April 2005
previous articles

CAD Manager Position and Duties - summary of duties expected of a CAD manager, Mark W. Kiker, CADDManager.com Blog, April 28, 2005 (more CAD management features)

Hot Tip Harry: Tips From Our Readers - April 2005 - a bagful of tips on sprocket drafting, quick snap angle setting, alternate approach to architectural units, quadrants, Bill Kramer, Cadalyst Management, April 15, 2005 (more AutoCAD tips and tricks)

Annotate On a Layout (aka: Paperspace)? - SPACESWITH, an undocumented system variable can prevent being transported to modelspace, Tracy Lincoln, TL Consulting, April 28, 2005 (more AutoCAD tips and tricks)

Chaining Actions - chaining is one of the most complicated functions in dynamic blocks, Mark Douglas, In the Dynamic Interface, April 24, 2005 (more AutoCAD, What's New?)

Lookup Tables Not Working? - make sure that the status of your lookup tables have not been set to 'read only,' Mark Douglas, In the Dynamic Interface, April 14, 2005 (more AutoCAD, What's New?)

Employment Agreement with Carol A. Bartz, Her Pay, Stock & Oddities - chairman, CEO and president of Autodesk paid $863K, gets bonuses of $2.4 million, owns millions in stock and stock options, employs her stepson, and more, Cadville, April 23, 2005  (more Autodesk features)

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - To Specify a Predefined Hatch Pattern - begin by clicking on the 'Insert' option and choosing 'Hatch', Learning IntelliCAD, April 29, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials)

AutoCAD ESC Key for MicroStation - Bentley bows to users and adds ESC key, Robert Mecham, MicroStation Connections, April 4, 2005 (may require free registration) (more MicroStation tutorials)

UGS VAR Roundup, Part 2 : INCAT - Q&A with  INCAT about being a UGS VAR, Robert Covelli, UGS Community, April 19, 2005 (may require free registration) (more UGS features)

AutoCAD Bugs - beta testing won't get rid of bugs totally but it can at least ensure that they are stopped before attacking your software, Mark Douglas, In the Dynamic Interface, April 24, 2005 (more AutoCAD bugs features)

On a Roll - 8 page roundup of plotters, includes models from Encad, Epson,  HP, Oce and Roland, Ron LaFon, Cadalyst Management, April 1, 2005 (more large format printer reviews)

Alias Studio Tools 12 - latest release of de facto standard for industrial design is robust, powerful, but interface suffers, Mike Hudspeth, Cadalyst AEC, April 1, 2005 (more Studio Tools reviews)

Dell Debuts Precision 380 Workstation - its an effective tool for high end professionals who deal with applications that require fast processing performance for video editing, animation and CAD, MicroStation Connections, April 27, 2005 (may require free registration) (more Dell PCs and Workstation reviews)

Avatech Opens the Vault - Avatech's new Vault Access extends the reach of Autodesk Vault, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, April 28, 2005

CADfidential - behind the scenes about Autodesk on annual release schedules, Daratech conference, Dave Arnold's latest venture, more, Sara Ferris, Cadalyst Management, April 1, 2005 (more CAD industry features)

Up, Up, Up - CAD vendors like PTC, Dassault, Intergraph report increasing revenues, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, April 27, 2005  (more CAD industry features)

Innovations that Will Make Your Engineering Life Easier - changes in the engineering and manufacturing industry is inevitable although accepting such changes might not be easy for individual organizations, Kim Spinsby, CATIA Community, April 25, 2005 (may require free registration)  (more CAD industry features)

The Anatomy of a V8 File - a comparison of DGN and DWG file formats,  Karen Fugle, Bentleyuser.com, April 14, 2005 (more MicroStation features)

Dassault Aviation Revolutionizes Aircraft Development - the company continues to reserve faith in PLM and plans to extend it to other projects apart from the executive jet market, CG, April 27, 2005 (more PLM features)

AutoCAD 2006 - Take a Tour Through Options - you may have missed a system variable that will make your life easier, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, April 27, 2006 (more AutoCAD 2006, What's New?)

Updated AutoCAD Plot Utilities for AutoCAD 2006 - Autodesk has updated free support tools like CTB to PCP Converter and CTB and STB printing, Shaan Hurley, Between the Walls, April 27, 2005 (more AutoCAD 2006, What's New?)

AutoCAD 2006 Script Bug - using the Close in a script stops execution, JTB World, April 27, 2005 (more AutoCAD bugs)

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - Adding Hatching - an existing entity can be used to define the area to be hatched,  Learning IntelliCAD, April 28, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials)

Corel Designer Technical Suite 12 - Corel PHOTO-PAINT12, CAPTURE 12 for screen capture and CoreITRACE 12 for bitmap tracing are some of the new inclusions, Ron LaFon, Cadalyst AEC, April 1, 2005 (more Corel Designer reviews)

ATI FireGL V5000 PCle - moderately priced, mid range graphics card for CAD workstations, Ron LaFon, Cadalyst Management, April 1, 2005 (more graphics cards reviews)

Terrific Tables! - the new AutoCAD tables makes it easy to add rows and columns, add or edit texts, Lynn Allen, Cadalyst Management, April 15, 2005 (more AutoCAD tables tutorials)

Integrating LEED and Architectural Desktop - using custom ADT objects for LEED project analysis in a BIM environment, Tomislav Zigo, Hagerman & Company Inc, April 27, 2005 (more Architectural Desktop tutorials)

AutoCAD 2006 Books - user guide not in the box, you have to request it, other reference books are for sale, Scott Durkee, Scott Durkee's Blog, April 26, 2005 (more AutoCAD 2006 - What's New?)

HP XW9300 - respectable benchmark scores from $6,300 workstation, Ron LaFon, Cadalyst Management, April 1, 2005 (more HP workstation reviews)

Autodesk Vault 4 : Autodesk's Data Management Solution Comes Into its Own - improvements include automatic DWF creation and better integration with AutoCAD, Hagerman & Company Inc. (Autodesk reseller), April 27, 2005 (more Autodesk Vault reviews)

Managing Multiple CAD Systems - nowadays CAD managers have to deal with multiple software programs as well as the associated user training and data management problems, Robert Green, Cadalyst Management, April 1, 2005 (more CAD management features)

Learning Curve: Doing Text in Style - basics of AutoCAD text styles and a few tips, Bill Fane, Cadalyst Management, April 15, 2005 (more AutoCAD text tutorials)

Additional Tools in the Primary Toolbar - to access additional tools, move the mouse over Level Manager and right click it, ControlAltDelete, MicroStationTips.com, April 25, 2005 (more MicroStation tutorials)

Multiple Versions of Your Function Keys - if you have run out of function keys, you can assign different menu files to function keys, Lorys Lea, MicroStationTips.com, April 25, 2005 (more MicroStation tutorials)

PTC Pro/ENGINEER Supports 64-Bit Windows XP Professional On HP Workstations - 64-bit architecture increases accessible memory and allows users freedom to design complex assemblies, Jeffrey Rowe, MCADcafe.com, April 26, 2005 (more Pro/Engineer & PTC features)

Optimizing Standard Parts - AutoCAD Mechanical tutorial details custom standards, system setting, database, 2D/3D representations, more, Autodesk, April 25, 2005 (more AutoCAD Mechanical tutorials) (15 page pdf)

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - Creating Boundary Polylines - select an area inside a closed loop and bind it by a single closed entity or multiple entities that intersect, Learning IntelliCAD, April 26, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials)

Interview with Olivier Campagne - finalist in 2005 Architectural Visualization Competition, started at the age of 11 with CAD 3D software, wants to work on digital movie sets, CGarchitect.com, April 25, 2005 (more AEC features)

Press Releases Rules Are A-Changing - press releases should abandon their traditional form and provide a web site path to more customer information, Rachael Dalton-Taggart, Floating Point, April 25, 2005 (more CAD industry features)

Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 2 - in-depth look at the new release of Adobe Photoshop, featuring Vanishing Point, Image Warp, Spot Healing, Lens Correction, Smart Objects, more, Lachmi Khemlani, AEC Bytes, April 21, 2005 (more software reviews)

Autodesk Inventor 10 : A Preview Guide - a comprehensive look at this latest version of Inventor from Autodesk, In the Machine, April 25, 2005 (more Autodesk Inventor tutorials) (23 page pdf)

Loading Express Tools in 2006 - if you can't find the Express Tools menu in AutoCAD, type in CUILOAD which replaced the MENULOAD command, Mark W. Kiker, Caddmanager.com, April 24, 2005 (more AutoCAD 2006 - What's New?)

Class 11 - Custom ObjectARX Class - AutoCAD's ObjectARX allows users to develop their own objects and entities, Fernando Malard, ObjectARX for Dummies, April 24, 2005 (more AutoCAD programming tutorials)

Lab 2 - Solved - the proposed layout in the solution has been created with the combo and select button, Fernando Malard, ObjectARX for Dummies, April 24, 2005 (more AutoCAD programming tutorials)

Is There a Future for Print Magazines - it's not so much the lack of advertising but rather the website invasion that is affecting the fortunes of print magazines, Rachael Dalton-Taggart, Floating Point, April 22, 2005 (more CAD media features)

AutoCAD 2006 Flip Dimension Arrows - this new dimension-related functionality makes it possible to flip the direction of arrowheads, JTB World, April 22, 2005 (more AutoCAD 2006 - What's New?)

Hardware/Software - a roundup of the latest hardware and software releases including Autodesk products, Design News, April 18, 2005 (more hardware features, more software reviews)

Home-Grown Websites - engineer Brian Fudge's inter-company website is meant to shorten design time for respiration products, Paul E. Teague, Design News, April 18, 2005 (more features 2005 - CAD, CAM, CAE)

Developers Easing Move to 3D Design - companies like PTC, UGS, Alibre, Dassault Systems and SolidWorks attempts to convert 2D CAD users include features that mimic 2D software functions, Paul Teague, Design News, April 18, 2005 (more MCAD features)

Editor's Window - when insecurity and frustration dogs the CAD manager they must remember the initial passion that drew them to the profession, Sara Ferris, Cadalyst Management, April 1, 2005 (more CAD Management features)

3D Takes Center Stage at CAD Users' Event - SolidWorks World 2005 conference focused on the power of 3D and how important it is to the manufacturing community, Jeffrey Rowe, Advanced Manufacturing, March 2005 (more SolidWorks features)

ArchiCAD Insights : Energize Your Practice - from full virtual building model to energy analysis in the conceptual phase; ArchiCAD meets modern-day demands with ease, Victor Bullain, Cadalyst AEC, April 15, 2005 (more ArchiCAD reviews)

Autodesk DWF Viewer Updated - print preview, revised navigator palettes, menus and toolbars are some of the enhancements, Robin Capper, Robinz CAD Blog, April 24, 2005(more AutoCAD DWF Viewer reviews)

CODI's CPC - Customize Pro/ENGINEER Configurations - application for automatic generation of Pro/ENGINEER configurations,  Pro/E Community, April 20, 2005 (requires free registration) (more software reviews)

BIM - Small, Medium? Extra Large! - Autodesk Revit's Worksharing feature distributes the power of its parametric building modeling environment across the team and supports BIM projects of all shapes and sizes, Rick Rundell of Autodesk, Cadalyst AEC, April 15, 2005 (more Autodesk Revit tutorials)

AutoCAD 2006 Offset Command Enhancement - new option allows offset to be on the current layer rather than the same layer as the entity, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, April 21, 2005 (more AutoCAD 2006 - What's New?)

Tech Trends : Model, Mesh and Analyze - the trend in the CAD industry is to ensure more efficient design by giving analysis capability to designers, Arnie Williams, Cadalyst Manufacturing, April 1, 2005 (more FEA features)

Adding AutoCAD Commands to LT - AutoCAD LT users can get DRCAUTO's !SlingShot Max 2006 for $75 and add  60 commands that Autodesk left out, including XREF manager, 3D orbit and continuous orbit, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, April 21, 2005 (more DRCAUTO reviews)

AEC From the Ground Up - Top Tools for Preliminary Design Tools for Preliminary Design - various tools that can help the architect with preliminary design include Wacom Cintiq, Alias Sketch Book Pro, Photoshop, Plan Tracer, SketchUp, form Z 5.0, Autodesk VIZ, 3ds max, Alias Maya and Studio, ArchiCAD, Architectural Desktop and Revit, for preliminary design, H.Edward Goldberg, Cadalyst AEC, April 1, 2005 (more software reviews) 

Free DWG Viewer - enhanced zooming, support for XREFs, are some noteworthy features of this DWG viewer from Informative Graphics, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, April 22, 2005 (more software reviews)

Mac CAD: Old Mac Legend Strikes Back - Versa CAD 2005 - VersaCAD has been redesigned to provide fast and economical design/drafting software for Mac-based CAD professionals, Architosh, April 8, 2005 (more VersaCAD reviews)

Do Mac Users Need This App? LineScale By LineType Software - plug-in for Adobe Acrobat and Reader converts units between English and Metric systems and can access required information directly from CAD objects in a PDF file, Architosh, April 20, 2005 (more software reviews) 

Can I Get AutoCAD LT for Mac, and If Not What Mac CAD Choices Are There - alternatives include MacDraft, HighDesign, PowerCADD, PowerCADD and VersaCAD, Architosh, April 20, 2005 (more software reviews) 

PTC First to Ship 64-Bit CAD - will allow access to an "unimaginable" 18 billion GB of addressable memory, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, April 20, 2005 (more Pro/Engineer & PTC features)

AutoCAD Multi-Seat Stand-Alone Licensing - with a single serial number, Autodesk products can be installed, registered and activated on several workstations, Mark W. Kiker, CADDmanager.com, April 20, 2005 (more AutoCAD, What's New?)

Civil 3D Demonstration - ease of transfer their Land Desktop project data into Civil 3D 2006 surprises many, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D Thoughts, April 20, 2005 (more Autodesk Civil 3D tutorials)

AutoCAD Network Licensing Redundant Vs. Distributed - a visual guide to differences between redundant and distributed FLEXlm(r) license servers, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, April 20, 2005 (more AutoCAD, What's New?)

PTC and the Center for Automotive Research Forecast the Future of Automotive Product Development - a more disciplined process, greater use of virtual prototypes, increased global outsourcing and an increased importance of design are some of the trends in product development this year, Jeffrey Rowe, MCADcafe.com, April 18, 2005 (more MCAD features 2005)

Circular Stairs With Landings - tip on how to create spiral stairs with landings in Architectural Desktop, Cadforum, April 18, 2005 (more Architectural Desktop tutorials)

What Is the Difference Between .BAK, .SV$ and .AC$ backup files - explanation of backup and temporary files created by AutoCAD, Cadforum, April 18, 2005 (more AutoCAD tips and tricks)

Workgroup Referencing Basics - in VectorWorks Workgroup Referencing, any file can be considered a "master" or "target," Architosh, April 17, 2005 (more VectorWorks tutorials)

MCAD Industry View - A February 2005 Update - a look at how MCAD companies fared financially during the last quarter of 2004 and the expectations for 2005, Russ Henke & Jack Horgan, MCADcafe.com, February 28, 2005 (more MCAD features 2005)

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - Drawing Donuts - the default method is to specify the inside and outside diameters of the donut and then specify its center, Learning IntelliCAD, April 21, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials)

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - Drawing a Closed Spline - specify only one tangent because the spline is closed, Learning IntelliCAD, April 20, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials)

Layout Book Update Success Checking Required - bug in PlotMaker 9, Andor Szoke, January 31, 2005 (more ArchiCAD tutorials)

Autodesk VIZ 2006 Starts Shipping Today - a look at some of the new features like Scene State, Batch Render, Mental Ray 3.3 and so on, Alex Bicalho, Life of an Origamy, April 19, 2005 (more Autodesk Viz reviews)

Should Design Engineers Fear Outsourcing? Maybe, But Not Quite Yet - developing multiple skills is one way of abating the threat posed by Indian engineers, who have become a cheaper option for many design firms in the US, Joseph Ogando, Designs, April 18, 2005 (more job, career features)

The Concept of What Is a Design Firm Sure Has Changed - the concept of a designer firm has evolved into something much more than just people dealing with CAD, enr.com, April 18, 2005 (more AEC features)

AutoCAD System Variables - a look at changes in the last few releases as well as likely future inclusions and removals, Lee Ambrosius, Hyperpics, April 19, 2005 (more AutoCAD basics tutorials) pdf

Autodesk Listens to the Voices of its Customers - take part in the beta program and have a say in the next AutoCAD release, Lee Ambrosius, Hyperpics, April 18, 2005 (more Autodesk - the Corporation)

AutoCAD 2006 - Trim/Extend Tips - it's no secret anymore - users can save time by using the 'select all' default which is within the command now, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, April 18, 2005 (more AutoCAD basics tutorials)

Where Can I Find BatchPlot for AutoCAD 2005 and Higher? - the PUBLISH command is easier to use than BatchPlot, Cadforum, April 18, 2005 (more AutoCAD tips an tricks)

Displaying an Inventor Assembly or Drawing in Two Windows - use the 'new window' function for an easier way, Cadforum, April 18, 2005 (more AutoCAD tips and tricks)

Using Expressions in AutoCAD Dialog Boxes - expressions can be evaluated like in the AutoCAD QuickCalc, Cadforum, April 18, 2005 (more AutoCAD tips and tricks)

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - Specifying Fit Tolerance - a spline fit tolerance value of '0' causes the spline to pass through the control points, Learning IntelliCAD, April 19, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials)

AutoCAD Vs Microstation - if Autodesk has been busy upgrading and improving, Bentley has not been sitting idle either, Microstation XM will be tough competition for AutoCAD 2006, David Littlefield, Building Design, April 15, 2005 (requires free registration) (more MicroStation reviews)

A Helping Hand - VectorWorks 11.5 is a free upgrade for VectorWorks 11 users, drawings and presentations can be given a hand-drawn sketch effect, Jonathan Reeves, Building Design, April 15, 2005 (may require free registration) (more VectorWorks reviews)

Mustang Accelerates in Reverse - stamping dies reverse engineered with Geomagic Studio for Ford Mustang, Jill Aitoro, Caduser, March 2005 (more CAM features)

Recovering Lost Information - how to recover and recreate data after a crash, for AutoCAD and vertical applications, Necessary Knowledge, April 18, 2005 (more AutoCAD basics tutorials)

Replacing True Type Fonts in an Opened .DWG File with Faster SHX Fonts - open the font mapping definition in the text editor and append the required mapping, CADforum, April 18, 2005 (more AutoCAD tips and tricks)

How to Lock Given AutoCAD Variables from Editing? - with SysVarLock users can keep certain AutoCAD settings enabled or disabled or limit values of certain variables, CADforum, April 18, 2005 (more AutoCAD tips and tricks)

Lab 2 - Using a MFC Dialog - creating a simple ObjectARX module with DLGCOLOR, Fernando Malard, ObjectARX for Dummies, April 16, 2005 (more AutoCAD programming tutorials)

ADT 2006 Schedule Tag Changes - if you can sketch then you can create custom tags too, Beau Turner, Will Render for Food, April 16, 2005 (more Architectural Desktop tutorials)

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - Drawing Splines - splines can be used to create sculptured shapes like a cross section of a turbine, Learning IntelliCAD, April 18, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials)

Day 4 - Autodesk Civil 3D improves on assemblies, corridors and sections, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D Thoughts, April 15, 2005 (more Autodesk Civil 3D tutorials)

BIM - Before It's Manageable? - building information modeling (BIM) must be approached thoughtfully if it is to prove cost-effective, Nigel Davies, Microstation Connections, March 23, 2005 (may require free registration) (more AEC features)

A Toolpath Like No Other - a look at SurfCAM's patent-pending TrueMill toolpath engine, Charles Bates, American Machinist, April 1, 2005 (more SurfCAM reviews)

A Damn Good Solution! - the CAD and engineering department at the Grand Coulee Dam has successfully implemented Cyco AutoManager Meridian to keep more than 200,000 drawings under tight control, CADuser, April 18, 2005 (more AutoManager Meridian reviews)

More JT Format Support, Lightweight I-DEAS - while Right Hemisphere's JT module enables combinations with multiple CAD formats, SDRC I-DEAS Module lets users automatically generate technical illustrations, Desktop Engineering, April 15, 2005

NAC is In-Step - National Automotive Center uses N-STEP to produce STEP compliant files, American Machinist, April 1, 2005

Carry on Doctor - CAD training will take center stage in 2005 as more and more companies realize that upgrades alone cannot ensure competitive edge, Caduser, April 15, 2005 (more CAD management features)

Architectural Desktop 2006 - taking off from where the 2004 and 2005 version left off, ADT 2006 focuses on project workflow and standards, process and ease of use from a new AutoCAD platform without any file format change, Chris Yancher, Between the Walls, April 15, 2005 (more Architectural Desktop tutorials) pdf

ADT 2006 - Final - Known Issues - Merge Common Materials may fail to work in Sections and Elevations where a slab material is merged with other Object Materials, Mark W.Kiker, Caddmanager.com, April 15, 2005 (more Architectural Desktop tutorials)

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - Drawing Polylines - use a width that remains constant or tapers over the length of any segment,  Learning IntelliCAD, April 15, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials)

Skill Builder - 3D Grips - Inventor's new feature, Functional Design, can quickly and directly modify geometry without taking a detour through component sketch and feature edits, Autodesk, April 15, 2005 (more Autodesk Inventor tutorials)

Pipes - Second Glimpse - it has got enough flexibility and depth for intricate designing and drafting requirements, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D Thoughts, April 14, 2005 (more Autodesk Civil 3D tutorials)

Locking the AutoCAD SSM - green dot in the lock icon signifies user have temporarily locked the DST file while red indicates another team member having done so, Beau Turner, Will Render For Food, April 14, 2005 (more AutoCAD, What's New?)

Creating a Twisted Helical Sweep - begin by defining the trajectory that the helix will follow, Florin Neamtu, Pro/E Community, March 31, 2005 (more Pro/E tutorials)

Industrial Origami's SMILEFACE - sheet metal application works with Pro/E Wildfire 2.0 and SolidWorks, Robert Covelli, Pro/E Community, April 14, 2005

Comfort Zone - Eizo LCD monitors are as much about looking good as performing well, David Chadwick, Caduser, April 15, 2005 (more LCD monitor reviews)

AutoCAD Home Use - advice for using AutoCAD at home, which may technically be prohibited under Autodesk user license, Mark W. Kiker, Caddmanager.com, April 13, 2005 (more Autodesk features) 

Computer-Aided Green Design - computer technology, if suitably combined with a proven sustainable design methodology, can become a powerful tool for improved services, Jim Gleeson, Architecture Week, April 1, 2005 (more AEC features)

A Different Approach to Using IFCs to Facilitate Interoperability in the Building Industry - the true value of the IFC model does not lie in its ability to facilitate exchange of graphical data but in its ability to capture and communicate non-graphical properties, Jim Forester, AECBytes, April 13, 2005 (more AEC features)

Helsinki Architects Push BIM Agenda on Macs - interview with architect Jyrki Iso-Aho about BIM and how CAD/BIM companies can create programs to make architects think, Anthony Frausto-Robledo, Architosh, April 14, 2005 (more AEC features)

Revit Building 8 API - users will be able to develop code to query, extract and modify existing items in a Revit model and place it in an Excel file, Mark W. Kiker, Caddmanager.com, April 13, 2005  (more Autodesk Revit Tutorials) 

Leveraging PLM to Become an On-Demand Business - successful companies maintain competitive edge through PLM which helps in effective innovation through the entire business lifecycle, Timecompress.com, April 14, 2005 (more PLM features)

Bullet - Proof Analysis - DuPont uses ABAQUS/Explicit for analyzing FEA models to make bullet-proof vests, Leopoldo A. Carbajal & Ted Diehl, Designs, April 12, 2005 (more ABAQUS reviews)

Motorcycle Mania - COSMOSWORKS used in creation of custom chopper for SolidWorks, Designs, April 4, 2005 (more SolidWorks success stories)

VectorWorks 11.5 - many improvements, great price but lacking collaboration features, Architosh, April 14, 2005 (more VectorWorks reviews)

Map 3D 2006 & Raster Design 2006 - Map 3D can automatically create links between objects while in Raster Design the TOUCHUP command is similar to paintbrush, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D Thoughts, April 13, 2005

Results of the 2004 SolidWorks Salary Survey - northeast highest with $62K, salaries showing upwards trends since 2004, 69% reported a salary increase and only 10 per cent a decrease, Alexandra Pratt, CATIA COMMUNITY, April 4, 2005 (may require free registration)  (more SolidWorks features) (more jobs and career features)

ADT 2006 More Known Issues - new project features may be lost, buttons may be missing, Mark W. Kiker, Caddmanager.com, April 11, 2005 (more Architectural Desktop tutorials)

ADT 2006 - Help More Interactive - more interactive help includes Flash-based tutorial, Chris Yancher, Between the Walls, April 11, 2005 (more Architectural Desktop tutorials)  

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - Drawing Rectangles - draw rectangles by specifying opposite corners, Learning IntelliCAD, April 11, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials)

New E-Learning Lessons for Inventor 10 on the Subscription Center - 3D grip editing, 3D sketching, creating and documenting weldments and parts list, more, Amy Bunszel, In the Machine, April 11, 2005 (more Autodesk Inventor features)

PLM : Process Over Product Effective Implementation in About Content - Not Connection - to clear the cloud of confusion regarding the implementation of PLM, treat it as a business process and a solution, Trenton H. Brown, Proficiency, CATIA COMMUNITY, April 11, 2005 (may require free registration) (more PLM features)

Class 10 - Using MFC - use of MFC will allow better interfaces for ObjectARX applications, Fernando Mallard, ObjectARX for Dummies, April 11, 2005 (more AutoCAD 2006, What's New?)

Q&A : Hardware Tormentors Stress Reliability -  Pavan Davuluri, Reliability and Component lead at Microsoft hardware talks about the use of computer aided simulations for testing product prototypes, Microsoft Press Pass, March 22, 2005 (more hardware features)

Math Matters in Design - math is an integral part of the design process, as is CAD and CAE, Paul Goossens, Maplesoft, Desktop Engineering, March 1, 2005

FEA Helps SpaceShipOne Soar - simulation tools like COSMOS FEA played a major role in the design of SS1, David Alexander, Aerospace Engineering Online, March 2005 (more FEA features) pdf 

1-2-3 Revit : Parametric Building Modeling, Part 2 - BIM approaches building design with high quality, coordinated and internally consistent information, Rick Rundell, Autodesk, Cadalyst AEC, March 15, 2005 (more Autodesk Revit features)

Inside Look at a Brand New FEA Release - COSMOSWORKS 2005 is impressive for a FEA product included with a CAD package but has limitations, Paris Altidis, Design News, April 4, 2005 (more COSMOS reviews)

InnovMetric's PolyWorks V9 to Offer Automatic Surfacing - users can now create CAD-ready NURBS models boasting of a wide variety of parts within minutes, AECnewsroom, March 29, 2005

Software/Hardware - brief descriptions of hardware and software released this month, Design News, April 4, 2005 (more software reviews, hardware reviews)

Views, Layers...and 3D in LT? - saving views with UCS, maximizing viewports and -- surprise -- 3D functionality in LT, Michael Beal, Cadtutor, April, 2005 (more AutoCAD basics, LT tutorials)

ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD - Erasing Freehand Sketch Lines -  the pencil will turn into an eraser tool if you choose the 'delete on' option in the prompt box to erase temporary freehand sketch lines, Learning IntelliCAD, April 7, 2005 (more IntelliCAD tutorials) 

Changes to Tool Palettes in AutoCAD 2006 - notes and separators can be added, properties of multiple tools can be changed, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, April 7, 2005 (more AutoCAD 2006, What's New?)

Dynamic Block Hatches - you can use AutoCAD 2006's new dynamic blocks to make custom hatches that would be hard with the old custom hatch tools, Mark Douglas, In the Dynamic Interface, April 5, 2005 (more AutoCAD Customizing tutorials)

Implementing New Methods in Old-School Technology - even faced with resistance to change, you can still get your point across if you lead with honey, Diane Landers, Desktop Engineering, April 1, 2005 (more CAD management features)

An LCD on Every Desk - popularity of LCDs soars, a primer on selecting a LCD screen, Mark Clarkson, Desktop Engineering, April 1, 2005 (LCD monitor reviews)

Assess Your FEA Skills - a few sample problems to test whether you have what it takes to be doing FEA, answers provided, Vince Adams, Desktop Engineering, March 1, 2005 (more FEA features)

Autodesk Inventor R10 Comes Up With a Task Scheduler Utility - it acts as a batch processor for migration and import of files and software and even use a Visual Basic program to modify files, Elise Moss, Moss Designs, April 8, 2005 (more Inventor tutorials)

How to Automate Customization with RPM - a rules driven approach to automating key design, engineering and manufacturing processes can help in streamlining operations , David Borzillo, IENOnline, April, 2005 (republished on RuleStream site)

CAD Leadership - Part 6 - A Leader's Corporate Assets - to be a successful leader you must enhance your organizational and research skills, CAD Manager, CADDManager.com, March 31, 2005 (PDF) (more CAD Management features)

The CAD Manager - find out whether you are yet the top dog of the CAD world, David Harrington, AUGIWorld, March 31, 2005, pp. 4,5 (more CAD Management features), high res version (PDF)

Autodesk Pirate Gets 9 Months - Autodesk has collected over $63 million in piracy fines in the USA alone, but should one go to jail giving a copy to a friend? Evan Yares, CADwire.net, March 29, 2005 (more Autodesk - the Corporation features)

Uncertainties of the CAD Manager, Part 3: Addressing Concerns from the Field - like it or not many companies are outsourcing lower level designing works to other companies or countries, Robert Green, Cadalyst Management, March 24, 2005 (more CAD Management features)

A Behind the Scenes Look at the CAD World - a quick look at trends and tidbits from the world of CAD, Sara Ferris, Cadalyst Management, March 1, 2005 (more CAD Management features)

Dynamic Blocks, A Tool in the Tool Box - modify appearance using custom grips without having to search for a matching static block in your library, R. Robert Bell AUGIWorld, March 31, 2005, pp. 14,15 high res version (more AutoCAD 2006, What's?) (PDF)

Quick Calculator - set aside the external calculator and try the improved version for it has all you need and more, Lee Ambrosius, AUGIWorld, March 31, 2005, pp. 16, 17 (more AutoCAD 2006, What's?), high res version (PDF)

AutoCAD 2006 .NET documentation - the ObjectARX managed wrapper classes now include jig and prompt support, JTB World Blog, March 30, 2005 (more AutoCAD Programming tutorials)

Avatech Tricks: Set Up ADT Tool Palettes the Entire Office Can Use - in three simple steps tool palettes can be created that the whole office can share, Brian K. Smith, Cadalyst Management, March 15, 2005 (more ADT tutorials)

A Close-Up Look at Feature Modeling - MicroStation allows creation, modification of feature-based solids models, James Dyer, Cadalyst AEC, March 15, 2005 (more Microstation tutorials)