Who doesn’t want to get more out of their software investment? Well, thanks to Autodesk Exchange (Autodesk’s app store) you can get a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to AutoCAD apps. In fact, the most popular apps from Autodesk Exchange are AutoCAD productivity enhancers.
To help you learn what’s what, Autodesk’s Jim Quanci and Stephen Preston provide a great round-up of the 10 most popular AutoCAD apps in this free online class from Autodesk University. Of course, what’s a top ten app for one person might be completely irrelevant to another, so we’ve summarized their fabulous countdown below:
1) SketchUp Import – The SketchUp Import plug-in (free) allows you to import SKP files into your AutoCAD drawings. Use the IMPORTSKP command to convert a SketchUp file, stored in a local or shared folder, and insert the model into the current drawing. Just go to the 3D Warehouse and you can import hundreds of different SKP models directly from the Trimble 3D Warehouse into your AutoCAD drawings.
2) OffsetInXref – For just $2 (also available as a trial) this is one plug-in that does one thing only, but very well. OffsetInXref can be used with AutoCAD to enable the OFFSET command to work with line contents of blocks and externally referenced drawings, associated arrays, dimensions and tables – something AutoCAD doesn’t inherently let you do, yet!
3) DotSoft PDF Import – Import PDFs directly into AutoCAD for $50. If your file has vector geometry, it’ll translate as polylines in AutoCAD. If it contains text annotations, these will become Mtext objects. Images are extracted and placed as IMAGE references.
4) FILTERSIMILAR – If you want to do some filtering, this app ($4.99) lets you easily filter a selection set. You can filter similar objects in any combination of the following: object, layer, color, linetype, linetype scale, object scale,name and annotative scale, and more.
5) BatchInEditor – If you have to do a common operation on a batch of drawings, or would like to, it’s likely that you run a script or use special software. However, quite a few apps in the store, including BatchInEditor (free), allow you to enhance your batch processing without crashing AutoCAD. Powerful built-in commands plus an easy-to-use interface allow you to automate the batch process and let you run multiple built-in commands, lisp and scripts commands on selected layouts, and more.
6) ArchVision RPC Entourage Starter Pack – This free app delivers 100+ no-costRPC objects that you can drag and drop into AutoCAD, Revit, and 3ds Max. Quickly and easily place, edit, create, and render all types of RPC people, trees, cars and object content.
7) COINS Translator – Need to translate your drawings into another language? Throw those websites and external tools away and translate text, mtext, attributes, and multi-leaders directly inside of AutoCAD! This free plug-in uses the Microsoft Translator service to translate from one language to another.
8) comsSaveIt – Ever lost your changes because you pressed “No” instead of “Yes” in the Save dialog box? No more. This $3 app will monitor your savings and closings and save your drawings in a local folder, even if you forgot to save it. Your file is then easily recoverable and restored in no time.
9) Increment – Another fan favorite. Increment is a simple and free productivity tool that lets you quickly and accurately increment attribute values (Item 1, Item 2, Item 3, etc.) to blocks and text. It will also order them in any order (ascending/descending). So if you want to stick labels on things, this makes it easier than ever.
10) Autodesk Exchange App Manager – Now you’ve downloaded all these apps, how are you going to manage them without clogging up your directories? This free plug-in can be used with AutoCAD to simplify the process of managing apps installed from Exchange. View, update, uninstall and get help on any app downloaded from the Autodesk Exchange site from a single interface.
Get More
For examples of all these apps in use, check out this useful online training module on the AU website. Go explore Autodesk Exchange for yourself, there are 600 or so AutoCAD apps to choose from!
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Business Applications, Digital Design
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This interview was originially posted by GovDesignHub here.
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On April 6, 2021, Autodesk Vault 2022 was released. And I have to say that it is easily the most feature-rich release in recent memory.
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Out of sight, out of mind. It’s all too easy to forget about asset maintenance when the assets themselves aren’t right in front of you. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this became more evident as employees went home and logged into a virtual workplace instead of coming to a physical space.
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There are two distinct factions when it comes to working from home: those who relish it and those who despise it. Before COVID-19, working from home was a perk. When the pandemic hit, work-from-home (WFH) became a necessity to combat the virus’s spread. One person’s dream; the other’s nightmare.
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Carly Bell
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Carly Bell
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Brandon Norris
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Article originially posted to the GovDesignHub here.
Brandon Norris
Digital Design
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Another release of Civil 3D just became available, just as you probably finished installing the latest 2020 “fix.” That was somewhat sarcastic, but I do some see much needed improvements to Autodesk Civil 3D 2021 and all other 2021 products. But we can’t just look at what’s new in our hero product, but all other complimentary products as well, so I will briefly mention a few of those.
Civil 3D Version Interoperability
DLT Solutions
Digital Design
A new version of AutoCAD is now available.
DLT Solutions
Digital Design
From design, construction, to facilities management, the need for closer ownership is clear.
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Caron Beesley
Digital Design
Digital design data is a big data business. It requires secure management and storage, versions need to be stringently controlled, and teams need to access files readily so they can share that data with stakeholders.
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Caron Beesley
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AutoCAD 2021 is here!
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Let’s break down what’s new.
Caron Beesley
Digital Design
Article originally posted to GovDesignHub here.
If you’ve made the move from AutoCAD to Revit, congratulations. But what do you do with that huge library of details that you amassed over years of working on CAD projects? As you transition to Revit, recreating AutoCAD details is a hassle and trashing them is out of the question.
The good news is, you can use details right in your Revit project – straight from AutoCAD.
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Article originally posted to GovDesignHub here.
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Whether you’re renovating a building or involved in a large-scale infrastructure project, the process goes something like this:
Holly Chapman
Digital Design
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Holly Chapman
Digital Design, Uncategorized
When we launched GovDesignHub in the spring of 2018, we had one goal in mind – to address the lack of resources, discussion, and analysis available online for those who practice in government digital design ecosystem.
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In the words of one of our top contributors, Lynn Allen, of Autodesk fame:
Holly Chapman
Digital Design
What do a Facebook data center, a railway, an expressway, an office building extension, and a cancer center have in common?
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Holly Chapman
Digital Design
Want to win a free pass to Autodesk University (AU) 2018? Earlier this summer, we announced that we’ll be awarding a full conference pass for you or a chosen nominee at your agency or department to attend Autodesk University 2018 in Las Vegas from November 13-15th.
Holly Chapman
Digital Design
Autodesk introduced its Autodesk Collections a couple of years ago and there’s never been a better time to make the switch from individual product subscriptions to a collection. Thanks to a limited time offer from Autodesk, your agency can save 20% on the remaining months of your existing term if you switch by October 25, 2018.
But what’s the buzz about collections and why make the move?
Why Make the Move to Autodesk Collections?
Holly Chapman
Digital Design
It’s that time again, when agencies rush to spend their remaining year-end budget before the September 30th “use it or lose it” deadline. One-third of federal budget dollars are spent in the last quarter of the year, often in a wasteful manner. But for those in the field of digital design – there are many opportunities to make value-based investments using taxpayer dollars before it’s too late.
1. Training
Holly Chapman
Digital Design
Download the eBook here!
If you’re one of the millions of people who’ve been lucky enough to hear Lynn Allen present, you’ll know her as the queen of AutoCAD tips and tricks and all-round Autodesk technical evangelist, but she also knows quite a bit about the latest disruptive technology – BIM.
Caron Beesley
Digital Design
Building information modeling (BIM) is poised for greater adoption by federal, state, and local government agencies. In Wisconsin, for example, publicly-funded projects over $5 million are required to incorporate BIM and 3D software from initial planning concepts to bidding documents and project closeout. Many DoTs, including MassDOT, FDOT, and CALTRANS are also embracing BIM for infrastructure projects.
Grace_Bergen
Digital Design
It’s hard to imagine a world without digital. But as you look around you, much of the physical world was designed and constructed using traditional 2D blueprints and is yet to be captured in a digital format. This creates a challenge for AEC professionals to incorporate these as-built designs into re-build or renovation projects.
Traditional imaging techniques like photogrammetry aided in this process by allowing engineers to piece together photographs of as-built conditions and weave in GPS coordinates to create interactive 3D models, see below:
Grace_Bergen
Digital Design
As the demand for geospatial data grows, mobile mapping technology has advanced significantly in recent years allowing AEC professionals to collect extremely accurate, precise data from LiDAR sensors mounted on the back of a vehicle while driving at speeds up to 70 miles an hour.
DLT Solutions
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Rich3D, GovDesignHub explain how they delivered complex helicopter and military vehicle 3D virtual training via a ubiquitous tool – an Adobe Acrobat document.
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Grace_Bergen
Digital Design
For government organizations and municipalities, ensuring everyone is on the same page in terms of core competencies is an essential prerequisite to the success of any digital design or engineering project. With the pressure to do more with less, knowledge gaps can stymie team productivity, lower your return on investment in software tools, and make everyone’s lives a lot more difficult.
Grace_Bergen
Digital Design, Uncategorized
New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYC DDC) handles some of the most exciting and dynamic architectural and infrastructure challenges in the world.
Grace_Bergen
Digital Design
Bolstering the U.S. manufacturing sector is a message that has played into election campaign promises and White House administration policy for decades. The reality is a different story.
Grace_Bergen
Digital Design
Civil 3D 2019 is here. But what’s new and should you make the upgrade? Look out for webinars, blogs and insights from the civil community in the coming weeks that will no doubt make the case for the 2019 release. In the meantime, if you’re looking for a quick digest of what’s new and notable, we’ve pulled together thoughts and appreciations from a couple of industry experts who’ve already had a sneak peek at Civil 3D 2019.
Here’s what they’re telling us:
Civil 3D 2019 – “Things I Appreciate Out of the Gate”:
DLT Solutions
CAD General, Digital Design, Technology, Tips and How-Tos
Late in 2017, Autodesk and ESRI announced a new partnership to “advance infrastructure planning and design”. The relationship was positioned as helping build a bridge between building information modeling (BIM) and GIS technologies.
But what does the relationship mean for government infrastructure projects?
Taking 3D Contextual Design to the Next Level
DLT Solutions
Digital Design, IT Perspective, News, Technology, Tips and How-Tos, Uncategorized
The CAD and digital design sector is vast and growing at breakneck speed. It’s expected to reach $11.21 billion by 2023.
Many end-use industries such as automotive, aerospace, entertainment, industrial machinery, civil and construction, electrical and electronics, pharmaceutical, and healthcare, consumer goods, and others, widely use CAD and 3D design-based tools in their development processes.
DLT Solutions
CAD General, Digital Design, Technology, Tips and How-Tos
The holidays have arrived early to the government CAD community. Lynn Allen is coming to town and online in a city near you!
DLT has partnered with everyone’s favorite Autodesk evangelist and tips and tricks queen to bring you a series of tech breakfasts and webinars.
Starting this May and continuing over the next few months across the U.S., Lynn will share what’s new with AutoCAD 2019 (aka One AutoCAD) and dive into trends and happenings in the world of government digital design.
Here’s what May has in store:
DLT Solutions