BLAUGI Blog of Autodesk User Group International

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

AUGIWorld November 2011 is Now Available!

AUGI is pleased to announce our November Issue of AUGIWorld is now available for download via PDF and online via digital edition.
	Do you prefer off-site, instructor-led, immersion-style training or would you rather lunch and learn? Do you like to be sequestered with your co-workers for half-day training sessions in the office or would you rather learn online at the time (and place) of your choosing? You want to read a book or watch a training video? Training methods are as diverse as the trainees themselves and this issue of AUGIWorld breaks down the various forms of training, offers some pro and con, and discusses sure-fire strategies that those in charge of training can employ for maximum effect.  Juan Soto offers advice on training AutoCAD Civil 3D in “Increase Your Chances for Training Success.”  In “CAD Management: 10 Ways to Train,” author Brian Andresen illustrates some familiar—and not so familiar—ways to bring training to the masses. And Walt Sparling reminds us how critical it is to engage in ongoing training in his article “The Domino Effect.”
How do you take your training?
Also in the November issue of AUGIWorld: How to Become the CAD “Go-To” Guy – Want to be the worker that seems to have the answer for every single issue or problem in AutoCAD? Author Murray Clack shows you how. Wicked Problems in Construction – The BUILT series continues as James Salmon highlights wicked problems in the construction industry and, of course, offers some wicked solutions. Jump Start BIM: A CADworks MEP BIM Integration Suite Product Review – Todd Shackelford reviews this cloud-based solution, designed to help small and medium-sized engineering firms and contractors migrate from CAD to BIM. Navisworks: From Design to Construction and Back – Michael Smith lays out a blueprint for indoctrinating both design and project teams in the use of BIM technologies. Here’s how Navisworks can help. Navigating the Library Assembly Minefield – Are you annoyed by frequent requests to save when using assemblies in a library? Well, author Scott Moyse was, and set out to fix it. Follow along. Training the Technical MEP User – Industry veteran David Butts provides a no-nonsense approach to training technical users. Think how, what, and when. Revit Structure, Under the Hood – A comprehensive look at Autodesk Revit Structure from Jeremiah Bowles. Know that success with Revit Structure begins with a change in your thinking. The Learning Curve – Whether you want to hang with your fellow 3ds Max users in an online community or step up and get Autodesk certification, Dario Passariello can tell you where to start. Understanding Parametric Constraints – Melinda Heavrin offers this step-by-step tutorial on parametric constraints in AutoCAD Architecture. Know Your Navisworks Files – In order to collaborate effectively, you have to know your files. Bill Campbell takes you inside Navisworks files and offers some timely tips for data sharing. The Five Stages of Revit Users – Jason Grant takes you through the growing stages—and growing pains—of training in the Revit platform. Revit Training: The Right Step Forward – Arm yourself with information to create effective training for others and to get training for yourself.
Also in this issue...
13 Questions with Autodesk’s Katie Langan – Autodesk’s product support specialist for AEC, Katie Langan, seems to be everywhere—blogging, problem solving, helping customers, and communicating information among key teams.  Inside Track – The latest Autodesk and related software items. Heads Up – Updates, Service Packs, and more.
Read the November issue of AUGIWorld for 2011. Click here today!

AUGI Hotnews October 2011 Now Available

AUGI is pleased to announce the October 2011 issue of HotNews! Read it today. In this issue of HotNews: Features: * Letter from the President - 2011 October - AUGI President David Harrington brings you up to date on the latest developments in the AUGI community. Columns * TIPniques: Why You Should Use CAD Standards The first in a two-part series from guest columnist Katie Miller. Anyone who thinks CAD Standards aren't important has probably never stepped into a project-in-process where standard file management or naming conventions were ignored. * CAD Management: Dealing with a Horrible Boss Bad boss got you down? Mark Kiker delivers these common-sense tips for dealing with the situation. * Sponsor Spotlight: Intel Turbo Boost Takes Workstation Performance to New Heights HP Z Workstations and Intel Turbo Boost technology provide the processing speed you need to get the job done. Find out how. Read the October issue of HotNews Now! Click here today!

AUGIWorld July 2011 -

Management, organization, getting your ducks in a row… Whatever you want to call it, spending some time to think through the process of implementation before you take it on means no wasted steps, less frustration, and ensures a streamlined process.

In “Revit Implementation: Workflow Tricks,” Aaron  Maller lets his experience do the talking when it comes to Revit implementation and standardization.

AutoCAD Architecture pro Melinda Heavrin provides a blueprint for managing CAD Standards in her article “CAD Standards Management.”

Curt Moreno discusses a common sense approach to CAD Management in his article “CAD Management: Managing More than CAD.”

Visit the issue page to download the latest issue! -  Click here

Here’s what else you’ll see in this issue:

• Managing BIM Coordination – Michael N. Smith discusses the team approach and preparation needed for solid BIM coordination through Navisworks.
• Revit MEP / Up-front Organization – If you’ve been tagged as the office’s Revit MEP “go to” person, learn how to deliver superior file management. David Raynor offers some tips.
• Crazy for Management – Christopher Fugitt on how management figures into everything you do in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Wrangle Your Data with Autodesk Vault – Data management, a necessary evil? Perhaps, but the key word there is “necessary.” Do it right with these tips from John Evans and Jonathan Landeros. 
• BUILT – BIM TO FM: Procuring Integrated Services – In the latest installment of the “BUILT” series, James Salmon discusses why owners must rethink the way they procure services.
• 3ds Max: Making the Virtual Real – Key elements for successfully integrating and managing the interrelationship of Revit, 3ds Max, and 3D Printing, from the perspective of David Munson.
• AutoCAD MEP: Implementation, Part 2 – Beth Powell with a second article in a series. In this article, she takes on piping settings.
• So You Want to Implement Revit? – The key to becoming a fully implemented Revit firm can be found in a single word. Let Ibrahim Hakki enlighten you.
• Autodesk Insider: 15 Questions with Steve Bedder – Blogger, educator, technical engineer, and sports enthusiast Steve Bedder of Autodesk answers our questions about his job, colleagues, and other pursuits.
• Heads Up! – William Troeak presents updates, service packs and top known issues from the product pages at Autodesk.com. 
• Inside Track – Erik Lewis with more recent developments at Autodesk and related software.

Visit the issue page to download the latest issue! -  Click here

AUGI HotNews July 2011 - Now Available

Features

Citrix-Ready Autodesk Applications - AUGI talks to Robert Vizza, Director, Global Alliances, and Rob Cornell, Senior Alliance Manager, about Citrix-ready applications from Autodesk.

Creating Door Swing Angles in Revit - Velina Mirincheva with step-by-step instructions for showing open doors and windows in 3D models.

Letter from the President - There's a lot going on within the AUGI organization and President David Harrington describes it here. AUGI HotNews is under new (internal) management, foreign language versions of HotNews are emerging, AUGI members have a presence on YouTube, and the recent Revit Technology Conference was a resounding success.

Columns

TIPniques: Easy Access to Add-ons

Autodesk's recently introduced Autodesk Exchange Apps is a marketplace for buying and selling add-ons, LISP routines, and more.

CAD Management: Seeking Good Advice

Talking to others about CAD experiences can yield a gold mine of information, but there's an art to getting the right information, from the right people, at the right time. Here are some tips.

Sponsor Spotlight: How HP Performance Advisor Helps Boost Productivity

HP Performance Advisor allows you to maximize the performance and reliability of your HP workstation so you can get the most out of your systems on a daily basis