AecBatchStylesEditor 2009 (First Look Review)

Productivity tool helps manage CAD standards in AutoCAD Architecture and MEP.

AecBatchStylesEditor 2009 from CADaptation is a relatively new program that works with AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD MEP to configure, implement, maintain, and upgrade CAD standards. Versions are available for the 2008 and 2009 editions of the host applications.

Aec Batch Styles Editor 2009

With only a few mouse clicks, AecBatchStylesEditor users can change settings that typically are buried deep in AEC styles and definitions and affect as many styles or display representations as necessary. Normally, users would have to make such changes individually — which is tedious, not to mention prone to errors or oversights.

Features fall into four broad categories, represented by tabs in the user interface: Property Sets Editing, Materials Editing, Classifications Editing, and Display Properties Editing. A fifth tab is included for Preferences.

Material editing features in AecBatchStylesEditor 2009 let you change the material assignments for all selected style components.

Using the Property Sets Editing tab, you can add style-based property sets to multiple styles at once, remove style-based property sets from multiple styles at once, and copy individual property values between styles. Materials Editing lets you change the material assignments for all selected style components, and Classifications Editing lets you copy selected classification assignments between styles.

The Display Properties Editing tab offers a number of different functions:

• 1. copy selected display properties between styles or between display representations within styles
• 2. add or remove style display overrides to multiple styles at once
• 3. select individual entity and hatch component properties to be copied
• 4. completely customize the copying of display settings across display representations

Installing AecBatchStylesEditor is quick and simple. After it is installed, you can launch it from inside AutoCAD Architecture or AutoCAD MEP using any of several options — from a toolbar button, a tool palette tool, a pull-down menu, or by typing AecBatchEdit at the AutoCAD Command prompt.

Requirements for AecBatchStylesEditor 2009 are a system running Windows XP Home with Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 (recommended), Windows XP Tablet PC with Service Pack 2, or Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4. Windows Vista is not supported. You will also need Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 with Service Pack 1 or later and a Microsoft mouse–compliant pointing device. The Architectural and MEP Editions are $175 each, or you can purchase the full edition to use with both applications for $265.

Free evaluation editions for the 2008 and 2009 versions are available for download at www.cadaptation.com/AecBatchStylesEditor.

AecBatchStylesEditor is fast, easy to operate, and moderately priced. If you oversee standards compliance for AEC work and out-of-the-box settings seldom meet your needs, this valuable productivity tool could be your answer. It simplifies the customization process for individuals as well as companies with very little effort.