Issue #78: 14 October, 1997

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    • Intergraph and EDS/Unigraphics to Merge Mech CAD Software

    Intergraph CEO Jim Meadlock announced 10 Oct the intention of Intergraph and EDS to form a new joint venture company
    that combines their mechanical CAD product lines: Unigraphics, Parasolid, and IMAN products from EDS; and
    Solid Edge and EMS from Intergraph. Solid Edge will adopt the Unigraphics Parasolid solid modeling kernel in early
    1998 with full data continuity for existing Solid Edge customers.

    EDS would have majority ownership of the company, unnamed at this point, with the transaction completed by end
    of '97. All employees of ISS (Intergraph Software Solutions) Mechanical Product Center in Huntsville AL USA and the
    worldwide mechanical sales and support organization will be transferred to the new company. No other business areas will
    be affected by this venture.

    EaglePoint Can't Sell AutoCAD Anymore

    As reported in EaglePoint Software's SEC filing, Autodesk will not allow its partner to resell AutoCAD directly to
    end-users as of 31 Jan,'98. Says CEO Rob Blum, "...the reason for this action is because we have notified Autodesk
    that we are also partnering with Visio; Autodesk is extremely concerned about the Visio 'Phoenix' product and
    its US$499 price point."

    EaglePoint is (was) an AutoCAD reseller. The company contines to be a major third-party
    developer and an OEM that imbeds Autodesk technology into EaglePoint's standalone products.
    More info from http://www.eaglepoint.com

    ArchiCAD Teamwork

    We had an opportunity to see Teamwork in action when the ArchiCAD traveling road show (26 cities in 27 days) pulled
    into town last week. Two ArchiCAD stations were connected by ethernet, one an IBM-compatible, the other a Mac computer.
    The demo jocks showed how each could work on the same drawing file by signing on to any story, layer, area, camera
    viewpoint -- or any combination of these. Teamwork warns when one work area overlaps a work area already in use. Work
    areas can be set up for contractors (such as lighting and interior designers) to give them access to limited areas of
    the drawing -- effectively locking out unauthorized changes. ArchiCAD keeps more than one backup, so that the history of
    changes can be reviewed.

    The Teamwork approach allows you to work on a design anywhere -- at work, at home, on the airplane -- then merge
    in your changes with the Send & Receive command. The demo was very impressive, but left us with one problem in how
    updates are applied. Team members don't appear to be notified that changes have occurred --  indeed the
    independence of Teamwork's approach makes this impossible. Instead, we figure you need to regularly use the Send &
    Receive command to check for drawing changes -- if any.  Other features we like in ArchiCAD (which has 35,000
    users) include:

    WWW Visual WebMap Plug-in for IT/CAD/GIS

    A client/server concept for Intergraph and Bentley Systems vector and raster files or vector in database with API for
    user development. WWW plug-in (client) program for Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer running on Windows v3.1,
    v3.11, 95, or NT. Download it and use a Web browser to open and look at 2D/3D DGN, RLE or CIT as files or as seamless
    maps (GIS). More info from http://hem.passagen.se/project/npwebmap.htm

    CATweb Navigator

    Dassault Systemes introduced CATweb Navigator as a low-cost Java-based Web browser for viewing product information
    created with CATIA Solutions. Users access and manipulate any CATIA model in real time from any desktop and laptop
    computer -- no CATIA workstation is needed. Price: US$500 each. The software is the first in a new CATIA Network
    Computing Solution from Dassault Systemes and IBM dedicated to the Web environment.

    Unlike other technologies for publishing CAD data on the Internet, CATweb offers users all the information stored
    on the CATIA server without the need to pre-publish specific models or views. Users have access to the most current
    design data and can zoom and rotate models. CATweb generates high resolution 3D and drafting views and delivers them in
    real time. Hyperlinked documents are also accessible. Reports such as bills of materials are generated in real
    time. For more info: http://www.catweb.ibm.com.

    IMSI Announces TurboProject v2 Professional

    TurboProject v2 Professional, available this month for US$295, allows project managers to" More info from http://www.imsisoft.com

    Design Shootout Info

    The anneal Design Shootout in Boston MA USA now has these officially registered competing teams: ArchiCAD, AllPlan,
    DataCAD, ARRIS, TriForma, DenebaCAD, MiniCAD, Architrion, and ArchiTECH.PC. Three other teams are still trying to get
    organized and looking for volunteers: ArchT, AutoArchitect, and ChiefArchitect.

    Spectator gallery tickets to the competition go on sale at the World Trade Center for $35 until October 24th. Call
    +1 (617) 951-1433 for info.

    CAD and Internet News Headlines

    Cadence Magazine
    ConceptCAD from Virtus Corp and Imagineer Technical v2.0 from Intergraph Software Solutions were among 15 products to
    receive Cadence Magazine's Editor's Choice Award last week.

    Intergraph
    Imagineer Technical v2.0 is now available to students in the USA through Follett University Bookstores at an academic
    price of US$99.95 (regular price is US$495). For more info: http://www.intergraph.com/imagine

    Microsoft
    Rumors are that Microsoft is looking to sell its problem-plagued Microsoft Network for US$1 billion. The most likely
    purchaser is America Online.

    Even though Microsoft invested US$1 billion in Comcast, the cable television company has decided to go with non-
    Microsoft products for set-top products.

    Netscape
    Navigator will be the default Web browser for the USA Defense Department, which translates into an estimated two
    million users.

    Rebis
    AutoPLANT 97 is a new 3D plant design and modeling software system offering true 3D CAD capability with AutoCAD via
    object-oriented technology called "Reboids." The 3D Reboids effectively produce superior representations of objects from
    any viewing perspective, while object orientation maintains the association with the underlying data. More info from
    http://www.rebis.com.

    Sun Microsystems
    Sun has taken Microsoft to court, accusing it of "breaching its contractual obligation to deliver a compatible
    implementation of Java technology on its products." Microsoft is accused of trademark infringement, false
    advertising, breach of contract, unfair competition, interference with prospective economic advantage and
    inducing breach of contract. Sun said tests of Microsoft products, including the Internet Explorer v4.0, show the
    company's inclusion of Java features fails to meet Sun's specifications. -- from The Internet Daily.

    To get your own copy of the style guide for building PersonalJava-enabled devices, URL this:
    http://java.sun.com/products/personaljava

    Pushing upFront.eZine
    The Webmaster of the Vancouver AutoCAD User Society's Web site has added a desktop channel for persons to subscribe to
    upFront.eZine NEWS. Great way to deliver info/content directly to the desktop! More info at http://vaus.bc.ca

    Market News

    Eugene M. Bullis has been named Computervision's new CFO (chief financial officer).

    Brand New CAD Books

    Save up to 30% by purchasing books on-line. Simply double-click the URL:

    "MicroStation 3D By Example (2nd Ed)" by Noel Addison
    This 528-page book uses practical examples of 3D modeling to teach the efficient application of MicroStation 95 to design
    projects. Topics covered include: free-forms, modifying surfaces, blending surfaces, composite surfaces, B-splines
    surfaces, drawing composition, and introduction to lighting. All exercises are performed using AccuDraw. From Pen and
    Brush Publishers (fax: +61 3 9818 3704). To buy online:
    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0958683107/XyzpublishingltdA/

    Notable Quotable

    "The perceptual -- and probably inevitable -- mistake made in the electronics industry is to predict  success or
    failure based upon the technology alone."
    -- M.S. Malone, Upside magazine, Mar'97

    Contact!

    All contents copyright XYZ Publishing, Ltd. Inc., 1997 and all rights are reserved. No material may be reproduced electronically or in print without written permission from XYZ Publishing, PO Box 3053, Sumas WA, 98295-3053, unless otherwise noted.