The H-Factor

Plotting a 3D Riser Detail Properly

From a customer (Aaron at Dalmatian), via Bill, my coworker:

"I spoke to you about an hour ago regarding the ugly mesh around all of the 3d objects when setting the viewport shade plot to 'hidden' with the model otherwise set to '2dwireframe'.  I’ve figured this one out and thought I’d share it with you: the check box 'draw true silhouettes for solids and surfaces' must be checked in the global options dialog (tools menu drop down, options, display tab, display performance, aforementioned checkbox is at bottom). just spreading the love around… have a happy holiday!"

What he was talking about, graphically:

Bad Riser        Good Riser

Options Settings

Contacting Autodesk

Many times customers have trouble registering their AutoCADs and need additional help. Unfortunately we don't have too many resources to draw on, since AutoCAD holds the keys to the registration vault, so to speak. So the next step is to call Autodesk, and therein lies the problems. Years ago Autodesk proudly and prominently displayed phone numbers; nowadays they are nearly impossible to find, because they want you to email or look in a support database.

We have had luck finding phone numbers through Google, and these numbers seemed to solve customers problems. Here is a list I found by Googling, from the Vancouver (BC) AutoCAD Users Group:

Autodesk Authorization Codes 800-551-1490 Direct phone line for various software authorization codes including AutoCAD Designer, AutoCAD UNIX and more.

Autodesk Customer Service and RMA 800-538-6401 Lose a manual? Do you need an AutoCAD software update? You can register your software. You can also check your (Returned Merchandise) RMA order status. This number is an alternative to using a dealer.

Autodesk Hotline 800-964-6432 Memorise this phone line, it’s incredible. Ask for anything and most likely they’ll provide it, or refer you to a good source. AutoCAD Literature, resource guides, reseller info, schools, ROI calculator, or CAD evaluation articles, etc.

AutoCAD Over-The-Phone Registration 800-538-6401(will be discontinued later) Register your AutoCAD over the phone, or at least confirm that it’s registered.

Fixing Really Long Copy and Pastes

Does it take 20 minutes for you to copy and paste drawing entities? The reason is that probably have a bazillion SCALE LISTS as part of your drawing, thanks to all those that are parts of each XREF you have attached.

Type in SCALELISTEDIT and pick Reset to clear them out. Note: If you reattach the Xrefs, the Scale Lists are going to come back also.

Bayspace and Drawing One Line or No Lines

Many people use Bayspace to insert sprinkler heads and connect them with branch lines. Most don't know that you can also have Bayspace draw one pipe from the first head to the last head or draw no pipes at all.

This option is on the second dialog box as seen below.

 

The One Pipe option is handy for when you are not sure exactly where to run you branch lines. If you choose this option, and leave the pipe where it is, be aware that you can use AutoLine to automatically break the pipe into individual pipes terminating at each head location. In AutoLine choose not to insert riser nipples and leave the Longest Armover length at anything greater than 0 (zero). No need to tempt fate.

The No Pipe option is useful if you want head locations, but want to lay out your own piping scheme for your branch lines eventually.

What Machines to Buy Now?

The question now arises, what machine to buy for all this 3D stuff. This from one of our customers

“We just ordered 12 machines: They’ll all be 64 bit with Windows 7 Ultimate loaded… 9 gigs of ram, 10,000 rpm Raptor hard drives, and NVidia 260 video cards with 1.8 gigs of ram on them”

This sounds great to me. Now that the Vista horror show is over, and we work on 64-bit operating systems, it's a good time to take advantage of what is out there.

Now, if he would just send me one to test for a couple of years, I'd be happy...

Saving Your Menu Customizations

This topic comes up after every update. I am going to re-post an earlier post on the Workspaces topic, which covers this as well.

You do not need to create a Workspace in order to save CUI menu changes, but it is a good idea:

In HydraCAD Version 50/51 we have fully implemented Workspaces. These are stored in the CUI (menu) file. A few tips:

To add your own Workspace –

Arrange the screen the way you want it (command line, scroll bars, ribbons, whatever) and pick Save Current As: from the Workspace toolbar

To make your Workspace load upon opening a drawing –

Pick Customize from the Workspace toolbar and then right click on your preferred Workspace and pick Set Default.

To save your Workspace so that it will still be around after you update HydraCAD –

Pick Customize and pick the Transfer Tab. Then, drag your Workspace from the Main CUI File window over to the New CUI folder. Drag over whatever else you want to save (Toolbars, Menus, Ribbon Stuff, Cursor Menu, etc). Then pick the Save command from the New CUI window to save your changes.

To import your Workspace(especially after a HydraCAD update) –

Pick Customize and pick the Transfer Tab. Open your CUI from the New CUI window. Then, drag your Workspace from the New CUI File window over to the New CUI folder. Drag over whatever else you want to bring in (Toolbars, Menus, Ribbon Stuff, Cursor Menu, etc).

In HydraCAD Version 50/51 we have fully implemented Workspaces. These are stored in the CUI (menu) file. A few tips:

To add your own Workspace –

Arrange the screen the way you want it (command line, scroll bars, ribbons, whatever) and pick Save Current As: from the Workspace toolbar

To make your Workspace load upon opening a drawing –

Pick Customize from the Workspace toolbar and then right click on your preferred Workspace and pick Set Default.

To save your Workspace so that it will still be around after you update HydraCAD –

Pick Customize and pick the Transfer Tab. Then, drag your Workspace from the Main CUI File window over to the New CUI folder. Drag over whatever else you want to save (Toolbars, Menus, Ribbon Stuff, Cursor Menu, etc). Then pick the Save command from the New CUI window to save your changes.

To import your Workspace(especially after a HydraCAD update) –

Pick Customize and pick the Transfer Tab. Open your CUI from the New CUI window. Then, drag your Workspace from the New CUI File window over to the New CUI folder. Drag over whatever else you want to bring in (Toolbars, Menus, Ribbon Stuff, Cursor Menu, etc).

Upgrading to Windows 7

Just a quick note to say the following:

If you have Windows XP, then you cannot 'upgrade' to Windows 7. You will have to do a full install of Windows 7 and then reinstall all your software.

If you have Windows Vista, then you will be able to upgrade directly to Windows 7, no re-installation necessary.

That is all

Changing Double-Click Behavior to Change Attribute Edit

Sorry for the long absence. I was just helping wrap up to large projects (hint, hint) that are finally done! News about those next week.

Some of you miss the old (pre-2007) double-click behavior whereas you got a full dialogue of attributes when you double-clicked on a block. AutoCAD changed this some time ago, but with V50/50 and the CUI file, it is very easy to bring back.

1. Type in CUI

2. Pick Partial CUI Files, ACAD, Double Click Actions and then pick Attribute Block, Edit Attribute

3. Erase the first 'e' from _eattedit to make it _attedit under the Macro entry and pick OK

That will do it. Notice you can alter double click behavior for any type of AutoCAD entity. We do this ourselves for one of our HydraCAD entities, the HydraPipe in our own section of the menu.

LAYDEL - A Nasty AutoCAD that should never be used

Don't use Format->Layer Tools->Layer Delete on any of Hydratec's stuff. I fact, I don't recommend using it in architect stuff, either. Here's why - besides deleting everything on the selected layer and the layer name itself, it also redefines all blocks that have a foot in that layer and remove those parts that do.

An example is one of our pipe sizes. If you were to select on when using this command, you would be notified thusly:

******** WARNING ********

There are 4 block definition(s) which reference the layer(s) you are deleting.
The block(s) will be redefined and the entities referencing the layer(s)
will be removed from the block definition(s).

You are about to delete layer "SPRKDATA" from this drawing.

Do you wish to continue? [Yes/No] <No>:

So, this not only gets rid of everything on SPRKDATA, it also redefines the PIPEX block and removes all the attributes that refer to SPRKDATA, in short - the Length and Diameter. The only fix (if it is too late to UNDO) is to start a new drawing and insert this drawing into it

Autodesk Releases Update 1 for AutoCAD 2010

8/19/09 - Autodesk released Update 1 for AutoCAD 2010. This can be downloaded from Autodesk Update 1 for AutoCAD 2010 - It fixes about 200 things, according to the list of changes found on that webpage.

There do not seem to be any compatibility issues with HydraCAD at this time. Is has fixed some odd errors that some customers have reported seeing.

Thanks Ed from Aero!

Calculating With a Pump but No City Supply in HydraCALC

I have gotten two calls on this in the last two days, so that makes it a good blog topic.

What if you have a pump and a tank, but no city supply? This one is simple:

1. End your piping with the reference point PUMP (any name will do, but be consistent)

2. Set up a pump in the Water Source dialog as follows - Connection = PUMP, Inlet = PUMP and Outlet = PUMP

That's all

Letting HydraCAD Figure the Slope of Sloping Pipe

Many of you know how to specify a sloping pipe. You simply use the Define Sloping Pipe command on the Pipe Elevation flyout of the Piping toolbar. You enter the Rise and Run and then pick the appropriate ends of the pipe depending on how you answered the Low End/High End question.

But what is you don't know the slope? Or you don't feel like figuring it out? Easy: If you input a rise of 0 and a run of 0 the program will calculate the slope and pipe length when you switch to the System Model. To do this, pipe elevation defLines are required on both ends of the sloping pipe. This is similar to the requirement for computer generated Riser Nipple lengths. Just make sure to pipe the pick the appropriate ends of the pipe depending on how you answered the Low End/High End question.

Hydratec Website No Longer Down

The website is back up - at least www.hydracad.com is. It was never 'down', it was just accessible, if that makes sense. Just blame a sequence of providers and hosters for the difficulties if you want.

We are still trying to get the other domain, www.hydratecinc.com going. hopefully tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

Autodesk Announces New Update Pricing Scheme for 2010

According to Autodesk, starting next March you are going to be charged significantly more to upgrade your one, two or three year-old versions to the newest version. In the past, Autodesk charged a step by step price depending on how old the AutoCAD was. Not anymore. Now, upgrading the three most recent versions will cost 50% of the list price of a new version. Even a one-step upgrade like 2010 to 2011 (anticipated).

Here is their statement:

"Autodesk is introducing a new, streamlined upgrade pricing model on March 16, 2010. Under our current upgrade pricing model, the price of your upgrade depends on which product release you own. After March 15, 2010, your upgrade from any of the three previous software releases will cost 50 percent of the price of a new license, no matter which release you own."

On retired versions, such as AutoCAD 2007 and older, you will now have to pay full price to buy a new version. We do not know yet if this means the Legacy Program is gone forever.

The solution? Get on the Autodesk Subscription Program.

Is this to drive revenue for the rest of the year, only to have them back down at the last moment and go back to the old pricing levels? Time will tell.

More Here: Simplified Upgrade Pricing Begins March 16, 2010

Getting Your AutoCAD 2010 Manuals

Ever notice how the box your new AutoCAD came in keeps getting smaller and smaller? We have.

Once upon a time that box used to be 9 x 12 and 5 inches thick. It contained a hard cover User Manual, and soft cover Customization Guide and LISP Programming Reference Manual. Nowadays there is a small Getting Started booklet and that's it. I am sure their bean counters decided that most people don't read a manual, so why include them? <Editorial> I think they are being cheap. </Editorial>

But there's more, unseen to your eyes. There are now three books (one of them is in three volumes) and you are entitled to one of them free for each seat of AutoCAD you own.

Go to the website: Autodesk Documentation Request and after you fill in your part number and serial number you will be able to select one of three books:

User's Guide
Customization Guide
ActiveX & VBA Developer's Guide

Which will be sent free of charge. No shipping charges either. If you have more than one seat or a network version then you can order a different book for each seat. Collect them all.

Ever notice how the box your new AutoCAD came in keeps getting smaller and smaller? We have.

Once upon a time that box used to be 9 x 12 and 5 inches thick. It contained a hard cover User Manual, and soft cover Customization Guide and LISP Programming Reference Manual. Nowadays there is a small Getting Started booklet and that's it. I am sure their bean counters decided that most people don't read a manual, so why include them? <Editorial> I think they are being cheap. </Editorial>

But there's more, unseen to your eyes. There are now three books (one of them is in three volumes) and you are entitled to one of them free for each seat of AutoCAD you own.

Go to the website: Autodesk Documentation Request and after you fill in your part number and serial number you will be able to select one of three books:

User's Guide
Customization Guide
ActiveX & VBA Developer's Guide

Which will be sent free of charge. No shipping charges either. If you have more than one seat or a network version then you can order a different book for each seat. Collect them all.

Changing Attribute Color, Height, Style and Rotation

Unbeknownst to many, HydraCAD has a command (shortcut CAP) that will change many properties of attributes within a block. I have used it mostly for changing the text style used or the color (usually set be the background author) of attributes, but it does more than that.

This command is also available on the HydraTools->Modify->Attributes menu and the HydraTools toolbar

Controlling Xref Fading in AutoCAD 2010

In 2010, xref'd layers are shown faded by default. According to JTB World there is a new AutoCAD variable that controls that: XDWGFADECTL

Go to tools > options > display tab > and at the bottom right corner find FADE CONTROL. Under it is xref display.

Or, type it in, and set it as you desire (from AutoCAD sysvar reference):

XDWGFADECTL

Type:	Integer
Saved in:	Registry
Initial value:	70

Controls the dimming for all DWG xref objects.

The valid XDWGFADECTL system variable value is between -90 and 90. When XDWGFADECTL is set to a negative value, the Xref Fading feature is not turned on, but the setting is stored.

0	DWG xref objects are not faded.
>0	When the value is positive, controls the percent of fading up to 90 percent.
<0	When the value is negative, xref objects are not faded, but the value is saved for switching to that value by changing the sign.

This and a list of other new 2010 variables can be found at JTB World New 2010 Variables

Changing the Size of Riser Nipples in V50/V51

From a Customer:

I was wondering if there is a way of changing the size of the “new” riser nipples (HYDRAPIPES)? I feel it is to small and when you pretty pipe and plot your drawing you can’t see the nipple, just the font.

Answer:

Yes, there is.

1.Type in SDO or pick the SMaRTools Options button from the HydraCAD SMaRT toolbar.

2. Pick the HydraPipe Settings tab.

3. Pick the Restore HydraCAD Defaults button. This usually does it. If you want a different size than that, then specify that in the Global Riser Diameter Settings fields to the left.

Turning Your Library of Blocks into a Tool Palette

I posted about this before, but not concerning a wholesale replacement of your blocks with tool palettes.

If you have a large library of your own details and blocks, you can convert entire folders at a time to tool palettes by using the Design Center:

1. Press CTRL+3 to open the tool palette (if not already open)
2. Now open up the Design Center using CTRL+2
3. Navigate to the folder where you have the blocks you want added to the palette
4. Right-click on the folder and pick Create Tool Palette

Repeat as necessary

This will create a palette named after the folder you selected and containing all the blocks in that folder.

See this post for more general details

Obtaining Updated HydraLIST Manual Content

From a customer:

Q: Is the latest HydraLIST Manual dated 1999?

A: Yes. The printed manual is for the most part very accurate. However, the Help file is constantly updated - usually with every HydraLIST update and even some partial updates. In addition, there was a new manual created specifically for the HydraLIST Select (50.16) Update and produced in PDF form. Also, the How Do I....? Feature in the Help file is also updated regularly.

For the HydraLIST Select (50.16) Update Manual:

Pick the Help pulldown menu in HydraLIST and pick the HydraLIST PDF Manuals item. From here you will get a few choices. Pick 'HydraLIST Select Update Manual_V50.0.16.pdf' for documentation on all the new Select features. Pick 'HydraLISTv50-14.pdf' for the original 1999 manual in PDF form.

For the Newest Features in Each Version:

Pick the Help pulldown menu in HydraLIST and pick Contents. From here you can select the How Do I....? item to see how to use many of the new features.