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June 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 AutoCAD Xref Cleanup Tip for New Installations of AutoCAD Revit Technology Conference, 26-28 June Revit RPC Content Cairns Revit User Group (CRUG) AutoCAD/AutoCAD Architecture 2008/2009 Autodesk Annual Subscription Vista Training Courses Realtime International Computer Training Centre Other Good Stuff News from Other Local Businesses Your Space Above: This bundle could be yours for the  price of just the AutoCAD. Read on… There's typically a Call to Action prompted by the mere mention of the words 'End of Financial Year'. With only two weeks left it's time to pay super before June 30, check your motor vehicle odometer readings, accelerate deductions, defer the recognition of income, consider company distributions and dividend payouts - you know the drill… This is where WE can help YOU. From now until June 30, we're giving you the opportunity to purchase an AutoCAD (whether it be a standalone or network license) and receive an HP Quad Core Workstation valued at $2,383 absolutely free! Click here for more detail, then contact us to discuss your particular circumstances. Apart from end of year AutoCAD purchases (because our June Promo is just too good to overlook!), business in Cairns has dropped back from 'frantic', so it's an opportune time to draw breath and focus on improving your internal efficiencies. Realtime International provides industry standard training in AutoCAD, Revit and more. Click here to view current course offerings. AutoCAD Xref Cleanup One of our readers presented an AutoCAD/Xref/Management/Performance problem. Essentially, a landscape architect receives dwg files from surveyors which are used as Xref base plans. These files are large with lots of surplus entities which impacts on the performance of the assembled final AutoCAD project. Cleaning the base files manually (erase, purge, etc) is time consuming, and if the source files are re-issued, the process would then need to be repeated. Two important initial cleanups - Purge All and Delete All Layouts - could be automated by using the following macros: [Purge All] ^C^C-purge;all;*;n [Delete All Layouts] ^C^C(foreach i (layoutlist)(command "-LAYOUT" "DELETE" i)) These routines, plus others, to delete particular items (shapes, layers, etc) could be built into a button [CleanupXYZ] for each consultant. AutoCAD's strength over the past 25 years has been the ability to automate repetitive tasks through some simple programming and AutoCAD 2009 extends that ability with the Action Recorder. Click here for Tutorial. TIP for new installations of AutoCAD When a new installation of AutoCAD is started for the first time, and there has been/is a previous version on the computer, AutoCAD will ask if you wish to migrate the settings, customisation etc from the old one to the new. The default is yes. Our recommendation is DO NOT say yes, instead configure the new release from scratch. Although having the best of intentions, AutoCAD will carry over some settings which reference the previous version installation. These paths may not remain valid for the new installation, and removing the previous version will only exacerbate the problem. Mostly this tool works reasonably well, however we have seen a fair share of problems to support our recommendation. Revit RPC Content RPC (Rich Photorealistic Content) is now included in Revit 2009. RPC technology uses high quality images combined with simple geometry to create the illusion of 3D. By changing the image as the camera moves through the scene, RPC objects reproduce the appearance of a 3-Dimensional object without relying on complex polygonal geometry. RPC Trees, Shrubs and Grasses are now included in Revit 2009. Landscaping in Revit couldn't be easier - take advantage of over 100 RPC Trees, Shrubs, and Grasses. Revit Technology Conference, 26-28 June 2008, Sydney Now in it's fourth year, the Revit Technology Conference has already established itself as the premier BIM-based event in the Asia Pacific region. For more information or to register, click here. Cairns Revit User Group (CRUG for short!) Don't forget the Cairns user network for Revit Architecture meets on the last Tuesday of each month. Click here to register your interest in participating with the Group. AutoCAD/AutoCAD Architecture 2008/2009 If you have noticed significant performance issues in AutoCAD when performing Open/Copy/Paste/Insert actions with drawings that contain Xrefs, the problem most likely lies with Annotation Scaling Objects. This may help. Autodesk Annual Subscription Why would you consider purchasing your Autodesk software on Subscription? Read here. Back to Top Following on from May's edition "Vista 64? Piece of cake…" A layman's summary of Microsoft's approach to Vista security and it's implications for Earthlings: Vista is designed to prevent users from running as Administrator. A Vista user "Fred" is created and granted Admin rights. However when Fred logs on, Vista runs as though Fred has only Standard rights. When some operation requires Admin rights, Fred is asked 3 times if he wishes to proceed, and the rights are temporarily elevated. This is the infamous UAC (User Account Control). Here is a quote from a Microsoft Product Manager: "The reason we put UAC into the [Vista] platform was to annoy users - I'm serious". Basically it is designed to prevent unauthorised actions on the system (i.e. virus, hackers) and to encourage developers to build applications that don't require admin rights to run. Unfortunately, the repetitive requests mean that users either turn it off, or proceed blindly. More unfortunately, some applications don't play well with the UAC, don't ask the questions, and simply don't work. I (Dale) now have a well documented problem running Microsoft's own Office 2007, except as Administrator. To be continued... Back to Top Realtime International provides industry standard training in AutoCAD, Revit and more. Draw breath and focus on improving your internal efficiencies by training your staff. Click the links for detailed information on each of the courses scheduled in the near future. Creating 3D Models in AutoCAD - 19,20 June Revit Fundamentals - 23,24,25 June AutoCAD Fundamentals - 14,15,16 July   Click here for more courses and dates 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 Algorithm We all know an algorithm is a logical process by which a problem can be solved or a decision made. But did you know that the word algorithm comes from the name of the 9th century Persian mathematician Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi? His works include the soon to be a feature film: "The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing" written in Baghdad when it was the centre of scientific studies and trade. The word algorism originally referred only to the rules of performing arithmetic using Arabic numerals but evolved via a Latin translation of al-Khwarizmi's name into algorithm by the 18th century. The word came to include all definite procedures for solving problems or performing tasks. Hmm... interesting. 2008 RAIA (Royal Australian Institute of Architects) Regional Awards Night A good night was had by all 150 attendees at last Friday night's event. Congratulations go to the following organisations for receiving FNQ Regional Commendations (in order of presentation): Right: the RAIA Awards night - click on image to enlarge (400 KB). Photo by Chris Isitt ▪ Cook Shire Council Administration Facility: Studio Mango, Cairns QLD ▪ Port Douglas Residence: Carr Design, Melbourne VIC ▪ Innisfail Hospital: Suters Architects, Brisbane QLD ▪ Bale Port Douglas: Grounds Kent Architects, Fremantle WA ▪ (w)Right House: Charles Wright Architects Pty Ltd, Port Douglas QLD Back to Top Feel great in 60 minutes! That's the message from Trevor Fiske who runs a Remedial Massage Clinic here in Cairns. Massage assists the body's natural ability to heal itself. It relaxes and tones the muscles preventing injuries, increases circulation and therefore improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to all body cells. Trevor specialises in Sports, Remedial & Swedish Massage, and Deep Tissue & Trigger Point Therapy. View Brochure Health fund rebates available Contact Trevor on 0432 572 055 Back to Top Is there a topic you'd like us to cover in our newsletters? 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. Back to Top

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