Many people are now aware that Autodesk has released the 2017 version of its various software packages. There are many great blog posts about the enhancements in the packages and I really like some of those enhancements. Before discussing any of those 2017 enhancements, I thought I would post some links to official Autodesk pages for you to peruse.
When I opened AutoCAD 2016 for the first time, I (like the rest of you) noticed the Start tab. That was all well and good and I thought that it would go away when I opened a drawing, similar to previously releases. But then I opened an existing drawing and noticed the Start tab was still there. My thought was “Ok, I will close it so I don’t have an extra tab”. The problem was that there was no “X” on the tab to close it like other tabs.
Not very long ago, I was talking with some Architects about Revit and they made the comment that Revit doesn’t work for residential design. I was surprised at their comments, especially with Revit’s roots being in residential design. After talking with them, I learned that they use AutoCAD now and they were just interested in producing 2D construction documents and didn’t care about any 3D features or any intelligence that might be inside Revit. They all had used AutoCAD for many years and had their AutoCAD blocks created and systems in place to produce 2D documentation quickly. They were very efficient at their system, didn’t see any reason to change, and only looked for excuses to not make any change.
I will state that Revit works fantastic for residential design and can produce construction documentation quickly.
For AutoCAD users, the latest big news is that Autodesk has released their 2016 version of AutoCAD. Along with AutoCAD, you can also get the 2016 versions of AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP, AutoCAD Electrical, and AutoCAD Mechanical.
As with each release, there are features that you will love and some that you really don’t care about. However, which features are preferred vary per person and per discipline. I will try to give a basic description of some of the new/updated features of AutoCAD 2016.
Autodesk has kindly provided a keyboard shortcut list for AutoCAD 2015 users. Most AutoCAD users utilize keyboard shortcuts and this list includes all of the “Out of the Box” shortcuts, including the CTRL and Function keys.
Link to webpage for AutoCAD Shortcut Key Guide
Get a printable PDF version of the AutoCAD Shortcut Key Guide
I don’t very often review software products for my blog, but I decided to review Able2Extract PDF Converter 8 from Investintech.com. This is a software that will convert PDF files to AutoCAD files. It will also convert PDF files to Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, OpenOffice, HTML, and Images. My primary interest is in conversion to AutoCAD, since I wanted to know how it works in assisting with building design. I work with both Revit and AutoCAD products, so my focus is based on those software packages.
As a consultant and trainer, I work with many people that are currently working with AutoCAD or transitioning to Revit. I am constantly amazed at the number of architectural users of AutoCAD that are not aware of detail components within AutoCAD Architecture. These components can be an important part of drafting the many details that are part of an architectural design office. Over the years, I have spent many hours drafting details for construction documents and I think of the advantages of having pre-made components available to me for detailing.
This is Part 6 and is the final part of a multi-part series on the Autodesk Content Browser. This article will address how to update palettes that have been shared from the Content Browser.
Part 1 of the series addresses why you would want to use the Content Browser and how to get to it. Read it here.
Part 2 of the series addresses how the Content Browser is organized. Read it here.
Part 3 of the series addresses the library to which the Content Browser will look. Read it here.
Part 4 of the series addresses adding a catalog to the library and how to make catalogs available to users. Read it here.
Part 5 of the series addresses how to add tools and tool palettes to the Content Browser. Read it here.
As changes are made to tools or tool palettes in the Content Browser, you want the users to see those changes on the tool palettes inside their AutoCAD Architecture on their computer.
This is Part 5 of a multi-part series on the Autodesk Content Browser. This article will address how to add tools and tool palettes to the Content Browser.
Part 1 of the series addresses why you would want to use the Content Browser and how to get to it. Read it here.
Part 2 of the series addresses how the Content Browser is organized. Read it here.
Part 3 of the series addresses the library to which the Content Browser will look. Read it here.
Part 4 of the series addresses adding a catalog to the library and how to make catalogs available to users. Read it here.
The most important part of using the Content Browser is having appropriate tools and tool palettes contained within it. That is where the true power of the content browser comes into play as it gives accessibility to those tools deemed important to be shared with others.
This is Part 4 of a multi-part series on the Autodesk Content Browser. This article will address adding a Catalog to the Library and how to make Catalogs available to users.
Part 1 of the series addresses why you would want to use the Content Browser and how to get to it. Read it here.
Part 2 of the series addresses how the Content Browser is organized. Read it here.
Part 3 of the series addresses the library to which the Content Browser will look. Read it here.
This is Part 3 of a multi-part series on the Autodesk Content Browser. This article will address establishing the library to which the Content Browser will look.
Part 1 of the series addresses why you would want to use the Content Browser and how to get to it. Read it here.
Part 2 of the series addresses how the Content Browser is organized. Read it here.
This is Part 2 of a multi-part series on the Autodesk Content Browser. This article will address how it is organized.
Part 1 of the series addresses why you would want to use the Content Browser and how to get to it. Read it here.
Applying Technology to Architecture 