Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 14, No. 23)

21 Jun, 2009

This Week's Software Tips

Setting up INSUNITS
Al Thibault sent this tip about the INSUNITS variable and why users need to know how it works. "Have you ever inserted a block or an entire drawing into your current drawing and noticed that it 'magically' scaled upon insertion?" View the complete tip and post your feedback.

More Buttons = More Power
Brad Rose shared a tip about using a five-button mouse to increase his efficiency in CAD. "This is a tip that I thought users might not know about. After setting it up, I would be lost without it." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Oh-Snap!
Shane Wells submitted this tip for getting instant access to Osnaps. "Do you ever find that your Osnap settings don't have the option you need autoselected? Normally you would have to exit your command and reselect your Osnap settings through the Osnap manager, right? No more of this!" View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Layer Off in Viewports
Chris Kuenning sent in a tip discussing the freezing of layers in viewports and how to control the Freeze settings to get the command to work the way you want it to. "To change this setting enter Layoff at the command prompt; enter 'S' for Settings; enter 'V' for Viewports; enter 'O' for Off. Now you can turn layers off in peaceful bliss, knowing that when it's time for Layon, all entities that should be there, will." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Convert Hatch to Associative
Alex Borodulin of NYacadshared one of his AutoCAD tips, Hatch Edit, to fix a hatch, add a boundary, and convert hatch to associative.

Submit Your Tip for your favorite CAD software. If we publish your tip, we'll send you a Cadalyst T-shirt, and each month Cadalyst editors will randomly select one published tip and send a $100 gift card to its author. Please remember:

Submit only code and other tips that are your original work (or provide the original source so we can include proper credit).
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'sCAD 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, Kevin Sawyer, and Billy Wooten.

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Resources

Aveva Partnership Aims to Retrain Displaced Designers
Engineering IT software provider AVEVA Group has partnered with engineering resource company Talascend and Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan, to provide retraining for unemployed auto designers in plant design and other U.S. engineering markets where demand is higher. Upon completing the six-week Talascend Global Training Academyprogram, graduates are ready for assignment immediately, Aveva reports.

New Online Store for Media, Supplies, and Accessories
Roland DGA has launched Roland DGA Store, which provides customers with access to the company's line of certified supplies and accessories for cutters, engravers, and milling machines, including tested and profiled media for Roland inkjet printers and printer/cutters.

Free White Paper on the Future of Medical Imaging Technology
NextComputing's white paper, From Film to Pixels: The Future of Medical Imaging Technology, discusses several new technological requirements for small, portable, high-performance computers in various areas, and presents solutions to help fulfill high-end requirements.

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Deals & Freebies

Save on AutoCAD LT 2010
Autodesk is offering a $400 rebate on its AutoCAD LT 2010 through July 31, 2009. The latest version includes tools to attach PDFs directly to drawing files as underlays, share PDFs with improved text rendering, and create enhanced ribbons and Quick Access toolbar interfaces.

PTC Offers Free CoCreate Upgrade to 3D MCAD Users
PTC is offering users of eligible 3D products such as SolidWorks, Solid Edge and Inventor the opportunity to move to CoCreate for free. You'll receive one CoCreate modeling seat for every seat of eligible 3D CAD you trade in. For more information, contact CoCreateUSSales@ptc.com or download the brochure (PDF) for details. The offer ends June 30, 2009.

Free Trial of bonzai3d Modeler
A free 30-day trial version of the new bonzai3d modeler is available for download from AutoDesSys. bonsai3d enables conceptual modeling and sketching in addition to CAD-accurate models that can be used later in the production pipeline for applications such as construction drawings, rendering, animation, fabrication, rapid prototyping with 3D printing.

Free Trial of Building Elements Tool for Revit 2010
Ideate, a provider of training, services and software for Autodesk products, is offering a free 30-day trial of Ideate Explorer for Revit 2010, the company's new tool that enables Revit users to search, filter and tie up the inter-relationships between more than 10,000 building elements in a Revit building information model (BIM). The product is also available currently at the reduced price of $75. Current Ideate Subscription or Premium Support customers can receive the tool for no extra charge.

CadCARDs Available with Free Shipping
Shipping is free on CadCARD slide charts, which are now available in four versions: U.S.; Metric ISO A/B; ANSI/Architectural Converted to Metric; U.S. ANSI/Architectural Junior. CadCARDs are AutoCAD productivity and reference aids for designers, architects, engineers, drafters, trainers, students, and surveyors. They aid in daily CAD tasks that would otherwise require a calculator or user guide.

Mastering Revit 2009 book by Paul F. Aubin

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Opportunities & Honors

Announcing the Vue 3D Environment Competition 2009
E-on software announced the fourth edition of the Vue 3D Environment Competition, designed to showcase the capabilities of 3D technology for CG environments. Any version of Vue can be used to enter the competition. The winner will receive a complete 3D toolkit worth more than $6,500.

Intergraph Honors Keppel FELS with Best of Show Award
Keppel FELS has been awarded Best of Show in the annual Intergraph Golden Valve Awards Competition for the company's detailed view of a semi-submersible drilling tender created with SmartMarine 3D design software.

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Books & Training

New Handbook Available for GIS Managers
The GIS Management Handbook, by Peter Croswell, provides a comprehensive guide and reference for GIS managers. The handbook includes information on GIS program development, GIS legal issues, project management, human resources, and more. The 10-chapter book is available at a discounted price through August 31, 2009.

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Mark Your Calendar

Project Information Management for Integrated Project Delivery, Part 9
June 26, 2009
12 p.m. ET
Join Newforma to explore the ways software for project information management (PIM) supports a more integrated practice by streamlining PIM for civil engineering firms.
Read more

What's New in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010?
June 30, 2009
San Jose, California
Join Ideate for a brief presentation of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 by Gaurav Bagga of Ideate. Read more

Webinar: CADCALCS V2
July 1, 2009
4 p.m. CT
In this webinar from DataCAD, attendees will learn how to solve design challenges faster, perform what-if analysis, and leverage CAD geometry and Excel calculations. Read more

SYWARE Training Class: Mobile Application Development
October 26, 2009
Woburn, Massachusetts
This class from SYWARE offers instruction on using Visual CE and other SYWARE tools to create mobile data entry application. Read more

For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com.
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