Turn Off AutoCAD Tray Notifcations

AutoCAD usefully prompts to let you know once a Plot or Publish has completed, but some people find this a distraction.

If you want to turn these prompts off, then simply type traynotify at the command line, then change the default value 1 to a 0.

Support of SQL Server 2012 with Vault 2013

Autodesk Vault 2013 (all editions) and all previous releases of Vault are not supported with SQL Server 2012.

Possible support of SQL Server 2012 with the next version of Vault will be reviewed.

This is an extract from the Cracking the Vault, Manufacturing Community Blog

Windows 8 is coming...

Import and Export Vault Configurations

Once you have your Vault configured, you can log into the Vault server console and save your configuration. The configuration can be used when configuring a new Vault. The following steps can be used to export your configuration.

Export a Configuration

• On the Start Menu, select All Programs > Autodesk > Autodesk Data Management > Autodesk Data Management Server Console.
• On the left side of the Server Console select the Vault you want to export the configuration from.
• From the Action pull down menu select Export Configuration.
• Select a location and filename for the configuration file and select Save.
  
  

Import a Configuration

• From the Start Menu, select All Programs > Autodesk > Autodesk Data Management > Autodesk Data Management Server Console.
• On the left side of the Server Console select the Vault you want to apply the existing configuration.
• From the Action pull down menu select Import Configuration.
• Select the configuration file and select Open.
  
  

Note: after an Import Configuration, run a -Ob2bmigrate to ensure that the changes are fully implemented.

New AutoCAD Blend Command

If you have ever needed to create a spline between two selected lines or curves, AutoCAD 2012 has the answer, with the new blend command. 

• Simply draw your geometry (Lines, curves, splines), then type blend at the command line, choose either Tangent or Smooth Continuity. Pick your first piece of geometry.

Cascading Sequences for Autodesk Products (2012)

You want to know in what order cascade licensing checks for available licenses in Autodesk 2012 products? Please see the link and video below for further information:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=16981643&linkID=9240617

Inventor Fusion and Publisher Ribbons Switch Sides

We have come across a few instances where the Ribbon in Inventor Publisher and Inventor Fusion switches sides. I.e. instead of being towards the left as normal, they appear towards to the right. Note: This appears to occur more often with machines running a Tablet device (Wacom etc.).

Add In Differences Between Inventor and Inventor Professional 2012

Please find the table below to see which Add In's are part of Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Inventor Professional:

Default Add In's for Autodesk Inventor:	Default Add In's for Autodesk Inventor Pro:
BIM Exchange	BIM Exchange
Assembly Bonus Tools	Assembly Bonus Tools
Autodesk DWF Markup Manager	Autodesk DWF Markup Manager
Autodesk iDrop Translator	Autodesk iDrop Translator
AutoLimits	Autodesk IDF Translator
Content Center	AutoLimits
Content Center Item Translator	Content Center
Design Accelerator	Content Center Item Translator
Drag & Drop Interoperability	Design Accelerator
ESKD Support	Drag & Drop Interoperability
Frame Generator	ESKD Support
iLogic	Frame Generator
Inventor Studio	iLogic
Inventor Vault	Inventor Studio
Translator: Alias	Inventor Vault
Translator: CATIA V4 Import	Routed Systems: Cable & Harness
Translator: CATIA V5 Import	Routed Systems: Tube & Pipe
Translator: CATIA V5 Part Export	Simulation: Dynamic Simulation
Translator: CATIA V5 Product Export	Simulation: Stress Analysis
Translator: DWF	Translator: Alias
Translator: DWFx	Translator: CATIA V4 Import
Translator: DWG	Translator: CATIA V5 Import
Translator: DXF	Translator: CATIA V5 Part Export
Translator: IGES	Translator: CATIA V5 Product Export
Translator: JT	Translator: DWF
Translator: Parasolid Binary	Translator: DWFx
Translator: Parasolid Text	Translator: DWG
Translator: PDF	Translator: DXF
Translator: Pro/ENGINEER	Translator: IGES
Translator: Pro/ENGINEER Granite	Translator: JT
Translator: Pro/ENGINEER Neutral	Translator: Parasolid Binary
Translator: SAT	Translator: Parasolid Text
Translator: SolidWorks	Translator: PDF
Translator: STEP	Translator: Pro/ENGINEER
Translator: STL	Translator: Pro/ENGINEER Granite
Translator: UGS NX	Translator: Pro/ENGINEER Neutral
	Translator: SAT
	Translator: SolidWorks
	Translator: STEP
	Translator: STL
	Translator: UGS NX

Assign Items to Multiple Files With The Same Part Number

If you are trying to Assign Items to files that share the same Part Number you may have noticed a peculiar behaviour. Consider the following Assembly...

Vault Explorer - Open Error

After selecting a file in Vault Explorer and double clicking on it or right click > Open, you see the following message:

This can happen if another program has become associated with Inventor assembly files. In this situation, the message was caused by importing an Inventor file into Autodesk Showcase 2012, which although is not a qualifying CAD application for Vault, it is still a part of the Product Design Suite.

The workaround is to close Vault Explorer and Inventor and re-start Inventor. This will re-register Inventor with the Operating System.

This is an extract from the Cracking the Vault, Manufacturing Community Blog.

DWG Convert

AutoCAD 2012 includes a useful tool, DWG Convert, which enables you to translate AutoCAD DWG files to any of the following DWG versions: R14, 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2010. This is for a single file, or multiples, making it useful for batch conversion of older files to the latest release.

To access the DWG Convert tool, simply go to the Application Menu (Red A, top left corner) > Save As > DWG Convert. In the DWG Convert dialogue box, you can specify the DWG files to be converted, save the list for future use, create new lists and open/append existing lists.

Autodesk Cloud Security

Over the last few months we have been reporting about the new Autodesk Cloud services, you may have also seen the Inventor Optimisation messages yourself when running Inventor.

If you have not seen any information about the Autodesk Cloud technologies, then please visit the Autodesk Cloud website - www.autodesk.com/cloud.

This technology has quite rightly raised a few questions from customers regarding security of their data on the Autodesk Cloud. This has been fed back to Autodesk, who have recently released a white paper to help cover some of peoples questions. Please see the document for yourself:

Autodesk Vault Updates

In the past Autodesk would release a Vault Hotfix for each issue that is discovered. This was a good strategy to get Hotfixes released to address specific issues that were affecting production. But the feedback received from Customers was that it was very difficult to roll these out individually over multiple systems.

So lately you may have noticed that many of the Hotfixes being released for Vault 2011 and 2012 are now cumulative. So a Multi Issue Hotfix, which should contain most (if not all) of the hotfixes that preced it. There will still be Hotfixes released to address hot issues, but these should be consumed with the next Multi Issue Hotfix.

There may also be a situation where a specific Hotfix is released immediately prior to a Multi Issue Hotfix, but is not consumed within it. In that case, Autodesk just could not get it published in time, but did not want to delay a big patch that could help most users. You should look at the readme of the Multi issue Hotfix to see if any issues you are experiencing are listed. If it is not listed, it should be consumed in the next Multi Issue Hotfix.

So as a rule, always install the latest Multi Issue Hotfix, and any other relevant Hotfixes between that and the preceding Multi Issue Hotfix.

Autodesk Announce Inventor Optimization

Some of you may be getting the message below when starting Inventor:

So, what is Inventor Optimization all about? Extend ideation and simulation beyond the desktop by testing the performance of multiple product design options with the Autodesk Inventor Optimization service, powered by Autodesk Cloud. This capability makes it easy to create higher-quality products and more sustainable designs that lower costs.

See the video below for further information:

Autodesk Suite Updates Page Added

With the introduction of the Autodesk Design Suites (2012), you now have lots of packages to manage, ensuring they are all up to date with the latest Service Packs etc. So, to help make this easier, we have added an Autodesk Suite Updates page to the Technical Downloads section on our website.

This will give you an idea of the latest Service Packs for each product in the relvant Autodesk Suite you have installed.

Please visit the new page at:

http://www.microconcepts.co.uk/members/downloads/autodesk_suite_updates/

Quick F Reminder

I am sure most people will be aware of AutoCAD F (Function) Keys, but we thought a quick reminder would be useful for newer users, or those who didn't realise.

So, by default the following F Keys will give you the relevant result:

• F1 - Shows help
• F2 - Shows the text window (History of used commnads)
• F3 - OSNAP on/off
• F4 - 3DOSNAP on/off
• F5 - Cycles isometric planes
• F6 - Dynamic UCS on/off
• F7 - Grid on/off
• F8 - Ortho on/off
• F9 - Snap on/off 
• F10 - Polar on/off
• F11 - Object Snap Tracking on/off 
• F12 - Dynamic input on/off

Create Model Space Geometry from a Layout

There is a little feature in AutoCAD which allows you to create Model space geometry in a new DWG from a Layout. This might be useful to create a new version of a file, or perhaps copying detail from a Layout which has been sent to you.

Either way, if this seems like a useful tool, then read on to learn more.

• Whilst in your Layout, right click on the active Layout TAB. Select Export Layout to Model... from the flyout menu.

Section Content Center Components in the Workspace

Inside the Inventor modelling environment you have the ability to apply Section Views (Quarter, Half and Three Quarter). This can be a useful tool to cut through a model, checking internal parts, fixtures or clearances.

However, if you have Content Center components inside an Assembly and create a Section View, you may have discovered that the Content Center parts do not Section, they stay solid (see below).

iLogic Forms

With Inventor 2012 came the incorporation of iLogic Forms, which gives you the ability to create very quick and easy to use Parameter or iLogic driven entry Forms.

These Forms can be as simple or complex as you require, but to give you a taste of what they are all about, we have set out a basic example below. This example is to create a Form, which allows us to change size Parameters (no iLogic rules) in a simple Square Hollow section.

• The first step is to create our model, during which we have renamed the sketch Parameters which make up our shape. This makes them easier to identify, also the names will come straight through onto our Form.

Vault Gadget for Change Orders in Vault Professional

Developed by Chris Sawicki and Brian Schanen, Vault Gadget allows you to view your Change Order list from your Windows desktop, without the need to run Vault Professional 2012.

Features:

• See the Change Orders in your list without running Vault Professional 2012.
• Refresh timer - adjust how often Vault Gadget checks for Change Orders.
• Click on a Change Order to view its properties.
• Click on the Go To CO link to launch Vault Professional 2012 and navigate to the Change Order.

To try the Vault Gadget for yourself, please visit the It's All Just Ones and Zeros Blog for download instructions.