Windows 7 Support for Autodesk products

The following products are supported on Microsoft Windows 7:

• AutoCAD 2010
• AutoCAD LT 2010
• AutoCAD Architecture 2010
• Autodesk Inventor 2010
• Autodesk Inventor LT 2010
• AutoCAD Electrical 2010
• AutoCAD Mechanical 2010
• AutoCAD MEP 2010
• Autodesk Algor Simulation 2010

Autodesk will support Windows 7 for most of its other products as updated versions of Autodesk products are released.

You may be able to use Windows 7 with an Autodesk product that is not listed above, however, Autodesk may not be able to resolve every issue encountered at this time.

The following issues have been identified with Windows 7 and are currently being researched for a potential fix in a future release:

AutoCAD and all AutoCAD-based vertical products:

• Infocenter balloons sometimes display blank
• Dragging Ribbon tabs sometimes crashes the product
• Encrypted files fail to open and save on Windows 7
• Open files do not appear on Windows 7 Jumplist
• Export to Impression functionality will not work because Autodesk Impression is not supported on Windows 7

AutoCAD Architectural 2010 and AutoCAD Mechanical 2010:

• Text in the Drafting Settings dialog overlaps radio buttons

Graphics Card Support for Windows 7:

Windows 7 is supported but not certified.  This means that Autodesk has not certified every card but we expect they should work with Windows 7 without issue. The certified driver versions for Vista 32 and Vista 64 should install and work with AutoCAD 2010.  The exception to this are the ATI FireGL and FirePro graphics cards and drivers for those cards should be downloaded from http://www.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDHomePage.aspx. If your NVIDIA drivers on Windows 7 are newer than 191.00, and your ATI drivers are newer than 8.634, hardware acceleration should be on by default.

Where's Waldo for Revit

Okay, okay, I know that a lot of you don't like the new Ribbon interface in Revit Architecture 2010 but I have to tell you, it is not going away anytime soon.  So you might as well stop fighting it and start learning it.  The following might help you fasttrack this learning curve.

If you are still wondering where to find the 2009 command buttons in the 2010 Ribbon style user-interface, care of “Revitize - A Revit Blog” there is a simple online utility that can help you understand where the 2009 commands are located in the 2010 product.  Goto:

Where's my command in Revit 2010

In the 2009 screen image click on a command item/icon that you would like to find in the 2010 user-interface and it will show you the proper Ribbon location in Revit 2010. Then click anywhere afterwards and you are returned the 2009 product screen.

Happy Ribboning.....

A Couple More Reason to be on Subscription

Check out: Uncovering the Revit Subscription Advantage Pack The Revit Update

More info on Subscription Advantage packs can be found at http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=14022754&siteID=123112 

And

 

Autodesk University (AU) Virtual allows you to stream select classes and content from AU 2009 directly to your desktop.  Here's how you can experience AU Virtual: AU Virtual Premier Pass – US$99 (Free to Autodesk Subscription customers) Includes full access to 50+ classes, keynotes and other premium content streamed live from AU in Las Vegas. Plus access up to 350 on-demand sessions post-event.

 

Register for AU Virtual

 

See how AU Virtual compares with the AU 2009 Conference in Las Vegas.

Take Stock of Your Software

The Autodesk Product Manager tool will determine the Autodesk software product you have and where it’s installed by locating:

• Product, version, and serial number
• Product language
• Network or stand-alone installation type
• Service pack level
• Installation location

Download the Autodesk Product Manager tool.

For detailed instructions, refer to the Autodesk Product Manager Tool guide.

Autodesk Product Manager Tool: A Step Guide for Conducting a Software Audit (pdf - 407Kb)

Note: Some products may not be located by the Autodesk Product Manager Tool.

Updates Available for Revit-Based Products

Update 2 for English-language versions of Revit 2010 products is now available for download. This update is for Revit Architecture 2010, Revit Structure 2010, and Revit MEP 2010 software.

Updates can be accessed via the downloads from the Services & Support pages on Autodesk.com. 

Revit MEP Sustainable Design Tutorial

Buildings account for the largest source of energy consumption and emissions in the world today. Governments and business are addressing this challenge with a range of new requirements for building systems. With these requirements, MEP designers and engineers need to develop practices that enable them to conform to the new specifications.

Autodesk MEP Engineering Solutions allow you to effectively incorporate sustainable design strategies into your workflow that allow you to more effectively conduct whole building energy analysis for new buildings and energy system retrofits.

In this series of presentations, you will learn how to use Autodesk MEP Engineering Solutions to perform accurate, time-saving operations that will help your team work faster and smarter.

To view the tutorial, go to: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/oc/offer/form?siteID=123112&id=13707515

Deals on NVIDIA Quadro by PNY Graphic Cards

Get up to 50% off a wide range of NVIDIA Quadro by PNY graphic cards

Product NVIDIA MSRP Promo Pricing FX 4800 $1,999 US $999 US FX 3800 $1,199 US $599 US FX 1800 $599 US $299 US FX 580 $199 US $99 US

Go to http://ecommerce.pny.com and enter promo code: 'AUSUBQFX' at checkout. Quantity limited to two (2) per customer. Offer expires on December 31, 2009 and is valid only in North America.

A Complimentary BIM Webcast

Check out this FREE Webcast from Reed Construction Data:

“Lessons in BIM Adoption” September 23, 2009  •  2:00 p.m. EDT  •  online webcast Learn about specific details and developments in adopting Building Information Modeling from any computer. Allow experts and analysts to give you insight on some do’s and don’ts of BIM. You'll hear directly from an architect, engineer and building product manufacturer. Click here to register now

On September 23, please join Dennis Neeley, AIA, Cindy Bremer, and Mark Mergenschroer for a complimentary webcast, moderated by Rex Miller. Topics Include: Why BIM adoption was important to their company The initial approach to BIM Overall results of adopting BIM Recommendations for the industry

3ds Max 2010 and 3ds Max Design 2010 Service Pack 1 Now Available

The latest Service Pack from Autodesk for 3ds Max 2010 and 3ds Max Design 2010 software includes nearly 30 fixes for issues with undo, performance, responsiveness, viewports, material workflow, and mental ray software. Specific areas addressed are Biped, Bitmap Pager, Bitmap Proxies, Containers, Edit Poly, Interoperability, Licensing, Materials, mental ray, Particle Flow, Performance, Photometric Lights, ProOptimizer, Render To Texture (RTT), Rendering, UVW Unwrap, and Viewports.

3ds Max 2010 Service Pack 1:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13642460&linkID=9241178

3ds Max Design 2010 Service Pack 1:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13642201&linkID=9241178

AutoCAD LT Cross-grade Promo is Back!

Autodesk usually runs this promotion annual in their second quarter (May to July) but it was missing this year.  As I had predicted, it has surfaced in Q3 (August to October).  Here are the details:

From August 17 to October 16, 2009 eligible AutoCAD LT (2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 registered before August 1) can be cross-graded to AutoCAD 2010, AutoCAD Architecture 2010, or AutoCAD MEP 2010 for US $1995.  For US $ 2495, you can opt to cross-grade to  Revit Architecture 2010,  Revit Architecture Suite 2010, Revit Structure 2010, Revit Structure Suite 2010, or Revit MEP Suite 2010.  Although Subscription is recommended, it is not required to get these promotional prices.

This promotion will continue from October 17 to December 30, 2009 in a phase 2 with US $2495 and US $2995 as the pricing respectively.

On-line Revit Help

Autodesk now provides access via their website, on-line help for all flavours of Revit.  Checkout the following links:

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 Help

Autodesk Revit Structure 2010 Help

Autodesk Revit MEP 2010 Help

AutoCAD LT US$400 Legacy Rebate Extended

The AutoCAD LT software US$400 Legacy Rebate has been extended until August 31. This rebate promotion is for customers who purchase new licenses of AutoCAD LT 2010 software and currently own legacy versions of AutoCAD LT. Customers who own existing AutoCAD LT licenses version 2000, 2000i, 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006 and who purchase qualifying new, commercial licenses (seats) of AutoCAD LT 2010 software may be eligible for a rebate of up to US$400 for each new license purchased, after submitting an online request and providing proof of license purchase documentation. This offer is limited to a maximum of five seats total per customer invoice address. 

How Revit MEP Calculates Heating & Cooling loads

Do you need to know how Revit MEP calculates it's Heating and Cooling loads?  If you have Revit MEP installed, check your hard drive for the following directory: 

C:\Program Files\Autodesk Revit MEP 2010\Program\ 

where you will find the file: 

Heating_Cooling_Calculation_Methods.pdf

Autodesk MAC support

There is now an official Autodesk public website, where customers who wish to run Autodesk products on a MAC can find the right answers: http://usa.autodesk.com/products/mac-compatible-products

Revit Solar Radiation Technology Preview Available

The Solar Radiation Technology Preview for Autodesk Revit Architecture and Autodesk Revit MEP software is now available. The new Solar Radiation Technology Preview allows users to analyze the effects of solar radiation on the surfaces of a conceptual building model within Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 and Autodesk Revit MEP 2010 software.

Using the Solar Radiation Analysis add-in during the conceptual design stage of a project can help users make fundamental design decisions about building shape, orientation, and surfaces early on – when changes are the least costly. The add-in uses conceptual massing elements from Revit-based models and the Autodesk Ecotect Analysis insolation analysis engine to calculate the amount of solar radiation hitting the surfaces of the massing forms. This technology preview is a limited-term release to seek customer feedback on its performance. It expires on January 13, 2010.

Learn more about the Solar Radiation Technology Preview on Autodesk Labs.

In speaking with many customers, a lot do not understand the additional benefits that the Subscription program offers and how to access these benefits via their Subscription Center login.

Well, Autodesk will hosting a Subscription Tour Webcast for Customers on June 24th.  If you want to learn more about the Autodesk® Subscription Center, please attend the upcoming Subscription Tour webcast. Emily Crane of Global Subscription Sales will present general information on the Subscription program and will walk through the Subscription Center to ensure that customers know how to find and take advantage of the benefits they receive.

There will be two sessions on Wednesday, June 24. You will have the option to attend at 12:00pm or 3:00pm Eastern. There will be 30 minutes for the presentation and 30 minutes for an open question-and-answer period.

Autodesk Subscription Center Tour – Morning Session
Date and time: Wednesday, June 24, 12:00–1:00pm or 3:00-4:00pm
URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/autodesklearning/join?id=SCT_2&role=attend&pw=Audience
Meeting ID: SCT_2
Meeting Key: Audience
Audio: Toll-free: +1-866-814-7241 or toll: +1-203-310-0586
Participant code: 4505086

Autodesk Legacy Promotion

Autodesk Legacy Promotion

June 1 through July 17, Autodesk will offer the Legacy Promotion to qualifying customers. This promotion will give customers with AutoCAD R14 through AutoCAD 2006-based software licenses the opportunity to purchase qualifying new licenses of current Autodesk products at a discount of 40% with Subscription and 20% without Subscription. Not all Autodesk products are eligible for this promotion.

AutoCAD - Hot Issues / Fixes

Hot Issues Share with Autodesk Seek Hotfix Port 9013 is used when uploading files to Autodesk Seek. This port may be blocked by firewalls. This hotfix allows Share with Autodesk Seek to use port 80. VBA support in AutoCAD 2010 Autodesk has begun the transition of VB customization from VBA to .NET technology. Currently, VBA is still supported in Autodesk products. However, starting with AutoCAD 2010, VBA is no longer part of the default AutoCAD installation and must be downloaded and installed separately.

Recently Published Solutions Supported operating systems for the Autodesk Network License Manager shipped with 2010 products Location of Plot Styles folder Partial CUI files not converted to CUIx file format during migration

Exclusive Solution Preview TS1105167 - Network License Activation Utility Issue: You have found that the Network Activation Utility is not included on your 2010 product media. Solution: If your product does not include the Network License Activation Utility, you can activate your license by visiting http://www.autodesk.com/register and following the on-screen instructions.

A First Time For Everything - LT Legacy Promotion

Rumor has it that Autodesk will be offering for the first time ever, a Legacy Promotion on AutoCAD LT. 

AutoCAD LT is normally upgradable from 3 versions back from current (for example, 2010 being current, you can upgrade at a discounted price from version 2007, 2008, or 2009).  Under this LT Legacy Promotion, users of version 2000, 2000i, 2002, 2004, 2005, and/or 2006 will be eligible for a rebate of up to US$400 for each new license (seat) of AutoCAD LT 2010 purchased.  This offer will be effective May 1st through July 31^st and is limited to a maximum of five seats total per customer invoice address.

Hotfix for Inventor / Revit ADSK file format

Please be advised there was a known issue with the ADSK file that Inventor exports and the ability for Revit to import data.  Recently a Hotfix for Inventor around this issue was released.  Once the Hotfix is installed, Inventor users will be able to export an ADSK file from Inventor and Revit users will be able to import it directly into Revit without problems.  the hotfix can be download from:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13105818&linkID=9242019

More Autodesk 2010 Release Dates (FCS)

Software Product	FCS Date
Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2010	April 8
Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design 2010	April 8
AutoCAD® Visualization Suite 2010	April 13
AutoCAD® Revit® Architecture Suite 2010	April 16
AutoCAD® Revit® Architecture Visualization Suite 2010	April 16
AutoCAD® Revit® MEP Suite 2010	April 16
AutoCAD® Revit ®Structure Suite 2010	April 16
Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2010	April 16
Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2010	April 16
Autodesk® Robot™ Structural Analysis 2010	April 16
Autodesk® Robot™ Structural Analysis Professional 2010	April 16
AutoCAD® Raster Design 2010	April 20
Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff 2010	April 20
AutoCAD® P&ID 2010	April 22

New pricing structure coming next year

Autodesk has announced that starting next year they will be going with a new ‘simplified’ pricing model for upgrades and cross-grades.

Once 2007 becomes retired (as of March 16 2010), Autodesk will no longer offer a 3-tier price structure for upgrades / cross-grades to the current version at that time. Rather, all upgrades and cross-grades to the current version from previous versions will be 50% the cost of a new license, while cross-grades from a current version to another product will be about 20% the cost of a new product license. Legacy versions (versions older than 3 versions back) are not included in this and the Legacy program will continue at 30% discount of the price of a new product license when Subscription is purchased.

So let’s look at an example to illustrate this:

THIS YEAR
AutoCAD 2007 to AutoCAD 2010           $1795
AutoCAD 2008 to AutoCAD 2010           $1195
AutoCAD 2009 to AutoCAD 2010           $595

NEXT YEAR
AutoCAD 2008 to AutoCAD 2011           $1998
AutoCAD 2009 to AutoCAD 2011           $1998
AutoCAD 2010 to AutoCAD 2011           $1998

As you can see, this is a lot of different cost to you especially if you are only 1 or 2 versions behind.

So why is Autodesk doing this, well, it is to encourage users to put their licenses on Subscription.  In the example above, Subscription costs $450 a year - multiple that over 3 years and you have paid $1350 versus the $1998 upgrade cost. That's a huge difference in cost to net you the exact same product in the end.  Now, also remember all the extra benefits Subscription includes - extra software extensions, e-learning, web support access, license management, etc.

Autodesk has announced an aggressive promotion to help 'transition' you before next year's changes - details of which can be found at http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=7176852&siteID=123112.

In summary, it goes like this:

    Phase 1:    May1 – July 17

                     30% off with Subscription

                        20% off without Subscription

    Phase 2:    July 18 – October 16

                    20% off with Subscription

                        15% off without Subscription

    Phase 3:    October 17 – January 15

                     10% off with Subscription

                        reg price without Subscription

This promotional pricing is applicable to upgrades and cross-grades from 2007, 2008, and/or 2009 going to a 2010 product.

NOTE: that the best period is between May 1 and July 17

All prices above are based on US$ MSRP.

2007 Retirement Promotion

The 2007 family of products will no longer be sold or supported as of March 15 2010. This also includes Revit Architecture 9/9.1, Revit MEP Suite R2, Revit Structure Suite R4, 3DS Max R9, and Maya 8.5.

Autodesk runs a 3-phase promo during the retirement year to help customers transition to the current version. The 1st Phase does not start until May 1st. Note that as the year rolls out, the promotional discpounts lessen - so the earlier your act the better the savings! May to July is the best period. Below is the outline of the 3 phases:

Phase 1: May1 – July 17, 30% off with Subcription, 20% off without Subscription
Phase 2: July 18 – October 16, 20% off with Subription, 15% off without Subscription

Phase 3: October 17 – January 15, 10% off with Subription, reg price without Subscription

Don't want to take Subscription - you'll want to read tomorrows post......

Great Report on Building Information Modeling (BIM)

One of the most common questions I get from clients is, “Who is already using Revit and to what degree are they using it?”  I usually reply “Every major firm has Revit by now.  They are utilizing it where it makes sense for them – some are using it full-tilt on most projects, others are using it in pockets seeing where and how it fits in to their existing workflow and design processes.”  By now, it is inevitable that the Industry is definitely moving in that direction.  Don’t believe me – well fine – check out this: 

McGraw Hill Construction has published a "SmartMarket Report" on Building Information Modeling (BIM).  This report speaks to not only the adoption rate of BIM in the industry, but also to usage of BIM, value of using BIM, impact of BIM on internal and external processes, and BIM infrastructure.  This report provides great insight and recommendations for firms migrating toward Revit.  Additionally there are numerous Case Studies to validate the “real-world” usage of BIM.

The report can be sourced via Autodesk’s website (http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/mcgraw-hill_construction_bim_smartmarket_report_december_2008.pdf) or via the buildingSMART Alliance’s website (http://www.buildingsmartalliance.org/news/20081203.php).

Here are some key sections to read:

• BIM and Green Building – pages 5, 18, and 19
  
• Recommendations for Beginners, Intermediate Users, Advanced/Expert Users, and Owners – page 5
  
• Rise of the Contractor – page 4
  
• Perception of BIM – page 7
  
• Risks when using BIM – page 33
  

2010 Installation and Activation requires PRODUCT KEYS

For the 2010 products, customer need two items for installation, the SERIAL NUMBER and PRODUCT KEY. Yes, that’s right, the old CD Keys from 2002 are back as Product Keys. The good news is that the Product Keys are generic for each product, meaning they are the same for every serial number. Here is a list of the Product Keys:

AutoCAD 2010 - 001B1
AutoCAD Architecture 2010 - 185B1
AutoCAD MEP 2010 - 235B1
AutoCAD LT 2010 - 057B1

Subscription 2010 Auto Fulfillment Problems

My last post showed the Auto Fulfillment emails that Autodesk has been sending out to Subscription clients (please note that these emails have only been sent out to AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP, and Naviswork customers so far (ALL 2010 Revit, and 3ds Max products have not been released yet, hence no emails sent yet). Well, there seems to be a lot of confusion and complication with the process.

First, let’s talk about the fulfillment. You have basically four choices: 1) download, 2) download and request media still be sent to you, 3) don't download but request media be sent to you, 4) don't do anything right now and media will automatically be sent to you after 30-days. So, if you’re not in a panic for the new 2010 version , my suggestion is to sit back and simply wait for Autodesk to sent it to you.

Problem # 1: The emails announcement never came. Solution: check your spam filter first, if still nothing call Autodesk's Customer Service Center at 1-800-538-6401 for assistance - make sure to have your Subscription Contract # handy when you call.

Problem # 2: Got the email but having problems getting onto or using Subscription Center. Well if you don’t know how to get onto Subscription Center, call Autodesk's Customer Service Center at 1-800-538-6401 for assistance.

Once you’re on Subscription Center, here are the steps to follow: scroll down to the section where you can “download” the 2010 product, click on “download”, then on the following page you can click “request a copy”, followed by a page that asks you to populate a form with quantities of each license, followed by “save”, followed by a questionnaire that asks why they are requesting media, followed by a couple of other prompts until you are finally finished. I know this is a cumbersome task – but is the only way to do it. If you don’t have interest in doing all this on-line, call the Autodesk Customer Service Center at 1-800-538-6401.

Problem # 3: The on-line process above produces an error. Solution: you guessed it, call the Autodesk Customer Service Center at 1-800-538-6401 for assistance.

Problem # 4: You successfully downloaded the 2010 software but are having problems installing or activating your licenses - you don't have or know what a Product Key is. Solution: The Product Key is listed in the email that was sent out but if you didn't save that email, see my next post for a list of them.

Unfortunately, resellers are not permitted by Autodesk to administrate customer's Subscription website. Nor are we entitled to fulfill this request on their behalf.

Subscription Auto Fulfillment of 2010 products

If you have your licenses on active Subscription, your 2010 Auto Fulfillment is going to be offerred to you this year via download.  You will have the option to download, download and still get hard copy of the product shipped to you, or request that only a hard copy get shipped to you (ie. no download).  Below is a sample of the email your Subscription Contract Administrator will be recieving in this regard:

From: SUBSCRIPTION-NOTIFICATION@AUTODESKSUBSCRIPTION.COM [mailto:SUBSCRIPTION- NOTIFICATION@AUTODESKSUBSCRIPTION.COM]
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 9:40 AM
To:
Subject: Autodesk Upgrade and Licensing Information
Importance: High

 

This is an outgoing mailbox only, please do not reply. If you have questions or need help, click here.

Your Upgrade is Available This information is required for product activation, please retain for your records AUTOCAD 2010 English, International Commercial Product Upgrade WINDOWS From AutoCAD 2009 is now available for download! One of the benefits of Subscription is the immediate availability of the latest release of Autodesk products. We are pleased to announce that your Subscription upgrade for AUTOCAD 2010 English, International Commercial Product Upgrade WINDOWS From AutoCAD 2009 is now available for download from Subscription Center. Download Your Upgrade!* Obtaining your Subscription Upgrade To receive your upgrade, simply log into Subscription Center and follow the instructions for download. If you prefer, you can log into Subscription Center and select to have the product shipped to you. Important Activation Code When installing your product, you will be required to obtain an activation code. To obtain an activation code, you must provide the serial number(s) and product key listed in this email. Serial Number Information Your subscription upgrade is for the following products: Serial Number Product Key Previous Serial Number(s) Total Seats 000-00000000 000B0 000-00000000 0 In an effort to simplify software management and deployment, your products may have been consolidated into one new serial number. That serial number may be used for installation of all seats within that serial number. Download Permission Information Contract Managers and Software Coordinators - you can share full product download functionality with all of your Subscription users, allowing them immediate access to the electronic Product Library. Simply log into the Subscription Center Contract Administration, go to View / Edit Users, locate the user(s), click Edit and grant them permissions to File Downloads. Be sure to provide your users with the Subscription Serial Number(s) and Product Key(s) that they will need for installation and activation. *If your company has restricted access to the Internet, you may not be able to download your upgrade and you will need to contact the Autodesk Business Center to request a physical media shipment. Copy and paste the "Recipient Information" section from the bottom of this email, which will allow us to easily locate you, and send this information via an email to subscription-team@autodesk.com. Thank you for choosing Subscription for your Autodesk products. Subscription Center Login   Download Your Upgrade   Subscription Guide   Questions? Need Help?   Forgot Password?

© 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved. Autodesk.com  |  Terms and Conditions  |  Privacy Policy  |  Questions? Need Help?   | Subscription Center Login Autodesk, Inc. • 111 McInnis Parkway • San Rafael, CA 94903 Use of your Subscription is governed by the Terms and Conditions. Please note that you cannot unsubscribe from email that is required to properly service your Autodesk Subscription contract. Recipient Information [ContractID:] [ContactLang:] [OrigToEmail:] [Category:] [SendDate:03-22-2009] [Company Name:] [First Name:] [Last Name:] [AUTOCAD 2010 English, International Commercial Product Upgrade WINDOWS From AutoCAD 2009]

Autodesk 2010 Version Releases Start (FCS dates)

Autodesk has started the release of their 2010 versions.  March 24th marks the first most important release - AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, and the Inventor products.  The 25th will be for AutoCAD MEP and AutoCAD Architecture followed by Navisworks on April 3rd.  Below is a listing of all the published release dates so far.

AutoCAD® 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD LT® 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® RealDWG™ 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Electrical 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Mechanical 2010 March 24 

Autodesk® Inventor LT™ 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Inventor LT™ Suite 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Inventor® Suite 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Inventor® Professional 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Inventor® Professional Suite 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Inventor® Routed Systems Suite 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Inventor® Simulation Suite 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Inventor® Tooling Suite 2010 March 24 

Autodesk® DirectConnect for Catia 2010 March 24 

Autodesk® DirectConnect for Catia 4 2010 March 24 

Autodesk® DirectConnect for JT 2010 March 24 

Autodesk® DirectConnect for UG 2010 March 24 

Autodesk® SketchBook® Pro 2010 March 24 

AutoCAD® Architecture 2010 March 25 

AutoCAD® MEP 2010 March 25 

AutoCAD® Map 3D 2010 March 30 

Autodesk MapGuide® Enterprise 2010 March 30 

Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage 2010 April 3 

Autodesk® Navisworks® Review 2010 April 3 

Autodesk® Navisworks® Simulate 2010 April 3

Yes, you are correct, there are no dates for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, 3ds Max / Max Design etc.  These dates have not been made public yet, but as soon as they are I will post them.  My guess is mid-April!

Two Good Articles to 'Reed'

Haven’t adopted BIM yet?  Check out this short article that quite nicely touches on the key points of consideration for BIM in your firm.  Why Building Information Modeling? http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/articles/read/why-building-information-modeling/

 

So you taken the plunge into Revit and are in the process of using or at least making a valiant attempt.  Once you understand how to use Revit and you start getting going with it, the major next hurdle is content, or lack thereof.  You need an object in your project that doesn't exist in Revit (for example, a water fountain or a boiler or a roof top unit etc.).  Well off you go looking for it or trying to create it.  Check out "You are Wasting Your Money" http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/articles/read/you-are-wasting-your-money/ for some ideas on how to improve this aspect of Revit'ing.

What is Subscription?

Autodesk Subscription is a support offering that, when purchased with eligible products, includes upgrade software, support, and training. Rather than pay for each upgrade separately, Autodesk Subscription customers pay an annual fee that includes access to all software upgrades and subscription benefits.

NEW: Subscription Auto Fulfillment Options for Canadians

Canadian Customers Get to Choose How They Get

2010 Product Upgrades Under Subscription's Auto Fulfillment

Autodesk is working to get products to customers faster than ever. Beginning March 16, we’re asking customers to make a choice about how they get their product delivered in Canada. They can choose to:

• Download the product
• Select a DVD to be shipped
• Select both options (download + DVD)

If the customer does not make a selection, their DVD will be shipped.

Stay tuned for more details....

LAST CALL on Upgrading Version 2006!

Do you have any of these products?

AutoCAD LT 2006

AutoCAD 2006

Architectural Desktop 2006

AutoCAD Building Systems 2006

Revit Building 8.0 or 8.1 (2006)

Revit Series, Systems Plus 8.0 or 8.1 (2006)

As of March 13, 2009, these versions will RETIRE!

In the case of AutoCAD and Architectural Desktop, this simply means that he cost to upgrade will increase drastically (upto 56%) after March 13^th

In the case of AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Building Systems or Revit Building / Systems, this means you will need to buy net new licenses to get to the current version (NO UPGRADES) after March 13^th

This can equate to almost 250% increase over current pre-retirement pricing!

Autodesk 3ds Max CAT is now offered exclusively to Autodesk Subscription customers as a free download.

CAT Plug‐in ‐ Create Product for Autodesk 3ds Max 2009 and Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2009

Autodesk 3ds Max CAT software is a complete character animation toolset for Autodesk 3ds Max 2009 and Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2009 software. With this latest addition of Character Animation Tools (CAT) to the 3ds Max 3ds Max Design software, Autodesk continues to demonstrate its industry leadership in character animation by providing artists with even more flexibility to create complex 3D characters and animations inside the award winning 3ds Max software. 3ds Max CAT offers artists in the film, post‐production, design visualization, and games industries an environment to produce better animations faster. Previously offered at an additional cost of $995 USD, Autodesk 3ds Max CAT is now offered exclusively to Autodesk Subscription customers as a free download.

Overview

Autodesk 3ds Max CAT - Just Animate!

3ds Max CAT is a production proven character animation plug-in for Autodesk 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max Design 2009. 3ds Max CAT is designed by animators, for animators to take the tedious technicalities out of 3D character animation. Its toolset enables easy character rigging, non-linear animation, animation layering, motion capture import, muscle simulation, and more. 3ds Max CAT is fast, stable, simple, and packed with cutting-edge features that give artists an easier way to animate characters in 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design.

 

Rig Creation Made Simple

3ds Max CAT makes it easier than ever to create complex multi-pedal character rigs. Artists can build custom rigs lightning-quick, or use presets to create everything from humans and horses, to lizards and dragons, to spiders, crabs, and creepy-crawlies of all kinds. Include as many spines, heads, bones, fingers and toes as you want. 3ds Max CAT even supports highly complex rigs like centipedes.

 

Quick and Easy Character Animation

Animating with 3ds Max CAT is easy. In just a few clicks, you can create walk cycles using CAT's procedural animation tools and drive your character by attaching it to a path. Perfect for digital extras, the 3ds Max CAT rig automatically calculates foot placement, even on undulating terrain.

 

High Quality - Unmatched Flexibility

3ds Max CAT makes it easy to achieve repeatable, high quality character animation quickly and reliably.. Animation layering and clip editing allow you to create clips and reuse animations non-destructively. You can blend between distinct animations or add additional detail and secondary motion without sacrificing the base animation. Intuitive procedural systems like the CAT spine let you animate extremely complex character movements in a matter of clicks.

Incredible Realism

The all new CATMuscle adds incredible realism to your character animations by simulating muscle movements under the skin!

To learn more, visit www.softimage.com/cat.

Revit MEP files from McQuay too!

http://www.mcquay.com/McQuay/BIM/Revit-BIMFiles

Trane now has content for Revit MEP

Trane now has content for Revit MEP.  Trane has created a few of their Heat pumps and Roof top units in Revit MEP that are parametric and contain the appropriate connectors needed to connect them to logical systems inside of a Revit MEP model. They also contain the correct data needed to schedule the equipment automatically.

Even though there are only 5 families; within each family are a hundred or so family types to choose from.

You can create a schedule in Revit MEP to schedule the mechanical equipment in your project. The schedule is parametric and will fill itself out based on the mechanical equipment that is placed in the project. The schedule may need to be filtered to show only specific equipment types or type marks.

All columns in the schedule are filled out by the options selected for each unit with the exception of the AIR FLOW CFM. This number is driven by the connected flow of ductwork. The external static pressure and BHP should be manually adjusted after analysis of your duct design.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT FAMILY:

Load the individual family file (Voyager YC 12-25Ton R410A.rfa) that has been provided into your project file. Change the family types and voltages as needed. The remaining options are adjustable via element properties.

To specify no curb, un-check the "SHOWCURB" option, for a welded curb select the "SHOWCURB" option, for a spring isolation curb, select both "SHOWCURB" AND "ISOCURB"

to use the economizer and power exhaust options adjust the "1NONE_2ECON_3PWREXH" parameter to one of the following choices:

1 - FOR NONE (TRANE OUTSIDE AIR HOOD ONLY)
2 - FOR AN ECONOMIZER (CANFAB 100% BAROMETRIC RELIEF)
3 - FOR POWER EXHAUST (CANFAB MODULATING POWER EXHAUST)

 For both of these option categories, the weight, electrical info and description update in the schedule automatically. For heating capacities other than those specified here, you will need to manually create a new family type and adjust the relevant data.

Download Page

Contact your local commercial Trane sales office for details, or log on to:

www.trane.com/sacramento

www.trane.com/losangeles

www.trane.com/sandiego

Product configurations are packaged together, in Voyager and Precedent files.

Log on, register for updates, and start using the files today, for your building project.

Implementing BIM into your office article

Here is a really good article on implementing BIM into your office:

http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/articles/read/implementing-bim-to-your-office/

Revit Webcasts worth checking out

Revit Implementation Series #1 - Templates Tuesday, October 21, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

Revit Implementation Series #2 - Family Creation and Management

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

Revit Implementation Series #3 - Training Wednesday, November 5, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Revit Architecture and Design Visualization for Sustainable Design

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Best Practices for Roofs in Revit Architecture Wednesday, January 7, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Detailing in Revit Architecture Wednesday, February 4, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Ceiling Plans in Revit Architecture Wednesday, March 4, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Revit Architecture and Sustainable Design Wednesday, August 6, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

BIM Coordination Wednesday, September 3, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

View Past Revit Architecture Webcasts

Migrating to Building Information Modeling (BIM) Wednesday, September 24, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

Design Visualization for BIM Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

AutoCAD Architecture - Webcasts

Annotation Techniques in AutoCAD Architecture Wednesday, October 1, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

Best Practices for Roofs in AutoCAD Architecture Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Layer Management in AutoCAD Architecture Tuesday, December 11, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Rendering in AutoCAD Architecture Wednesday, January 21, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Implementing AutoCAD Architecture Wednesday, February 18, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Elevations and Sections in AutoCAD Architecture Wednesday, March 18, 2009 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Project Organization with AutoCAD Architecture Wednesday, August 20, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

View Past AutoCAD Architecture Webcasts

Visit the AutoCAD Architecture Resource Center

How to Render Google Sketchup Models in Autodesk 3ds Max Design

Thursday, October 23, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

Leveraging AutoCAD Architecture in 3ds Max Design Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST

Design Visualization Webcasts

Making the Move to 3ds Max Design
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

The Importance of Design Visualization and Autodesk 3ds Max Design

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

View Past Design Visualization Webcasts

Revit Architecture Suite 2009.1 - FINALLY!

Autodesk released Revit Architecture Suite 2009.1 as of Septemeber 15, 2008.  This new release bundles Revit Architecture, AutoCAD Architecture (formerly know as Architectural Desktop), and AutoCAD under one license.  The best part of all of this - no increase in price or subscription fee (for now anyway).  Please note: there are NO feature enhancements to any of the applications in this 2009.1 release.  All I have to say is "it's about time guys"!

Under the Previous Use Policy with the Subscription program, you have access to the following versions:

• Revit Architecture Suite 2008
• Revit Series Building 9.0 & 9.1
• Revit Series Building 8.0 & 8.1
• AutoCAD Architecture 2008
• Architectural Desktop 2007
• Architectural Desktop 2006