CAD Manager's Newsletter (#372)

A CAD Manager's Letter to IT

Educate your IT department about what you really need to do your job right.

Editor's note: Until Robert Green returns, we'll be revisiting a few classic CAD Manager columns and their timeless advice. This column was originally published July 27, 2011.

The following is an open letter from a frustrated CAD manager who is experiencing some common IT headaches. Although the CAD manager is imaginary in this case, these problems are all too real; I get letters from readers about them quite often.

I tried to have a little fun with this, while giving you some talking points with which to approach your IT department if these problems are plaguing you. I realize that many of you also serve as IT managers, so you might not face these issues — but you may enjoy reading through this anyway. I also realize that most folks working in IT departments want to do a good job, but simply don't understand CAD — thus the letter.

Here goes.

Dear IT Department:

It's me, the CAD manager. You know, the guy — or gal — who's always dealing with plotters and printers and screaming users. The one who slows our wide-area network (WAN) to a crawl by sharing all those 40-MB scanned aerial images with our branch offices. The one who has to juggle 2D, 3D, BIM (building information modeling), schedules, budgets, senior management demands, and software licensing. Yeah, that's me.

I've got a few things I'd like to explain about my job and how you could help me to help you (with apologies to Jerry Maguire), if you'll just hear me out and try to feel my pain.

Grant Me Access

Make sure you build the following elements into your testing protocols:

I'm not like every other computer user in the company, so shouldn't my login privileges reflect that reality? Why restrict me with insufficient privileges so that I have to come crawling to you every time I need to fix something? I don't want to bother you, but you leave me no choice. Read more »

:: Resources

Beyond 3D Podcast Explores Manufacturing and Engineering
Tech Soft 3D, a provider of software development tools and 3D PDF solutions to the engineering industry, has announced its Beyond 3D podcast channel. During each monthly podcast, guest speakers will explore all things 3D-related. Topics will include technology trends, challenges companies face, business issues, and the development opportunities around technology.
 

:: What's New at Cadalyst.com

AutoCAD Video Tips: The Fastest Way to Draw a Square in AutoCAD
You likely already know how to draw polygons — but have you used the powerful (and speedy) Edge option? Join Lynn Allen as she shows you the fastest way to draw a square in AutoCAD, and demonstrates just how easy it is to draw polygons using Edge. Watch the video »

Bentley Systems Pursues Autodesk Customers with License Trade-In Offer
To entice CAD users who prefer perpetual licenses, the infrastructure solutions provider touts promotion that lowers the costs of conversion — and draws ire from Autodesk in the process. Read more »

AutoCAD Video Tips: Protect Your AutoCAD System Variables
We all have our favorite system variables, along with their preferred settings in AutoCAD. Have you ever run an AutoLISP routine that changed a system variable without your knowledge? System Variable Monitor to the rescue! Join Lynn Allen as she shows you how to protect your valuable system variable settings and instruct AutoCAD to alert you when they are changed behind your back. Watch the video »