|
upFront.eZine |
|
|
a
publication from |
|
|
Issue #474 : : May 16, 2006 |
|
|
C o n t e n t s
Adobe Acquires TTF:
CAutoCAD 2007
and Graphics Boards
Below the Radar and other regular columns.
|
Write the Editor. Donate to upFront.eZine through Paypal. Access nearly-daily CAD commentary at our blog: WorldCAD Access. |
|
|
|
|
Archicad is likely the original [ugh, here comes that acronym] BIM vendor, where the entire building is represented by a single model, and the model contains all known data about the building. Graphisoft's 24 years old, has 150,000+ customers, and now ships Release 10 of it architectural CAD software running on Mac and Windows. Don Henrich, vp for North America, and demo jock Kurt Ameringer spent an hour showing me the new stuff. Some of it will be already familiar to users of other CAD software, such as gradient fills, fields, pre-selection feedback, automatic guide lines, inplace numeric input (dynamic input), and the equivalent of sheet sets. Perhaps the most important feature is its ability to create unconventional buildings. That means walls at any angle and walls with unusual curves; the Archicad 10 packaging (and Web site) feature a home in a flattened figure-eight shape. Other items that interested me:
Archicad users will be pleased that the three formerly independent environments are now unified: modeling, 3D navigation, and PlotMaker. Everything is linked, so that changes made in 3D, floor plans, elevations, and section are reflected in each other. Three-D editing allows you to see the selected objects "through" rendered walls -- no need to rotate the model to see what needs to be worked on. Back to the 2D world: long tables (such as BOMs) can be broken by simply indicating the rectangular space they need to fit into, which automatically creates side-by-side tables, each with the same header. Towards the end of the demo, I asked about the impact of Boot Camp, the ability of Intel-based Apple computers to run Windows XP software. It's too early to tell, Kurt felt. In fact, the company is now supporting three operating systems: Windows, OS X on the old CPUs, and OS X on Intel CPUs. Price is US$4,250, and the software is due to ship in "a couple of weeks." Link: www.graphisoft.com Adobe
Acquires TTF: "Our company is involved with activities around 3D publishing and format translation of CAD data using different tools, e.g. XVL and Datakit. We found that compression is regarded as a nice feature, but not the key factor for publishing 3D data. "Most potential users are concerned about complete geometry
translation, including non-geometric features, animation information
transfer, PDM connectivity, long-term standardization trends, and
overall workflow and process integration. I think Adobe was not
acquiring compression technology from TTF, but rather CAD translation
technology, which is a weak element in Acrobat 3D -- from my point
of view."
"It is important to remember that visualization and saving the models into CAD formats is just one portion of the solution. TTF was -- until Adobe purchased them -- a European competitor of ours whose primary function was data migration/visualization between CAD formats. That is something that we all can do (i.e., Adobe, Proficiency, Elysium and CT CoreTechnologies, etc.). "Advanced repair technologies is what is vitally important. The real solution is to not just view and transfer data but to make the models adaptable to native target software with parametric or BREP [boundary representation] values, and to do it without data loss so that true interoperability can be established between CAD formats. "As an example, Proficiency does what is called feature mapping. It's an approach that has been utilized for several years and works to a certain degree. The main problem is that when it encounters complex geometry it doesn't know what to do with it, and stops processing. This gives you a partial part, but what good is that? In addition, you need to have both native API systems available to make the software work and the 3D quality is not guaranteed to leave you without additional repairs or rework once translated. "So why are we different than Adobe or Proficiency? Our software is different in these aspects:
"Relative to Adobe and its entering the CAD viewing market,
I will wait and see what they decide to offer as a solution before
I comment. Who's to say at this point? Maybe they are trying to
be the next JT Open format."
"From my perspective as a die-hard U3D developer, everyone should keep in mind that U3D is promoted as an open, free standard, with no tie-ins to proprietary third-party or patented technologies. "Right now I don't see the TTF compression system making its way into U3D, unless either: 1. Adobe donates it to the U3D consortium (which will benefit everyone and solve some current key issues with U3D). 2. They add it to U3D for their own internal usage only. 3. Or, Adobe opts to use the compressed TTF file format as another alternative method to place 3D content into PDF files. "If Adobe donates the TTF compression technology for inclusion in the U3D toolkit, then the format would have to be ratified for v3, and would take another 1-2 years. In any case, with Adobe's major investment in the U3D+PDF Javascript-3D back door (the PDF 3D viewing technology) and with the industry acceptance of U3D for placing 3D content in PDF files, U3D appears to be the de facto file format into the future for piping all forms of 3D data and file formats into PDF documents. "Seeing that U3D is being promoted and used primarily for
CAD data transfer and compression, much could be done to it to help
with its current major compression problems. The Intel IFX compressor
was good for low poly count character models, for which it was designed,
but not the typical CAD models. Proper, accurate and fast compression
of large models is one of the missing keys to streaming U3D files
into PDF documents -- compared to the other several dozen streaming
file formats which already do this well." AutoCAD 2007 and Graphics Boards Agustin Fernandez wrote me of his experiences in running AutoCAD 2007 on laptop computers: "The only approved mobility chipset for video boards [running AutoCAD 2007] is the ATI FireGL offered only in a few models. "I bought two laptops from Dell. The Precision M70 uses the nVidia 1400 chipset. While the 1400 chipset is listed as an approved device on the Autodesk list, the mobility version in the Dell laptop is not. The other laptop is the Precision M65, which uses the nVidia 350 chipset. This one is so new that it is not listed on the Autodesk site, but when I tested it, it also failed to perform the full compatibility test. "On the Thinkpad site I could not see any valid chipsets from Lenovo or IBM; they all appear to be using ATI's Radeon cards. After an Autodesk support person told me to check the HP Web site, I saw that their new Compaq nw8440 Mobile has the ATI FireGL 5200 chipset. "When you get AutoCAD 2007, run the 3dConfig command, which will tell you if your video card is compatible." - - - I'm glad Mr Fernandez brought up the issue, because the problem is (1) worse than he describes; but also (2) not as serious.
On the Worse Side Even US$1,000+ graphics boards for desktop computers are suspect. For example, ATI sent me their FireGL X3-256 board, which is certified for AutoCAD 2007. This means it "is recommended by Autodesk and the graphics hardware vendor." Yet it is not fully compatible, as a footnote indicates: "smooth line display is disabled due to performance and stability problems." And in my testing, I found that full shadows looked spiky. (I've been working with ATI tech support on these problems.) Recommended by Autodesk, yet not fully compatible with AutoCAD 2007! Who can understand this logic? (Autodesk attempts to explain some of this at usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=6711774&linkID=2475161 .) In any case, the full shadows so slow down AutoCAD 2007's display speed that they aren't (1) worth using, nor (2) worth buying expensive boards to display. It appears at this point that a one board from NEC and a small number from nVidia are the only ones fully compatible with the graphic demands of AutoCAD's new imaging. Boards from Matrox, 3dLabs, Intel, ATI, and XGI are all lacking in some way. For the results of Autodesk's analyses, see usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=6711774&linkID=2475161 .
On the Not-As-Serious Side Despite certified databases and so on, any 24-bit graphics board will run with AutoCAD 2007; it's just a question of (1) display speed in 3D; and (2) quality of display with visual styles. I've run the software on my new Compaq notebook computer with consumer-grade ATI graphics board that employs 128MB of shared memory, as well as my four-year-old ATI 5800LE board in my desktop computer. As long as I get some of the real-time shading and transparency effects for 3D modeling, I'm happy. (TIP: if the 3dConfig command turns off hardware acceleration automatically, turn it on manually to see if images look better; this worked for my cheap-o 5800LE board.) Judging Autodesk CEO Carl Bass's enthusiasm for software possibilities when running on powerful hardware, it would appear that Autodesk took the Gatesian approach to AutoCAD 2007: throw in the software features on the assumption that hardware will catch up. [Agustin Fernandez is president of MicroCAD Training & Consulting.] A summary of CAD industry news you may not have read elsewhere, or that I found interesting:
SYCODE launches MeshCAD for Rhino, mesh editing and modeling plug-in for McNeel's Rhinoceros. www.sycode.com/products/meshcad_rh/index.htm ArchVision releases 'Security & Information People Volume 1' (US$219), 3D RPCs for architects and visualization artists with people dressed for security or control posts. [I get an image of cardboard cutouts manning border crossings -- sorry!] www.archvision.com MultiSUITE for AutoCAD 2007 includes all the advanced
features of MultiSTEEL v16 and MultiREBAR for BS8666:2005.
Existing customers can download the latest upgrade from www.multisuite.com
ALGOR announces that its latest finite element analysis software release, ALGOR V19.1, supports the 64-bit HP-UX operating system for all analysis types. www.algor.com TerraGo Technologies's latest software adds a toolbar to Adobe Reader for exporting data from GeoPDF files to GIS via the ESRI Shapefile format. The new GeoPDF toolbar allows you to add comments, redlines, and markups to geospatially-enabled GeoPDF files in Acrobat. www.terragotech.com - - - These news items were posted during the last week at the WorldCAD Access blog <worldcadaccess.typepad.com>:
Hardware News Oce unveils their new CS2044 and CS2024 large-format color printers, meant for low volume printing [is that coded language for slower?], with printing widths of 44/24 inches, 2400x1200dpi resolution, and six colors of ink. The optional ONYX GraphicsPro adds support for PostScript processing and the full PANTONE color library. On the other hand, there's Oce's new TCS300 large-format color printer that the company feels is 3x faster than any of its competition. (This model is a TCS500 without the copy and scan functions.) It puts out a D-size color line drawing (no shading) in 30 seconds with no drying time, and has "an extremely attractive price point" [which I think might be code for expensive]. www.oceusa.com
Seminars & Conferences Geospatial Research and Technology Seminar takes place 11 June at Bentley Systems' BE Conference Europe in Prague, Czech Republic. [I'm attending the BE Conference, June 12-13.] www.bentley.com/georesearch Market News From Roopinder Tara at Tenlinks.com, I learn that Reed Elsevier sold NDES (aka National Manufacturing Week) to Canon Communications (no relation to the camera maker), a part of Apprise Media. Canon bought a number of shows from Reed, including Powder & Bulk Solids Southeast. [Did you know that alumina powder is so fine that engineers treat it as a liquid when designing transport systems for it?] Dassault Systemes completes its acquisition of MatrixOne for US$410 million, including estimated tax benefits. LightWork Design has been acquired by its management
operating by the name of VSI Limited. With MachineWorks also
mentioned in the press release, I asked the marketing manager, Rona
Treeby, to help me make sense of it:
Brand New CAD Books/eBooks "PLM State of the Art" Report
"CATIA V5R16 for Designers"
"Tailoring AutoCAD 2007" WorthWhile Web www.nytimes.com/2006/05/11/technology/11pogue.html?ex=1305000000&en=7c4fcf2a9a0f2155&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
www.tnr.com/darfur/images/steidle/
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/aa4c6b98-e377-11da-a015-0000779e2340.html
Letters to the Editor Re: The Biggest CAD Company in the World The editor replies: "Microsoft licenses the IntelliCAD source code to the ITC."
Re: Corporate Blogs "Can't quite imagine the same thing happening with most
companies. I'm pretty sure if the president of GM had a blog, it
wouldn't talk much about cars."
Re: SolidWorks Bought Conisio
Re: School Politics - - - "I continue to enjoy your newsletter -- rock on with ethical
editorial honesty and integrity!" "Thank you for all these years." "Looking Glass Microproducts is pleased to be a patron." Spin Doctor of the Moment "Your comment was denied for questionable content. In particular '...' was flagged by our filters as possible spam."
Notable Quotable "For what it's worth, the audience size of Adobe Flash Player
8 increases by five million successful installations every single
day. Its audience surpassed the Firefox audience within its first
month of release, and surpassed Windows XP audience size within
its first three months."
Copyright 2006 by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. All rights reserved worldwide Article reprint fee US$250.00.
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. |
|
|
|
|