Autodesk Solution for AutoCAD Splash Screen Error

Autodesk Services & Support - AutoCAD splash screen starts up and then closes

Issue
When running the software, it becomes unresponsive and freezes your computer. When you restart the computer and you try to restart AutoCAD, the splash screen starts up and then closes down with no apparent error message.

Click here for details and solution.

Applies to:
AutoCAD 2011
AutoCAD 2010
AutoCAD Architecture 2011
AutoCAD Architecture 2010
AutoCAD Civil 2011
AutoCAD Civil 2010
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010
AutoCAD Electrical 2011
AutoCAD Electrical 2010
AutoCAD Map 3D 2011
AutoCAD Map 3D 2010
AutoCAD Mechanical 2011
AutoCAD Mechanical 2010
AutoCAD MEP 2011
AutoCAD MEP 2010
AutoCAD Raster Design 2011
AutoCAD Raster Design 2010
AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2011
AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2010

AutoCAD Survey: Upgrade/Migration Process, Tools and Results

AutoCAD Users: want to share your experience and opinions? Our friends at the AutoCAD Product Design&Usability Group are seeking input...

Goal
To gain the most complete understanding about problems and requests AutoCAD users may have while migrating their settings and customization from a previous release of AutoCAD.

Who Should Participate?
Autodesk is looking for individual contributors or CAD managers with small number of seats (less than 5- either standalone or multi-seat standalone) with unsatisfying experience using Migration tool to migrate settings from a previous version of AutoCAD.

How the Study will be Conducted?
About 1 hour interview session with participants (remotely) to discuss experience with migration, results expected, outcome.

When?
Research will occur between May 27 and June 2, 2010.

How To Sign Up?
Please submit qualification data and indicate your availability here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MigrationSignUp

Please contact elena.fadeeva@autodesk.com if you have any questions.

Thanks for your help!

AutoCAD Product Design&Usability Group
Follow AutoCAD Research on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AutoCADResearch

Autodesk Solution for Blue Screen on Start-up

Autodesk Services & Support - Blue Screen on Startup when using Nvidia Graphics Card Version 197.85

Issue
You may experience a 'blue screen of death' crash when starting a machine when the 3GB switch is enabled on a Windows XP 32 bit operating system using the NVidia graphics card driver version 197.85

Click here for details and solution.

Applies to:
AutoCAD 2011
AutoCAD Architecture 2011
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011
AutoCAD Map 3D 2011
AutoCAD Mechanical 2011
Autodesk 3ds Max 2011
Autodesk Mayas 2011
Autodesk Moldflow Adviser Advanced 2011
Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2011
Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011
Autodesk Revit MEP 2011
Autodesk Revit Structure 2011

Why Autodesk?

Ideate, Inc. is proud to be a successful Autodesk partner.

We believe in the software products we sell and the company we work with. Here are just a few reasons:

• broadest and deepest product portfolio in the design world
  
• 100% of Fortune 100 companies use Autodesk
  
• over 9 million users
  
• 3300 development partners (including the Ideate Explorer for Revit!)
  more than 2 million students train on Autodesk products every year (including at Ideate!)
  
• explore your design ideas, from initial concept through development and documentation
  
• visualize your project with photorealistic renderings and walkthroughs, so clients experience your design as if it were already built
  
• analyze your project, test how it will perform in the real world
  
• you can make more sustainable design decisions earlier in the design process

What does Autodesk software do for you?

Three things... greater efficiency, productivity, and innovation. When you optimize your designs before they’re built, you avoid expensive and time-consuming delays. When you improve collaboration among teams, you accelerate project cycles. And when you combine those things, you have the freedom to innovate during the design process. An innovative design process helps you solve your business challenges, and that’s where you get your competitive advantage.

For more on the Autodesk story, and great interactive view of product capability, click here.

Gain a competitive advantage with Ideate and Autodesk today.

Autodesk Subscription Benefit - Storm and Sanitary Analysis 2011

Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis 2011 is an advanced, powerful, and comprehensive modeling package for analyzing and designing urban drainage systems, stormwater sewers, and sanitary sewers.

And available as an extension for AutoCAD Civil 3D and AutoCAD Map 3D Subscription customers in North America!

To learn more about the software, read the Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis 2011 User Guide.

Visit the Subscription Center to download.

Not on Subscription yet? Contact sales@ideateinc.com to learn about the advantages of Autodesk Subscription.

Network Licensing - Autodesk Videos

These two videos from Autodesk are really good!

Understanding and Managing Your Autodesk Licenses

Setting up the Network License Manager for Autodesk Products

Some topics covered:
- Requesting license files
- Getting your MAC address
- Combining license files
- License increments
- PLIST cascading
- And much more…

I definitely recommend everyone checking these out!

Derek Wielkopolski
Support Manager

Ideate Seattle - Open Lab Hours

Studying for your Autodesk Certification? Need to practice the Autodesk skills you are learning on the job or with Ideate?

We have scheduled “open lab” time to give you an opportunity to drop by and try out the Autodesk 2011 software solutions. You’ll have access to Ideate’s Authorized Training Center computers loaded with the same programs used in our technology courses.

DATE/LOCATION
Friday, 5.21.10
Ideate - Autodesk Authorized Training Center
Columbia Center
701 5th Avenue
Suite 5040
Seattle, WA 98104

TIME
9:00am to noon

INFORMATION
Email Brian Keeley or call 888.662.7238 x6134.

Autodesk Maya 2011 Software Hotfix 1

An update for Autodesk Maya 2011 software is now available on the Autodesk website.

This hotfix will improve the operation of the software and help resolve customer-reported issues:

• Application crashes when navigating menus on 64-bit Mac OS® X operating system
• Viewport renderer plug-ins not working
• Refraction limit not respected when using mental images material
• mental images Material Ambient Occlusion color bleed stopping the Final Gather bounces

Click here to find additional information and the download.

Bookmark the Autodesk Maya Services & Support page or subscribe to the feed to receive info on future updates & downloads.

AU2010 - Vote for Your Favorite Ideate Class Proposals!

Ideate is proud that our Tech Experts are regularly selected to present at Autodesk University - and get great ratings!

Considering attending AU2010? Here is your chance to influence which classes will be offered. Vote before Friday, May 21 for the sessions that you want to see this year!

Click here for the Autodesk University Class Voting page, then choose up to 20 classes, including:

50	We have a Revit project, now what?	Hristov, Paul
572	Signature Styles and Entourage	Palma, Ron
1133	Revit Curtain Walls: In Theory & Practice	Harve, Shruti
1177	Clash Early, Clash Often with Navisworks Clash Detective	Martin, Teresa
1273	Shared Coordinates; a Hands on approach	Palma, Ron
2812	Walking on Point Cloud 9	Miyamoto, Matt
3428	Code Blue! Using Revit Conditional Values to Qualify Code and Design Program Criteria	McClure, Nancy
4152	Revit MEP - It's all about creativity	Hristov, Paul
4426	Green and Bare IT!	Martin, Teresa
4526	Revit MEP - not enough content; what is the problem again?	Hristov, Paul
4945	Creating a Good Impression	Palma, Ron
5132	The Art of Topography in a BIM World	McClure, Nancy
5278	Connecting The Dots: Creating Civil 3D Surfaces with LIDAR Data	Miyamoto, Matt
5871	Make Your Designs Sparkle with rendering using Revit Architecture & 3ds Max Design 2011	Harve, Shruti
6180	Finding your way around Shared Coordinates	Martin, Teresa
6768	Kicking the Tires: A Revit Test Drive	Palma, Ron
7620	Extend your horizons with Revit Extensions and other useful Add-ons	Palma, Ron
7817	Paper to Digital: Conceptual Design tools in Revit Architecture can help! Let’s see how!	Harve, Shruti
8213	Revit MEP - Plumbing Mystery Solved	Hristov, Paul
8514	There is no I in Team	Palma, Ron
9173	Revit MEP Templates - Solving MEP Implementation Hurdles	Hristov, Paul
9693	From Photo to Photorealistic: Use Autodesk Image Modeler to create 3D models of as built buildings	Harve, Shruti

Revit MEP 2011 Tip - Pressure Drop

Nope, not the catchy tune by Toots & the Maytals, but rather the useful calculation in Autodesk Revit MEP.

Did you know that the online Autodesk User's Guides provide a wealth of information? The Revit MEP 2011 User Assistance site covers everything from "What's New" to the details of how Revit MEP calculates the pressure drop in rectangular ducting.

Click here for all the details and an example which shows how Revit MEP calculates the pressure drop for a 100 foot segment of 36” x 24" rectangular duct carrying air flow of 12,000 CFM.

• Air Density = 0.0751 lbs/cu ft.
• Air Viscosity = 0.01805 cP (standard atmospheric air at 66 degrees F)
• Roughness = 0.0003' (medium smooth galvanized steel duct as defined by 2005 ASHRAE Handbook: Fundamentals, page 35.7)

Thanks to Paul Hristov, Ideate Tech (and MEP!) Expert, who forwarded this link from Martin Schmid, P.E., Member ASHRAE, Autodesk Industry Success Manager.

Get Current with Autodesk!

Whether you need to upgrade to the latest version of AutoCAD software, or want to move into Building Information Modeling (BIM), there has never been a better time to get the latest Autodesk 2011 software.

The Get Current promotion offers discounts up to 50% off SRP on select products when you upgrade from a previous release from May 17, 2010 through July 18, 2010. The offer includes discounts on upgrades (including traditional cross-grades), retroactive Subscription and standard Legacy Program purchases.



Contact sales@ideateinc.com today to Get Current!

Congrats to Ideate Clients: Top Civil Engineering Firms 2010

The skill and dedication of the Ideate Technical, Support and Sales teams have made Ideate, Inc. synonymous with Autodesk Revit in Northern California, Oregon and Washington.

But did you know that we are also experts in Autodesk engineering software solutions like AutoCAD Civil 3D and Navisworks, and work with some of the best civil engineering firms out there?

CE News recently published this year's Top Civil Engineering Firms 2010 list which included Ideate clients:

URS Corporation
AECOM
Parsons Corporation
Stantec, Inc.
HNTB
TranSystem
T.Y. Lin International
David Evans and Associates, Inc.

Dave Gockel, CEO of Langan Engineering, headquartered in Elmwood Park, N.J. notes in the article "...we’re starting to see activity and the beginning of what is likely a prolonged recovery. The challenge to engineering firms is not as much rebuilding as reshaping — you have to reshape your company to the new markets that are out there.”

Contact sales@ideateinc.com to find out how we can help reshape your company with Autodesk products and training.

Autodesk 2011 Product Keys

Product keys are used to differentiate software sold on its own from those sold as part of a suite. In order to successfully activate your Autodesk software, you'll need to select the correct product key.

To find the product key for primary AEC products, check this handy chart put together by the Ideate Support team.

The product key is also provided by Autodesk along with your serial number in the following places:

• If you received physical media, the product key is on the reverse of the package along with the serial number.
  
• Emails from Electronic Fulfillment notifying you of your new serial number also include the product key.
  
• Contract administrators can log on to Subscription Center to check for their serial number and product key.
  
• The Autodesk Business Center (ABC) can provide this information. Their toll-free number is 800-538-6401.

Be sure to check the Ideate Support page for other useful tools and tips.

New Training Course - Revit for Contractors

General Contractors - You can gain a competitive advantage!

Autodesk software products, including Revit, are key Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools.

[ i ] Revit for Contractors

• Ideate has developed a new course with Contractors as the main focus, specifically for Contractors and Sub-contractors who are bidding on work that requires BIM.
  
• Construction companies who are looking for a competitive advantage in acquiring new work will also find this new 2-day course particularly helpful.
  
• Ideate will focus on why it is important to model, what information can be utilized and how it effects the construction process.

[ i ] Ideate exclusive

For a complete course outline click here, and for registration information contact education@ideateinc.com.

This $695 course is available through July 31, 2010 at an introductory rate of $595.

Autodesk Revit Tip - SAMReport-lite for Windows 7

Autodesk Revit Architecture Services & Support: SAMReport-lite for Windows 7

When trying to install SAMReport-lite on Windows 7, you receive the error “You cannot install this product on the current operating system”. Click here for complete details on solutions and download which includes a version of the Java Runtime Environment that will allow installation of SAMReport-lite on Windows 7.

AIA San Francisco Design Awards

The AIA San Francisco Design Awards program celebrates the best in architecture and urban design in the Bay Area of California. Recognizing achievement in a broad range of architectural work by members and nonmembers, the program informs the public of the breadth and value of architectural practice.

Ideate, Inc. is proud to congratulate our clients who were recognized for their outstanding work at the 2010 AIA San Francisco Design Awards Gala:

Excellence in Architecture Award
Honor: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson for Apple Store in Manhattan
Merit: Perkins + Will for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for Poly International Plaza
Citation: EHDD Architecture for the Science and Engineering Building at UC Merced and for Pritzker Family Children's Zoo, Swatt/Miers Architects for Tea Houses, WRNS Studio for Mission Bay Block 27

Energy + Sustainability
Honor: Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects for ClimateWorks Foundation, WRNS Studio for the Watsonville Area Water Operations Center
Merit: Anderson Anderson Architecture for Harvard Yard Child Care Center, Sasaki Associates' for the Graduate School of Management/Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. Hall at UC Davis

Historic Preservation and Innovation in Rehabilitation
Merit: Tom Eliot Fisch for Piers 1-1/2, 3 and 5; Page & Turnbull for the Walt Disney Family Museum

Integrated Project Delivery
Honor: SmithGroup for the UCSF Institute for Regeneration Medicine
Citation: KMD Architects in collaboration with Webcor Builders for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Building

Unbuilt Design Award
Merit: Perkins + Will for Calexico Port of Entry
Citation: KMD Architects for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Building

Urban Design
Merit: Perkins + Will for Mission Rock, Seawall Lot 337
Citation: Perkins + Will award for Panama Pacifico

Special Achievement
California College of the Arts and Santa Clara University students for the design of Refract House and their commitment to sustainable living.
(Did you know that Ideate provided Revit training for the Refract House team?)

Click here for the complete list of winners.

As a sustaining sponsor of the AIA San Francisco, Ideate continues our tradition of supporting our professional community.

Ideate Solutions - Updated Training Catalog

Our new Ideate Solutions training catalog is hot off the print and digital presses!

To call it a training catalog is almost a misnomer, since we've included a wealth of information in the 2010 Edition I. Read it to learn about:

• Ideate 2011 Portal
  
• Study in Success – TLCD describes BIM adoption
  
• Technical Support
  
• Training options
  
• eLearning / 201s
  
• Consulting

> Classroom Course highlight: Our NEW Revit Architecture for Contractors course – introductory price of $595 between May 1 – July 31. This class will familiarize Contractors with Revit Architecture as a tool for the construction process. This includes models provided by Architects as well as Contractors doing construction-based BIM.

> eLearning highlight: Ideate 201 online courses are free to Premium Support contract holders.

Where do you find your copy of Ideate Solutions?

• Click here or find it on the Ideate homepage.
  
• Pick one up the next time you are at an Ideate training lab.
  
• Or watch your mailbox for our limited print run sent via direct mail.

Your business is faced with the challenge of reducing time-to-market, increasing productivity and maintaining quality standards. Ideate’s professional training staff understands your real world needs, and the importance of mastering of software solutions.

Let Ideate help you realize your objectives today.

New Training Course - AutoCAD 2011 Beyond the Basics

Already taken AutoCAD Fundamentals? Comfortable with the basics of creating a 2D drawing?

Then you're ready for Ideate's AutoCAD Beyond the Basics! In this course, you will:

• become more proficient in the use of AutoCAD
  
• get introduced to more developed techniques
  
• learn topics beyond those covered in a Fundamentals course
  
• work with the Ribbon, using efficiency tools including grips and advanced object selection
  
• add parametric constraints to objects, advanced text objects
  
• set up layers, styles and templates
  
• use layout tabs, creating blocks and enhanced plotting/publishing

Click here to read the complete course description or click here to register.

Ideate has Autodesk Authorized Training Centers in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose. Our courses are structured around Autodesk certified courseware and taught by certified professionals, ensuring the highest quality training. Our trainers have real world experience and bring practical problem solving techniques and solutions to your class.

Questions? Drop a line to education@ideateinc.com.

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 Help Files Now On-Line

Helpful links from the Autodesk blog The Dirt.

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 Help Files Now On-Line
The AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 Help files are now available on the web HERE. New additions this year include the Installation Guide and videos for Tutorial exercises and workflows.

PDF versions of the 2011 Help are now available HERE.

For a quick start on AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011, be sure to check the Ideate 2011 Portal.

New Revit 2011 Fundamentals Class

Ready to learn about Revit 2011?

Ideate has Autodesk Authorized Training Centers in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose. Our courses are structured around Autodesk certified courseware and taught by certified professionals, ensuring the highest quality training. Our trainers have real world experience and bring practical problem solving techniques and solutions to your class.

Our Revit 2011 Fundamentals course covers the basics of Revit® Architecture, from schematic design through construction documentation. Students are introduced to the concepts of Building Information Modeling and the tools for parametric building design and documentation. You will use both imperial and metric hands-on exercises representing real-world design scenarios. Click here for a complete course outline.

Contact us today for information on a training session in your city!

Ideate Training Center Open Lab Hours - Portland, Seattle

Studying for your Autodesk Certification? Need to practice the Autodesk skills you are learning on the job or with Ideate?

We have scheduled “open lab” time to give you an opportunity to drop by and try out the Autodesk 2011 software solutions. You’ll have access to Ideate’s Authorized Training Center computers loaded with the same programs used in our technology courses.

(Advanced registration is not required for this session, but we will request that you bring photo ID for the open lab hours.)

Join us in Portland on May 7 or in Seattle on May 21.

More info available from sales@ideateinc.com.

Autodesk Navisworks 2011: Z+F Hot Fix

Autodesk Navisworks Services & Support

Certain Z+F files containing laser scan data will cause Autodesk Navisworks to crash. The hot fix installer distributes an up-to-date version of the Z+F DLL (www.zf-laser.com) used by Navisworks to read Z+F files.

Applies to:
Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage 2011
Autodesk® Navisworks® Simulate 2011

Details and download here.

Ideate Clients in Top Ten Green Projects for 2010

Recently the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (AIA-COTE) announced its Top Ten Green Projects for 2010 and we were pleased to see three Ideate clients on the list!

Homer Science & Student Life Center: Part of the Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton, California, the Center is designed to foster scientific inquiry and exhibit the correlation between the building’s functions and its site. The project makes use previously developed land and local and salvaged materials, and was design by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects.

Twelve West: This mixed-use building in Portland, Oregon, was designed by ZGF Architects to emphasize energy reduction strategies. The design features wind-generated electricity, natural ventilation, and accommodates car-free living. (At Ideate Portland, we're particularly fond of this project - we can see the wind turbines from our office!)

Watsonville Water Resource Center: Watsonville, California’s new Water Resource Center was designed by WRNS Studio and boasts plenty of water conservation strategies. Among these are planted swales, landscaping with mulch and drought-tolerant vegetation, and collecting rainwater for irrigation.

Full profiles of these, and other projects, are available at www.aiatopten.org and at www.BuildingGreen.com.

Contact sales@ideateinc.com to learn how Autodesk Sustainable Solutions can bring your green designs to life!