This Week's Software Tips

AutoCAD Tip: Flip Dimension Arrows
Joey Price explains how to use multifunction grips to flip the arrowhead to the other side of the dimension extension line — one of several tasks you can do in this same manner. View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Inventor Tip: Create Presentation Views from a Saved Camera View
Do you need to create presentation views from Autodesk Inventor models? This tip from Alex Kaplan explains how to create presentation views from a saved camera view. View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Review Cadalyst's Tip Submission Guidelines, then Submit Your Tip for your favorite CAD software. Be sure to tell us which software version you use. If we publish your original, previously unpublished tip, you can earn a gift card (learn more about prizes here). Please submit only tips or code that are your original work. By submitting code, you grant Cadalyst the right to print and distribute your tip in print, digitally, and by other means. Cadalyst and individual authors retain all rights to submitted tips.

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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 in the latest version of AutoCAD by Contributing Editor R.K. McSwain. Use all tips at your own discretion, please. We're sorry, but Cadalyst staff cannot provide assistance with technical problems. Please refer to Cadalyst's LinkedIn and Facebook communities for assistance with AutoLISP and other AutoCAD customization questions.

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Resources

Global BIM Market to Grow at CAGR of 16.79% until 2019
Online market research firm Research and Markets has published "Global Building Information Modelling (BIM) Market 2015–2019" ($3,000, PDF, single user). The report predicts that market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 16.73% during the period 2014–2019. The report segments the market into three divisions: BIM software, BIM training services, and project management.

IDC MarketScape Report Evaluates PLM Vendors
IDC MarketScape published a report evaluating product lifecycle management (PLM) companies with annual revenue of at least $1 billion. IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Manufacturing PLM Systems Integrators and BPO Services 2015 Vendor Assessment ($15,000) discusses systems integration, application development, maintenance, and business process outsourcing services.

Safe Software Launches FME Knowledge Center
Safe Software, developer of FME Desktop data conversion and integration software, launched the FME Knowledge Center. The website reportedly enables users to access tutorials, demonstrations, and other resources; rate and comment on articles; share ideas for improving the software; and access an expanded community Q&A section.

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Deals & Freebies

NVIDIA Offers 90-Day Trial of Material Catalog
NVIDIA is offering a 90-day trial of its vMaterial catalog plugin, a collection that enables users to add realistic materials to their 3D designs. According to the company, vMaterials can be used in any application that supports NVIDIA Material Definition Language (MDL).

Free KeyShot Plugins Available for Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, and Fusion 360
Luxion has released free KeyShot plugins for Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, and Fusion 360. Each plugin links the corresponding 3D software with KeyShot rendering and animation software by adding a menu button that transfers 3D data and other model information into KeyShot.

CAD Schroer Offers Free CAD Software for Students
CAD Schroer is offering school and college students a free copy of its MEDUSA4 Personal 2D/3D CAD software. The free download is available from the CAD Schroer website and offers the same functionality as the commercial version.

BOXX Extends Discount on Overclocked APEXX Workstations
BOXX announced an extension of the company's 10% discount on overclocked workstations. The discount is available by using the promo code APEXXOC on the company's website or by calling 512-835-0400. Offer ends December 23, 2015.

Siemens PLM Offers Free and Discounted System Simulation Software
Siemens PLM Software is now offering a free student edition of its system simulation software: LMS Imagine.Lab Amesim Student Edition. The company also announced the availability of the LMS Imagine.Lab Amesim Educational Bundle, which is designed for universities.

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Opportunities & Honors

BIMForum Announces Call for Presentations
The BIMForum Education Committee is accepting proposals for speaking opportunities at its Spring BIMForum conference, scheduled for April 20&ndas;21, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Topics should address how building information modeling (BIM) is, or can be, used to advance methods and improve the built environment. The submission deadline is January 15, 2016.

Creaform Selects Student Projects for Sponsorship Program
Creaform announced it will sponsor 12 engineering students' projects through its Student Project Sponsorship Program. This year's sponsored teams will get access to Creaform's HandySCAN 3D metrology-grade scanner to complete their projects. Students can apply for next year's program on the company's website.

Olicrom Sportechnology Receives Award for Use of Autodesk Inventor Software
Olicrom Sportechnology received the November Autodesk Inventing the Future award for its use of Autodesk Inventor and other software tools in the Autodesk Product Design Suite. Olicrom Sportechnology, which is based in Italy, develops fitness equipment ranging from strength training platforms to the PhysioSub, an underwater workout chamber for deep-sea divers.

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Books & Training

Webinar: The Future of Making Things Starts Now
Learn what tomorrow holds for today's product designers — and why it's imperative that you start thinking about it now. The Future of Making Things Starts Now webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Presented by Cadalyst, and sponsored by Autodesk.

CNC Software Offers Free Online Mastercam University Course
CNC Software, a provider of software tools for CAD/CAM manufacturing markets, is offering a free Mastercam X9 Update training course for the company's software maintenance customers. The course is available via Mastercam University, an online video training program.

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New Products

CAM: VisualIMPORT for Onshape
MecSoft Corporation announced the release of VisualIMPORT for Onshape, which allows access to a user's online Onshape account from inside VisualCAD for viewing and importing part files.

AEC: OrthoGraph Cloud Client for Android
OrthoGraph released its OrthoGraph Cloud Client building survey application on the Android platform, which enables users to save, backup, share, and collaborate on OrthoGraph building sketching solution drawings via mobile devices. The app is available for download from the Google Play store.

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Mark Your Calendar

The CONNECT Edition: The Common Modeling Environment
December 8, 2015
11 a.m. ET
This Bentley Institute event will demonstrate how a common modeling environment provides a connected user experience, allows detailed spatial context within models, and enables work with point clouds and 3D models to understand real-world conditions within the design environment. Read more

Incorporating Laser Scanning and Point Clouds into Your ArchiCAD Model
December 8, 2015
9 a.m. PT
This webinar, sponsored by Graphisoft, will explain how Transpolis Global captured an as-built model of the Arizona State fairgrounds Grandstand Building in four days using laser and drone scans, and then imported the data into ArchiCAD software to create 2D drawings for the U.S. Library of Congress. Read more

Revit Model Management with Ideate BIMLink
December 9, 2015
11:30 a.m. PT
In this company webinar, presenters will explore ways in which Ideate BIMLink can help with efficiently managing a Revit model. Read more

Physical Modeling of Hydraulic Components and Systems
December 10, 2015
11 a.m. ET
This Siemens PLM webinar will present basic concepts in order to enable participants to gain a better understanding of fluid components and systems and to also simulate their dynamic behavior. Read more

Auditing your Revit Project with Ideate Explorer
December 10, 2015
11:30 a.m. PT
This class will take students through nine auditing processes with Ideate Explorer to help keep Revit projects running smoothly. Read more

As-Built Hospital BIM: Case Studies in Best-Practice Scan-to-Model Workflows
December 10, 2015
1 p.m. ET
This webinar, sponsored by Workflow 4.0, will discuss key lessons learned and best practices for as-built building information modeling (BIM) projects using two recent large medical center BIM case studies. Read more

International LiDAR Mapping Forum (ILMF)
February 22–24, 2016
Denver, Colorado
The International LiDAR Mapping Forum (ILMF) is a technical conference and exhibition about airborne, terrestrial, and underwater LiDAR as well as emerging remote-sensing and data collection tools and technologies. Read more

For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com. Are you hosting an event that you would like to include in our calendar? Submit details at least two weeks in advance to news@cadalyst.com.

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What’s New at Cadalyst.com

Webinar: CAD Power + Mobility — You CAN Have It All
Learn about the advancements in NVIDIA graphics, Intel processors, connectivity, and other features that enable a mobile workstation to help CAD users deliver their best. Tune in and learn how to get the CAD performance you need without being tied to a desktop. Join us live for CAD Power + Mobility — You CAN Have It All on Tuesday, December 15, at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Don't miss out; register now! Presented by Cadalyst, and sponsored by Lenovo and NVIDIA.

Q&A with Dan Staples, Vice-President of Solid Edge Development
In an interview with Cadalyst, the executive discusses the state of Solid Edge ST, its position in the MCAD market, Solid Edge on the cloud, and more. Read more

10 Things You Didn't Know Inventor Could Do
IMAGINiT Tricks Tutorial: If you learned Inventor on your own, you may have missed a few things that could make your life much easier. Read more

AutoCAD 2016 Introduces Smarter Dimensioning Tools
Circles and Lines Tutorial: Do you think of dimensioning as a dreary task? With these time-saving new tools, you might start looking forward to it. Read more

More CPU Cores or Faster CPU Clocks?
Herrera on Hardware: To best address the demands of a modern CAD workflow, look for a balance of CPU core count and clock rate in your next CAD workstation. Read more

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