CADalyst articles from October 2000

CADalyst archives from October 2000

AEC SOFTWARE : Menu replacement.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Pendean Inc. offers DMENU v2.1 (from $65), a complete menu replacement for AutoCAD LT 97/98/2000. DMENU is geared toward the 2D architectural and interior disciplines and adds a collection of routines and enhancements to the basic AutoCAD LT...

AEC SOFTWARE : 2D and 3D in AutoCAD.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Smart Architect LT 2000 ($995) from drcauto offers 2D and 3D functionality for AutoCAD LT 2000 users. Smart Architect LT 2000 lets you produce 2D documentation drawings and 3D design presentations within AutoCAD LT 2000. Features include walls,...

Layer problems.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2000... This may not sound like a big deal, but this problem drives my coworkers and me insane. The Layer Control pull-down menu on the Object Properties toolbar is not in alphabetical order on some drawings. It wastes so much time to look through the...

Redline AutoCAD drawings.(Product Information)
October 1, 2000... This month I decided to do something for all drafting teachers who need to grade drawings. REDLINER.LSP redlines drawings and runs only in AutoCAD 2000. You can use it for general drawing checking, but I wrote it specifically for grading...

3D modeling for architecture : Bricsnet Architecturals takes AutoCAD to the next level.(Evaluation)
October 1, 2000... Bricsnet Architecturals is an architectural-specific add-on for IntelliCAD 2000 and now AutoCAD. Bricsnet Architecturals for IntelliCAD provided affordable, high-performance 3D parametric modeling, but IntelliCAD was not the best base vehicle....

New options for training come online.(Industry Trend or Event)
October 1, 2000... Although almost everyone agrees on the value of CAD training, setting up and implementing an adequate ongoing training program can be daunting. Many offices don't have access to a full range of local training options. Larger urban areas...

Dialog Box: Thoughts from our readers.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2000... My paper space After reading Mark Middlebrook's "Lost in paper space: Should paper space be your standard?" (July, p. 50), I want to share my alternative methodologies on how and when to use paper space. * I create all vectors...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2000... The correct Web address for CTAC (September, p. 22) is www.go.to/ParaFAST/.

Rebuilding history.(Company Business and Marketing)
October 1, 2000... It's not easy to design a building that both respects history and accommodates 21st-century needs. And when compromises must be made on a limited budget, the challenge is still more daunting. For the small town of Klamath Falls, Oregon, whose...

Form follows . . . tools.(Editorial)
October 1, 2000... Innovative design requires innovative designers. That's a given. What may not be as obvious is that designers are only as good as their tools. CAD tools influence a design from start to finish, be it a high school gym, a cordless toothbrush, or...

Screaming systems : We've rounded up three of the fastest processors out there.(Evaluation)
October 1, 2000... CADALYST Labs recently received three workstations built around the three fastest CPUs on the market today: the 1.1GHz Athlon, 1GHz Athlon, and 933MHz Pentium III. Not surprisingly, the CADALYST benchmark test results for the three were the...

SmartPlant Review : View 3D CAD files without CAD.(Evaluation)
October 1, 2000... SmartPlant Review from Intergraph Process & Building Solutions lets you view existing 3D files without CAD software. With SmartPlant, you can create photorealistic renderings and animations, pan and zoom the 3D model in real time, and even add...

X-keys Desktop : Save time and keystrokes.(Evaluation)
October 1, 2000... If you want to avoid typing the same keystrokes, commands, and macros over and over, consider P.I. Engineering's X-keys programmable keypads. The keyboards come in a 20-key X-keys Desktop model that I reviewed, a 58-key model, and a 3-key foot...

SyncMaster 900NF : 190 flat-screen monitor.(Evaluation)
October 1, 2000... One of five new Samsung monitors, the SyncMaster 900NF is based on a DiamondTron (AG) flat-screen 190 CRT with an 180 viewable area. The 900NF offers a maximum resolution of 180031440 at a 72Hz refresh rate with a 0.25mm dot pitch....

Tips from our readers.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2000... $50 BONUS WINNER Intelligent Zoom and Pan Tip #1651 [ZV.LSP] Here's a collection of eight smart zoom and pan commands for working in model space and paper space while maintaining the viewport scaling. When TILEMODE=0, the routines...

Choose your Web vendors with care.(Industry Trend or Event)(Column)
October 1, 2000... This month, CADALYST introduces CAD Online, a new column charged with exploring the impact of the Internet on CAD users and the design process. Authors Bill Burchard and Glenn Kennedy will alternate coverage of the AEC and...

Data translation.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... Cadverter.com (starts at $50) is an Internet-based CAD data translation service from Theorem Solutions. You can send and receive mechanical design data generated in any mechanical CAD/CAM/CAE system. Cadverter.com offers 88 data translation...

Information management.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Bamboo Solutions announced Info.trak v2.0 ($750-$1,000 per seat) information management software. The software lets you automate almost any shop floor process and handles any type of data transmitted over network, Web, and WAP-enabled devices....

Internet meeting.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... 3D Meeting (free to SolidWorks Subscription Service customers) from SolidWorks Corporation is an add-in to SolidWorks software that lets you view and share mechanical designs in real time over the Internet. 3D Meeting lets vendors,...

Project management.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Meridian ProjectPack v6 (call for pricing) from Meridian Project Systems is a project control software suite for the AEC industry. It includes Prolog Web Site, Prolog Manager, Prolog Executive, and Prolog Pocket project management applications....

Online marketplace.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... SupplierMarket.com announced version 4 of the SupplierMarket.com marketplace. The new release features a value-added service field that suppliers can use for bidding events and to specify services like inventory replenishment, vendor-managed...

Pick points quickly with object tracking in AutoCAD 2000.(Product Information)
October 1, 2000... AutoCAD 2000 greatly simplifies and extends the object tracking mode introduced in Release 14 (see Learning Curve, May 1999). Object tracking helps you locate points relative to other points in a drawing. Let's turn on the Wayback Machine and...

Develop database applications Step 4: Data extraction.(Product Support)
October 1, 2000... Now that you know how to store nongraphic data in a drawing (as described in the previous three installments), it's time to learn how to extract the data for use in a spreadsheet or database application. Previously we focused on storing...

Hybrid modelers, part 2: What good are surfaces?(Technology Information)
October 1, 2000... Why would anyone want to model with surfaces when you can use solids? Chris, a long-time user of a solids-only CAD system, raised this question last time (CADALYST, August 2000, p. 44) after running into problems importing a particular part. In...

CAD vendors shape Internet strategies.(Product Information)
October 1, 2000... PTC, Alventive, and Unigraphics all intend to expand their product offerings to cater to companies setting up Web-based collaboration and e-commerce sites. PTC (www.ptc.com) has added a third business unit, Windchill Netmarkets, to the...

Intel leaks Pentium 4 details.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... Intel previewed its new netBurst microarchitecture, which will appear in the Pentium 4 processor introduced later this year. Features include hyper-pipeline technology, which doubles the pipeline depth; a rapid execution engine that performs...

Dell leads workstation market.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... Market research firm Dataquest estimates that the worldwide workstation market grew by 14% in the second quarter of 2000. Total shipments amounted to 440,463 units. Dell claimed the top spot in worldwide workstation shipments with a 22.7%...

Autodesk 2000i products have problems.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... Autodesk reports several problems with its newly released 2000i. Online registration won't work if you use Internet Explorer 5.5. Problems may also arise when you try to connect to the AutoCAD Today Web site with an outdated browser or browser...

Autodesk ships new version of Inventor.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Autodesk shipped Inventor Release 3 in early August. Among the reported 120 new features are 3D Exchange Editor, which lets you modify nonparametric 3D models imported from other CAD systems. A 3D Assembly Sectioning tool slices through...

Autodesk.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Autodesk introduced an OEM version of its ACTRIX Technical 2D diagramming software.

Nemetschek North America.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... Nemetschek North America says its VectorWorks product will support Mac OS X.

SolidWorks.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... SolidWorks shipped copy 100,000 of SolidWorks to National Crane Corp. The seat total breaks down into 54,000 commercial and 46,000 education seats.

Kanotech.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... Kanotech is the first member of the Autodesk Strategic Partner Program to serve local governments. Kanotech's CivicCenter GIS solutions use Autodesk's Map and MapGuide products.

I3 and Autodesk.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... I3 and Autodesk offer a migration program to AutoCAD Mechanical for MICROCADAM and Helix Design users. www.autodesk.com/autocadmech

ANSYS and Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... ANSYS and Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies will develop applications for the electronics packaging industry. The first product is AnsPak, a parametric simulation tool for chip packages.

CAD/CAM Solutions of Canada.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... CAD/CAM Solutions of Canada (www.ccsc-online.com) earned Autodesk Systems Center status.

Graphisoft acquired a minority share in Objects Online, Inc.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... Graphisoft acquired a minority share in Objects Online, Inc., an e-commerce site that sells intelligent 3D objects for ArchiCAD. An independent GDL Alliance (www.GDLAlliance.com) has formed to promote GDL as a standard in the building and...

Informative Graphics.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2000... Informative Graphics acquired Allegis Corp.'s Net-It Central Web publishing tool.

CADALYST LABS HELPS YOU PICK THE PERFECT PLOTTER.(Evaluation)
October 1, 2000... For longer than seems reasonable to recall, CADALYST has looked at plotters and tried to give readers some sage advice about what plotter to buy. The job has become easier over the years because the only plotter manufacturers that survive are...

HARDWARE : Flat-panel monitors.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... IBM announced the T74A ($1,899) and T86A ($3,099) TFT (thin-film transistor) flat-panel monitors. The T74A features a 170 viewable image with resolution up to 10243768 pixels. The T86A features an 18.10 viewable image size with resolution up to...

HARDWARE : 1GHz desktop system.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Gateway, Inc., introduced the Select 1000 1GHz desktop system (prices start at $2,999) that features an AMD 1GHz Athlon processor and 200MHz front-side bus. It offers DSL (digital subscriber line) connections for Internet access. The Select...

HARDWARE : Large-format scanner.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... VIDAR's Surveyor ($35,500), large-format scanner delivers flatbed accuracy for GIS and mapping applications. The Surveyor is sheet fed and has a resolution of up to 800dpi. According to the company, it is accurate to 60.05% 6 1 pixel. VIDAR's...

HARDWARE : Digital displays.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... NetTV announced four HDTV-ready digital display: the DTV 29XC ($1,899), DTV 36XW ($2,499), DTV 34XC ($4,599), and DTV 42WP ($11,999). The flat wide-screen 360 DTV 36XW, DTV 29XC, and DTV 34XC feature conventional component inputs for 480i...

HARDWARE : 210 CRT monitor.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Eizo Nanao Technologies Inc. announced the FlexScan F930 210 CRT ($1,369). The FlexScan F930 offers a 0.25mm dot pitch, Eizo's SuperErgoCoat for glare reduction, and a maximum resolution of 204831536 at an 80Hz refresh rate. A horizontal...

GENERAL SOFTWARE : File linkage.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... SchematicLink (call for pricing) from Router Solutions, Inc., links industry-standard schematic files with layout files. Schematic-Link is free to all CAMCAD Professional users with applicable readers and current maintenance. SchematicLink lets...

GENERAL SOFTWARE : AutoCAD note-taker.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Noting 2000 ($39 per license) from CAE-Link Corporation provides a dynamic set of noting tools for AutoCAD 2000 drawings. Noting 2000 adds a comprehensive toolbar that features utilities for text entry such as dynamic single and multiline text...

GENERAL SOFTWARE : Project control.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... VIA ECDS (electrical controls design software; $3,500) from VIA Development Corporation incorporates a variety of user-requested features in its latest 6.0 release. ECDS links schematics, panel drawings, bills of materials, and database...

GENERAL SOFTWARE : Element analysis.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Inter-CAD Ltd. announced AxisVM finite element analysis software (prices start at $399). You can perform static, modal, and buckling analysis on 3D bar, membrane, plate, and shell structures. Typical applications include plane and space, frames...

MECHANICAL SOFTWARE : Solid modeling guide.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... CADKEY Corporation's Fundamentals of Solid Modeling With CADKEY (introductory price is $99) includes step-by-step exercises that cover CADKEY's modeling tools. The fully illustrated textbook looks at CADKEY's layout mode and offers advice on...

MECHANICAL SOFTWARE : Mold design.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... VX Vision Mold Edition ($1,995) is a special version optimized by Varimetrix for the design and documentation of injection and blow molds for plastic parts. Mold Edition lets you develop quotes and supporting documentation, and design and make...

MECHANICAL SOFTWARE : Engineering extras.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... PTC announced Pro/MECHANICA 2000i2 ($9,995) and Pro/DESKTOP 2000i2 ($3,495). Pro/MECHANICA provides a scalable simulation environment to support all stages of product development. Scalable simulation modeling lets you interact directly with the...

MECHANICAL SOFTWARE : Model manager.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Pathtrace's EdgeCAM for Mechanical Desktop v4.5 (call for pricing) is designed for off-line CNC programming. With Mechanical Desktop's multiple document interface and EdgeCAM, you can perform tool path generation and test machining scenarios on...

MECHANICAL SOFTWARE : Load history.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... LMS International announced the DADS durability interface (call for pricing) to enable LMS DADS to import and export load data time histories into LMS FALANCS and other durability analysis software. You can use virtual prototypes to determine...

MECHANICAL SOFTWARE : Autodesk add-ons.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... CAD Management Group, Inc., released Power Steel ($395), Power Fasteners ($495), and Power Piping ($595) add-ons for Autodesk Inventor R2 and R3. Power Steel includes 21 steel shapes, and Power Fasteners contains 124 ANSI and metric fasteners....

AEC SOFTWARE : Pipe design.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... Haestad Methods Inc. simultaneously released SewerCAD, StormCAD, and WaterCAD (call for prices). The applications let you analyze, design, map, manage, and plan piping systems for water distribution, sanitary sewer, and storm water collection...

AEC SOFTWARE : Drafting tool.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... APC.Draft 3.0 ($249) from SoftCAD International is a drafting tool for working drawings, sections, and elevations. APC.Draft is a parametric 2.5D drafting application that comes with ArchiTECH.PC's drafting tools and object libraries. The 2.5D...

On the Job: Infrasoft paves the way for Denmark roads.(Product Information)
October 1, 2000... Denmark is a relatively small country of five million people in 45,000 square kilometers. The DRD (Danish Road Directorate), a government department dedicated to building road systems, employs 15 CAD users. Although the Danish government has a...

GIS SOFTWARE : Mapping software.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... ESRI introduced MapObjects LT 2 embeddable mapping component software ($1,000). MapObjects LT 2 features renderers, geometric objects, and spatial search methods. It also provides a statistics object and enhanced output methods when you plot...

GIS SOFTWARE : Corridor mapping.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... TCI Software's CoriMap Sampler ($129, $495 with MapTools Basic v4) adds new tools to TCI's MapTools automated mapping toolkits. Block Redefine is an automated tool to replace block definitions and block inserts in pre-defined drawings called...

GIS SOFTWARE : 3D measurement.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2000... ArcSecond introduced the Vulcan Spatial Measurement System ($27,500) for 3D measurement, inspection, and modeling. Vulcan uses Microsoft's Pocket PC platform to run 3D-I (3D intelligence) software such as Survey 3D-I and PocketCAD. Vulcan lets...

MARK YOUR CALENDAR.
October 1, 2000... CALENDAR Int'l Symposium for Engineering IT October 1-4 The Contemporary Hotel Orlando, FL www.iseit.com Computers in Manufacturing October 10-12 Rosemont Convention Center Rosemont, IL www.cimshow.com IMET 2000...

Only at cadalyst.com. . . : 2000 Training Guide.(Editorial)
October 1, 2000... Proficient CAD users are not only well-versed in CAD software, but also seek to continually upgrade their CAD knowledge to further their potential. Hence CADALYST's CAD User's Training Guide 2000. Here you find an index of CAD-related training...

A walk on the wild side : SIGGRAPH 2000 in New Orleans.(Industry Trend or Event)
October 1, 2000... For the last 25 years, SIGGRAPH has been the preeminent computer graphics and animation show in the world. Here, professionals, amateurs, and educators come together in a five-day fest of technological creativity. This year the show took...

Parametric power aids AEC design : Revit v1.01 leads the way with subscription-based AEC modeling software.(Software Review)(Evaluation)
October 1, 2000... Revit is a new 3D architectural modeler that offers some interesting and exciting tools. It's currently a first-release product and therefore a little limited in functionality. The Revit developers are committed to releasing upgrades on a...