issue
#306
27 august 2002
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a l k i n g a b o u t c a d
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issue
#306
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Contents
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DataCAD: One Step Back, Two Steps Forward In April 2000, Datacad LLC released DataCAD Plus (US$2,495). "Based on DataCAD's core technology with most of DataCAD's standard 2D functions, DataCAD Plus is a distinctly different software program." DataCAD Plus was the result of collaboration between Datacad LLC and softTECH GmbH of Germany (part of mb Software AG). softTech produced its own German-language version of DataCAD Plus 9.5 called Spirit 10 <www.softtech.de/d0/d1/_d1.html>. It's biggest feature was ZAC [Zone-based Architectural Construction] that had walls automatically clean up; doors, windows, and roofs whose parameters changed dynamically; automatic floor slabs and roofs; and so on. Confusingly, the first release was called "9.5"; you can read more at www.datacad.com/news/press_releases/DCPlus.htm Eighteen months later, however, the future of DataCAD Plus v10 was in jeopardy after softTech decided to end its collaboration with Datacad LLC. The decision was a puzzler: while DataCAD Plus used features (in particular, ZAC) developed by softTech, Spirit used features developed by Datacad LLC, such as multi-scale plotting, TIN [triangulated irregular network] surface modeling tools, estimator link, and symbol browser. Datacad LLC is now apparently working on their own version of ZAC; in the meantime, softTech released Spirit 11 containing, says Datacad LLC, intellectual property developed exclusively by Datacad LLC. Since then, Datacad LLC decided that DataCAD Plus 10 would not be released, but that features from Plus 10 would be incorporated in regular DataCAD 10 (US$995), which shipped last June (45-day trial version at http://205.181.245.4:591/demo.htm ). - - - That was one BIG step back. More recently, however, Datacad LLC announces two steps forward: DataCAD LT 10 and o2c. LT is a low-cost (US$149) 2D/3D CADD program shipping next month. The program includes automatic door and window insertion; associative dimensioning and hatching; unlimited undo/redo; TrueType font support; bitmap import; solid, pattern, and bitmap fills; and OpenDWG-based translators. 3D models created in DataCAD LT can be exported to o2c. Full list of differences between DataCAD and LT is here: www.datacad.com/products/DC_Compare.htm The other item is o2c [objects to see], a very compact 3D file format. It can, for example, contain display options, such as a building lot with and without the new office building; the swimming pool addition during daytime and at night; colors and finishes can be changed with a click -- in addition to walk-throughs, and a variety of rendering options <www.datacad.com/support/bulletin/PDFs/o2c_Player.PDF>. A library of symbols is available. Here's the curious part: Datacad LLC is promoting o2c developed by ... mb Software, softTech's parent company. More info at www.o2c.de/englisch/index.html
Avatech-PlanetCAD Marriage Complicated PlanetCAD loaned Avatech Solutions US$500,000 last week. Together with a $500,000-loan from James Hindman, an Avatech director, Avatech repaid a US$3 million debt, to the satisfaction of the holder of the debt. The loan from PlanetCAD charges 15% interest, and is due if either: (1) Avatech doesn't complete its merger with PlanetCAD; or (ii) December 1, 2002. If the merger is completed, PlanetCAD's loan is consolidated with Avatech. In connection with the loan, PlanetCAD and Mr. Hindman entered into an agreement a day earlier with Avatech's senior lender: the $2 million reduction in debt was a condition to the closing of the merger of Avatech with Raven Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PlanetCAD.
SolidWorks and Autodesk Clarify Seats Counts SolidWorks and Autodesk both reacted to the numbers posted in previous editions of upFront.eZine. And, I had asked, "If software is given to an educational institute free, does that count as a sale?" And a reader had wondered why the number in SolidWorks' press releases differed from those founds in the annual report published by parent Dassault Systemes. "SolidWorks has sponsored formal, announced grant programs
for specific educational market segments and geographies; however,
we don't count 'seats', or educational licenses, until the
grant subscription service period has expired and the school has
paid to maintain and renew the subscription. "Here are the facts on SolidWorks' current installed base
seat count: Over 200,000 seats total includes over 105,000 commercial
and over 95,000 educational software licenses. Through most of 2001
we disclosed the two pieces in all press releases. We switched
to reporting only the total seat number in our press releases because
our competitors do not make any distinction. "The numbers we [Autodesk] presented are COMMERCIAL ONLY, just like the SolidWorks numbers we presented. If we included educations seats, the number we presented would be almost double. So, your chart would look more like: Q SW (COMM+EDU) AIS (COMM+EDU) - Andrew Anagnost,
director of product marketing
below the radar A summary of CAD industry news you may not have read elsewhere, or that I find interesting: Slick! for Windows v7.0 build 7.0.009 adds the ability to batch print PDF files. http://www.slickwin.com @Last Software released SketchUp 2.1 for Windows; the Mac OS X version was released in July. Entrada Software announced that its eChange supports Inventor, and that it was been awarded certification for Inventor. http://www.entradasoftware.com CFX has released CFX-5.5.1 computational fluid dynamics software. http://www.cfx.aeat.com Adaptive roughing is being released by Pathtrace Systems in EdgeCAM v7. http://www.pathtrace.com Spatial released 3D ACIS PHL [Precise Hidden Line] v5, which allows CAD program to create fast accurate 2D hidden line drawings of 3D models.
seminars and conferences Geoengineering Summit 2002: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the summit has been postponed by Bentley Systems. Interoperability Workshop for CAD and PLM using ISO/STEP/IAI in Darmstadt, Germany, starting October 22. http://www.epmtech.jotne.com
Redo "The OASYS link in your e-letter should be www.oasys-software.com/product/cad/cadpp/
"
"Although I appreciate the press, I want to bring to your attention two inaccuracies:
- Rich Uphus,
president
Computer News Summaries A U.S. federal judge has thrown out a claim by British Telecommunications that Prodigy violated BT's patent on hyperlinking. - PC World Information Wave Technologies, a New Jersey ISP, has figured out how to block the RIAA's proposed attacks: the Gnutella P2P network will be seeded with fake music files to sniff out potential recording industry hackers. Files with names of Billboard Top 100 songs and filesizes similar to three-minute MP3s will be put on Gnutella peers. Peers that connect and subsequently appear to be hacking will have their IP addresses blocked from Information Wave's network. - ComputerWire Corel said Hewlett-Packard has selected WordPerfect 10 and Quattro Pro 10 to be bundled with its Pavilion desktop computer line in North America starting in September. HP said the reason was "cost" to compete better at the low-end of the PC market. Customers can order Microsoft's Office XP for an extra charge. (Sony already includes WordPerfect suite with some computer lines; swapping in Office XP adds US$477 to the cost of the computer.) Corel shares jumped 17% on the news. - CNET
Market News PTC completed its sale of ICEM business in a buy-out led by Lee Cureton, acting general manager of ICEM, and Indigo Capital Limited, a UK financing provider. The business name is ICEM Limited. Symmetry Solutions, a SolidWorks reseller, completed its acquisition of the SolidWorks reseller unit of ProtoTek Engineering. ProtoTeck will concentrate on reselling Mastercam software and Extreme DNC Wireless shop-floor communications. MatrixOne and Scandent Group recently established MatrixOne India as an authorized provider of MatrixOne solutions within India.
The WorthWhile Web http://filext.com/index.htm
Letters to the Editor Re: Is Our Children Learning? "I am a
professional engineer with two masters degrees. I taught college
math and computer science fulltime for seven years, and I have probably
written over one million lines of graphics and CAD software over
25+ years. The editor replies: "The children may be victims of the 'self-directed learning' theory of schooling that is hopefully going out of vogue. Passing through Nashville airport, the walls were covered with artwork, called 'Self-directed Art', and it looked like it :< " Steve Hollister replies: "Around here it's called 'standards-based education', where the teachers don't teach -- they facilitate. The kids are broken into groups to discover things themselves (called 'constructivism'). In other words, the process of learning is more important than learning knowledge (facts). True understanding and ability comes from lots and lots of practice, hopefully, under the guidance of someone that knows something about the material they are teaching." The editor replies: "I get frustrated when my children's teachers insist that learning to spell correctly gets in the way of creative writing." "I'm hoping the title of that article, 'Is Our Children
Learning?' was written with tongue-in-cheek by the authors." The editor replies: "It was a deliberate grammar error by 'Red Herring'."
Re: AutoCAD on Linux "The work of Codeweavers is interesting. These are the people
who are using WINE [Windows emulator] with great success
to run Microsoft software on Linux. It is only a matter of time
before AutoCAD is in their portfolio. With its large user base,
it could be a good seller for them.
Re: AutoCAD on the Mac Petition "Mac users
are in a minority, and have this collective 'Help! help! I am being
oppressed!' chip on their shoulders. You pays your money, you makes
your choice.
Re: Autodesk Employees Using Accrued Paid vacation Days "What other
kinds of vacations days are there that employees might use? Can
they use unaccrued paid vacation days? Unpaid vacation days are
oxymorons." The editor replies: "Beats me. Here at upFront.eZine Publishing, our 'employees' receive no paid vacation time, which effectively solves the problem of determining whether the vacation days are paid, accured, or other." "Today's CAD market is no longer written in black and white.
It's now black and red."
Re: IFCs and BLIS "You haven't mentioned the use of the IAI's IFCs for some time. Have these standard foundation classes been implemented in any AEC CAD systems? If so, how is it working out?" - Paul Teicholz The editor replies: "Yes, several CAD vendors have implemented current versions of IFC or BLIS, including Graphisoft, Visio, and Timberline. I've seen several demos which seem to work well, but I don't know that anyone is actually using IFCs." - - - "About time you came back from vacation. Good to have you
back on my desktop." "Just wanted to thank you for your informative upFront.eZine
email newsletters. They serve a valuable function in the AutoCAD
community."
Spin Doctor of the Moment "A delegation from J. Walter Thompson [advertising agency]
is preparing to leave for the World Summit on Sustainable Development
in Johannesburg where it will announce a new collaborative effort
to more effectively communicate sustainability's basic ideas to
people around the globe."
Notable Quotable "Smoking was an integral part of many of my screenplays
because I was a militant smoker.
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Return to www.upfrontezine.com. Entire contents copyright ©2002 by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. All rights reserved worldwide. Article reprint fee $500. All trademarks belong to their respective holders. "upFront.eZine," "Talking About CAD," and "On your desktop every Tuesday morning" are trademarks of upFront.eZinePublishing, Ltd. Letters to the editor may be reproduced in an edited form for clarity and brevity. Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily shared by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. |
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