Volume 8, Issue 1

"As Spring finally arrives bringing the release from Autodesk of the 2009 software, at 'ait' we are busy investigating the new software and will shortly be offering new 2009 training through our ATC Training Centre. If you are considering upgrading now is the time to take advantage of Autodesk Special Promotion, see below. Subscription users please update yourself on-line with the new terms and conditions recently announced. The Industry Specific Workshops are continuing and will shortly be enhanced with another round of Summer Schools. Watch this space."

Mark Spence

AIT Spatial Ltd is please to announce that it has been nominated by Autodesk Ltd for Autodesk's Northern Europe Geospatial Award

Promotion

Autodesk Special Upgrade Promotion ending 15th July 2008

Contact us now if you need to upgrade your Autodesk Software from versions 2006, 2007 or 2008 to the new 2009 version to get 30% off your purchase price*

*Terms and conditions apply.

Subscriptions

Please note the following changes to the Autodesk Subscription Program. All clients on Subscription should be running 2006 or above.

'Effective 7 April 2008, customers may use previous versions of up to three (3) releases back from the 2009 product release up to the total number of licenses of the product currently under Subscription. Subscription customers who do not have the previous version of the software may request available media through the Subscription Center. Refer to the "Eligible Product List for Previous Version Use" posted on the Subscription Center for a complete listing of eligible releases.'

Online Subscription customer toolbox - http://www.autodesk.co.uk/subscriptiontoolbox Use the toolbox now! This online toolbox is for Subscription customers ONLY.

2009 Software - Have you received your 2009 software yet? If not please contact us and we will investigate for you.

Product Focus - AutoCAD Map 3D 2009

The new release of AutoCAD Map 3D includes a range of new features, including the following specifically picked out by Philip Madeley when evaluating the software.

• Improved User Interface with more integration between Map Geospatial and Map Classic work spaces.
• Enhanced Tooltips and specific Map tips giving more information on selected object.
• Improved FDO editing - generally easier to edit FDO objects as they are treated as AutoCAD objects. There is no need to 'Check-out' or 'Check-in' FDO objects.
• All AutoCAD editing facilities are available for FDO object editing.
• Check-in Prompt - The user is prompted to check-in any object that has been checked out if an attempt is made to close the session without checking in objects.
• Split & Merge tools - A single polygon can be split into two separate polygons or two can be joined together with rules available as to how to deal with any data attached to either or both. (brilliant for Land Terrier editing)
• Expression validation available and much more assistance on incorrect expressions given rather than just saying 'Invalid Expression!'
• Ability to Save and Recall expressions enabling a library of commonly used expressions to be created.
• Multi-line and concatenated annotations can be created.
• Rounded annotations can be created e.g. areas rounded to whole metres.
• Filter constraints available for searches.
• Drop-down lists of appropriate data entries available for constraints.
• Improvements for DWG-FDO data conversion.
• Ability to create a filtered FDO import from DWG based on AutoCAD properties such as Colour, Linetype, Layer etc.
• Improved raster image support.
• Improvements and simplified interface to enable publishing to MapGuide.
• Support for Metadata under ISO19139.
• Map 2009 is THE ONLY AutoCAD product with support for Citrix systems.

Support

M-Color 9.5

We have been informed that M-Color 9.5 can be used with the basic AutoCAD 2009 but please note this has not been fully tested as yet. M-Color 9.5 is NOT yet compatible with AutoCAD LT 2009 or AutoCAD Architecture 2009.

New License File Format for 2009 Network Licenses

For full details and an example of the new format please go to:

Click here for the Autodesk Link.

Windows Vista™ support for AutoCAD 2007, 2008 and 2009

For full details go to:

Click here for the Autodesk Link.

AutoCAD® Raster Design 2009 Object Enabler

A freeware application that you can use to display AutoCAD Raster Design 2009 image files. This release allows object data created in AutoCAD Raster Design 2009 to be accessed outside the AutoCAD Raster Design environment.

For Full details go to:

Click here for the Autodesk Link.