Autodesk Showcase 2013 - A Preview of a New Interface

Find the good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase it and you'll start believing in it.
Jesse Owens

A few days ago, I pulled the cover off my Autodesk Showcase 2013 installation, and took it for a test spin.

The first thing I found when I took a look, the user interface has changed.  It's subtle, but it is significant. 

There a new "Task UI" that's been added.

It's called the "Task UI", and it contains many of the functions normally accessed via hotkeys and pulldown menus.

The pulldown menus are also hidden now.  Although you can click on the arrow at the top of your screen to show them again.  All the hotkeys from Showcase 2012 are still there too.

The menus can still be viewed.

My "knee jerk" reaction was much the same as a lot of us.  I'll have to learn a new user interface. 

But I tried it for a little while, and I've found that it's not that bad.  It wasn't that long before I was starting to get used to it, and (gasp) starting to like it.

So here's a quick video I put together on the new UI.  It's just a preview.  But as I dive further into Showcase, I'll be sure to post some more!

Taken a look at some of the new features in Autodesk Showcase 2013?  Share you thoughts and drop a comment!

Autodesk 2013 - Server Not Configured Error?

“Life is measured by the rapidity of change, the succession of influences that modify the being.”
George Eliot

For about the last week, I've been working with Autodesk Vault 2013, and so far, I'm enjoying what I've seen. 

The new searching features are really slick, and the ability to login using my 2012 based products works nicely.  The adjustable grid views in open and place are super cool! 

But I did run into one thing that made me go "huh".

I right clicked on a folder to check a setting, and got a big "The server is not configured to use that feature" warning.

I go to my properties

Doh!  What's this?

 So I did what any self respecting geek would do.  I Googled it. 

It looks like Autodesk found out about it and issued a hotfix right away.  I found it, downloaded and installed it, and all was right with the world again.

You can download it from the link here! 

So should you be one of the users who finds this glitch, grab the fix, and everything should be fine after a few minutes!

TaDa!  It's working

P.S.  I've got some videos I've got planned.  It's just that the schedule hasn't been friendly to it lately!  But I'm hoping to get some new stuff posted soon!

Going Forward! Installing Autodesk Vault 2013

Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.
Khalil Gibran

Late last week I decided it was time.  I upgraded my Autodesk Vault server from 2012, to 2013.

The process went through pretty darned smoothly.  I was able to get my Vault up and running no time, maybe an hour, give or take.  But I thought I share my steps and experiences.  So those of us who might be getting ready to take the same leap soon.

First a few explanations of what I was upgrading:

1. Updating Autodesk Vault 2012 Basic to Autodesk Vault 2013 Basic
2. I was upgrading my laptop, which is a server for only one user, myself

Of course your configuration may vary.  You might be running a configuration like mine, just one guy accessing a Vault for managing his own set of projects.  Or you could be managing dozens of users who are running a large Vault installation replicating across several sites.

So these steps represent my upgrade process.  I can't cover every contingency here.  So if you have any doubts, do a little extra research.  If you REALLY have doubts, call your friendly neighborhood Autodesk Reseller.  They can help make sure your transition is as smooth as possible.  

Next, here are some things I had ready, or planned for.

Have a backup!  
I can't stress this enough.  Even though I have never once lost a database or filestore during migration, you don't want to make any assumptions.  Should the worst happen, have a backup plan that includes having a backup to restore, instead of slipping out the back door before anyone notices! 

Be prepared for some downtime!
If the server is upgrading, files in Vault won't be accessible.  Make sure you have time set aside when everybody can be ready to be out of Vault for a few hours. Don't upgrade when you have a massive project due in fifteen minutes.  It's not a pretty sight when the engineering department shows up outside your office with torches and pitchforks.

 Be prepared for a reboot!  
This ties into the previous bullet.  The server may have to be rebooted, so be prepared for that too.  This is especially true if you have a server that's running processes other than just Vault.  Knocking payroll offline on payday can have unintended consequences (see torches and pitchforks above).

In short, a little caution goes a long way.

Now that that's said.  I have my backup safely tucked away.  My install is ready to go.  All I have to do is start pressing the buttons.

So what were my steps?

The first is easy.  I uninstall Autodesk Vault 2012 via Add/Remove in the Windows Control Panel.

Farewell, Vault 2012.

This will fire up the Autodesk Uninstall screen, where you can remove the Autodesk Data Management Server Console from your machine.

 Vault will ask you if you have a backup.  And if you haven't.  Make one!  Seriously! 

 Now you get to confirm you're going to uninstall!

 

Progress bars will do their "progressy" thing, and the Vault Server will be removed from the machine.  It's important to note that the filestore and database (which contain your valuable design data) are still on the machine.  

And Vault 2012 is off the machine!

Installing Vault 2013

Now we fire up the setup for Autodesk Vault Server 2013.  The setup starts up, and we see our first screen.

Here we go!  Vault 2013 going hot!

First you'll see the End User License Agreement (EULA).  I know that each one of you reads this diligently and takes notes before agreeing and hitting next. :-)

I agree to some legal things, and ZZZZZZZ... Oh!  A "Next" button!

Next the install options appear.  The options may vary based on your installation (SQL Server settings, new install or upgrade, etc).  Notice in my  case, the installation sees that the instance "AUTODESKVAULT" already exists.  This is my old 2012 database and filestore.

You know, the one that holds that critical engineering data?

Look!  A the instance is waiting to meet us!

The next option is what to install.  In my case, I'm not installing the ADMS Content Center.  I run my content off of the Desktop Content because I'm always testing different Vaults on my machine.  It's easier for me to maintain my content separately for these reasons. 

 

Clicking install starts process.  The first thing the install notes was that their is already an existing database.  The installation advises me that it may need to be migrated when it's done.  

This is expected in this configuration, and I go ahead and continue.

Yes! We must forge ahead!

Now the ADMS check starts.  Like a preflight check in an aircraft, this makes sure we're ready to go. 

In my case, two warnings were noted.  One was that a reboot was required.  The other was that a there was a failure in the ASP status.  One nice thing about this check is that if you click on the warning, it will take you to link of solutions for that error. 

Stuff needs to be tweaked!

In the case of my ASP error, I had to change the .Net setting in my DefaultAppPool from v2.0.50727 to 4.0.30319.  The instructions in the link showed me the steps I needed. 

Switching the pool

After a reboot, and repeating the steps above, I was able to run the install.  Now it was just a matter of waiting for more progress bars.

I hear gameshow music.

After a few minutes, the install completed.

Yay!

But we're not quite done yet.  Remember that warning about having to migrate databases?  If you don't, you'll remember it now!  Why?  Because Vault will remind you!

In my case, I wanted to get things rolling right away, so I started the server console.

We're not just flying South for the winter.

The installation wants to know if what we want to migrate.  I chose to migrate everything, vaults, and libraries.

We're taking the whole shooting match!

Now the migration begins.  It takes a little bit of time to migrate everything, especially if you have a lot of content center libraries.  In my case, I don't (remember I'm running Desktop Content?).

More progress bars appear as the migration takes place.

One more completion message, and the migration is truly done.  The Vault server is upgraded, and I'm ready to start using my new, migrated databases and filestores.

All done

So those are the steps for my Vault upgrade.  I wasn't expecting a reboot (although in retrospect I should have).  Fortunately, I knew I could reboot if needed.  It just meant I had to stay at the office a little longer to reboot my machine.

I hope you find the steps I used helpful as you plan your own Vault installations and upgrades.

For more resources, check out the following:

Autodesk Vault Knowledge Base
Under the Hood (Data Management/PLM blog)
Cracking the Vault (Data Management/PLM blog)

Have your own thoughts or suggestions from your own upgrades?  Throw out a comment below!

Autodesk Vault 2013 - Upgrading Made More Flexible

"Whereof what's past is prologue; what to come, In yours and my discharge."   
Shakespeare, William

I've always been excited to upgrade my Autodesk software.  I still like to geek out about all the new tools I get to learn.  It's like Christmas in spring!

Usually, it means taking an afternoon or evening (sometimes both!) installing Product Design Suite, and updating Autodesk Vault.

Then the fun with new tools began!

But there is always one thing that must be addressed when upgrading to your shiny new release.

It takes time and planning to upgrade.  Vault has to be upgraded on both clients and server, along with the new versions of the CAD products it's going to integrate with


Extend that to a facility where there are several users connecting to Vault.   You had to install new clients, upgrade Vault, and get everyone working together in one long marathon session

To make it more interesting, there might also be a grumpy CAD Manager looking over your shoulder, snorting like an agitated thoroughbred.

But now with the release of Autodesk Vault 2013, a new capability has been added that should greatly increase the flexibility of migrating to your shiny new version of Vault.

Forward compatibility.

Great! What does "forward compatibility" actually mean?  

What it means is you can upgrade the Vault Server to 2013 in the background, without ever touching the clients.

They can access a server running Vault 2013 using the same Vault Explorer and CAD plugins they used for Vault 2012!

Mixing and matching like you've never done before

 So what?  Why is this a big deal?

Just think about the ability to upgrade the server without having to immediately upgrade all your clients.  You can stagger your rollout, and upgrade machines clients in stages instead of hitting your CAD department like a whirling dervish!

So as you plan on deploying your new Vault versions, take a look at your new choices for deployment.  You have more options to make for a smoother transition.

And avoid a haircut such as mine (see profile picture)!

 Curious about what else is new in Autodesk Vault 2013?  Check out the What's New!

Autodesk Inventor 2013 Arrives, and I'm Excited!

“Based on the feedback we're receiving, people are very excited to try something so exotic and new.”
Eitan Segal

Autodesk announced their 2013 based products today!  It's certainly like Christmas in March!

For me, I installed Autodesk Inventor 2013 immediately and read through the "What's New"!  Why?  To find out what's new of course!

Have I done an in depth study of everything yet.  Pfffft!  Of course not!   But I'm not going to let that stop me! 

What I am going to do, is list the top ten features that caught my eye.  Things I can't wait to explore some more.

I will, however, put in a disclaimer.  This top ten is based my first impressions, so I may change it as work with the features more.  Also, the order of the features isn't necessarily in order.  In other words, it's just a list!

But with that! Here goes!

Number 1: New file screen

Autodesk changed the appearance of the "New File" screen and I like it!  I think it's more sensibly organized, and will help me find the right template a lot more quickly than I used to!

It's really much clearer now!

Number 2: New Sketch Options

Previous versions let set which sketch to start on, but Inventor 2013 allows you to start a sketch, and choose the plane to work off of at this time.  It's a flexibility I think I'll really get to like!

 

Oh.. I like this.

Number 3: Set Sketch Scale by First Dimension

When the first dimension is placed on a sketch, the entire sketch scales in proportion to the first dimension.  This should help prevent me from having those "which way did it go?" moments when I make a large change in a sketch dimension.

Very smooth!

Number 4:  Center Point Rectangle

Sure I could do this with a little construction geometry.  I didn't even take long, but this is a nice little feature that just makes things run a little smoother.

Huzzah!

  

Number 5: Equation Curves

Need to make a parabolic curve to create a reflector!  Now the equation to define a curve can be entered. I can think of a few places where this one will help out!

The Algebra is Strong in this One!

Number 6: Remove Internal Voids in a Derived Component

Need to hide internal components so you don't "give away the farm" when sending components out!  I think I'll be checking this one out!

Hmm.  This will make securing intellectual property a little easier!

Number 7: Export Colors to STL

Now you can export your part colors to an STL file!  Need to send out components to a rapid prototyping house and print the component colors!  Here it is!

I see your true colors shining through!

Number 8: Import STL files

Someone sends you an STL file?  Fear not!  Inventor will import them now!

Got em coming and going!

Number 9: Purge via Task Scheduler

It's important for any CAD Manager to purge out dated and unused Styles and Materials from your files.  Now you can "Nuke the Site from Orbit" with Task Scheduler.  Instead of getting those pesky styles one at a time, you can grab a fist full of files and purge en mass!

Purging in one fell swoop!

Number 10: Default Application Options

If you've ever taken an Inventor class with me, you know that there are "settings Jon changes on any new Inventor installation".  Apparently Autodesk agrees with me on this one (at least that's what I'm going to tell myself).  But many students did agree with this, so Autodesk really has listened to all of us.

Now "Grid Lines" are automatically turned off, and "Edit Dimension When Placed" is on!  It's nice that I won't have to go and turn these off on my own now!

Nice Change in Defaults!

So these are the things that "caught my eye" out of the gate.  Does that mean this is the best?  No, just what I found on first blush.  I'll surely find more as I get behind the wheel and start driving.

Look for those posts to start coming up soon.  And yes, they'll be videos! 

Do you have your own favorites for what's new?  Post in the comments.  Here's the full list for What's New in Autodesk Inventor 2013!

It's a Snowboarding Holiday Again - With a Warbird Chaser

This weekend I must postpone my blog as I've taken another jaunt to Mammoth Mountain, Ca.

It's a good, relaxing trip, but one I'm happy to just enjoy the outdoors, my time with friends, and take a couple of days hiatus from technology!  

This ride up Chair 23

Is rewarded with a view like this!

And on a final note from the other side of my life, the Planes of Fame video team,  have put up another fantastic video using a wing mounted camera on the North American B-25 Mitchell.

Enjoy!

Filtering the Autodesk Showcase Material Library - A Quick Tip

“Language screens reality as a filter on a camera lens screens light waves”
Unknown

One of the great things about Autodesk Showcase is that it comes with plenty of materials that you can get started with.  It lets us get right to creating renderings without having to devote time to customizing your material library right out of the gate (that step we can save that for later).

But there is a downside.  With so many materials available, how do we find the one you want?  It can take forever to find the right red, green, or blue! 

So many choices, and this is only a few!

The first trick is to use the filter.  This will let us search for a material that contains the text string we type into the filter.

Notice that in the image below, I've typed "Blue" into the filter.

Materials filtered for "Blue"

All materials containing "Blue" are shown. 

We can type in anything we want.  But be aware, that if the material contains the text you type, it will show it!  For example, typing in "Red" will of course bring up red materials, but it will also bring up materials that contain the word "textured". 

Why?  Because "textured" contains "red".  "Textured".  Get it?   And no, I have not found a wildcard that works.

Still this can be a great way to filter down the materials and make it a little easier for us to find the material we're after.

Another trick we can use, is take  commonly used materials and copy them to a custom library.  Even if we don't change them, we can at least put them in one easy to locate category, and not have to look through several categories to find them.

Materials added to my own library

So those are some suggestions on making life a little easier.  Naturally, there's a video to go with it, so take a look!

Do you have your own methods you use to organize your materials?  Post a comment and share!

Paper Business Cards - Going Extinct?

In the absence of light, darkness prevails. There are things that go bump in the night, Agent Myers. Make no mistake about that. And we are the ones who bump back. 
Professor Trevor Broom in the movie "Hellboy"

This isn't a post on CAD of any kind, it's just a "cool technology" post.  But every one of us has to be a proficient networker too.  So this is something just to share about a technology application I find intriguing!

***

Business cards...  Someday, I'll find a stack of them next to all my socks that have been lost in the dryer. 

In the past, I've always misplaced or lost them.  So I've learned to take a picture of them with my smartphone, then I throw the card away.  It works, but when you think about it, it's pretty wasteful.

Once upon a time, I had a Treo smartphone.  Compared to the current smartphones, that old Treo is like a black and white T.V.

In my day, we couldn't zoom with fancy finger gestures.  We had to squint!

But it did have one feature I liked.  I could beam contact information from one machine to another via an infrared port.   It worked great!

The downside was it only worked with other Treos.  But I missed the functionality of shooting my contact info from phone to phone.

 Lately, I've been hearing about this new app out there.  It helps you transfer contacts from one smartphone to another.  It seemed interesting.  But it was like a unicorn, rumored to be out there, but never seen.

Then, one day listening to the radio, I hear about this elusive app.  It's called "Bump".

Image courtesy of the Bump website

Tonight I finally downloaded it and installed it.  I haven't used it yet.  But I'm intrigued by it.  You bump your phone against another phone with Bump installed, and it transfers contacts, photos, even links to other apps from phone to phone.

Wow, what's old is new again!

The obvious downside is you can only use it between smartphones that have the bump app installed, but for me, I think it's worth having the option.

So I'll keep you posted on how it works out.  Sure, I may never use it and it'll just occupy space on my phone.  But maybe, just maybe, it'll save me a little bit of time, and save the world from wasting a little bit of paper!

Using the app?  Drop a comment and let me know what you think of it?  Maybe the next time you run into me at an event, we can pass virtual cards instead of paper cards!

Using Styles to Clarify Assembly Directions in Autodesk Inventor Publisher

“If everything else fails, read the instructions”
Unknown

When I have a little down time, I sometimes like to build my own woodworking projects inside the Autodesk tools, just to see how I might use the tools to help me with my own design challenges. 

 One of my projects I toy with is a "Saturday Table" that I found in woodworking book.

I've built up the assembly and drawings in Autodesk Inventor, archived the drawings in Autodesk Vault, rendered the files in Autodesk Showcase, and as a last step, I decided to make the assembly instructions in Autodesk Inventor Publisher.

The Saturday Table Rendered in Autodesk Showcase

Overkill you might say?  Probably.  It's not a complicated design, compared to the Autodesk Inventor's of the Month like Tolar Manufacturing, and 4th Dimensional Facade Solutions.

But even this had a lesson to teach me.

In the process of creating assembly instructions, I found that the screws to mount the table top where obscured by the table's aprons.  I could have rotated the view so you could see under the table, but I felt that would make it hard to see the screws and where they needed to go.

Gah!  I can't see where the screws go!

So I opted for another solution.  Inventor Publisher can change the color style  a part in a single snapshot, or step of the process.  So when I reached the step where the apron obscured the parts I needed to show, I just used the "Smooth Ghost" style.

Smooth Ghost might help!

This made the component transparent so I could see through it, making the screws and mounting rails easy to see without making compromises in my camera angle.

Much better!

 Then, I just switched the part back when I was done.

So here is the video on the full trick of the trade!  Enjoy!

P.S.  If you're looking for more videos on Inventor Publisher, check out the posts listed here!

Showing Total Mass on an Autodesk Inventor Drawing

May the Mass Times Acceleration Be With You.
Seen on a T-shirt

In a post a few weeks ago, I was asked "How do you show the total mass on a drawing?" 

I made some suggestions in the comments, but during a busy weekend, I decided to whip up this quick video tip. 

In short, create a text field, and insert the Mass property from your assembly onto your drawing.  You'll have the property and it will update when the assembly is updated.

Showing the property fields.

Supplementing the display of mass in the parts list, you can show the data in all of its forms!

So once again, here's a video to show the steps in all their glory! 

News Item! Mentor Graphics & KETIV Technologies - A New Partnership

“It's wonderful to work with someone with mentor status.”
Madeleine Peyroux

Like a spinning figure skater pulling her arms in more tightly, our technological world spins faster and faster. 

New products appear that change the way we work, new workflows open up new frontiers, and even products like AutoCAD, which have existed for decades, are evolving to embrace this new world.

After all, it wasn't that long ago that "the Cloud" was something that kids looked up at, and argued if it looked like a turtle or a dinosaur. 

Recognizing that, KETIV Technologies is proud to announce their distributorship for Mentor Graphics.

As part of that partnership, KETIV Technologies can now fullfill your needs for PCB Systems Design, Cable Harness Design, and System Modeling. 

But what better place to get the full scoop than the official press release itself! 


                     Click here for the link & get the full skinny!  

Here it is in black and white! Click the link above for the link to the press release

Finding the Cross Sectional Area of an Empty Space

"Don't play what's there, play what's not there." 
Miles Davis

A question posed to me a few weeks ago was "How do you find the cross section of a void?"

The surface area of a part face is easy.  Just use the measure tool, and pick your face.

Getting the area of a face.  No Problem!

But how do you pick what's not there?

I remembered a word of wisdom passed on to me by an old fixture designer back in the first tool room I worked in.

"Sometimes the best thing you can do, is leave extra material on a part.  It gives you something to work with when you're building the part.  You can always cut it off later."

We could fill the gap with material, but that changes the part.  It adds volume we don't want.

But what if we combine that old fixture designer's wisdom with a little Digital Prototyping magic?

What if we use a boundary patch?

The surface used as a boundary

 Bingo!  A boundary patch would give us something to pick, but wouldn't change the the part volume.  Plus it can be suppressed! 

So here we are!  A video on using a surface to find the cross sectional area of a void!

These are a couple of ideas.  Have another!  Go ahead an throw down a comment! 

A Few News Items for the Weekend

There aren't enough days in the weekend 

Rod Schmidt

 Today is just a couple of quick "news items" for the weekend.

4th Dimensional Facade Solutions announced as the February 2012 Inventor of the Month

First, I'd like to raise a virtual glass to 4th Dimensional Facade Solutions, and congratulate them on being selected as Inventor of the Month.

Pretty amazing stuff!

They're using Autodesk Inventor to create some stunning facades for buildings.  It's pretty cool stuff!  Here's the link to read the article!

Autodesk 2012 Games Show Reel

These show reals never cease to amaze me.  From some one who played PacMan on the Atari 2600, it's amazing to see what can be done with the technology of today!

Personal Note: Weekend with a Warbird

As for myself.  Yes, I'll be hanging out with the warbirds again. 

This weeekend will be the Living History Event at Planes of Fame staring the B-25 "Photo Fanny".   Yes, it's fun, but it's also a reminder of what was done 70 years go, both with the technology of the day, and by the crews that built, flew, and maintained them. 

You'll likely see a tweet or two, and maybe even a video next week!

Photo Fanny in flight.  Courtesy Planes of Fame Air Museum.

A Guest Video - Sketchbook Designer, to Alias Design, to Project Falcon

“In a market that has been void of quality offerings with quality names attached this will be welcome.”
 David Menlow

Today's post is a guest video created by KETIV Technologies own Mike Prom. 

Mike is quite a guru in Autodesk Sketchbook Designer, Autodesk Alias Design, and the Autodesk Project Falcon add-in for Alias.

Here he shows how t concept for a truck cab can start in Sketchbook Designer, expand in Alias, and finally, be analyzed in CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) to explore it's aerodynamic capabilities.

It's a great way to see how an idea can be conceived, and analyzed! 


Since Mr. Prom is the one bringing the knowledge, I'll step aside and like Mike take the virtual podium!

Thanks, Mike!