A great way to get the highest quality training in AutoCAD is to attend one of AUGI's CAD CAMPS.

http://www.cadcamp.com/home/default.asp

I have been to several and am looking at one that will be near me soon. If you need great training on any subject within CAD, seek out AUGI.

Seeing as there is a trend to create our CAD User Simpson Avatar, I, like the good lemming that I am, have joined in on the "fun." the biggest problem is that I think this avatar is better looking than I am.

If you could fix everything like a computer

Not only do I do CAD stuff, I also work with the IT department. I love it. I am not a computer expert by any means, but I am good enough to be dangerous to myself. My experience has allowed me to geek out with computer stuff at home. I set up a wireless router for my DSL connection, got a laptop, and now i can surf in the tub if I want to. Going to the desktop every time is such a chore any more.

We live in a duplex, with my mother-in-law living in the apartment downstairs. We were frugal and got one internet service and a wireless router and split the cost. Works nice. Except when her laptop goes out. Right now I am taking a break from fixing her wireless connection. i just finished after two hours of trying everything. I finally deleted the connect and made a new one. Works great. I should have started with that before I changed every setting and surfed the net for even more complicated solutions that solve anything.

My point. Wouldn't it be great if we could fix everything the same way we do computers? I mean, when there is an error, or it locks up, or just doesn't work right, you simply turn it off, then turn it back on. If my car won't run right, I should be able to turn it off, count to five, then start 'er up again.

When at work, that is the first thing I tell my users to do. turn off the software/computer, then turn it back on. Do this twice then call me if the problem still remains. I meet this solution with sighs, and glaring looks. they ask me why it works, I say "Does it matter? It just works so please do it." It works because when you turn it off then on again, it resets all of the settings. It is kind of like a human going on vacation to reset their mood, emotions, and stress. You have to clear your mind once in a while, so does a computer.

Talk at ya later.

Don't Quit Your Day Job

I hadn't realized how long it had been since my last post. It's a good thing I don't make any money from this site or else I wouldn't make any money from this site!! I had the privilege and honor to have an article published in AUGI Hotnews for the month of July (yay me.) It is an article about CAD Management. It discusses the need for managers and supervisors to make sure that their CAD users have the skills they need. It warns against assuming that the users know more than they actually do.

The article can only be viewed by members of AUGI. If you are not a member of AUGI, it is free. A user can glean so much information and training from AUGI that it is unbelievable that it is free. This group is heavily sponsored by Autodesk, but that is ok. Here is a link to the article (I am very proud.) Hotnews is AUGI's monthly online newsletter. If you do nothing else with AUGI except read this newsletter, then you will still get many benefits from the group. There is a link (as of this posting) to AUGI to join at the bottom of this blog. If not the web site is www.augi.com.

Read my article and let me know what you think. Hotnews will be publishing a follow-up article by me in their August issue too.

http://www.augi.com/publications/hotnews.asp?page=1568