Autodesk Vault Office 2013 Web Client

Autodesk Vault Office 2013 now offers additional functionality for the Autodesk Web Client.  In previous releases of Autodesk Vault, the web client provided Search, Print, and Viewing capabilities.  The new and enhanced capabilities of Vault Office 2013 include the ability to Check Out and Check In files for editing purposes.


The first thing you will notice is when you login to the web client.  There is now a check box to login in a "Read-Only" mode.

Logging in with the "Read Only Access" toggle on will allow the user to access Vault Web Client with the same functionality that was available in previous releases.


Toggling this option off will enable the enhancements provided in the 2013 Web Client.  In order to install Vault Office 2013, you must first have Vault Workgroup, Collaboration, or Professional installed.


Once the user has found the file they are looking for, they will see a new option to check out the file.

After they are done they can check it back in

This functionality is supported in a variety of different browsers:

• Apple Safari 4 or 5
• Google Chrome 13
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 or 9
• Mozilla Firefox 6

And supports the following Microsoft Office products:

• Microsoft Excel 2003, 2007, or 2010
• Microsoft Outlook 2007 or 2010
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003, 2007, or 2010
• Microsoft Word 2003, 2007, or 2010

For more information on this and all the Autodesk Vault products contact your ADRAFT representative at (866) 769-6163.

Track Changes in Autodesk Manufacturing 2013 Products Here!

The 2013 software is out and Autodesk is launching PLM into the cloud!  This year’s release of Autodesk products feels different than other years.  A ‘normal’ year has been about the features and upgrades to the software that we use everyday.  This year, there is a large discussion around the cloud and subscription in addition to the new features in the software and the changes in the suites as compared to last year.  We are going to be posting blog entries on all of these changes so stay tuned!

2013 Release: Different from other years.

One of the biggest pushes from Autodesk is Product Lifecycle Management (PLM).  Heads up:  Autodesk PLM 360 is already here!  I say heads up for a reason.  Autodesk went from no PLM to launching PLM in the cloud for everyone.  We are trying to take an objective approach to this new direction for Autodesk.  Please check it out for yourself! If you sign up for a trial version, please list Adraft as you Reseller and let us know.  This way we can learn more about your use/testing.  Here is a link for you:

Autodesk PLM 360

We are very interested in getting feedback from clients and what they think about it.  We will be stopping and taking a look at this technology to see how our clients would be using it.  We are going to be posting blog entries as our journey with this unfolds.

I want to be sure to say that there is huge potential here for a useful tool that goes past the Engineer/Designer crowd.  I love the thought that this could provide easy to use tools for Managers!  We will be looking to answer questions about: How easy is it to get started?  How does this tool stack up to other PLM tools out there?  What are the sources of data and how are they connected?  What utilities stand out as useful for the Manufacturing industry?  How well does this work with the Autodesk Vault?  We like to “play” with technology before making recommendations on, so please check in here to see what we are finding!  This could be huge!

Controlling Linetype Scale in AutoCAD

Using linetypes are beneficial to differentiate between types of geometry in AutoCAD. These types of geometry can be hidden lines, center lines, visible lines, and so on. Depending on the scale of your drawing, linetypes will be displayed differently. Understanding and controlling the scale of the linetypes is important to making the drawing look correct.

Here is an example of how linetype scale can change the display of a line. The “Center” linetype is being displayed on these four lines, each of them is being displayed at a different linetype scale. As you can see the spacing and the length of the line is altered as the scale is changed.

Note: from top to bottom the linetype scale is being reduced by .25 each time.

Linetype scale can be controlled a couple of ways. The first way is through the properties panel (with the geometry selected). In the "General" section, there is a "Linetype" option.

The other method is to use a command (LTSCALE) at the command line. This is a global setting, meaning it will affect all the lines with a linetype applied to them in the drawing.

Note: This method will affect the scale of linetypes you may have already manipulated through the properties menu. Example if you set a line to be at .5 through the property menu, and then set LTSCALE to be .5 the line you originally selected to be .5 will now be at .25 overall scale.

Take the Guess Work Out of Rendering with 3DS Max Design 2012

Tired of all the guess work with that comes with making a rendering? Look no further than 3ds Max Design 2012. With the recent addition of the iRay rendering option, users now have a much less complicated form of creating photo realistic images.
iRay Rendering functionality is great for those who don't want to spend hours waiting for an image to cook up, only having to tweak a few more settings, and start the waiting game again.

A few advantages to using iRay:

• No More Guessing - iRay is built around calculating the lights, shadows, reflection, and refraction. No more tweaking the exposure setting to get the proper lighting in your scene.

• Time Based - Have an initial presentation due in an hour? No problem! iRay allows you to set the time for it to render, and it does the rest. This works in the opposite direction as well, you can set it to render until you want it to stop.

• Autodesk Material Library - using iRay does not require you to use a special set of materials. Users have access to the 1200 unique materials found within most of the Autodesk products.

• Ability to Pause - iRay gives you the ability to pause and save an image of the rendering at its current state, then start right where the rendering process left off.
  

To find out more about iRay Rendering:

http://usa.autodesk.com/3ds-max/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81jH1p7FWRU

Image courtesy of Marriott International, Inc & Autodesk

WANTED - Missing Dialog Box

Have you ever experienced the dreaded "Missing Dialog Box"?  You know there is supposed to be a box that shows up in your program but instead the program just seems to freeze.  Or better yet, the program is telling you to enter the information in the dialog box.  You search high and low, but there's nothing on your screen.  


Don't beat yourself up, it probably a case of the dialog box slipping off your screen.  This can happen for a number of reasons.  Maybe you changed your screen resolution, or maybe you typically use dual monitors and now you have only one.  Either way its a fairly simple fix.


First - change your screen resolution to its highest setting and see if you are able to see the dialog.  It could be that it is near the edge of the screen and is not displayable at lower resolutions.  If you do see it, drag it back to the center of the screen and return your resolution to its previous setting.


If changing the resolution does not resolve the problem, here is a simple method to get it back.

1. While the dialog box is supposed to be on the screen, press <alt>  then the <space bar> then <m> all together. Pressing in this order and all together puts the dialog box in a "Move" state.
2. Press the left or right arrow keys to move the dialog box in either direction. Once you do this, the dialog box is attached to your mouse cursor.
3. Move your mouse and place the dialog box in the center of your screen.
4. Click to place the dialog

That's it. The next time a dialog box goes A.W.O.L., don't get frustrated, follow either of these simple methods and you'll be back to work in no time.

To Train or Not to Train? That is the question!

No, not really.  Deciding to not get training on your new software is not often a decision as it is a result of circumstances.  Not enough time, too expensive, too busy....trust me we have heard most of them and we do understand.

With the new year I wanted to take a few minutes to see if I could bother our readers for some input.  We are always trying to create new products/classes that will better suit the needs of our customers.  So, to this end, I am asking you, the reader, "What kind of training best suits you needs and availability?"

Delivery of Class:

Instructor Led, Virtual/Web Class (elearning), Computer Based Training (Videos)

Length of Class:

Full day, half day, 2 hr. Workshop

Type of Class:

Essentials & Advanced Class, Specialized Topic Workshops, ...?

Not learning how to use your software to its full potential is like buying a Ferrari* and never taking it out of first gear.  

*Please substitute you favorite car here

Taking away 1 simple new skill or idea from a training class can result in a large amount of time savings/week.  Add these up and its not unrealistic to see days if not weeks of savings over the course of a year. Now multiply that by how many designers/users are in your department, I think you get the picture.

YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT!

Let us know what you think. Add a comment here or email us at training@adraft.com

Autodesk Product Design Suite Launchpad

Autodesk Labs has recently posted a tool to optimize your product design workflow.  It's called the "Autodesk Product Design Suite LaunchPad".

The LaunchPad Technology Preview accelerates design efforts by providing a single portal into Product Design Suite applications, project data, and workflows. The LaunchPad’s one-click workflows prepare your design data in the Suite environment that is most appropriate to your task so you can quickly start designing, engineering, simulating, and visualizing your design. The LaunchPad is intended for users who already have Product Design Suite installed.

This new LaunchPad contains tools to help automate the following workflows:

• Reuse 2D Data
• Modify 3D Geometry
• 3D Parametric Design
• Stress Analysis
• Dynamic Simulation
• Technical Drawings
• Interactive Design Review
• Photorealistic Rendering

The LaunchPad also has the ability to set default Inventor templates as well as project file support for better control over how the Inventor-related workflows are started.  The desktop icons are also scalable to accommodate different screen configurations.

With the latest updates, the LaunchPad offers two sets of one-click workflows, each supporting different industry design tasks.

• Machine Design: For users who typically work with a variety of 2D and 3D data to design, engineer, analyze, and simulate machines.
• Plastic Part Design: For users who need to transform concept designs and styled surface models of molded plastic parts into engineered, manufacture-ready solid models.

The following NEW Plastic Part Design workflows are available in this technology preview update:

• Concept Sketching
• Styling
• Design Engineering
• Materials Selection Analysis
• Stress Analysis
• Technical Drawings
• Explore Design Alternatives
• Photorealistic Rendering

Keep in mind that this is a Technical Preview and will be available until May 30, 2012.  To download a copy of the "Autodesk Product Design Suite LaunchPad" goto:

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/launchpad/