BLAUGI Blog of Autodesk User Group International

AUGIWorld June 2013 - Third Party Apps

If you're reading this, you're already well entrenched in the Autodesk camp. You're an unabashed fan of Autodesk products. Yet sometimes you need a little something more to make Autodesk products perfect for your particular environment. Enter the add-in, add-on, or third-party app-whatever you call it, few Autodesk product users haven't at least shopped them at some point and scores are using them regularly to great advantage.


The June 2013 issue of AUGIWorld tips the hat to third-party apps compatible with Autodesk products. For example, AutoCAD Architecture guru Melinda Heavrin explains how to Create, Edit & Share with Google SketchUp.

Join Shaun Farrell and Rory MacTague on Adventures with Revit Plug-Ins. And Monica Petersen helps you tell the difference between stellar apps and also-rans with her article Five Tips for Selecting Quality Apps.

Also in the June 2013 AUGIWorld...

Property Wizardry at Its Finest - Scott Moyse interviews Sean Dotson and Neil Munro, developers of IPropWiz, an Inventor add-in created to simplify and ease the management of component properties.

Supporting Roles - Don't get frustrated, get help. Christopher Fugitt highlights third-party tools that "fill the gaps" in AutoCAD Civil 3D software.

Dynamic Workflow - Michael N. Smith on the importance of understanding the workflow of nwf files in Navisworks Manage.

Understanding View Range - Get to know the View Range concept with this in-depth article by Jerad Meidinger.

Also in this issue...


•    Backstop Backstory - You may never watch basketball the same way again after reading Larry Daubenspeck's article containing behind-the-scenes programming. Bonus tip from Michael Beall: how to copy the Qleader Arrow in AutoCAD.

•    Inside Track – Lee Ambrosius presents up-and-coming products for Autodesk users. This month: PDF-based collaboration, a new mobile app, and more.

AUGIWorld May 2013 - Something for Everyone

Who doesn't love a smorgasbord? There are plenty of choices and nobody walks away without finding something that pleases. For AUGI members, the educational menu is equally varied in the May 2013 issue of AUGIWorld magazine. Yes, there's something for everyone.

For example, help yourself to "Execution is Key to Implementation," Philip Russo's article targeted to Revit Structure users. If your interest is Autodesk Simulation CFD, you'll savor John Evans' look at the latest release in
"New Features and Enhancements in CFD."

Or perhaps you want to do what you have been doing, only better. If that's the case, sample Walt Sparling's "Using AutoCAD Efficiently" with a bonus AutoCAD tip from Michael Beall. There are many more choices in this issue, so dig in.

Also in the May 2013 AUGIWorld...

 

Nested Families and Parameter Controls – Cassandra Watts uses a real-life project to demonstrate the proper use of parameters in Revit MEP.

Reporting, on a Curve – Marcello Sgambelluri shows you how to report the length of a curve or series of curves in Revit Architecture.

What's in Your Profile? – Sam Lucido shows civil designers how to gain an advantage by creating profiles within AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Take Advantage of Annotations – Melinda Heavrin examines the annotation abilities in AutoCAD Architecture including keynotes, notes and labels, dimensions, hatches, and lots more.

Property Set Definitions – Elisha Sage explores how AutoCAD MEP helps to create and modify data within drawings.

Plus...

Making a Game of Model Navigation – Kevin Miller and James Christensen play around with the idea of using a video game controller for model navigation. •

Converting Revit to 3D PDF – Marcello Sgambelluri reviews the 3D PDF Converter for Revit product from 3DA Systems.

Inside Track – Lee Ambrosius with new software for Autodesk product users. This month, featured selections address xrefs, images, and a workflow capture and sharing tool.

AUGIWorld March 2013 - Expert Help at Your Fingertips

As an Autodesk product user and AUGI member, there is no reason, ever, to work in a vacuum. If you have the desire to find a better, quicker, more efficient way to solve a problem or perform a function, help is literally as close as the AUGI Forums - and the March 2013 issue of AUGIWorld.

In this issue, our experts present their favorite tips and tricks for popular Autodesk products. Melanie Perry, AUGI board member, brings you "Tips from the Dork Side", her collection of tips for AutoCAD. Joining Melanie is Michael Beall with another of his monthly quick tips.


Revit Structure users will benefit from the article by Brian Mackey, who presents "Productivity Boosters for Everyday Work."

And Mark Flayler provides "A Collection of Hot Tips" for Inventor 2013 software. And there's a lot more tips, tricks, and helpful hints in this issue.

Also in the March 2013 AUGIWorld...

Advanced Scheduling: Check This Model – Martijn de Riet shares key information he's found while working on the Dutch Revit Standards.

Tools & Timesavers – Melinda Heavrin presents a handful of her favorite tips for using AutoCAD Architecture.

Revit Content That Works – Andrew Baranowski reveals why you'll never have to search the Internet for a Revit family again. He shows you how develop custom Revit content.

Civil 3D Funkiness – Christopher Fugitt with some tips & tricks you won't find in a typical AutoCAD Civil 3D training course.

Also in this issue...

What's in a Report? – Michael Smith demonstrates Navisworks tool that enable users to effectively report meeting minutes following coordination meetings.

Inside Track – New offerings from Autodesk and related third-party providers.

AUGIWorld February 2013 - Expert Advice for Beginners

You don't have to be a first-time Autodesk user to appreciate fundamentals. Everybody - regardless of number of years in the workplace - needs to get back to basics eventually. Long-time AutoCAD users just discovering Revit are, in fact, beginners. They're starting anew and they need all the advice they can get!

Fortunately for AUGIWorld readers, the February 2013 issue is packed with wisdom for those starting at "square one." Mark Flayler covers Basics for New Inventor Users. Chris Alexander offers up a lesson on Basic 3D Object Tools for Every User.

And Kevin Miller enters the world of academia to explore Navisworks in a University Curriculum.

And that's just the start of what you'll learn in this issue.

Livin’ the Dream – Adam Muñoz shares some words of wisdom he literally dreamed up. And Michael Beall offers a quick tip on how to create a tool palette from blocks.

Reconstructing the Architectural Practice: Success in AECO, Revit, BIM – Jay B. Zallan presents a detailed roadmap for finding success with BIM.

Working with Spaces – Melinda Heavrin leads you through a lesson on the use of spaces in AutoCAD Architecture.

MEP Families in Ceiling Coordination – R. Robert Bell offers a step-by-step tutorial on using the Family Editor in Autodesk Revit.

Understanding Line Weight Basics – Philip Russo will assist new Revit users in controlling the visibility and appearance of objects.

Also in this issue...

Convert Civil 3D Data to SHP Files – Collaborators Christopher Pitzer and Justin Comeau present a lesson on bringing AutoCAD Civil 3D data into ArcGIS for Desktop.

Inside Track – New stuff from Autodesk and related software developers.

AUGIWorld January 2013 - Level Up!

With the end-of-the-world business behind us, it's time to look forward to a year replete with new challenges to meet and goals to achieve. Autodesk product users, never ones to let their skills get stale, will no doubt push themselves to become ever more efficient in 2013.

The January 2013 issue of AUGIWorld is a good place to get started on the year-long quest for excellence. Edwin Prakoso shows you how to Do More with Fewer AutoCAD Tools and offers some great time-saving tips.


For Navisworks Manage users, Mark Hunter demonstrates how to slash time spent on clash detection in Thousands of Clashes in a Thousand Seconds. And John Evans has an interesting take on Communicating Simulation with Showcase Rendering.

Also in the January 2013 AUGIWorld...

Display Themes and You – AutoCAD Architecture expert Melinda Heavrin explores the software's "under-appreciated" Display Themes tool.

Myth Buster: Revit & IFC, Part 2 – An article in the September 2012 issue led to a lot of feedback and the need for a sequel, so Martijn de Riet revisits IFC handling with Revit.

Plumb It, Don't Plummet – Dave Benscoter presents an option for creating plumbing systems in Revit MEP in a multi-model workflow process without disrupting that process between the architect and the plumbing engineer/designer.

Post-Tensioned Concrete Slabs – Anamaria Brown has developed a procedure for adding and modifying tendons (2D) by creating a number of new Revit families that can be used again and again.

BIM and Civil 3D – Fact or Fiction? – Andrew Walther sheds light on how AutoCAD Civil 3D software relates to BIM.

Also in this issue...

(SMART)x Game Changers – James Salmon begins a new series for the Built industry. The goal is to open thought leaders' eyes regarding the value of IPD, BIM, and lean processes.
 
Inside Track – See what's new in Autodesk and related software items.