IMAGINiT Geospatial Solutions Blog

Surface Extension Update

I posted about the new Surface Creation Extension a few weeks back, and since then some issues were found with the installation of this extension.

From my personal experience, I wasn't actually able to load the extension.  The installer wouldn't even start, it just simply popped up a message indicating that it was 'already installed'. 

Already installed?  No it isn't!?

I thought maybe it was seeing the Survey Toolkit from AutoCAD Map 2009 and that was preventing the installer from running?

So I uninstalled the Survey Toolkit, re-ran the Surface Extension...  Still no luck!  I then tested installing the extension onto a clean Virtual Machine (VM) just to see if the installer is the problem, or if it's something on my machine, and Voila! it installed without any problems, so it's something specific on my machine. 

Time to inform Autodesk Tech Support.  I submitted the details about the problem, and waited for an answer.

The answer has arrived...

It seems there is a registry key that is already being used by the MapGuide Studio 2009 install, but the Surface Extension is trying to use this same key, so the installer fails.

As always:

Understand the risks, up to and including the loss of data and having to reinstall the operating system, before editing the registry.  Use the information at your own risk.

If you are unable to install the 3D Surface Extension for Map 2010 look for the following registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\0F6BFFD522092044990B7C420DE52E99

If this key is deleted, the Surface extension should install.

Until next time,
Take care

Warren M

AutoCAD Map - File based FDO data sources

One of the great functions of AutoCAD Map ever since the early days of ADE, has been the ability for multiple users to collaborate on a common DWG file dataset.  With the record locking mechanism, NOT File locking, you could have multiple users accessing a common DWG dataset. 

All the users could attach to the same set of DWGs,
  No problem...

They could all execute queries, even in the same geographic locations,

  No problem...

Whoever edits an object first, and Adds it to the Save set, Wins!

Seriously though, this is a very powerful multi-user environment that supports and manages the object locking mechanism.  In the 'winning' example described above, the win is that the record is now locked, and other users that might have queried that same area, CANNOT edit the same object, as it is currently locked.  The users are even prompted with a little dialog or a notification balloon indicating the object has been locked by 'User A' at some specific time and date.

Enough of the AutoCAD Map review, but I needed to explain that a bit, so we have a better understanding of how different things are once we move to a file based FDO data source.

When working with file based FDO data sources like SDF, or SHP, there is the potential for multiple users to edit the same data.  Unfortunately there is no object locking mechanism in place for these FDO providers, and the locking only occurs after a user has Checked In an edit.  If 'User B' then tries to make a change to the same data source, they will be notified that the edit failed because the file is locked.

So the moral of the story is:

When working with file based FDO data sources in a multi-user environment, understand that there is the potential for multiple users to edit the exact same data, without each other knowing.

A little tip, be sure to Check In any object immediately after editing to prevent other users from accidentally editing the same objects.

Until next time,
Take care,

Warren M

AutoCAD Map 2009 - PDF Bonus Pack

Mac vs. PC

ESRI vs. Autodesk

PDF vs. DWF...

Well, maybe these comparisons aren't all on the same level with respect to the verve that people support a particular device/application/company or technology, but it does demonstrate that people have options, and usually the device/application/company or technology that a person or organization chooses, largely depends on the tasks they are required to do.

I don't think you would find many people that would argue the fact that the DWF (and new DWFx) format is a superior format for sharing engineering design information when compared to PDF. However, regardless of capabilities, or lack thereof, PDF is a format that many organizations have standardized on for document sharing. Autodesk realizes this, and that is why there are many improvements to the PDF capabilities in the 2010 release.

But, what if you are on the 2009 release and have no immediate plans to upgrade to 2010?

Well, you're still in luck, provided you are on Subscription.

Autodesk has just released the AutoCAD Map 3D 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack 2 - PDF Enhancements

Some of the PDF improvements included with this Bonus Pack are:

• Reduced file sizes
• Support for True Type fonts
• PDF Underlays

If you're on the 2009 release, and you work with PDFs in your design workflows, I highly recommend downloading an installing this Bouns Pack.

Until next time,
Take care,

Warren M

AutoCAD Map 3D 2010 - Surface Creation Extension

Good day everyone!

Well, for those of you who are on the cutting edge, and made the move to Map 3D 2010 right out of the gate, you might have noticed some missing functionality in the initial release. If you used the Survey Toolkit from Map 3D 2009 to create surfaces, you were probably pretty disappointed when you couldn't find this similar functionality in the 2010 release.

Now, much of the functionality regarding importing points from the Survey Toolkit has been rolled into the the Survey tab on the Map Workspace, but unfortunately, there is no mechanism to create surfaces...

Well, have no fear, the folks at Autodesk know the importance of this capability to it's AutoCAD Map client base, and as such, has release a new extension on the Autodesk Subscription Centre.

Login to the Subscription Center and search for the:

Surface Creation Extension for AutoCAD Map 3D

This is about a 5MB download for the 32bit version, and just over 6MB for the 64bit version.

So, go download the extension, and start creating those surfaces.

Until next time,
Take care!

Warren M

AutoCAD Map 3D 2010 - MEASUREGEOM Hotfix

Autodesk has just release a hotfix for some issues related to the new MEAUREGEOM command.

I was experiencing some crashing problems as I was preparing for IMAGINiT's 2010 Rollout in Edmonton this week, and one of the crashes seemed to be related to the MEASUREGEOM command.  So, after filling out the crash report, I was directed to the above hotfix.

Moral of the story...

Be sure to fill in the crash reports with as best you can with details about what you were doing at the time the crash occurred.  Many people I've talked to have admitted to just ignoring this crash dialog, and not entering anything.  It's important to understand that Autodesk DOES watch these reports, and uses them to base the severity of problems that are occurring in the software.

The hotfix readme can be found here.

Until next time,
Take care

Warren M