New Web Service Offers Unprecedented Content Exchange

If you haven’t heard already there’s a new place to get all the content you ever need for your day to day design needs. It’s called Autodesk Seek. Autodesk Seek is a web service that allows designer’s, architects, engineers and even students to search and find manufacturer’s specific design content as well as generic building drawings, blocks and even specifications.


This is kind of like other content repositories in that you can find various items like drawings, blocks, etc. but there are some key differences. First off, the data is coming from all the Autodesk products you’re used to but it’s also coming directly from the manufacturers! That’s right, Autodesk is in the process of uploading all the content from their software’s content libraries. Another key difference is that the files are in virtually any format used in the Architectural & Engineering community. This means you could find DWG files, DGN files, PDFS and even Microsoft Word documents. Finally the most amazing difference is this; it’s hosted by Autodesk. When’s the last time you ever heard about Autodesk offering DGN files for download? I dare say never!


Use of the files provided on Autodesk Seek does require that you accept the Terms of Use the first time you download a file. When you go to download the file you are offered a plethora of formats. You can I-Drop directly to your application or you can download the files for future use. The thing I love the most about this site is that you don’t have to offer up your e-mail address just to use a file. This looks to be a content site that will be used extensively by the A&E community. I know if something like this were available when I was working for A&E firms I’d have been all over this site.


So I know what you’re thinking, “what is this going to cost me?” That’s the best part, it’s totally free! You may also be wondering what applications I can use this site with? Autodesk Seek can be used with virtually any application that works with the files such as Revit, AutoCAD, 3DS Max Design and yes even Microstation.

Useful links to Autodesk product update pages

Did you know...

That there is probably a quicker way to access your Autodesk product updates and service packs? Rather than navigating through 3-5 links to get you to the same place, you might use (and bookmark) the following links to your favorite Autodesk products:

For AutoCAD:
www.autodesk.com/autocad-updates

For Inventor:
http://www.autodesk.com/inventorpro-updates

For Civil3D:
www.autodesk.com/civil3d-updates

For AutoCAD LT:
www.autodesk.com/autocadlt-updates

For AutoCAD Electrical:
www.autodesk.com/autocadelectrical-updates

For AutoCAD Architecture/ADT:
www.autodesk.com/archdesktop-updates

For Revit Structure:
www.autodesk.com/revitstructure-updates

For 3D Studio max:
www.autodesk.com/3dsmax-updates

For AutoCAD Map:
www.autodesk.com/map3d-updates

For Raster Design:
www.autodesk.com/rasterdesign-updates

For AutoCAD MEP/ABS:
www.autodesk.com/buildingsystems-updates

For AutoCAD Land Desktop:
www.autodesk.com/landdesktop-updates

Remember, these links are subject to change without notice, but their use can save at least a couple of extra mouse clicks a day!

New Vault 2009 Hotfix

Autodesk® Vault 2009 Hotfix is now available!

This hotfix corrects a vault check out problem for AutoCAD Mechanical DWGs that have experienced a certain order of operations. The operations involved include AMBOM, AMPARTLIST, Save, VBAIDE and vault check in, check out and update properties. Upon check out the operation was failing with the message 'INTERNAL ERROR: !dbobji.cpp@6762:eNotOpenForWrite'.

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL12064572

Published date: 2008-Nov-04
ID: DL12064572

Applies to:
AutoCAD® Mechanical 2009
Autodesk Mechanical Desktop 2009 (AIS)
Autodesk® Productstream™ 2009
Autodesk® Vault 2009

Please be sure to consult the readme file located at the link below for information on what this update addresses and for important information about files that you might need to back up before applying this update.
http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/ts1087969_readme.txt

For a list of all other updates for other versions of Vault products use the following link and select the product and version-

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/index?siteID=123112&id=2334435&linkID=9261341#section1

New Update for AutoCAD Electrical 2009

AutoCAD Electrical 2009 Update 2 is now available!

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL11992831

Please be sure to consult the readme file located at the link below for information on what this update addresses and for important information about files that you might need to back up before applying this update.

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/ace2009_sp2_readme_eng.htm

For a list of all other updates for other versions of AutoCAD Electrical products use the following link and select the product and version

http://www.autodesk.com/autocadelectrical-updates

Missing your old Create New Drawing dialog box?

Many of us used the Start a New Drawing dialog all the time and in recent versions this has been disabled forcing us to use the New Template dialog.

There is a setting to turn it back on!

The STARTUP variable controls the Create New Drawing dialog box and is saved in the Registry. Setting the variable to 1 enables the old style and 0 gives the Select a Template dialog.



If the FILEDIA system variable is set to 0, no dialog boxes are displayed, except for the Customize User Interface dialog box.