Remove Lost Image References in Borders

From time to time we come across an issue with Drawing Templates, where users are perhaps replacing an old company Logo, or adding additional Logos, or borders with other Logos. This can lead to a build up of Images in the Template, some of which do not appear visually on the drawing, as if a reference is stuck in the Template somehow.

This in turn leads to issues checking files into Vault, with unexplainable references to Images outside the Project location or locations where they no longer exist. On the whole this occurs more often when the Image/Logo has been Linked into the file rather than Embedded.

Autodesk Vault Search and Find

Explore Autodesk Vault's Search and Find capabilities.

Plan your SQL Upgrade for the Next Release of Vault

Microsoft are stopping support for SQL 2005 in 2011. If you have an existing Autodesk Vault installation, you will probably be using SQL 2005 and that will require updating to SQL 2008. Microsoft’s timeline is available on a link from the Micro Concepts Blog here:

http://microconceptstechnical.blogspot.com/2011/01/microsoft-sql-2005-retirement.html

There are two main scenarios for the upgrade.

• SQL 2005 Express Edition:

If you are using the free version of SQL installed from the Autodesk Vault DVD you can upgrade to the SQL 2008 Express database which can be downloaded from Microsoft. This document details that process.

• SQL 2005 Developer, Workgroup, Standard or Enterprise Editions:

The 2008 version of your database will have to be purchased from your Microsoft supplier before upgrading your server. Please contact your IT Department to budget and plan for this upgrade. If you need to check which version of SQL you have installed, Appendix A in this document (Page 13) has a solution to query your database to return the version information.

Click here to read the full Technical Document

Update Design Centre Block Icons

Some of you may be utilising the Design Centre within AutoCAD, if so you may have created Blocks to reuse elsewhere on drawings. These Blocks appear with a Thumbnail (Icon) image to illustrate what the Block looks like, helping you chose, before placing.

If you then Edit a Block to update it (i.e. add or remove geometry) the Icons in Design Centre do not update accordingly.

However, if you type BLOCKICON at the command line and either type the name of the Block or select the default <*> (updates all Blocks), the Icons will update as required.

Mouse Cursor Performance Issues

We have recently had several support queries regarding mouse cursor performance issues in 2011 AutoCAD products. So, if you are experiencing these issues too, then have a look through the items below to potentially help/fix your problem:

• Turn off Selection cycling.

• Turn off Show Tool Tips (Options > Display TAB > untick Show Tool Tips)
• Turn off Show Rollover Tool Tips (Options > Display TAB > untick Show Rollover Tool Tips)
• See the Autodesk paper below, which discusses cursor performance:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=14898223&linkID=9240617

• Lastly we are aware that changing the Windows Theme to Classic can help, as this turns off some of the Graphic Acceleration settings.

AutoCAD WS 1.2 Update

It is time again to upgrade your online CAD experience with AutoCAD WS 1.2.

The latest version of AutoCAD WS is available now for download on the iTunes App Store.


New features included in this recent release are:

• Multi Language support
• Drawing layouts - Now includes Inventor DWG's
• Snap Previews
• Brush tool
• Copy Tool
• Support for Imperial units (feet and inches)

Visit http://www.autocadws.com/ for further details.

Autodesk to Acquire Blue Ridge Numerics, Inc.

Autodesk have announced an agreement to acquire Blue Ridge Numerics Inc. the developer of the popular CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis application CFDesign.

Autodesk Manufacturing Northern Europe - Autodesk Inventor, Showcase, Moldflow, Vault etc: Have you got what it takes to be a Design Guru?

Autodesk Manufacturing Northern Europe - Autodesk Inventor, Showcase, Moldflow, Vault etc: Have you got what it takes to be a Design Guru?: "Autodesk distributor Man & Machine are running an exciting competition for design students at the moment. The Autodesk Design Guru 2011 ..."