|
[banner/CADv-Top2004.html] |
|
Published
by the Vancouver AutoCAD Users Society
The Oldest and Most Dangerous AutoCAD User Group
http://www.vaus.org |
September
2000 |
|
Looking for work?
We are looking for AutoCAD VB developers for a full-time position
here in NJ.
Contact:
Dan Lorenz
Technical Director
Advanced Micro Systems, Inc.
(973) 882-8008
(973) 882-0122 FAX
dlorenz@amsystems.com
|
| Paul
Backus |
President’s
Column
|
Here’s a bit of good news to start off the summer holidays. Now
you can sign up with Hotmail for free email, comforted by the knowledge
that all your messages are run through a virus checking program.
Check to see if your local I.S.P. is doing the same.
NEWS ITEMS
1. WBLOCK command not functioning properly when used with AutoCAD 2000
iX?
The current release of AutoCAD 2000 Internet
Extension (iX) contains a defect in the acblock.arx file which can cause
the WBLOCK command to not function properly when used with Mechanical
Desktop 4. An updated acblock.arx file corrects this
problem. Download the corrected acblock.arx file from the Autodesk
Web site at http://www.autodesk.com/mechdesktop-support.
2. When you open a drawing , does this ever happen? “INTERNAL
ERROR : !SMIO.CPP@217 “
SMIO is the abbreviation for 'symbol
input/output', and refers to the symbol table section of a drawing where
information about Blocks, Dimension Styles, Groups, Layers, Layouts,
Linetypes, Multiline Styles, Plot settings, Plot styles, Text Styles,
UCS, Views, and Viewport configuration entries are contained.
An SMIO error is an indication that AutoCAD has
encountered an error while reading or writing to the symbol table
section of the drawing file. This error can be caused by
having names for files, layers, blocks, or external references that are
longer than the 32 character limitation.
Try the following suggestions for repairing the
symbol table:
- Use the RECOVER command.
- Rename the drawing and all related external references with one or two
character names. Open the drawing again. This method often repairs
symbol tables that contain entry names that exceed the 32-character
limit. Then you can rename blocks, xrefs, file names, etc., that
exceed 32 characters.
- Insert the corrupt drawing into another drawing that is started from
scratch. Explode the file after insertion.
3. Windows 2000
The Operating System slated to replace WindowsNT is getting mixed
reviews. It can be purchased in the following flavours:
- workstation version (Windows 2000 Professional)
- server versions (Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server, and a
forthcoming Datacenter Server).
Pros:
- improves compatibility with laptop computers.
- supports newer peripheral interfaces such as USB (Universal Serial
Bus), IEEE 1394 (FireWire), and PC Card.
- supports up to ten monitors connected to a single computer. (You’ll
need an additional PCI or AGP graphics adapter for each monitor.)
- includes full faxing capabilities
- shuts down much faster than Windows NT
Cons:
- Compatibility. Period. If your CAD workstation runs fine
with Windows NT, 95, or 98, the last thing you want to do is install a
new operating system that incapacitates a piece of hardware or
software. The most common conflict problems will be due to old
BIOS’s, drivers, and peripherals such as joysticks, digital cameras,
and sound cards.
Recommendation:
1. Back up all important files as Windows 2000 does NOT include an
uninstall option.
2. Instead of upgrading your current OS to Windows 2000, install a new
copy of Windows 2000 (Clean Install) to create a dual-boot operating
system.
3. Microsoft has instituted a three-tiered set of designations—
Planned, Ready, and Certified, for programs used on Windows 2000.
Be forewarned, carefully research all hardware and software
compatibility before purchasing.
With the start of summer holidays comes the promise of software upgrades
from Autodesk. We are looking forward to next month’s releases
so that VAUS can bring you the news in September’s meeting.
Among the more promising packages are Inventor and Architectural
Desktop. VAUS will be giving a copy of AutoCAD R2000 LT away at
the next membership meeting. See you at the next meeting.
|
|
|
|
| Carolyn
Lemarchand |
June
meeting minutes |
News & Announcements:
- Draw for the evening is Mechanical Desktop Power Pac, available to all
members in good standing. Wow, makes you want to work/play with
something new!
- Norman Taylor has generously donated a Random Draw program
- We had 6 BAUG (Bellingham AutoCAD User Group
- Scott Davidson was at the last BAUG meeting
"We are very pleased to announce our guest speaker Scott Davidson,
from
Robert McNeel & Associates. Scott Davidson will be presenting some
of their
products they offer as a premier distributor of CAD products in Seattle.
Scott will be demonstrating Accurender 3.1 and also a sneak preview of
CoMotion,
an animation add-on package to Accurender. The BAUG group welcomes Scott
to
our last meeting of the year and we appreciate his support through the
past years."
- Dr. Dave Kelly will be heading for Perdu
- David has changed places with Bob and is now the President of BAUG
John Sprung:
Autodesk is offering more software 6 more software packages if we submit
a Membership List to them. Our Executive have some ethical concerns
about this. As one Executive Member had this profound comment "The
fact that they are bribing us with ?...free...? software, must not cause
us to loose the respect of our membership.". How can we argue with
that?? How about creating our own list that Members have their choice as
to whether they would like to sign on or not. It appears as though
Autodesk wants to target a specific market.
- Topline... A new on-line newsletter. Check it out. www/autodesk.com/topcad
- Ralph Grabrowski with the upfront E-zine is live this week and he has
been very busy with the PalmPilots
- Paul Backus will be acquiring letters from Paul Morrison and Bill Fane
regarding the the $3000 donation to BCIT from VAUS
- This weekend and next, Mechanical desktop will be held at the downtown
campus of BCIT. The cost will be $590. Three weeks from now the PowerPac
will be held. For more info contact the downtown campus online http://www.bcit.ca/~regoff/
Presentation by Bob Cherry:
Bob is a Forestry Engineer who is graduating from the CAD Customizing
program. His sponsor for his final project was Kvaerner Chemetics.
The Problem: The demand of 2100 B size plots are required daily at
Kvaerner. The batch files become difficult to edit and customization is
limited.
Solution: Using Visual Basic he made a Batch Plot Form. Bob clearly
demonstrated that Visual Basic links to many other languages like C, C+,
C++, LISP etc.. 300 - 400 hours went into this project. A fine
presentation.
Monthly Draw: Mechanical Desktop Power Pack
The Winner - Keith Evans
Presentation by Cynthia Yuan:
Cynthia is an Architect and came to BCIT to achieve this advanced post
diploma in CAD Customizing.
The Problem: Text Collisions within Map Info. Her sponsor was GM Johnson
and Associates Ltd.
Solution: The use of this new form based application alleviates the
legibility, (and not mention an extemely tedious task of the operator).
Wow... Lots of geometric computations! A professional to be respected.
Presentation by Sunny Whang:
Sunny has achieved his Diploma of Technology in the CAD/CAM program and
the Post Diploma in CAD Customizing. His sponsor was AGRA Coast Steel.
The Problem: over 2500' high and requires major algorithms
The Solution:Batman & Robin 'The Chiller'
Second Monthly Draw: The 'Number Generator' by Norman Taylor
The Winner - Nicolae (Nick) Constantinescu
|
|
|
| |
|
[../../meeting/2000/September2000.htm]
|
|
|
CADvisory AD Rates
|
Size
|
Per
Year (10 Issues)
|
Single
Issue
|
|
10"high
x 7.5"wide
|
$600.00
|
$120.00
|
|
5"high
x 7.5"wide
|
$400.00
|
$80.00
|
|
5"high
x 3.5"wide
|
$200.00
|
$40.00
|
|
2"high
x 3.5"wide
|
$100.00
|
$20.00
|
Note:
Business card ads (2"high x 3.5"wide) are free for VAUS members
To arrange advertising email: webmaster@vaus.bc.ca
|
[../../executive/executiveMay2000.htm] |
| |
Contribute to CADvisory online by sending your
article to: webmaster@vaus.org
VAUS executive members can contribute directly to CADvisory online by clicking
here
|