Lynn Allen's Blog

Prepare for Autodesk Certification in Advance!

If you happen to be in the Rochester, New York area - be sure to join me tomorrow for a presentation for Adraft. 

My colleague and friend Robert Green will also be presented on CAD Management (which I'm looking forward to!).  This is the second presentation this year where I have been fortunate to share the stage with Robert.

If you are going to Autodesk University - I'm hoping you plan on taking at least one Certification Exam.  These exams are no charge (also known as FREE!) at Autodesk University and a great opportunity for you to beef up your resume.  Don't you want a means of proving your level of expertise with Autodesk software?

 

If you do plan on taking the Certification Exam you are going to want to get prepared as much as possible before you go. Check out all the information available to help you be prepared.

Click HERE to get info on preparing for the Autodesk Certification Exams

I'm off to Rochester (Henrietta actually!).  So far the weather seems quite nice (so why did I bring my HEAVY coat?)

An AutoCAD Hip Tip on the Application Menu

I have to start my blog by wishing my father a Happy Birthday (Happy Birthday Papa!).  Not that he reads my blog, mind you, but let's face it - it's just the right thing to do!

Autodesk University is getting closer and I'm dutifully working on my AU presentations. I'll be doing a presentation on AutoCAD 2010 and today's Hip Tip is certainly relevant to my AU presentation.

An AutoCAD Hip Tip on the Application Menu.

In the upper left hand corner of AutoCAD 2009 and 2010 you'll find a nice big red "A".  This is where the Application Menu can be found. 

This Application Menu is very similar to those found in the Microsoft Office 2007 products such as MS Word.  Autodesk is trying to provide a consistent interface - which ultimately will make your life easier as you move around from product to product.  Within the Application menu you'll find easy access to your recently viewed files (including sheet sets!). 

Note:  Be careful not to click on the "A" twice or you'll find yourself leaving AutoCAD!

I strongly encourage watching the video for an easy overview of the ins and outs of the Application menu (aren't videos more fun than actually reading?)

If you're having issues finding a command in the ribbon - the Application Menu has a speedy lookup tool that will show you exactly where the command is hiding.

And in the video I mention that the default for the number of recently viewed files is 9 - a horrible default if you ask me.  You'll want to make sure you go into Options and change that to something much higher (as high as 50).

Be sure to get comfortable with the Application Menu so you can make sure you are getting the most out of AutoCAD 2009 or 2010!
  
 
 

Try Autodesk Project Cooper for Free!

So what exactly is Project Cooper?  A simple, low stress drawing package that produces drawings in DWG format.  We all know some non-CAD folks out there who could benefit from an easy-to-use drawing package (it sure beats drawing on a napkin!) and this just might be the perfect match for them.

  
 
 The best news is that it can be downloaded from Autodesk Labs so you can give it the good old college try for free!  Below you'll also find a cool video that demonstrates Project Cooper running on a Tablet PC.

What kind of name is Project Cooper?  Well it isn't the official name of the product - in fact you can help give Project Cooper a name. Just participate in a short survey to help give this great new product a name!

Give Project Cooper a try - tell your non-drafting friends and coworkers. Maybe you need to do a quick sketch of your kitchen, - or maybe this is the perfect software for your kids to get started on...I've only worked with it a little here and there - but I certainly love how easy it is to use!

Autodesk University Virtual!

With the economy in a slump, it seems tougher than ever to convince upper management that you need to go to Autodesk University in Las Vegas!  Kudos to those of you who are able to attend the live event, but we don't want the rest of you Autodesk product users to miss out!  Why not attend Autodesk University Virtual (AUv)?

For starters...there is no charge.  (Free - don't we all love free?)

You'll get a chance to enjoy the AU Mainstage presentations, the popular Design Slam, the Industry Mainstages, the exhibit hall, etc.  You get to experience AU without ever leaving your desk!

When?  December 1-4 and for more information - watch my video covering all of the ins and outs of Autodesk University Virtual.

If you'd like to participate in some of the 50+ technical classes that will be streamed live, you can sign up for the AUv Premium Pass.  There's a charge for the Premium Pass (but it's only US$99).

Good news - if you are a Subscription customer - you get a free Premier Pass anyway!  And if you are actually attending the live AU event in Las Vegas - you get 4 Premier Passes you can give away to your coworkers (or anyone of your choosing).  

Even the tightest of budgets can afford FREE- so sign up today!

 

The See the Difference with AutoCAD 2010 Tour has come to an end...

The See the Difference with AutoCAD 2010 tour is over and Shaan Hurley and I enjoyed a nice lunch with CADD Microsystemsafter our final presentation in Washington DC. Apparently one of CADD Microsystem's instructors, Daron Moore, won North American Instructor of the year (out of 1600 ATC instructors) and they had a life-size cardboard cut out of him at the luncheon (apparently he was busy).  Shaan and I got such a kick out of the cut-out we decided to have our picture taken with it (or should I say with "him"?).

 

Many moons ago, before joining Autodesk, I too won the Instructor of the year award (and there were much fewer instructors back then) so I can truly appreciate Daron's award.  Good work Daron!  Does that mean CADD Microsystems is going to give you a nice big raise now?
 

From Washington DC I was whisked off to Richmond, VA by fellow blogger Donnie Gladfelter.  There I presented to the Richmond AutoCAD Manifest user group (busy day!).  The evening was topped off by a great dinner with the RAM board of directors (I believe a good time was enjoyed by all).

While I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the tour - I am VERY much looking forward to being home for a couple of weeks and catching up on all those other projects that were pushed by the wayside as I traveled.

A great big thank you to all who came up and introduced themselves to me during the Tour and maybe we'll see you again next year. Hopefully you gained some great insight into AutoCAD 2010 and the AutoCAD family of products.

Remember that you can try AutoCAD 2010 for free for 30 days...(it's always nice to try it before you buy it!).

 

Last Week of the See the Difference with AutoCAD 2010 Tour and a Plug for Certification

Only one more AutoCAD 2010 presentation as part of the See the Difference Tour left in Washington DC.  In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month Shaan Hurley graciously wore a pink shirt as he spoke.  Way to go Shaan!

 

Believe it or not - that is his laptop and it's actually that large! 

Shaan spoke about the AutoCAD family of products such as AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Mechanical and AutoCAD MEP.  He also showed us a glimpse of AutoCAD 2.18 (amazing!).  How did we even use the product back then? 

I've enjoyed the tour but it hasn't left me much time to blog.  I promise to blog more in upcoming weeks as my travel schedule lightens up for awhile.

I met up with Autodesk Certification queen Barbara Bowen last night.  Have you ever thought about getting certified on the Autodesk product you use every day?  Certification is a great help when searching for a job - or might even lead to a higher salary in your current job!  For more info about Certification check it out HERE.
 

I'm off to catch my flight to Washington DC now!  Will blog later...
  
 
 

Columbus Day in Columbus (Ohio) and an AutoCAD Hip Tip on Easy Access to the Layer Drop-Down List

I've been demoing the new features in the AutoCAD 2010 User Interface quite a bit lately and it occurred to me that the Quick Access Toolbar would be the perfect place to harbor the Layer list for quick access (hence the name!).  The Quick Access Toolbar is always on the screen and super easy to get to.  I don't want to have to go to the Home tab on the ribbon every time I need to switch layers - I want that drop-down list at my fingertips!  (I've also heard other people mutter about this added inconvenience).

It is super easy to put the layer list on the Quick Access toolbar.  Here are the steps.

1.  Right click on the Layer drop-down list and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar

2.  Enjoy your new easy to access tool!

3. Look...I don't know how much easier that can get!  Give it a go if you are on AutoCAD 2009 or 2010 and you'll always have your layers at your fingertips!

I'm enjoying Columbus Day in Columbus!  Week 2 of the AutoCAD 2010 See the Difference Tour is just starting.  Shaan and I are going to wear pink this week in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month - I'll definitely send pictures!d

 

The See The Difference Tour has Begun (and some AutoCAD Video Tips!)

For those of you who are just after tips - be sure to check out my latest Video Tips on the AutoCAD Exchange:

 

Shaan Hurley and I have been on the road all week with the See the Difference with AutoCAD 2010 Tour!  It has been great working with these audiences filled with AutoCAD users and showing them the latest Tips and Techniques for AutoCAD 2010!  Shaan, as usual, has taken plenty of great pictures including the ones displayed below.

So far we've hit three different cities:  Orlando, Atlanta and San Diego.  All great audiences - all gave us a wonderful reception.

Below is the crowd in Orlando (stop #1) and I'm the little person standing in the very front.

And Shaan took this picture of me scavenging for food in the Exhibit Area (San Diego).  Can I just say those were the best breakfast sandwiches I have EVER had?

I am really loving this opportunity to talk to so many AutoCAD users.  I seem to learn something new at each event - and I absolutely love that!

Next week we are off to Columbus, Montreal and Edmonton.  So this week was the sunny leg of the tour - next week I expect will be quite chilly!

Thank you all for the comments on the Trans Am...I still crack up when I see the car in the driveway (what was I thinking?). 

 

 

An AutoCAD Tip on Deleting Stubborn Layers and a '78 Trans Am!

Alright...first off I have to admit a moment of insanity (make that several moments) when I decided that we needed to bid on a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am at a charity auction benefiting the local schools.   Well no one else was bidding on it so I figured why not?  Certainly this was for a good cause in these tough times when schools are really suffering financially. I must admit it was a pretty cool looking car - I probably would have given my right arm for this car in high school! 

But now is the time to be green, conserve gas (not to mention money!), drive responsible cars.  Owning an obnoxiously loud and flamboyant gas guzzler with a 455 engine is completely out of the question! 

So you can only imagine my surprise when it was announced that we actually won the car!  (can I just say we are still pretty much in shock).  Here we are trying to look cool with our new muscle car about an hour after we picked it up.  What do you think?  Can you just see the shock on our faces? 

Think of Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit...(Burt Reynolds owned the '78 model) think Knight Rider...(remember Kitt?). 

On to something much more practical!

An AutoCAD Hip Tip on Deleting Stubborn Layers

If you've ever experienced one or more of those pesky layers that just refuses to go away - that won't purge no matter what you try - then you will love the LAYDEL Express Tool.  Often a layer is referenced in a block, and consequently cannot be purged.  No problem for LAYDEL - it will actually remove the layer from the block definition and redefine the block!  Wow - now that is power!  Take a look at the latest of my Cadalyst videos for step by step information (pictures are always easier than words - right?)

Note:  LAYDEL won't get rid of layer 0 or the defpoints layer for obvious reasons...I forgot to mention that in the video!

Give it a try...now I'm going to try and find a "TRANSAMDEL" command...

For some reason I can just picture dave e-a laughing his head off about now...

The AutoCAD Exchange Videos

I've been recording some videos for the AutoCAD Exchange and thought I'd give them a little plug in my blog (hey - why not?)  There is a total of six videos - and they are a little tricky to find (unfortunately).  So I'll sort you out so you can find them...ok?

You'll start of by going to the AutoCAD Exchange (which I hope you've visited before).

Right in the middle of the page you should see a top secret tab that says Lynn Allen's Top AutoCAD Tips

There are six videos in all - be sure to check them out!  I had a great time recording them....

I'm finally on my way home after two weeks on the road - I can't wait to see the white fluffy dog!