November Meeting Review

Thanks to LHB for hosting the November meeting.

The meeting was conducted by Dan Stine of LHB. Dan showed how to create a network delpoyment and what are some of the various options involved. He showed us LHB method to deliver the deployment package to the end users. Dan also went over how LHB manages the end user profile and CUI files.

Dan also provided a tip on how to Centerlized Tool palettes.

A big thanks to LHB and Dan Stine for hosting and presenting to the group.

November Meeting

November Meeting will be held on
November 10th @ 6:00 pm
at LHB Corporation (See image below for directions)

Presentation overview:

This presentation will focus on the management side of Autodesk Civil 3D 2010. Two major aspects of Civil 3D are installation and end user configuration. A wide variety of users will benefit from this presentation:

• CAD Managers


• End users (if one desires to have a better understanding of the software)


• Network Administrators (if they create the Autodesk deployments)

First, a “live” overview of how to create a network deployment and the various options involved (this applies to both network licensed and stand alone installs). One method, used by LHB, on how to deliver the deployment to end users will be shown; this process does the following:

• Installs Civil 3D plus any Service Packs


• Creates a few folders on the user’s network drive and hard drive


• Copies a user menu (CUIx) and Profile (ARG) to the user’s personal network drive


• Creates a “company” desktop icon (which loads the user profile and workspace)


• Installs the Raster Design Object Enabler (required to view MrSID files)
  

Second, a presentation on how to setup and manage end user Profiles and CUI file will be given. This includes showing how to split the end user menus and CUI files from the office and OOTB (out of the box) files; the use of “enterprise” CUI files will be employed.

If time allows, a technique on how to implement and manage several tool palettes on a network will be shown. We could talk about how check-out and surveyor laptops are dealt with when not connected to the server.

We can also have a discussion on managing detail libraries, blocks and lisp routines.

Hopefully this will generate discussion on this topic that will help us all walk away with a better understand of the issues, tricks and workarounds others are using.

About the Presenter:
Dan Stine is a registered Architect with eighteen years experience in the architectural field. He currently works at LHB (a 180 person multidiscipline firm; http://www.lhbcorp.com/ in Duluth Minnesota as the CAD Administrator (providing training, customization and support for two regional offices). Dan has worked in a total of four firms. While at these firms, Dan has participated in collaborative projects with several other firms on various projects (including Cesar Pelli, Weber Music Hall – University of Minnesota - Duluth). Dan is a member of the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) and the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) and also teaches AutoCAD and Revit Architecture classes at Lake Superior College, Duluth, MN, for the Architectural Technology program; additionally, he is a Certified Construction Document Technician (CDT) and an Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 Certified Professional. Mr. Stine has written the following textbooks (published by SDC Publications), which are used across the United States by High Schools, Colleges and professionals:

• Residential Design using Revit Architecture 2010


• Commercial Design using Revit Architecture 2010


• Residential Design using AutoCAD 2010


• Commercial Design using AutoCAD 2010


• Chapters in Architectural Drawing (with co-author Steven H. McNeill, AIA, LEED AP)

Bowties are Gone

Check out this helpful Corridor tip out on Civil 3D.com.

http://www.civil3d.com/2009/09/bowties-be-gone/

Autodesk Univesity Sessions are quickly filling up

Autodesk Univesity Sessions are quickly filling up, and AU registration rates increase by $500 after Friday, October 9, so register now for the classes you want and the savings you need.

Autodesk University 2009 UserConference and Exhibition
Mandalay Bay Resort
Las Vegas, USA
December 1-3, 2009

Reasons to attend AU.

AU Delivers More Value Than Ever

AUGI Events and Networking
Connect with AUGI members and industry professionals from throughout the world and benefit from their ideas and advice.

Product CertificationTake advantage of Autodesk Certification Exams on-site for free - go back to work with a valuable credential that affirms your skills and elevates your professional standing.

Free Passes to AU Virtual
Receive four (4) complimentary passes to AU Virtual, a new, web-based learning event, to share with colleagues back in the office - a $400 value.

Education Credits
Earn continuing education credits (CEUs) through the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and other professional organizations.

Classes and Labs
Choose from more than 640 sessions including labs that provide valuable hands-on instruction for users of AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Revit-based products, AutoCAD Civil 3D, 3ds Max software, and more.


Immersive Learning with AU PowerTracks
Experience tightly focused, in-depth training through classes that build upon each other, providing advanced learning that surpasses what can be gained from taking individual classes.


Now, more than ever, you can't afford to miss AU. Register today!

Early Bird Registration RatesConference and Hotel
$1,895Conference-Only Pass
$1,695Qualified Educators
$1,395Get Complete Details

September Meeting

Topics: Tips and Tricks for doing Pressure Pipes in Civil 3D
Problems and Issues for Group Discussion


Bob Gilman from Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc. will present various tips and tricks fordoing pressure pipes in Civil 3D 2009.

Speaker Bio:

Bob Gilman
Mid America Regional Autocad Coordinator
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
St. Paul, Minnesota

Professional Affiliations Certifications:
City of New Prague Planning and Zoning Commissioner
AUGI Member
BRW Alumni

Experience:
Bob has 20+ years of experience in civil engineering and surveying for new construction and reconstruction of highways and urban roadways, including roadway layout, profiles, utility, cross sections, pavement marking, signing, signalization, lighting, traffic control, earthwork and bid item quantities computation.

Please forward this e-mail to anyone you know that might be interested.
Please e-mail Bob Gilman at bob.gilman@kimley-horn.com if you are planning on attending.

Date: Tuesday September 8th, 2009.
Time: 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Who should attend: CAD Managers, Civil Engineers, Surveyors, Engineering Designers, and Production Drafters?

Location:
Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc
Court International Building
2550 University Avenue West
1st floor conference room
St. Paul, MN 55114

For a map and directions,
http://www.kimley-horn.com/kha/flashmap.asp

July Meeting

Changes to the meeting:

After the last meeting we decided to make a couple changes to the group meetings.
We decided to change the start time from 5:30 to 6:00. This will allow for more time to get from your place of employment to the meeting.
Discontinue the pizza and pop. This is due in to the economic time.

Now for the meeting.

July Meeting:
Date: Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Agenda:
· Users expectations and direction of the users group
· Reseller involvement
· Long term plans for using C3D
· Dialog on Civil 3D; successes and frustrations
· Implementation and training
· 2010
· ?



Moderator:
Dan Thill, Bonestroo
Dan Thill is the Civil CAD Coordinator at Boneatroo. He has over 25 years of experience in the civil engineering field. Experience includes surveying, drafting and design using D.C.A., Softdesk and now Civil 3D. Dan is Softdesk and Civil 3D certified.
Who should attend: CAD Managers, Civil Engineers, Surveyors, Engineering Designers, and Production Drafters?
Hosting this month’s MNC3D users group meeting:
Bonestroo

Location:
2335 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN
(Enter our west building and park in the lot off St. Croix Street)

Map and directions,
http://www.bonestroo.com/Locations/Default.aspx?Location=StPaul

Joining Parts from Different Pipe Networks in Civil 3D 2009

Check out this tip on how to join 2 different pipe networks in C 3D 2009 out on Doug Benoit's

Blog site. http://rand.com/imaginit/1/rss/viewitem.asp?feedid=BLOGS_CIVIL_ALL&guid=454

But you should note that this is a bug in 2009 and doesn't work in 2010.

To quote Doug "Isn't it ironic that they don't fix bugs that we don't like and then they fix bug's that we do like."