Project Artoo for AutoCAD Map 3D Free Technology Preview in Autodesk Labs

Autodesk Labs has released their latest Technology Preview code named “Project Artoo.”  (Don’t tell G.L. because he may come after them for licensing fees!)  Project Artoo is the next Labs project from Autodesk.  It is an AutoCAD® Map 3D 2013 software tool that lets users “clean up” their geospatial data.  Its purpose is to produce higher quality files by improving accuracy.  The Preview will last until February 1, 2013.

How to Trick Get Your Boss to Buy You an iPad (Tablet)

I wrote a Guest Post for Shaan Hurley's Between the Lines blog while he is out in Africa playing with Autodesk toys.  Check it out.

Autodesk Releases AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 Survey Hotfix

Autodesk just released a hotfix for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013 Survey.  This hotfix repairs an issue with the Survey Figures Property Dialog where you could not see the vertex properties for chain type figures correctly.

Go to the download page, download the ZIP file and follow the installation instructions.

Autodesk Issues Hotfix for Vault 2012

Autodesk has issued Hotfix DL19384168 for Autodesk Vault 2012.  This hotfix provides fixes for the Assign and Update Item features.  It also address cumulative updates.  Here is where you can go to download the hotfix:

Autodesk Vault 2012 Hotfix DL19384168

Make sure to fully read the Readme file before applying the hotfix.

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/dl19384168_readme.htm

There are several warnings in it along with lists of proper procedures to follow.  Good luck!

Autodesk Updates the Update ReadMe

Autodesk pushed out an AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012 Service Pack (See our post about it here).  Today they updated the Readme files for each Service Pack.  Previously the Readme did not list what was updated, changed, fixed, repaired, patched, etc.  Now they do.  The list is long but there seems to be a recurring theme among many of the fixes.  Many of the fixes start off with this phrase:

“AutoCAD may become unstable after (when or while)…”

It seems that this service pack fixes many stability issues, which is good.  There are few worse things than having to work in an unstable software program.

Check out the full Service Pack 2 readme file here for a full list of what issues were addressed.

AutoCAD Commands People Laugh At When You Say Them

There are a hundreds of command and system variables in AutoCAD.  Most of them make sense as to what they do with regards to their names.  Others, not so much.  Sometimes though some commands just tickle the funny bones of other AutoCAD users.  Here is a list of some of those commands and what they do.

OOPS
This command will undelete the last object that you deleted.  This is nice if you accidently delete something but don’t realize it until you have already done a lot of work.  Normally you would UNDO the delete but you don’t want to UNDO your work!  OOPS and it’s back.  

Autodesk Blogger Shaan Hurley is offline, Check out his Stand-Ins

Shaan Hurley, Autodesk Blogger, Technology Evangelist, and full-fledged nerd is out of town (out of the country actually) flying Autodesk Octo-copters in Africa.  Before he left he managed to get a few stand-ins for his blog Between the lines.

Check out “Five ways to use Autodesk Inventor’s End of Part Marker in your Daily Workflow” by Paul Munford of the ‘CAD Setter Out’ Blog

Check out “Moving AutoCAD Architecture Projects, even if Windows objects" by Robin Capper of the ‘RobiNZ CAD Blog’

Make sure that you are following all three of these blogs as they are top notch and among the best Autodesk bloggers you will find.

Cadalyst Magazine’s All-In-One CAD Tip #5 (and I Helped)

Cadalyst Magazine has had a series of All-in-One CAD tips put together by one of my favorite CAD Guru’s Curt Moreno, the Kung Fu Drafter.

The series is sponsored by HP’s new “All-In-One” Workstation the Z1.

On Tip Five, Mr. KFD asked me to lend a hand.  I contributed the tip about using Autodesk Design Review.  I’m so proud!  Check it out and check out the other All-In-One tips from Cadalyst, KDF, and HP.

• All-In-One CAD Tip #5
• All-In-One CAD Tip #4
• All-In-One CAD Tip #3
• All-In-One CAD Tip #2
• All-In-One CAD Tip #1

AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012 Service Pack 2 Released

If you are running AutoCAD 2012 or AutoCAD LT 2012 there is a new Service Pack now available for download and installation.

AutoCAD 2012 Service Pack 2

AutoCAD LT 2012 Service Pack 2


Both service packs have a 32-bit and 64-vit version so make sure you download the proper one.  If you aren’t sure which one you need you can always use the Autodesk Exchange Live Update Maintenance Patch to show you which service pack you need.

Here is a link to the English Readme file for this installation.

Review Posts Coming

CAD-a-Blog is working on several hardware review posts right now that I know you will be interested in seeing.  I know how difficult it can be when looking at new hardware.  I've been there.  Am there.  We all need a resource that we can trust for fair, honest, and practical hardware information (and software.)  That’s why CAD-a-Blog is on a quest to bring you the best hardware (and software) reviews out there.

Lenovo Announces the ThinkStation E31 Affordable Workstation

May 14th, 2012, Lenovo announced the Lenovo ThinkStaion E31, an entry-level workstation meant for professionals that need more power than a PC but are on a PC budget.  The ThinkStation E31 comes in either a mini-tower or small form factor (SFF) case and both offer an Intel® Xeon® Processor E3 with enhanced memory performance and graphics abilities.

AutoCAD Quick Tip – How to Edit Command Aliases

AutoCAD commands can be entered via the keyboard in shorter versions called Command Aliases.  These are typically two to three keystroke versions of the regular command.  They allow for quicker input and require less effort.  Most commands have them and there is an easy way to change them or to add more aliases to the default list.