Creating Hatches in AutoCAD 2011

AutoCAD 2011 offers new and improved tools to streamline the process of creating hatch objects. When you launch the Hatch command, AutoCAD no longer displays the Hatch and Gradient dialog box. Instead, it automatically displays the new Hatch Creation ribbon tab and immediately prompts you to select an internal point for the hatch. All of the dialog... [Read more]

Project Snap is alive on Autodesk Labs

The Data Management Emerging Team is proud to announce that Project Snap is alive on Autodesk Labs! The newest Autodesk Labs release for the Data Management team is now available.  What is Project Snap? Project Snap is a unified platform for connecting users to their data. The concept is vetted in the recognition that design data is becoming increasingly... [Read more]

AutoCAD Survey

The AutoCAD Product Design and Usability Group is conducting a survey and would appreciate your response.Dear AutoCAD User! Please provide us with your opinions on the use of the internet when accomplishing CAD work. We need your expertise on what content you find valuable and useful to make sure that future releases support your work effectively.... [Read more]

Transparency Display and Plot Controls in AutoCAD 2011

Whether you apply transparency to objects or layers, you can quickly toggle transparency on and off using a new control on the status bar (TRANSPARENCYDISPLAY system variable).    The transparency control for the display does not affect plotting. However, a new option in the Plot and Page Setup managers allows you to plot with transparency.  Keep... [Read more]

Layer Transparency in AutoCAD 2011

In addition to the object transparency property that I described in my last post, AutoCAD 2011 enables you to specify transparency based on layer. For example, you might use transparency to deemphasize the floor plan layers in a lighting plan. Layer-related dialog boxes including the Layer States Manager, Layer Filter dialog, and the Layer Translator... [Read more]

Seize the Opportunity Online or Live

If you missed Autodesk’s virtual Seize the Opportunity event on Monday, you can view the recorded sessions online at your convenience. And, if you’re in the Portland or Seattle area next week, join me live at these Seize the Opportunity events: Portland, OregonApril 27Hosted by PPI GroupSeattle, WashingtonApril 29Hosted by IdeateGo to Source VN:F... [Read more]

Object Transparency in AutoCAD 2011

AutoCAD 2011 includes a new Transparency object property to provide you more control over the display of geometry. You can use it for hatches or any other objects.   The Home tab of the ribbon includes new transparency controls for specifying the transparency of new objects (CETRANSPARENCY command). Object transparency can be set ByLayer, ByBlock,... [Read more]

Adapt your points of view – Revit 2011

A few years back when I worked for a well known UK reseller, a colleague and I put together a presentation to demonstrate how Inventor and Revit could work together. Part of this presentation showed how to model in Inventor and then pass the geometry to Revit as a SAT file for use within a Revit project. Of particular interest at the time was Inventors... [Read more]

Revit and Newforma

HOK are big users of Newforma. If you are looking for a document management system which seamlessly fits into workflow with no disruption to your existing processes  you need to checkout Newforma. People often ask me about Newforma, “Why is it so special, what does it off that other systems don’t already provide"?” To be honest I could... [Read more]

Excitech Revit Architecture User Group

I attended yesterdays Excitech Revit User Group. Good event, although it was a long day and rather jam packed. Good to see many old faces either from firms that I had presented to in the past or ex colleagues. I did a 30 min presentation on Managing Large Concept Design Projects, which I think was well received, certainly got a lot of questions after... [Read more]