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Do you use mathematical software or tools?

If so, we want to hear from you!

Autodesk is conducting research about how CAD designers and engineers use mathematical software or tools in their design workflows. We are especially interested in hearing from people who use tools like Mathematica, Maple, Matlab, Excel or QuickCalc. We are also interested in hearing about other types mathematics software tools support the design process.

We want to find out:

1. Do you use mathematics software or tools 
2. If so, which mathematics software or tools do you currently use 
3. How you incorporate the results of mathematical calculations in your design workflows

If you have 5 minutes to spar we would appreciate it if you would take this quick survey. Thanks in advance! 

Survey is located here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QDTCPR7

AutoCAD 2014 Command Internet Search

In AutoCAD 2014, you can quickly search for more information on a command or system variable right from the suggestion list. Move the cursor over the command or system variable in the list and choose the Help or Internet icons to search for relevant information. The term AutoCAD is automatically prepended to the current term for searching the Internet.

View command internet search and other command line enhancements in the AutoCAD 2014: Command Line video.

AutoCAD 2014 Command Synonyms

The Command line in AutoCAD 2014 has a built-in synonym list. Enter a word at the Command line and it will return a command if a match is found in the synonym list. For example, if you enter SYMBOL, AutoCAD finds the INSERT command so you can insert a block. Or if you enter Round, AutoCAD finds the FILLET command so you can add a fillet to a corner. 

You can add your own words to the Synonym list by choosing Edit Synonym List from the Manage ribbon tab. This is especially helpful for new AutoCAD users and those that have been using other CAD applications.

View command synonyms and other command line enhancements in the AutoCAD 2014: Command Line video.

AutoCAD 2014 Adaptive Command Suggestions

Commands in the suggestion list are initially displayed in the order of their usage based on general customer data. As you continue to use AutoCAD 2014, the order of commands in the suggestion list will adapt to your own usage habits. For example, if you type B at the command line when you first start using AutoCAD 2014 you’ll notice the Break command is towards the bottom of the suggestion list. If you use the Break command more frequently than the commands above it, it will move up the list. 

If you prefer to see the suggestion list in alphabetical order, you can select it in the Input Search Options dialog box, accessible from the Customize tool on the Command line.
 

View adaptive command suggestions and other Command line enhancements in the AutoCAD 2014: Command Line video.

AutoCAD 2014 AutoComplete Command Entry

AutoComplete command entry is enhanced in AutoCAD 2014 to support mid-string search. This is one of my favorite command line enhancements because you no longer have to remember exactly how the name of a command or system variable begins. You only have to know part of the name, anywhere in it! For example, if you want to change the geometric settings for parametric constraints, you might not know the command name is CONSTRAINTSETTINGS or even that it starts with CONSTRAINT. For all you know it might be GEOMETRICSETTINGS or PARAMETRICSETTINGS or even GPSETTINGS. But you can be pretty sure it has SETTINGS somewhere in it. With AutoComplete command entry in AutoCAD 2014, you can start typing SETTINGS to see all the commands and system variables containing the word SETTINGS.

Mid-string search is automatically enabled in AutoCAD 2014. You can turn it off and on from Input Settings on the right-click menu.

 
View mid-string search and other Command line enhancements in the AutoCAD 2014: Command Line video.

AutoCAD 2014 Command Line

The Command Line has been removed in AutoCAD 2014. Ha! April Fools! You’ll find just the opposite in AutoCAD 2014! The command line has been significantly enhanced to provide smarter, more efficient access to commands and system variables. You can even use the command line to access other content such as blocks, hatch patterns, and Internet help.

First, let's take a look at new AutoCorrect command support in AutoCAD 2014. If you mistype a command, instead of responding with “Unknown command,” AutoCAD autocorrects to the most relevant and valid AutoCAD command. For example, if you accidently type TABEL, the TABLE command is automatically launched. If a command that you frequently mistype doesn’t automatically launch the correct command, you can train AutoCAD to do so!

For example, quickly type HETCH and press enter (before the suggestion list appears). Notice that AutoCAD automatically launches the HATCH command. But, maybe when you type quickly, you accidentally tend to type HRTCH. Try it! You’ll get an “Unknown Command” error. Now try it again, a little slower so the suggestion list appears. HRTCH wasn’t close enough to automatically launch the HATCH command but it was close enough to display HATCH in the suggestion list. Now select HATCH from the suggestion list. After three mistypes where you’ve entered HRTCH and then selected HATCH from the suggestion list, AutoCAD will remember and start autocorrecting for you! Now you can type HRTCH as fast as you want (not waiting for the suggestion list) and always launch the HATCH command!

You can control the number of mistypes that are required before a command is added to AutoCorrect. Choose the Customize tool on the Command line and then select Input Search Options.

The corrections are automatically added to an AutoCorrect list which you can access from the Manage ribbon tab. It’s similar to the command alias (pgp) list.

If you wish, you can manually edit the AutoCorrect list to add more customizations. For example, what if I tend to mistype HATCH so bad that the suggestion list won’t even find it? What if I always type HEIDI instead of HATCH? That’s not a problem! Add it to the suggestion list using similar syntax and save!  Keep in mind, however, if you manually add something to the AutoCorrect list you’ll have to close and relaunch AutoCAD before those additions will work.

Give AutoCorrect a try and stay tuned for more Command Line enhancements! Here's a video to help you get started!

AutoCAD 2014 Help System

To help you get up to speed with AutoCAD 2014, the Help system offers valuable enhancements.

New search filters enable you to narrow your search results based on the type of user. For example, if you choose User, you can filter on commands and system variables. If you choose Developer, your filters include AutoLISP®, ActiveX, DXFTM, and .Net. The Administrator option includes Installing, Migrating, Customizing, and Administering. You can choose All Content to filter on any combination of content.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD Basics is included in the Resources section and has been updated for AutoCAD 2014.

The AutoCAD 2014 Help System also offers improved access to Online Help, particularly when using proxy servers. 

Announcing AutoCAD 2014!

This morning Autodesk announced its 2014 portfolio of products including AutoCAD 2014!

AutoCAD continues its transformation into a connected design application accessing the power of cloud, social, and mobile. With AutoCAD 2014 you can work smoothly across platforms, collaborate with project stakeholders, and bring the power of AutoCAD with you wherever you go. To make the most of AutoCAD 2014, you’ll need to sign into your Autodesk account. 

If you don’t yet have an Autodesk account, choose Need an Autodesk ID from the Sign In dialog box and provide the necessary information. 

Take further advantage of the power of connection with access to command line Internet search, Live Map Data, integrated Design Feed, and Exchange apps. I’ll share more information about these and other enhancements to AutoCAD 2014 in an upcoming video series. If you just can’t wait to learn more, check out the AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014 Preview Guides.

Download the AutoCAD 2014 Preview Guide

Download the AutoCAD LT 2014 Preview Guide

The Apocalypse Trigger: Mission 5

In Mission 5 of the Apocalypse Trigger you’ll use Autodesk Showcase to visualize an AutoCAD model of an ancient artifact.

You begin by sending the model from AutoCAD to Showcase using the Suite Workflows.

After familiarizing yourself with some simple display and navigation tools in Showcase, you use the Organizer to view and modify properties of the model objects.

Next, you experiment with different lighting environments and backgrounds as you easily change model environment from a grassy field to a dry lake bed. Because Showcase provides an immersive visualization environment, the background isn’t just a static image. It’s a 3D environment that offers dynamic realism, complete with lighting effects, even as you orbit around your model.

You’ll explore different visual styles such as Flat Color and Tech before ultimately choosing a more realistic one that supports materials and shadows.

Taking advantage of the extensive materials library, you’ll apply realistic materials to different parts of the model.

To better view and communicate your design, you create animated shots of the model. You can easily select and replay any of the shots at any time.

To view and share design choices, you’ll create alternate lineups with different materials and positions as well as cross-sections.

Finally, you’ll create a storyboard using a combination of the shots and alternate lineups you created and then publish your project to your Autodesk 360 account.

The Apocalypse Trigger: Mission 4

In Mission 4 of the Apocalypse Trigger you use parametric constraints in AutoCAD 2013 to accurately and efficiently create the doors and windows for an elevation of a bell tower. 

After creating a vertical line down the center of the tower, you begin applying geometric constraints to the doorway geometry. Using coincident, equal, symmetric, and other geometric constraints, you clean up what was originally a rough (sloppy) sketch to ensure proper relationships between geometry. The AutoConstrain tool gives you a head start by applying many of the constraints automatically.

You’ll continue to apply geometric constraints to the windows in the upper floors and you’ll use the Infer Constraints tool to automatically apply relevant geometric constraints to newly created geometry.

After applying geometric constraints, you continue defining the shape of the geometry by applying dimensional constraints. You give meaningful names to the dimensional constraints and, where appropriate, you use the same name for multiple dimensions. 

After applying dimensional constraints to all the door and window geometry in the bell tower, you change the constraint form of some of the dimensional constraints to annotational. Those annotational constraints not only drive the geometry but they can be displayed and plotted similar to traditional dimensions.

Finally, to experience the ultimate power of parametric constraints, you edit parametric dimension values in the Parameters Manager and watch as the drawing geometry dynamically updates while maintaining all the geometric and dimensional relationships that you applied.