Issue #113: 23 June, 1998

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    • Microsoft Sells SoftImage

    One of the myths perpetrated by the general press is that Microsoft succeeds in every area of software. I guess if all you use is Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer, that would be your world view. Truth is, Microsoft has failed in pretty much all areas of specialized software -- such as personal finance and serious desktop publishing -- or simply hasn't entered many specialized areas, such as CAD and statistical software.
          I recall reading somewhere that SoftImage is teaching Microsoft that it cannot compete in specialized software. The lesson learned, the student is now graduating. Last Monday, Microsoft announced it's going to sell its SoftImage software unit to Avid Technology (specializing in video- editing software) for US$285 million.
         This news would be of interest to Autodesk subsidiary Kinetix, which recently has been making gains in areas where SoftImage has been king.

    CAD and Internet News

    Autodesk
    In the last week, Autodesk announced Pro Landscape Release 5.0 and began shipment of AutoCAD Map Release 3.

    Baystate Technologies
    CADKEY 98 will be launched this September at AutoFACT '98. Enhancements include FastSolid integration, ACIS v4.1, MDI, photorealistic rendering, STEWP and faster speed.
        A new parametric modeler is planned for release in early '99.

    EMT Software
    SolidMech (US$495) is a parametric parts library for SolidWorks 98. It features an automatic assembler for bolts, washers, and nuts.

    Gartner Group
    The Consolidated ERP Vendor Guide (US$4,995) provides analysis of 37 enterprise resource planning software packages in book and CD-ROM format.
    Email <jwhitney@info-edge.com>

    Graphisoft
    ArchiCAD 6.0 will begin shipping on June 29, more than two weeks before the announced date of July 15.

    Haestad Methods
    The Continuing Education workshops have received IACET (International Association for Continuing Education and Training) certification. Courses focus on water distribution modeling, water quality analysis, etc.

    Jacobus
    PlantSpace Version 2, plant automation software, is now shipping.

    Microsoft
    The TerraServer Web site provides satellite images from the US Geological Survey and the Russian Space Agency. Microsoft hopes to provide photos of the entire earth to 1-meter resolution.
        Meanwhile, Newsbytes reports that "Antivirus and security software vendor Data Fellows has warned of a new type of Word macro virus that might be nicknamed the Embarrassment Virus. Under the right conditions, the bug sends copies of a victim's Word documents to 23 different Usenet newsgroups under subject lines like 'New Virus Alert!,' 'Important Princess Diana Info,' and 'How to find child pornography.'"  Another virus hunter had already detected the first virus specific to Windows 98.

    Nemetschek
    Autodesk announced that PalladioX is currently the only AEC application worldwide that has qualified for the "Built with ObjectARX" logo.

    OpenDWG
    Solid Concepts has joined the OpenDWG Alliance as a sustaining member. SolidView software from Solid Concepts uses industry standard formats, such as STL, VRML, IGES, DXF, and DWG to enable non-CAD users to view, measure, mark- up, and communicate mechanical design information. More info from

    Tandy
    Computer City has been sold to CompUSA for US$275 million because the chain of computer stores did not perform as well as Tandy's Radio Shack stores.

    The WorthWhile Web

    http://www.visio.com/support/service/index.html Visio Technical 5.0b
    http://www.visio.com/support/service/index.html IntelliCAD 98a
    Visio Corp
    These are the URLs for the latest updates to Visio and IntelliCAD software.

    http://www.multicim.com/pmenu.html
    MultiCIM Technologies Inc.
    PRO Menu is the complete productivity toolbox for AutoCAD. Unlimited-time trial versions available for Release 12, 13 and 14. President Vincent Santaguida notes that there are still lots of R12 users out there.

    http://www.infoassets.com/
    A copy of notes from Joel Orr's and Bill Beazley's tutorial on collaborative engineering.

    http://www.rlcad.com.au
    R&L CAD Services
    Plate'n'Sheet Development is a software solution for plate and sheet metal designers and fabricators requiring flat development of complex shapes often required in plant engineering.

    www.aug.org.uk/
    AUG-UK
    Jay Patankar's 'Chairman's report' gives his reaction to the 'open letter' written by Victor Gaspar, chairman of EAAUG, as reported in upFront.eZine #80.

    Jargon Watch

    DOM -- Document Object Model
    DTD -- Document Type Definition
    ICE -- Information and Content Exchange OPS -- Open Profiling Standard
    RDF -- Resource Definition Format
    SAX -- Simple API for XML
    WIDL - Web Integration Definition Language XML -- Extended Markup Language

    Letters to the Editor

    "As long as you're listing proposed Web standards for vector files, you might as well mention PGML (Precision Graphics Markup Language), which is supported by Adobe, Netscape, IBM, and Sun. Contrast this with Microsoft, Autodesk, Visio, and Macromedia supporting VML. PGML was submitted to the World Wide Web Consortium in April, a couple months before VML. Like VML, it's based on XML (the replacement for HTML) and supports Cascading Style Sheets and the Document Object Model. Details on PGML can be found at http://www.w3.org/Submission/.
     "So does this mean Netscape will add support for PGML? And Internet Explorer will add support for VML? Meanwhile, AutoCAD outputs DWF, MicroStation and Vdraft output SVF, Intergraph outputs ActiveCGM."
         -- Scott Sherman

    "According to my dictionary, 'continuum' is a real word with an established meaning. Neither Bentley nor Autodesk own this word, and life is going to get confusing for everyone if either of them try to take over this word and try to assign new meaning to it.
         "Continuum n, pl. -tinua a continuous series or whole, no part of which is perceptibly different from adjacent parts."
         "Autodesk appears to be using the word continuum in its correct dictionary definition."
         -- Andrew Bichard

    "You wrote: 'SoftSource will be announcing on Tuesday the first DWG R14-compatible plug-in for Web browsers. By displaying AutoCAD drawings directly, there is no need to translate DWG to DWF, VML, or other dumber vector formats.
         "Actually, Autodesk View 2.0, which has been shipping since February, reads R9-R14 drawings and runs inside Microsoft Internet Explorer, allowing not only viewing but measuring, markup, and redlining in the browser. You can think of it as a DWG R14-compatible plug-in for Microsoft Internet Explorer. And DwgX 2.0, which will ship any day now, is a true plug-in for both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer that's also R14-compatible."
         -- Jason Pratt

    Notable Quotable

    "Some 65 percent of users keep the same default home page as came with their browser."
         -- San Jose Mercury News

    If They Wrote Error Messages in Haiku

    Printer not ready.
    Could be a fatal error.
    Have a pen handy?

    [Editor's note: I had been wondering who wrote these wonderful poems. A reader recently passed on this URL: http://www.salonmag.com/21st/rose/1998/02/24straight.html ]

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