upFront.eZine Issue #824
by Ralph Grabowski
Before the Internet, there were the likes of CompuServe and AOL. Their walled email gardens ensured that worldwide communications continued to be accomplished through fax and telephone. In those pre-Internet days, I kept a notebook of my telephone conversations and my research. This is what our industry was talking about in 1996 and 1997 [with additional notes from me in square brackets]:
- - -
4 Sept 1996: Cut'n paste
Softsource DWG plug-in
Go to Bellingham end of September
[Softsource's VDraft was the very first DWG-based CAD program not from Autodesk, and one of the first on Windows]
Intergraph: OLE allows use of solid models without translation.
Solids Modeler has assembly environment to use AutoCAD solid models.
[This is a reference to "OLE for D&M" -- object linking and embedding for design and modeling -- promoted by Intergraph as a solution to CAD interoperability; it didn't go anywhere. "Solids Modeler" later became Solid Edge.]
ACIS Open - OEM Group [I think this might have been an Autodesk effort? The idea was to find a way to make ACIS open, because Spatial requited it to be encrypted by Autodesk in its DXF and DWG files; still does today]
MCAD interoperability (incl. xlation format)
Autodesk will continue with DWG and DXF
Common model representation
Xlate ACIS format to own format
Geometry only; no attributes, constraints
Problems in trim surfaces not serious; b-rep data serious
ACIS is encrypted in DXF; DXF is prevalent
Making ACIS available opens Pandora's box since many have DXF but not ACIS; use SAT instead
Prototype STEP xlator in beta testing; di-directional xlator in 1997 1H [first half]
STEP is extremely compact with Autodesk's international focus
Acad Rel 14 [heading for my notes on what was new in AutoCAD Release 14; I'm not reproducing them here]
Rome
Nov 4-5 [refers to a Bentley sponsored trip to Rome that turned out to be amazing, back in the days when the remarkable Yoav Etiel was in charge of marketing MicroStation]
[List of DWG viewer software; I think I made this list for a mutli-product review I wrote for Cadence magazine]
1. Expert Graphics
2. Cimmetry
3. Cyco
4. Kamel
5. Spicer
6. Myriad (ICG)
7. AutoMate (Cadmandu)
8. NCrewe (QuickViewer)
9. Adesk View beta
10. Smart Solutions
11. AutoEDMS
TCAD 4.0 [TurboCAD 4.0; I think these lists were for a review I wrote for InfoWorld magazine]
Weaknesses
No pick hatch
Edit bar for object sizing but not positioning
Separate commands for Dim Hor, Ver, Ali
Symbols vs blocks
Strengths
300MB symbols
Raster-vector conversion
HTML help files
Right-click on icon for associated dialog box
Measurement palette is like a paper tape
Distance shows mspace and pspace distances
Drag symbols from palette
ADN [Autodesk Developer Network conference] 16 July 1997
Xlate Layer300 [the time it took several CAD packages to translate my test drawing, Layer300.dwg]
AutoCAD R14 0:27 [minutes:seconds]
DesignCAD 1:28
DynaCAD 0:39
[Intergraph] Imagineer
- to view only 0:25
- to edit 4:53
MicroStation 0:36
VDraft 0:12
Visio
- to view only 1:40
- to edit 27:11
[AutoCAD] LT 97 0:27
LT 95 0:51
[I wonder if this progress report had to do with IntelliCAD or BricsCAD?]
ALISP - almost complete
DCL - very little done
DWG R/W - mostly done
SDS - 75%
[Names of three companies acquired by Autodesk in 1997]
Teleos Research [became Exegis]
Argus Technologies [developed MapGuide]
Creative Imaging Technologies [software for interior decorating]
And One More Thing...
ASCON Group today launches the Home edition of its KOMPAS-3D MCAD software for $95 (e60). It does 2D drafting and 3D modeling with parametrics, direct modeling, surfacing, and solids. It reads and writes files in DWG, DXF, STEP, KOMPAS, and other formats. You can download the demo version from http://ascon.net/download/KOMPAS/items/?dl_id=652 after registration.
In related news, the St Petersburg company is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary.
For More News
WorldCAD Access: blogging nearly daily with articles about CAD and tips about computers; available on RSS and through email alerts:
- How to switch your Google phone to run faster
- Using VLC on touch screens
@upfrontezine: news, updates, and commentry from upFront.eZine throughout the day on Twitter
Thank You to Our Subscribers & Donators
These great people support upFront.eZine through their contributions. Thank you!
- * Jon Peddie, Jon Peddie Associates
* Cristiano Sacchi, Novedge: "Keep up the great work!"
* Scott Hucke, iCADsales.com
(To donate by PayPal, click http://www.upfrontezine.com and then choose the Donate $25 or Donate $500 button.)
Letters to the Editor
Re: Switching from History to ST Modeling
Great article describing the trend for seeing the advantages of having both history-based (ordered) and direct modeling capabilities mixed together to achieve increased productivity. However, it is important to note that different implementations of this mixed environment can have an impact on the actual productivity, predictability, and ease of use that is expected from the end users.
When converting from ordered features to direct modeling features, management of how and where this is taking place can have dramatically different results and can yield unpredictable results. Leaving this management up to the user to figure out can reduce the overall productivity not to mention the difficulties that will be faced since some users may not be familiar with history orders and relations. For a simple example to show the differences and potential risks, you may want to consider reviewing this article on Mixed History-based and Direct Modeling Practices at http://www.ironcad.com/are-changes-as-simple-as-they-seem.
- Cary O'Connor, vp of marketing
IronCAD
Re: HP's New Large-format PageWide InkJet Printer Not Due Until 2015
Red is new? Perhaps to CAD printers. My Designjet Z3100 has a red cartridge.
And there lies a sad tale. Even with the red ink, the printer simply cannot reproduce many shades of red. They all have an orange tint. HP improved the situation with a re-formulated red ink. Great news, but they only make it available for owners of the follow-up model, the Z3200. In effect, HP abandoned the Z3100 owners, leaving them with a sub-par printer. I'm sad to say that I'm one of those owners.
There is no reason I know of the would prevent the new ink from working in the Z3100, other than the embedded chip which prevents this. HP's solution is for me to buy a new Z3200. Guess how I feel about that. Overall, it is a great printer. But so are the current Epson and Canon printers, and I own one of each of those. HP's decision to not release the improved ink on the Z3100 tells me they no longer care about the customer's long-term investment.
I have been a long-time HP fan, but I can no longer recommend their printers, if a Canon or Epson model exists that fits your needs. I find the page-wide printhead interesting, but I don't feel I can trust the company any longer. I feel that any design flaws will not be corrected on the initial model, and you'll have to buy a new one to resolve any such issues. As a DesignJet owner, I can say from first hand experience: Buyer Beware. I'm really sad to have to say that. I miss the old HP company.
- Ken E
(via TypePad)
I can't recall exactly when I first read about Memjet technology: modular inkjet heads, themselves nano-litho'd like computer chips. Place them together to make amazing super-fast, color page-printers of any width. Just around the corner! Yes, I was eager to buy one!
Years went by. Had the technology ever gotten closer to commercialization? Curious, I searched the internet for these about-to-happen printers. I printed that page, and it's still in my file cabinet. The date on the bottom was April 2007. Now I'm hearing that products are a year away, and I should make plans to buy now. Though I'm generally an early adopter of new technologies, I'll wait until actual products are shipping and getting good reviews before I plan to buy one of these coming-soon inkjets.
- Steve Wells
Conceptworks
The editor replies: At the event, HP admitted it's taken them a decade to get the modular technology right.
What happens to the printed paper, is it being rolled up? Or just falling out? Looks like both to me.
- Herbert Grabowski
The editor replies: The paper normally is caught by a tray; at this press event, I think HP allowed the paper to flutter to the floor for dramatic effect.
Your photo made me chuckle. Over the years using different plotters, HP, Océ, Xerox, I have noticed improvements in plot speed, quality of plot (a little). But one thing that has been a generally constant source of frustration has been the output - a really nice set of prints plopped out and curled haphazardly onto the floor. Reminds me of this classic Far Side cartoon: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/487303622153037984/
I will say that the plotter we are currently using (Oce Plotwave) seems to be doing much better along those lines -- output stacked neatly at the top and so far nothing ending up on the floor.
- David Kozina
(via TypePad)
Thanx for the techie update!
- Chris
Re: upFront.eZine's Redesign
New graphic design, nice,
- Stan Przybylinski, vp of Research
CIMdata, Inc.
New newseltter format for the PageWide printer introduction?
- Herbert Grabowski
The editor replies: No connection. I realized that because upFront.eZine now runs just one article per issue, I no longer need a table of contents. So, I took advantage of this change to do a bit of a make-over of the newsletter's design.
Notable Quotable
"The Man 2.0 is far worse than The Man 1.0"
- Andrew Orlowski, The Register
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/06/05/indies_music_explains_eu_emergency_plea/
Recent Comments