Build on your investment in CAD - Realtime International Newsletter August 2008 - Read on-line as a webpage here - Unsubscribe here

August 2008  |  Web: www.realtimeinternational.com.au  |  Email: info@realtimeinternational.com.au

Autodesk Building Solutions Value Added Reseller for NQ and PNG   AutoCAD and Revit Sales, Support and Training   Hewlett Packard Large Format Printers   3D Computer Modelling and Rendering   AutoCAD Add-Ons   Autodesk Developer   Microsoft Developer   Custom Business Software   Database Applications   State of QLD GITC Accredited Supplier No Q-3167   Graphics Hardware   13 Networked Computer Training Centre In this issue: AutoCAD and Revit News Steps to Optimise Revit Performance New AutoCAD Performance Driver AutoCAD Subscription Bonus Pack AutoCAD 2009 SP1 The New Ribbon - Part 2 Training Courses Realtime International Computer Training Centre Other Good Stuff Joke of the Month Other Local Businesses Your Space Above: Why Women Live Longer There are many reasons to invest in training for yourself or your staff - to improve efficiency (ie to save time), to reduce errors (ie to save time), to improve quality (ie to save time), to reduce re-work (ie to save time), to raise standards (ie to save time). And we all know Time = $$$$. Training is not an option in today's rapidly changing technology landscape - it is an imperative. Companies or individuals that do not invest in their own future through regular training will slowly but surely lose their edge in today's competitive marketplace. A company with efficiently trained staff, benefits not just through increased productivity and reduction of waste, but more importantly through improved employee loyalty and retention. A business is only as good as its people. For an individual, training is a confidence booster, as well improving his or her value to their company or in the market generally. Ask yourself - Have you or your staff got 1 x 5 years experience or 5 x 1 years experience? There is a BIG difference... Please take me to your training course information now! Steps to Optimise Revit Performance Revit's performance can benefit significantly from optimisation of the computer configuration, as well as following best practices in construction of your design model. Assuming you don't want to buy a new computer, this month we are looking at recommendations for fine tuning the Operating System/Ram/Page File of your existing system: Operating Systems (OS) - 32-Bit (64-Bit next month): Windows XP only makes 2GB of system memory available to applications unless the /3GB switch is enabled in the boot.ini file. For complete information on enabling access for Revit-based applications to 3GB of memory, please see - the Autodesk technical document; and the Microsoft technical document. Windows Vista similarly limits applications to 2GB of memory use, unless the /increaseuserva 3072 switch is enabled. Windows Vista no longer employs the boot.ini file. Instead, the command line utility BCDEdit must be used. Please see the Microsoft technical document. Ram: Get the maximum. Refer above. Paging File Optimisation: Verify that the paging file size is optimised for your system. The paging file should be at least the size recommended for Windows and at most, twice the amount of installed RAM. Larger page files may provide more memory to the Revit platform, but performance could degrade noticeably with expanded page files. Follow these steps: 1. On the Start menu (Windows), click Settings > Control Panel. 2. In Control Panel, double-click System. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab. 4. Under Performance, click Settings. 5. In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab. 6. On the Advanced tab, under Virtual Memory, click Change. 7. In the Virtual Memory dialog box, change the Initial and Max values to 4092 (2 * 2GB) for a 2GB machine. 8. Click Set. 9. Click OK to close the Virtual Memory dialog box. 10. Click Apply New AutoCAD Performance Driver A customer who took advantage of our recent free HP Workstation promo called with a 3D performance problem (sticky display). Our research determined that AutoCAD 2009 in conjunction with an NVIDIA Quadro FX graphics card was the likely culprit. As this is probably a common combination, we thought the solution worth publishing (from NVIDIA's site): The AutoCAD Performance Driver is a new performance driver for Autodesk's AutoCAD software. Developed in close collaboration with Autodesk, the AutoCAD Performance Driver is a free, downloadable software driver capable of delivering dramatic performance improvements of up to 10 X on some tests, when coupled with NVIDIA Quadro® FX professional graphics solutions. The AutoCAD Performance Driver delivers accelerated performance on both OPENGL and DIRECT3D (with AutoCAD 2009). AutoCAD 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack Autodesk is pleased to announce the release of the first AutoCAD 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack that extends the capability of AutoCAD 2009. Developed based on feedback and functionality requests from AUGI (Autodesk User Group International) worldwide, this bonus pack incorporates new and/or enhanced functionality including: * New measurement capabilities (MEASUREGEOM command) * SPLINE to PLINE * Reverse PLINE edit * Rotating viewport and have the view rotate with the viewport * Erase unreferenced unnamed objects Bonus Packs will be released on the online Autodesk Subscription Centre every quarter and enhancements released will only be incorporated into AutoCAD 2010. Subscription customers get to use and enjoy the functionalities before they are available to the market. AutoCAD 2009 SP1 is now available for download AutoCAD 2009 Update 1 AutoCAD LT 2009 Update 1 The new Ribbon - Part 2 Click here Part 1 from last month Support Our technical team offers telephone and email support options - we understand customer's needs for timely solutions. Our development team can customise, design and develop solutions that promote efficiency and profitability. Support email address is support@realtimeinternational.com.au. What's it all about? Autodesk Annual Subscription AUGI (Autodesk User Group International) Autodesk Labs Back to Top We know that learning by doing is the fastest, most cost-effective way to acquire new skills. Realtime International training combines the benefits of small class size with industry instructor-led demonstrations and hands-on reinforcement in our own dedicated training facility away from the inevitable interruptions and distractions in the workplace. Advanced Revit Family Creation - 25, 26 August This course is a must for the more advanced Revit user. We'll begin with a general outline of Revit systems and management before moving into creating different family types. As we broach each subject, in depth knowledge will be gained, along with understanding why things are done the way they are. By the end of this course you will have a solid understanding of families and will be able to customise libraries for efficiency within your work environment. Click here for details. The trainer, Chris Price, began using and training others in the use of Revit in early 2001and has used it on a daily basis since. He currently holds a Bachelor in Architectural Studies and a Bachelor of Architecture from QUT. He actively participates and moderates on such forums as Revit City and AUGI under the username Mr Spot. He is a regular guest speaker at the annual Revit Technology Conferences. Managing Revit Systems and Rendering in Revit are courses planned to follow. Chris Price will be a guest at the Cairns Revit User Group on Monday night, the 25th August. MS Office 2007 - everything looks different! Don't panic, we're here to help... You may know by now that the new 2007 release is VERY different from previous versions. Familiar menus and toolbars are gone, replaced with a new Ribbon concept. These Word, Excel & Outlook courses detail all the new features and how to use them to increase your efficiency and productivity. You will work with practical real-life examples, to learn how the new features will make you more efficient in the workplace. Refer Schedule of Courses below for dates. Enquire about half day courses too. The trainer, Mike Fairley, holds post graduate qualifications in Business and Workplace Training and industry qualifications in Information Technology. He is an accredited Microsoft Specialist for the Office suite. Other Upcoming Courses AutoCAD Intermediate - 14, 15 August AutoCAD Fundamentals - 8, 9, 10 September Creating 3D Models in AutoCAD - 11, 12 September SCHEDULE OF COURSES Back to Top Make life easy by hiring our fully equipped computer training centre in the Cairns CBD. No more messy cables and wasted time connecting computers, our friendly staff and great facilities will make your training session a breeze. View brochure Back to Top Dynamic Architecture - Dubai to build world's first rotating skyscraper And it is expected it to be complete and liveable by 2010! Click here to check it out. Do you read our e-newsletter? We have received positive feedback on our monthly communication to you. We appreciate your comments and will endeavour to continue keeping you posted on topics that matter to you. For the "Stats" folks out there, here are some figures that may be of interest (don't panic, this won't be a regular monthly inclusion!).   Customers and CAD enthusiasts currently being sent to: 1209 Average total opens (meaning, not unique, but return opens): 97% Forwards last month: 47 Generally the most popular links are: AutoCAD & Revit News   Training Courses   Other Good Stuff And last month, the Joke of the Month, Promo and Free Software sections all rated extremely high! Back to Top An architect was sitting quietly working on his computer in Revit when his wife walked up behind him and whacked him on the head with a magazine. "What was that for?" he asked. "That was for the piece of paper in your trouser pocket with the name Laura Lou written on it" she replied. "Two weeks ago when I went to the races, Laura Lou was the name of one of the horses I bet on!" he explained. "Oh honey, I'm sorry" she said, "I should have known there would be a good explanation." Three days later he was watching football on TV when she walked up and hit him on the head again - this time with a frying pan which knocked him out cold. When he came to, he asked, "What the hell was that for?" She replied, "Your horse called." Back to Top Digital Prototyping provides the ability to virtually explore a complete product before it is built. By using a digital prototype, manufacturers can visualise and simulate real-world performance of the design with less reliance on costly physical prototypes, reducing design and production costs. TRUE 3D is a local Cairns business that provides colour 3D modelling for Architectural Models, CAD Design, Models of Buildings or Terrain, Engineering Prototypes, Snap Fit Parts, Casting Moulds, Flexible Parts. www.true3d.com.au info@true3d.com.au Tel (07) 4015 2789 Back to Top Is there a topic you'd like us to cover in your newsletters? If you liked or disliked something, let us know! What interests you in the CAD world will probably interest others… Send us your ideas or questions and we'll do our best to accommodate your request. Thanks to all those who have written in to date. Back to Top

Realtime International, 55 McLeod Street, PO Box 2917, Cairns QLD 4870 | Tel +61 7 4051 7062 | Fax +61 7 4041 6598

Sent to: [firstname] [lastname], [email] Unsubscribe | Subscribe | Previous issues | Privacy policy To ensure your edition is received every time, whitelist us. This is a private mailing list - your privacy is important. Should you no longer wish to receive this newsletter from us please unsubscribe here - the email address receiving this is [email].