* Announcements (positions available):
Pullman Modular DataCAD drafter in Worcester
The Conant Group Norwood needs a Registered Architect Project Manager
Geoff has 3 job openings for ArchiCAD positions

* Wireless networks – suggestions & comments from Geoff:

naming computers for places to help you know where they are located in the office

TIVO has a wireless network connection!  (.b) This is the “tipping”
point that got him to install a wireless network.

There are three main types of wireless networks: 802.11.a, .b, .g -- .b
is slowest but the most common, .g is faster but less common and more
expensive and it provides better security.  Bluetooth is a separate
protocol, and Geoff did not comment on it.

You will need to connect your (high bandwidth DSL/cable) modem to
router/ switch that has a wireless “access point”.

There are all sorts of wireless networks available in various places.
For example, Evan  booted his laptop in Geoff's apartment -- and there
are about EIGHT wireless networks available, though most were secure!
All would have (probably) given Evan access to the Internet, however,
and only Geoff's local network resources were accessible, since he had
set it up for this demonstration.

* DataCAD LT 10

Geoff then spoke about DataCAD LT 10 which he pointed out has 3D, all
other typical tools! The main limitations are (and there are just a
few): a 4MB file limit, no XRef's (though you may be able to view them)
and no ID/Set All or custom keyboard macros.

On the ArchiCAD Student version: you must go to a 3D view in order to
export a DWG file and you get only 3D entities and slabs get tessellated...

* CADD File Exchanges
Moving onto the next item, CADD files exchanges:

A WMF Windows metafile does translates from Architectural DeskTop to
DataCAD, or from ArchiCAD to ACAD or DataCAD -- the resulting WMF file
is 2D lines and polylines.

AutoCAD ADT 2004 has to export  to AutoCAD!! Save as DWG from ADT *says*
it is a DWG -- but any ADT entities disappear --Yikes!

AutoCAD 2004 has "Layer States" which are  equivalent to GTV's in
DataCAD!  [Yowza! Ed.] There is also Layer States Manager...

* E-Project Replacements (on Agenda but not covered at meeting)
with other files transfers (over the Internet),
Geoff made several comments at the meeting, but didn't fully cover the topic until his
post to the DBUG Forum on Feb. 26th:

++++++++++++++++++++
I do this as well, and regard it as an important way to get files
through to people -- however, I did not, and still would not, list this
(i.e. using a project specific website that you have to generate
yourself) as a primary suggestion to most architects as a technique,
mainly because it does require

1)having to learn how to set up web sites (not a bad skill to have, but it takes time)
2)effort, and
3)time (and all the other options I mentioned are virtually instantaneous).

Ever since the people setting up project specific web sites (extranets)
as a service came about, it has made more sense to use their services
than for most architects to spend their time doing this themselves. Once
you are [versatile] in doing web sites, then sure, for people like
Michael, David, and myself, sure, yes, it may be the best (and it is
sort of   free).

For those people who do use portions of their web site as, or have
[separate], Project Specific Web Sites, a few guidelines :

1. Hide them
Don't have any links directly from your primary marketing-type web site
to your Project Specific Web Sites. Why --- so the automatic
webcrawlers, spiders, and "bots" don't find them, so that
a) you don't get emails "farmed" to potential spammers,
b) to add to security. There is no reason you would want people to
find such a site by "Googling" it.

You can put them in with your same web site - just no links to them.
I create several "library" type web pages and just email the web link
address to those concerned. You can also add the ability to enter
passwords to enter the area, but this isn't really necessary, depending
on what you plan to put online.

2. Zip the drawings with passwords
Always an option when you WinZip, PKzip, or now Windows  XP right-click
"compress" any drawing files, make sure you turn on the password option.
Then you can be sure you are pretty secure.

3. Don't make the drawings "self-extracting" Exe files
Tempting as this may be, when sending drawings to clients who don't seem
like they would know how to unzip something, don't do it. Many firewall
and security systems now prevent downloading exe files.

4. Simply create a link to the zip file - i.e. "Drawing-For-Smith-02-21-04.zip"
On the web page you should add a description, and, definitely, a date or
version number.  When they view the page with their Netscape Navigator,
Internet Explorer, etc. they will see a blue link, click on it, and
their system will ask them if they want to save to disk, and they just
hit enter.  They are, in [actuality], using FTP, but not even realizing
it.  It is all automatic.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Continuing at the DBUG meeting with miscellaneous points of interest:

AutoCAD 2005 came out yesterday! (Feb. 23rd)

Mok 3 (http://www.mok3.com/) is like: Photoshop w/ 3D like SketchUp and
bits of PhotoModeler -- take a photo and "moosh & squoosh" it and apply
texture on the fly.  It is very fast & very exciting -- coming out in July...

Meeting Notes by Neil Blanchard