Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 11, No. 22)
18 Jun, 2006What's New at Cadalyst.com
Congratulations to Harry's 2005 Winners!
Cadalyst sends well-deserved albeit belated congratulations
to the winners of our 2005 Hot Tip Harry contest. Harry
selected the top three tips from dozens of published
tips throughout last year. Here are the cream of the
crop:
Andrzej Gumula won $250 for Spell Check (tip 2032) from May 2005, which uses Microsoft Word to spell-check each text string in an AutoCAD drawing. Gumula lives in Katowice, Poland, and is a civil engineer and manager doing road design for KPI System. He enjoys music, movies, sports, bicycle trips and spending holidays in sunny places.
Jeffery Sanders of Tioga, Louisiana, won $500 for Get Excel Data (tip 2038) from June 2005, which pulls data into a drawing from an Excel spreadsheet. Sanders is manager of technical services for a worldwide electrical substation provider, managing the steel detailing department as well as working in the IT department. "I spend the majority of my time creating programs to automate steel detailing," he says. He also runs his own Web site, jefferypsanders.com. He is married and has four children.
Lanny Schiele won the top prize of $1,000 for Hatch Maker (tip 2065), the October 2005 routine that automatically creates hatch patterns. Schiele is a systems programmer at TMI Systems Design in Dickinson, North Dakota, a manufacturer of laminate casework. Schiele writes code in VB.NET, VB, VBA and AutoLISP. He is married and enjoys camping, hiking, hunting, cooking, music and beachcombing.
Cadalyst
Hosts "Success with 3D" Web
Presentation
Cadalyst will host "Success with 3D," an
exclusive Web event for the manufacturing community.
Sponsored by Autodesk, the 45-minute presentation will
discuss how to successfully deploy 3D design software.
It will bring together Cadalyst contributing
editors Robert Green, Jeff Rowe and Bill Fane, as well
as product specialists from the Autodesk Manufacturing
Solutions Division and Larry Schester, mechanical design
supervisor at Gefit Liverrnois Engineering. Mark your
calendar for this Friday, June 23, at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m.
ET). Click
here to learn more or register for the event.
Cadalyst Daily Update
For all the latest
news and new products, subscribe to Cadalyst
Daily e-newsletter. Plus, every issue includes
a feature you won’t find anywhere else – hardware
and CAD software reviews, success stories, AutoCAD
tips and much more! Here’s a sample of what you
missed in the past week:
How Many Engineers Does it Take to Launch a Rocket? GlobalSpec's Brain Strainer game provides cerebral amusement.
- Graphisoft Announces ArchiCAD 10: New features in 3D architectural application designed to improve modeling freedom, workflow and user interaction.
- Event Report: 2006 PTC/User Conference, Part 2: PTC reveals what's new with its core CAD product, Pro/ENGINEER.
- Review: Earth Connector for AutoCAD: Avatech's new tool lets architects, engineers tap into Google Earth to communicate new designs in a true spatial reference system.
- First Look: Deep Exploration 4.0: Highly recommended Right Hemisphere tool can translate, author and publish graphics to communicate CAD designs, procedures and more.
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Resources
Downloadable 3D CAD Parts Models
Design engineers now have access to more than 18,000 3D
CAD models from parts maker J.W. Winco that they
can download into all major CAD applications, eliminating
the need to recreate 3D models from scratch. Users can
generate 3D CAD models that are customized to their equipment
needs and order the parts online. The offerings are a
result of collaboration between J.W. Winco and Catalog
Data Solutions, a provider of 3D Internet solutions for
industrial suppliers. 2D drawings are also available
for download to support procurement and documentation.
TurboCAD Community Wiki
A new wiki is
online for TurboCAD users. The site explains that TurboCAD
has so many features that no single user can know them
all, but participants can pool their collective knowledge
for the benefit of everyone. Site users believe that a
wiki is a better way to archive the solutions than a mailing
list or discussion forum. Named after WikiWiki, the Hawaiian
word for quick, wiki sites let users continually edit online
content, collaborating their way to an ultimate truth of
sorts. The best-known wiki, and the best place to learn
about them, is Wikipedia.
Kellysearch.com Expands in Asia and Europe
Kellysearch.com, an on-line buyers' guide and business-to-business
vertical search engine, announced three additions to its
Web site portfolio. The new international editions for Asia, Germany and The
Netherlands can be searched by specific geographic regions
or worldwide. Each site contains the full catalog of Kellysearch.com
product, service and company data, with the German and The
Netherlands sites translated in the respective languages.
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This Week's Software Tips
Get the Code for June!
Cadalyst’s June code from Hot
Tip Harry is now available for download. This
month's $100 winner is Edit Text from
Leonid Nemirovsky, which lets you specify text
objects to display for editing. Congratulations also to May's
$100 winner, Pedro Ferreira, for the tip
Erase Inside a Closed Pline.
More
Follow-Up to “Shortcut
to Windows Explorer from AutoCAD
Following up further about how to navigate to Windows
Explorer from AutoCAD, which we last discussed in the June
12 edition, Rich Fuglewicz writes
that the correct command to use is Explorer (not Explore,
as we reported). Cadalyst Contributing Editor Bill
Fane tells us that the command is defined in AutoCAD's
ACAD.PGP file and could be changed to Explore (the command
indicated in the previous tip) -- or anything you desire,
using Notepad, "making everybody right," Fane
says.
And for those readers who expressed pleasure when we provided a command to use instead of the previously provided LISP routine for the same task, here's a faster-yet solution, from readers Gordon Wittenberg and David Marsh: Simply press the Windows key + E on your PC keyboard!
Follow-Up to Osnaps Tip
Responding
to the osnaps tip in "Zooming for Multiview
Solids Drawings in AutoCAD," also in the June
12 edition, Randy Fisher writes, "Rather
than researching to try to determine the binary number
for the osnap setting that works for you, merely select
the settings that work for you from the Osnap window and
then close the window. Using the Osmode command will then
reveal the binary number that represents the binary number
for the current settings. This will be the number to code
into your LISP routine."
Quickly Erase Superfluous Layers to Tidy Up Old
Drawings
Sam Styles, CAD
manager at Historic Royal Palaces in the United Kingdom,
writes: "I manage a
library of thousands of old CAD drawings, which are sometimes
difficult to work with as they have so much excess info
in them. I have written a extremely small and simple LISP
that will easily erase the layout tabs and when used with
commands such as PURGE and LAYDEL. It very quickly tidies
up a drawing to be used for something else.
"Load the LISP the usual way and run by typing Elt on the Command line. It will erase the last-viewed layout, and then you can invoke Elt the usual way by pressing Enter again and again, erasing all the layout tabs and clearing the drawing very quickly. I hope others find this as useful as I have!"
(defun C:ELT ()
(command "layout" "d" "")
(princ)
)
Shortcut to Folder Shortcuts
Robin DeRoo sends
this tip for fans of folder shortcuts. "One
can be
lulled into the Windows restriction of not being able
to add folders to the Folder pane of an open File dialog
box. Not so in AutoCAD. Open a drawing to bring up
the Select File dialog box and navigate to where
the file is located. Right-click in the Folder pane and
add the folder shortcut. Next time you need to get to
that folder quickly, it is right there on the Folder
pane waiting to be used. This method sure saves a whole
lot of 'mousing' around."
Express Tool Favorites
Benjamin R. Young reminds
readers about two of his favorite AutoCAD commands, both
of which he says have been in Express tools for
quite some time but were removed from the Express pull-down
menu in AutoCAD 2006. "I use these commands,
Overkill and Laytrans, almost daily.
"Layer translator (Laytrans) allows you to move and combine layers from one drawing to a previously used set that you prefer. This is great for architectural drawings that have 100 different types of wall layers and you don't need them all. I use a DWT file as my standard, then move the original layers over to the ones I want them to be on, based on my DWT file. This command features a straight-forward dialog box and saves me time whenever I start a new project.
"After that I run Overkill to remove redundant objects in that same drawing, because now those 100 wall layers are seen as one, and there are probably a lot of lines drawn on top of each other. It can optimize segments in plines, combine lines that overlap and also join lines that abut end-to-end. You can set it to ignore things such as linetype, layer, color and so forth, but I normally leave those off. Be careful, though -- this is a very powerful command, and can get you into trouble if you turn on all the options.
This Week's SolidWorks Tips
SolidWorks training developer SolidProfessor sends
the following tips this week for Tips & Tools
Weekly readers:
- Fill Patterns: Explains how to fill a specified area with a pattern.
- 3D Drawing View: Shows how to rotate models in the Drawing environment.
Send us your tip or shortcut for your favorite CAD software. If we publish it, we'll send you a “Cadalyst: CAD the Way You Want It” t-shirt.
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Books & Training
Deconstructing the Elements with 3ds Max, second edition (408 pages, $49.95), by Pete Draper, is available from Focal Press, a division of Elsevier. The book takes a tutorial approach to teach the essential techniques that 3D artists need to create computer graphics environments by recreating the earth's elements of earth, air, fire and water. The publisher reports that no extra plugins are required; the book and its companion DVD reportedly include everything users need to perform the exercises. The book's editorial content is updated to be current with Autodesk 3ds Max 8.
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The Week's New CAD and Related Products
Hardware: DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go
Matrox expands support for its external multidisplay upgrade
modules. Read
more
General Software: FARO LS
Company releases eight specialized software packages for
its laser scanner products. Read
more
General Software: AcroPlot Repro
New CADzation tool is designed to enhance printing of
PDF and DWF files on large-format plotters. Read
more
Visualization: NRP Entourage
Entourage Arts releases three new volumes of hand-rendered
images. Read
more
Visualization: AccuRender v4
Robert McNeel & Associates
updates rendering software with a built-in interface to
Piranesi painting technology. Read
more
Visualization: VCollab 2006
Visualization Collaboration Technology introduces a multidisciplinary
platform for CAD, CAM and CAE visual collaboration. Read
more
AEC: Green Building Studio v2
Web service makes detailed comparisons between different
building design and equipment measures. Read
more
AEC: progeEARTH
iCADsales.com introduces software for civil/survey CAD. Read
more
GIS: Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise 2007 and MapGuide
Studio 2007
Autodesk delivers commercial versions of its open-source
Web map publishing software. Read
more
GIS: FME 2006 GB
Safe Software releases data-translation application that
uses the Microsoft /3GB switch to increase memory resources. Read
more
MCAD: VariCAD 2005 v3
New release of 3D/2D mechanical CAD system includes better
support for Linux operating systems. Read
more
MCAD: ProductCenter v8.5.1
PLM software from SofTech adds database option for Microsoft
SQL Server 2005. Read
more
MCAD: Synthesis v17
Company introduces new release of its automated 3D parametric
CAD software for elevator configuration. Read
more
MCAD: Aesthetica JT Open Data Import Module
Icona Solutions
introduces a module to transfer of 3D product model data
for automotive vehicle fit-and-finish quality studies. Read
more
MCAD: Cost Management Analytics
New software from Akoya designed to help manufacturers
reduce product costs. Read
more
MCAD: Kubotek Spectrum
Kubotek USA pumps up its multi-CAD viewer. Read
more
MCAD: PAM-ASSEMBLY
ESI Group releases simulation technology for welding assembly. Read
more
MCAD: RFQ Tools
MFG.com launches online tools designed to simplify RFQ
process. Read
more
MCAD: KOMPAS-3D v8+
ASCON Group releases its 3D mechanical design software
in English. Read
more
CAM: thinkcompensator
think3 technology automates tooling design modifications
needed to compensate for springback. Read
more
Facilities Management: SmartPlant Operating and
Maintenance
Intergraph releases operations and maintenance component
for SmartPlant Enterprise. Read
more
Facilities Management: ARCHIBUS/FM v16
New release includes improved AutoCAD interoperability,
task security and expanded Web capabilities. Read
more
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Mark Your Calendar
Cadalyst'scomplete list of upcoming industry events is always available on our Web site.
GibbsCAM 2006 Roll-Outs
June 19-29, 2006
Various locations
Gibbs and Associates will hold a series
of factory roll-outs throughout the North America introducing
GibbsCAM 2006. Read
more
"Success with 3D" Web
Presentation
June 23, 2006,
10 a.m. PT
Cadalyst hosts "Success with 3D," an
exclusive Web event for the manufacturing community. Sponsored
by Autodesk, the 45-minute presentation will discuss how
to successfully deploy 3D design software. It will bring
together Cadalyst contributing editors Robert Green, Jeff
Rowe and Bill Fane, as well as product specialists from
the Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions Division and Larry
Schester, mechanical design supervisor at Gefit Liverrnois
Engineering. Read
more
2006 Best Firm to Work For Summit
September 28-29, 2006
Chicago, Illinois
ZweigWhite hosts this event designed
to help AEC leaders learn the essential elements for attracting
and retaining the best employees in order to maintain their
firm's continuing growth and success.