Beyond the Paper

3D DWF Writer - Windows File Protection Error During Install

This problem affects users who attempt to install a localized version of the 3D Autodesk DWF Writer 3.5/2008 and 4.0/2009 on an English operating system, only.

Again, this issue only affects users of the 3D DWF Writer, not the 2D Writer. Reason behind the problem appears to be the fact that the opengl32.dll in the system folder needs to be updated, which triggers the error dialog.

Accepting the dialog and choosing "yes" will complete the installation successfully.

My understanding is that we are trying to resolve the issue in a future release.

--Volker

Stop the Pop Up Windows!

Using Autodesk Design Review 2009, you notice that a Markup Properties window opens up and obscures the viewing area once you have created a text markup and click to finish.

Can this be turned off? Absolutely!

You can prevent the properties window (or any other windows) from popping up automatically, by adding a registry key:

1. Open the Windows Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
2. Navigate to "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\Design Review\Preferences\User Interface" (or "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\Autodesk\Design Review\Preferences\User Interface" if you are on Vista)
3. Go to menu Edit > New > DWORD value.
4. Name it  "Disable Auto Open Palettes".
5. Double click on it and set the value to be 1.

Note: If you need the properties window to come back, you can delete this key or click Window > Properties > Markup in Autodesk Design Review 2009.

The key can, at this point, not be set selectively and it is "all or nothing". You need to manually hide/show the palettes that you require, once the registry key is set.

Another way to change the behavior without modifying the registry settings (and to change the behavior of all palettes), is to undock the palettes that auto-display.

For example, if your users are applying markups to 2D sheets, suggest they undock the grouped Properties palettes and the Markups palette and place them either on the desktop on another monitor or below the main Design Review window.

To undock a palette, click the palette title bar and drag the palette to the desired location.

The caveat, for embedded mode users, is that undocked palette placement isn't 'sticky' like it is for stand-alone ADR users. In embedded mode, your users would need to create a custom workspace that had the offending palettes moved away... and they'd have to activate that workspace each time a DWF file is opened in the embedded viewer.

--Volker

Help us choose the best sessions for AU2008

We're doing something new this year—we would like you to help us select the best 500-plus sessions.
We have uploaded all of the sessions (that were submitted by the deadline) to AU 2008 Session site and we need your input. Topics are organized under 19 tracks, which are either an industry or a product.  If you are considering attending AU, please take a few minutes to vote for sessions that you absolutely want to see.

Over the next few weeks, we will review all those submissions and whittle them down to the number we can actually physically accommodate in the Venetian Conference Center in Las Vegas.
Registration for AU will start on August 15th, and one week earlier for AU members.  Class schedules will be available for review by August 1st.

Thank you in advance for helping us select the most interesting classes. The deadline for voting is Saturday, May 3, 2008

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Yy_2fqK2TzVXoIf7d0TuRulw_3d_3d

--Volker

New DWF Community Site

We are happy to announce the launch of the new DWF Community site.  The new community site will provide for a lot more user participation and interaction, ultimately enabling us to get “closer” to you, our end users.

Go and check it out @ http://dwfcommunity.autodesk.com/

-Volker

Triangle Callout Limitation

Many users would like to change the default size of the triangle tag within Autodesk Design Review 2009; in most cases they are looking to increase the font size. Which would result in an incorrect display like this:

At this point, the font height has to be set to 12 pt or smaller, in order for a 2 digit number to show correctly in the default sized symbol - correctly looking like this:

To confirm - the default default size of the triangle is not adjustable at this point - not manually or through the API. The only known workaround is to modify the triangle by dragging out the handles, once the callout has been created.

We are looking into improving this feature in a future release.

--Volker

Find and Locate

Want to become the office hero?  Unless you are looking at weeks until retirement, we are all looking to make a difference, and please our managers, right?  We all know the golden rule for office heroics:  make money or save money!  I am always hearing about the time and cost savings that our customers have incurred with implementing DWF and Autodesk Design Review into their current design processes.  The best part is, it’s a free solution, so when you are writing up the “justification for software”, it should be easy.

Below is a quick look at how you can save time and money using the new find and locate feature in Design  Review 2009, by implementing DWF and Design Review, instead of paper, into your workflow.  If you already use Design Review in your workflow, this should speed things up even further, as it is a quicker way to get to the information (including BIM data) that your team needs.

This quick tutorial (just over 2 minutes) will walk you through finding and locating objects, properties, text, etc. within a DWF file repository.  And maybe, just maybe, you will become the office hero.

See the “How To” Movie on Vimeo:  http://vimeo.com/955553

Find and Locate Feature

1. Open your DWF file in Design Review
2. Using the Find feature (from the main toolbar, or select Edit>Find), enter a text string.   
3. Click the Advanced Find button to display the Advanced Find features, including selecting the type of content being searched: All, Current Model or Sheet, Current Table, Markups, Models, Sheets, Tables.
   Note: You can quickly locate text in an open DWF file by searching for tabular data, markups, text on 2D sheets, objects, sheet names, and their properties. Found results are shown in a convenient list, enabling you to click a result to display the found text or associated object on the canvas or in a palette.
4. Many results should show up for “door.” Click any resulting hyperlink to display the associated result instance in the canvas window.
5. The result is highlighted in both the Object Properties and Model panels.

Note:  Any text item which was imported into your DWF file using the DWF Writer can also be located with the find feature.  This includes Microsoft Office products, as well as PDF files and others.

Another great article submitted by Cliff Medling.

--Volker

Rotate Sheet DWF fails to open correctly

Many users take advantage of the newly introduced "page rotate" feature in Autodesk Design Review 2009.

However, some noticed that the same file, once rotated in Autodesk Design Review 2009 and saved, does not open correct when attempting to open it using Autodesk Design Review 2008 instead.

First and foremost, this feature is - at this point - not backward compatible, and files can only be expected to display correctly once the user sticks with Autodesk Design Review 2009.

That said, one would expect that the earlier version, Autodesk Design Review 2008, shows a message of some form or another. I believe that our design team is now working on the same.

Here are steps for those of you that are interested to duplicate the issue:

1. Open a 2D DWF file (or image) in Autodesk Design Review 2009.
2. Rotate the 2D sheet clockwise or counter clockwise.
3. Save and close.
4. Open this saved file using Autodesk Design Review 2008.

Result: Autodesk Design Review 2008 opens the rotated sheet without message, and the view is not correct, with contents separated by a sheet page.

--Volker

AU 2008: Last call for great presenters

Two words: submissions deadline.

If you’re considering joining our outstanding slate of speakers at Autodesk University 2008, you’ll have to act by April 27, 2008.

Please submit your presentation proposal(s) online, as soon as possible, at the Call for Papers website.

Whenever we stop to analyze why Autodesk University has become so hugely successful, one thing is clear: the excellent presentations from experts  are a big, big factor.

The time for us to assemble the AU 2008 faculty, who are without a doubt the most critical component of the overall AU experience, is nearly over.

So if you:

• Have the communication skills, technical expertise, and relevant experience….
• Want to share your knowledge of a favorite topic—from tips and tricks and sales techniques to new business opportunities such as sustainable design….
• Are motivated to bring success to design professionals and their organizations….
• Want to demonstrate your expertise to several thousand Autodesk customers, partners, and employees, thereby promoting your business success….

… Then we want to hear from you—now!

A speaker honorarium is also provided.

Sharing Workspaces in Autodesk Design Review 2009

Autodesk Design Review 2009 has several predefined layouts called workspaces to facilitate various review workflows. Users can also create and share custom workspaces.

Today's article provides step by step detail as to how to go about sharing workspaces.

1. From Windows Explorer, copy the layout(s) you want to share from the SavedLayouts folder.

• XP:         C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Autodesk\Autodesk Design Review\9.0\userdata\SavedLayouts
• Vista:     C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Autodesk Design Review\9.0\userdata\SavedLayouts

Note: Don’t rename the workspace file name.

2. Share the layout(s) with the recipient(s) by email, post to a shared location, etc.

3. Each recipient will need to place the shared workspace file(s) into the appropriate folder (see the path in step "1." on his or her computer.

4. Start Design Review and choose Window > Workspaces to see the new shared workspace(s) displayed at the bottom of the list.

Tip: Since the layout files are named strangely, use the Date Modified attribute to help you find the one you want.

If the workspace creator changes the original workspace, it will have to be reshared with the recipient. There is no connection between a workspace that has been shared.

--Volker

High Marks for Autodesk Design Review 2009

Autodesk Design Review 2009 has received a very positive review by Cadalyst and has been rated as "Highly Recommended" in the process.

It outlines, amongst other things, that this newest release will be included with all major Autodesk software releases. Other subjects include DWFx, the enhanced user interface and the rotate sheet feature.

You can read the entire article here.

--Volker