It's Time. Get up to speed with Autodesk 2011 software.

Faster, smarter, familiar. And with up to 45% off, more cost-effective. Now’s the time to integrate Autodesk 2011 software into your workflow.

Learn more...

Greater power and efficiency? Check. Easy to learn and integrate? You’re covered. More affordable? Done. Autodesk® 2011 software is the response to just about any reason you may have for not moving from your current Autodesk software.

If you’re still working on 2007 or earlier versions of Autodesk software, now’s the time to get up to speed. Not only will you avoid the compatibility issues that slow your projects down, but you could also save up to 45% if you switch by January 14, 2011. So don’t wait – make your move to Autodesk 2011 software today.

It’s time to put yourself at the cutting edge of design and drafting capabilities with:
· Scalable, attainable and cost-effective Digital Prototyping
· Building information modeling (BIM), which allows for better project coordination and more informed decision making across teams, earlier in the process
· Full compatibility with Microsoft® Windows® 7, as well as Vista® and XP®
· Up to 44% faster performance on many common tasks with AutoCAD® 2011 on a Windows® 7 workstation*
· And much more

Autodesk 2011 software helps you stand out from the competition – but don’t take our word for it.

“AutoCAD 2011 software helps to accelerate the design process. It seems that each new version includes enhancements that save time on our projects."
- Kevin Stober, CAD Manager, Gonzalez-Strength & Associates

It's Time. Contact Ideate today...

sales@ideateinc.com
www.ideateinc.com
888.662.7238

Get It. Know It. Use It.

Available Now - Updates for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011, Autodesk Revit Structure 2011

Ideate always recommends that you stay current with the latest updates and service packs available for your Autodesk products.

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011

Update 1 was just released for Revit Architecture 2011. Click here to download.

This update includes many enhancements, for a complete list click here.

Autodesk Revit Structure 2011

Update 1 for Autodesk Revit Structure 2011 is available via Live Update in the product or here on Autodesk.com.

A list of the enhancements can be found on the download page or you can click here.

Tip: Civil 3D 2011 Survey and API Hotfix

Hotfix from AutoCAD Civil 3D & AutoCAD Civil Services & Support contains solutions:

• Creating a feature line from a closed polyline with assigned elevations no longer causes the program to exit.
  
• Help now appears as expected when running Civil 3D as AutoCAD 2011
• Datasets containing large numbers of control and non-control points now open and import more quickly
  
• Figure prefix databases will now match lower case figure names
  
• You can now create parcels from multiple objects selected in a DGN underlay
  
• Point group import functionality in application product interface has improved

Details and exe available here.

Summer Splash at Ideate - Ask Us About Autodesk 2011

While we take your business very seriously...

some days we just like to have fun.

Ideate Sales Director Craig Dodge, a 20-year veteran of the AEC industry, with a couple of selections from his summer reading list, including the recently released Building (in) the Future: Recasting Labor in Architecture by Phillip Bernstein and Peggy Deamer.

The Ideate team is participating in today's national Autodesk Summer Splash event, talking to our customers about the strong 2011 portfolio of Autodesk products.

Would you like to learn more? Reach us at 888.662.7238, sales@ideateinc.com or visit www.ideateinc.com/2011.

AutoCAD Civil 2011 Tip - Download Object Enabler

A new AutoCAD Civil 2011 Object Enabler has been posted by Autodesk Services & Support:

The Civil Object Enabler is a freeware application that you can use to access AutoCAD Civil 3D drawing files. This release allows object data created in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 to be accessed outside the AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 environment.

Complete description and download here.

Free Webinar, June 15: Automation Innovations in Stormwater Modeling

Water, storm water, and wastewater utilities and their engineering design and construction partners are under increasing pressure to do more with less, while maintaining the highest level of service and reliability. With aging assets and capital constraints, experts agree that the future of water resources engineering will present challenges unseen by today’s professionals.

CE News and Autodesk have put together an informative 3-part series which address some water industry challenges and solutions, as well as transparency and accountability.

Don't miss the upcoming June 15 webcast: Automation Innovations in Stormwater Modeling

Automation innovations in Autodesk’s recently released water resource engineering software allows civil engineers to more efficiently and economically complete stormwater analysis and design projects. This presentation showcases a stormwater project in which a major engineering firm was able to complete a 30 square mile metropolitan stormwater management plan in half of the time that it would normally have taken. This project incorporated wetlands, ponds, streams, and stormwater pipe and ditch networks, and the stormwater management plan had to accommodate 10 and 100-year storms and comply with city, county, state and federal EPA standards. This project was completed within 5 weeks, using a variety of CAD and GIS source data to construct the model. The final model was turned over to the city stormwater utility department to use on future projects, particularly in evaluating the impact of new developments on existing structures.

Register here for the June 15 webcast, scheduled at 1:00pm EDT, 12:00pm CDT, 10am PDT.

In case you missed Part 1 or Part 2...

Click here for recording of April 14 webcast: Water Utilities Market Update & Forecast. An overview on the state of the water, storm water, and wastewater utility industry and an outlook for its future.

Click here for recording of the May 13 webcast: Integrated Strategies for Improving Water Utility Planning and Management

Autodesk Tip - FLEXnet® feature codes for Autodesk 2011 Products

From Autodesk Services & Support:

Issue
You want information about FLEXnet® feature codes for Autodesk 2011 products.

Solution
When you start the network version of an Autodesk product, a request is made to the network for a license. The Network License Manager controls the licenses that are issued and handles license requests through feature codes. Feature codes are specific to the networked application. Any network version of an Autodesk product has a specific FLEXnet® feature code.

Feature codes are necessary because the Network License Manager is designed to administer licenses for multiple Autodesk applications. An example of feature code usage in a log file entry is shown below.

Sample log file entry:

11:00:04 (adskflex) OUT: "40100ARCHDESK_3_3F" user@hostname

Click here for the complete list of feature codes for Autodesk 2011 applications from Autodesk Services & Support.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Obscure but Useful Readme Tip – Part I

Part I in a sporadic series of Readme-related tips from the Ideate Tech Experts.

While we always recommend reading the readme, sometimes even we forget and it comes back to bite us. Today’s tidbit from the readme has surfaced a handful of times in our tech support cases so we thought it was worthy of your time:

Issue: Revit currently reserves file name strings ending in digits following a dot as backup file designations.

Solution: File Name strings ending in digits should use separations other than a dot. For example: instead of naming a file MJB_00.6078.000.rvt, use MJB_00-6078-000.rvt.

This applies to all flavors of Revit up to and including version 2011.

Let us know if you found this tip helpful.

- Submitted by Paul Hristov, AEC Application Specialist
Paul holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from University of St. Ivan Rilski, Bulgaria. In the past several years he has been developing Revit implementation strategies, techniques, and procedures for architectural and MEP companies. Paul has been actively establishing and updating company standards and best practices, assisting project teams with pilot projects, implementations, on-site project consulting and custom content creation. He provides training in AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP, Revit Architecture, Revit MEP and Navisworks. Paul is also an Autodesk Revit Implementation Certified Expert.

April 29, Seattle - Autodesk 2011 Workshop

Learn how the Autodesk 2011 software solutions will benefit your business.

Ideate will present two free workshops in Seattle on April 29 covering all the best new features in the Autodesk 2011 product. Choose from two event tracks - both include access to exclusive sessions and software demonstrations.

Register for Autodesk 2011 Solutions for Construction and Civil Engineering

• Heidi Hewett presents AutoCAD 2011 - As Technical Marketing Manager for AutoCAD, Heidi helps develop and deliver technical marketing material for AutoCAD and will give great insight on AutoCAD 2011.
• AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011
• Navisworks 2011

Or choose Autodesk 2011 Solutions for BIM

• Jay Ayala presents BIM for Building - Jay, Autodesk AEC Solutions Engineer, has more than 12 years experience in the AEC industry. He will talk about the benefits utilizing BIM for renovation and retrofit.
• Revit Architecture 2011
• Revit MEP 2011
• Revit Structure 2011
• Ecotect 2011

Not in Seattle? Don't worry, we're also hosting events in Portland, San Jose, Sacramento and San Jose too. See the complete Ideate event calendar.

Autodesk Navisworks Subscription Benefit: Access to Additional Tools

Are you an Autodesk Navisworks Subscription customer?

Autodesk has made a decision to consolidate the Autodesk® Navisworks® 2011 product portfolio, delivering powerful simulation and analysis tools to more Navisworks customers. Autodesk Navisworks Review software is retired as of 2nd April 2010. The Navisworks 2011 product line now comprises:

• Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2011 software
  
• Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2011 software
  
• Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2011 software

As a Navisworks Review 2010 Autodesk Subscription customer, you are entitled to the Navisworks Simulate 2011 upgrade, when it releases and provided your Navisworks Review 2010 Subscription contract is up to date. Navisworks Simulate 2011 provides you with access to previous Navisworks Review functionality, plus additional tools that help you to simulate, analyze and review your projects, including:

4D Simulation - Help to reduce delays and sequencing problems by visualizing project activities and analyzing the viability of your construction schedules.

Object Animation - Animate objects within your project model to help simulate real-world behaviors. Link animations to construction tasks so that you can simulate how various components are planned to be built.

Visualization - Advanced visualization features enable you to develop compelling movies and imagery to present projects to stakeholders.

After installing Navisworks Simulate 2011 you can start working with powerful new features, including an updated interface with task-based organization, enhanced sectioning tools, and a batch processing utility, along with new and updated file readers and exporters. Your subscription provides powerful tools to help you work smarter, not harder.

Download and install the Navisworks® 2011 upgrade today.

For more information about Autodesk's transition plan for Autodesk Navisworks customers, contact Ideate Sales.

Join Ideate, Learn About Autodesk 2011

Learn all about the Autodesk 2011 software solutions - in two ways!

From your desktop...
Register now for the April 19th Autodesk Seize the Opportunity Virtual Event, your chance to see how Autodesk 2011 software solutions transform your business challenges into opportunities.

Live events...
After previewing the Autodesk 2011 Solutions in the Virtual Event, join us for live Seize the Opportunity events in five cities. The Ideate Tech Experts will share all the best new features in the Autodesk 2011 product.

Event tracks Autodesk 2011 Solutions for BIM - or- Autodesk 2011 Solutions for Construction and Civil Engineering will include access to exclusive sessions and software demonstrations.

We're pleased that the Ideate Tech Experts will be joined at our live events by special guest speakers from Autodesk.

Heidi Hewett, Autodesk Technical Marketing Manager for AutoCAD (Seattle) - Heidi helps develop and deliver technical marketing material for AutoCAD and will give great insight on AutoCAD 2011.

Jay Ayala, Autodesk AEC Solutions Engineer (Seattle, Portland) - Jay has more than 12 years experience in the AEC industry and will talk about utilizing BIM for renovation and retrofit.

Scott Davis, Autodesk AEC Technical Specialist (Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose) - Scott specializes in Revit Architecture and will cover BIM for buildings.

Check www.ideateinc.com/events for the specific event dates in a city near you.

Seats for the live events are limited - register now!

Ideate 2011 Migration Tips - OS, Virtual PC, XP Mode

Are you on Subscription, ready to download 2011, or considering a move to the new release? Ideate's Technical Support team has put together the key things you need to know - answers to frequently asked questions about migrating to Autodesk 2011 products, including hardware recommendations and network considerations.

Operating System (OS) Recommendations per Product and Software Version

Selecting the right OS is an important decision. Autodesk subscription holders have the right to install and run older versions of the software in addition to the most recent version.

Bear in mind that newer operating systems, such as Windows 7, while more efficient in many ways, may not support the installation of older versions of Autodesk software, printers, or other programs. If you are considering Win 7 64-bit you need to learn about Virtual PC - see below.

Ideate believes that Win 7 64-bit will earn our "Preferred" status for all of the Autodesk 2011 products but we have not yet completed our testing.

What You Need to Know About Virtual PC and XP Mode

Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it easy to install and run many Windows XP productivity applications directly from your Windows 7-based PC. It utilizes virtualization technology, such as Windows Virtual PC, to provide a virtual Windows XP environment for Windows 7.

Please note that not all hardware is going to support XP Mode in windows 7. Only CPUs w/ Hardware Virtualization Technology will be able to run the XP Mode. Microsoft provides a tool that lets you scan your system to see if it will support Virtualization/ WinXP Mode.

Ideate customers with Autodesk Subscription or Ideate Premium Support should not hesitate to contact Ideate Support with questions regarding support for older version. Ideate also provides migration consulting - contact your Ideate Account Manager for more information.

Visit the Ideate 2011 Portal for everything you need to know about Autodesk's newest software products.

Ideate 2011 Migration Tips - Autodesk on the MAC OSX

Are you on Subscription, ready to download 2011, or considering a move to the new release? Ideate's Technical Support team has put together the key things you need to know - answers to frequently asked questions about migrating to Autodesk 2011 products, including hardware recommendations and network considerations.

Using AEC Autodesk Products on the MAC OSX
AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Ecotect, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk Navisworks can all be run on a Macintosh operating system with the following guidelines/restrictions.

1. The processor must be Intel-based (approximately all post-2006 Macs).

2. A valid Windows operating system license is required (Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7) – either 32 bit or 64 bit.

3. There are two (2) ways to use Autodesk PC-based products on a Mac. Autodesk products only runs on Microsoft Windows operating system:

a. Apple “Boot Camp”. This is provided free with Apple operating system (i.e. Snow Leopard). It is a dual-boot software. The user is either in a Windows environment or an Apple environment. The choice is made at computer boot up.

b. VM Fusion or Parallels. This is a virtual machine. Virtual machine means that the Windows operating system resides inside the Mac operating system. This allows the user to switch between operating systems without rebooting. More RAM is required to run this methodology – minimum 4 GB.

Visit the Ideate 2011 Portal for everything you need to know about Autodesk's newest software products.