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From ADSK Files to BIM - What Happened and Why the Move

Bryant Quinney | Sr Applications Expert

About this document

This document takes to task the usability of a feature, one that was designed for cross-discipline consumption, and why it was discontinued, while exploring the possible reason for doing so. Autodesk has, since, very well expanded on a capability they previous had at a lesser extent by developing BIM 360. The following discussion also serves to put a spotlight on a feature many may not have even noticed. As well, some of those same people may yet be using the version of Autodesk software that did not include the depth of BIM that the current versions offer.

The terminology referenced here discerns the use of BIM from BIM 360. BIM is the foundational structure of information access about design objects, while BIM 360 is the product that Autodesk continues to develop, allowing this sort of access between their many applications. Not to be fully discussed here is the environment and depth of tools available to allow access to BIM data at various levels of project development.

Introduction

Between releases, it is typical of software developers to discontinue features, due to technology progressions or other reasons. The benefits and downsides of doing so do not get missed by Autodesk. Being a “hermit” of functional capabilities, the .ADSK file type had been discontinued from the Revit family with the 2019 version.

The ability to export this file type was in place up until the bigger push towards BIM 360 usage. The reasoning is understood to an extent, but the functionality assisted those who were (and are) not ready to make the full push into BIM 360.

Having left the export function in place, Autodesk could have leveraged (see “showcase”) the basic capability of cross-discipline modeling that is desired in many firms to this day. As it will be discussed further here, and from a Civil 3D standpoint, the use is notably limited when compared to BIM 360. With that said, the import functionality of an .ADSK file is still there. One may wonder what the end game could be.

Discussion

Thanks to my good colleague here at IMAGINiT, Marie Williams [Applications Expert – Building Solutions Division], I have an exported .ADSK file of a Revit model, found in the fundamentals class she delivers. It is of sufficient size and complexity to illustrate the level of information that can be consumed in a Civil 3D environment. As a modern-styled multi-level hotel, fully equipped with exterior doors and balconies, it gives a good basis towards the conceptual idea of project placement. This speaks to the context of a development project, namely when incorporated into a development software capable of handling such an object.

The ability to take the native Revit model into InfraWorks (IWX) is definitely there, allowing the visualization of the relation between the architectural component and the civil portion that also gets imported. With this capability, the InfraWorks software is situated in a place where the design components of civil engineering can meet architectural design intent without interfering with, or losing, data. However, this useful feature requires both the civil portion and the architectural portion to be used outside of the familiar design environment. If you are in the process of design, the simplicity of importing the most recent version of the architectural design component, while still in the vicinity of the design controls, can go a long way to prevent unnecessary repetition. This prevents having to export all of your design and then figure out how it works or interacts with the final design. The other side to this proverbial coin is that the capability involves importing, rather than using a live connection to the data. When the design changes, you would have to remove the previous iteration and repeat the process of importing the model into your design.

An ADSK File Discussion

With project development underway in Civil 3D, using an .ADSK file exported from those who are working on the Revit building model allows the design intent to be realized without leaving such a familiar environment.  Many designers and engineers have not made much use of such a feature but have had a profound need for it. This could be due to the perceived (and often real) disconnect, or lack of communication, between the land development group, project manager, and the architectural group of whatever entity (or entities) given the charge of the project. The questions surrounding the possibility of cross-discipline data viewing or merging come up frequently, in classes and forums alike. Depending on the direction of data flow (between applications), or even the understanding of the software placement, answers come in forms like data conversion and export only after the degradation of the model in question. Therefore, it is no longer a “model” in function but a visual representation of what is intended.

This is where, like other technological features Autodesk has forged ahead with in their design software lineup, the .ADSK file shines. The actual model and a lot of associated data comes into the Civil 3D environment for reference. After importing a building model, via building site import, this is evident when you look at the model in the Prospector. It is imperative that this part of the discussion must disclose that you will only see the Building Site collection in the 2021 version of Civil 3D and no other version prior. If you recall on the previous page in this blog that the ability to export an .ADSK file from Revit was removed back in the 2019 version. Why the gap in functionality between the two leading software platforms that Autodesk has invested so much into? One software ceases to provide it while the other software makes more use of it.

In just one version prior, Civil 3D 2020, users could import and assign styles to building sites. However, the model data was not available in the Prospector in any capacity. So, why would Autodesk further increase, rather than limit or remove, functionality in a program that could best make use of one that was removed entirely from another? It seems that their closer involvement as an active member (and on the Strategic Advisory Council) of buildingSMART International, incorporating openBIM, could yield part of the answer in the IFC file format (Industry Foundation Classes).

Even though an IFC file seems to be a highly similar beast to an .ADSK file, inferences of unified development efforts may show that an IFC could, inevitably, have more to offer. Through strategic partnerships with other software providers, allowing design data to be portable and fully usable, IFC development could prevent Autodesk from standing in a silo filled with their proprietary file formats. As well, it is possible this all points to a plan that Autodesk may have in store for further development when it comes to consuming BIM data within the Civil 3D environment.

More information on IFC here:

                https://www.buildingsmart.org/standards/bsi-standards/industry-foundation-classes/

BIM 360 Discussion

With the advent of, and subsequent push for BIM 360 adoption, Autodesk provided a method that allows team members of one discipline to access project data from members of another discipline. Most all of the legwork in facilitating the process and tying together of data being performed in the cloud. Since it has been suggested, wished for, and at times expected, accessing design data where it no longer goes through tedious workflow process iterations gets us moving more towards a fluid direction in design collaboration.

Where BIM 360 serves as the “handler” of design data between the software involved, each application must natively, as a destination application, enable the object to begin with. Add to that, the design information about the connected objects must be available in order to be useful, but not all of it is necessary. This sort of interaction is a natural progression in development but should come as a surprise that there is a slow movement to adopt this workflow. It can be presumed that users are awaiting more clarity, as well as features to be implemented and ironed out, before jumping aboard. Whatever the reason, the development has been moving along steadily, adding more ways for users to interact with the data shared by other applications.

The Capabilities of ADSK Files

With the ability to only import the model before, the capability where a user could access certain bits of data are now found in the Prospector in Civil 3D v2021. The various families used to develop the model are viewed by expanding the object listing. The top-level gives a summary and each family lists individual object data.

This is a considerable step forward in an effort to better consume BIM data inside of the Civil 3D environment. With some of this data, relying on the most mundane questions to be answered when the data is in front of the user is a game-changer.

Why remove the ability to export a Revit model to an .ADSK file for import into Civil 3D then? Based on the direction of development and the push for BIM 360 to be the main integral vessel for design collaboration, it seems pretty obvious. Importing a model is a one-time move until the model updates, then an execution of “Update Building Site Definition”. Though the process does not require repeating again with placement and stylization, it does require pointing again to a specific file. That is not a totally bad thing, actually. You can point to a different version of the same object through different file names. However, Autodesk may have realized they hit a snag somewhere with that limitation or others, based on their future direction. So, through BIM 360, the connection is made by associating to the project, maintained with updates pushed to the cloud, and only stylized within the workspace.

Conclusion

Though the capability of data access has been expanded to drill down into the BIM data of a model, imported as an .ADSK file, Autodesk has merely shifted the mechanism by which Civil 3D does so. Like many other technology steps and leaps they have made in the past, only time will tell if the move to force users towards BIM 360 is a wise move. It is possible that many companies, and users, will not graciously accept being forced away from a methodology of importing, and any workflows surrounding it, they may be more accustomed to and more open to using.

Import an InfraWorks Surface into Civil 3D

Richard Morrow | Application Expert

In this blog post I wanted to use the surface model created from Autodesk InfraWorks' Model Builder to create an existing surface in Autodesk Civil 3D. This is NOT a replacement for your survey, but a way to enhance the area outside your survey. The great thing about this it can be done in about 15 minutes.

Autodesk Civil 3D users with InfraWorks installed locally can open an InfraWorks model directly in Civil 3D. An Autodesk Civil 3D user can also bring InfraWorks model data into Autodesk Civil 3D by referencing an IMX file that was exported from an InfraWorks model.

Import Your Surface Model into Civil 3D

Autodesk Civil 3D will perform a conversion on InfraWorks model objects when you bring InfraWorks model data into Autodesk Civil 3D. InfraWorks Objects become Civil3D Objects.

Hover over the model in InfraWorks to see the path location to where the file is stored. You will need this location to import the surface into Civil 3D.

From Civil 3D select the InfraWorks tab and then open model. This is where you will navigate to your model location.

On the Open InfraWorks Model use the Refine Selection Set to pick only what you want to bring in. in this case we only want the surface.

The Surface is now imported into Civil 3D. You can see below the three surfaces were brought in. This all can be done in a matter of minutes. This can be a very useful tool for you in your preliminary design and to add a larger area to your surveyed data.

Add Custom Attribute Columns in BIM360 DOCS

Matt Miyamoto|ISD Project Manager

During a recent customer conversation around Autodesk BIM360 implementation, a requirement for the ability to add custom properties to BIM360 DOCS files was brought to our attention.  The default settings within BIM360 DOCS already include primary file-based information like Name, Description, Version, Shared status, Size, and DOCS specific information like Markups, Issues, RFI’s and Sets.  In addition to controlling the visibility of any or all of these default fields, users can create their own custom attributes to add more columns of relevant information to the BIM360 DOCS view.

Custom Attributes are easy to add using the “Add Attribute” option by right-clicking on any folder in BIM360 DOCS or clicking on the ellipsis (…) icon next to the folder name.  Similar to permission assignments, custom attributes that are added to a higher-level folder are automatically added to subfolders under the same project folder structure.

When creating custom attributes, you must first provide a name, then select from one of three available options (available at the time this blog was written).  The Text Field option allows the user to manually enter text in the custom attribute column.  The Date Picker option loads a calendar for users to manually select dates from, and the Drop-down Menu option provides a user-defined list of items to select from a drop-down style menu.  This list can also be edited at any time to include more items as the project progresses.

With Version tracking in BIM360 DOCS, the current attribute value is applied to future versions of each file, however users may manually override version specific values as needed.

Currently, custom attributes are only allowed for individual files (folders do not support custom attributes at this time).  When attributes are changed or edited by a project member, the Last Updated and Updated By fields will indicate the date, time and project member who made the change.  Project members must have edit-level permissions to the folder in order to make changes to custom attributes. View-level members will be able to see the attribute data, but not edit the values.

In the screenshot below, a custom field for Phase with a pre-populated drop-down list for Phs 1 and Phs 2 has been added to the Civil Design location.  Additionally, a user-defined column for Company was added to the main top-level Project Files directory and has been automatically added to the Civil Design sub-folder.

To find the details of what changes were applied, check the box next to the file name, then go to View File Activities from the top menu.

For step by step info on how to add custom attributes, check out this BIM360 DOCS Help file post on the Autodesk Knowledge Network:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/bim-360/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/ENU/BIM360D-Document-Management/files/To-Work-with-Document-Management/To-Work-with-Folders/GUID-244FAB32-8E3B-4D1B-A1EB-C982DB93ABB3-html.html

Custom attributes do not currently appear in the Civil 3D START tab when accessing your BIM360 DOCS project files from you desktop application, however if you are a project owner looking for a way to include custom attribute data to your files being housed in BIM360 DOCS, now you know how to do it.

Import an InfraWorks Surface into Civil 3D

Richard Morrow | Application Expert

In this blog post I wanted to use the surface model created from InfraWorks' Model Builder to create an existing surface in Autodesk Civil 3D. This is NOT a replacement for your survey, but a way to enhance the area outside your survey. The great thing about this it can be done in about 15 minutes.

Autodesk Civil 3D users with InfraWorks installed locally can open an InfraWorks model directly in Civil 3D. An Autodesk Civil 3D user can also bring InfraWorks model data into Autodesk Civil 3D by referencing an IMX file that was exported from an InfraWorks model.

Import Your Surface Model Into Civil 3D

Autodesk Civil 3D will perform a conversion on InfraWorks model objects when you bring InfraWorks model data into Autodesk Civil 3D. InfraWorks Objects become Civil3D Objects.

Hover over the model in InfraWorks to see the path location to where the file is stored. You will need this location to import the surface into Civil 3D.

From Civil 3D select the InfraWorks tab and then open model. This is where you will navigate to your model location.

On the Open InfraWorks Model use the Refine Selection Set to pick only what you want to bring in. in this case we only want the surface.

The Surface is now imported into Civil 3D. You can see below the three surfaces were brought in. This all can be done in a matter of minutes. This can be a very useful tool for you in your preliminary design and to add a larger area to your surveyed data.

InfraWorks Model Collaboration with BIM360 DOCS

Matt Miyamoto | ISD Project Manager

You may already be familiar with Autodesk BIM360’s Collaboration for Autodesk Revit and Collaboration for Autodesk Civil 3D functionality, but another somewhat unknown feature of BIM360 is the ability to collaborate on a shared InfraWorks model.

By housing an InfraWorks model in BIM360 Docs, multiple project members have the ability to open and work on model content, then synchronize changes with each other via the cloud. 

*A local installation of InfraWorks and software entitlement are required for all collaborators working on the model.

The setup for sharing InfraWorks models through BIM360 Docs is fairly straight forward.  A BIM360 project must exist, and Project Members who will be collaborating on the InfraWorks model must be granted Edit or Full Control permission to the BIM360 Docs location where the model will be housed.  For security, it is best to create a specific folder where InfraWorks models will be housed, since folder permission settings automatically apply to subfolders.  Housing InfraWorks models in the main Project Files area will mean that members who have access to edit capabilities there can also edit all subfolders in the project.

Once the BIM360 project has been set up with folders and access granted for project members, the workflow within InfraWorks only requires a few additional steps.

First, when downloading a new model using the Model Builder feature, choose the BIM360 option for the location where the model will be stored.

When the BIM360 Hub dialog box opens, navigate to, and select the designated InfraWorks Models folder in your BIM360 Project.

Once the location has been set, Click OK to download (in this case upload) the model to BIM360.  When the process is complete, the InfraWorks model will open on your system, and the .IWM file will be housed in BIM360.  In addition, those who are part of the BIM360 project as collaborators will automatically see models that are added to active projects populate on their home screens in InfraWorks.  BIM360 Cloud models are identified by a blue cloud icon in the bottom right, and local models are identified by a house icon.

Collaborating and synchronizing data from a BIM360 model requires internet access and a few extra clicks of the mouse.  Multiple users can work simultaneously in the same model proposal, however, to keep things organized, create a proposal for each collaborator to add their design changes to.   

They Synchronize option in the upper right of InfraWorks checks the Cloud model for changes and allows each user to synchronize data on demand.

Once synchronized, new proposals appear in each working copy of the InfraWorks model.  Content from one proposal can easily be copied and pasted (CTRL+C to copy, CTRL+SHIFT+V to paste to original coordinates) to quickly combine model elements into a single proposal.

If multiple collaborators are working on the same proposal, any new elements created by others will automatically appear when models are synchronized.  There is currently no automatic notification that changes have been made, so users must manually “check” for changes by clicking on the Sync Model Changes with BIM360 option in InfraWorks.

When changes are detected, the Sync window will indicate that model components are out of date with a warning symbol in the Cloud Changes column.

Using the Sync option from the bottom right of the dialog box updates the model and new elements appear on screen in InfraWorks once the refresh is complete.

BIM360 Project Members that do not have active InfraWorks entitlements or access to software on local systems can view models and proposals that have been synced to the cloud through the BIM360 DOCS online viewer.

This is just another way that BIM360 is opening up opportunities for expanded collaboration in the cloud.  Along with Collaboration for Revit and Collaboration for Civil features, InfraWorks models can also be shared and worked on simultaneously when housed in a BIM360 Project.

Taking Your Civil Designs to 3ds Max

James Branagan | Applications Expert

When you want to give your civil designs much more visual impact, one option you have is to take them in to Autodesk’s 3ds Max software. 3ds Max is a 3D modeling, rendering and animation software for design visualization, games and animation which will allow you to produce stunning images and videos of your design. You can also take your 3ds Max project to Virtual Reality for even more impact.

The first step in leveraging the power of 3ds Max is to bring in your design data. There are two main sources of design information for civil based projects; Infraworks and Civil 3D. I will go through both processes below.

From Civil 3D

Once you are ready to export your design, on the Civil 3D Output tab select Export to 3ds Max

This will bring up a dialog box where you can choose what to export. All of the Alignments, Corridors, Pipe networks and Surfaces are available to be selected individually or as a group. On the right-hand side of the dialog box are the Alignment options which lets you set intervals for points on tangents, curves and spirals.

When exporting from Civil 3D, only export what you need. Exporting extra objects will slow down the performance of 3ds Max. You can always export additional items at a later date.

Once all the objects have been selected click Export and choose a place to store the file. This will produce a .VSP3D file which will be imported in to 3ds Max.

If it isn’t already, start 3ds Max and navigate to the Civil View tab in the top menu bar. The first time you open it you will have to select Initialize. This will open a dialog box which allows you to set the system units, country resource kit and start mode. It will also require a restart of 3ds Max.

Upon restarting, select Civil View again and in the dropdown, select, Geometry Import > Civil 3D (VSP3D) file…

In the Civil 3D Import Panel click Open and select the .VSP3D file. Once loaded, all of the Civil 3D objects will be listed. Select the objects to import and select OK. This will import the Civil 3D objects in to 3ds Max.

The other option is to import from Infraworks

Open the Infraworks model you want to export and change view to conceptual. Under Setting, Export 3D Model

In the Export to 3D Model file dialog box, select the model, or area of the model to be exported. Define the coordinate system and set the offset to User Defined. (Note: 3ds Max does not use the decimal places in the offset values so delete the decimal and any numbers to the right.) Select the radio button for Multiple files and set where to save the output files.

This will export individual .FBX files which can then be imported in to 3ds Max.

In 3ds Max, select Import in the File dropdown menu and choose one of the .FBX files to import. Keep all the defaults and select OK. This will import your .FBX file, repeat the import for the other .FBX files you wish to import.

Those are two of the ways to bring your Civil projects over to 3ds Max to give them great visual impact.

Remote Collaboration Options for Civil 3D Users

Kevin Breslin | Manager ISD/RCS Services

For many organizations the recent pandemic has created a range of disruptions with operations as more people are for various reasons staying home.  For a growing number of our Civil 3D customers this has compromised their ability to keep projects on track and to keep people working. 

Under these circumstances, it seems like a good time to review options that may allow users to continue to work, collaborate with others and to keep projects moving forward.

Software & Hardware

The first step to consider is the software itself.  Depending on the version and license type of Autodesk software you’re using, in many cases there is an allowance to use licenses for “Home Use” or to be borrowed from a license server.  (See links below)

In cases where your office workstation is a laptop/notebook, you may have the ability to bring your workstation home with you (with management’s consent of course).  For users who cannot bring their work computer home, there are options available where you can install Autodesk software on your personal computer, and using one of the licensing options noted below, work remotely (assuming said home system meets system requirements).

COVID-19 Autodesk Resource Center

Request a license to use software at home

Autodesk Licensing Options

Other key necessities would be an internet connection sufficient to transfer large files in a reasonable time. 

[FWIW, I have a ~300MB down and 30MB up connection at home and I have absolutely no issues with even very large files.] 

Keeping in mind, your personal internet connection at home is only part of the story when considering file transfer speeds.

Collaboration (file sharing) Options

In the case of working with Civil 3D, this is where things get a bit more complicated.  Most organizations utilize Civil 3D’s ability to share Data References (e.g. Alignments, Surfaces, etc.) as well as Xref and image files, etc.  Accessing these files remotely is possible if your organization can grant remote system access (i.e. Remote Desktop) to your office workstation, or access to your network files share (e.g. VPN access).  In many cases however, this is not an option.

Vault Professional

If your organization utilizes Autodesk Vault Professional your remote (home) workstation may be configured to allow you to access shared files (including references and data references).  If your organization does use Vault Professional, contact your system administrator to find out how you could work remotely.

More information on Vault Professional and Civil 3D

BIM 360 Design for Civil 3D

The latest option for remote collaboration would be the 2020.2 (and newer) versions of Autodesk Civil 3D along with the latest version of BIM 360 Design.  With BIM 360 Design users have the ability to create and work on projects in the BIM 360 environment.  Through this cloud-based system, access to and the ability to share files including drawing files, data reference, Xrefs, images, etc. is possible.

While still somewhat new to Civil 3D, the technology is solid and offers the easiest means to collaborate and share project files remotely with users pretty much anywhere internet access is available.

Important Note: BIM 360 Design technology does necessitate BIM 360 Design licenses and the 2020.2 (or newer) version of Autodesk Civil 3D to function.

BIM 360 Design Information

For organizations implementing BIM 360 Design for Civil 3D, late last year, IMAGINiT developed a quick implementation/training service called the BIM 360 For Civil 3D Jumpstart service which is designed to quickly get organizations up to speed and running with BIM 360 Design for Civil 3D.

Other Options

In addition to the options noted here, IMAGINiT is well versed in the tools and technology related to remote education, consulting services, etc. and have been using these technologies for years.  If you or your organization is considering using this time to get caught up on some needed training, or the development of an optimized and customized Civil 3D environment, let us know.

With the technology advancements over the last several years, working together doesn’t require travel, or even having to be in the same room. 

If you have any questions on anything noted here, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Infrastructure Industry Trends Survey 2019

Kevin Breslin | ISD/RCS Services Manager

For the last several years, IMAGINiT has been running an annual industry survey to gauge the pulse of the industry to better understand what’s working, what’s not working, challenges, concerns, etc.

In this year’s survey we received feedback from 240 individuals and learned the following. . . 

Services Provided:

For the last 4 years running, the industry seems to continue its growth into different facets where land development (incl private development) has grown over 20% since 2015.  We are also seeing a near 20% growth into municipal consulting; however, the big chance has happened with reality capture services where the number of organizations offering these services has more than doubled since 2015!

Technology:

Based on the growing trends over the last several years, it was no surprise to learn that more than ever, organizations are relying on Autodesk Civil 3D as their primary design tool, with AutoCAD holding its place as well.  Also, after several years in the shadows, Autodesk Infraworks is seeing a strong bump in use as a secondary design tool.  Also, after 10 years, it appears that the long-retired Land Desktop is no longer ranked as a primary or secondary design tool.

CAD/BIM Management:

This is another topic that has remained mostly static over the last few years, where the number of organizations with a dedicated CAD/BIM manger is still around 50%.  Those same organizations report that most of the time their CAD/BIM managers are in a reactive mode (addressing issues that come up from users) vs being proactive (education, standards development/maintenance, internal education, etc.). 

Another seemingly unchanged situation with CAD/BIM managers is that the allure of billable work is still in play, often keeping those who should be working towards keeping the organization on the path to efficiency and high-levels of productivity, distracted with project work and as such, unable to do the things that are of a greater long-term, strategic value to the organization.

Data Sharing/Collaboration:

Not surprisingly, this is another topic that has continued its rise.

In 2019 when asked “Who do you share data with on projects?”, the majority of the respondents (~84%) noted “With everyone involved (internal and external)”.  In 2015 that number was 62%.

The means and challenges related to Data Sharing/Collaboration have also increased, where in 2019, for the first time, we’re seeing a growing number of organizations currently using or considering cloud-based tools like Autodesk BIM360.

One unchanged aspect of Data Sharing/Collaboration is that PDF is still the preferred file format for sharing (i.e. “printed” files) with external sources.

Business:

Once again, it seems that optimism remains strong in the industry where organizations are evaluating their fees every year and over half (51%) are increasing staff/hiring.

Business Challenges:

While optimism remains strong and many organizations are hiring, the challenges related to profitability and the ability to remain competitive are still present.

As we have seen in the last few years, some of the greatest challenges related to technology adoption is time and the cost of the implementation.

While some are able to stay on top of the latest and greatest technologies, in many cases this topic was noted on the subject of CAD/BIM Managers not having the necessary support from management, the necessary time, or the budget to implement (optimize, educate, rollout) a new design technology.  This inability to leverage the best in class technologies in many cases is a self-limiting factor, throttling an organizations ability to achieve greater levels of productivity and a competitive edge within their respective markets.

Training:

Free “training” (no surprise) is the leader when it comes to education.  Sources like YouTube are what most rely on to keep up on the latest technology.  While some state this meets their needs, many state that while free and available, the quality, accuracy and applicability of most of the free sources of education are insufficient.  Add the often-excessive time spent searching for the correct, free sources of information, and you have a perfect storm of mediocre, inefficient, incomplete and often unanswered questions leading to poorly educated users.

Takeaways:

Generally speaking, business is good for most.  Challenges remain a mix of the usual suspects (time, competition) and a continuously growing percentage of organizations are leveraging power of the tools found not only within Autodesk Civil 3D, but also other tools within the AEC Collection (e.g. Infraworks) as well as a growing adoption of BIM360.

Finding the best education solution is still a challenge, while everyone loves the idea of “free”, the stubborn realities that “you get what you pay for” hold true for many.

Options:

As you would likely expect, I’m going to make the obvious and helpful suggestion that for those who are struggling with any of the following challenges:

• Education
• Support
• Standards
• Implementation
• Assessment and Recommendation services
• CAD Management Consulting

Keep in mind that these are ALL things that IMAGINiT does and we are ready, willing and very able to help.

If you or your organization are struggling with any of these issues, or if you have a process, standards, workflow, collaboration, performance, issues that you need help with. . . . . contact us.

This is what we do.

If you are interested to learn more, IMAGINiT recorded a webcast on the topic which can be found here

A More Dynamic UCS?

Bryant Quinney | Applications Expert

You may (or maybe not) have noticed, in AutoCAD (and AutoCAD-based programs) a feature to dynamically change the UCS simply by clicking on it and picking a second point from which to align a UCS axis. Modifying the current UCS by this method removed a bit of typing needed for the time-tested methods found in the UCS command. As it has been, to change the rotation of the UCS (say we want to rotate about the Z-axis) the steps would look a bit like this:

• Execute the UCS command;
• Type Z for the z-axis option;
• Enter the value for the desired rotation. And press ENTER.

Bear in mind, this is now not a mind-blowing change, but if you hover over the UCS icon, you will find that it highlights, signifying the ability to select it. When you do click on it, grips show, allowing you to activate one (make it hot) and choose a rotation angle.

First, the square grip allows up to reposition the UCS origin elsewhere in space by picking a point location, typing coordinates or aligning to a face, surface, or mesh. How is that for removing the typing?

If you hover over a grip on the UCS, you get a pop-up menu that allows you to “Move and Align”, “Move Origin Only”, or reset to “World”. By default, when you select the origin grip, the behavior is to move the origin only, unless hovering over a mesh, face, or surface. For these objects, the UCS aligns itself with the highlighted face, recognizing flipped faces or negative normals.

The circular grips, found along the X and Y axes, allow you to align the UCS based on a second pick point in space. To use this, activating a circular grip prompts you to pick “a point on the <chosen> axis”. The UCS icon rotates, awaiting your second pick point. Clicking in space or snapping to an object rotates the UCS to that location.

Also, if you want to use a specific angle rotation, type “<“, followed by the angle, then press ENTER. The UCS will lock to that rotation, still awaiting your second pick point. You can also activate the pop-up menu for the X and Y axes by hovering over one or the other.

Using this method, it is a bit clearer as to the behavior of the UCS axis grip, whether by choosing the axis direction, rotating around the Z axis or the unselected axis. So, if you are hovering over the X axis, you are given the choice to rotate about the Y axis.

Finally, you can reset to “World” by using the pop-up option at the origin.