BLAUGI Blog of Autodesk User Group International

AUGIWorld January 2012 Issue Released... Get Advanced

One of life's great truths - and something AUGI members know all too well - is that we never stop learning. Just when you think you've mastered your Autodesk product of choice, you stumble across a blog post, read an article, or install a new software release and find that, yes, there is more to learn.

Get ready to learn something new! Leading off is "AutoCAD System Variable Superstars" by Louisa Holland, who will take you on a tour of some time-tested sysvars. Discover efficient AutoCAD Civil 3D modeling techniques for roundabouts from Bryan Tanner. And learn all about the Autodesk Inventor Moldflow Adviser plug-in from Mark Flayler.

And that's only the beginning of your learning experience this month. Here’s more.

Also in the January 2012 issue of AUGIWorld:

AUGI Product Review - The HP Z210 gets a work out from reviewers Bill Debevc and Lonnie Cumpton in a brand new AUGIWorld feature.

Ini or Outie? Advancing Your Customization of the Revit ini File - Do you use Revit Architecture as it is right out of the box or do you customize? Steve Bennett gives you some tips, techniques, and a bit of code for customizing the ini file.

Green Networks: A Solution - Find out how you can go green (and save some green!) in this article by James Clifton.


When Cranes Fly - Join Michael Smith for a lesson in Navisworks Animator, a tool that lets you create a scene with model objects. This little-known tool can make a big impact in a walkthrough.

Plumbing Systems for Well-Documented Flow - If you're new to Revit MEP, plumbing can be daunting. Author Joel Londenberg helps you through it.

Scheduling: The Basics and Beyond - Revit Structure users are probably familiar with the software’s basic scheduling tools. Learn how to automate them and speed up the drafting process in this article by Glenn Jowett.

Rendering Basics - You need to learn to crawl before you can walk. Melinda Heavrin will teach you some fundamentals about rendering in AutoCAD Architecture that will prepare you to advance.

Wicked Solutions - James Salmon is back with another article in the Wicked series for the BUILT industry. Up this month, Wicked Solutions to your Wicked Problems.

Autodesk Insider: 14 Questions with Brian Haines - As Industry Marketing Manager for AEC at Autodesk, Brian keeps busy talking to users about their needs and working with Autodesk developers to deliver products to meet those needs.


Also in this issue...

Heads Up – Updates, Service Packs and Top Known Issues obtained from the product pages at Autodesk.com.
 
Inside Track – Recent developments from Autodesk and related software items.

Where did you 1st hear about AUGI?

Do you remember how you first heard about @AUGI #augi ? Please voice it by clicking the Quick Survey Poll located on the right-hand side on augi.com home page

AUGI HotNews January 2012 is Now Available!

 AUGI HotNews January 2012

In this issue of HotNews: HotNews is looking for writers  - HotNews is AUGI’s monthly email based newsletter. Its goal is to keep our members up to date with what is going on in AUGI and to present our resources to our members. We are currently looking to focus our content on industry specific articles and are looking for writers to help out. If you are interested in writing for AUGI HotNews please contact the HotNews Production Manager. Features: * President's Letter - 2012 January - Happy New Year! What's in store for AUGI members in 2012? A lot, as it turns out.If that didn’t get you excited about 2012 and all that it has in store for you, then I guess I just have to go into the details! AUGI is poised to do some pretty cool things this year and all of it is member driven and guided by the AUGI Board of Directors... Columns * TIPniques: Dr. Who and the CAD Manager Part 2 - More time traveling with Patrick Hughes and Doctor Who. Lessons from the past are still relevant today. Welcome back! It was an exciting return trip after I dropped you off last month. I didn’t have quite enough battery power to make it to my destination, but fortunately I landed in a shopping mall outside of Miami that had those new car chargers available. * CAD Management: Happy Old Year - Examining what you learned in 2011 will get you ready to tackle 2012. While many have been wishing you a Happy New Year, I would like to wish you a Happy Old Year.  The Old Year will be great.  The coming Old Year will provide so much for you.  What we can expect from the Old Year will enrich our lives... * Sponsor Spotlight: Boost Productivity with HP Performance Advisor - Optimize effortlessly with the HP Performance Advisor.Working smarter and faster are keys to bringing high-quality products to market. Any system performance issues can greatly cut into your productivity—and your ability to deliver solutions on time and on budget. Read the December issue of HotNews Now! Click here today!

AUGIWorld December 2011 is Now Available!

AUGIWorld December 2011 Issue Released!

Can there be any doubt about the value of information sharing in the design industry? Whether it’s a quick question-and-answer session with the person in the next cubicle, or following an online blogger or discussion group guru to see what they’re thinking, or reading the latest from a published author, we rely on the opinions, perspective, and insight from those we admire to help us become better producers in our own environment. The December issue of AUGIWorld serves up plenty of perspective from industry professionals. In "Halfway to Paperless," Bryan Thompson offers his solution for getting us beyond just talking about a paperless office and actually realizing it. Melinda Heavrin, AutoCAD Architecture expert, thoroughly discusses "Material Matters" within the product. In "Stuck in Neutral, Christopher Fugitt offers his view on AutoCAD Civil 3D and what is needed to make that product all it could be.

Also in the December 2011 issue of AUGIWorld: Create BIM Content with Corridor Models - in a bonus AutoCAD Civil 3D article, Francesca Maier explores an efficient way to create 3D models to coordinate with other disciplines. Getting to the Next Level - creating a BIM environment goes far beyond implementing Revit and calling it done. Firms will need to spend money, spend time, and build a culture of embracing change, says author Todd Shackelford. Advanced Rendering in Revit - Kyle Benedict plumbs the depths of producing presentations using tools within Revit.

Super Families: A Kit of Parts - Many Revit users find families difficult to master. Author Nicholas Kramer makes the concept easy to grasp by breaking it down into parts. How Revit Structure Benefits the Construction Estimator - Pushing the BIM process to a total project delivery is the future, says author Sean Woods. Archviz Rock Star - Tom Cipolla interviews Victor Erthal, formerly of Neoscape. The True Meaning of CAM in the Industry - Scott Moyse interviews some industry veterans and others in his quest for perfection in Autodesk Inventor.

Also in this issue...

Heads Up – David Harrington on updates, service packs, and top known issues in Autodesk products.   Autodesk Insider - David Mills interviews Paul Sullivan, Senior PR Manager for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction at Autodesk.   Inside Track – Recent developments in Autodesk and related software, by Mark Kiker.   Wicked Tools for the BUILT Industry – The Wicked Series, by James Salmon, continues. In this installment: the BUILT industry needs to seize the opportunity to take a quantum leap forward by leveraging wicked tools.

contact AUGI   |   www.augi.com

AUGI 2011 Election Results are in...

The AUGI Board of Directors is pleased to announce the election results of the 2011-year end election.

After 14 days of voting, the official results of the AUGI Board of Directors Year end Election are available. Each of candidates were considered and voted on individually. The top 3 candidates with the highest number of votes were elected to serve on the AUGI Board of Directors for a three year term, commencing Jan 2012 – Dec 2014.

Congratulations:

Scott Ebert

Tommy Holder

Desiree Mackey

Please join all of AUGI in welcoming them to the AUGI board.

Departing Members:

Now that the elections are complete, we bid farewell to Bill Adams, a long-term board member, Donnie Gladfelter and David Harrington.

Bill Adams has served for 6 years on the Board and was instrumental in many of the initiatives over the six years he served, but mostly made his mark in governance and local user groups.

Donnie Gladfelter has served for 2 years on the Board. Donnie has assisted AUGI greatly in areas of Communications and Web Assets.   We wish them all well and hope that they stay connected in some way to AUGI. 

David Harrington will be exiting the board after serving the last two years to focus on being AUGI President in 2012.

 

2011 AUGI Board of Directors Ballot - Reminder to Vote

A reimder to all AUGI Members: Immediately after the AGM held at Autodesk University, each year AUGI opens the ballot for the upcoming elections for the AUGI Board of Directors.

AUGI would like to encourage you, if you have not yet voted, to go the web site and cast your votes here  (you must be a member and logged in to vote).

The Candidates represent diverse interests and global perspectives. The three director positions available will serve the 2012-2014 term.  If you would like to learn more about the candidates yo can do so here

The voting period will close on Thursday December 15th at 11:59pm GMT.

AUGI HotNews December 2011 is Available Now

AUGI is pleased to announce the December 2011 issue of HotNews! Read it today. In this issue of HotNews: AUGI Presents Wish List 2011 to Autodesk Execs - The AUGI Wish List Top 10 for AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Autodesk Inventor, and AutoCAD Civil 3D were presented to Autodesk Executives as part of the AUGI Annual Meeting. AUGI Top DAUG Competition at AU2011 - AUGI's Top DAUG competition at AU2011 was expanded to include more products and by extension more AUGI members. Read more about the winners and the t-shirt design. Features: * President's Letter - 2011 December - It was one knowledge-enhancing, career-building event after another at AU 2011. From a special breakfast "thank you" to AUGI volunteers, to the Annual Meeting, Beer Bust, and the crowning of the 2011 Top DAUG, AU 2011 was a memorable event for AUGI members. Columns * TIPniques: Dr. Who and the CAD Manager Part 1 Get a better idea of how long it really takes to design, layout, detail, and check. Patrick Hughes shows you how in the first part of a two-part series. * CAD Management: Is Your Workspace Killing Productivity? Is Your Workspace Killing Productivity? When it comes to office ergonomics, the trend is the wide open spaces. Mark Kiker offers some tips for making it work better for everyone. * Sponsor Spotlight: HP Technology on Display at Autodesk University Visitors to HP's AU booth got to disassemble a workstation, laugh and learn, and catch some flying money. Here's the recap. Read the december issue of HotNews Now! Click here today!