January 2005
previous articles

Dramatic Titling - 3ds max tutorial, Jacquelin Vanderwood, DesignerToday.com, January 2005

Camera Map Modifier or Blend Into Background - 3ds max tutorial, Jacquelin Vanderwood, January 2005

Make Primitives Via the Keyboard - 3ds max tutorial, Jacquelin Vanderwood, DesignerToday.com, January 2005

Master Point Controller - 3ds max tutorial, Jacquelin Vanderwood, DesignerToday.com, January 2005

MaterialByElement Modifier - 3ds max tutorial, Jacquelin Vanderwood, DesignerToday.com, January 2005

Take Control - CNC systems of the future will play an even bigger part in production, Martin Oakham, e4engineering, January 28, 2005

Command Line Only Express Tools - AutoCAD tip, PostalCAD, January 24, 2005

Save As PDF Option – How to Disable the '_temporary ArchiCAD publisher' - ArchiCAD tip, Gergely Kmethy, Graphisoft.com, January 31, 2005

Going Off On a Tangent - AutoCAD tip relating to finding the inside tangent points between two circles, Jim Dowthwaite, Area 31, January 27, 2005

Class 1 - Overview - an introduction to ObjectARX, Fernando Malard, ObjectARX for Dummies, January 31, 2005

Having Trouble Opening a Large AutoCAD File? - AutoCAD tip, Forest Judd, Hagerman Technology Bulletin, January 2005

Having Trouble Logging into Your Vault Server? - Autodesk Vault tip, Forest Judd, Hagerman Technology Bulletin, January 2005

5 Tips for Autodesk Inventor Users - productivity tips range from resizing assembly work planes to creating a point force in Pro FEA, Hagerman Technology Bulletin, January 2005

Space Planning with Architectural Desktop 2005 - the first in a series of articles focusing on conceptual design, Tomislav Zigo, Hagerman Technology Bulletin, January 2005

Vocational School Markets New Engineering Technology - a Massachusetts high school recently received rapid prototyping equipment that is helping students better prepare for careers in CAD, Ted LaBorde, The Republican, January 31, 2005  (requires free registration)

Pow! SolidWorks Takes on AutoCAD Upgrade Woes - SolidWorks' free DWGgateway data translation plug-in enables AutoCAD users to open and work with DWG files created with any version of AutoCAD, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, January 31, 2005

Open AutoCAD Faster - Disable the Digital Signature Validation Options - AutoCAD tip, Michael Rotolo, The Mad Cadder, January 31, 2005

Using Symbols - using Solid Edge Draft's extended workflow for symbols, SolidTools, January 2005

VBScript Operators for Formula Properties - Autodesk Architectural Desktop tips, David Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 29, 2005

XOPEN Makes Quick Work of External References - AutoCAD tip, Richard Binning, Beside the Cursor, January 28, 2005

Inquire Within - Autodesk Civil 3D tip on accessing line and arc data, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, January 31, 2005

The Nozzle from 20 Years Ago - see an AutoCAD drawing from the 1980s updated (in Autodesk Inventor) to a 3D DWF file, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, January 30, 2005

Advanced Profiles in Architectural Desktop - learn how to use Profiles to make a Railing Style into a Trellis, ARCHIdigm, January 31, 2005

MicroStation's 3D Capabilities, Part 1 - explores the basics of creating, editing and viewing 3D models, James Dyer, Cadalyst, January 15, 2005

Right-Click on the Command Line for a Shortcut Menu - AutoCAD tip, Lee Ambrosius, HyperPics, January 31, 2005

W3D Parse Error When Viewing a DWF File from Inventor - Autodesk Inventor tip, cadforum.cz, January 28, 2005

Quick Tip - Count your Blocks - AutoCAD tip on the BCOUNT Express Tool, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, January 31, 2005

AutoCAD Tip: ARRAY, DIVIDE, MEASURE Blocks with Attributes - AutoCAD blocks tip, Tracy Lincoln, TL Consulting, January 29, 2005

Assigning CAD Commands to a 6-button Mouse - AutoCAD tip, cadforum.cz, January 28, 2005

Architectural Pre-Visualization - profile of an artist who uses 3D graphics to assist architects in rapid pre-visualization of their projects, Luxology, January 31, 2005

From Spatial to PlanetCAD to Avatech to Autodesk - Avatech Solutions today is selling its MCAD quality assurance software Proof Positive and intellectual property to Autodesk for approximately $1.9 million, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, January 28, 2005

The Laser Scanning and Point Cloud Data Roundup - explores some of the ways laser scanning is being put to use in the CAD realm, and how you can work with laser scan data within your copy of Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire, Alexandra Pratt, Pro/E Community, January 27, 2005 (requires free registration)

DWF Options - tips on using DWF Viewer to control a DWF file and how the end user or recipient can view and interact with it, Beth Powell, Beth's Blog, January 27, 2005

Constructing a Galaxy: Greg Hajdu - on the new Star Wars movie, "Episode III: Revenge of the Siths," CAD drafters and programmers worked with the carpenters to transform seven soundstages into fantastical locales on planets in a galaxy far away, StarWars.com, January 27, 2005

CAD Management Action Plan, Part 1 - a plan of action for CAD managers to attain a successful 2005, Robert Green, CAD Manager's Newsletter #121, January 27, 2005

AEC Dimension Labels - Lost but Not Forgotten - Architectural Desktop tutorial shows how to modify this old tool to report basic width and height values on Doors and Windows, ARCHIdigm, January 28, 2005

Workflow Guides - Autodesk Civil 3D tip, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, January 26, 2005

How to Find an Intersection of a Line and 3D Face? - AutoCAD tip, cadforum.cz, January 17, 2005

Reaping the Advantages of 3D - a large architectural firm switches from AutoCAD to Revit with great success, Arnie Williams, AEC Tech Trends: 2D to 3D #9, January 27, 2005

Kvaerner's Tale Of Digitization Sans ERP - Kvaerner Powergas India Ltd. recently invested in an array of CAD and document management tools to help its large staff of engineers store, share, locate and monitor project progress, Amit Tripathi, CXOtoday.com, January 28, 2005

Adding Artwork to Architectural Desktop Renderings - learn about Curtain Walls, Materials and VIZ Render while make picture frames with art in them, ARCHIdigm, January 28, 2005

Downspouts in Architectural Desktop - learn how to use a Structural Member Style to produce a dynamic 3D downspout, ARCHIdigm, January 28, 2005

PLM: A Strategy for Increased Manufacturing Productivity - to enhance innovation and improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, economy and consequent productivity, a sound PLM strategy is essential, Tony Hakola and Michael Horning, CADdigest.com, January 27, 2005

Deferring the Automatic Update of a Drawing - Autodesk Inventor tips, Andrew de Leon, Envision Solutions, January 17, 2005

Scanning Checklist - how to eliminate most vectorization problems, Steve Hannath, Scan2CAD, January 27, 2005

Grading Slopes - Autodesk Civil 3D tip, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, January 26, 2005

Helping Designers Go Digital - new types of 2D and 3D design software have revolutionized the job for mechanical engineers and architects, in turn boosting sales in the design software industry at a 5% annual rate, J. Bonasia, Investor's Business Daily, January 21, 2005

Getting a Previous Version of an Assembly - Autodesk Vault tips, Andrew de Leon, Envision Solutions, January 17, 2005

Raster Quality Checklist - how to determine whether your raster image is suitable for vectorization, Steve Hannath, Scan2CAD, January 27, 2005

Associating Sketches to Drawing Views - Autodesk Inventor tips, Andrew de Leon, Envision Solutions, January 17, 2005

JPEG and GIF Files - why these file formats are unsuitable for most raster to vector conversions, Steve Hannath, Scan2CAD, January 27, 2005

UA Encourages Natives to Study Science - as part of the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, Juneau high school students are learning AutoCAD, Eric Fry, Juneau Empire, January 27, 2005

Lincoln's CAD Lab Prepares Aspiring Engineers - a new CAD lab allows Macomb, Illinois high school students to gain valuable hands-on experience as they explore 3D parametric drafting, Michael Briskey and Ashley Walczak, Macomb Daily, January 27, 2005

Pro/E Salary Survey 2004 - results of a Pro/E salary survey from users in the U.S. and across the globe, including participants' personal comments, Alexandra Pratt, Pro/E Community, January 12, 2005 (requires free registration)

Using Advanced Selection - SolidWorks tips on using the Advanced Component Selection and Advance Show/Hide functions, which provide flexibility when selecting assembly components, SolidWorks Express, January 2005

Automating Project Startup in Architectural Desktop 2005 - tips on automating the creation of a new project and ensuring that it gets started according to your company standards without any extensive modifications, Matt Dillon, Breaking Down the Walls, January 25, 2005

Annoying PEDIT Question - AutoCAD tip, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, January 25, 2005

5-Axis Machining Hits the Road - with the cost of five axis equipment falling, the technology is now within the reach of a wider range of engineering companies, including those in the autosport sector, CADserver, January 2005

What's Up? Daratech Reports Bentley Revenues - why is Bentley reporting on Daratech reporting on Bentley's financial status?, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, January 25, 2005

That's 2: Hitachi Expresses Support for U3D - Intel has signed up one more high-profile vendor to support its "universal three dimensions" format, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, January 26, 2005

Assembly and Drawing Performance Checklist - SolidWorks tips on ways to increase your level of performance, SolidWorks Express, January 2005

RENAME Command - An Oldie but a Goodie - AutoCAD tip, Michael Rotolo, The Mad Cadder, January 25, 2005

Planning for Effective Training - a list of SolidWorks training resources, SolidWorks Express, January 2005

A Crisis in Innovation? - SolidWorks CEO believes the state of CAD product development is in good shape, and that its standardization provides the fertile ground needed for the incremental development of a steady stream of productivity-enhancing applications, John J. McEleney, Desktop Engineering, January 2005

Building Energy Performance - Going Mainstream - Dominic Gallello, president and CEO of Graphisoft, emphasizes the growing importance of sustainable building design and urges architects to use the tools already available at their disposal to take on the energy challenge, AECbytes, January 25, 2005

Save Image with Relative Path in AutoCAD 2005 - AutoCAD tip, Mark W. Kiker, CADDManager.com Newsletter, January 2005

Running 32-bit CAD on 64-bit Windows - with 3D models growing in size and complexity, MCAD users need all the computer power they can get - and the upcoming Windows XP Professional x64 Edition might be the answer, Greg Corke, CADserver, January 2005

ADT or ACAD Object? How to Tell... - Architectural Desktop tip, Beau Turner, Will Render for Food, January 24, 2005

Turning Ideas Into Parts - a Florida CNC shop draws on a wide array of software -  including CAD, CAM and shopfloor programming tools - to gain maximum leverage from its manufacturing know-how, Mark Albert, MMS Online, February 2005

Zoom to Object Option in AutoCAD 2005 Products - AutoCAD tip, PostalCAD, January 17, 2005

Free VBA Gold - provides a link to access a VBA application that contains three useful Civil 3D tools, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, January 24, 2005

SMB PLM: Innovation Driver? - product lifecycle management (PLM) technology is key to the converting phase of innovation performance management (IPM) for small- to medium-sized businesses, Stewart McKie, Intelligent Enterprise, January 12, 2005

How Software is Upgraded: The Process - how Rhino is updating the software for its next release, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, January 25, 2005

Elements of Finite Element Analysis - a discussion of the proper methods of meshing structures and models includes thoughts on where real-world, hands-on FEA is headed, Tony Abbey, Desktop Engineering, January 2005

Streamlining CAD/CAM With CAE - why today's analysis technology is no longer just for specialists, with advice on how to choose analysis tools suitable for your purposes, Jeffrey Rowe, Cadalyst MCAD Tech News #137, January 20, 2005

AutoCAD 2005 Table Review - tips on the new Table object in AutoCAD 2005, Michael Beall, CADTutor, January 2005

Changing a Drawing's Plot Style Type - Architectural Desktop tips, David Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 23, 2005

eTransmit - Part Two - AutoCAD tips on using the built-in command to share files, Mark W. Kiker, CADDManager.com Newsletter, January 2005

Sheet Set Manager API Code Sample for AutoCAD 2005 - downloadable code sample, Jimmy Bergmark, JTB World, January 20, 2005

Golden Rules - AutoCAD drawing tips, CADtech Seminars, January 24, 2005

Apple Needs to Monitor CATIA Development in Architecture - CATIA does not run on Mac OS X, despite the fact that OS X is the most popular UNIX platform in the world and CATIA V5 does run on many other minority Unix operating systems, Anthony Frausto-Robledo, Architosh, January 21, 2005

Express Tools in AutoCAD 2002 - AutoCAD tips, Beth Powell, Beth's Blog, January 21, 2005

Editing - AutoCAD editing tips, CADtech Seminars, January 24, 2005

Unattended Uninstallation Using VBScript - how to uninstall AutoCAD 2005 using a VBScript, Jimmy Bergmark, JTB World, January 21, 2005

Drawing - AutoCAD tips on drawing and dimensions, CADtech Seminars, January 24, 2005

2005 Refocus - some useful New Year's resolutions for CAD managers, Mark W. Kiker, CADDManager.com Newsletter, January 2005

Linetype Scale - examines the three system variables that contribute to the display of linetypes in AutoCAD and Architectural Desktop, David Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 15, 2005

Opinion: Modernizing Product Development - Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools are becoming increasingly vital to companies wanting to sell more products, create new products and find new markets for the products, Ephraim Schwartz, Computerworld, January 20, 2005

Creating A New Display Configuration For Walls - Architectural Desktop procedures for creating a new Display Configuration that will display walls differently than the way they are displayed in any of the out-of-the-box Display Configurations, David Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 14, 2005

From Ideas to Reality - Autodesk CEO Carol Bartz discusses India's potential in the CAD and engineering industries, Economic Times, January 20, 2005

User- and Project-Specific Content - Architectural Desktop tutorial on how to have your firm’s standard content on your network, while still allowing individual users and project teams to have their own content, David Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 21, 2005

Simulating Reality - simulation helps organizations gain better design and styling capabilities and save on prototyping costs, Abhinav Singh, Express Computer, January 21, 2005

A Take on the Workstation Market Today - an overview of the workstation market, the current models, what they are used for and some thoughts about their future, Anton Klotz, OSNews.com, January 20, 2005

Reverse Engineering: The Catalyst Behind the Next Big Aerospace Leap - reverse engineering is the key to conquering the divide between the physical and digital worlds and creating full integration among all facets of the aerospace manufacturing process, Ping Fu, Aerospace Engineering (hosted on Geomagic.com), January 20, 2005

Down The Road - implementing CAD/CAM in your shop is necessary to reduce programming and production errors, provide ease of part programming, increase machine throughput and utilization and integrate essential non-machining operations into your manufacturing scheme, Manufacturing Center, February 2005

Technology for Construction 2005 - captures some of the session highlights of the ongoing Technology for Construction 2005 show, Lachmi Khemlani, AECbytes Newsletter, January 20, 2005

Recover Missing Elements from Your MicroStation Files - MicroStation tips, Eiren Smith, MicroStationTips.com, January 17, 2005

Implementing BIM, Part 3: Staff Training - tips on making a successful transition from 2D to building information modeling, Rick Rundell, Cadalyst, January 15, 2005

Bypass Those Big-Project Headaches - strategies to help manage large ArchiCAD building databases, Viktor Bullain, Cadalyst, January 15, 2005

SP1 & Subassemblies - Autodesk Civil 3D tips, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, January 17, 2005

Change Level Symbology in Hundreds of MicroStation Files at a Time - MicroStation tips, MicroStationTips.com, January 17, 2005

Easily Delete Linear Elements Partially Overlapping Other Linear Elements - MicroStation tips, Eiren Smith, MicroStationTips.com, January 17, 2005

Fix a "Bogus Paperspace" Layout Message in Architectural Desktop/AutoCAD - tips on addressing this error message, Robin Capper, RobiNZ Blog, January 18, 2005

How to Get a List of All of MicroStation's Configuration Variables - MicroStation tips, Marc Thomas, bentleyuser.org, January 13, 2005

Playing with Polylines, Part 3 - modify polylines using AutoCAD's PolylineEdit command, Bill Fane, Cadalyst, January 15, 2005

The Ultimate CAM Checklist - tips to help you choose the right CAM software for your shop, Patrick Waurzyniak, Manufacturing Engineering (hosted on ThomasNet), January 18, 2005

Bug Watch January 2005: When Close Isn't Close Enough, Here's the Answer - AutoCAD bugs and workarounds deal with how to draw accurately in isometric, prevent your viewports from squaring up on you and handle an academic version plot-stamp infestation, Steve Johnson, Cadalyst, January 15, 2005

Startup Switches Take the Tedium Out of Starting Up - advice on how to customize your AutoCAD environment so it looks and acts the way you want even before you see the Command line, Lynn Allen, Cadalyst, January 15, 2005

A Towering Project - Autodesk products - AutoCAD, Revit and Buzzsaw - are chief among the CAD tools being used to design the Freedom Tower, situated at the site of the former World Trade Center, Star Online, January 18, 2005

Study Model Rendering for the Masses - describes the quest for a MicroStation equivalent to the 3ds max "cookie cutter" approach to quick visualization and includes a set of example models and materials to play with, John Finkell, bentleyuser.org, January 14, 2005

Autodesk Service Packs - provides a list of service packs you need and where you can find them online, Philip Zimmerman, SageCAD Newsletter, January 2005 (pdf)

Looking Up - 3ds max/Autodesk VIZ tips on how to create skies that are convincing and compliment your design models, Michael Choquette, SageCAD Newsletter, January 2005 (pdf)

Plot Assay Data Using Values from a Spreadsheet - AutoLISP routine inserts blocks with geological sample attributes, Tony Hotchkiss, Cadalyst, January 15, 2005

Offshore Outsourcing Is Both Inevitable and a Source of U.S. Manufacturing Strength - think3's CEO believes strategic outsourcing lets in-house engineers focus on innovative new designs, while more routine design/engineering work is outsourced, thus improving the recruitment, retention and motivation of in-house engineering talent, Joe Costello, Machine Design, January 6, 2005

Adding Another Dimension to CAD - a report from Autodesk University 2004 that focuses on upcoming new features in AutoCAD, Inventor and other Autodesk tools, M. Madhavan, Star Online, January 18, 2005

Data Management Among Professionals Can Save Those Valuable Development $$ - CAD drawings that look fine yet lack the mathematical integrity to be useful engineering tools can cost projects significant amounts of money, Steve Moore, Land Development Today, January 2005 (requires free registration)

Building Systems: Installing the Marinsoft Partsdrop Plugin - streaming tech tip shows how, via Autodesk i-drop technology, you can access online content from Carrier, Kohler and Marvin Windows and Doors, Tod Stephens, Avatech Solutions, January 13, 2005

SIMA Shipbuilders Use ALGOR FEA to Design Dredging Barge for Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline - ALGOR finite element analysis (FEA) software helped to complete a South American pipeline project that traverses the Amazon jungle and the Andes Mountains to the Pacific coast, CADinfoNET, January 14, 2005

AutoCAD: Custom Palettes - streaming tech tip explains how to create your own personal palette to use along with your company's standard palette, without having network write permissions, Todd Shackelford, Avatech Solutions, January 13, 2005

New Year's Resolutions 2005 - provides a plan of action for CAD managers to develop a more productive staff, Robert Green, Cadalyst CAD Manager's Newsletter #120, January 13, 2005

Using External Sketches in Wildfire 2.0 - Pro/ENGINEER tips, Florin Neamtu, Pro/E Community, January 12, 2005 (requires free registration)

Pay Up! HP Loses Against Intergraph in Germany - Hewlett-Packard launched a series of countersuits in the USA and Germany, claiming Intergraph software infringed on HP's patents, some of which related to CAD, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, January 14, 2005

Which Door Tag Should I Use? - explains the uses of the different types of door tags that come with Autodesk Architectural Desktop, David Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 13, 2005

Two Door Schedules in "Stock" ADT Content - more on Architectural Desktop's door tags, Matt Dillon, Breaking Down the Walls, January 14, 2005

AutoCAD Electrical: Custom Smart Blocks - streaming tech tip shows how the Black Box Builder allows users coming from AutoCAD to migrate their existing blocks to be used as "Smart blocks," Eric France, Avatech Solutions, January 13, 2005

Design for Life - Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) was once the province of larger companies, but now more and more small companies are adopting PLM tools, Charles Clarke, e4engineering, January 14, 2005

The Power of Two - to help deal with the huge amounts of processing power that CAD/CAM and other high-end applications require, manufacturers are turning to dual core technology to boost performance levels, Srikanth R P, Express Computer, January 14, 2005

Civil 3D: Text Scaling and Rotation - streaming tech tip explores text in viewports, Gar Knobbe, Avatech Solutions, January 13, 2005

How to Select Only Closed Polyline Objects - AutoCAD tip, cadforum.cz, December 27, 2004

Using MicroStation Tags - discussion of MicroStation tags and AutoCAD attributes, which are similar tools, but with important differences you need to keep in mind whenever working with DWG files or DGN files that will be converted to DWG, Lynn Winkler, MSM Online, January 12, 2005 (requires free registration)

Shifting the Balance - CAD developers have made billions of dollars over the last decade; now it's the users' turn to gain better returns on their investment, Dick Pilkington, CADserver, January 12, 2005

Participate in Shaping Future AutoCAD and VIZ - information on how to take part in Autodesk software beta testing and other product feedback opportunities, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, January 13, 2005

"Unformatted" Properties for Formulas - Autodesk Architectural Desktop tips, David Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 12, 2005

Add Value with Methodology Part III - further discussion of how new methodologies can offer benefits over technology-based innovations, Diane Landers, Brad Muscott, Kevin Marseilles, Pravin Khurana and Christopher Charlebois, Desktop Engineering, January 2005

Tip on Importing Many 3D Files with the Help of Template GDLs - ArchiCAD tip, Tom Prokopchak, Graphisoft.com, January 13, 2005

Change When the Going's Good -  Autodesk CEO Carol Bartz spoke at a recent forum in India, where she opined that change must occur when things are at their best rather than managing change during tough times, Economic Times, January 13, 2005

FEA in Motion - the auto design industry is finding new methods to enhance durability and reliability by optimizing designs using motion simulations from companies such as LMS and MSC.Software, Louise Elliott, Desktop Engineering, January 2005

PC Workstations: Memory Pt 2 - some of the practical considerations of buying and using RAM in a workstation, Robert Jamieson, CADserver, January 11, 2005

Cool Autodesk University 2004 Video - German AU 2004 attendee Helge Brettschneider created a fast-paced video highlighting the recent gathering, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, January 13, 2005

UGS/Tecnomatix Deal Good for Mechanical Application Users - UGS' purchase of Tecnomatix will offer benefits to the company as well as to its customers, who will gain from tighter integration of complementary products, Laurie Balch, Gartner, January 11, 2005

File Conversion: SW2005/Earlier Releases - tips on backward compatibility with SolidWorks releases, George Smith, SolidWorks Community, January 11, 2005 (requires free registration)

BIM - What Is It, Why Do I Care, and How Do I Do It? - in-depth overview of Building Information Modeling, with advice on how to incorporate it into your work, Matt Dillon, Breaking Down the Walls, January 11, 2005

Changing the Order of "Save a Copy" File Types - Pro/ENGINEER tips on using the config option "preferred_save_as_type," Greg Kemner, Profiles Magazine, Winter 2005

ADT's Project Navigator - links to articles explaining how to use Architectural Desktop's confusing but helpful Project Navigator, Beth Powell, Beth's Blog, January 12, 2005

CAD Pros Wanted, PLM's Booming - if India were to capitalize on its product lifecycle management resources, the country might earn as much as $3 billion in the industry by 2008, Prabhakar Deshpande, Economic Times, January 12, 2005

How to Update the Drawing System Parameter "&todays_date" Before Printing- offers a method for semi-automating the &todays_date functionality in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2.0 to reflect the date of the host computer prior to printing, Ceferino Sanchez, Profiles Magazine, Winter 2005

Architectural Desktop: The Service Packs Do Help! - on the importance of keeping your ADT software current and submitting any customer error reports, Robin Capper, RobiNZ Blog, January 13, 2005

Easy Axis Justification - Pro/ENGINEER tip, Steve Register, Profiles Magazine, Winter 2005

Top 5 Secrets About Pro/ENGINEER Machining - Pro/E productivity tips, Jim Buchanan, PTC Express, January 2005

Survey: 82% Still Use Old AutoCAD - a recent survey revealed that 82% of 2,451 respondents use a version of AutoCAD older than the current release, AutoCAD 2005, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, January 11, 2005

Column Bubbles in the Reflected Display Configuration - Architectural Desktop advice on how to get column bubbles to display in the Reflected Display Configuration, Richard Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 7, 2005

AutoCAD Sheet Set Manager Properties Shows "----" When You Don't Want To - AutoCAD tip, Jimmy Bergmark, JTB World, January 11, 2005

Tsunamic Relief: CAD Vendors Join In - a list of some of the CAD companies - including PTC, SolidWorks and 3D Systems - that have launched campaigns for the relief of tsunami victims, Ralph Grabowski, WorldCAD Access, January 11, 2005

Editing Library Cells Is No Longer a Burden - MicroStation tip on how to streamline the usually time-consuming task of editing cells in cell libraries, Eiren K. Smith, MicroStationTips.com, January 11, 2005

Creating Pro/ENGINEER Geometry with User Defined Features - explains a fast, flexible and accurate way to reproduce Pro/E geometry, Ronald Grabau, Profiles Magazine, Winter 2005

Quick Tip - Delete Stubborn Layers! - AutoCAD tip, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, January 10, 2005

Transferring Loads From Mechanism Dynamics into Mechanica - Pro/E productivity tips, PTC Express, January 2005

New Features Workshop for AutoCAD 2005 - AutoCAD tip, PostalCAD, January 3, 2005

Automatically Set Element Symbology When Importing Data - MicroStation tips on using Axiom's Microsoft Office Importer to import text and borders from your Microsoft Office documents, MicroStationTips.com, January 11, 2005

Another Take on Decals - how to enhance the realism of Pro/ENGINEER models, Jason Baggett, Profiles Magazine, Winter 2005

Creating Mapkeys in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2.0 - how to suppress the last feature when using Mapkeys repeatedly in the same model, PTC Express, January 2005

Effective Large-Scale Distribution of Wildfire and Other Large Tools - advice on efficiently upgrading software on a large scale, Israel Pabon, Profiles Magazine, Winter 2005

CAD Will Get Easier - to help nudge more engineers to 3D CAD technology, developers from such companies as Autodesk, SolidWorks and UGS are working to enhance the ease-of-use factor in their CAD and collaboration tools, Paul E. Teague, Design News, January 10, 2005

Sheet Set Manager in AutoCAD 2005 - streaming video tip explores a tool to help you organize your sheets for plotting, creating DWF files, e-transmitting your sheets, creating a sheet index and archiving your project, Jarod Schultz, CAD-1, January 7, 2005

Updating Multi-View Blocks - Architectural Desktop tips, Richard Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 7, 2005

Remove Material Assignments - Autodesk VIZ / 3ds max tip on how to remove the material assignments for the objects in your scene, Beau Turner, Will Render for Food, January 8, 2005

Creating Sub-Categories in Block Symbols Dialogue Box - Autodesk Building Systems 2005 tips, Michael Rotolo, The Mad Cadder, January 5, 2005

TurboCAD V10.5 Pro - Modular Cabinets - TurboCAD tutorial provides the necessary steps to create a modular kitchen cabinet building system, Donald Cheke, Textual Creations, January 10, 2005

Creating Circular Patterns with a Single Ring - Pro/DESKTOP tips, Steve Smith, Ties Magazine, December 2004 (pdf)

Working in 3D - 1 - AutoCAD tips on how to move around in all three dimensions before begin working on a 3D drawing, CCAD, December 2004

Deck Building with AutoCAD - anecdote about using AutoCAD to design a deck, Alexander Bicalho, Life of an Origamy, January 5, 2005

Prevent Other Users from Customizing Your Toolbars and Palettes - AutoCAD tip, Michael Rotolo, The Mad Cadder, January 7, 2005

Optimizing Vertex Count - AutoCAD tip on an express tool that will reduce the number of segments/vertexes, Beau Turner, Will Render for Food, January 7, 2005

Quick Tip - UCSFOLLOW - AutoCAD tip, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, January 7, 2005

Hot on the Trail of the Software Pirate - Autodesk's Piracy Prevention Program educates consumers about software law, helps companies better manage their software use and vigorously pursues software thieves, Nancy Spurling Johnson, MCAD Tech News #136, January 6, 2005

Running NX2 on Windows XP - what to do if your check boxes in the toolbar and other options are disappearing, Wayne Eubanks, UGS Community, January 5, 2005 (requires free registration)

Overview of the Display System - tips on using the Display System in Autodesk Architectural Desktop, with links to a recent AUGI World article on Wall Styles and Display Reps, Richard Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 3, 2005

Design Outsourcing Spurs PTC's Growth - PTC India has carved a niche for itself in the CAD/CAM/CAE and PLM markets over the past decade, Vinutha V, Express Computer, January 7, 2005

Quick Tip - Trim at Lightening Speed! - AutoCAD tip, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, January 3, 2005

What is Product Lifecycle Management? - discusses what PLM is and why it's important to CAD and engineering projects, Express Computer, January 7, 2005

Tools of Our Trade - for architectural firms willing to fully embrace CAD technology and all its potential, the changes can be profound and can impact many aspects of professional practice, Michael Dakan, AEC Tech News #135, January 6, 2005

Quick Tip - Clear Grips - AutoCAD tip, Lynn Allen, Lynn Allen's Blog, January 5, 2005

BARTZing in the Glory - a profile of Autodesk CEO Carol Bartz, The Economic Times, January 6, 2005

CAD File Formats - a true XML model data standard would help everyone in the CAD world, Arnold Rowntree, CADtrainer.biz, January 5, 2005

Reference Sources for Architectural Desktop - links to "brain dumps" on a variety of topics and releases, Richard Koch, The Architect's Desktop, January 3, 2005

Patterns to Follow a Curve - Pro/Engineer tip, Synthesis Engineering Services, January 2005

Share - Autodesk Civil 3D 2005 tips on sharing drawings with someone using basic AutoCAD, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, January 5, 2005

Sequencing the Active File - MicroStation tip, Lorys Lea, MicroStation Connections, January 5, 2005 (requires free registration)

Virtual Reality and Digital Modeling Go on Trial for a Federal Courtroom Design - 3D tools help refine acoustics, lighting and sight-line analysis, Alan Joch, Architectural Record, January 6, 2005

How to Create Microscopic Cell Scenes - 3ds max tutorial, Stryker, 3DM, January 6, 2005

Student's Dilemma in Using Original Software - a response to the story of a man who confessed to using a pirated copy of AutoCAD, The Star Online, January 6, 2005

AutoCAD 2005: Spell Check Not Correcting All Words in Mtext Objects - AutoCAD tip, Tracy Lincoln, TL Consulting, January 5, 2005

Quick Viewport Navigation Tip - AutoCAD tip, Richard Binning, Beside the Cursor, January 3, 2005

Making Internet and Email Safer for the New Year - eliminating spyware from your computer can often solve problems encountered in running AutoCAD and other software, Beth Powell, Beth's CAD Blog, January 6, 2005

SolidWorks Toolbox - a roundup of where on the Web to find a variety of useful SolidWorks resources, from macros and add-ons to tips and tricks, Joe Greco, Desktop Engineering, January 2005

Horror in AutoCAD, Part 2: Dangerous Variables - exposes the dangerous aspects of wrong settings and handling of AutoCAD variables and ways to avoid the negative results, Alex Borodulin, NYacad, January 5, 2005

AutoCAD 2005 New Features - 7-part video tutorial, DG CAD Consulting, January 5, 2005

ADT DST Issue Update - Architectural Desktop advice on using the Sheet Set Manager, especially when projects are hosted on network drives, Robin Capper, RobiNZ Blog, January 1, 2005

Executive Interview with Amar Hanspal, Vice President, Autodesk Collaboration Services - a discussion of Buzzsaw, Autodesk's online project collaboration service product, Hal Reid, Directions Magazine, January 4, 2005

Revit Level One - 10-part video tutorial, DG CAD Consulting, January 5, 2005

Two Quick Drawing Tips - Solid Edge productivity tips, Cadpo and Solid-Tools staff, Solid Edge Community, January 5, 2005 (requires free registration)

Swapping Edges = Flipping Faces - Autodesk Civil 3D tip, Angel Espinoza, Angel's Civil 3D 2005 Thoughts, January 3, 2005

AutoCAD 2005 Tip - Paragraph Break in Table - tip on using AutoCAD Tables and Mtext, Shaan Hurley, Between the Lines, January 4, 2005

Architectural Desktop 2004 Level One - 11-part video tutorial, DG CAD Consulting, January 5, 2005

Shaping the Future of Manufacturing - a look at manufacturing's recent history reveals clues of what's to come, Patricia Panchak, Industry Week, January 1, 2005

2005 - A Great Year for Product Lifecycle Management - 2004 saw PLM solutions being increasingly accepted, 2PLM, January 3, 2005

It Finds Genuine Success In Simulated Tests - ANSYS is among a group of software makers whose simulation programs aim to cut time, labor and development costs in the building and testing of prototypes, Alan R. Elliott, Investor's Business Daily (hosted on Yahoo), January 3, 2005

Printer Brings Projects to Life - a 3D printer enables Michigan students to produce prototypes from digital data to better evaluate their designs, Janet Sugameli, Detroit News, January 3, 2005

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