IMAGINiT Technologies Support Blog

Updated "2012: Cascading Sequences for Autodesk Products" technical solution

Since posted this document has been modified/updated two times.  Most recently on Nov. 17th 2011.  If you use the network licensing, then you'll want to keep an eye on some of these technical solutions.  Some things have been removed since the first posting.

2012: Cascading Sequences for Autodesk Products
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS16981643

Building Design Suite Premium/Ultimate 2012 doesn't license AutoCAD 2012
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS17565918

 Cascading can be a very confusing and fun topic, please call us if you need help.

IMAGINiT Technologies Launches Enhanced ProductivityNOW Portal- The CAD Industry’s Premiere Portal

IMAGINiT Technologies is launching a new ProductivityNOW portal – a new, custom built industry portal geared to maximize the productivity of anyone using Autodesk software and Autodesk complementary technologies.

via blogs.rand.com

Update 1 for the Civil 3D 2012 is Available

It’s been a long wait, but update 1 for Civil 3D 2012 is now available

The new update can be located by clicking the link below and includes previous hotfixes for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012. It also includes the fixes included in AutoCAD 2012 Service Pack 1 and AutoCAD Map 3D 2012 Service Pack 1.:

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL18133124

It always good practice to read the readme file before installing the update, click the link below for the complete readme file.

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/autocad_civil_3d_2012_sp1.htm

The README file highlights how to install the Update, what has been fixed, and how to download the Update. Please read the README carefully before installation.

The Good, the Bad, and the UAC

The UAC (User Access Control) is a very cool feature in Windows 7 (it protects us from ourselves!), Vista and Server 2008.  It helps you avoid getting a virus or spy-ware program installed on your machine.  In a nutshell, it protects us from ourselves! What it does is sits in memory and waits for a program to run, then a dialog pops up essentially warning you and asks if you really ran that program.  This is because many times the virus will run without you knowing it, so the UAC detects it and warns you.  It also protects certain files and folders, like the Programs Files folder and sub-folders under Program Files as well as the root of C:\.

With that being said, it isn't without it's drawback.  When I run a .exe file ( like setup.exe to install a program) it does its job and warns me.  I run a lot of programs thoughout the day and get tired of clicking Ok! OK already! 

Another drawback, since it protects files and folders under the Program Files branch you cannot easily saveas to that folder structure from say Notepad (or any other program).  You have to save to your desktop, then copy the file to the folder and once you receive the infamous warning dialog box again you need to tell it yes you really want to do that.

Another drawback, that crops up, is with licensing.  Sometimes when you activate the IMAGINiT Utilities for Revit it believes it created the license file but it really didn't.  So, you still cannot run the program and the activation was taken off the number of seats you are allowed to activate.  At this point you're typically locked out of activating again.  Therefore, it is recommended that you turn off the UAC before Activating IMAGINiT (or Avatech Solutions) software, this also includes the network named version too.

Use the following information to turn off the UAC, you can always turn it back on later.

To disable the UAC on Vista:

1. Click on Start > Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel click on the Search and type in UAC, if nothing displays go back into Control Panel and click on User Accounts.
3. This will load User Accounts Window, and below Make changes to your user account click on Turn User Account Control On or Off.
   
   Note: If a dialog box pops up with Windows Needs your Permission to Continue click on Continue
4. Un-check Use User Account Control UAC, this will disable the system from helping protect your computer.
5. Reboot

To disable the UAC on Windows 7:

1. Click Start->Search and enter UAC and hit enter.
2. Slide the slider bar to "Never Notify" and click Ok
3. Reboot 

 

Update 1 for the Vault 2012 Family is Available

This fall has brought some unexpected early snow to some parts of the country and some welcome fixes for some issues with the Autodesk Vault 2012 family of products.

The new update can be located here and includes these products for both the client and server:

• Autodesk Vault 2012
• Autodesk Vault Workgroup 2012
• Autodesk Vault Collaboration 2012
• Autodesk Vault Professional 2012

Be sure to update both the server and all clients for best performance.

From the Readme file are these items that have been addressed:

Known Issues Resolved
• Auto numbering only allowed creation of one new scheme
• Security disables valid document lifecycle transitions
• Unable to move a file with attached raster image
• Move error due to file references
• Batch plot cannot find AutoCAD
• Value cannot be null Copy Design error
• Purge removes file links
• Autoloader enablement for Inventor 2010 and Vault 2012
• DWF creation for AutoCAD files using Autoloader
• Mapping to constant attributes in AutoCAD files
• File property updates from Item properties not working in AutoCAD Mechanical
• Lost vault connectivity when inserting a bolted connection in Inventor
• Revit add file problem when checking in with DWF
• Assign item issue with phantom components
• Update Item creates new items
• Various errors when exporting items
• Windows authentication not working with Office Webclient
• Greek characters being ignored in searches
• 2-byte slashes in folder names not working on Japanese environments
• Relogin error when using Vault API
• GetWorkingFolder reported wrong working folder when using Vault API
• Various Vault migration issues
• Various performance enhancements

The README file highlights how to install the Update, what has been fixed, and how to download the Update. Please read the README carefully before installation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We want to wish all of our valued clients and your families Happy Thanksgiving!




The Solution Center will be open with a limited team (no US) for the holiday Thursday and Friday

2012 licensing pain relief!

There are some problems, but most pain points can be relieved.  With the new 2012 licensing, here are some rules I live by and they resolve many of the calls I receive.

1. Be familiar with the cascade sequence  http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS16981643
2. Ensure you have the correct version of flexlm installed. The 2012 programs require Flexlm 11.9
3. Ensure you have all available licenses generated on the same date.  Open the license file in notepad and search for ISSUED and compare all the dates.  If they’re not, then when you have 5 BDS Premium and 5 BDS Ultimate the license manager will only see 5 AutoCAD Architectures and only 5 Revits, etc instead of 10 of each of those programs that are common to both.
4. New with the 2012 release.  The order of the licenses in the license file.  Ensure you put the single product licenses at the top (AutoCAD Architecture), generic suite license (i.e. Revit Architecture Suite) in the middle, then the new Design Suites at the bottom (i.e. Building Design Suite Standard, Building Design Suite Premium and Building Design Suite Advanced/Ultimate).  Put them in the order you’d want the program to pull a license.
5. IF you run older programs it WILL jump out of order depending on the program.  If you have 5 Revit Architecture licenses, 5 Revit Architecture Suite licenses and 5 Building Design Suite Standard licenses.  Once the 5 Revit Architecture licenses are gone it WILL consume the Building Design Suite license when you run an older version (i.e. Revit Arch 2010).  Autodesk is aware of this problem and provides couple workarounds: http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS18016739
6. Know your feature codes!  http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS17288427  These are the key to understanding your license files and cascading.
7. If all of the above is fine, rename/delete the cascadeinfo.cas file.  This forces the program to talk to the license manager and create a fresh cascadeinfo.cas file on the fly.  Sometimes they become corrupt or won't change after you update the licenses, so this forces it to see the current licensing information.

Give us a call if this does not fix your licensing pains!

 

Autodesk Installation: Creating an Autodesk deployment

A deployment is recommended when installing multiple machines for a network version.

If you would like to view how to create a network deployment via video please click on this link from Autodesk.com.

BEFORE CREATING THE DEPLOYMENT

Make sure there is communication between the server and user machine. Check that the server can ping the user machine and the user machine can ping the server.

step 1
In Windows XP, click Start and Run. Then type "cmd" and press Enter.
In Windows Vista, click Start, then type "cmd" and press Enter.
This will open the command prompt window with a black background.
Step 2
Type "ping <server name>" and press Enter. A server name can be either a computer or website name.
Step 3
Read the server IP address. The first line of the ping output contains the server IP address (in brackets). Below is an example of such a line. The IP address is 209.191.93.53.
Step 4
Analyze the ping statistics. The last three lines of the output contain the ping information. For example: "Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milliseconds: Minimum = 67ms, Maximum = 68ms, Average = 67ms"
Note that shorter roundtrip times mean better connection to a server. A high percentage of lost packages is indicative of a poor connection.

A shared folder must be created for use. Create a new folder called Deploy.

Right click on this folder and select Sharing. Select Share this folder. Click on Permissions. Select Everyone, and set Allow to all options.

CREATING THE DEPLOYMENT

Begin by re-inserting the DVD into the DVD ROM drive or inserting the USB drive sent by Autodesk. The following splash screen will come up: Click on Create Deployments to begin the deployment creation.

• For the Administrative Image name, add the software name along with the date of deployment creation. This is useful for the future if unsure when a deployment was created.
• For the Administrative image path navigate to the shared folder you created and add a folder.
• Unselect run installation in silent mode. Silent mode will stop any error messages from being displayed if they occur. This can severely hamper any ability to troubleshoot an error

• Accept the licensing agreement and click next.

• Select the License Type, enter the Serial Number and Product Key, Network License type and enter or browse to your server.

• Select all the software that you want to install by placing a check mark next to the software name.

• Underneath the software’s name there is a triangle click on this to configure the individual software.

The extra custom options found in the deployment are not covered in this guide.

• Click on the triangle again to close the configuration and return to the product list.

• Click create to start the deployment creation process

• This final section will cover how to deploy the image to a client workstation machines.

It is best to turn off the user’s machines firewall and Anti-virus to allow a smooth installation.

Browse to the shared folder called Deploy, and run the shortcut. This shortcut will have the name you gave on Step 5 of Creating the Deployment. This will begin the installation.

WARNING: Do not run the contents of the AdminImage folder!

If you would like to watch a video on how to do this go to Autodesk.com to watch their installation videos.

Autodesk Software Installation Videos and Guides

Here are some Autodesk links for Installations:

Preparing for installation of Autodesk products and suites:
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS16830648

Configuring and installing Autodesk products and suites:
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS16854078

Activation and Post-Installation Tasks for Autodesk products and suites:
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS16883173

GOOD LINKS FOR LICENSING:
Installing and Configuring the Autodesk Network License Manager
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS13503006
Understanding and Managing Your Autodesk Licenses
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS14852836

Video to preview the new IMAGINiT Portal!!!

Video of IMAGINiT ProductivtyNOW Portal soon to be live!

We have been hard at work helping answer your questions AND building a new access portal for you!!! Please take a minute to watch and see what existing things are to come VERY soon

Todd