Introductions & Announcements

It was a full day of education for some, as about 50 folks gathered for the evenings DBUG meeting, of which 33 had attended some or all of the day's seminars that covered 1) a Datacader's guide to AutoCAD, 2) web creation, and 3) beginning 3D modeling and 4) advanced 3D modeling.

Host, Geoff Langdon, welcomed the group to "Roseledge" and in addition to introducing some to his huge pet lizard "Spielberg", he introduced all to his varied consulting and teaching practice that includes stints at Mt. Ida & Endicott College. He said that Mt. Ida was about to embark on a "Distance Learning Program" in Interior Design via the web. Geoff also announced that advent of a new Boston Society of Architects' committee on "Design Software" that he would be chairing — look for its new website via the link on the BSA webpage at <http://www.architects.org>.

As for announcements, Geoff said that there were openings at HMFH, Architectural Design on Cape Code and with Tom Mayo in Ipswich (see links at end.) Evan Shu reminded folks to register for Build Boston at the World Trade Center, as DBUG's 12th anniversary meeting would be held there on Wed., Nov. 17th at 6 p.m. in the amphitheater.

Using 3D for 2D Productivity

As an introduction to this topic, Geoff unveiled his long awaited CD Tutorials, the first of which is called "Real 3D Modeling in DataCAD 8.50". This CD was produced using Lotus ScreenCam and requires MS Word (6 or up) and a sound card. It contains some 2 hours worth of material.

Geoff showed some nice renderings by Greg Barriere that highlighted use of 3D block models to create 2D elevations. These simple block models can be rendered using Bill D'Amico's wonderful Touch-up macro that puts 2D hatch patterns on the surface of a 3D plane. Greg also used a heavyweight "grass" linetype for a nice ground line touch. Geoff emphasized how use of simple 3D blocks and slabs gives you the tools needed to establish major elevation lines, as well as providing you with the ability to quickly do alternative options.

Another "cheap trick" demonstrated by Geoff was to use DataCAD's 3D parametric macros to do 2D construction drawings. While the nifty Stair macro in DCAD_AEC suite (Toolbox) does nice 3D stairs, some are frustrated that these 3D elements are not easily edited for 2D plan and elevation drawings. Geoff showed how by using "Hide" (make sure the options Join, Delete Double, Pierce and Ignore Color are toggled on) can capture a plan or elevation view, which can then be sent to your 2D layers for normal editing. In the same way, a Clip Cube can be used to create the basis for a stair section and Roof It can be used to create a 2D roof plan.

Another quick rendering tool that Geoff recommended highly was Snapshot from Bill D'Amico's 3D Power Tools. This macro takes your 3D model and creates 2D elevations and an isometric view and lays them out neatly on a drawing sheet.

Solar Energy & Green Building Resources

In the HSW (Health Safety Welfare) portion of the evening's agenda, Geoff provided the group with an overview of available resources on the web for Solar Energy material and "Green" building resources. You can go to <http://www.crest.org> (or www.solstice.crest.org) to access valuable resources such as a "Green Building Advisor" (technology options based on region) and "Solar Sizer". You can also access the link here to find the database on Massachusetts Energy use (radiation, wind, etc.).

The best source for links in this field is <http://www.ases.org>. From this page, Geoff surfed to sites such as the National Renewable Energy Lab (originators of low-E glass) and reviewed such software options as Energy 10 ($200) which via Q&A and "wizard" format can generate energy use graphs for your building for either an average day or average month. Geoff also touched on other software alternatives such as DOE-Plus (2.1E), Solar 5 (free) and Sol-Arch (free) which can also evaluate thermal performance, solar radiation, and develop psychometric charts. (For more links, see at end.)

Geoff also encouraged DBUG'ers to support Mike Andelman <andelman@jrma-ae.com> of Juniper Russell Associates) who wants to develop a DCAL link for DataCAD to EnergyPlus software. Geoff also showed Dave Henderson's dH Shadow macro. In answer to last month's query on how to cast shadows on vertical elevations, Geoff said the answer was to run it multiple times, once for each plane orientation that you want to cast shadows on (a future upgrade will do this automatically.) dH Shadow generates the outline of the shadow cast, after which you can apply your own hatching to the bounded area.

Geoff said that another way to get shadow casting of your models was to go to http://www.greatbuildings.com, which is a fantastic site for images of famous buildings as well as full 3D CAD models of many of them as well. In order to view these models, you download a free, yes free, copy of Design Workshop — which by the way, includes a sun study modeler that you can then import DataCAD DXF models into to do your shadow casting.

Where is AutoCAD now?

Geoff gave us a revealing look at where AutoCAD is at now. Its stock is at its lowest point ever and they are laying off 1/3 of their workforce. A big part of the problem is that there are now 5 "flavors" of AutoCAD — all to a large degree incompatible with each other. 70% of AutoCAD users still use AutoCAD 12 and are very reluctant to upgrade.

Geoff gave the group a tour of Architectural Desktop 2.0 running on AutoCAD 2000. He said that despite some problems, there is much to recommend about it, such as unlimited undo's, smart 2d/3d walls with automatic cleanup, and dockable toolbars. Paperspace has been renamed Layouts; it now comes with a symbol library with a nice Object viewer; it can finally do perspectives (that got a standup ovation from a recent AutoCAD users group), and in 3D modeling, its construction plane now matches the screen view (same as DataCAD), and it has a full-blown Boolean modeler (but which cannot be transferred into any other module of AutoCAD!)

Unfortunately, this newest flavor of AutoCAD is not compatible with AutoCAD 14.01 and AutoCAD 12-DWG is not supported. (AutoCAD 13-DWG will not import correctly into DataCAD by the way.) In addition, while it now has Layer Manager functions (including layer locking) similar to DataCAD's GoToViews, Geoff cautioned that there are 6 different versions of Layer Manager, each of which is incompatible with the others.

While these compatibility problems persist, Geoff cautioned against smugness for DataCAD users as AutoCAD now is "not the garbage you thought it was."

DWG Transfer Horror Story

One of Geoff's many expertises is in importing pesky AutoCAD drawings that defy logic. As a case study in its intricacies, he walked us through a recent extremely difficult DWG file that an architect had asked him to try to import into DataCAD. A warning message about "proxy graphics" being lost meant no paperspace, no xrefs would be available. Elipses, fonts, and hatches all had to be jettisoned. The building was located 6 million feet from the origin. In a engineering "favorite" setting, there were no "units" specified, so by default each mm is a foot, and this institutional building came in at 39" long.

As a general process, Geoff had to freeze problem layers, and "wblock" the building (turn it into a symbol) and explode, wblock & explode and wblock & explode again to get rid of the troublesome entities, until he was finally able to import the stripped down building into a clean DWG file.

As for other problem transfers, he said that it was possible to transfer a DataCAD MSP drawing into AutoCAD by making each plot detail an XREF drawing, then create a master DWG file w/ inserted XREFs as PaperSpace (now Layout) views.

In all, it was a most revealing look at how AutoCAD is making life extremely difficult for both the OpenDWG Alliance and for its own customers by making so many different incompatible versions of AutoCAD.

Another long but fruitful day at DBUG central for this month. Geoff thanked all for coming and all thanked Geoff for his prodigious efforts for this long day.

— Job opening - HMFH Architects Inc., 130 Bishop Allen Dr., Cambridge, MA 02139, contact David Pendery at <dpendery@hmfh.com>.

— Job opening - AD - Architectural Design, Orleans, MA, contact John Ingwersen 508-255-0606

— Job opening - MSH Architecture Assoc., 162 Cynthia Rd., Newton Centre, MA 02159, contact Marc Hershman at <msharch@aol.com>.

— The new BSA Committee on Design Software > — DataCAD Tutorial Videotapes & CDs based on DataCAD 8.50 Videos

— Wanted: DCAL Programmer to link EnergyPlus with DataCAD, contact Michael Andelman <andelman@jrma-ae.com>.

Solar Energy Software

BASEA - Boston Area Solar Energy Assoc.

ASES - American Solar Energy Association

CREST - Center for Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology

NREL - National Renewable Energy Laboratories

Energy Design Community (creating, through company Praxis, a new Solar analysis software add-on for CADD)

DesignWorkshop - download free 3D modeler compatible with DataCAD for doing sun studies.

For our DBUG MEETING SCHEDULE, Click Here

or you can contact us below with any questions.

Copyright © 1999, Shu Associates Inc.