Architectural CADD News by Software |
Last Updated : Mar. 8, 2001
AutoCAD 2000i
Autodesk Inc. = http://www.autodesk.com
Latest version : AutoCAD 2002
Web site : http://www.autodesk.com
Online Forum : (there are many) see list at http://www.autodesk.com
Also see the News sections for Architectural Add-ons for AutoCAD :
Autodesk ArchitecturalDesktop3, ArchT, PalladioX, ArchPro, AP Design, Facade, Bricsnet Architecturals, RealArchitect, SmartArchitect, ArchiBus, GeoCAD
Note from Architectural CADD : AutoCAD is the most widely used microcomputer CADD used by many areas of engineering (with almost 18% of the total world CAD market). For 2D production drawings in the construction industry, AutoCAD's native DWG file format (still a proprietary secret) and AutoCAD's DXF file format (their official transfer standard) are commonly expected - so that every single competitor must now have a "translator" of some sort to read and write those file formats. AutoCAD is an enormously powerful generic (i.e. not architectural) 2D drafting CADD software, analogous to the "utility truck" of the industry. Since AutoCAD 13 (8 years ago) the software has borrowed Spacial Technology's ACIS to achieve 3D modeling abilities. As of 1998 there is now an architectural version of AutoCAD, called AutoCAD ArchitecturalDesktop, which includes entities for walls, windows, doors, etc. - these entities, however, are not fully compatible with other flavors of AutoCAD.
Comments from Architectural CADD : Probably one of the two most powerful and comprehensive general purpose CADD programs available for Microsoft Windows microcomputers (with MicroStation), with certainly the best and most extensive resources for training (books, schools, consultants) in the world. Many people, however, are happy doing 2D production drafting with their now 10 year old AutoCAD 12 copies, and the vast majority (some statistics say over 70%) still using AutoCAD 14 from 6 years ago. For this reason, and to spur sales of their architect-specific Autodesk ArchitecturalDesktop3.3, Autodesk is discontinuing AutoCAD 14 support and upgradeability as of Dec. 2001, essentially to force people to upgrade.
Note : Support and upgradability from AutoCAD 14 will discontinue Dec. 2001
AutoCAD 2002 and ArchitecturalDesktop3.3 are both Now Shipping
FREE ONLINE SEMINARS FOR USING NEW ARCHITECTURAL DESKTOP
Get ready to take advantage of Autodesk Architectural Desktop(tm) Release 3 by participating in a series of free, online seminars beginning . . . now! Topics and features include styles, curtains, walls, window assemblies, dynamic linking, and more. Don't delay, register today. http://pointa.autodesk.com/gotoPointA.jsp?dest=1_2_adt
Get live, instructor-led training on everything from migrating Release 14 plot settings to web-publishing your designs in the AutoCAD 2000/2000i Plotting series.
http://pointa.autodesk.com/gotoPointA.jsp?dest=1_2aecelearn&from=nl
Autodesk's second modular enhancement to AutoCADÆ 2000i-based software, the XML/Data Extension, is now available for download. Explore how it helps manage your design attribute data and layers and then extends that "real world" information to your business processes in this detailed tutorial:
http://pointa.autodesk.com/gotoPointA.jsp?dest=1_2_pitzxml
Want to know more about XML technology? You're in luck; we've also prepared an XML white paper:
http://www3.autodesk.com/adsk/item/0,,386188-123112-329719,00.html
The XML/Data Extension is free to VIP members:
http://www.autodesk.com/vipcentral
AutoCAD 2000 Now Shipping
Call your AutoCAD dealer for prices.
WARNING: AUTOCAD RELEASE 11 AND 12 UPGRADE PRICING ENDS
Release 11 is not upgradable after October 31, 1999. Release 12 is not upgradable after December 31, 1999.
There is an article available by Prof. Langdon entitled "WARNING - Why any design office using AutoCAD 12 should discontinue use of it immediatly : Reasons why you definitely should upgrade to AutoCAD2000 or consider alternative CADD". This new non-upgradable policy by Autodesk would add yet another reason any AutoCAD 12 office should immediatly change.
Operate AutoCAD 2000 free for 30 days. Visit http://www.autodesk.com/1023 to order the trial CD-ROM.
Autodesk Blows a Gasket From: Ralph Grabowski <ralphg@xyzpress.com> upFront.eZine NEWS #153 --- Mon, 10 May 1999
Full article on why AutoCAD2000 is failing. Scroll down.
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICES - At McNeil Associates Visit http://www.mcneel.com/acad2000.htm
Note: These prices are only for commercial customers in Washington and Oregon State. For Educational and Government prices in Washington State, call (206) 545-7000.
HOW TO FIND YOUR OLD AUTOCAD SERIAL NUMBERS
Download the new AutoCAD serial number harvesting tools from: http://www.mcneel.com/acad2000.htm
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AUTOCAD 2000
McNeel's AutoCAD 2000 Upgrade Guide is a complete description of all the new features, benchmarks, a migration guide, and plotting tips. It is included with AutoCAD and HP DesignJets purchased from McNeel, or it can be purchased separately for $75. Contact them at (206) 545-7000.
Autodesk announces products based on AutoCAD 2000
Autodesk Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) has announced six new products for design professionals in a wide range of disciplines. At the core of the announcement is AutoCAD(R) 2000, the PC design software tool and the base technology platform for new vertical products.
Carol Bartz, Chairman and CEO of Autodesk said the announcement "signals a big leap forward for Autodesk, as we start to unveil our products and strategy for the next millennium. The Design 2000 initiative is about Autodesk continuing to push into new markets and making our products more accessible to customers. As companies around the world are turning to design as the vehicle for maintaining their competitive edge, we're offering a family of integrated, scalable solutions for any design project." For further details please see http://www.aecinfo.com/news/ - March 9, 1999
Autodesk has hinted for more than a year that the next AutoCAD will not be called "Release 15." During its alpha and beta versions, it was known as "Tahoe." The next version of AutoCAD will be numbered 2000. Reader Evan Yares comments: "It seems to make sense to call this release A2K. You heard it first here." Rumor has it that AutoCAD2000 will ship on Monday, 15 March, 1999.
In contrast, Autodesk's latest version of QuickCAD, its lowest-priced CAD offering, is being named -- drum roll, please -- "QuickCAD Millennium Edition: Powerful CAD for the Cost-Conscious User With Unique Three-Tiered User Interface."
Autodesk Design World '99 (planned for New Orleans Sept 12-16) won't be happening this year. The annual Autodesk love-in is being replaced and renamed. Instead, devotees can trek to four regional shows in Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, and Chicago sometime between Aug and Nov '99. The event reverts to its former name, Autodesk University; will last three days (instead of five); and will cost less to attend.
AutoCAD Architectural Desktop has been specifically tailored for the work process of architectural professionals. With its new functionality, your 2D production-drafting process becomes more efficient. Since it is built on the rock-solid foundation of AutoCad®R14, you can still rely on AutoCAD's proven productivity and your optimized AutoCAD production techniques.
From Ralph Grabowski's UpFront ezine :
AutoCAD 2000 Top Ten
I received a FCS (first customer ship) copy of AutoCAD 2000 last week, compliments of Autodesk marketing (thanks guys!). Here are my favorite features, in no particular order:
* I love the real-time object snap tracking, together with polar tracking set to 15 degrees.
* Linewidths for many objects. Note: you need to turn on the feature in modelspace via the Format | Lineweight command.
* Command prompts have been cleaned up so that there are fewer "hidden" options.
* Right-click mode indicators on status line access related Settings dialog box.
* Clipboard support fixed after being broken all through R13 and R14.
* MDE -- load more than one drawing at a time.
* Parallel object snap.
* Properties window is powerful.
* Hyperlinks are live in drawings.
* Nice new packaging, but the CD-ROM is less colorful than the beta CD-ROM.
(A full install is over 200MB, not including the instructional CD-ROM.)
Beta testers were concerned that the AutoCAD 2000 was rushed out the door.
Since installing the FCS version last week, I have come across these items that may confirm their suspicion:
* The Dimension Style Manager is painfully slow. It takes 5 seconds to display on my 400MHz 200MB Pentium II desktop computer, and five minutes on my 75MHz 20MB 486 notebook computer.
* There are no "large" icons for the toolboxes. AutoCAD 2000 simply enlarges the "small" icons, which makes them look ugly.
* The three bugs (related to AutoCAD's Internet support) that I reported during the beta phase were not fixed.
* Some of the online documentation of new features is sparse, marring the otherwise excellent docs.
Items that I found missing from AutoCAD include: no improvements to theAttExt command; no layer standards; lack of output in the primaryCAD-friendly Internet raster format (GIF); no support for multi-threadingand multi-processor CPUs (although the display driver supports PentiumIII); and no plotting to EPS format.
Still, Autodesk is treating its beta testers well. Whereas Microsoft is charging its customers to install buggy software, Autodesk is giving a T-shirt and a mouse pad to all beta testers who registered. Nice touch!
Yet, take a look at the plummeting stock price. In just week, Autodesk shares have fallen from $37-3/4 to $28-15/16. Share value has fallen 33% since AutoCAD 2000 began shipping. The 52-week range is $21-5/8 to $49-7/16.
From Ralph Grabowski's UpFront ezine 7/99 :
LT Can Run ObjectARX Apps
LTX is the "AutoCAD LT Extension" engine for loading and running AutoCAD ARX applications in AutoCAD LT. According to developer ManuSoft, LTX is targeted at developers of commercial and in-house ARX add-ons who want their existing apps to run on AutoCAD LT 97 and LT 98.
President Owen Wengerd says, "The full array of ARX functionality is available to LTX applications, including custom object classes, reactors, custom commands." LTX is licensed annually with flat-rate and volume-based licensing options. http://www.manusoft.com/ltx.htm
Autodesk announced July that it has sold one million copies of AutoCAD LT. The official one-millionth customer was Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, a rail vehicle manufacturer in Pistoia, Italy. "We're proud of our role in defining the professional, 2D CAD category," said ceo Carol Bartz. Autodesk says the US$489 LT is its second-highest revenue contributor, after AutoCAD. http://www.autodesk.com/autocadlt
Autodesk is considering producing a Web-based detail library and management system. The system would run on an intranet, Internet, or extranet Web server. The interface could be customized using HTML, or used as is.
Review of ArchT add-on to AutoCAD
AutoCAD Architectural Desktop - in CADENCE magazine September 1998
Architectural Design Software : A Comparison of ArchiCAD, AllPlan, and AutoCAD
Special Articles on Incompatibilities of AutoCAD Architectural Desktop with AutoCAD
Special Articles on Incompatibilities of AutoCAD Architectural Desktop with AutoCAD
Autodesk Responds About the Controversial Issue
of Proprietary Objects Embedded into AutoCAD Drawings
WARNING - Why any design office using AutoCAD 12 should discontinue use of it immediatly
Reasons why you definitely should upgrade to AutoCAD2000 or consider alternative CADD
Notes from the IAI - International Alliance for Interoperability on IFC Classes
CADD Statistics - What really is the percentage of AutoCAD users
The AutoCAD AutoArchitect Windows Office
Autodesk Software Piracy Settlements Surpass $35 Million in North America
AutoCAD 2000 sent to 20,000 beta users
Autodesk Previews Design 2000
AutoCAD 2000 emphasizes: (1) heads-up design and ease of use; (2) communication with the Web and plotted output; and (3) the completion of the 4-5 year effort to make AutoCAD 2000 the platform for the 21st century, including upgrading the graphics pipeline, DWG database, customization API, and user interface.
"AutoCAD 2000 is easy enough for a marketing person to operate."
AutoCAD now has 2.3 million users, with nearly 1 million using Release 14.
In 1997, 7% of AutoCAD users in the U.S published drawings to the Web; in 1998, 25%.
Just about every file access allows Web access. This means, for example, that AutoCAD 2000 can access hatch pattern files (*.pat) over an intranet.
VLISP becomes the core LISP engine; LISP can now access ActiveX.
he display used to be 2D integer; it is now 3D floating-point, accelerated by OpenGL.
The ship date of AutoCAD 2000 is "not predetermined" and is not 15 March, as I previously reported. Autodesk says they are continuing to incorporate comments from beta testers.
From UpFront ezine. :
Its new Discreet entertainment division is the merging of Discreet Logic (a Canadian developer of visual effects, editing and broadcast software) and Kinetix (its multimedia business unit). Discreet unveiled 3D Studio MAX Release 3, the 3D modeling and animation software for PCs. The purchase of Discreet Logic represents the largest acquisition in Autodesk's history.
Where is AutoCAD 2000? Continuing in beta, we hear. Autodesk is telling its dealers, "AutoCAD 2000 is still scheduled for release in our first fiscal quarter" -- that means it's gotta ship by 30 April.
Meanwhile, the term "A2K" is becoming an issue, not the least for editors. We could call AutoCAD Release 14 "R14" for short. But what short form do we use for AutoCAD 2000? "2000" doesn't work. Autodesk has instructed its dealers not to use "A2K," to only use AutoCAD 2000. One reader reminds us that A2K is the Spanish term for Y2K. There is, as yet, no A2K Web site <g>.
Autodesk University will co-locate with IMET (International Manufacturing & Engineering Technology Congress), Nov 8 - 11, Chicago IL USA.
http://www.autodesk.com/compinfo/adw/index.htm and
(AutoCAD Architectural Desktop, Design2000)
Autodesk Inc. --- (AutoCAD, Design2000)
Sellers of AutoCAD : (also see the complete list of worldwide dealers on the Autodesk web site)
Designers CADD Company (Peter Bruckner) Cambridge MA ------- (AutoCAD, 3D Studio, Lightscape)- http://world.std.com/~descadd1
Consulting for Architects (CFA) (Craig Appaneil) Boston, MA ------- (AutoCAD) ------------------------------- http://www.cons4arch.com/BOS/bos.html
North American CAD ------- (AutoCAD LT, Plotters) ------------------------------------------------------- http://nacad.com/
Authorized AutoCAD dealer serving the Greater Philadelphia area (http://www.cadapult.net)
Scott Davidson -scottd@mcneel.com AutoCAD 2000 http://www.mcneel.com
Walter W. Fredrick Associates, Inc. is an Autodesk Developer Network Member and an HP registered peripheral developer specializing in superior service and technical support.
Kamel Software --- (AutoCAD Drawing Viewers)
Cimmetry Inc. --- (AutoCAD Drawing Viewers)
Cyco Inc. --- (AutoCAD Drawing Viewers)
Robert McNeel & Associates --- (AutoCAD Utilities, Accurender, Facade)
cadshareware.com ------- Roof Builder Tools for AutoCAD 14/2000 30 day trial (DataCAD version- non-trial avail) = http://www.cadshareware.com
AutoCAD Shareware Clearinghouse
AutoCAD-BSA Mail List Forum ------------------------ http://www.shore.net/cgi-bin/lwgate/autocad-bsa
Autodesk User Group International (AUGI) --------------------- http://www.augi.com/
AutoCAD SIG Washington DC ---------- http://www.cpcug.org/user/autocad/
A Special Interest Group (SIG) for AutoCAD users in the greater Washington DC area. A section of the Capital PC Users Group.
Dzine News --------------------- http://www.avat.com/site/contact/Dzine_subscription.stm
AutoCAD R13 Windows - Tutorial
Autodesk Training Center (at Wentworth Institute)
Autodesk Training Center at UNH/TSAS
"AutoCAD for Architectural Drawing" by Beverly and James Kirkpatrick
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0130802638/architecturalcad/
CADsyst - AutoCAD Shareware ---- http://www.cadsyst.com
The purpose of CADsyst is to make AutoCAD work for you by the use of the hundreds of shareware, freeware and public domain files available as well as interact with users like you through the use of newsgroups, usergroups and message boards.
Review of ArchT add-on to AutoCAD
ArchT
Great Lakes AutoCAD User Group
GLAUG meetings are held once per month, usually the 4th Thursday of the
month in the evening. Contact Dale Batko <DBATKO@dt.smithgroup.com>
for more info.
Autodesk Blows a Gasket From: Ralph Grabowski <ralphg@xyzpress.com> upFront.eZine NEWS #153
Mon, 10 May 1999
AutoCAD became popular with personal computer users (as they were called in the mid-80s) because they could customize the then-new CAD software. Many little third-party software companies sprang up take advantage of the relatively open CAD software.
Corporations were less sure about these little ISVs (independent software vendors). As one corporate buyer asked me over lunch at A/E/C Systems '86, "What happens if we buy AutoCAD with an add-on, then that little vendor goes under?" He prefered to stick with the safe names of the day, like Computervision and Intergraph. These CAD vendors sold the core CAD product, and the vertical market add-on, and all the hardware to run the software on.
That corporate buyer's prediction came true -- at least partially. Many of those early "little" vendors went under, particularly those selling customized digitizer overlays. A small number of ISVs became large and powerful: Cyco, SoftDesk, Eagle Point, and others.
Autodesk itself dabbled in selling add-on software, products that had names like CAD/camera and AutoCAD AEC. The problem was that the programmers were external to Autodesk, which meant it could not control its development; Autodesk simply marketed the products. By the early 90s, Autodesk changed it focus to become _the_ graphics company. It shed its add-on products, and instead went on a purchasing spree of all software graphical: educational, presentation, low-cost CAD, clip art, animation, etc.
By the mid-90s, Autodesk changed its focus back to its core competency: CAD, and the notable exception of 3D Studio. With CAD, Autodesk began to get back into the add-on business. This time, Autodesk purchased the technology so that it could control the development: drawing management, mechanical, architectural, civil, etc.
Throughout the life of AutoCAD Release 14, Autodesk tacked on more and more add-ons. By the time AutoCAD 2000 was announced, Autodesk had put together a master plan called "Design 2000." Press releases describe the Design 2000 strategy this way:
"Under the Design 2000 initiative, Autodesk is introducing AutoCAD [insert vertical product name here] 2000 software as part of a new series of products based on the AutoCAD 2000 platform for the architecture, land development, GIS, and mechanical marketplaces. Many of the new features in AutoCAD [vertical product] 2000 extend the power of AutoCAD 2000 to make tedious and repetitive tasks much simpler and easier."
Last Wednesday, the Autodesk share price fell 17% to 23 9/16, within a couple of dollars of its 52-week low. The cause? Autodesk had told financial analysts that expected earnings for its first quarter would be 10 to 15 cents per share, instead of the expected 40 cents per share. (A year ago, earnings were 55 cents a share; final financial results for the first quarter will be announced on May 27, 1999.) Autodesk shares have since risen to an even 26. A number of financial analysts immediately downgraded Autodesk shares.
What is causing the lower than expected earnings? Brenon Daly of CBS MarketWatch said Autodesk's lowered profits were due to "a tepid reception to the company's new flagship product [AutoCAD 2000]." Tim Klasell, analyst at Dain Rauscher Wessels, said, "the expected upgrades to AutoCAD 2000 did not occur. Autodesk also blamed Year 2000 concerns on the delay of some purchases in North America."
Why are customers delaying their purchase of AutoCAD 2000? Autodesk ceo Carol Bartz provides this answer: "Autodesk customers are in a transition throughout our product line, whether it's purchasing the recently shipped AutoCAD 2000 or anticipating the upcoming new vertical market product offerings in mechanical, GIS, and AEC." Translation: customers won't upgrade to AutoCAD 2000 until their vertical market product becomes available. Here is a road map of when some add-on products will be ready for AutoCAD 2000:
May 3: AutoCAD Map 2000 software for CAD-based mapping and geographic
information system (GIS) software.
May 28: Volo View Express (a free product).
Summer: AutoCAD Architectural Desktop.
Summer: AutoCAD Mechanical Desktop.
Late summer: CAD Overlay 2000, raster editing software for AutoCAD.
Early fall: Volo Explorer and Volo View (currently in alpha testing).
Early fall: AutoCAD LT 2000
Autodesk is suffering from linking too closely its add-on products with its core product. The tie-in occurs in three areas: (1) AutoCAD is typically sold with the add-on software as a single product; (2) the add-on product makes use of AutoCAD's proprietary Proxy objects; and (3) the add-on requires AutoCAD's proprietary ObjectARX programming interface.
This means that customers could upgrade to AutoCAD 2000, but they won't because their vertical app is not yet ready. (The R14 version of their vertical app does not work with AutoCAD 2000's specialized features.) So, the customer waits until the "full" upgrade (AutoCAD + add-on) becomes available. Some of Autodesk's vertical apps will ship as much as six months after AutoCAD 2000. At that point, customers may decide to wait a few months longer, to confirm the effect of 1 Jan '00 on their software systems.
This drawback to the Design 2000 strategy is not unexpected. A year ago, a similar thing happened to PTC. Share prices fell in half when PTC "didn't make the numbers" because of customers waiting for its late WindChill product to ship.
Autodesk Earnings Fall 73%
From: Ralph Grabowski <ralphg@xyzpress.com> upFront.eZine NEWS #156
Autodesk's profits in the three months ending 30 April fell to US$9 million, down from US$33.7 million a year earlier. Revenue fell 13% to US$194.9 million, from US$222.9 million. Autodesk said that AutoCAD accounts for about half its revenue.
The profit numbers exclude acquisition-related amortization charges. In the last quarter, Autodesk had purchase Discreet Logic (visual effects software) for US$421.3 million, and Vision Solutions (mapping software) for US$26 million. Allowing for the acquisitions, Autodesk lost US$17.1 million. Autodesk share were immediately downgraded by:
1. BB Robertsson Stephens: from LT Buy down to LT Attractive
2. Merrill Lynch: from NT Accumulate to NT Neutral
3. USB Piper Jaffray: from Strong Buy to Buy
Beta 1 of Mechanical Desktop R4 and AutoCAD Mechanical 2000 are due to become available for some Autodesk Beta Gold sites next week. VIP and AUGI members may order the Preview Beta 2 software online. Autodesk Land Development Solutions users SHOULD NOT USE the drawing batch converter that is a part of the AutoCAD 2000 Migration CD-ROM. The proxy graphics of some land objects fail to be displayed by AutoCAD 2000 after the conversion. Instead, users should open LDDT/ACD drawings directly in AutoCAD 2000 with the standard File | Open command. Autodesk says the 3D Studio VIZ user base is now more than 25,000.
EasySite - Picture It in AutoCAD
3D Site Modeling and Visualization for architects, landscapers, and AEC professionals.
EasySite for AutoCAD R14 and AutoCAD 2000. Based on high-end digital terrain modeling concepts, EasySite is a new-technology 3D site modeling application, that is intended for AEC professionals who may not have experience with DTM, engineering, or 3D modeling applications.
EasySite liberates the creativity of architects, landscapers, designers, contractors, or any AEC professional allowing them to easily view a site model before, during or after the design stage. EasySite facilitates conceptualization, collaboration, and presentation by allowing anyone to 'picture their projects' quickly in AutoCAD.
Easy to learn, simple to use, and priced to be affordable, EasySite is being introduced at a special temporary price of $229.
Nick Vasilieff
Third Party International
6246 SE Scott Drive
Portland, OR 97215 USA
PH: 503-230-7938, FX:503-230-9209, nickv@thirdpartyintl.com,
CADlock
CADLock v3.2 (US$249) drawing file security software now supports AutoCAD 2000. CADLock provides secure drawing files that may be password protected, and can be programmed to grant various levels of data access to recipients. http://www.cadlock.com/
drcauto
LT Toolkit 2000 with LISP (US$195) includes access to layer, color, linetype and lineweight control, autoscaling of text and drafting symbols, a User Library Manager, and extended keyboard functionality. Written in ObjectARX and LISP. Drcauto will enable LISP in AutoCAD LT 2000; the LISP API will become available to all LT 2000 users. http://www.drcauto.com
Also see the News sections for Architectural Add-ons for AutoCAD :
Autodesk ArchitecturalDesktop3, ArchT, PalladioX, ArchPro, AP Design, Facade, Bricsnet Architecturals, RealArchitect, SmartArchitect, ArchiBus, GeoCAD