Cowboys Ware out the Saints!!! 24-17

This is a late post but I just had to let everyone know that the Cowboys just dominated the Saints perhaps there most complete game of the season. The offense got off to a great start, and the defense led by Demarcus Ware held the Saints offense to just 3 points in the first half!

About the only negative I can pull from this game is our soon to be unemployed kicker Nick Folk who nearly cost the Cowboys the game, with his miss from 24 yards! They should make him find his own way home.

Work Faster in Autocad!

Here is a quick tip on making your Right Mouse Button (RMB) work twice as hard in Autocad! Some of you may have your RMB set to resemble hitting the "Enter" key or you may just have it pull up a short-cut menu. But like the title of my blog, why not have "The Best of Both Worlds".

Simply go into the Options dialog box and under the User Preferences tab, select the Right-Click Customization button.

In the following dialog box, select the Turn on time-sensitive right-click. Simple as that!

Now I will warn you this may take some getting used to, but once you do get used to it, you will find yourself working faster.

New Member of the Family

Meet Carly our 8 wk old mini doberman pinscher and the newest member of my family!!!

Autodesk Blogs

For more Autocad information and some great blogs, checkout the link.

Autodesk Blogs

Create a bridge from a corridor

Check out the Bridge Modeler add-on for Civil 3D 2010!
This lets you create a bridge from a Civil 3D corridor object.

Bridge Modeler for Civil 3D

Civil 3D!!!

I realize I haven't talked much about Civil 3D but that's because I am still learning the software myself. I know, I know I am way behind, but that's what happens when you try and keep up with both Microstation and Autocad products.....It's a vicious cycle.

But here shortly I will be using C3D 2010 on my very first project!!! I have had some training and limited exposure to C3D and all its glory, but this will be my first project where I get to push C3D to it's limits or crash my computer, which ever happens first.

But look forward to some Civil 3D news and tips in the near future.

Autocad Tip

Move around faster when opening DWG's!
Some of you may know this, but I'm sure there are those of you who are still using the pull-down in the Select File dialog box to go find your files. LAME!

In the Select File dialog box, you get the default directories on the left-hand side. Now I don't know about you guys but I never use any of those! So why not change them to something you will use like, I don't know a Drawings folder or Base files folder?
To do this simply Right-click on the folder, and you should get the options to Remove, Add current folder, or Add. They will even let you Restore Standard Folders, not sure why you would wanna do that. But you can pretty much add any folder or drive you want!
So why not get rid of those default directories and folders and add something you will use. Instead of going through the pull-down to find your files just hop over to your Drawings folder or Base files folder with one-click!!!

It's the little things that count...

With all the new features in the latest release of AutoCAD there are alot of things to love, the intuitive ribbon, the hatch improvements, and the PDF output to name a few. But just as this post says it's the little things that count.

While all the new features and improvements are great, one of the minor things that Autodesk has done is pretty cool, and that is making the Layer Pulldown automatically adjust to the length of the layer name!

I added a layer in the bottom picture, and the pulldown automatically adjust itself so you can read the entire layer name! Greatness!

Autodesk does not need to barrage me with annual releases packed with so many new features that by the time I get around to using them, the beta version for the next release is already out. Just send me a few new commands or tools and I will be satisfied.

Use the Escape key to cancel commands

Here is a quick tip that might make the Autocad user feel more at home in Microstation.

You can set the Esc key to cancel your commands, just like in Autocad,
by going to the Workspace menu-->Preferences

In the Preferences dialog box, select the Input category then select the option to
Allow ESC key to stop current command.

It's that time of year!!!

Nope, I'm not talking about Halloween or Fall, here in Dallas, Texas the end of October means one thing, the beginning of another Mavs Season! MFFL baby!

I just hope the Mavs can actually go deep in the playoffs this year, with an aging core and the signing of more veterans, I don't think the core of the team has many years left. But I am still optimistic about this season. Go Mavs!

Automating logical names

Here is a quick tip for the Microstation user on logical names, we use logical names on every project at my company so when I came across this tip I found it very useful.

Just simply right-click on the Model name, and select Properties.

In the Model Properties dialog box just give your file the desired logical name, and each time you reference in that file it will come in automatically with that logical name.

Going Back to School!

Well not really like that, but I am going to some Civil 3D 2010 training next week!!!
This is really over due, I havent had to much experience with Civil 3D, but I can't wait to go and it's always nice to get out of the office every now and then.

Funny Graphs

Big News from the Ballpark

Well it is official the Texas Rangers and their hitting instructor Rudy Jaramillo have parted ways. Rudy was offered a 1 year contract extension but declined, there was also a rumored pay cut. Jaramillo has been the Rangers hitting instructor for the past 15 years.

This really comes as no surprise to me considering how the Rangers offense was M.I.A the last month of the season. In a year when the Rangers had good solid outings from their pitchers it was there offense and the untouchable Rudy who failed the team. Rudy will no doubt find a place on another team but I think the Rangers were over do for a change.

Who is Bill???

So I was fake working in Autocad like I often do when I get tired of staring at the same files. So I typed in ME into the command line thinking it might throw me into the measure command, but instead of prompting me for a command my command line reads "Thanks Bill!"



Who is this "Bill"???

Multi-snap

Here is a Microstation tip that may make the Autocad user feel a little more at home in XM. Try using Multi-snap, this is basically the equivalent of OSNAP in Autocad.

In the Snap Mode tool bar, toggle on Accudraw, then select the Multi-snap icon and right-click and select properties. Then choose the snaps you would like to set active.

Autocad tip: OSNAPZ

If you want a quick and true distance between 3D lines, just type in OSNAPZ and set the default to 1. Then just use the distance command.

LAYDEL vs LAYMRG

So your trying to delete a layer but there are objects on that layer, well most of you know you can simply type in LAYDEL select an object on that layer and get rid of that layer and anything on it.

Well you might just find LAYMRG a little faster. Simply put this will merge a selected layer onto another layer, and the layer you selected to merge into the target layer is deleted. Autocad will even give you a nice little warning, about what you are going to do.

Autocad Civil 3D 2010 Update 2

Autodesk just released their second update for Civil 2010.

Autocad Civil 3D 2010 Update 2

This should resolve over 40 known issues. Such as loss of data, unexpected failures, or a change in functionality.

Maybe they consider testing their software a little more before deployment???

Autocad Tip

For the CAD Keyboarder who doesn't mind a little typing.

TSPACEINVADERS-Creates a selection set of texts with overlapping geometry.

NCOPY-This command let's you copy objects that are referenced or nested into your current drawing.
XOPEN-This command let's you open any xref in a separate window just by clicking on it. Would be nice if it would take you to that exact location you are selecting though.
XLIST-Will list object data such as Layer, Linetype, and Color of a nested xref or block.
BLOCKREPLACE-Does just what it says, replaces one block with another block.
LAP-Let's you quickly change the Bylayer Color and Linetype of an object, even if it is nested.

Rangers Collapse

Well I was looking forward to the potential of there actually being a Rangers post season this year but they have let me down yet again. A few weeks ago they were right in the hunt but now they are 7 games back in the division, after just about giving up in the recent series against the Angels. Now it just appears that the pitchers are auditioning for next year.


I know it's only 2 games into the season, but the Cowboys do not look so good, their defense has been non-existent Ware has been a non factor in the first two games and all Barbie Carpenter managed to do is signal the crowd to get louder. Also does Jason Garrett know that he has Felix Jones on his team? I mean he only has 13 touches in two games, I know you have Marion and Tashard to give touches to but we have to get Felix the ball.

Follow Up

A quick follow up to my previous Autocad tip on the LAP command, I found out that this will not work in Civil 3D. You will just get Unknown Command in your command line in Civil 3D.

On another note in Autocad if you type MH in your command line, you will get a list of Autocad Macros.

Autocad Tip

Here is a quick tip on changing the Bylevel Color or Linetype of an object quickly. Instead of going to the Layer Properties Manager and searching thru all your layers just to change the color or linetype, try using the macro LAP.

Just key-in LAP and select the object you want to edit then hit Enter or right-click, and you should get the dialog box below. If the objects you are selecting are in a reference make sure you have Pick Nested Entities checked.
Next, just click OK and go to the next dialog boxes to change your Bylevel Color or Linetype.

My other Passion

Well it has been a great season and perhaps one of the best for the Texas Rangers. But with the Rangers right in the middle of the pennant race things just got a little bit harder, Michael Young will be out 2-3 weeks with a strained hamstring and tonight Josh Hamilton hurt his back and is day to day.

Young is the unquestioned leader of the clubhouse and Hamilton seemed to just be getting his bat back, there is no doubt there absence will hurt. Hopefully the Rangers youth that has helped them so much this season can continue to do so.

Autocad Tip

This tip is for the Autocad user who dedicates their left-hand to the keyboard, as many of you do. The Command Alias Editor allows you to create custom keyboard shortcuts for Autocad commands. For example, I always set "C " to intiate the copy command and "PL" for polyline.
You will find the Command Alias Editor under the Express menu, then Tools and Command Alias Editor, you should see the dialog box below.
To add a shortcut simply click Add, and in the New Command Alias dialog box type in your desired Alias (or keyboard shortcut), then select the Autocad command you would like it to intiate.

Squirrel MMA

Ummm.....I don't really know what to say about this picture, I thought it was cool though. Feel free to leave a caption!

2009 Roads and Bridges Conference

Registration is now open for the 2009 Bentley Roads and Bridges Conference.
Microstation, GEOPAK, and InRoads are just some of the Bentley products that will be featured.


A quick tip for the Autocad user trying to learn Microstation, to quickly select multiple objects without having to go to the "Element Selection" dialog box. Just hold down "Ctrl+shift" while you window multiple objects and they will be selected!

Basic Terminology

Below are some basic Microstation terms and there Autocad equivalents. These are not all the terms you may need to know, but just some common ones to get you started.

Exchange

Here is a quick Microstation tip and a useful tool. In XM, Microstation brought us the "Exchange" tool. The neat thing about this is if you need to edit a reference, the exchange command will take you to the exact location in the selected reference!

Basically you just click an object in your desired reference, then right click and choose Exchange, and it will close your active file and open up your reference file at that exact location.

Tiger wins 2nd in a row!

On a separate note, Congratulations to Tiger for his 16th victory. This is his 7th consecutive win on this course! I look forward to watching him this week at the PGA Championship.

Autocad Sheet Sets

Autocad Sheet Set is one of my favorite features of Autocad. I will always take time to create a sheet set for my projects even if it's just a few sheets. Being able to group sheets together and automatically update sheet numbers, sheet titles, sheet index, make this one of my favorite features. By now most Autocad users are pretty familiar with the concept and process of the Sheet Set Manager so I will not go into that. But I wish Microstation would have done something similar to the Sheet Set Manager, in Microstation XM they added "fields" to the list of new features. Basically the same concept as Autocad fields, you can link them to different file and element properties. But the one thing missing is a central location to edit these fields. You can create fields for just about anything in XM, but if you need to edit or change these fields (which is always the case) you have to go back into each individual file to accomplish this. This could have been a great feature Bentley. Score 1 Autodesk!

Gotta love Thursday morning traffic!

Always love the Thursday morning traffic jam on the way into work!!!

Autocad 2010

Well Autocad 2010 is out and has many new features and tools. While I can't wait to get my hands on some of the new features (my company will not deploy the software until this fall). I can't help but think that this is just another round of new features and tools that may pass me by. While I am trying to be efficient in both Autocad and Microstation, I find myself using less and less of the newer tools that come out with Autocad, and mainly because they are coming out with new features and tools every year. I just endup using only the tools that are applicable to what I do and I endup spending more time fighting my way thru the new features and constant changes. Am I still considered efficient then? I can still move around in Autocad and get my job done efficiently but I am not familiar with the action recorder and I never really got to comfortable with the ribbon interface. Does anyone else out there think that Autocad is pushing out there software to fast? Or is this just the result of trying to keep up with Autocad and Microstation?

Autocad commands in Microstation

Here is a quick tip for those Autocad users who may need to move around in Microstation.

Microstation has a built in set of key-ins that will let you execute Autocad commands! All you need to do is go to the Utilities menu and select Key-in. Then in the Key-in window type in dwg and then autocad command, then hit enter.