releases of the new family of design suites aimed to address industry workflows. The design suites will provide strong interoperability between the products, and a range of capabilities for design and visualization. The first three suites are:

• Autodesk Design Suite is for architects and designers working with AutoCAD software who desire enhanced concept design, sketching and best-in-class 3D visualization capabilities. The primary products in this suite include AutoCAD, 3ds Max Design and Alias Design.

• Autodesk Factory Design Suite is for machine and equipment builders, system integrators and manufacturers who design, visualize and simulate layouts of machine lines and entire manufacturing facilities. Autodesk Factory Design Suite helps manufacturers make better layout decisions by creating a digital prototype of the factory before equipment is installed and commissioned. The primary products in this suite include AutoCAD Architecture, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Vault and Autodesk Navisworks.

• Autodesk Plant Design Suite is for plant designers and engineers who need integrated plant design and whole-project review capabilities for plant design projects. The primary products in this suite are AutoCAD, AutoCAD P&ID, AutoCAD Plant 3D and Autodesk Navisworks.

Each suite will be available in several editions, with each edition offering progressively broader and more sophisticated capabilities.

Availability: The Autodesk Design Suite and the Autodesk Factory Design Suite are now available in select countries in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America. The Autodesk Plant Design Suite will be available in July.

For more information visit:

http://www.autodesk.com/designsuite
http://www.autodesk.com/factorydesignsuite

My personal view is that this can only be a step forward by Autodesk. It represents that Autodesk really are thinking about industry-specific uses and applications of their software. The Design Suite goes through the entire architectural design process from concept to visualization, for example.

As an FM bod/geek/anorak, I can only hope that a Facilities Management (FM) Suite will be on the list real soon! Autodesk, you listening? :-)

Happy CADD'ing!

SB