Tips from AutoCAD 2004 Bible - a selection of more than 160 handy tips - covering drawing, editing, text, 3D, graphics, layers, AutoLISP and more - from the new guide to using AutoCAD 2004, Ellen Finkelstein, CADdigest.com, October 30, 2003

ArchiCAD Total Custom Window Tutorial - step-by-step instructions on  creating your own custom windows in ArchiCAD 8, David Pacifico, CADdigest.com, October 30, 2003

Spatial vs. Autodesk Lawsuit - reflections on the aftermath of the Spatial vs. Autodesk lawsuit that lasted almost two years, Joe Greco, CADENCE MCAD Tech News #108, October 23, 2003

PLM: EDS's Beacon of Hope - despite downsizing and mounting losses, EDS is hoping its Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Solutions can become a bright spot in the company's future, Jim Wagner, internetnews.com, October 30, 2003

CAD Outsourcing Trends (Part 3) - more on the risks and benefits of CAD outsourcing, Robert Green, CADENCE CAD Manager's Newsletter #94, October 16, 2003

AIA Technology in Architectural Practice Conference - Part 1 - a report on some the the main topics of discussion at the recent conference, which explored key aspects of Building Information Modeling, Lachmi Khemlani, CADENCE AEC Tech News #108, October 23, 2003

PDF vs. DWF - a report on the battle between Adobe and Autodesk to win the engineering publishing format war, Martyn Day, CADdigest.com, October 29, 2003

The Utilities Sector - Some Stats - at CAD-using sites where utilities is the sole business activity/industry, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are the dominant CAD packages in the UK, CAD Spaghetti, Autumn 2003

Creating Complex Shapes with VarSecSweep and Relations - Pro/ENGINEER tutorial illustrates how to use the Variable Section Sweep option to create create complex shapes, S.K. Nawaz, Pro/E Central, October 2003

Railway Station: Building 3D Models Using AutoCAD and 3ds max - tutorial creates a 3D model from a real model, Jozef Zajac, CGarchitect, October 28, 2003

Is RaceCAD Design a Clone of Alibre Design? - an interview with the unnamed programmer, accused of stealing the Alibre Design code and selling it in Russia under the name RaceCAD, who claims he is innocent,  Ralph Grabowski, upFront.eZine, October 28, 2003

Open Source Riles Software Makers - Autodesk is among the companies concerned over a decision by the state of Massachusetts to shift to open-computing standards and consider open-source software as part of that strategy, William Welsh, Washington Technology, October 27, 2003

Region's Scan-Do Scenario - the UK's Kestrel 3D claims to possess the only scanners worldwide that can register color and position/dimension at the same time, resulting in an extremely high-quality digital models, ic Birmingham, October 28, 2003

Inventor - Break Out Views - streaming tip shows how to make a Break Out View in Autodesk Inventor IDWs, Erik Kurek, Avatech Solutions, October 23, 2003

Right Click Shortcut Menu in the Command Line - AutoCAD tips, PostalCAD, October 20, 2003

Architectural Desktop - Formulas - streaming tip shows how to use formulas in property set definitions to report to schedule tables, Phil Russo, Avatech Solutions, October 23, 2003

Architectural Desktop - Point Filters - streaming tip demonstrates the use of AutoCAD point filters to help align ridges while working in an elevation view, Phil Russo, Avatech Solutions, October 23, 2003

Cooper's Colors, a Sixty-two Color Palette - TurboCAD tips on designing a new color palette, Alan Cooper, CADCourse.com, October 23, 2003

Getting It All Together with SMARTEAM - BOM - explores the use of SMARTEAM - BOM, which enables a company to manage a product's BOM throughout the product lifecycle and collaborate on the evolving BOM across enterprise departments and with supply chain partners, Aviv Ezrachi, SmarTimes, October 27, 2003

Code Thieves Strike Again - Texas-based Alibre alleges that a terminated employee is illegally distributing a product called RaceCAD, which is nothing but a copy of Alibre Design, Sebastian Rupley, PC Magazine, October 24, 2003

Taking the Fast Boat to China - looking for a way to cut costs and increase profits, U.S. companies head to China, Sherri Carmody, Machine Design, October 24, 2003

Why You Need DWF - Autodesk has been touting its Design Web Format for years, Lynn Allen explains why you need it and how to use it, Autodesk TopLines, October 23, 2003

Autodesk Revit: Space Planning - Part 1 - tutorial by Lachmi Khemlani, Autodesk TopLines, October 23, 2003

AutoCAD: The Tool Palettes Extension - Extending the AutoCAD Interface - this extension expands the capabilities of the tool palette but it's only available for subscription customers, Ellen Finkelstein, autodesk.com, October 23, 2003

Metal Guru - Tomorrow night, the Hollywood A-list pitches up to the only show in town: a stunning new Los Angeles concert hall designed by Frank Gehry, Jay Merrick, Independent.co.uk, October 24, 2003

Converting DWG/DXF into PDF - AcroPlot is a great tool to create PDF files from DWG and DXF, Novedge Newsletter, October 2003

Autodesk Sues LT-Extender - Autodesk aims to stop a third-party developer that promised "to break through (nearly) all AutoCAD LT limitations," Ralph Grabowski, CADdigest.com, October 22, 2003

Is It RaceCAD Design or Alibre Design? - a program available for download may have more than a passing resemblance to Alibre, Ralph Grabowski, CADdigest.com, October 22, 2003

Sound Architecture - When Frank Gehry, considered by many as the world's most famous architect, designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall, his software tools included CATIA, a program more at home with the aerospace and automotive industry, Ann Jarmusch, SignOnSanDiego.com, October 21, 2003

COE Fall 2003 Conference & TechniFair Wrap-Up - recent annual user conference in Seattle drew almost 1,300 attendees, COE.org, October 22, 2003

Solving Inverse Problems of Mathematical Physics by Means of the PHOENICS Software Package - organizing of inverse problems' solution on the basis of the automated fitting technique are proposed, Yury Matsevity, SoftInWay, October 22, 2002

The Man Who Would Be King of EDM - Cyco's CEO Eric Bouwer discusses his company's plans for expanding its market share, which include a new product called a BOM Module to manage the bill of materials, Roopinder Tara, CADdigest.com, October 20, 2003

Pro/ENGINEER Tips 1 - a large collection of Pro/E productivity and trouble-shooting tips, Pro/ENGINEER User Resource Site, October 20, 2003

Pro/ENGINEER Tips 2 - another large collection of Pro/E productivity and trouble-shooting tips, Pro/ENGINEER User Resource Site, October 20, 2003

Getting FEA Right the First Time - it takes more than an expensive software package and top-of-the-line workstations to get the most out of FEA, John P. Leahey, Machine Design, October 18, 2003

How to Accurately Place Hatch Origins - AutoCAD tips, PostalCAD, October 13, 2003

A Different Kind of Architect - a naval architect describes his profession and how a ship is not unlike a beautiful woman, Candy G. Villanueva, Job Market Online, October 20, 2003

Piracy, Security Hot Issues with Tech Execs - software executives lobbying the US Congress include Carol Bartz of Autodesk, by Kent Hoover, bizjournals.com, October 20, 2003

2nd AIAA CFD Drag Prediction Workshop - papers from June conference available online, NASA LaRC, October 20, 2003

Modeling a Terracotta Roof - tutorial by Montree T., CGarchitect, October 20, 2003

CAD is Key for Innovative Motorized Surfboard - 50 horsepower engine incorporated in new surfboard design, Machine Design, Oct 9, 2003

CAD in the AEC Sector - Some Stats - examines AEC CAD-users in the UK, including statistics on company size, number of CAD seats and the popularity of various applications, CAD Spaghetti, Autumn 2003

Autodesk, AVEVA Form Strategic Alliance - a new partnership forms within a plant design marketplace that's in turmoil, Randall Newton, A-E-C Automation Newsletter, October 16, 2003

Swimming With Tadpoles - Mark Johnson is betting that his company's new Sun-based laptops - which can process huge 4-gigabyte data files with their 64-bit, 500-megahertz microprocessors - will succeed despite a crowded market, Victoria Murphy, Forbes.com, July 21, 2003

Building a Bridge Between AutoCAD and MicroStation - a CAD expert explains how he customized both AutoCAD and MicroStation to display common terminology, icons and menu structures so that users needing to work with both systems could easily move from one to the other, Eric Cooper, CADdigest.com, October 16, 2003

Using Textures with ArchiCAD - step-by-step tips for working with textures in ArchiCAD, J.T. Burk, CADdigest.com, October 16, 2003

Sending SolidWorks Files to an Outside Environment - provides simple methods for packaging all of the required files for a document to be effectively utilized outside of your environment, Adrian Fanjoy, CATI Technical Newsletter, September 2003

CAD Outsourcing Trends (Part 2) - by outsourcing CAD work a company loses a certain amount of control and this article examines the risks involved, Robert Green, CADENCE CAD Manager's Newsletter #93, September 25, 2003

AutoCAD Mechanical: Virtual Memory Settings - What Should I Set It To? - tips on defining the minimum and maximum Page File Size, Comtrex Corp., October 16, 2003

Autodesk Offers New Design Software - architects already heavily invested in AutoCAD and Architectural Desktop are now trying to determine whether Revit - Autodesk's building information modeling software - might also be a necessary tool, Mike Fimea, Arizona Business Gazette, October 16, 2003 (may require free registration)

Autodesk Buzzsaw Tips and Tricks - learn how to start a discussion thread when adding or updating a file, and how to create and use project home pages, Autodesk.com, October 16, 2003

Shop Has Great Expectations for Software - tooling provider and automotive-seal manufacturer GTI Corp. believes its recently installed Delcam software will speed and simplify data transfer for the company's sealing system and tooling designs, American Machinist, September 2003

Workstations in the CAD/CAM Sector - as PCs have grown more powerful, the use of workstations for CAD tasks in the UK has fallen to a mere 10 percent - and within that number systems from Sun account for some 40 percent of the hardware, CAD Spaghetti, Autumn 2003

AutoLISP Tips, Tricks & Ideas, Part 1 - a large collection of AutoLISP tips, Leonid Nemirovsky, BTN, October 15, 2003

AutoLISP Tips, Tricks & Ideas, Part 2 - more AutoLISP tips, Leonid Nemirovsky, BTN, October 15, 2003

On the Level: In the Picture - with the advent of CAD, drawing skills have diminished to the point where some builders are not only unable to produce a drawing, they cannot read one either, Jeff Howell, Telegraph.co.uk, October 15, 2003

EDS To Sell Part of PLM Solutions - why is EDS selling a portion of its PLM division, and who will buy it?, Ralph Grabowski, upFront.eZine, October 14, 2003

AutoCAD: Express Tools will Increase Your Productivity - an overview of some of the new timesaving tools in AutoCAD 2004, Lynn Allen, Autodesk.com, October 14, 2003

AutoCAD LT: Customizing Tool Palettes - how to customize tool palettes that use your existing block libraries, Heidi Hewett, Autodesk.com, October 14, 2003

The Array Command in AutoCAD - AutoCAD tips, Jos van Doorn, Digital CAD, October 14, 2003

Listing All of the Accelerator Keys Mapped to Your Installation of AutoCAD - AutoCAD tips, PostalCAD, October 6, 2003

AutoCAD to TurboCAD Quick Reference - tips for experienced AutoCAD users who have made or are considering making the switch to TurboCAD, Joe Tilman, CADCourse.com, October 14, 2003

Using Displaysets - tips on using MicroStation V8.1's Displaysets, Lynne Taylor, MicroStation Digest, October 10, 2003

Clean, Controlled IGES Files - Just Say YES! - CATIA tips,  K.C. Takacs, CATIA Digital Digest, October 14, 2003

View Multi-CAD 3D Models (Heterogeneous File Formats) - AutoVue SolidModel tips, Novedge, October 13, 2003

Computing the Volume using AutoVue SolidModel - AutoVue tips, Novedge, October 13, 2003

Measuring Cross Sections with AutoVue SolidModel Professional - AutoVue tips, Novedge, October 13, 2003

Multiple Monitor Computing Demonstrates Tangible Benefits for Corporate Workforce - a new study by NEC-Mitsubishi finds that users with multi-screen configurations work faster and get more work done with fewer errors editing documents, spreadsheets and graphic files in comparison with single-screen users, NEC-Mitsubishi, October 6, 2003

Component Interfaces - Pro/E Wildfire tutorial explains how to use component interfaces to define assembly constraints in the part model before assembling the component into the assembly, CADQuest, October 10, 2003 (pdf)

Involute Gears - Pro/ENGINEER tutorial explains how to create an involute gear, CADQuest, October 10, 2003 (pdf)

Layouts - Pro/E Wildfire tutorial explores creating layouts, which are like engineering notebooks, containing key design information and rules and allowing you to create parameters that control the model, CADQuest, October 10, 2003 (pdf)

Architectural Desktop Tips - a collection of tips and information dealing with customization and problem-solving, Stardsign cad solutions, October 10, 2003

What Happened to the Perspective Menu from ADT 3.3? - Architectural Desktop 2004 tip, Global CADD Systems, October 10, 2003

What Auto Can Learn From Aero: Simulating Without Prototypes - at Boeing, virtually all of the company’s aerodynamic modeling is done without a wind tunnel and physical models are increasingly less necessary, Larry Gould, Automotive Design and Production, October 2003

Automating AutoCAD - tips on improving your productivity show how to create custom toolbars and custom profiles and how to start AutoCAD with a keyboard shortcut, Michael Beall, CADTutor, October 2003

Autodesk Architectural Desktop: Using VIZ Render to Render Architectural Desktop Drawings - tutorial explores the skills required to start rendering interiors using Architectural Desktop and VIZ Render, Nancy Fulton, Autodesk.com, October 9, 2003

Autodesk VIZ: Creating Cloth Objects - teaches the skills you need to make a wide variety of attractive, fast-rendering cloth objects, Nancy Fulton, Autodesk.com, October 9, 2003

ArchiCAD Tutorials - large collection of tutorials on a range of topics from Building Simulation Concepts to The Special Menu, arkiKlub, October 9, 2003

The Rich World's Disappearing Jobs - the CAD/CAM and manufacturing industries are among the sectors in the U.S. that are out-sourcing many jobs overseas, John Berthelsen and Indrajit Basu, Asia Times, October 8, 2003

IT Skills: A Key to Career Success - simply knowing how to operate CAD, rendering, and modeling software isn't enough these days to give an architect a competitive edge, Alan Joch, Architectural Record, October 2003

Microsoft Plans 'Green' Makeover - the software giant is working on linking Autodesk's engineering and design applications to Microsoft's manufacturing applications in an effort dubbed 'Project Green,' Alorie Gilbert, ZD Net UK, October 8, 2003 

Microsoft, Oracle Notch Up Small Biz Push - Microsoft's new deal with Autodesk (which will develop PLM tools for Microsoft's business software suites) is part of the company's trend in the direction of small-to medium-sized enterprises, Jim Wagner, internetnews.com, October 8, 2003

Transportable CAD Speeds Complex Airframe Design - Solid Edge and Unigraphics NX software succeeded in reducing costs and assembly time in the design of a cutting-edge aircraft with a carbon fiber skin, Larry Olson, Manufacturing Center, October 2003

Gehry Teams with IBM, Dassault for PLM Push - architect Frank Gehry and Gehry Technologies - a Los Angeles-based independent company created by Gehry Partners' research group - announced plans to partner with IBM and Dassault Systemes to bring PLM software to the building industry,  Lana Gates, ADTmag.com, October 8, 2003

Up-Down Display of Stairs in Architectural Desktop 2004 - explores the advantages of ADT's Xref Display Overrides, ARCHIdigm, October 7, 2003

Custom Railing Style Inserts in Architectural Desktop 2004 - learn some basic tricks for creating your own railing designs, ARCHIdigm, October 7, 2003

Can PLM Vendors Pull it All Together? - for PLM to succeed, vendors must communicate completely and honestly about what their PLM offerings can do and customers must educate themselves about the needs of their organization and how they expect PLM to fit in, Jeffrey Rowe, Advanced Manufacturing, September/October 2003

New Business Suite Software Aimed at Manufacturers - Autodesk is developing PLM (product lifecycle management) software for Microsoft Corp., which will add PLM capabilities to its Great Plains, Navision and Axapta business software suites, Renee Boucher Ferguson, October 6, 2003

Ansys Simulation Software Spares Firms From Costly Real Life Tests - Ansys CEO Jim Cashman explains how his company's software cuts design and production costs and speeds time to market, J. Bonasi, Yahoo News, October 7, 2003

AutoCAD: The Tool Palettes Extension - Extending the AutoCAD Interface - explores a new AutoCAD 2004 extension that turns tool palettes into a source for additional drawing objects, such as xrefs, images, gradients and menu items, Ellen Finkelstein, Autodesk.com, October 3, 2003

Understanding the Xref Path Type Options in AutoCAD 2004 - tips on using the Relative path type, which can allow you to expand on your AutoCAD and ADT productivity wherever you find that you use the exact same Xref names and "relative" project folder paths, ARCHIdigm, October 6, 2003

Autodesk Inventor: The Best Table in the House - exercises illustrate how to link Excel spreadsheets to Autodesk Inventor parts and assemblies, Bill Fane, Autodesk.com, October 3, 2003

Drawing Production - Solid Edge tutorial explores the process of formally documenting the design of a part or an assembly, J. Fred White, CADENCE, October 2003

Exploring Architectural Desktop 2004's File Management System - tips on using this new tool to enhance productivity, ARCHIdigm, October 6, 2003

Pro/DESKTOP Tips - tutorial explores using the Sweep functionality to generate 3D models from 2D sketches, Ties Magazine, September 2003 (pdf)

trueSpace NURBS - tutorial illustrates how to create NURBS surfaces, John Wilson CADENCE, October 2003

Variational Sketches 1 - thinkdesign tutorial offers exercises on using variational profiles and the Draft Angle command, think3, October 6, 2003

Variational Sketches 2 - in this thinkdesign tutorial you'll model a propeller hub and practice creating variational profiles using reference geometry, think3, October 6, 2003

Variational Sketches 3 - in this thinkdesign tutorial you'll create a piston, beginning with a generic profile before adding dimensional and geometric constraints to create a variational profile, then turn the profile into a solid and adjust the driving dimensions, think3, October 6, 2003

Digging Deep into the Express Tools - an in-depth look at AutoCAD 2004's Express Tools, which enhance everyday drawing productivity, Lynn Allen, CADENCE, October 2003

Drawing Styles and Standards - Autodesk Inventor tutorial explains how to modify drafting standards to match your employers' or customers' criteria, Jeff Wymer, CADENCE, October 2003

Clean Installs - TurboCAD tips on re-installing the application, Winston Mitchell, Winston's TurboCAD Pages, September 11, 2003

2D Drawing - Basic - thinkdesign tutorial is designed to help you learn the basic commands to create and edit 2D geometry, think3, October 3, 2003

GUI Concepts 2 - in this thinkdesign tutorial you'll rebuild the support piece for a watermill by sketching the outline of the solid then adding a cut, a slot and a protrusion, think3, October 3, 2003

Parametric Modifications - in this thinkdesign tutorial you'll repair a Roman lock bolt and retrieve the connecting rod, think3, October 3, 2003

Manufacturing and Financial Services Provide Strong Markets for Application Software in North America, Reveals IDC - according to a new report, more than 23% of 2002 applications software revenue originated from companies in the manufacturing sector, Anna Toncheva, IDC, October 2, 2003

Managing Repetitive Tasks - the SolidWorks Task Scheduler is a utility that allows for offloading tasks to non-peak hours as well as automating certain tasks that can be performed on a group of files, Greg Jankowski CADENCE, October 2003

Pro/E Search Paths for Dependent Reference Files - Pro/E tips on how to tell Pro/E where to find components not in the standard location, Synthesis Engineering Systems, October 2003

A Dream of "Paperless" Architecture - CATIA has helped architect Frank Gehry create some of his most famous structures, including his most recent, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Yahoo News, October 2, 2003

Construction a Woman's World - the National Association of Women in Construction sponsor several annual competitions to provide high school students with hands-on experience in the construction business, Alisha Semchuck, Ventura County Star, October 2, 2003

3D Rendering History Part 1: Humble Beginnings - a look at some of the breakthroughs of the 1960's, 70's, and 80's in rendering and shading technology and some of the more recent advances, Dmitry Shklyar, CGNetworks, October 2, 2003

Mapping - 3ds max/Autodesk VIZ tutorial illustrates how to apply different mapping coordinates to a single map used in different locations in a single object to place slate roofing on a hip roof, Ted Boardman, CGarchitect, October 2003

Data Management Can Save $$Millions - in land development projects, CAD's greatest importance lies in its capabilities as a geometric calculator and database, providing a tool to calculate, store and visualize vital information, Greg Yoko, Land Development Today, October 2003

Making the Scene - 3ds max tutorial creates a street scene using 3D Total Textures, Julien Noel, CGarchitect, October 1, 2003

New Dimensions For 3-D Measurements - a precision 3D, non-contact surface measurement system is now undergoing beta testing, John Teresko, Industry Week, October 1, 2003

Dear Lynn: October 2003 - advice on unwanted layers in AutoCAD 2004, ADT tool palettes in Windows 98, revision clouds in AutoCAD LT and creating a dimension in Inventor, Lynn Allen, Autodesk.com, October 2003