Autodesk support for Windows XP ends in 2014 and other Autodesk news

Here’s some recent news from Autodesk:

Autodesk Community has been updated. Check it out the new look.

123D Catch 2.0 for iOS makes 3D photography and model creation epically better.
Guided capture tools give you dynamic feedback as you take your photos.
The new gallery provides a streaming showcase of captures from around the world.
And underneath the hood is an entirely new pipeline that makes better, faster, more amazing 3D models. More here.

Microsoft Windows XP support for AutoCAD products FAQ - GS22683753
Autodesk support for the Microsoft Windows XP operating system ends on January 1, 2014 for all new and upgraded versions of AutoCAD products released in 2014 and later. Versions of AutoCAD products (AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD MEP) released prior to January 1, 2014 will continue to be supported on the Windows XP operating system.

The Revit 2014 Daylighting Analysis (RDA) plug-in uses the Autodesk 360 Rendering cloud service to perform very fast and physically accurate daylighting analyses from within Revit. More here.

Hotfix - Autodesk Inventor 2014 (Polish only) Flat pattern text parameters missing - DL22712527

Revit LT 2014 Update Release 2 - DL22607186

DWG Columns 2.0 now with DXF support

DWG Columns by JTB World has been updated to version 2.0.

The main news is the support for DXF files. DXF version 2004 and newer can hold drawing properties and are supported. Older DXF versions will only show the drawing version. Both ASCII and binary DXF files are supported.

InfoTip/ToolTip can also be seen when hovering over a DWG or DXF (even for BAK, DWT, DWS, SW$ files).

The Details Pane in Explorer will also show the properties.

Finally a 30-day trial has been made available so you can try DWG Columns with full functionality in your environment before purchasing.

DWG Columns works with DWG and DXF files edited or created with applications like AutoCAD, Dassault Systemes DraftSight, Caddie, progeCAD, Bricsys BricsCAD, IMSI TurboCAD, GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD, nanoCAD, MicroStation, ZWCAD+ and others. In AutoCAD DWGPROPS command is used to edit the drawing properties.

Get the trial or purchase on the DWG Columns page.

See also our PROPULATE tutorial that shows how the properties can be updated based on title block data found in block attributes.

Autodesk updates and news like Smithsonian x3D Explorer

Hotfix - Inventor unexpectedly exits after updating to Windows 8.1 - DL22541232

AutoCAD 2013 for Mac Service Pack 2, This update resolves compatibility issues on the new Mac OS X Mavericks and more - DL22614738

AutoCAD LT 2013 for Mac Service Pack 2 - DL22617033

From the Press release: Autodesk and the Smithsonian today debuted the Smithsonian x3D Explorer, an interactive 3D educational tool accessible to anyone via the web. Autodesk built the tool exclusively for the Smithsonian to democratize access to prized specimens and to bring their stories to life. The public can now experience priceless objects digitized by the Smithsonian like never before, from seeing “behind the glass” to holding 3D printed replicas.

Here’s a detail from 1903 Wright Flyer:

JTB Sheet Set Creator app for AutoCAD

JTB Sheet Set Creator is an add-in for AutoCAD from JTB World that creates new Sheet Sets and Sheets based on an Excel template. If you often create new Sheet Sets JTB Sheet Set Creator can save you a lot of time and efforts.

• Sheet Set Properties can be populated.

• Sheet Set Custom Properties can be defined, created and populated.

• Sheet Properties can be populated.
• Sheet Custom Properties can be defined, created and populated.

• Sheets (drawings) can be defined, created and have their properties populated.

When ready the Sheet Set can be opened within AutoCAD.

Download trial and learn more about this app on the JTB Sheet Set Creator page. JTB Sheet Set Creator Trial can also be downloaded and installed as an app from the Autodesk Exchange Apps site.

JTB World also have these AutoCAD Sheet Set related apps. SSMPropEditor, DST converter and Sheet Set Manager Path Edit

If you are interested in other useful AutoCAD helper functions take a look at DigSigStamp, Batch Publish for AutoCAD, DimensionPatrol, TransTips or OffsetInXref.

Revit in a browser and other Autodesk news

Here’s some recent news from Autodesk:

• Autodesk Provides 3D Design in a Browser via press release and with some comments by Shaan. Collaboration with Amazon Web Services, OTOY and NVIDIA Enables Developers to Access Powerful 3D Modeling from Anywhere, Anytime, with Any Device Using a Simple Web Browser. Even though the press release says it’s available now I don’t find it available yet to test.
• Autodesk Vehicle Tracking Product Center is Autodesk’s Vehicle Tracking software based on AutoTrack that was acquired by Autodesk. It is a transportation analysis and design solution for vehicle swept path analysis that helps to predictably evaluate vehicle movements on transportation or site design projects.
• Project Shapeshifter Now Available via Autodesk Labs. See this post.
• Hotfix - Hebrew language is switching backward while printing and print preview - DL22524059
• Update 3 for Inventor 2013 Service Pack 2 - DL22436649
• Hotfix - Frame Generator length results are inaccurate - Inventor 2012 - DL22499412
• Hotfix - OnPopulateFileMetadata suggests same name for different occurrences in Copy command - Inventor 2012 - DL22499409 

See also Revit 2014's Web Update Release 2 and other Autodesk updates

DigSigStamp digital signatures stamp app for AutoCAD

JTB World’s DigSigStamp for AutoCAD allows you to specify a block that will change its display when plotted to indicate whether the drawing had a valid digital signature at the time of plotting.

The DigSigStamp AutoCAD plugin helps you identify visually when drawings have valid digital signatures. You use one of the plugin's commands to specify blocks to display when a drawing has a valid digital signature and when it does not. You then assign a particular block reference - which usually exists in the title block of your drawing - that will change its display to one of these two block definitions depending on the state of the drawing. The application even works when plotting, an operation that typically invalidates a drawing's digital signature.

The following are just examples of how the blocks can look like. The design of them is completely up to you. Digitally Signed example. This drawing has a valid digital certificate.

Invalid. This drawing does not have a valid digital certificate.

Unverified example. Digital signature verification application is not enabled.

DigSigStamp can be further customized by JTB World to fit your specific needs and requirements.

Download a trial and learn more on the DigSigStamp web page as well as on Autodesk Exchange Apps site.

If you are interested in other useful AutoCAD helper functions take a look at Batch Publish for AutoCAD, DimensionPatrol, TransTips or OffsetInXref.

Revit 2014's Web Update Release 2 and other Autodesk updates

Revit 2014's Web Update Release 2 is available.

• Onebox - Direct link for RVT version
• Readme for Revit 2014's Web Update Release 2.
• Revit Architecture 2014 Update Release 2 - DL22607262 - Direct link for RAC version
• Revit MEP 2014 Update Release 2 - DL22607205  - Direct link for MEP version
• Revit Structure 2014 Update Release 2 - DL22607563 - Direct link for RST version

Autodesk® Revit® Platform 2014 Enhancements
 Disables the ability to paste spot elevations into a Sketch mode.
 Improves stability when using Results and Compare for Energy Analysis.
 Improves stability when exporting to AutoCAD 2000 DWG format.
 Improves Online Help experience by properly redirecting help inquiries to Autodesk Help.
 Improves stability when enabling Sun Path.
 Improves graphic display of Analytical Model Walls.
 Improves data integrity of user defined parameters when utilizing temporary view templates.
 Improves stability when editing dimensions.
 Improves upgrade reliability of projects created with a different language version of Revit.
 Improves stability when selecting materials within the Material Browser.
 Restores the appearance of area color fills within linked files, when setting the view as By Linked View.
 Improves stability when upgrading projects which utilize Keynotes.
 Improves stability when importing IFC files.
 Improves stability when editing Filters within the Visibility/Graphics Overrides dialog.
 Improves stability when saving projects which were upgraded.
 Improves stability when combining Phases.
 Improves accuracy of Analytical Volumes.
 Improves display of Imported Categories for DWG files linked into the project using the “Current View Only” option at time of import.
 Improves stability when attempting to turn on sun path while temporary view properties mode is active.
 Improves data integrity when export model to FBX.
 Improves display of hidden lines on walls in Floor Plan and Elevation views.

Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2014 Enhancements
 Improves the visual fidelity of point clouds in MEP discipline views in regards to underlay elements in the view.
 Improves connection reliability between fittings when upgrading MEP projects.
 Improves connection reliability between fittings when changing the size of MEP elements.
 Improves the data integrity of the Outside Air per Area value for a HVAC when exported to gbXML.
 Removes the “Multiple Values” values for Flow, Velocity and Friction parameters and replaces it with the highest value applied to the entire segment length.

Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2014 Enhancements
 Improves display of vertical rebar when the rebar extends past the View Range.
 Improves the location consistency of Structural beams when upgrading projects.
 Improves stability when viewing a sheet which contains Structural Reinforcement Areas.

And here are some more Autodesk updates.

• Update 1 for Inventor 2014 Service Pack 1 - DL22436654
• Hotfix - Custom OE derived from a simple AutoCAD entity class - DL22520257
• Navisworks 2014 SP1 NWF Refresh Hotfix - DL22506086
• Hotfix - Autodesk Revit LT 2013 - Spot Elevation - DL22511641
• While installing Inventor 2013 or Inventor 2014 you might get a dialog box with a red X and the text PLACEHOLDER and the installation fails. The only solution is uninstall the the Avast software before installing Inventor. - Up and Ready

See also this recent post about Windows 8.1 and Autodesk products.

How to disable Edge Swipe by showing all Elan Smart-Pad options

Do you have a touchpad and look for how to change settings and cannot find them? I was wondering how to disable the edge swipe from the right gesture that opens up the Charms bar in Windows 8.1.

First thing is that this gesture is no Windows 8.1 function. It is something that comes with the touchpad driver.

By default not all options for Elan Smart-Pad might show up. It might be limited to only a few and I could not find anything. If you have another driver the Right Edge Swipe might be available too.

But there is a solution how to show everything. Note that not all options might work with the laptop or machine you’re using and that might be the reason they are invisible by default. I found however that several of the hidden options did work on my machine.

First merge this SmartPadDisplayActivateAllOptions.reg file by double click on the file and accept the questions.

You can also open up the Registry Editor and go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Elantech\SmartPadDisplay
There set value data to 1 on all value names and they will be enabled and show up.

Then open up Mouse Properties and on the ELAN tab click on Options to see the Elan Smart-Pad Options.

If the ELAN tab is missing in Mouse Properties the Options can be accessed by double clicking on the Display Icon or running "C:\Program Files\Elantech\ETDAniConf.exe". This seems to happen in Windows 10.

Now all options will be seen.

All One-finger options: Tapping, Clicking, Button, Drag and Drop, Edge Scroll, Edge Zoon, Edge Swipe, Corner Tap Zone and Edge Swipe.

 

Multi-finger options: Zooming, Clicking, Scrolling, Rotation, Edge Swipe, Swipe Page, Fast Keys, Three-Finger Press, Three finger swipe, Four finger swipe, Magnifier Glass and Grab.

   

Additional options: PalmTracking, Sensitivity, Smart Motion, Slow Motion, Inertia, SmarArea, TP Rejection, Device Control, Gesture Effect, Free Typing and Multi-Finger Function.

I find that Slow Motion is great to use when there is a need to move the cursor with better precision.

 

After having edited the options and closed the window only the default options will be seen again so if you want to see all options repeat the registry hack again.

Change DisableShowGestureCursorIcon in these Registry locations to switch between “Display Dynamic Icon” set to 0 and “Display Static Icon” set to 1.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Elantech\OtherSetting

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Elantech\OtherSetting

Where is my AutoCAD Palette and how can I restore it?

I got this question and wanted to share the solution.

I am missing my sheet set manager window. I wanted to ask if you had any tips on getting it to return. Type SSM, command line acts like its visible but its not. I feel like its minimized somewhere but I cant find it. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Examples of windows or palettes that can disappear (usually outside the visible area of the screen) are Sheet Set Manager (SSM), Design Feed, Tool Palette, Layer Properties Manager, DesignCenter (ADC), External References (Xref ESW), Markup Set Manager, Visual Styles Manager, command line, Quickcalc, Object Properties (OPM), Drawing Recovery Manager, Block Authoring Palette, Parameters Manager. You can fix or edit the coordinates of these in either FixedProfile.aws or Profile.aws files. These files are XML files and can be edited in an XML editor or Notepad.

You can also delete the file as AutoCAD will create a new one with the default settings next time AutoCAD is run.

Only edit this file when AutoCAD is not running. Make a backup of it just in case.
%APPDATA%\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2014\R19.1\enu\Support\Profiles\FixedProfile.aws
or

%APPDATA%\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2014\R19.1\enu\Support\Profiles\<Profile>\Profile.aws

AutoCAD 2014\R19.1\enu are parts of the path that is different depending on AutoCAD version, vertical and language.

<Profile> is the name of the AutoCAD profile. Default is “Unnamed Profile”.

Wondering what %APPDATA% is?
In XP: C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data
In Vista/W7/W8/W8.1: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming

Here is an example of a small part of what it might look like in the aws file:

<Tool CLSID="{BEBBB318-2898-4C03-ADA2-360DC6B7AA69}">
    <CAdUiDockControlBar Orientation="-1" AllowDocking="1">
        <FloatInfo Left="44" Top="208" Width="230" Height="384"/><DockInfo Left="0" Top="0" Width="0" Height="0" MRUDockID="0"/></CAdUiDockControlBar>
    <CAdUiPaletteSet ActivePaletteIndex="0" TitleBarLocation="0" AutoRollup="1" Name="Sheet Set Manager" Style="46" Opacity="100" RolloverOpacity="100" Visible="1"/>

And it is quite obvious that the location of the palette is determined by Left and Top values.

Tawfik mentioned in a comment also another solution. Start a command that shows the palette in question, hold down Alt and press Space, then press M and finally use the arrows to move the palette.

See also Clear sticky Sheet Sets from Recent Documents List in AutoCAD and Palette Auto-hide Speed as AutoCAD app

AutoCAD 2014 for Mac and AutoCAD LT 2014 for Mac

AutoCAD 2014 for Mac and AutoCAD LT 2014 for Mac were released October 22, 2013.

Retina display support is of course a much welcome news. The right side of the image shows what it look like now compared to before on the left side.

Autodesk 360 Sync for your drawings and design files. On a Mac, Autodesk 360 support only includes file sync.

Compress, store, and distribute CAD for Mac files with “Package Drawing” that is similar to eTransmit as it is called in AutoCAD for Windows.

Other news are Autodesk Exchange Apps, Secure load (enhances software security and helps prevent loading and running “unauthorized or malicious” AutoLISP applications), it’s now possible to set a default save-as version for your drawings in OPTIONS, ZeroDocWindow option in General tab, FIND command fixes, usability enhancements, including a new online help homepage, a reworked welcome screen, a print dialogue preview button, detailed print dialog panel expanded by default and of course support for OS X Mavericks.

The online Help Search is not working yet. (UPDATE. I have been contacted by Autodesk and informed about that the issue with the Help Search has been solved.)
http://docs.autodesk.com/ACDMAC/2014/ENU/index.html

A lot of AutoLISP documentation updates have been made. More on Lee’s blog post.

Function Listing (by Name and Feature) - Provides you with access to AutoLISP functions not only by alphabetic names but also by feature classification.

AutoLISP Developer's Topic Map - Listing of all essential topics in one page.

Gone is the separate Windows and Mac AutoLISP documentation, the function reference topics now call out what platform they are supported on.

New Commands

The following commands were added:

ETRANSMIT Packages a set of drawings and dependency files into one unit for sharing.

-ETRANSMIT From the Command line, packages a set of files for sharing.

ONLINESHARE Designates who can access the current drawing from Autodesk 360.

ONLINEOPENFOLDER Opens your local Autodesk 360 folder in Finder.

Changed Commands

The following commands were changed:

PLOT Plots a drawing to a plotter, printer, or file.

OPTIONS Customizes the program settings

WELCOMESCREEN Displays the Welcome window when you start the program.

NEWSHEETSET Creates a new project data (DST) file that manages drawing layouts, file paths, and project information.

FIND Finds the text that you specify, and can optionally replace it with other text.

New System Variables

The following system variables were added:

ONLINEUSERNAME Displays the username that is used to log into the Autodesk 360 account.

ONLINEDOCMODE Indicates whether a copies of your drawings and linked files are uploaded automatically to Autodesk 360.

ONLINEFOLDER Displays the location of your local Autodesk 360 folder in Finder.

SECURELOAD Controls whether AutoCAD loads executable files based on their location.

TRUSTEDDOMAINS Specifies the domains from which AutoCAD has permission to load and execute files that contain code.

TRUSTEDPATHS Specifies the folders from which AutoCAD has permission to load and execute files that contain code.

ONLINEUSERID Displays the ID associated with the Autodesk 360 backend system.

The feature comparison chart shows the differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD for Mac.

The 30 day trial of Autodesk AutoCAD 2014 for Mac is now available at http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-autocad/free-trial

If you have AutoCAD 2014 (for Windows) or the AutoCAD Design Suite your serial numbers works for the Mac version of AutoCAD 2014.

Customers can purchase AutoCAD 2014 for Mac or AutoCAD LT 2014 for Mac from the Autodesk Store, through CDW and Amazon, or from a local Value-Added Reseller.

AutoCAD for Mac is available worldwide in English and French.

AutoCAD 360, optimized for iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display, will also be available on the App Store. On the new iPad, AutoCAD 360 opens files faster, and rendering and selection is also twice as fast.

AutoCAD app DimNotes 1.3 released

JTB World’s AutoCAD app DimNotes 1.3 has been released. The news are an added option to preset location and replace settings for each note individually as well as added option to use or not use space when the location is before or after. This makes it even quicker to add noted or comments to AutoCAD dimensions.

The note can be added Above, After with space, After without space, Before with space, Before without space or Below existing text. There is also an option "Replace" to completely replace the text so the associative dimension text is removed if the text is <>.

Location option Replace can be used to add both before and after the dimension. Say the existing dimension text is 28 and the note is (<>) the result will be (28). Even notes using control codes, Text Symbols and Special Characters like
\A0;<> {\H1.5x;}\A2;\H0.71x;%%p0.1 can be used with this result: 28 ^±0.1.

Some examples with notes added before, after below or above.

DimNotes can also be downloaded and installed as an app from the Autodesk Exchange Apps site. Purchase is optionally available through this site as well as here.

Windows 8.1 AutoCAD Model Documentation Hotfix for 64-bit and more

Windows 8.1 is now available for all. I’ve used first the preview and recently the “RTM” and if you have Windows 8 I see no reason to not update. Here’s how to Update to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8. If you hesitated to update to Windows 8 before I think you really should consider Windows 8.1. I now prefer Windows 8.1 over any earlier Windows version and even without a touch screen I don’t miss the old Start menu especially after the Start button return in Windows 8.1.

There is one annoying bug I have after installing Windows 8.1 though. Windows Live Writer + Windows 8.1 paste/undo bug. Possibly related to the new Internet Explorer 11.

What about Autodesk products and Windows 8.1?

Model Documentation Hotfix for 64-bit Windows 8.1. This hotfix for AutoCAD and AutoCAD verticals fixes Model Documentation and IMPORT command related issues on 64-bit Windows 8.1. Download at DL22443084

Inventor Unexpectedly Exits on Startup on Windows 8.1. Windows reports: "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142). Click OK to close the application." See solution at TS22238097

And finally another recent update from Autodesk: Cumulative Hotfix 2 for Autodesk Vault 2014 Service Pack 1 Download at DL22258964

1. When two DWGs are referencing the same part number, and one of them is checked out, performing an Assign Item on the other would cause an error 1455.
2. Resolved an issue that could result in preventing a server background task from running.
3. Files checked into Vault, in a folder containing a single quote, would result in an 'Unknown Server Error' when selecting Data Cards from the Inventor Vault ribbon menu.
4. Logging into ADMS with Windows Authentication and selecting the Administration option would result in the error 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object'.

How about software from JTB World? So far I’m not aware of any issues related to Windows 8.1

Catenary for AutoCAD trial as AutoCAD app

JTBCatenary is now available as a trial on Autodesk Exchange Apps. When installed it is available in AutoCAD on the plug-ins tab.

The Catenary app for AutoCAD from JTB World makes it easy to create or draw a catenary curve as a polyline by specifying the start and end point and the length and optionally a diameter (width). This can be useful for drawing a freely hanging cable, hose, chain, transmission line, anchor line (anchor rode), cord, rope, string, suspension bridge cable, arch, hawser, wire or the like.

Feel free to visit JTBCatenary and download the trial.

Palette Auto-hide Speed as AutoCAD app

Palette Auto-hide Speed for AutoCAD is now available as a free AutoCAD app at Autodesk Exchange Apps. The app is available for AutoCAD 2012 and newer including verticals.

With this freeware app you will be able to change the time it takes to show/hide or roll-up/roll-out the palette windows in AutoCAD. You can see the effect with palettes like Tool Palette, Command Line, Properties, Quickcalc, Design Feed, Layer Properties Manager, External References, Sheet Set Manager (SSM), Markup Set Manager, DesignCenter, Drawing Recovery Manager, Block Authoring Palette, Parameters Manager and Visual Styles Manager set to auto-hide.

If you are interested in other useful AutoCAD apps or plug-ins take a look at Batch Publish for AutoCAD, DimensionPatrol, TransTips, OffsetInXref, HTools Menu for AutoCAD, UnitCAD for AutoCAD or HVACPAC.

JTB World can also help to create any custom applications that you need for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, Revit as well as BricsCAD and other DWG CAD applications supporting AutoLISP or .NET.