Something I have been waiting for in several years. I made the recommendation more than a year ago in this blog post. Good move and great news!
Press release for Autodesk Extends 3D Leadership with Acquisition of NavisWorks
More about Navisworks on my blog.
Posting from the latest beta version of Windows Live Writer. Have to blog more to try it out now. It was no problem to install above the existing one. All my drafts and refenty posted posts as well as all settings where retained.
Update. I just added tags to existing posts. Works with Google's Blogger as well.
"You cannot create add-ons for Inventor LT (technically and per the license agreement)." There is no API.
Isn't that the same with AutoCAD LT? And still there are many add-ons for AutoCAD LT that gives access to run AutoLISP and much more.
Will the same thing happen with Inventor LT? Time will tell.
What about the Tags on the Labs website? Someone having fun? Makes no sense clicking on the tags... But the message is clear Inventor LT should be possible to download from anywhere, I agree on that.
Avoid using the function WeekdayName() because it can give inconsistent results.
In the Immediate window I looked for the name of vbSunday and it returns måndag (Monday in Swedish).
? WeekdayName(vbSunday)
måndag
WeekdayName() uses vbUseSystemDayOfWeek and that can change depending on how you have set Windows to behave.
Workaround using either Format() or Weekday() since they use vbSunday as default value for the first day of the week or you can select what day should be the first day of the week.
This is a problem or bug even in the latest Microsoft Access 2007.
If you use a Macrovision FLEXlm/FLEXnet-enabled application and there are problems to pull the network license it might help to use the FLEXLM_TIMEOUT environment variable (has to be added) on the computer that has trouble getting the license. The user might get the dialog box (FLEXlm License Finder dialog box/FLEXnet License Finder dialog box) asking about specifying the location of the license file or license server. Typically this happens when you use a slow dial-up connection but also with a high speed broadband connection it can happen or if you have a network with servers in different countries or far from each other, Autodesk GNUL licenses or the like. In the case of AutoCAD it has been a typical thing needed to do introduced with AutoCAD 2007 and later. Try a value like 1,000,000 as a start and use higher if needed.
FLEXLM_TIMEOUT is only working on a Windows PC. Sets the timeout value a FLEXenabled application uses when attempting to connect to a license server system port in the range 27000–27009.
Values are in microseconds, within the range 0–2,147,483,647. The default setting is 100,000 microseconds.
More details can be found here.
Knowledge Base document for more information if you get the following: Your application was not able to obtain a license because the FLEXlm license manager could not determine where to find the licensing data it needs. Please choose one of the following:
Specify the License Server | Specify the License File
FLEXlm® License Finder dialog box is always displayed at startup
FlexNet license reporting tool JTB FlexReport for your License Statistics monitoring and license management.
On some pages when there are drop-down boxes IE crashes for me.
Internet Explorer has stopped working
A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available.
[Debug] [Close program]
The below drop-down boxes might not show if you are using a feed reader or get the feed per email. Then you need to open the blog to try it. The one in the middle is making Internet Explorer 7 to crash (you might need to click on it several times). I have Windows Vista so it could be related to the OS as well.
The code is the one as showed below. You might need to open the blog for that too. I know Google Reader has some problems with showing it for some reasons.
The problem seems to be when the first option in the list uses the selected attribute and there is only one item in the list. SELECTED indicates that the option should be selected by default.
<SELECT NAME="NAME1"><OPTION VALUE="EL5_FUL_DWL">This is the one works with IE7</OPTION> <OPTION VALUE="1">Just another row</OPTION> </SELECT> <br> <SELECT NAME="NAME2"><OPTION VALUE="2" selected>This is the one that can crash IE7</OPTION> </SELECT> <br> <SELECT NAME="NAME3"><OPTION VALUE="3" selected>This is the one that works with IE7</OPTION> <OPTION VALUE="4">Just another row</OPTION> </SELECT>
One thing I noticed was that if I created a new user account in Vista it works in the beginning but after a while somthing makes the user account infected. I will try if I have time to start one application after another and try to html page in between and see if I can identify it.
The problem still exists if I disable all add-ons starting IE7 using: iexplore -extoff
Update. I found that if I started iexplorer.exe as Administrator so that Protected Mode is Off I don't get any crash.
Update. Here is the Windows Logs event for Application when it crashes:
Faulting application iexplore.exe, version 7.0.6000.16386, time stamp 0x4549b133, faulting module mshtml.dll, version 7.0.6000.16448, time stamp 0x45e6595d, exception code 0xc00000fd, fault offset 0x00129d46, process id 0x1828, application start time 0x01c7a27ec4dab403.
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Below is from Event ID: 1001
Fault bucket 426440881, type 1
Event Name: APPCRASH
Response: None
Cab Id: 0
Problem signature:
P1: iexplore.exe
P2: 7.0.6000.16386
P3: 4549b133
P4: mshtml.dll
P5: 7.0.6000.16448
P6: 45e6595d
P7: c00000fd
P8: 00129d46
P9:
P10:
Attached files:
C:\Users\JTB\AppData\Local\Temp\WER1FE5.tmp.version.txt
These files may be available here:
C:\Users\JTB\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\Report14d444f1
This is from the file Report.wer
Version=1
EventType=APPCRASH
EventTime=128249780168693315
ReportType=2
Consent=1
UploadTime=128249780203681310
Response.BucketId=426440881
Response.BucketTable=1
Response.type=4
Sig[0].Name=Application Name
Sig[0].Value=iexplore.exe
Sig[1].Name=Application Version
Sig[1].Value=7.0.6000.16386
Sig[2].Name=Application Timestamp
Sig[2].Value=4549b133
Sig[3].Name=Fault Module Name
Sig[3].Value=mshtml.dll
Sig[4].Name=Fault Module Version
Sig[4].Value=7.0.6000.16448
Sig[5].Name=Fault Module Timestamp
Sig[5].Value=45e6595d
Sig[6].Name=Exception Code
Sig[6].Value=c00000fd
Sig[7].Name=Exception Offset
Sig[7].Value=00129d46
DynamicSig[1].Name=OS Version
DynamicSig[1].Value=6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
DynamicSig[2].Name=Locale ID
DynamicSig[2].Value=1053
DynamicSig[22].Name=Additional Information 1
DynamicSig[22].Value=8d13
DynamicSig[23].Name=Additional Information 2
DynamicSig[23].Value=cdca9b1d21d12b77d84f02df48e34311
DynamicSig[24].Name=Additional Information 3
DynamicSig[24].Value=8d13
DynamicSig[25].Name=Additional Information 4
DynamicSig[25].Value=cdca9b1d21d12b77d84f02df48e34311
UI[2]=C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
UI[3]=Internet Explorer has stopped working
UI[4]=Windows can check online for a solution to the problem.
UI[5]=Check online for a solution and close the program
UI[6]=Check online for a solution later and close the program
UI[7]=Close the program
State[0].Key=Transport.DoneStage1
State[0].Value=1
FriendlyEventName=Stopped working
ConsentKey=APPCRASH
AppName=Internet Explorer
AppPath=C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
When I start IE7 using: iexplore -extoff I get another kind of event error log:
Faulting application iexplore.exe, version 7.0.6000.16386, time stamp 0x4549b133, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 6.0.6000.16386, time stamp 0x4549bdc9, exception code 0xc0000005, fault offset 0x000652b8, process id 0x16d4, application start time 0x01c7a2853f5a2807.
Fault bucket 346285885, type 1
Event Name: APPCRASH
Response: None
Cab Id: 346939953
Problem signature:
P1: iexplore.exe
P2: 7.0.6000.16386
P3: 4549b133
P4: ntdll.dll
P5: 6.0.6000.16386
P6: 4549bdc9
P7: c0000005
P8: 000652b8
P9:
P10:
Attached files:
C:\Users\JTB\AppData\Local\Temp\WERD27.tmp.version.txt
C:\Users\JTB\AppData\Local\Temp\WER1E5E.tmp.appcompat.txt
C:\Users\JTB\AppData\Local\Temp\WER2B20.tmp.hdmp
These files may be available here:
C:\Users\JTB\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\Report191c58a2
Any ideas for a solution? Do you have this problem?
Update: The source for this problem has been identified.
Trying F-Secure Internet Security Technology Preview and it found an AutoCAD related file suspicious.
Result: 1 malware found
Trojan-Clicker.Win32.Agent.jl (virus)
C:\Windows\Installer\{5783F2D7-6001-0409-0002-0060B0CE6BBA}\Acad162_icon.exe
I submitted the file and got the following reply quickly:
The file Acad162_icon.exe you submitted is indeed clean. A database update will be released to resolve this issue.
A problem I run into with the F-Secure Internet Security Technology Preview on Windows Vista was that when I tried to stop a virus scan because it took to much process power from other programs running everything slowed down and I eventually had to restart the computer using the button on the PC. I will see if they come up with a solution for that.
Now is the chance.
According to Eric Stover, Autodesk.
Description: Do you love Architecture or Engineering? Want to be the product manager for software used by millions of designers? Is world travel something that excites you? Then read on...
According to this KB article 64-bit Windows operating systems like Windows Vista 64-bit are not tested or supported for NLM based on FLEXlm/FLEXnet that Autodesk products uses. It doesn't mention Windows Vista 32-bit.
You probably can install and use it anyway if you read between the lines but according to a source at Autodesk "You cannot install it under 64-bit OSs.". If you have tried and it works add a comment. I know Windows Vista 32-bit works.
According to the Autodesk Network Licensing Guide for AutoCAD 2008 and other Autodesk 2008 products:
Make sure that your network license server meets the minimum recommended requirements. See the following table for hardware and software requirements.
Author notes: Update all tables with pertinent Windows Vista and 64-bit content.
Hardware and software requirements for the network license server
Hardware/software
Requirement
Notes
Operating system
Windows 2003 Server Edition
Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2
Windows 2000 Server Edition
Windows 2000, Service Pack 4
The Network License Manager supports Ethernet network configurations only.
The redundant license server model is supported only on Windows 2000 Server Edition and Windows 2003 Server.
Computer/processor
Pentium III or higher
450 Mhz (minimum)
Network interface card
Compatible with existing Ethernet network infrastructure
The Network License Manager supports multiple network interface cards.
Communication protocol
TCP/IP
The Network License Manager uses TCP packet types.
What is missing in the help file is that Windows Vista 32-bit is an allowed OS for NLM. It does not say anything officially about Windows 2003 Server Service Pack 2 (SP2).
Related post: Upgrade Autodesk Network License Manager for Autodesk 2008 products.
You can download and read more about JTB World's DimNotes here.
The great NavisWorks JetStream product line has been updated to support Autodesk 2008 products.
One great news is the following that is related to extended data in form of PSD's (Property Set Definitions) in Autodesk Architecture 2008:
Our Autodesk product compatibility is improved with Automatic Properties support. Object properties such as volume or cost (stored and shown as mathematical formulae in ADT 2007 and Architecture) can now be viewed as object properties in JetStream v5.4.
Explore large models in real-time
At A Glance - Key JetStream v5.4 Enhancements
- Autodesk 2008 product support updates
- Autodesk ADT Automatic Properties
- Bentley MicroStation XM support
- Google SketchUp v6 SKP reader
- Graphisoft Constructor 2007 NWC exporter
- Multiple Viewpoints Editing
TimeLiner
- Microsoft Project 2007
- Primavera Baseline Project Files
Here is a problem that probably exists in different scenarios I guess. This happened in my case.
I tried to activate Windows Live OneCare subscription online when traveling in another country than my credit card is issued in. I couldn't even purchase a new license if I wanted to. The website sees from the IP that the country you are in and the country of your credit card does not match and denies you to purchase.
All I got when I tried was a website with this information.
Review details for your location
The selected plan is available, but the plan details may differ in your location. To review the plan details for your location, click Continue
If you get this message more than once, report it as a recurring problem.
Message 3022
Lesson is that make sure you don't need to update the subscription when you travel to other countries.
Any solution?
If you have a created a template with annotation scales using the SCALELISTEDIT command and want to add them to an existing drawing here is what you can do to save some manual work.
The scale list is stored separately in each drawing in AutoCAD 2008 and forward. In older versions they where saved in the AutoCAD profile.
(command "insert" "*c:\\your\\path\\template" "0,0" "" "")
What happens here with this line of AutoLISP code is that the block/drawing template is inserted into the current drawing and exploded, the block definition is not added but the annotation scales are added. Make sure to change c:\\your\\path\\template to the location and the name of your template. It can be either a DWG or a DWT file. Then if you have several existing drawing you can use a batch script application like SmartPurger or ScriptPro. If you want the scales added to all your drawings that you open you can create or edit the acaddoc.lsp file.
If you want quick and easy access you can for example make a toolbar button macro or tool palette tool and on the Command string adding:
^c^c(command "insert" "*c:\\your\\path\\template" "0,0" "" "")
JTB FlexReport 3.2.8 was released 2007-05-09 as result of customers requests. Keep them coming.
JTB FlexReport Graphic Reports.xls can automatically have the data refreshed when opened using the Auto refresh option set to -1. Download for the xls file only.
JTB FlexReport Detailed Reports.mdb reports includes a column for user and host groups and has fixed an issue with the end date not being included on the reports. Download for the mdb file only.
You can use Visual Studio to automate the free Autodesk DWG TrueView application.
Select Choose Items in the Toolbox and add the COM Component "C:\Program Files\DWG TrueView 2008\AcCtrl.dll".
Now it can be added to a form. Here is how the most simple code can look like with VB.NET to open and view a DWG file using TrueView.
Public Class Form1 Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load AxAcCtrl1.PutSourcePath("C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2008\Sample\colorwh.dwg") End Sub End Class
I have in Windows XP had a simple html home page for Internet Explorer that is located on the local hard drive with a lot of links. But when using the same in Windows Vista a security feature annoyed me.
Every link on the home page opens a new window. Open in new tab is not even available.
If I take a link to a website and paste it into the address field the following dialog box shows up saying: Internet Explorer needs to open a new window to display this webpage. For your computer’s security, websites that are in different security zones must open in different windows.
The solution to this problem is to add The Mark of the Web (MOTW) to the HTML page.
<!-- saved from url=(0014)about:internet -->
The comment above was added after <html>.
Now my local home page runs in the Internet zone and the link works as expected.
I got no results (or limited result) returned when searching for e-mail items using Instant Search in Outlook 2007 on Windows Vista.
I tried the suggestions mentioned in the help but to no avail. Then I tried to run the Inbox Repair Tool SCANPST.EXE found on my machine in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
I run it on all PST files and there where errors found in all of the files.
I also run a rebuild of the index just to be sure and it seems like using the Inbox Repair Tool was the solution to the problem.
But the irritating thing is that after a few days the PST got corrupted again. Outlook should really be better at notifying when problems arise like this.
If you have an AutoLISP file that does not work or exits like the sample below there might be an easy solution.
Command: (vlax-get-acad-object)
; error: no function definition: VLAX-GET-ACAD-OBJECT
Try running (vl-load-com) or add it to the beginning of the LSP file.
Command: (vl-load-com)
Command: (vlax-get-acad-object)
#<VLA-OBJECT IAcadApplication 00d73d3c>
Now it works as expected without any errors.
What is (vl-load-com) ?
This function loads the extended AutoLISP functions provided with Visual LISP. The Visual LISP extensions implement ActiveX and AutoCAD reactor support through AutoLISP, and also provide ActiveX utility and data conversion functions, dictionary handling functions, and curve measurement functions.
It does not hurt to add (vl-load-com) to your LSP files to make sure it works. If the extensions already are loaded (vl-load-com) does nothing.
If you want to know more about Sortents. It has been missing in the documentation for a while. The usage of it has also changed so some of the bits are obsolete in newer versions of AutoCAD.
Here are the bits:
1 Selection Still in use
2 Osnap Still in use
4 Redraw Obsolete
8 Slide Obsolete
16 Regen Still in use
32 Plot Still in use
64 PSOUT ObsoleteSo, setting the 4/8/64 bits has no effect anymore, but we still use 127 to turn everything on for consistency.
For the 4 remaining in-use bits, turning that bit OFF will DISABLE the user-defined draworder (set by the DRAWORDER command) for that operation. I just tested selection/regen/plot and indeed you can independently disable draworder for each of those (not sure how to test the Osnap draworder bit, but it’s still referenced in the code, so it probably works). When it’s disabled, you fall back.
So SORTENTS is very much NOT obsolete, just not advertised any more–if somebody went to trouble to assign draworder, it should stay on. But performance on huge drawings with draworder applied is one reason why you might want to disable it sometimes.
- Changing a SORTENTS bit takes effect immediately except for the Regen bit, which requires a REGEN.
- When a bit is disabled, you fall back to database order (oct-tree ordering in 2D).
I got an email from a person that wondered how to "provide the state of a toolbar, either Hide or Show" using AutoLISP.
Here is how it can be done.
; Returns :vlax-true if visible and :vlax-false if not visible ; Example: (ax:ToolbarState "ACAD" "Draw") (defun ax:ToolbarState (MenuGroupName ToolBarName) (vl-load-com) (vla-get-visible (vla-item (vla-get-toolbars (vla-item (vla-get-menugroups (vlax-get-acad-object)) MenuGroupName)) ToolBarName)) )
If you want to do basic modelling (only parts, not assemblys) using Inventor now it's the time because the bar is really lowered. Take a look at AILTTP (Autodesk Inventor LT Technology Preview) or whatever acronym will be used.
Free Autodesk Inventor LT Technology Preview Now Available on It’s Alive in the Lab.
If you want to use the Layer Translator command Laytrans in a script file (SCR) or an AutoLISP file (LSP) here is how it can be done.
The use of the LISP function requires that you have already created and saved a layer translation mapping using the dialog version. The syntax is as follows:
(acet-laytrans <file name> [<bits>])
<file name> is a required argument. It is the name of a dwg or dws file that contains saved layer mappings. This file would need to have been created during a manual translation operation with Layer Translator.
[<bits>] is an optional argument. This is a bit code sum indicating which options should be used during translation. These correspond to the same options in the Settings dialog in Layer Translator. If the argument is not provided, the function uses the Layer Translator dialog's last settings.
The bits are as follows:
Examples:
(acet-laytrans "standard.dws")
Uses the previously saved file "standard.dws" (which contains layer mappings) and the last used options.
(acet-laytrans "standard.dws" (+ 1 2))
Uses the previously saved file "standard.dws" and forces color and linetype to BYLAYER.
(acet-laytrans "standard.dws" (+ 1 2 8))
Uses the previously saved file "standard.dws", forces color and linetype to BYLAYER and writes a translation log.
(cond ((not (member "laytrans.arx" (arx))) (arxload "laytrans")))
(acet-laytrans "standard.dws" (+ 1 4))
Make sure that laytrans.arx is loaded and use bit 1 and bit 4.
I wonder why caution should be exercised according to this Autodesk KB document.
Autodesk product licenses have not been tested for use with Macrovision FLEXNET™ Manager. As such, the use of Autodesk product licenses with Macrovision FLEXNET Manager is not supported and caution should be exercised if you are considering using this product.
Autodesk product licenses have been tested and are fully supported only on Macrovision FLEXlm™ software.
According to Macrovision:
Using FLEXnet Manager, organizations cut software spending by up to 35%, simplify license administration, keep software compliant, and ensure end users have access to the licenses they need to do their jobs.
Product Benefits
- Cut costs by eliminating unused licenses and maintenance plans
- Optimize software spending by basing license purchases on actual needs
- Avoid costly and embarrassing audit fines by keeping licenses compliant
- Improve end-user productivity by eliminating software license denials
- Reduce administration time by automating and centralizing license management tasks
- Leverage license and software investments by billing costs back to specific departments or projects
If you can afford FLEXnet Manager go for it. If not, consider the less expensive alternative JTB FlexReport from JTB World. As a JTB FlexReport user you have better chance to have opinions the software functionality.
