So do you regularly check out the Autodesk Labs for great free software?  Here you'll find all types of great programs to help make your design life easier (or at least more fun!). Just recently the Autodesk Lab posted Project Photofly - a great means of creating 3D models from photographs using the web.  It's simply a process of stitching the photos together - absolutely amazing!

Imagine taking pictures with your digital camera around all the sides of a building and then using Project Photofly to put them all together and turn them into a 3D model!  What a great tool this is (of course you may have to rent a helicopter to get the roof).  This is all done in the proverbial "cloud" with only a small application being downloaded to your computer.

Should you choose to jump on the Project Photofly bandwagon - then you might want to participate in a new Photo Scene Contest for Buildings that just launched.  Found in the It's Alive in the Lab blog by (the wonderful) Scott Sheppard.

Here's your chance to put those creative juices to use!   As you can see above - the winner gets an autographed copy of 3DS Max (or 3DS Max Design) - signed by Autodesk CEO Carl Bass.  They also get an iPad!  So take out your digital camera and start snapping some pictures of buildings (preferably one where you won't need to rent a helicopter to get the roof).

I can't wait to see what you all come up with!
 

So do you regularly check out the Autodesk Labs for great free software? Here you'll find all types of great programs to help make your design life easier (or at least more fun!). Just recently the Autodesk Lab posted Project... Lynn Allen

Ahhhhh - can't we all just get along? So many offices work with multiple CAD packages and any steps we can take in helping our users work seemlessly with other CAD packages is a good thing (imho). I have been... Lynn Allen

Ahhhhh - can't we all just get along?  So many offices work with multiple CAD packages and any steps we can take in helping our users work seemlessly with other CAD packages is a good thing (imho).  I have been delighted as I've seen steps being made inside of AutoCAD to work with Microstation drawings as I have run into many users who need to work in both CAD programs (whether they like it or not).

My latest Cadalyst video explores the process of exporting AutoCAD drawings to DGN.  Be sure to have a look if you have ever found yourself in the multi-CAD situation!

One of the important things to do if you find yourself going back and forth between DGN and DWG is to save a mapping file to make things so much easier.  Here you can map layers to levels, linetypes, colors, etc.  You can map for exporting or for importing. These mapping files can easily be done in the DGNMAPPING command in AutoCAD.

The two buttons in the upper right hand corner of the dialog allows you to import level properties from DGN files as well as layer properties from AutoCAD drawings.  Once you do the work of the original mapping you can use them over and over again (it would be pretty terrible to have to remap each time!)

 A popular local coffee company, Thanksgiving Coffee in Fort Bragg, was burned down by arsons.  Rather than gloat over the misfortune of the competition, another local coffee company, Taylor Maid Farms, offered up their roasters to help them out until they got back on their feet.  I absolutely love this story - and I wish all business would act accordingly - making it a better CAD life for all!

I had the good fortune to spend a week working with the Large Format Printer division of HPlast week and it was just such a great pleasure! I really appreciated their hospitality and a glimpse into the great HP things... Lynn Allen

I had the good fortune to spend a week working with the Large Format Printer division of HPlast week and it was just such a great pleasure!  I really appreciated their hospitality and a glimpse into the great HP things to come.  I must admit I was very, very impressed with their team, the office, everything! HP and Autodesk work very closely together to ensure our products work well with their workstations and printers.  I am sure I sound like a commercial - but I was seriously impressed!

This particular HP office was in Barcelona - one of the most beautiful cities in Europe - which made the trip even that much more enjoyable!  The flight home was a nightmare though...we were on the tarmac for four hours trying to fix a mechanical issue - everyone missed their connections in Chicago and I ended spending the night in a local airport hotel.  The next day my flight to San Francisco was also delayed due to mechanical issues - am I a jinx or what?  All in all - it took me 36 hours to get home - unbelievable!

My latest Cadalyst Tip was released while I was gone (I'm a bit behind) but if you missed it below is another link to a video tip on the QVLAYOUTS command.

 

An AutoCAD Hip Tip on Viewing Many Layouts

I have run into many AutoCAD users who, for whatever reason, have dozens of layouts in their drawings (don't send me nasty grams telling me why you have so many layouts please).  If you fall under this category - then you should check out the QVLAYOUT (for Quick View Layout) command as it might make your life a little easier. 

Here you can view a thumbprint of all your layouts for speedy access (this especially comes in handy when working with someone else's drawing where you might not know how they named their layouts). 

Tip:  use the Control key combined with the wheel on your mouse to make layout images larger or smaller (so more can fit on the screen).

QVLAYOUT is pretty self explanatory and easy to work with.  I have to chuckle that you might want to pin it on your display - I'm thinking it is definitely going to get in your way!

There's a similar command called QVDRAWING for viewing all of your open drawings at once - you might want to give that one a try as well!  Both are located on the status bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD window.

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Check them out!
 
 

While in Copenhagen I delivered a keynote which included a section on Sustainability within Design.  I was also interviewed on the same topic - I thought you might enjoy watching the finished video:

Autodesk is becoming more and more involved in creating products that make it easier for designers to test for sustainability.  Visit http://usa.autodesk.com/company/sustainable-design for more information and insight into Autodesk's ventures into all things green!

While in Copenhagen I delivered a keynote which included a section on Sustainability within Design. I was also interviewed on the same topic - I thought you might enjoy watching the finished video: Autodesk is becoming more and more involved... Lynn Allen

I am really enjoying the summer here in Northern California - I'm hoping you are having great weather as well wherever you are in the world.  The weather has been so great I spent last weekend looking for some goats to put in my very grassy sidelot.  Let me just say - it isn't easy finding two young small goats around here!   Who knew? 

But you probably don't really care about goats - let's talk some AutoCAD shop!  Cadalyst just posted my latest video on linking AutoCAD tables to Excel and vice versa.

It's easier than you think to bring in an Excel spreadsheet as an AutoCAD table and maintain links so that as you update the Excel spreadsheet, the AutoCAD table updates as well!  The tricks to doing so lie in "Paste Special" and making sure sure you select Paste Link and AutoCAD Entities as seen below:

After inserting the table - you'll want to use the Datalink Manager to make sure you've enabled the ability to write to source file if you want the ability to modify the AutoCAD table and have it write out to the Excel spread sheet (if in fact that is what you want).

Take a look at the video - it's so much easier to understand when you can actually watch someone going through the steps!  But be sure to give it a try because it is much easier than most people think!

I"m off to continue the hunt for small goats!  We're looking for Nigerian Dwarfs now - wish me luck!

  
 
 

 

I am really enjoying the summer here in Northern California - I'm hoping you are having great weather as well wherever you are in the world. The weather has been so great I spent last weekend looking for some goats... Lynn Allen

I am thrilled to be home for a few weeks (and I mean thrilled!) and finally having some time to devote to blogging. The weather is nice, and my dog finally remembers who I am after having been on the... Lynn Allen

I am thrilled to be home for a few weeks (and I mean thrilled!) and finally having some time to devote to blogging.  The weather is nice, and my dog finally remembers who I am after having been on the road for so long!

Rumor has it they finally posted the screencast I recorded months ago for AutoCAD 2011.  It does break the new features down into easily digestible pieces so you can watch it one small chunk at a time if you like. 

Check it out!

  (yes - I realize that I do look a little funny in the video - but that isn't the point!).

I was such a bad blogger while I had the mad ASEAN travel schedule - but I did want to include a picture of one of the highlights of my trip - a Starbucks in Cebu, Philippines!  I'm pictured with Jerry Tan who traveled with me throughout the entire tour (and somehow managed not to strangle me). Jerry has the patience of Job and was a delight to travel with!  Julie, who is also pictured, is a local education reseller for Autodesk in Cebu. Julie was kind enough to spend the day taking us around on a local tour of Cebu (which was greatly appreciated by Jerry and me).

And let me just say - that was the best iced latte in the entire world!
 

 

If you missed my recent AutoCAD 2011 webcast - no worries as it has been recorded! I like this particular webcast because I get a chance to discuss my favorite AutoCAD features over the past few releases (so it isn't... Lynn Allen

If you missed my recent AutoCAD 2011 webcast - no worries as it has been recorded!  I like this particular webcast because I get a chance to discuss my favorite AutoCAD features over the past few releases (so it isn't just focused on AutoCAD 2011).  If you want a nice highlight of some of the key features that have been added since AutoCAD 2007 - you might want to check it out!

 I'm moving on to my last leg of my ASEAN tour - off to Singapore today.  While I am really enjoying spending time with our customers and getting to know the Autodesk employees in the ASEAN region, I must admit I am also looking forward to going home.  I'm feeling a little like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

There's no place like home.  There's no place like home.  

 

I'm in the middle of a Design Visualization roadshow through Asia. First stop was Kuala Lumpur, followed by two stops in the Philippines. Here we talk about a great new product called Alias Sketch for AutoCAD that does so many... Lynn Allen

I'm in the middle of a Design Visualization roadshow through Asia.  First stop was Kuala Lumpur, followed by two stops in the Philippines.  Here we talk about a great new product called Alias Sketch for AutoCAD that does so many things from Concept Design through Illustration.

 

I've really enjoyed showing the attendees this new product and watching their reaction (it's been met with applause twice!).  Check it out if you haven't had a chance to see it in action (YouTube also has some great videos of designs done on Alias Sketch).

Of course I also present on AutoCAD 2011 along with some great customers stories with 3DS Max Design.  In general - the presentation is about really selling your designs by adding in visualization.

I'm spending the weekend in Cebu - an island in the Philippines.  It is extremely hot here but I'm hoping to find some water this weekend!  Cebu has an estimated population of 3.5 million people and we had a nice event here today.  Of course - the people in the Philippines are so friendly and welcoming.  And let me just say - the Mango here is absolutely amazing!  I've never tasted a better fruit anywhere in the world.

Happy Father's Day to all of you Fathers out there (and especially to my Dad).

I've definitely enjoyed being home this week (home for an entire 10 days!). We (the AU Team) has been working hard on content and I believe it is going to be a great Autodesk University this year. We've been working... Lynn Allen

I've definitely enjoyed being home this week (home for an entire 10 days!).  We (the AU Team) has been working hard on content and I believe it is going to be a great Autodesk University this year.  We've been working diligently to have 90% new classes with 10% of the classes being the real crowd pleasers from last year.

Next Tuesday at 10:00 am PDT I am holding a 90 minute webcast that covers some of the key features in the last few releases of AutoCAD. If you haven't upgraded in awhile - you might want to check it out to see if any of the new features are enticing enough to get you to make the move!  At the very least - it should be a good education on the latest technology.

Next week I move on to Asia Pacific for their launch events - the last roadshow before summer.  Then I am hoping to spend some real time at home before the September wave of events begins.  I'm starting to feel like George Clooney in "Up in the Air". 

 

I have been on a whirlwind tour of the U.S. and Canada with many reseller AutoCAD 2011 Launch events. From Vancouver to Washington D.C., the events have been just so exciting to participate in (I love being the first person to show someone new features!). AutoCAD 2011 is a super serious release with so many great features I've been hard pressed to squeeze them into my hour long time slot.

While I've been out proselyting the AutoCAD gospel - a great new product came out - AutoCAD Freestyle!

This low-cost, simplified design software product is for professionals who don't have any formal training in design. AutoCAD Freestyle is simple to use and great for those who don't want to dive into the complexity of AutoCAD. Home remodelers, specialty contractors, event planners and those of you who just like to do-it-yourself would probably find AutoCAD Freestyle a perfect fit. So if you know someone who is still designing on their napkin - have them check AutoCAD Freestyle out!

 

Of course, as a member of the AutoCAD family, AutoCAD Freestyle offers a DWG file format compatible with the rest of the AutoCAD products! Check out some of the work already being done on Freestyle by users below.

Go to

AutoCAD Freestyle

 to check it out and download a free trial.

I have been on a whirlwind tour of the U.S. and Canada with many reseller AutoCAD 2011 Launch events. From Vancouver to Washington D.C., the events have been just so exciting to participate in (I love being the first person... Lynn Allen