Most engineers, architects and designers are not in the software business.
Sometimes it may feel like they are.

At Varitronics Systems our work is to find solutions so you can focus on your work.

Varitronics E-Newsletter - Issue 5

Welcome to Issue 5 of our e-newsletter. The big news is the release of AutoCAD 2008. We believe its the release you have been waiting for, so please read more below about all the user requested new features!

Please write us with any ideas on what other info you would find helpful and call if we can help you in any way. We have launched a new website as we were quite overdue for an overhaul. Please come by and check it out.

The latest Lynne Allen's Tips and Tricks was just published and you can email us for a free copy. Just send your contact info to Lynne (not the Lynne Allen Lynne, but the Varitronics one!) to get your own copy snail mailed to you today.

AutoCAD 2008

The latest update to AutoCAD software focuses on improving designers' ability to quickly and easily document their designs. Key enhancements are focused on the drafting aspects of AutoCAD and include more than 35 features in response to customer visits, Autodesk User Group International (AUGI®) top-10 feature wish lists, and feedback forms.

What’s New in AutoCAD 2008

AutoCAD® 2008 software adds features to help make everyday tasks easier. Annotation scaling and control of layers by viewport minimize workarounds, while text enhancements, multiple leaders, and improved tables help deliver an unmatched level of aesthetic precision and professionalism.

Annotation Scaling

AutoCAD 2008 software introduces the concept of annotation scale as an object property. Designers can set the current scale of a viewport or model space view, and then apply that scale to each object and specify its size, placement, and appearance based on the scale set for the viewport. In other words, annotation scale is now automated.
New Annotation Scaling Demo

Layers per Viewport

In AutoCAD 2008 the layer manager has been enhanced to allow users to specify color, line weight, linetype, or plot style as an override for an individual viewport. These overrides can be easily turned on or off as viewports are added or removed.

Enhanced Tables

Enhanced tables now give users the option to combine AutoCAD and Excel tabular information into a single AutoCAD table. This table can be dynamically linked so that notifications appear in both AutoCAD and Excel as data is updated. Users can then select these notifications, allowing instant updating of information in either source document.
Tables Enhancement demo

Text & Table Enhancements

The enhanced MTEXT editor now provides the ability to specify the number of columns required and flows new text between those columns as users make edits. The space set between each column of text and the edge of the paper is also customizable. All of these variables can be adjusted to specific values in the dialog box, or adjusted interactively using the new multicolumn text grips.

Multiple Leaders

The new multiple leader panel on the dashboard has enhanced tools that automate the creation of multiple leaders and the orientation of the leaders (tail or content first) with the notes. Multileaders demo.


There are many more features and enhancements including some powerful new ways to manage externally referenced drawing data and you can read more in this AutoCAD 2008 PDF Brochure.

Understanding AutoDesk Vault

Vault is Autodesk's powerful change control solution for workgroups. It is made up of two primary components Vault Server and Vault Client. Vault Server is a secure repository for project data that is external to AutoCAD. Vault Server is a combination of a relational database, a file store, and a web server.

The Vault Client is made up of Vault Explorer and a componet within AutoCAD (or Civil 3d). Vault Explorer allows you to manage project files in the Vault Server. Autodesk Civil 3D includes the Prospector Toolspace, used to manage, edit, and share drawings and design objects in the Vault Server.

Varitronics Perspective on Vault - the good, the bad and the ugly

The Good…
Too much good to list here, Autodesk outdid themselves with Vault. Many benefits exist for the IT Department, reduced file duplication and the ability to backup and restore more easily. The ability to check in (access) design data from multiple projects is a long awaited feature.
The (not so) Bad…
Although Vault looks great from the outside, there are a few items to consider. Vault is ideal for the smaller firms (about 10 users or less), right out of the box. For more than 10 concurrent users, you will have to purchase Microsoft SQL server. You are not required to purchase a new server or workstation but it is strongly advised to have a dedicated server or workstation for each vault.
The Ugly…
If you have an existing project data set on your server, there will be a little work getting the data into vault. You need to migrate existing projects over to vault one-by-one in order to establish project descriptions and make sure all your data gets put into the right place.

Free Tool: Project Freewheel

Want to view a DWF file, but don't want to install viewer software? If so, then the Project Freewheel has the answer. It is both a web site where you can type in an DWF URL for interactive viewing, and a web service that allows you to embed an interactive DWF viewer in your own HTML pages.
You can find out more about the more experimental version at Autodesk Labs or you can try out AutoDesks hosted service here.

AutoCAD Tips

Having problems getting a plot to come out? Was the plotter working fine yesterday?.

Check out this comprehensive plotter trouble shooting guide .
Also consider taking our one day class on Printing and Plotting which now covers various web pulbishing options as well meat space options or call for plotter service from Varitronics(732-356-7773 x200) if the problem just won't go away.

The latest Lynne Allen's Tips and Tricks was just published and you can email us for a free copy. Just send your contact info to Lynne (not the Lynne Allen Lynne, but the Varitronics one!) to get your own copy snail mailed to you today.

If you have a question on the above or a tip you are willing to share, please email it to Jack as he is always on the lookout for the best way to do things.