NavisWorks - OE's for Bentley

Many of us have heard that NavisWorks can open Bentley files. This is super cool! However, if you have used NavisWorks before, you probably know that you need OE's (Object Enablers) to open files from software you do not have installed on your computer. You will notice that you need the OE, when you bring in a file and it appears all wireframe. You can go to View>Scene Statistics to see if you are missing any OE's.

Where are the Bentley OE's?? Well they are not super easy to find. My colleague, Ron Palma, discovered where they are after some major googling around. After witnessing his frustration, I thought I should post these steps to try and alleviate others from the same.

First, go to this link. Here, you will have to fill out a user registration form. (ughhh!). Once you have a U/N and P/W, go back to that first link and login. Then you will see this:

Leave everthing as shown, and hit SEARCH, it will take a while. When that is complete, look for a link called "Free Updates/Utilities." Hit that and you will see a list of all the free downloads. Many of the first few on the list are OE's for various Bentley products. You will notice that not all Bentley products have OE's yet. Hmmm. Hopefully soon.

Civil 3D Update 2.1 and Surface Analysis

I have noticed a few computers that have the new Update 2.1 installed that are having a problem displaying the surface analyses. The only way we could get the surface analysis to show up in the drawing was to go in to the surface style, analysis tab, change the Display Type to anything but 2D Solid
That is not a desireable workaround. I recently learned that the real fix is to install Service Pack 1 to Raster Design. Wow!

Navisworks File formats

Do we already know this (I haven’t always been sure)?
So here’s a link for the most up-to-date:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=10578958

- Mark D. Roach, Ideate Inc

File Formats
Autodesk® Navisworks® has its own native file formats (.nwd, .nwf, .nwc) but can also read a combination of many popular 3D CAD formats.

Autodesk Licensing Tip

Did you know…
When you create a network version of the software, you are saving a Service, just like the Standalone’s create?
Whatever you name them, will be the service created on the “server”.
(Below is a snapshot of LMTools)
Step 1. Give it a name
Step 2. Save the Service

If you go to Start > Run > and type SERVICES.MSC (and hit enter) you will get this dialog box:
Here’s where you’d find that Service.

This dialog shows “Flexlm Service 1” only as an example, although we should always give it a name to describe the licenses in the service. Customers should use “3ds Max and Revit 2009 Licenses” or something like that.

Check out your services, by going through the step above for “running” services.msc and see what is added for your standalone licenses and/or network versions. You should see all kinds.
I show these:
Helpful Tip:
If you are using a Laptop machine, and you’ve unplugged the battery, it will disable that service and you will get an error. Just go to “services.msc” and right click on the service to start it up again. Oh…you can also just plug the battery back in…

- Mark D. Roach
Ideate Inc