December 2004

MicroStation V8 Lets You Interactively Create and Audit Working Drawings - tips on using dimensioning, reporting and standards-checking capabilities to help communicate your design intent, James Dyer, Cadalyst, December 15, 2004

How to Quickly Set Color to All Machined Surfaces - Pro/E Wildfire 2.0 tip on how to use the Search Tool to assign different colors to machined surfaces, Florin Neamtu, Pro/E Community, December 2004 (requires free registration)

TASKBAR System Variable - AutoCAD tip, Michael Rotolo, The Mad Cadder, December 29, 2004

Quick Tip - Cycle Through Your Layouts - AutoCAD tip, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, December 31, 2004

Autodesk Inventor Tip: Controlling Layers of Parts in a Drawing - Ryan Small, The Autodesk Informer, December 21, 2004

See What You Want - Autodesk Civil 3D tips on using the Isolate/Hide objects capability, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, December 30, 2004

NEW SNAP! Mid Between Two Points - AutoCAD tip, Michael Rotolo, The Mad Cadder, December 21, 2004

Batch Drawing Converter - AutoCAD tip, Michael Rotolo, The Mad Cadder, December 23, 2004

Quick Tip - Exit MTEXT Fast! - AutoCAD tip, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, December 30, 2004

Bentley Launches AutoCAD Upgrade Program - Do AutoCAD users deserve better, or is Bentley's indignation motivated by self-interest?, Evan Yares, CADwire.net, December 21, 2004

A Rapid Prototyping Industry Briefing - Terry Wohlers shares his views relating to the latest developments in RP and looks ahead to 2005, SolidWorks Community, December  28, 2004 (requires free registration)

Right-Click Level Display - MicroStation tip explores a useful pop-up menu in V7 and V8 in the Level dialogs, Robert Mecham, MicroStation Connection, December 16, 2004 (requires free registration)

SimDesigner Fatigue for CATIA V5: Fatigue Analysis for the Analyst, Part 2 - examines the final stages of product development where the design/engineer and analyst need to work together to optimize the part or product assembly and perform some additional fatigue investigation of the design, Adarsh Pun, Mark Bacchetti and Antoine Reymond, COE NewsNet, December/January 2004

Revolved Section View - how to create a section view in Solid Edge Draft, Solid-Tools.com, December 2004

Design Outsourcing Set to Hit Indian Shores - US companies are increasingly realizing the importance of India as a cost-effective destination for outsourcing CAD/CAM/CAE work, Geeta Nair, Indian Express, December 28, 2004

Select Reader Feedback: First Anniversary Collection - to commemorate its first anniversary, AECbytes has published a compilation of reader feedback received throughout the year, showcasing what readers think of the publication and the issues that it covers, Lachmi Khemlani, AECbytes, December 22, 2004

Linking to Database Records - MicroStation V7 tip, Lorys Lea, Ask Inga, December 21, 2004 (requires free registration)

Powered by PLM - heavy machinery manufacturers are adopting PLM tools to reduce product design cycle time by sharing design-related data, Abhinav Singh, Express Computer, December 27, 2004

Shift a Custom LineStyle - MicroStation tip, Robert Mecham, MicroStation Connection, December 22, 2004 (requires free registration)

Data Transfer - Beyond Pure Geometry - key industry figures give their views of the recent launch of 3D XML, a new 3D standard that features meta data, CADserver, December 2004

Tell Me All The Dirt - Autodesk Civil 3D 2005 tip on doing earthwork volume calculations, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, December 15, 2004

OSNAPHATCH - Ignore Hatch Patterns When Using OSNAPS - AutoCAD tip, Michael Rotolo, The Mad Cadder, December 20, 2004

Parcel Labels - Autodesk Civil 3D 2005 tip, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, December 13, 2004

Parcel Labels Part II - Autodesk Civil 3D 2005 tip, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, December 28, 2004

Adding a Recently Used Dialogue Box to the Start of AutoCAD - AutoCAD tip, PostalCAD, December 13, 2004

How to Create Cell Library Notebook - MicroStation tips, Ask Inga, December 21, 2004 (requires free registration)

AutoCAD 2000i Retirement - although some users are unhappy at the seemingly accelerated retirement schedule for previous versions of AutoCAD, there's not much that can be done about it and the subscription program does offer a better value than skipping an update, Martyn Day, CADserver, December 2004

What's Next for 3D in Manufacturing? - 3D CAD data is making its way from the CAD world through manufacturing and on downstream, via 3D publishing, Solid Digital Digest, December 21, 2004 (requires free registration)

Efficiently Working with Large Assemblies - Solid Edge tutorial, Leading Edge, December 2004

How to Create Cell Library Notebook - MicroStation tips, Ask Inga, December 21, 2004 (requires free registration)

Spanish Deploy CAD in the Name of God - PLM tools from IBM / Dassault are helping to complete a long-unfinished Barcelona landmark, Lester Haines, The Register, December 17, 2004

Linking to Database Records - MicroStation V7 tips, Lorys Lea, Ask Inga, December 21, 2004 (requires free registration)

Annual Holiday Starving Students Product Donation - Not for Resale copies of Autodesk products to go to needy users, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, December 20, 2004

Product Data Exchange: Geometry and Beyond - discusses what IBM is trying to achieve in the field of product data exchange in regard to open standards and how the industry at large is approaching this issue, Vijay Srinivasan, 2PLM, December 20, 2004

Church Window - 3ds max 7 video tutorial demonstrates how to model and render a church window, and add volume light that takes the colors of the glass, Charbel Koueik, 3dquakers.com, December 21, 2004

How to Determine the Factor of Safety - ALGOR tip, Algor.com, December 20, 2004

Moving to 3D: Tips to Consider During the Transition - advice on making the difficult move from 2D to 3D a bit more manageable, Don LaCourse, 3DCADTips.com, December 20, 2004

The MCAD Community Bids Farewell to a Great Friend and Colleague - Joe Greco - a personal reminiscence, Jeffrey Rowe, MCAD Weekly Review, December 20, 2004

Playing with Polylines, Part 2 - how to make changes to existing plines, Bill Fane, Cadalyst, December 15, 2004 (part 2 of 2)

Animating with VIZ 2005 - Autodesk VIZ offers robust animation capabilities that in most cases will meet all your needs, Joy Voltenburg, Hagerman Technology Bulletin, December 2004

Layers AutoCAD Tutorial - AutoCAD tutorial, Learn CAD Fast, December 17, 2004 (requires free registration)

Object Snap AutoCAD Tutorial - AutoCAD tutorial, Learn CAD Fast, December 17, 2004 (requires free registration)

Extrude from a Path AutoCAD Tutorial - AutoCAD tutorial, Learn CAD Fast, December 17, 2004 (requires free registration)

Solid Modeling Implementation: Preparation Tips - advice on how to select the most appropriate solid modeling tools for your needs and how to get your company ready to implement them, Don LaCourse, CADdigest.com, December 17, 2004

BlogCAD Exclusive Interview: Ralph Grabowski - noted CAD journalist reflects on the future of the CAD industry, BlogCAD, December 17, 2004

eTransmit - tips on using AutoCAD's built-in command to share files without frustration, Mark W. Kiker, CADDManager.com Newsletter, December 2004

Creating Schedule Tags in Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2005 - ADT tips, Paul F. Aubin, Hagerman Technology Bulletin, December 2004

VIZ: Pen and Ink Render - streaming tech tip illustrates how to use Contour shaders with the mental ray rendering engine to produce striking images that look like they were drawn with pen and ink, Tod Stephens, Avatech Solutions, December 16, 2004

Land Desktop: Working with Alignments - streaming tech tip offers advice to increase your efficiency when working with alignments, Jessica Montoya, Avatech Solutions, December 16, 2004

CAD Technology Is Not Turnkey - CAD Managers Are Needed! - with the technology ever advancing and the training a never-ending task, a CAD manager's work is never done, Mark W. Kiker, CADDManager.com Newsletter, December 2004

Changing the Visibility of the Field Background - AutoCAD 2005 tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, December 17, 2004

New Zoom Option in AutoCAD 2005 - AutoCAD tip on using the handy new Object option, Mark W. Kiker, CADDManager.com Newsletter, December 2004

Architectural Desktop: Importing SketchUp Models - streaming tech tip on how to install @Last Software's free SketchUp plug-in, import SketchUp 3D models into ADT, convert the SketchUp geometry into ADT objects and strategies to clean up the resulting ADT model, Tod Stephens, Avatech Solutions, December 16, 2004

Using AutoCAD's Powerful Tool Palettes to Your Fullest Advantage, Part 2 - how to create basic macros and share them with other users, Lynn Allen, Cadalyst, December 15, 2004

Holiday Gifts for Everyone - tips on benefiting from such AutoCAD tools as the Edge option, the Gradient hatch and the Wipeout command, Michael Beall, CADTutor, December 2004

Detecting AutoCAD Flavors with vlax-product-key - examines the function that returns the product and language key pair from the registry by querying the active profile, Richard Binning, Beside  the Cursor, December 14, 2004

AutoCAD 2005 Webcasts - links to archived webcasts on Autodesk's website, Tracy Lincoln, TL Consulting, December 16, 2004

Right-Click Level Display - MicroStation tip on a Level dialogs pop-up menu that allows you to quickly turn off or on all levels, Robert Mecham, MicroStation Connections, December 16, 2004 (requires free registration)

CAD Management & CAD Standards - companies need to keep time billable with the least amount of overhead, Beth Powell, Beth's CAD Blog, December 15, 2004

Implementing BIM, Part 2: Planning for Process and Staffing Changes - how to organize an office for Building Information Modeling, identify potential process changes that BIM will bring about and apply the right mix of people and skills to those new processes, Rick Rundell, Cadalyst, December 15, 2004

Dimension Objects AutoCAD Tutorial - how to show measurements of objects that you have created, Learn CAD Fast, December 16, 2004 (requires free registration)

Trim Objects AutoCAD Tutorial - how to remove parts of an object based on lines that intersect it, Learn CAD Fast, December 16, 2004 (requires free registration)

Extend AutoCAD Tutorial - how to extend objects out to either the next intersecting line, or to a line that you choose, Learn CAD Fast, December 16, 2004 (requires free registration)

Solid Modeling, CAM and CNC: Revealing Geometry Gaps - tips on how to define, investigate and locate geometry gaps that can cause problems during tool path generation, Don LaCourse and Robert Byrnes, CADdigest.com, December 15, 2004

Hide Field Background in AutoCAD - AutoCAD tip, Jimmy Bergmark, JTB World, December 15, 2004

Convert DWF to DWG - AutoCAD tip, Jimmy Bergmark, JTB World, December 15, 2004

Contact Analysis for All - MSC.Software has devised a means to allow for both linear and nonlinear analysis, David Alexander, Aerospace Engineering, December 2004 (pdf)

Joe Greco: Writer Extraordinaire, Colleague, Friend - Joe's name under the title of a review was as close as we in the CAD industry had to a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, Roopinder Tara, CADdigest.com, December 14, 2004

A Field of Questions in AutoCAD 2005 - how to take advantage of AutoCAD 2005's Field Object functionality, ARCHIdigm, December 14, 2004

Repair & Modify Tips - SolidWorks tips, Scott Baugh, ScottBaugh.com, Scott Baugh, December 12, 2004

How to Remove the Scroll Bars in the AutoCAD Interface - AutoCAD tip, PostalCAD, December 6, 2004

Simulation Replaces Prototyping - as simulation gets more realistic, prototyping becomes an expensive last resort, Dick Kading, Machine Design, December 9, 2004

Simulating Bolts in Finite-Element Assemblies - explores the best way to treat bolts and attachments in FEA models, Machine Design, December 9, 2004

What is the Size of the CFD Market in US, Europe and Worldwide? - readers offer their opinions on the size of the computational fluid dynamics industry, CFD Review, December 13, 2004

Solid Modeling, CAM and CNC: Recommended Practices - tips on optimizing the flow of information from solid modeling to NC (Numerical Control Tool Paths), Don LaCourse and Robert Byrnes, CADdigest.com, December 13, 2004

General AutoCAD Quick Guide - links to reference guides (for AutoCAD versions 14 through 2005) that contain tips including commonly used command aliases, keyboard shortcuts, object snaps and selection methods, Lee Ambrosius, Beyond the UI, December 11, 2004

Comparing Drawing Revisions in SolidWorks 2005 - learn how to use a new robust tool for comparing two revisions of a drawing, David Ptak, SolidProfessor, December 13, 2004

Rapid Prototyping: The Next Wave in Architectural Modeling - rapid prototyping holds great promise in assisting architects, engineers and construction managers in reducing the design cycle, the same way it has helped industrial design engineers, Matthew Phair, Building Design & Construction, December 13, 2004

Students Break Land-Speed Record - with their design efforts powered by a range of CAD tools - including SolidWorks - a student team from Ohio State University broke the world land-speed record for electric vehicles in October 2004 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Paul E. Teague, Design News, December 13, 2004

Solid Modeling, CAM and CNC: Problem Detection & Troubleshooting - tips on solving geometry-related problems in the machine shop, Don LaCourse and Robert Byrnes, CADdigest.com, December 10, 2004

Autodesk University and Other Stuff - AutoCAD is showing signs of life again, Inventor is finally taking off on its own path, while Revit seems to be encroaching on Architectural Desktop, Martyn Day, martynday.com, December 7, 2004

Autodesk University from 33,000 Feet - a look at what CAD managers were doing and saying at the recent gathering, Robert Green, CAD Manager's Newsletter #119, December 9, 2004

LoadLSP - AutoLISP Loader - program allows you to view all of your AutoLISP files along with a description of what they do, Jeffery Sanders, JefferyPSanders.com, December 9, 2004

AutoCAD Layer Filter and APP ID Purge Tool -  purge unwanted Layer Filters and unnecessary REG APP IDs in DWG files, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, December 9, 2004

From the AECnews Archives: Process Change in AEC - articles on the need to understand process and change management in architecture in the light of moving to Building Information Modeling, Randall Newton, AEC Automation, December 9, 2004

Using Solid Models for Styles - Architectural Desktop tutorial demonstrates drawing a bay window, Elise Moss, CADzette, December 10, 2004 (pdf)

Quick Layout Navigation Tip - AutoCAD tip, Richard Binning, Beside the Cursor, December 10, 2004

Higher Prices = More Piracy - CAD vendors bemoan widespread software piracy overseas, but compound the problem by charging as much as double for their software in those markets, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, December 10, 2004

Quick Tip - Viewports - AutoCAD tip, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, December 10, 2004

Microsoft Sparks Renewed Longhorn Buzz with Conference Plans -  Autodesk CTO Scott Borduin says his company plans to exploit Longhorn's Avalon and Indigo graphics and Web technologies as soon as possible, Erika Morphy, Enterprise Windows I.T., December 9, 2004

Add Value with Methodology, Part II - standardized design methodologies improve CAD and CAM on-time performance, leading to greater innovation and improved profits, Gary Patelski and Jeffrey Solash, Design Engineering, December 2004

Her Homework Makes Homes - an Iowa high school student uses her CAD skills to create house plans, Sara Sleyster, Des Moines Register, December 10, 2004

Solid Modeling, CAM and CNC: Preferred Capabilities - before you buy any NC software, carefully consider whether it can do your job, Don LaCourse and Robert Byrnes, CADdigest.com, December 9, 2004

SolidWorks Helps to Provide Super Human Strength for BLEEX Exoskeleton - SolidWorks software is helping to design critical parts of an "exoskeleton" that will someday help soldiers, firefighters, rescue workers and others carry back-breaking burdens without feeling the weight, SolidWorks, December 9, 2004

An Easy Way to Update Users Local Files - AutoCAD tip on how to ensure that all users have the same custom files available for use, Richard Binning, Beside the Cursor, December 9, 2004

How to Create a Dormer in Revit - quick Revit tutorial, cadforum.cz, December 7, 2004

Quick Tip - AutoCAD tip on displaying multiple drawings, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, December 8, 2004

Does AutoCAD Support Multi-Part Solid Bodies? - AutoCAD tip on displaying multiple drawings, cadforum.cz, December 8, 2004

Solid Modeling, CAM and CNC: Managing Change - tips on implementing and integrating a Numerical Control (NC) application, Don LaCourse and Robert Byrnes, CADdigest.com, December 8, 2004

CAD/CAM/CAE Defense Applications: How Your Software Is Being Used for Defense Projects - how various CAD applications are involved with the world's defense operations, ConnectPress staff, CATIA Community, December 6, 2004 (requires free registration)

Break Your Own Rules - if the engineering soul is based on innovation and risk taking, why is innovation accepted everywhere but in our own offices?, Suchit Jain, Design News, November 22, 2004

Autodesk University 2004 - presents conference highlights, product announcements related to the AEC industry, and overall impressions of the recently concluded Autodesk University 2004, Lachmi Khemlani, AECbytes, December 8, 2004

More from Autodesk U 2004... Getting Down to the Business - conference speakers from Autodesk all conveyed a similar message and shared the same vision - let's keep design data digital, Glenn Letham, GISuser.com, December 2004

Krasnoyarsk Delegation at ECF 2004 - a report from the recent European CATIA Forum held in Paris, Maxim Likhachev, isicad, December 8, 2004

Outlook 2005: Innovation Mastery - new collaboration and product lifecycle management tools can help progressive manufacturers get better at recognizing and nurturing great new product ideas, Beth Stackpole, Managing Automation, December 7, 2004

Solid Modeling Database Issues: Database Errors & Reliability - tips to help 3D CAD users identify and resolve database errors, Don LaCourse and Don Meagher, CADdigest.com, December 7, 2004

Autodesk University 2004 Special Report - an in-depth account of the highlights of the recent 12th annual gathering, Susan Smith, GIS Weekly, December 3, 2004

Curtain Could Fall on Top Players - Autodesk has performed solidly in 2004, partly because of a renewed commitment to fiscal discipline; operating margins are now heading toward 25%, compared with zero less than two years ago, Rebecca Byrne, TheStreet.com, December 7, 2004

The Difference Between XRef Overlay and XRef Attach - AutoCAD tip, cadforum.cz, December 3, 2004

Entering "x" in Inventor Dimension Text Displays "dp" - Autodesk Inventor tip, cadforum.cz, December 6, 2004

More AU Photos - a look at this year's Autodesk University through the camera lens of several participants, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, December 5, 2004

Transparent Raster Images in AutoCAD - AutoCAD tip, cadforum.cz, December 6, 2004

Use FEA for Better Products Faster - finite element analysis software provides the ability to create “virtual” prototypes to predict product performance (and failure) early in the product development cycle when design changes are swift and inexpensive, Michael Hiller, Montie Design, December 7, 2004

Solid Modeling Database Issues: Good Practices - tips to help you understand, evaluate and apply good database practices, Don LaCourse and Don Meagher, CADdigest.com, December 6, 2004

Layer Filter Removal Tool - command removes all the Layer Filters from a drawing, Lee Ambrosius, Beyond the UI, December 6, 2004

No More Extensions - with AutoCAD coming out once every year in March, the company has suspended its program of between-major-releases updates, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, December 6, 2004

View Clipping with Cross Sections - Pro/ENGINEER tip, Synthesis Engineering Services, December 2004

Convert Contents of PDF to JPG to Attach as Reference - MicroStation tip, Karl Peterson, Ask Inga, December 2, 2004 (requires free registration)

A Closer Look at CDV Systems - Winchester, Massachusetts company offers Autodesk Revit training and Codebook project management software, Michael Dakan, Cadalyst AEC Tech News #133, December 2, 2004

ALT Codes for Special Characters - MicroStation tip, Inga Morozoff, Ask Inga, December 2, 2004 (requires free registration)

Autodesk University 2004 Plenary - a report from the annual gathering, where CEO Carol Bartz promises "fabulous AutoCADs coming," new technology is previewed and Segway inventor Dean Kamen discusses innovation, Adena Schutzberg, GIS Monitor, December 2, 2004

Feature Manager Design Tree in 2005 - SolidWorks 2005 tip shows how to add comments to the Feature Manager Design Tree, David Ptak, SolidProfessor, December 3, 2004

Autodesk University 2004 Photos - snapshots from this year's gathering, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, December 2004

Placing Text on a Solid Model - UGS NX tip provides a workaround to put text on a model without having to edit every view on the drawing where you don't want the text to show, Kevin Carter, UGS Community, December 1, 2004 (requires free registration)

Architectural Desktop Tips & Tricks - a collection of tips on various topics, Rob Starz, Stardsign.com, December 3, 2004

The Stretch Command - MicroStation tip offers a simple workflow for modifying elements using the stretch command in combination with the scale tool, Robert Mecham, MicroStation Connections, December 1, 2004 (requires free registration)

Fancy a Cuppa? - the search for the perfect electric tea kettle proves enlightening, CAD User, December/January 2004

Autodesk University Day 1 - a personal report that includes news from the AEC front, Robin Capper, RobiNZ Blog, December 2, 2004

SUU's Cozzens Translates Text for Tokyo School - a CATIA manual has been translated into Japanese for students at the University of Tokyo, Jennifer Weaver, The Spectrum, December 2, 2004

How to Quickly Set Color to All Machined Surfaces - Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2.0 tips, Florin Neamtu, Pro/E Community, December 1, 2004 (requires free registration)

Rendering Effects Film Grain, Color Balance and Blur - 3ds max tutorial, Jacquelin Vanderwood, DesignerToday.com, December 2004

Setting the Stage - at Indiana University, students of set design use such CAD tools as AutoCAD, VectorWorks and SketchUp to enhance theater productions, Maurina Paradise, idsnews.com, December 2, 2004

Making Metals in Max - 3ds max tutorial, The123d.com, December 2004

Create a Christmas Ball Ornament - 3ds max tutorial, Jacquelin Vanderwood, DesignerToday.com, December 2004

AU - Update Day 1 - some Autodesk University Architectural Desktop and 3ds max adventures, Beau Turner, Will Render for Food, December 1, 2004

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