CADzette Volume 1, Issue 1
News and Views on the CAD INdustry at Large (and small)	June 6,2003

In this issue 2004 Extras XChangeWorks - Utility or Virus? Is Your Mouse Working as Hard as It Can? Upcoming Inventor User Group Meetings Comments from Subscribers! Bounce Spam Back! Have you tried the latest version of DesignSpace? 2004 Extras Autodesk has hidden a bunch of extras in their latest 2004 releases. While Autodesk wastes our time touting features we really don't care about, they hide their best features under a bush and make us hunt for them. ADT 2004 comes with a Content Browser. The Content Browser is launched outside of ADT or by typing Ctl+4. It is loaded with all sorts of great tools. AutoCAD 2004 comes with a Reference Manager to allow you to check and manage all your XRefs. How many of you have complained about xrefs? Download a sample tutorial on the Content Browser

Greetings! XChangeWorks - Utility or Virus?    SolidWorks has just released their latest version of XChangeworks. If you are a SolidWorks user, go for it and install it. However, if you are a 'Desker, be AFRAID, be VERY AFRAID! If you install this utility, you may not be able to remove it from your system. At least that's the way it's been with all the previous releases...and quite frankly, I am not willing to risk reformatting my hard drive to try this release as well. However, if you are brave enough, give it a whirl and let me know how it goes. XChangeWorks can be used with AutoCAD 2002 and below. The software reads part files in the following formats: IGES STEP VDA-FS SAT (ACIS®) Parasolid® native SolidWorks® (2001+ and prior) native Pro/ENGINEER® (V20 and prior) native Unigraphics® And automatically "knits" IGES surfaces into a solid! To learn more... Is Your Mouse Working as Hard as It Can?    Do you ever feel like you aren't getting all you can from your mouse? Check out the free MouseTest on this site! Use the fastest zoom window command possible: 1 - press mouse button 2 - move mouse, make a rectangle 3 - release mouse button And you have zoomed! A true one-click zoom. Later, just click once, without moving And you have zoomed to previous! This is possible with ABI Mouse, an addon to AutoCAD, now also for AutoCAD 2004. Works with 4th and 5th buttons on a new mouse. Do you place doors or insert bearings often? - map those commands to a mouse button! Also temporarily! Do you want the OSNAP pop up menu handy or another pop-up, maybe your own? - map it to the button of your choice! ABI Mouse gives you these and many more possibilities. Saves keystrokes, time and your hands. Also at the website: information on mouse drivers and mouse related problems in AutoCAD. Free mousetest program. http://www.abicad.com Upcoming Inventor User Group Meetings    Vancouver, British Columbia ****************************************** ** Vancouver Autodesk INVENTOR Group Tuesday - June 17, 2003 / 7:00pm-9:00pm Topic: Inventor 7 with Special guest, Bill Fane/British Columbia Institute of Technology. Location: Kwantlen Surry Campus 12666 - 72nd Avenue Surry, British Columbia http://www.vaig.net DePere, Wisconsin ****************************************** ** Midwest Inventors Group Thursday - June 19, 2003 / 4:00pm-6:00pm Topic: "Autodesk Inventor Round Table Discussion" Presented by representatives from Autodesk Inc and Office Technology Location: Office Technology / PPI Building 1540 Main Ave. Suite B De Pere, Wisconsin To attend, register here... or Email Tammy Davis... Calendar of local Inventor User Group meetings Comments from Subscribers!    Thought I would share to hear some of the lovely comments I received on the announcement that I was re-entering the enewsletter fray. I do appreciate your emails- even the ones that tell me I am a jerk (and worse.) Dear Elise, Thank you for taking your time to continue this effort to give updates and sharing your technical know-how to the CAD users. Even though I am not from the Bay area but I really find your newsletter very helpful, rich of informations and tons of answers to lots of questions. I really missed that Power News! More power to you and thanks for all your help and support. Bounce Spam Back!    I've been using this product for about a month now and I am still on the fence whether I like it or not. Anyway, it allows you to preview your email and decide whether or not to bounce back a message or accept it. The idea is to make spammers think that your email address is no longer valid. It involves some extra work on your part. If you get a lot of spam, it may be worth your while. And there is some satisfaction in bouncing a spammer's email back at 'em. I do find that reading my email is faster and less stressful since I have installed it. The software is FREE and works with AOL, Outlook Express, etc. If you want to use it with more than one account, you need to send some money, but you are on an honor system as it how much you want to pay. http://www.mailwasher.net/ Have you tried the latest version of DesignSpace?    Span your design continuum by adding ANSYS DesignSpace and its add-on module ANSYS DesignXplorer to your CAD package. For the first time, simulation iterations match the rapid pace of parametric CAD iterations. With ANSYS DesignSpace and ANSYS DesignXplorer at the front-end of your product development process, you are free to explore and evaluate multiple design alternatives, quickly and easily. Dramatically shorten iterations. Streamline design. Reduce costs. Now that's intelligent design. ANSYSY works great with SolidWorks and Inventor. I think it is easier to use than COSMOS. You can download a 30 day demo of ANSYS at: http://www.ansys.com/ansys/designspace.htm

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