RobiNZ CAD Blog

The Kiwi Vectorworks Blogger

I'm not a Vectorworks user but was interested to see this Novedge interview with Jonathon Pickup, a Kiwi Vectorworks blogger. NOVEDGE blog: Interview with Jonathan Pickup, Vectorworks Guru and Tr... Read more →

Update all AutoCAD Architecture/MEP Palettes in a click

Everyone else probably realised this long ago but sometimes the obvious isn’t always… well, obvious. AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) and MEP use Tool Palettes - like AutoCAD - but have the Content Browser to organise and share them. While the system has it’s quirks I’ve found it a brilliant way to share content, tools, and custom commands/process/tasks and it’s something I miss in Revit. Best of all it’s not CUI based and version independent so Tool Palettes/Tools/Groups created in ADT 2004 work fine in ACA 2010. Manual, or Automatic? You can have Tool Palettes update automatically when the application starts but... Read more →

Microsoft's Secret Tablet is a Booklet?

Could Microsoft be about to out cool Apple? Will reality match the vision? Lets hope this doesn’t become Origami 2, remember the UMPC tablet that never really happened*, because it looks too good to fail. The video demo is cool but I wonder, how would it cope with CAD design/review applications? If Microsoft want a tester… Courier: First Details of Microsoft's Secret Tablet - Microsoft courier tablet – Gizmodo Courier is a real device, and we've heard that it's in the "late prototype" stage of development. It's not a tablet, it's a booklet… (Click for more info, video and gallery)... Read more →

A typographic map of Paris

I love Marks typograpical maps and art. This is the latest but check out New York , London and Amsterdam . Paris : Mark Andrew Webber This Carving of Paris was done in two months of working flat... Read more →

Autodesk University 2009 Preparation 1.01 – The Flat White

Find all the coffee vendors in the vicinity of Mandalay Bay Hotel and have them watch this so I don’t get puzzled looks, or worse, if I forget where I am and ask for a “Flat White”! Notice it’s not sold by the gallon, doesn’t have “flavours” added (because it tastes of coffee), contains caffeine (as all coffee should) and has real – from cows that eat grass – milk! (Prepared by Alan, The Falls Restaurant, Waitakere City, NZ) Read more →

The BIM Project mantra

This took me back to a discussion at the the last RUGAKL meeting about sharing models and ownership of data. Laura sums it up in a line, but read the post for context. dODDS and ENDS: We All Work For The Project... This past week, at the Vella Systems Customer Advisory Board in Boston, Laura Handler from Tocci put up a very simple slide at the end of her presentation. And it read: "We All Work For The Project" via bimboom.blogspot.comIt’s amazing, and sad, how many decisions are made without this being the primary consideration. Read more →

CorelDRAW Awkward? Really?

No application is perfect but the question - "Is CorelDRAW Awkward" - posed by Vectortuts+ got my attention. As an unofficial support geek I’m sometimes asked about image editing and graphics. People use lots of applications for that at work, even (my nightmare) Word, but there is one product line where I can’t help much. People are usually surprised when.my response to a Photoshop problem is: “I can probably help with the process but not the detail, I don’t use Photoshop”. This it usually followed by one of those awkward, cue whistling wind and rolling tumbleweed imagery, silences as they... Read more →

iThink it’s nearly my time for the Phone with an i

It’s not that I don’t like Apple, just their “our way or no way” attitude and the fanatic devotees annoy (but not Phil, Matt, Adam, Terrance and other iFanatics I know!). I’m not really into cults, except one, but will change my mind if the evidence stacks up. Today a few things happened that might, just might, be enough to make me consider actually getting an iPhone. Yes Kiwifrenzy, I know that even means tolerating iTunes which I’ve happily avoided, hard since Apple try & sneak it in with (also avoided because it’s rubbish) QuickTime downloads. If you’d asked me... Read more →

My Fiat 500 mouse has arrived

It’s arrived! I stumbled upon this at the Fiat U.K. website but found they are available in New Zealand from Andrew Simms European (parts dept). I even had a choice of colour, metallic pearl white or red, but it had to be red! First impressions are the build quality is good, the shape is useable (even the side mirrors don’t annoy) and I love the LED lights! On the USB base station red taillights indicate the power is on and the headlights indicate charging. You can use the mouse with the lights off to save power, “eco mode”, but why... Read more →

Build LONDON Live 2009

Build LONDON Live is on again with the challenge to create a master plan for a hypothetical Thames estuary site. This year Judges include Lachmi Khemlani, founder/editor of AECbytes. Build LONDON Live - www.buildlondonlive.com/ Building on the success of Build LONDON Live 2008, Asite, AEC3 and BIM Products announce Build LONDON Live 2009 (Bll2009). This year’s event will take place from 6th - 8th October, and will culminate with an exhibition at the Building Centre in Central London on the October 9th. For this years challenge, a hypothetical site set on a man-made island in the Thames Estuary has been... Read more →