Beyond the Paper

Autodesk Skill Builder - DWF Review Markup

The Inventor team has posted some interesting content on our services and support site, covering how to:

• Publish a drawing from Autodesk Inventor to DWF format
• Add review markup to the DWF file
• Load that markup in the Inventor drawing, and then review the markup

It is being referred to as a "Skill Builder" and intended to assist those who are creating markup callouts and comments in Autodesk Design Review as well as those who are assessing and responding to those markups within Inventor.

You can find the complete content here.

--Volker

Autodesk Design Review 2009 and Autodesk DWF Writer 2009 MSI files

With the launch of Autodesk Design Review 2009, renewed requests to provide access to the Autodesk Design Review 2009 MSI file surfaced. During the Colorado Beta (ADR 2009) we decided not to share it on a large scale but did provide access on a “per request basis” – that seemed to have worked well.

Now with the Autodesk Design Review 2009 product having been released, there is no further reason to stop distributing the MSI file on a larger scale. You will also find a link to the DWF Writer MSI file.

Important: Before installing the MSI file you must download and install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86) available from the Microsoft site.

Download SetupDesignReview2009.msi (37337.0 KB)
Download DWFWriter4Setup.msi (28353.5 KB)

These MSI files contain the exact same versions of the applications that you would get if you installed them using the EXE-based installers. We also take the opportunity to share some tips with you that should make the whole deployment experience easier for you.

To create the MST file and deploy the program:

Download orca (In the Windows SDK)
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa370557.aspx.

Read Autodesk instructions for a silent install http://dwf.blogs.com/beyond_the_paper/2007/02/free_autodesk_d.html.

Watch this introduction to creating MST's with Orca http://www.software-repackaging.com/files/flash/orca.htm.

Open the MSI file, create a MST, and add the two required parameters. Create a group policy object to deploy the program, making sure you choose advanced and add the transform file you just created.

Happy Deployment!

--Volker

Autodesk Design Review 2009 Launch

Autodesk Design Review 2009 has launched and is now available for download at www.autodesk.com/designreview.

This link is the same as to the main product center, from where you will be able to navigate to new features, customer tips and more. We are also working on a new DWF Community page, which is due to become available soon.

On another note - we continue to hear positive words from our premier beta customers. This praise is a reinforcement for all the hard work and dedication that went into making Autodesk Design Review 2009 a great product, as well as a positive user experience. 

Here are some of the latest comments we have received:

“The performance of the latest release of Autodesk Design Review is noticeably enhanced. It handles large, 3D files more easily. That’s a significant benefit for us as we move our plan design review process to 3D.”

“Autodesk Design Review’s new customizable user interface will allow us to present users with targeted functionality. People who only need to view and measure will only see those tools while our engineers can take advantage of the full functionality. No one needs to waste time learning features they don’t use.”

“We are impressed with the new integrated search feature in Autodesk Design Review. It allows us to search for text, drawing, and map properties. The enhanced rotation capabilities will help us as well. Both features will enable us find and use information more quickly and efficiently.”

Go and check out the new features yourself and share any feedback you may have.

• New User Interface
• Find Text
• Flexible Components
• Freewheel
• ...and more

--Volker

3D/2D ShareNow add-in has been updated

Scott recently announced on his blog that "..the free 3D/2D ShareNow add-in has been updated to work with AutoCAD-based vertical solutions. This applies to the 2008 product line that is available now and the 2009 product line that will be available soon. At this time, this applies to the English versions of our applications. Support for localized versions can be considered for an upcoming Labs release."

You can find the complete article content here.

--Volker

Installation Issue with localized version of Autodesk Design Review 2009 RC

Localized version of the Autodesk Design Review 2009 Release candidate (RC) are affected by a problem that will lead to the loss of the localized user interface. Users affected by the issue are German and Japanese Autodesk Design Review 2009 RC applications.

The issue can be averted by removing all previous versions of Autodesk Design Review prior to the install of the 2009 version. Failing that, a Repair install would also resolve the issue if Autodesk Design Review 2009 RC has been installed without the prior removal of previous versions of Autodesk Design Review.

The localized versions have received a new build and the issue will no longer exist in the official release build for German and Japanese users.

--Volker

The Question Remains - DWF back to DWG ?

This subject has been the substance of many discussions, internally and externally to Autodesk.

How can one convert DWF files back to the DWG file format?

The answer remains the same: There are some third party applications that are available for the task, however, the "reverse" conversion will not provide the sought after complete data.

DWF continues to be like an electronic printout, like a hard copy on paper. But guess what - it's better than paper. You can mark it up and you can measure it, even see object property information - once supplied by the drawing originator.

Still it has a lot in common with paper in that it's really not made for conversion to DWG. But more so and even more important, DWF is a very different file format , being 32bit integer coordinates. DWG itself uses double point precision floating point coordinates…making a complete conversion very difficult if not impossible to date.

And again, even if a conversion is achieved , the resultant DWG file would not contain the same data as the original file used when publishing to DWF.

We offer many options for our users today, including the reading of the DWF back into AutoCAD as an underlay so you can add information to a DWG based on what you see in the DWF, but you are not really converting the DWF to DWG.

In situations where you are part of an engineering team and need to collaborate with the original data, you really should request a DWG from whomever gave you the DWF.

--Volker

64-bit Jamboree

More and more customers are calling for 64-bit applications, but I would guess that the experts are still out to see how strong this new "movement" really is or will be.

Let's get some understanding of what 64-bit computing is really all about, before I go into any more details.

One can find many definitions out on the web but I found the following most compelling: " ..."bit" refers to the number of bits (the smallest unit of information on a machine) that can be processed or transmitted in parallel, or the number of bits used for single element in a data format. The term when used in conjunction with a microprocessor indicates the width of the registers; a special high-speed storage area within the CPU. A 32-bit microprocessor can process data and memory addresses that are represented by 32 bits.

64-bit therefore refers to a processor with registers that store 64-bit numbers. A generalization would be to suggest that 64-bit architecture would double the amount of data a CPU can process per clock cycle. Users would note a performance increase because a 64-bit CPU can handle more memory and larger files.  One of the most attractive features of 64-bit processors is the amount of memory the system can support. 64-bit architecture will allow systems to address up to 1 terabyte (1000GB) of memory. In today's 32-bit desktop systems, you can have up to 4GB of RAM (provided your motherboard that can handle that much RAM) which is split between the applications and the operating system (OS)."

Unfortunately, most benefits of a 64-bit CPU will go unnoticed without the key components of a 64-bit operating system and 64-bit software and drivers which are able to take advantage of 64-bit processor features. Additionally for the average home computer user, 32-bits is more than adequate computing power.

Matter of fact is though that the majority of  desktop computers today don't even have 4GB of memory installed, and most small business and home desktop computer software do not require that much memory either. Plus they will take a considerable amount of time to transition over.

As more complex software and 3D games become available however, we could actually see this become a limitation, but for the average home user that is very far down the road indeed. And this is where we come in...

Many of our applications, including Inventor, AutoCAD, Product Stream Pro etc., are already offering 64-bit ready software. Autodesk Design Review itself has not made this step as yet, but it is in the planning. At this point, our 32-bit application runs on a 64-bit system.

Said that, there are now calls to not only make the application itself ready, Autodesk Design Review, but also offer the accompanying plug-ins for 64-bit platforms. It is unclear to us as to how many of you are really requesting this capability for the plug-ins.

Are you using the JT and/or DGN Importer(s)? And if so, how soon do you plan on moving to 64-bit platforms?

It would be great if you could share your feedback here or send an email to [email protected], should you prefer to do so.

--Volker

Daylight Saving Time is Here

Daylight Saving (DST) is once more just around the corner - a welcome sign to many of us that Spring is not too far off, either.

Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. starts March 9th and ends November 2nd 2008. Clocks go forward an hour in March and back in November, just in case you forgot - like I do all the time. I find myself looking it up every year, every time...

Europe is using different dates, increasing the time difference between the continents for a few weeks. Their DST starts March 30th and ends October 26th 2008.

--Volker

API Overhaul

I am pleased to say that we are finally making some progress on the API front and our development team has agreed to look at our current API and kick off an overhaul of sort.

Needless to say that this is long overdue and I am very excited that this is finally taking shape. Well, "good things take time"!

This change will be reflected in next years release and will not affect Autodesk Design Review 2009. The numerous new features and improvements did not leave any room for the much needed API work in the 2009 release time frame.

It is planned that the makeover will include not only the addition of missing functionality and correction of problems, but also the removal of API that are not being used or are no longer relevant, due to being linked only to legacy products.

This is were YOU come in!

Enclosed is a list of API that are currently slated for the "grinder" and it is crucial that you let us know if you are using any of the stated API. The selection was made based on earlier customer feedback and an internal evaluation.

• IRasterToDWF
• IMarkupEvents
• IAdTempFileHolder
• IAdSectionTypePrivate
• IAdPrintDialog
• IAdPageNavigatorCtrl
• IAdContent
• IAdContent2
• ISheetListCtrl2
• ISheetListCtrl3
• IMarkupPropertiesCtrl2
• IMarkupCtrl
• IMarkupCtrls
• IPropertiesCtrl
• ISectionPropertiesCtrl
• IThumbnailCtrl
• IThumbnailCtrl2
• IThumbnailCtrl3
• IAdECompositeViewerPrivate2
• IEModelEditorToolPrivate
• IText3DToolGather
• IAdPagePaper
• IAdEPlotBookmark
• IAdEPlotDocument
• IAdEPlotPage
• IAdEPlotPagePrivate
• IAdDocument
• IEPlotDrawList
• ISelectionInserter
• IAdEPlotViewer
• IAdEPlotViewer2

Please reply to this post or send your feedback directly to [email protected]. Feedback can consist of anything API - even API you would like to see or is not working for you at this point. Please ensure to include an explanation or supporting documentation with your feedback, thank you.

Now is the time to speak up!

--Volker

Autodesk Design Review 2009 Beta Still Going Strong

Our Autodesk Design Review 2009 Beta program is still in full swing. Especially so, since we do offer a release candidate of the software for the first time this year.

This offering came about due to multiple customer requests and has been well received.

A recent Release Candidate Beta survey has shown that  87% of those surveyed noticed an improvement in performance when comparing Autodesk Design Review 2009 to earlier versions of our DWF viewing products. Not only that, 80% of those surveyed agreed that this application is ready for release.

Searching with the DWF, better performance and the new user interface continue to make a good impression.

You can download the release candidate in our MyFeedback community portal, if you want to use Autodesk Design Review 2009 now and not wait till it is being released. The release candidate is the same version as the one that is going to be released when launched. Sign up instructions for new and existing members are enclosed.

To enroll in the Autodesk Design Review 2009 Beta please go to: http://myfeedback.autodesk.com and select Sign up from the Active Zone Menu. You will then be asked to fill out a profile. Please use "COLORADO" in the Beta Code field (at the top of the sign up page) and select “Autodesk Design Review” as your product of interest.  You will be emailed a password for the general site once the Beta team has reviewed your application and approved you.

If you are already a member of the MyFeedback Beta community (http://myfeedback.autodesk.com) you do NOT need to sign up, instead login to the Beta community and click on the User button found at the top of the page.  Please add "COLORADO" in the Beta Code field and click Save at the bottom of your user profile. If you have forgotten your password, you can click on the Forgot Your Password link under Login menu and an email will be sent to you with your password or send an email request to [email protected].

--Volker