Archive for August, 2007

I taught an essentials class a few weeks ago and I got a request for some help with a structure style that looked something like this sketch:

Read on to find out how to build it and download a sample drawing…

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In these last days while I wait for Prospector to be born, my memory is failing me.  So my apologies if someone might have blogged this already somewhere else, but it is a label style worth repeating. 

I know a few months ago (has it really been almost a year? sniff!) when Nick was writing for us, he wrote about structure label insertion points, but he didn’t explicitly give a step by step on how to make the label.

Here is an example of one of my TOP 5 most requested label styles:

It looks so simple, but the neat thing about it is that when you drag it straight up, the line gets longer and stays attached to the rim of the structure.

How do you make this label?  Read on…

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I’ve created a special page just for the 2007 Duffer’s Open at Autodesk U. We play the Monday before AU, and have a great time every year. It’s grown from a dozen to almost 20, so come join the fun. You don’t have to be good, you just have to be there. See the AU Golf 2007 page up top for more information and to sign up!

I really hate to do two fundamental posts back to back, but this was a request from one of my clients this morning. If I’m going to take the time to document something for one person, then I make the assumption that there may be someone else out there who would like the information as well, so I put it here. Quite honestly, it’s also a library that I create for myself as well - I can come back to one of my solutions and point it out for another customer later if needed.

So, today I am going to show a very broad overview of description keys. I’ll save any really in-depth discussion for a future post. To find out what that intimidating looking panorama is asking for, follow the link.   (note - for some reason, inline images and Windows Live Writer do not seem to agree completely with our layout…if you have your window maximized as you’re reading this, you may see some strange formatting issues.    Actually, you may see some strange formatting issues even if you don’t have a maximized window.   I apologize - I’ve spent about an hour trying to edit this to make it look acceptable.)

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I’ve always been had this strange fascination with the way Dana models parking lots with corridors.    I bow humbly to her knowledge, methods and creativity, because I’ve never fully grasped the process.   I have a slightly different approach to parking lots, using feature line grading to create the main outline and setting high/low points and setting the edge of pavement for my curb islands, then using projection grading to create the flowline of the gutters, face of curb, and back of curb.   The methods of projection grading for the curb islands can be found in the AOTC Designing Intersections and Cul-de-Sacs book.   To see details on how I grade my parking lots, follow the link.

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Today’s review has been a long time coming - I haven’t been putting it off for any particular reason, I just haven’t gotten around to it until now.    But here it is, my review of Q-Legal from Bud Miller of BudCAD.  My most sincere apologies to Bud, since this has been in my inbox since April 25 of this year.    But I promised I’d get to it, and here it is - follow the link to see what this software can do for you.

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The other day I accidentally discovered something with copying feature lines.

Suddenly, I wound up with all of these extra sites.  I couldn’t figure out what was happening.

Read on to find out WHY this happened and how to prevent it.

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All you lost souls, wandering aimlessly looking for direction after Anthony announced he would no longer be blogging on the Autodesk Civil community blog can once again rejoice. Da Govna just sent me a link to his first posting on his new blog.  The intro to that post and a link to his new home, after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Pack your canteen and your tent- CAD Camp is coming to town!

Since James and Mark are too shy about promoting their CAD Camp appearances, I will do it for them. 

Our very own James Wedding will be presenting at many upcoming dates this fall including Little Rock, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Baltimore while equally exciting Mark Scacco is presenting in Tulsa, Detroit and St. Paul. 

CAD Camp also features great local instructors and other national instructors such as Heidi Hewitt, Robert Green, Matt Murphy and more. 

I plan on attending the Baltimore Camp myself.

For more information and to register check out the AUGI CAD Camp Page.

Some of the later dates are still tentative, but mark your calendars and keep watch. 

CAD Camp is a great, inexpensive way to meet other users and gain access to top notch instructors.

Autodesk University registration has been open in various forms for about a week now, so make sure you reserve your spots in some of the classes we will be teaching!

Power Track with James and Mark…

CV110-4P James
Elements of Style in AutoCAD® Civil 3D® (Tuesday)

CV310-3P Mark
Using AutoCAD® Civil 3D® with Third-Party Storm Sewer Design Applications (Thursday)

CV304-3P  Christopher Fugitt

Sanitary Sewer Design

(Cheeky. The kid has a few posts and he threw up a post with a blatant plug. I like it, but I added it to Dana’s list. - JW)

James takes on the Vault…

CV304-2
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Autodesk® Vault

Friday Morning with Jason Hickey…

CV400-2
From Dirt to Doors - Making AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Revit® Architecture Work In Harmony (Rookie timeslot. Haha! JW)

The Thursday Dana Marathon- begins right after lunch with a dizzy ride through a Point Cloud and ends right before dinner with a partnership with Tanya West, PE of Autodesk.

CV310-4
Get Your Head out of the Point Cloud: Using AutoCAD® Civil 3D® for Large Surface Datasets- This class will talk about using Aerial Topo, Large Point files, LIDAR contours, and more.  It isn’t just for people who get “point clouds” from scanning equipment, but anyone who gets in large datasets or struggles with managing their surfaces.  If you watched my webcast on Friday, I plan on going into far greater detail with more step by step and a larger variety of datasets.

CV314-2
Using AutoCAD® Civil 3D® for Stormwater Management Tasks: Part I, Hydrology

CV318-5
AutoCAD® Civil 3D® Stormwater Management, Part II: Pipe Networks and Hefty Hydraulics (Taught by Tanya West, PE)