Beyond the Paper

Autodesk Productstream & Vault Patches for ADR2009 Users

The Productstream team recently released two patches to aid Autodesk Productstream 2008 and Autodesk Vault 2008 users, when it comes to compatability issues with Autodesk Design Review 2009.

Details of the two patches are:

• DL10976013 - Autodesk Design Review 2009 is not compatible with Autodesk Productstream R2008 SP1 and Autodesk Vault R2008 SP1. This update resolves issues allowing the products to be compatible in a side-by-side installation scenario with the R2009 products.

• DL11001380 - Autodesk Design Review 2009 is not compatible with Autodesk Productstream R2008 SP1 and Autodesk Vault R2008 SP1. This update resolves issues allowing the products to be compatible.

Installation Instructions

1. Download the hotfix to a temporary directory on a workstation
2. Extract the contents of the zip file to a temporary directory
3. Double-click on *.msp to install the hotfix
4. Repeat installation on all workstations

--Volker

Never Lose Important Redlines from the Field

Whenever I hear the word “redlines”, I first think of large redlines on my papers from Ms. Rodgers class in Middle school.  She liked the fat red pens.  Those redlines were usually not good, and I would rather not see them.  However, for our customers, redlines are important information which we need to keep track of, as losing them can cost us time and money.

The power of Design Review is the ability to easily track all redlines created in the field, and place them neatly into your native design application.

This movie shows you how easy it is to take redlines created in the field, and track them in your Autodesk design application.  This example uses a DWF mapbook published from Autodesk Map 3D, but the workflow is similar for any Autodesk design application.

Steps:

1. Publish DWF mapbook from AutoCAD Map 3D
2. Open DWF mapbook in Autodesk Design Review
3. Use navigation tools or Find to locate object on your map (item which needs repair, or noting a change)
4. Add markup noting repair or issue on sheet
5. (optional) Change status of markup
6. (in AutoCAD Map 3D) use Markup Set manager to overlay markups created in Design Review
7. Update Map 3D database of repairs/issues

If you implement this Design Review workflow into the field you may never lose another redline, and might receive a “gold star” for saving time and money.

Thank you to Cliff Medling for another great article.

--Volker

Autodesk Design Review 2009 Service Pack 1 Release

The Autodesk Design Review 2009 SP1 has been released and is available for download here

Autodesk Design Review 2009 SP1

Primary issues fixed by this SP include

• Platform and Command Issues
• Display
• DWFx
• Embedded
• Find
• Measure and Markup
• Printing and Batch Print

All of the above and more are explained in detail in the accompanying ReadMe file.

Autodesk Design Review 2009 SP1 ReadMe

--Volker

Autodesk Design Review DWG Import: Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2

When I look at the system requirements for Autodesk DWG TrueView 2009 on page:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=9078738

I see Microsoft® Windows Vista® and Windows® XP SP2.

The requirements for Autodesk Design Review are found on page:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=10335870

When I look at this page, I see Microsoft® Windows Vista®, Windows XP Professional or Home Edition (SP2 recommended), and Windows 2000 SP4.

As mentioned many times on this blog (e.g. Does Autodesk Design Review work with DWG files?), Autodesk Design Review allows a user to import a DWG if Autodesk DWG TrueView has also been installed. As such our FAQ page:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=8412111

lists DWG as a supported format for Autodesk Design Review; however based on the differing supported operating systems for these two applications, this only applies to Autodesk Design Review users who are running on Microsoft® Windows Vista® and Windows® XP SP2.

Download the free Autodesk Design Review 2009
Download the free Autodesk DWG TrueView 2009

--Scott

Autodesk Design Review 2009 API Documentation

Please find enclosed the API documentation for Autodesk Design Review 2009 which is not included in the product install itself.

I have enclosed the documentation as CHM as well as PDF file. Please ensure to save the CHM file to your local disk, else you might experience viewing difficulties - this is a known Microsoft issue, whereas network based CHM files cannot be viewed correctly.

ADR 2009 API Help Reference CHM Version

The PDF file is really a shortcut for those who prefer to view it outside of the "Microsoft Help UI". Please note that we managed to convert all the content correctly, yet you might find some incorrect numbering of the chapters. The actual API content is correct.

ADR 2009 API Help Reference PDF Version

--Volker

Meet Autodesk Product Development Engineers

There are 3 exciting developer day conferences on this year's calendar.

All are casual yet intimate, allowing you the opportunity to hear and discuss software development strategies with the actual engineering teams that develop the products.

And, you’ll meet with them where they work.

• Manufacturing DevCamp 2008 in Portland, OR - June 11th - 13th, 2008
• AEC DevCamp 2008 in Wakefield, MA - June 16th - 18th, 2008
• Geospatial DevCamp 2008 in San Rafael, CA - June 25th - 27th, 2008

Spend personal time with Autodesk engineers. Hosted by Autodesk business and engineering management, you’ll be able to network with other people just like you – people who are customizing, extending, and integrating Autodesk products and technologies.

Training classes for every level take you closer to Autodesk insiders. Each conference features more than 20 training classes on Autodesk industry-specific customization and application development technologies (API’s).

Plus you’ll get to hear from the most senior Autodesk executives within their respective divisions. So whether you’re a novice, advanced developer, or business owner, these conferences can help you work more efficiently and effectively with Autodesk software applications.

DevCamps are open to anyone interested in making their business more competitive by leveraging the ability to custom-fit, extend, and integrate Autodesk products and technologies including:
• Members of the Autodesk Developer Network
• Customers/End-users developing in-house productivity tools for their staff and their customers
• VAR’s and ISV’s looking to better meet their customer needs through custom tailored application development

For more information or to register visit: www.autodesk.com/devcamp2008

Import DWFx Markup into Revit 2009?

Users noticed that you can export out DWFx from Revit 2009 but there does not seem to be an option to bring in back in as a DWFx markup set. The option is simply missing from the import file type menu.

No, you are not missing a step somewhere nor is there a method to do it at this point.

The Revit team has acknowledged the shortfall and will correct it in the next available update.

--Volker

Markup Arc Tool?

A markup arc tool seems to be pretty common in the marketplace, yet we do not offer one at this point for Autodesk Design Review. I believe that we did offer one during the days of Volo View though.

We have had some requests for an arc tool, yet they were not on the same scale as requests for digital signatures or the ability to lock markups.

Why would you think that we should reintroduce a markup arc tool?

Please submit your feedback by replying to this blog or send an email to [email protected].

Thank you.

--Volker

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