Heidi Hewett's Blog

2008 Annual AUGI Salary Survey

AUGI is looking for your response to the annual AUGI Salary Survey! The more people that respond, the more accurate the results! Your participation is anonymous so please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. You can learn more from the AUGI Blog!

We’re Giving Away Video Cameras!

The AutoCAD team wants to see and hear your stories! We’re giving away FREE Flip Video Cameras to selected people that have an AutoCAD story to tell.  In return, we just ask you to send us a couple of minutes of video (using your new camera) showing us your AutoCAD story. What kind of story?  That’s up to you.  Mostly, we want to hear how AutoCAD has changed your life, see some cool projects you designed with AutoCAD…that sort of thing.  Be funny, be creative, or be inspiring.  But mostly, just be you.  We’re going to feature a bunch of your videos on the AutoCAD website – it’s going to be fun to see the great things you all do with AutoCAD. 

To request a camera, just send a note to autocad.video@autodesk.com.  Be sure to include an overview of who you are, what you do, and a description of what you’d show in your video.

Scenes from Los Angeles

Last week I had the opportunity to present AutoCAD 2009 Tips & Tricks at the Los Angeles CAD Camp. The event, the audience, and the FOOD, were fantastic!

If you’re near Miami, Washington DC, or Philadelphia, check out the upcoming CAD Camps in those locations!

AutoCAD Success Stories

If you use AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, please consider this request from the AutoCAD marketing team:

Autodesk is looking for Customer Success Stories focusing on AutoCAD users like you! We are looking for new customer success stories and would love to hear from some of you.  If you are using AutoCAD and are interested in sharing your story please contact fanya.seabrook@autodesk.com.  The next step would be for us to gather information for the success story starting with a 30-minute phone conversation/interview with you and/or anyone else appropriate. During this phone interview, we will gather background for the story. We will send you sample questions ahead of time. After the interview, we will write a two-page case study with an outside agency (that you will review and approve) focusing on how you are using the product.

You can view some of our completed customer stories on our website at www.autodesk.com/dwf-customers.  If your company agrees (usually we work with a communications or public relations person at the company) we can develop a press release based on the case study.

We would also be interested in receiving some of your model/design datasets (for demo purposes only, all proprietary data will be removed).

We look forward to hearing from you!

AutoCAD 2009 Tips & Tricks Webcast

If you missed the  of AutoCAD 2009 Tips & Tricks Webcast premiere on May 8th, no problem! You can catch the rerun on autodesk.com!

Autodesk Developer Camps Coming in June

Partners, customers, and prospective customers with interest in developing on Autodesk software are invited to attend Autodesk DevCamps 2008!

Want to deepen your relationships with your customers?  Want to drive your customers to evangelize Autodesk technology within their organization and make it “their own”?  Then think about expanding your knowledge of the customization potential of Autodesk’s product line by attending this summer’s ADN Developer Camp.

Manufacturing
June 11-13
Portland, Oregon

Architecture, Engineering & Construction
June 16-18
Wakefield, Massachusetts (near Boston)

Geospatial
June 25-27
San Rafael, California (near San Francisco)

By extending Autodesk technology – going beyond what is delivered in the box – Autodesk partners and customers greatly increase the value they get from Autodesk products.  Customization and extension lead to stickier solutions that conform to customers’ workflows and the realization that Autodesk technology can be the foundation for shared design and workflows.  Customers and partners can get kick-started with extending Autodesk technology and increasing their competitive advantage by attending this summer’s Autodesk Developer Camps. Visit www.autodesk.com/devcamp2008 for more information!

AutoCAD 2009... Free Webcast!

It isn't too late to register for tomorrow's FREE AutoCAD 2009 Tips & Tricks Webcast!

AutoCAD 2009 Tips & Tricks

Date & Time: Thursday, May 8, 2008 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. PDT
Join this informative session for an insider's look at AutoCAD® Tips & Tricks. AutoCAD Technical Product Manager, Heidi Hewett, will help you hone your AutoCAD skills and show you how the latest release of AutoCAD can make you more productive than ever! You're sure to learn some powerful techniques to shorten your design time.

Help select classes for Autodesk University 2008

You can influence which classes are taught at Autodesk University! Here's more info from the AU organizers:

We're doing something new this year—we would like you to help us select the best 500-plus sessions.
We have uploaded all of the sessions (that were submitted by the deadline) to AU 2008 Session site and we need your input. Topics are organized under 19 tracks, which are either an industry or a product.  If you are considering attending AU, please take a few minutes to vote for sessions that you absolutely want to see.

Over the next few weeks, we will review all those submissions and whittle them down to the number we can actually physically accommodate in the Venetian Conference Center in Las Vegas.
Registration for AU will start on August 15th, and one week earlier for AU members.  Class schedules will be available for review by August 1st.

Thank you in advance for helping us select the most interesting classes. The deadline for voting is Saturday, May 3, 2008.

Scenes from Hong Kong

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of presenting AutoCAD 2009 in Hong Kong during an AutoCAD and 3ds Max 2009 launch party. The Autodesk customers, partners, and staff were knowledgeable and enthusiastic!

I didn’t get to see much of Hong Kong and hope to make it back another time. For now, after flying 22,409 miles in 14 days (but who’s counting?), I’m happy to have my feet on the ground!

AutoCAD 2009 Webcast... Coming soon!

Join me on May 8th for a tour of AutoCAD 2009. Learn about the new and enhanced functionality that enables you to increase productivity and maximize your investment in AutoCAD software.

Register online for this free Webcast!

Scenes from Manila

On Monday and Tuesday I had the opportunity to participate in AutoCAD 2009 training for Autodesk partners in Manila. It was an interactive class in which I learned as much about the local environment at the attendees did about AutoCAD.

I found one of the most unique and interesting characteristics of Manila to be the popular form of public transportation called jeepneys. They originated as US military jeeps left in the Philippines after World War II. Locals modified them to hold more passengers and they’ve continued to fix and replace parts throughout the decades. Jeepneys are an affordable mode of transportation for locals at a fare of about 15 cents (US) and they're everywhere! They are brightly colored, artistically expressive, and no two are alike.

 

Scenes from Australia

This week has been a whirlwind as we traveled from Sydney to Brisbane, back to Sydney and finally to Melbourne presenting AutoCAD 2009 tips and tricks. Four cities (if you count Sydney twice) in four days! At last I get to stay four nights in the same Melbourne hotel room!

We've had a fantastic audience in every city… and so tolerant of my American accent! While the main focus of the presentation was AutoCAD 2009, we also covered functionality from previous releases. I discovered that, like in the US, many people aren’t using AutoCAD to its full potential. AutoCAD has so many tools to make you more productive, but if you don't learn how to use them or don't even know they exist, you're not maximizing your investment in the software.

I’ve posted our presentation as requested by some of the attendees. If you didn’t have the opportunity to attend one of these sessions, the presentation alone may be tough to follow. I’ll try to elaborate on each of the slides in future posts. In the meantime you might want to refer to some of the documents, webcasts, and demo videos listed in the left column of my blog.

There wasn’t much time for sight-seeing but Robert (my co-presenter) and I managed to sneak a peek at the Sydney Opera house. It was a bit windy, but worth the trip!

Oh yeah... I also ate my first vegemite sandwich. Actually, I ate one bite of my first vegemite sandwich.  I think I’ll stick with peanut butter and Nutella for now!

AU 2008: Last call for great presenters

Time is running out to submit course proposals for Autodesk University 2008!

If you’re considering joining our outstanding slate of speakers at Autodesk University 2008, you’ll have to act by April 27, 2008.

Please submit your presentation proposal(s) online, as soon as possible, at the Call for Papers website.

Whenever we stop to analyze why Autodesk University has become so hugely successful, one thing is clear: the excellent presentations from experts  are a big, big factor.

The time for us to assemble the AU 2008 faculty, who are without a doubt the most critical component of the overall AU experience, is nearly over. So if you:

• Have the communication skills, technical expertise, and relevant experience….
• Want to share your knowledge of a favorite topic—from tips and tricks and sales techniques to new business opportunities such as sustainable design….
• Are motivated to bring success to design professionals and their organizations….
• Want to demonstrate your expertise to several thousand Autodesk customers, partners, and employees, thereby promoting your business success….

… Then we want to hear from you—now!

A speaker honorarium is also provided.

AUGI Portugal is Online!

Congratulations to AUGI Portugal. Their localized Web site is now live!

www.augipt.com

G’day Mates!

"You better run, you better take cover” because I’m going to the land down under...  It’s not just the men at work in Australia... Next week I’ll be working there as well!

If you’re in the Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne areas, I hope you’ll join us for some special software launch events!

On April 14th, in Sydney, AEC Systems invites you to AEC Systems National AU 2008. This all-day event showcases the latest products, services and technology available to AEC Systems clients. In the morning, Robert Smith, Autodesk Solutions Engineer, and I will take you on a tour of AutoCAD 2009. In the afternoon you can choose from 4 tracks: Building, Civil, Geospatial and Management. Each will focus on related issues for design, construction, visualization and technology.

On April 15th, you’re invited to Autodesk's AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT 2009 launch event in Brisbane! Robert and I will demonstrate tips, tricks, and features to make your design process faster, easier, and more efficient. We wouldn’t want Brisbane to have an unfair productivity advantage. So, we're back in Sydney on April 16th offering the same 2-hour productivity-boosting session. How about Melbourne? No worries! Join us on April 17th!

We hope to see you there!

Scenes from Farnborough and Neuchatel

This week I’m posting from Europe! My colleagues and I have the pleasure of participating in training sessions at Autodesk offices in England and Switzerland.

It’s a whirlwind trip (as usual) but we found just enough time for a little Swiss tradition…  My all-time favorite meal… Swiss cheese fondue!

Scenes from Seattle

The first official US CAD Camp of 2008 was held yesterday in Seattle. It drew a crowd of more than 200 enthusiastic CAD users across multiple disciplines!

The next CAD Camp is in Salt Lake City on April 29. Visit www.cadcamp.com for more information on the upcoming events!

Thanks to David Cohn for the photos!

Seattle CAD Camp... Thursday!

It isn't too late to register for the Seattle CAD Camp! If you're in the Seattle area, this is your opportunity to attend Autodesk University-type classes in your own back yard! I'll be teaching a morning session on Annotation Scaling using AutoCAD 2008. Then, during lunch, join me for a live demonstration of AutoCAD 2009!

Hope to see you there!

AUGI CAD Camps coming soon!

Get ready for a new round of CAD Camps! The US CAD Camp tour kicks off next week in Seattle, Washington. Select from a wide range of courses about Autodesk products, taught by national instructors including Dave Espinosa-Aguilar, Robert Green, Matt Murphy, and Alex Penney. I’ll be there as well, helping you maximize your efficiency with AutoCAD Annotation Scaling. And, during a special lunchtime session, Shaan Hurley will offer you a glimpse into the future of Autodesk products.

For more information about AUGI CAD Camps and to register for the upcoming Seattle event, visit www.cadcamp.com. 

Scenes from Shanghai

My blog posts have been few and far between lately but I promise they'll pick up soon! In the mean time, I'll do a little photo-sharing...

Last week I had the pleasure of participating in a training event in Shanghai. Members of Autodesk's Asia-Pacific team gathered from near and far; weathering record-breaking cold and snow!

Thanks to Prasad for the group photo!

Preliminary 2008 AUGI CAD Camp Schedule

The AUGI CAD Camps offer a unique opportunity for you to attend Autodesk University-style courses at a location near you. The sessions are taught by local, national, and even international instructors, many of whom teach the same courses at Autodesk University. If want to learn more about your Autodesk software applications as part of your New Year’s Resolution (surely that is what you’re thinking about as the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve, right?), consider attending a day-long CAD Camp in your area. AUGI released the following preliminary list of CAD Camps cities (and a few dates) for 2008. The cities and dates are subject to change, so be sure and visit www.cadcamp.com for the most current schedule information.

United States
Seattle, WA                       Feb 21, 2008
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Milwaukee, WI
Baltimore, MD
San Francisco, CA
Denver, CO
Phoenix, AZ
San Diego, CA
Minneapolis, MN
Omaha, NE
Houston, TX
Atlanta, GA
Tulsa, OK
Dallas, TX
Tampa, FL
New York City, NY
Las Vegas, NV
Indianapolis, IN
Columbus, OH
Kansas City, MO
St. Louis, MO
Jacksonville, FL
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Orlando, FL
Miami, FL
San Antonio, TX
Albuquerque, NM
Tucson, AZ
Springfield, IL
Arlington, TX
Cincinnati, OH
Portland, OR

International
Toronto, Ontario, Canada       Jan 11, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Mexico City, Mexico               Jan 17, 2008
Hamburg, Germany                Feb 28, 2008
London, England
Dublin, Ireland
Paris, France
Madrid, Spain
Melbourne, Australia
Moscow, Russia
Edinburgh, Scotland
New Delhi, India
Mumbai, India
Kolkata, India
Chennai, India
Shanghai, China

Autodesk University... Just around the corner!

Autodesk University 2007 is just around the corner (November 27-30) but it isn't too late to register! With hundreds of classes taught by the world’s top instructors, Autodesk insiders, and industry experts, this is the Autodesk learning event of the year! If you've never been to AU, it's hard to imagine what the AU experience is all about. If you have been to AU, chances are you're doing everything possible to make your way back!

I'll be at Autodesk University helping out at the Autodesk exhibit and teaching the following AutoCAD Sheet Set and Annotation Scaling courses:

Session Title:  Sheets Happen! Exploring the AutoCAD® Sheet Set Functionality, Part I
Session Type:  90-Minute Class
Level:  Advanced
Abstract:  Whether you design manufactured parts, maps, or buildings, Sheets happen! The Sheet Set functionality in AutoCAD enables you to efficiently create, manage, and share your entire set of Sheets from one convenient location. At first glance, the powerful functionality offered by the Sheet Set Manager may seem overwhelming, but you can learn and implement these tools a little at a time, immediately increasing productivity when opening, organizing, creating, archiving, sharing, and plotting drawing Sheets.

Session Title:  Sheets Happen! Exploring the AutoCAD® Sheet Set Functionality, Part II
Session Type:  90-Minute Class
Level:  Advanced
Abstract:  With an understanding of the most basic Sheet Set functionality (Sheets Happen! Part 1), you can build on your knowledge, implementing Sheet Sets for maximum efficiency. The most powerful Sheet Set functionality is available through the integration of Fields, which enable you to automate the Sheet data that is stored in your drawings. You can create your own Fields in the form of custom Sheet Set properties and then reference those, and other Fields, in your callouts, view labels, and title blocks.

Session Title:  Annotating with Intelligence in AutoCAD®!
Session Type:  90-Minute Class
Level:  Intermediate
Abstract:  Annotations are a crucial part of almost any drawing and creating them can consume a considerable amount of your workday. New and improved functionality in AutoCAD enables you to annotate your drawings with greater flexibility and efficiency than ever before.

For a complete list of all the courses as well as information about the many other activities at Autodesk University, visit www.autodesk.com/au.

See you in Las Vegas!

AUGI Salary Survey

See how your salary compares to other AUGI members in your region. AUGI has updated this year's survey to include more job titles and industries.

"You'll get results that you can show to the boss, and maybe even take to the bank. But first you have to complete the 2007 CAD Salary Survey!"

The more AUGI members that respond, the more accurate the results! Visit www.augi.com and take the 2007 CAD Salary Survey today! The deadline for participating in the survey is October 31, 2007.

Not an AUGI member? Why not? Membership is free!

Annotation Scaling Webcast

Thanks to all of you that attended today's webcast on annotation scaling in AutoCAD 2008. The recorded webcast will be posted to the Autodesk web site within a few weeks and I will include a link from my blog (in the left column under Webcasts). In the mean time, here is a list of the additional resource that I displayed at the end of the presentation:

Experience the Possibilities Tour
Join us in person
September 18   Atlanta, GA
September 19   Denver, CO
September 20   Phoenix, AZ

Register at: ww.autodesk.com/experience

Upcoming Webcast
AutoCAD Tips & Tricks, with Heidi Hewett
Thursday September 6th, 2007
10:00 am Pacific / 1:00pm Eastern
To sign-up visit:
www.autodesk.com/acadwebcasts

To view the archived webcasts, visit: www.autodesk.com/autocadwebcasts

To see AutoCAD 2008 in action, get the free trial: www.autodesk.com/autocadtrial

For more AutoCAD Tips & Tricks view Lynn Allen’s informative screencast: www.autodesk.com/tipsandtricks

To contact a local Autodesk reseller, go to: www.autodesk.com/reseller
Or call: 800-964-6432

Annotation Scaling in AutoCAD 2008

You still have time to register for the FREE Annotation Scaling webcast this morning! Don't miss out on your chance to learn the ins and outs of the new annotation scaling functionality in AutoCAD 2008.

Request for participants in Denver!

If you live in the Denver area and want to contribute to the future of AutoCAD, there are still a few spots left for the Denver-area Sneak Peek and Test Drive of new AutoCAD features.

Also, while members of the AutoCAD design team are in town, they are interested in conducting a site visit to observe AutoCAD users in action! If you work in the Denver area and want to learn more about this unique opportunity to contribute to the future of AutoCAD, please contact Shari Nemerovski (415-507-8217). As a resident of the Denver area, I’m particularly excited about these exciting LOCAL events!

I hope to see you there!

Free AutoCAD Training

AutoCAD 2008 has powerful new tools to help simplify everyday tasks and increase productivity. Begin taking advantage of these tools by joining me for two free AutoCAD training webcasts.

Best Practices for Annotation Scaling
Tuesday, September 4th

One of the most powerful new features in AutoCAD 2008 is Annotation Scaling. You no longer need to do the math to get your text, dimensions, hatches and blocks to display at the correct scale in paper space. Join me for this informative session and learn how AutoCAD 2008 will do the work for you.

AutoCAD Tips & Tricks
Thursday, September 6th

I’ll take you on a tour of some of my favorite “must-use” features since AutoCAD 2004. You might be surprised to learn functionality that has been at your fingertips for years. Then, take a closer look at new and improved features in AutoCAD 2008 including text columns, data linking, multileaders, and more!

Visit the Autodesk web site for more information and to register.

25 years of AutoCAD!!

Can you believe AutoCAD has been around for 25 years? Like many of you, I’ve been using it for most of those 25 years. My first experience with AutoCAD was in a college drafting class 21 years ago. Using a stylus, I drew an ellipse and watched it move and stretch on the monochrome screen… right in front of my eyes! How cool was that???  No lead. No ruler. And, best of all, no eraser crumbs!!! Ahhh… that is when I fell in love with AutoCAD (Okay… go ahead. Laugh!)

AutoCAD has come a long way in the past two and half decades! From the stylus to a wireless wheel mouse. From monochrome to True Color. From the screen menu to the dashboard. From 2D to 3D. The list goes on and on. To honor AutoCAD’s past 25 years of design innovation, Autodesk has created an interactive Web site were you can learn more about the history of AutoCAD and take a stroll down memory lane. You can view the AutoCAD timeline, test your knowledge of AutoCAD history, download podcasts from customers that have relied on AutoCAD to grow their businesses, and view the AutoCAD “family tree”.

Honolulu CAD Camp July 31!

If you are looking for an excuse to go to Hawaii (and who isn't?), pack your flip flops and join us for the Honolulu CAD Camp! It's not too late to register!!!

Hope to see you there!

Autodesk University... Save the dates!

The 15th Annual Autodesk University is scheduled for November 27 – 30, 2007 at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas. This is the premier Autodesk learning and networking event and you don't want to miss out!

Registration opens in August!

Experience the Possibilities

The Experience the Possibilities Tour continues this week in Canada. I'll be presenting AutoCAD Tips & Tricks in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Calgary. If you are anywhere near these cities, don't miss out on this opportunity to learn more about AutoCAD and the many other Autodesk products. Oh... and did I say it is free?

See you there!

Denver PAUG and CAD Camp this week!

If you are in the Denver area, come join us this week for the PAUG (Professional AutoCAD User Group) meeting and the Denver CAD Camp, hosted by CAD-1!

Matt Murphy, Robert Green and I are presenting at the PAUG meeting on Wednesday, May 23rd. Learn about AUGI (Autodesk User Group International), CAD Management, and new functionality in AutoCAD 2008! Also, Nate Bartley from Autodesk will be on hand to answer questions about getting involved in the Autodesk beta programs!

Join us for a full day of learning on Thursday, May 24th, at the Denver CAD Camp. National and local instructors will deliver courses on a wide range of applications including AutoCAD, Architectural Desktop, Civil 3D, Land Desktop, Building Systems, Revit, Inventor, Vault, and even the new Autodesk Impression software. Additional topics include CAD management and tips for passing the Autodesk product user exams. And, don't forget the Munch and Learn, where I'll present some of the most powerful new functionality in AutoCAD 2008 during special lunchtime session!

Hope to see you at both of these valuable Denver-area events!

Ohhhhh... and did I mention we're giving away a free NFR copy of AutoCAD 2008 at each of these events?

Scenes from the 2007 Chicago CAD Camp!

The Chicago CAD Camp was hosted by Imaginit Technologies on Tuesday and was another huge success.

As it turns out, I happened to get a year younger that day... Maybe that's why I forgot to take pictures of the event! Hmmm... since I can't show you "scenes from the Chicago CAD Camp", I'll show you the cool GPS system that the CAD Camp team gave me for my birthday! Apparently they're tired of me getting lost!

Thanks guys! I won't leave home without it!

Scenes from the 2007 Omaha CAD Camp!

The Spring CAD Camp season is now in full swing. After missing the first few cities, I was thrilled to be able to join the tour in Omaha on April 5th! Avatech Solutions hosted this great event in which attendees vowed to return next year!

Look at all those happy Top DAUGs!

Oooohhhh and the lucky winner of AutoCAD 2008 software!

Thanks to David Cohn for sharing these pictures!

American Design Drafting Association... Next week!

Next week (April 16-19) is the ADDA (American Design Drafting Association) 2007 Technical Training & Educational Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’ll be there teaching a full day of AutoCAD on Wednesday, April 18. Although I’ll be using AutoCAD 2008 for the classes, much of the content will apply to earlier releases as well. Learn how to make the most of your AutoCAD investment with an introduction to time-saving functionality including sheet sets, dynamic blocks, 3D conceptual design, automated annotation scaling and more!

For more information visit http://adda.org/

I hope to see you there!

Next stop… Omaha!

The next stop on the CAD Camp tour is Omaha, Nebraska! I promise I'll try to resist the urge to wear my Colorado Buffs shirt when I join Matt Murphy, David Cohn and the Avatech team in Husker territory!

In addition to the many courses offered by the talented national and local faculty, you can attend a “Lunch and Learn” session where I have the privilege of demonstrating powerful new functionality in AutoCAD 2008! Hope to see you there!

Experience the Possibilities!

Discover what it's like to experience your next project - all before anything is created in the real world. See how productivity can be increased, errors reduced and valuable time saved with new functions and smart applications. And get your specific industry questions answered by our experts.

Coming soon to a city near you... Autodesk is hitting the road with the Experience the Possibilities Tour!

Tour stops include:

April 10, 2007            Dallas, TX
April 12, 2007            Washington, DC
April 24, 2007            Orlando, FL
April 26, 2007            New York, NY
May 8, 2007               Montreal, QC
May 9, 2007               Toronto, ON
May 11, 2007             Boston, MA
May 15, 2007             San Jose, CA
May 16, 2007             Anaheim, CA
May 17, 2007             Seattle, WA
June 5, 2007              Chicago, IL
June 7, 2007             Vancouver, BC
June 13, 2007          Winnipeg, MB
June 14, 2007            Edmonton, AB
June 15, 2007            Calgary, AB
June 19, 2007           Halifax, NS
June 21, 2007            Ottawa, ON
September 18, 2007   Atlanta, GA
September 19, 2007  Denver, CO
September 20, 2007  Phoenix, AZ

For more information and to register for this FREE event, visit http://experience.autodesk.com/

Hope to see you there!

Learning in Atlanta!

Join CAD gurus Matt Murphy, David Cohn and Robert Green at the Atlanta CAD Camp on March 29th! In addition to the training courses offered by these national presenters, my coworker Abhi Singh will deliver a special “lunch and learn” presentation showing you the highlights of AutoCAD 2008! Visit www.cadcamp.com/atlanta for more information and to register. If you are in the Atlanta area, you don’t want to miss this valuable learning event. (I’d join you but I’m enjoying Spring Break this week with my family!)

Scenes from Europe

Last week I had the pleasure of teaching AutoCAD 2008 in Europe. There wasn't much time for sight seeing (as usual), but I had just enough time to squeeze in the essentials.

When my colleagues and I weren't teaching the talented technical staff and partners in England...

and Switzerland,

we were enjoying a pint (or two) at a British pub.

And in Switzerland, I managed to snag my very own pot of artery-clogging Swiss cheese fondue... my favorite!

Room with a view...

I just have to share a picture of the view I had from my office a few minutes ago. The snow is falling (again) and the deer are looking for food. (I live in the foothills west of Denver and we haven't seen the lawn since mid-December!)

Do you see the two in the background?

After trekking across the front yard, they stopped for a break in the backyard. 

2007 AUGI CAD Camps!

The 2007 AUGI CAD Camps kicked off in Nashville on January 18th! I, unfortunately, was unable to attend the Nashville CAD Camp but I heard it was a great success!

(Photo courtesy of David Cohn)

The next CAD Camp is in Seattle on February 22! If you are in the Seattle area, you don’t want to miss this special event as Shaan Hurley looks at the future of AutoCAD! I’ll catch up with the CAD Camp team in Little Rock on March 22 where I too will have the pleasure of leading a tour through the future of AutoCAD!

To learn more about the AUGI CAD Camps visit www.cadcamp.com.

Scenes from AU 2006

Autodesk University is well underway in Las Vegas! More than 6000 attendees are learning how to work more efficiently with Autodesk products. For more information about Autodesk University 2006, visit the official AU 2006 blog.

Autodesk University 2006

Autodesk University 2006 begins TOMORROW in Las Vegas! Registration is open today until 10pm and opens again tomorrow morning at 6:30am.

This is sure to be the largest and most exciting Autodesk University ever! Hope to see you there!

Scenes from Birmingham

On Tuesday, ALACAD hosted the Birmingham CAD Camp. In between the many valuable classes, attendees networked with eachother, instructors, and vendors. And, of course, many of them took the opportunity to test their AutoCAD knowledge by participating in the AUGI Top DAUG contest! During lunch they were treated to a special "munch an learn" session where Todd Hunter, from Autodesk, provided a sneak peek at Autodesk Impression.

This was my last CAD Camp (at least until Spring) but the rest of the gang (Matt, Robert, David, Travis, and Alex) will continue to tour the country, teaming up with local instructors. Check out the remaining CAD Camp schedule to see if they are coming to a city near you!

Scenes from Milwaukee

MasterGraphics hosted the Milwaukee CAD Camp on Tuesday. The attendance was fantastic... not that you can tell from looking at this incredibly dark photo!

Attendees were treated to a special presentation by Todd Hunter from Autodesk. He provided a sneak peek at Autodesk Impression, a new (yet-to-be-released) application that will enable you to produce 2D presentation "sketches" from your AutoCAD drawings.

Scenes from Uncasville

Where the heck is Uncasville? About a $150 cab ride from Providence, Rhode Island!

On Friday, I had the pleasure of demonstrating AutoCAD 2007 during the keynote presentation at the Datamat 2006 Technology Expo in Uncasville, Connecticut. The wonderful audience was very tolerant of my random incoherence due to lack of sleep. After numerous flight delays, I arrived in Providence too late to take the hotel shuttle or rent a car... thus, the $150 cab ride! When I arrived at the beautiful Mohegan Sun Casino/Hotel (where the event was held) at 3:30am, they had already sold my room to someone else. Ah.... adventures in travel! The hotel was kind enough to give me a deluxe suite (larger than most apartments) instead! As it turns out, I must have been too delirious to take pictures at the event so... I have no scenes from Uncasville… just the memories. In any case, I wanted to thank the friendly and attentive hosts and audience for making my crazy trip worthwhile! BTW, the hotel "shuttle" back to the airport after my presentation turned out to be a stretch limo... perfect for sleeping!

My adventures in travel continue with the Milwaukee CAD Camp on Tuesday… hope to see you there!

Scenes from Jacksonville

On Thursday, Imaging Technologies hosted CAD Camp in Jacksonville, Florida. There was a great turnout of enthusiastic CAD-learners!

Scenes from Phoenix

Phoenix/Tempe was the place to be yesterday as CADsoft hosted the Phoenix CAD Camp!

If you couldn't make it to Arizona, how about Florida? Hope to see you in Jacksonville on Thursday!

AutoCAD auf Deutsch!

Last week I had the opportunity to paricipate in an AutoCAD design validation/usability study in Munich, Germany. Almost two dozen German AutoCAD users took time out of their busy schedules to provide valuable feedback and help drive the direction of AutoCAD functionality.

With a name like "Heidi" and a mother from Bavaria, I grew up attending local Oktoberfests. Imagine how excited I was to find out that the REAL Oktoberfest was in town and only a few miles from our hotel! It was truely impressive... and just as wild as I imagined it would be! This was just one out of a dozen or so huge tents.

Scenes from the Denver CAD Camp

The Fall CAD Camp Tour kicked off yesterday in Denver. Hosted by CAD-1, the Denver CAD Camp was a great success!

Upcoming Denver CAD Camp

It's not too late to register for the Denver CAD Camp! It will be held this Thursday at the Doubletree Hotel on Quebec.

Courses include:

• The Dos and Don’ts of Dynamic Blocks Revealed!
• Menus Made Easy with the AutoCAD CUI
• 3D Modeling Made Easy with AutoCAD 2007
• Migrating Your Data and Transitioning to Autodesk Civil 3D
• Creating Custom Schedules in ADT/ABS 2007
• Many more! (Revit, Map, Raster Design, Design Review, CAD Management, eLearning, etc)

For more information and a complete list of courses visit www.cadcamp.com/denver.

Hope to see you there!

Fall CAD Camp Schedule!!!

The Fall CAD Camp season kicks off in Denver on September 14th! If you've been fortunate enough to attend a local CAD Camp in the past, I don't need to tell you how valuable these 1-day training events can be. If you have not attended a previous CAD Camp event, this is your chance to get a small taste of Autodesk University with a minimal investment in time and money. The faculty at these events includes top local and national instructors, many of which teach at Autodesk University. Visit www.cadcamp.com to view the CAD Camp schedule and courses.

After attending a local CAD Camp, multiply your experience by 10 and then register for the BIG ONE... Autodesk University 2006 in Las Vegas!

A few more pet pics!

Today is my first day back to work after my sabbatical. But, before I transition back into CAD, I wanted to share a few more CAT pictures with you!

The foster mom and her kitten are doing very well. We renamed the kitten (yet again) and we now call him Captain Jack. Why? Because when he first opened his eyes (at about 1 week old) he was sick and one of his eyes kept gooping shut... so he looked like a pirate. And, since my kids had just seen Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Jack was the first pirate to come to mind. Fortunately, a few weeks of eye-drops and Captain Jack (the kitty) was able to open both eyes... just like Captain Jack (the pirate)! Look at those beautiful eyes!!

He is helping me write this post :-)

Captain Jack is 5 weeks old and ready to make new friends. Darkstar (10 months old) isn't sure if Captain Jack is a cat or a chew toy!

Okay... enough CAT-talk!  I promise my next post will be about AutoCAD!

AutoCAT?

Wow! It has been a while since my last post!

I started on sabbatical (six week vacation) in Mid-July and, while I had great intentions to continue with my AutoCAD posts during sabbatical, it seems that my CAD focus has been temporarily replaced by a CAT focus! I’m sorry! I will, eventually, refocus on CAD so that I can continue with my “Transitioning from 2D to 3D” series. In the mean time, I’ll share my recent CAT experience with you.

Over the past few years, my husband and I have volunteered as “foster parents” for various pet rescue organizations in Colorado, where we live. The Colorado Humane Society (CHS) is always looking for foster homes for pregnant animals because the moms and babies are highly susceptible to the various viruses that are unavoidable in the overcrowded shelters. Since we didn’t have any major travel plans for our sabbatical, we decided it would be a great opportunity to foster a pregnant cat. We could help the CHS and our kids could get a first-hand lesson in biology!

We didn’t have to wait long for our biology lesson! We called the shelter on Monday, picked up “Mama” the pregnant cat on Tuesday and watched her give birth to four beautiful kittens on Friday! It was an amazing experience for a family of technology-focused city-folks! Mama was incredibly tolerant as my husband, kids and I squeezed into the closet (where she decided to give birth) and watched every minute of her special event.

“Chubby” (aka Lucky) was the first born. He was only a few minutes old when he went for Mama’s milk and he has been eating ever since!