www.upfrontezine.com
When the Department of Defense turned off Selective Availability
(SA), it removed the single largest source of GPS error. The 2-sigma
(95%) horizontal positioning error went from 100 meters to somewhere
in the vicinity of 20m -- a fivefold increase in accuracy. Keep
in mind that "20 meters 95 percent of the time" means
that the odd wild result is still possible.
Vertical error is about 1.5 times horizontal error (30m). I would
expect a survey-grade receiver to have a small but significant
advantage over a consumer-grade unit in a standalone (point positioning,
rather than differential) application due to receiver noise levels.
Consumer GPS hardware does not have to be redesigned to take advantage
of the increased precision. This was not a system enhancement;
rather, it was a system "disenhancement." SA intentionally
degraded the GPS signal to produce false results of varying magnitude.
There are still lots of variables in GPS measurements, but all
things being equal the removal of SA will allow greater accuracy
more or less consistently. A couple of good URLs on the subject
are:
www.igeb.gov/sa/diagram.shtml
www3.hmc.edu/~kjurka/physics/error.html
"Either Autodesk is planning to dump ACIS and that is
why Spatial went for so little money, or the Spatial shareholders
have a great lawsuit on their hands against the management of
Spatial for not getting Autodesk to bid up the price of Spatial
against Dassault (vis-a-vis Softdesk). Why only US$21 million?
That's only about 1.5 times sales for 1999. SolidWorks went for
about 10 or 15 times sales."
- Jeff Hall, Applied 3D Science
"ACIS is a very, very complex piece of software. If you
are merging two different programming styles (e.g. naming conventions),
it is not easy to say the least.
"From my point of view (I had done some research on this
topic), AutoCAD is still theoretical. They made some improvements,
but that's all. In the 2D case, this could be just fine, but in
the 3D case it is still hard to work with.
"I do think that Autodesk will get strong competition, and
if Autodesk fails to make its own CAD engine, it will receive
further trouble. I thought that Inventor was the way to Autodesk's
own geometry engine, but in the press room Autodesk tells a different
story."
- Hartmut Rosch, Technische Universität Ilmenau
"I believe if Ralph looked at the report again it would
probably be 1.7billion FRENCH FRANCS, which, at today's current
exchange rate 0f 6.8FF to the US$, would yield about US$250million.
Still a nice sum of cash but just slightly off the US$1.7billion
he thought we had. I am sure Dassualt would love his numbers,
however."
- Vic Leventhal, SolidWorks
The editor replies: "The Market Guide Web site
lists the 1.7billion in dollars. Perhaps they forgot to change
the currency symbol.
"Meanwhile, Unigraphics is taking advantage of the sale
by keeping busy announcing upgrades to its ParaSolid engine."
Mechanical LT 2000
After Autodesk decided to not develop Genius LT any further, the
former managing director of Genius CAD Software in Scandinavia
decided to create Mechanical LT 2000 using the original staff
that made Genius LT. Mechanical LT offers the same functionality
as Genius LT 97/98, with identical user interface, layer structure,
and language versions. More info from http://www.citydata.se/index-uk.htm
When Autodesk acquired Genius in May 1998, GCS Scandinavia AB
was later acquired by TurnIT. CityData is also owned by TurnIT
and is Sweden's largest Autodesk distributor. CityData has developed
Mechanical LT.
CAD Publisher v1.7
Cad Publisher bridges the gap between CAD and publishing by producing
high quality pre-rendered vector art as PostScript, Adobe Illustrator,
Acrobat PDF, and EPS files in monochrome, color and color separations.
Cad Publisher v1.7 is available for download from http://www.jwgraphics.com.au,
and features different levels to suit the first time user (Level
1) through to the expert (Level 4). Level 1 can be purchased for
$45. Running the TryOut software in Level 1 mode, the user can
save all of the output file formats.
Animation Plugin for TurboCAD
The Animation plug-in for TurboCAD v 6 allows the creation of
3D animations quickly. There is a large collection of animation
samples at http://www.softdevspb.com/plugins/AniLabPage/AniLab.htm
. The site also has documentation to learn more about AnimationLab
and its capabilities. SoftDev SPb is a company providing software
development services. We have been involved in the development
of IMSI's TurboCAD starting with v3.
Scan2CAD
Scan2CAD converts scanned drawings to CAD, and includes OCR text
recognition. The new release supports two additional raster file
types: CALS (Type 1 - *.cal, *.cals, *.gp4, *.cg4, *.mil) and
GeoTIFF. The new release also allows you to assign real world
coordinates to a known point on the raster image so that your
DXF file is exported with coordinates relative to this point.
You can download a free eval from http://www.rastertovector.com
Geomagic Solutions Partners
Raindrop Geomagic has a program that lets the vendors of 3D scanners,
CAD/CAM/CAE software, coordinate measuring machines (CMM), and
rapid prototyping technology understand each others technology.
Members include ArcSecond, CGN, Geometrix, GOM, Hymarc, and Laser
Design. More info from http://www.geomagic.com/sales/gsp/
Information Extraction
DotSoft has released Prop2XL, a free tool to extract information
from AutoCAD 2000 drawing files directly into Microsoft Excel.
For this, and other free utilities, visit http://www.dotsoft.com
"Improved" Piracy Program
Autodesk has expanded its Piracy Prevention Program so that its
developers can now turn in the names of illegal users of third-party
products. Autodesk's lawyers will help the developer obtain a
settlement.
As for the Microsoft VBA macro designed to infect AutoCAD 2000
DWG files, it is reported to be "not in the wild," which
means it exists as an experiment, but has not infected any files
- yet. Often, macro viruses are written as "proof of concept"
experiements, as occurred earlier this year with the Visio-specific
VBA macro virus.
ArchiFM 2000
Graphisoft's recently
acquired Drawbase Software and its CAFM (computer-aided facilities
management) software will be available in the USA in the third
quarter of this year. ArchiFM 2000 is already available in Germany,
Hungary, and Austria. ArchiFM 2000 is targeted at companies with
more than 100,000 square feet of space.
GeoTools
GeoTools are time saving polyline, text, blocks, conversion, import-export
and inquiry tools for AutoCAD. Written for GIS, mapping, and survey
users, an eval copy can be downloaded from http://www.4d-technologies.com/geotools
More Solids for AutoCAD
AutoSolids (US$995)
from Varimetric Solutions adds 50 solid modeling commands to standard
AutoCAD, such as bidirectional extrusions, and continuous preview
during solid creation. AutoSolids' unique ability is to completely
edit any parameter -- without AutoSolids, AutoCAD discards all
historical information used to create a solid.
Biplab Sarkar has joined Nemetschek NA as the new 3D Geometry Manager for VectorWorks. Mr Sarkar was previously with Parametric Technology Corporation.
HiSoftware appointed David C. Arnold to its Board of Directors. Mr. Arnold is a founding partner of the Henniker River Group, and was the founder of DCA Engineering, later renamed SoftDesk.
CADSOFT has moved to 649 Scottsdale Drive, Suite 200, Box 12, Guelph, Ontario Canada, N1G 4T7. Phone and other numbers remain the same.
HP's Windows 2000 drivers for the 500, 600 and 700 series all-in-one printer-scanner-fax-copier products had been promised by July 24, but are now delayed indefinitely.
Corel has shut down its VDrive service, replacing it with free online file storage at CorelCity.com.
-- July 19 --
AutoCAD
2000i: i for Irony?
Discreet
Releases Highly Anticipated combustion
SmarTeam
Launches PDM Tool for SolidWorks Users
3rdTech
3D Digitizer Sets Accuracy and Range Standards
CADD
Edge, Others Form Alliance for SolidWorks Software
Three
Trade Shows Combine to Create Huge B2B Event
MapInfo
Enjoys Record Financial Quarter
-- July 20 --
Computer
Experts Find AutoCAD Virus
TenLinks.com
Sells All Available Ad Space Again
Microsoft,
Unigraphics Introduce DesignKNet
Z/I
Imaging, NESS Telecom Create Military Imaging Solution
Appian
Traveler Has Extended-Desktop Solution for Laptops
Log
Home Designers, Builders Turn to SolidBuilder
Haitek
Authorizes BGC Systems for Envision ERP Software
Dassault
Systemes Reports 22% Increase in Q2 Revenue
-- July 21 --
Haitek
Authorizes ePartners for Envision ERP Software
Semiconductor
Chip Manufacturer Chooses Windchill CPC
-- July 24 --
AutoCAD
2000 Targeted With Virus, Says Russian Lab
CAD
fx Announces Plot Minder 2 for AutoCAD
Int'l
Design & Construction Site, Redwood Systems Ally
Digital
Paper To Webcast Application to Mold Making
SDRC
Celebrates 10th Anniversary of User Group
Adept
Completes Acquisition of HexaVision
3Dlabs
Finalizes Acquisition of Intense3D
Bentley's
Viecon.com Extranet Hosting Ready for Use
Intense3D
Accelerator Tops in Benchmark Scores
Adaptec
Reports $35 MM Q1 Profits
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/1/12090.html
The Register
How Microsoft played the numbers game to boost MSN visitor numbers.
Re: The File Format is All that Matters
"That is precisely the reason why we do not go for an IntelliCAD
or VDraft solution (even though I think they are great pieces
of software). When DATA is your asset, you don't look for a 99%
fidelity or a 100% sometimes, you NEED 100% ALL the time. The
reason why brand names matter is because 'the brand' is the ONLY
one that can ensure 100% ALL the time (despite what some others
might claim)."
- Felix Lopez-Phillips, Agra Baymont
Re: AutoCAD 2000i
"Last week I heard that one of the bosses freaked when the
Internet bill came in.So I've got a funny feeling that we are
going to be limited to limited usage and I can see that they will
try to limit users also. This would counter the 'Internet Connectivity'
thing for Autodesk."
- R. Weiner
"Hmmm. [AutoCAD 2000i has] increased internet capabilities.
Well, guess what? Most companies in the Pittsburgh area could
care less. R14 is fine with them. I remember AutoCAD R11 as the
last great DOS version -- so easy to streamline the commands for
what you wanted to achieve. We skipped R12 and R13 and went direct
to R14. Thanks so much for all the help you have provided over
the years."
- John Whittington
"You might have missed the real reason for the ADSK stock price drop: Autodesk management told analysts that they were more comfortable with the lower end of the revenue and earnings outlook for the current quarter. This, with more than two full weeks to go in the quarter, which traditionally contains about 25% of quarterly revenue (every quarter is back-end loaded). As usual, the individual shareholders are the last to know."
Re: Windows 2000
"We recently installed our first windows 2000 Pentium III
800 Mhz systems at a customer's site: 10 computers running AutoCAD
R14 and SolidWorks 2000, with a 50-user Novell network. SolidWorks
and AutoCAD R14 run fine locally. Across the network, the computers
lock up regularly when the operator attempts to save the AutoCAD
drawing file.
"We are not able to get any technical contact with Microsoft
that has any value. Autodesk is taking the position that since
it is R14, they do not support Windows 2000. At Novell, it is
impossible to even find anyone who is even remotely interested.
"I am reporting this because prior to this installation,
I have not seen any negative reports on Windows 2000 with Novell
and AutoCAD. My only solution is to switch back to Windows NT
4.0."
- Ed Russell, Devtron Russell Inc.
Re: aecXML
"As a student of architecture in the mid 80s, I was evangelizing
the use of CAD to an 'old timer' at our company. He listened with
interest and, when I ran out of breath, he explained that it took
the company nearly twenty years to convince architects to adopt
the use of the parallel rule.
"When will aecXML become useful it is asked? I say, 'Don't
hold your breath'."
- Clinton Gallagher
Re: Number Nine
"The problem with pedantry is that one has to be very careful
with one's facts. Number Nine may indeed have been named after
a Beatles song as asserted by Ralph, rather than a Lennon one
as implied by Joe O'Halloran. I vaguely seem to remember the phrase
'Number Nine' being repeatedly used on the rather weird and lengthy
track Revolution 9 from the 1968 double album The Beatles (commonly
known as The White Album). Perhaps one of the founders of Number
Nine will put us all out of our misery and let us know the real
facts behind this vitally important matter."
- Steve Johnson
Re: LISP in LT
"From my viewpoint. the one thing that is keeping AutoCAD
LT from higher sales is AutoLISP. We have developed an extensive
library of drawing aids for our CAD technicians using LISP to
help maintain standards and increase productivity. Our engineers,
who use AutoCAD LT, would like to use these same tools. However,
investing in duplicate programming efforts and translating our
code to Diesel doesn't excite management. Allowing access to our
LISP library for our engineers has us looking at a non Autodesk
product."
- George Anderson, Eugene Water & Electric Board
Re: AEC Systems 2000
"Form over Function is one of the biggest problems in Web
design these days. No so-called 'webdesigner' has any technical
knowledge at all, otherwise they wouldn't call themselves webdesigner.
The more beautiful, the slower to load, and more likely to crash
or malfunction (esp. with any browser).
"I'm waiting how Buzzsaw, Cephren, and Viecon will make
it. Not that they will survive. The question is how. Will it be
good enough?"
- Reini Urban
"There is another reason why Viecon will still be around
in a year's time! It is the only dot.com that can supply the same
technology for use behind your firewall. If they do go bust, your
data will not be locked away with the bankruptcy receivers forever,
because you could simply re-install it locally. With that kind
of surety, Viecon must be a top choice for hosting even the most
nervous dot.com projects."
- Joe Croser