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We truly enjoy writing blog posts and sharing them. But that’s not all we do. Our new blog site lives on the ASCENT Resource Center.
The ASCENT Resource Center offers on-demand webcasts, sample chapters, brochures and more.
Content from our amazing technical team will continue! We hope you’ll join us: https://resources.ascented.com/ascent-blog
Posted by ASCENT on 09/14/2020 at 04:38 PM in AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk, Autodesk Fusion, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Moldflow, Autodesk Revit, BIM 360, CATIA, Courseware, Creo, Customization, eLearning, Industry News, Infraworks, Map 3D, Pro/ENGINEER, Product Lifecycle Management, Technical Writing and Editing, Tips and Tricks, Webcast Recordings | Permalink
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by Renu Muthoo
I am excited to tell you about the AutoCAD® 2021 Fundamentals learning guide that is now available from ASCENT. This year, we focused on making the content more precise and effective while incorporating the new features and enhancements for the 2021 version of the AutoCAD software. I also gave a webcast about the new features in AutoCAD 2021; thank you to those of you who attended it. We have posted the recording on the ASCENT YouTube channel on the following link: New in AutoCAD 2021 webcast
This year’s changes include:
The Quick Measure tool provides you with multiple measurements in real-time. In addition to displaying the dimensions, distances, and angles within a single command, the command now reports the area and perimeter of a closed area. As you hover the cursor around a group of objects, all the appropriate measurements are displayed. When you click inside a closed area, it is highlighted in green with the area and perimeter displayed near the cursor. You can also hold the Shift key and click in multiple closed areas to display the cumulative area and perimeter. This tool has been added to the learning guide along with the rest of the measuring commands in Chapter 9: Analyzing Model and Object Properties.
The process of trimming and extending objects has been changed in the AutoCAD 2021 software. Both the Trim and Extend commands have become intelligent commands. Once you invoke either command and hover your cursor over objects, the software automatically detects potential cutting edges or boundary edges. By default, the commands provide three different options for trimming or extending:
The Blocks Palette provides a convenient location from where you can locate and insert blocks and drawings into the current drawing. The Blocks Palette can be accessed through the View tab>Palettes panel or by clicking Recent Blocks/Blocks from Libraries from the Insert Blocks gallery. The Blocks Palette has three tabs that provide you with all the blocks that are in the current drawing, all the blocks that were inserted recently, and the drawings that were inserted as blocks. Through the Libraries tab, you can now get a number of drawings as blocks into your Blocks Palette at once by selecting a folder that contains all of the drawings. The content and practices of Chapter 12: Blocks have been updated to incorporate the working of the new Blocks Palette.
A new Xref Compare tool has been introduced in AutoCAD 2021. When a drawing that is referenced in another drawing is modified, you can see the differences between the two versions of the drawing using the Xref Compare command. If the host drawing is open and the externally referenced drawing is changed, you are alerted by a balloon. You can click on the link in this balloon to compare the drawings or you can start the comparison from the right-click menu.
These are some of the changes in the AutoCAD 2021 software that are incorporated in the AutoCAD 2021 Fundamentals learning guide. The learning guide is sure to keep your teaching/learning experience up to date and relevant to the current software.
Posted by Renu Muthoo on 05/19/2020 at 04:10 PM in AutoCAD, Autodesk, Courseware, eLearning | Permalink
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World Book Day, also known at World Book and Copyright Day, or International Day of the Book, is a global celebration of books and the difference that reading makes to people’s lives, young and old. This annual event was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright.
First celebrated on April 23, 1995, this salute to reading and books has become an annual celebration in countries around the globe. The date of April 23 was chosen because in the year 1616 the famous authors, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. April 23 is also the date of birth or death for a number of other notable authors.
This year, as most schools around the world are closed and people are staying indoors and social distancing, the significance of books for learning, stimulating our minds and bringing people together while still keeping them safely apart is especially meaningful.
We hope you are enjoying a good book - or more - this season!
Posted by ASCENT on 04/23/2020 at 12:03 PM in Autodesk, CATIA, Courseware, Creo, Technical Writing and Editing | Permalink
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By Jennifer MacMillan
ASCENT is excited to announce the release of a brand new learning guide: Autodesk Inventor 2020 Introduction to 2D Milling. This guide provides students, trainers, and industry professionals with learning content for Inventor CAM.
This guide focuses on how to use Inventor CAM to create 2D milling toolpaths. The 2D Milling toolpaths that are covered include Facing, 2D Adaptive, 2D Pocket, 2D Contour, and Drilling. Despite this learning guide covering only 2D Milling toolpaths, it will provide an excellent foundation on using the entire interface which remains consistent with the more advanced milling and turning operations.
Autodesk Inventor 2020 Introduction to 2D Milling begins with an introduction to the overall Inventor interface and explains how to manipulate your 3D model to change its orientation and view display. This introductory content was important to include for those users that may not have experience with Inventor but that will need to work with existing models in the CAM environment. Through a hands-on, practice-intensive curriculum, students will quickly advance to learning the key skills required to take a 3D model set it up in the CAM environment and assign the toolpaths needed to generate the CNC code required by 2D milling machines.
Topics Covered
As an introductory guide, Autodesk® Inventor® CAM 2020: Introduction to 2D Milling does not assume prior knowledge of Autodesk Inventor CAM, but an understanding of the CNC milling process is recommended. It is aimed for those using Inventor Professional with Inventor CAM Express (free add-in) or the Product Design and Manufacturing Collection that have implemented Autodesk Inventor CAM Ultimate (previously called Inventor HSM Ultimate). This guide will not provide instructional content on how to create 3D models using the Inventor modeling tools. Its focus is solely on generating 2D milling toolpaths once models are created.
This new learning guide is now available for purchase on the ASCENT website and through Amazon. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Jennifer
Posted by Jennifer MacMillan on 02/21/2020 at 08:53 AM in Autodesk, Autodesk Inventor, Courseware, Industry News | Permalink
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by Surya Nair (Technical Editor @ ASCENT)
A good writer may not be as good an editor, just as not all good editors can write from scratch.
In creative or journalistic writing, the person who reviews and edits the material is almost never the same as the author. In technical writing, however, it is more common for people to double up as writers and editors, particularly in small and lean organizations.
As people who create characters and entire fictional worlds from their imagination, creative writers naturally feel a sense of possession toward their work of art, which makes it more difficult for them to view it with an objective eye. Technical writers are less at risk because of the nature of the subject they deal with, which is always technical and factual in nature and often prepared from research and analysis of topics or by interviewing subject matter experts. This naturally allows for some distance and objectivity. Even so, self-editing lends itself to reduced objectivity.
As a technical writer who has needed to edit and proofread my own technical writing, the mantra I follow is - “be a mindful editor”. Throughout the editing process, I remain mindful of the fact that as the writer, I am intimately familiar with the text and the likelihood of skipping over errors is high. I re-read sentences carefully where I feel even the slightest ambiguity.
Here are a few tips that have helped me in self-editing:
To share your experiences in self-editing or to learn about ASCENT's technical editing services, please email us at [email protected]
Posted by Surya Nair on 02/13/2020 at 10:54 AM in Courseware, Customization, eLearning, Tips and Tricks | Permalink
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When you think of ASCENT, you likely think of our printed CAD training materials, instructor guides or eBooks. But, maybe your situation would benefit from something other than standard learning content.
In some cases, learners may benefit from curriculum that is tailored to their specific environment or project. ASCENT can help support your unique training goals by offering four levels of content customization to target learning:
Our first level of customization enables you to select the topics you need from ASCENT’s existing library of content. The result is a tailored curriculum that delivers skills training specifically focused on exactly what your team needs to know.
The second level of customization is incorporating your company’s unique models in the practice exercises. Practicing skills using your designs makes the learning more relevant to your users. Content that is more relevant will be more effective at holding a learners’ attention and result in higher retention.
With the third level of customization, ASCENT will weave your workflows into their standard content. These may include adding your start-parts to models used in practice exercises, adding your steps for data management, adding references to your standards -- and more. Training content is written in the context of your work environment in order to make an easy transition for learners that will be working on your projects in your environment.
Perhaps you need training on a custom software application or a specific methodology? In this case, clients rely on our level of customization that provides content unique to you. By leveraging our experienced team of instructional designers, engineers and technical writers, we can develop original training content, just for you.
Choosing the ASCENT targeted learning solution that is best for you ultimately depends on your learning objectives. We’d be happy to assist in helping you determine the best solution for your organization. Contact us to learn more: [email protected]
Posted by ASCENT on 11/15/2019 at 09:00 AM in Courseware, Customization | Permalink
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by Barb Nash
Thank you again to those of you who joined our webinar, Hands-on Copy Design functionality in Vault 2020! We have posted the recording on the ASCENT YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/kwcrj4QZCno. The hands-on software simulation shown in the webcast can be accessed here.
The webcast and software simulation were prepared for:
Topics covered in the webcast:
Below are some questions that came up during the webcast:
Q: 2019 Copy Design was able to be "rolled back" to the original interface by modifying a config file for Vault. This 2020 version looks better but do you know if we'll still have the ability to choose to use the original CD interface?
Yes, the ability to choose is still available, as shown at: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/search-result/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-can-the-old-Copy-Design-be-enabled.html
Q: Can the Vise2.idw now be also chosen to be moved to the new folder?
If Vise2.idw is set to Auto, it will automatically be moved to the same folder as Vise2.iam.
Q: Does the AutoCAD xref need to be in vault already for the replace or can a user navigate to an external location....that would then bring that xref to vault?
The Replace action requires the replacement file to be in Vault.
Q: If you copy something that already has a suffix (so like copying vise2) could you change that to vise3? does vault know that all the selected parts share a common suffix?
No, Vault does not know that the selected parts share a common suffix. Therefore, a manual change to the suffix is required. Find and Replace could be used to speed up the process.
Q: Does copy design checkout a separate network license?
Copy Design requires a license of Vault. If it is launched within Vault Client it uses the license that Vault Client uses.
Q: I wish there was a CD for the ECO process! :)
Great idea for a Vault IdeaStation submission!!
Q: On Licensing related: Is Vault 2020 tokenized?
Vault 2020 manages licenses in the same way that the previous versions have (2017 and newer). The tokenized system is not publicly available at this time.
Q: Apart from the UI, is the functionality same in Vault Basic ? I mean functionality of Copy Design of course.
The Copy Design functionality is reduced in Vault Basic as compared with the version that is included in Vault Professional 2020. However, the actions such as Copy, Reuse, Exclude, and Replace are available, as well as the ability to set the Prefix and Suffix, and the destination folder, for the new design. The differences can also be seen in these two links from Help: Copy Design in Vault Basic 2020 and Copy Design in Vault (Workgroup and Professional 2020).
Q: Does replacing a component resolve constraints?
If the replacement component is derived from the original, then constraints should be resolved, except where a constraint is based on a feature that no longer exists in the replacement. If the components are similar but not derived, it will likely not resolve.
Q: Will this work on Creo files as well?
My understanding is that it is not supported at this time. Two references from Autodesk are shown below:
As mentioned in the webcast, the software simulations can be used to capture any standard or custom workflow/process (e.g. Engineering Change Management, New Product Development, CAD Design, etc.) not just Copy Design. The simulation shown uses full guidance prompt callouts but can also be edited to show less guidance using hints, for example, or a callout after a defined number of attempts.
Thank you again! If you have ideas or requests for future webcasts, please let us know.
Posted by Barb Nash on 08/12/2019 at 07:36 PM in AutoCAD, Autodesk, Courseware, Customization, eLearning, Product Lifecycle Management, Webcast Recordings | Permalink
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by Barb Nash
Many of our projects involve us (ASCENT, a division of Rand Worldwide) working with multiple teams within the overall PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) implementation project. ASCENT has instructional design, technical writing, project management, and PLM software proficiencies. The image below shows 5 overlapping areas, numbered 1 through 5, representing the collaboration and communication that we have experienced between teams within a typical PLM eLearning development project.
Examples of collaboration activities in these 5 overlapping areas are described below:
1. Collaboration between PLM Software Implementation and Client Core Teams
The collaboration between these teams involve software development activities such as requirements requests and analysis, feasibility studies, functionality demos, documentation of user stories, and user assessment testing.
2. Collaboration between PLM Software Implementation and PLM eLearning Development Teams
In this collaboration communication about the status of customizations and possible future changes that impact the eLearning modules takes place, including any schedule updates. The goal is to ensure that there is alignment in the eLearning modules with the customizations incorporated that suit the client’s custom workflows, and to minimize any rework.
3. Collaboration between PLM eLearning Development and Client Core Teams
The collaboration between these teams involve the development of the eLearning modules. The modules typically contain components such as interactive components, videos, text-to-speech audio, software simulations and quizzes. Besides obtaining feedback from the client core team about the requested components’ look and feel, the client’s responsibilities include reviewing the drafts of the deliverables and providing feedback. Some clients also wish to take on some of the development of the components depending on their resource availability, including language translations or recording human voice-over audio, if desired. Collaboration on project management tasks such as scheduling the client reviews also occurs between the teams to keep the project on track. Communication about how the training modules will be accessed in a client’s Learning Management System (LMS) are also discussed to ensure that specific export settings are used, and modules tested with these settings.
4. Collaboration between PLM Software Implementation, eLearning Development and Client Core Teams
In this collaboration, topics impacting all the teams are raised, discussed, statuses shared, and any issues regarding software, schedule, and resources, are resolved, like the pieces of a puzzle all coming together to achieve the client’s goals!
5. Collaboration between Client Core Team and End Users
The successful adoption of the new software is arguably the main goal of the implementation. Collaboration activities include obtaining end user buy-in and gathering software requirements. Also, project updates from the core team throughout the development are communicated and discussed with end user feedback received. Other collaboration activities for the End Users and Core Team can include: User Assessment Testing (UAT), instructor-led training, and orientation to the eLearning training modules.
I hope you can relate to these collaborations or find them helpful for possible future collaborations!
Posted by Barb Nash on 07/06/2019 at 04:38 PM in Courseware, Customization, eLearning, Product Lifecycle Management | Permalink
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By Jeff Morris
With the release of the updated book Autodesk BIM 360 Fundamentals for Docs, Glue, Build a new era is upon us. Our current offering is based on the "Next Generation" (Next Gen), where all modules are interconnected, sharing the same documents. In the previous "classic" versions of Glue and Field (Build's predecessor), the documents were all contained within the individual modules and sharing information was difficult.
The nature of BIM 360 is that it resides completely in the "cloud" and is "live", which means the traditional ways of conducting training needed to be reconsidered.
Traditionally there is a dataset which resides on the individual student's hard drives. As students complete various exercises, the data will update locally on their computer. However, when data resides in the cloud, it is shared (by its very nature). Thus folders in the cloud reside in BIM 360 "projects", which must be set up by "Account Administrators" prior to the students taking the class. This presents an interesting challenge.
As in a conventional class, a dataset for the BIM 360 course is copied onto the students computers. Throughout the course the students will use these files to upload into their project in BIM 360. Therefore, an Account Administrator for BIM 360 must either set up the project prior to the class, or grant the students with administrative rights to set up their project themselves. This is covered in Chapter 1 of the course.
As well as the data, the actual BIM 360 programs (known as modules) resides in the cloud . Therefore, changes to the software can occur rapidly. The BIM 360 software does do a good job of informing us when changes have occurred; however, this also creates a further challenge in keeping courseware up to date in such a fluid environment.
We will monitor such changes on a regular basis and adjust the courseware as required.
BIM 360 is modular. There are a variety of modules currently available with more planned. The courseware focuses on three modules:
As more modules are launched, we will evaluate if more training content is required.
We are excited about the BIM 360 products and our current courseware. We anticipate that this excitement is reflected in the course and propagates to the students.
If you are interested in learning more about ASCENT’s offerings for the 2020 release, please watch our recent Webcast - https://youtu.be/yVEcM8ah-U8
Posted by Jeff Morris on 05/15/2019 at 07:14 AM in BIM 360, Courseware | Permalink
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By: Jennifer MacMillan
Thanks to everyone for joining our most recent Webcast where Ronda and I discussed what’s new and coming in the ASCENT curriculum for the Autodesk 2020 software release. Click Here to view the recording.
Here are a few highlights and take away’s from our session:
We hope that you enjoyed the webcast. We host webcasts regularly (about once a month), so be sure to keep an eye out on our Events Page for other topics that may interest you.
Thanks,
Jennifer
Posted by Jennifer MacMillan on 05/10/2019 at 02:04 PM in AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Revit, BIM 360, Courseware, Customization, eLearning, Industry News, Infraworks, Webcast Recordings | Permalink
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