Deploying

(This isn't a tutorial, but network deployments are not for the feint of heart)

Greetings from Rapid City, South Dakota.

This week I'm doing a good, old-fashioned network install of Civil3D2006. Yes. 2006. And the hardest part was getting the license file from Autodesk. If you purchase 2007, but want to install 2006 (say, because your architecture department is on ADT2006) you need to fill out a request to do so. Even after the request is approved, expect to be on the phone with the fine people at Autodesk registrations. It won't register automatically.

In 2006 you first install the Deployment Wizard. Even in 2007 I recommend installing the wizard to a share location. That way you can be bopping all over and not need to return to the computer where you first installed it...or drag CDs with you. Yes, I know in '07 you can install from the media browser but I still like the Wizard out there waiting for me...just in case I need to check something.

Run the deployment Wizard and make the installer do your bidding. Sadly, and I'm not sure why, the 2006 deployment "forgot" all my custom support file search paths. Harrumph. I have to fix that after class today.

Then install the Network License Manager. You need to be looking at the server at this point. Today I remote-ed into a server in Sioux City - but used the local user's machine as my CD drive. I just shared the CD drive over the network and like magic I could get to the media browser and install remotely. Cool, huh?

So, drumroll please...installing the Activation thingy.
Like I said, I needed to call the Registration people.

They wanted the hardware address (aka MAC address, aka Physical Address) and name of the server. No problemo.
To get to the hardware address they needed you:

1. Get to a command prompt (Start > Run, then type CMD)
2. Type in ipconfig /all
3. Jot down the number then email it to wherever they want you to. In my case customer service.

Several hours later, after verifying group numbers and all that fun stuff I got my license file. I strongly recommend putting it in the default location. Now configure the paths to log file, licence and the service executable. Don't forget to start the service!

Last but not least, at the workstations, add the environment variable to let Windows know where to look for the license.

Whalla. You should have licenses. Luckily I had no firewall problems -didn't need to open port 2080.

And the people of South Dakota rejoiced!

The Pipe is Big

This pipe scares me. It seems to be an odd choice for the Civil 3D 2008 splash screen.

I'm guessing this is some kind of gas main or something else under pressure. But pipes under pressure don't need the rules that C3D provides in pipe layout...

Its different.

How NOT to Demo Civil 3D 2008

I conducted my first demo using the new software this week. The group was really excited. One engineer even joked to the project manager, "Stop drooling, Ed!" Moments like that I am so proud of the work I do, when we lowly AE's can actually get engineers and drafters fired up about what they do - and even more amazing - eager to change years of inefficient processes.

When the project manager said, "If this thing makes nice P&P sheets, I'm gunna jump across this table and kiss you!" I said, "It does, but I'm engaged."

The hitch in my giddyup was how I had Civil 3D running. I installed it to my 120 gig external USB drive (which I fondly call the "sock drive" because I protect it by placing it in an old sock). It worked very well except when it came to importing points via the survey database. Slow as molasses in January. I ended up aborting the import and just bringing in the dataset via TXT file. In my defense, I was going to uninstall l it an reinstall it to C prior to the demo. My hubby-to-be advised me not to mess with it so close to go time. He's a programmer and a database guru for PeopleSoft - so I took his advice.

Other than the minor glitch things went very well. I've got a follow-up demo of the survey functionality today!

OH! 8!

Happy Happy Joy Joy!
AutoDesk Civil 3D 2008 ships in a few weeks.
Here's a rundown of my favorite new stuff:

• Plan and Profile Sheets - like buttah. Belisimo! Right out of the gate it is more user friendly and faster to set up than either Land Desktop or Eagle Point. Well done boys!
  
• More Modeless Toolbars - you will swear less frequently when creating design alignments or profiles.
• Lines/Curves Menu - its baaaack, and this time its not playing around. I've already used it to create best fit curves in client's drawings. Use with caution, you may weep with joy.
• More Out-of-the-Box Reports - XSL stuff is mysterious to me. Thankfully, more reports are built in to help a homegirl out.
  
• More Sub-assemblies - I have not even tried them yet, but I'm still excited.
  
• More Feature Line Tools - 3D Join? Yeah, baby, yeah!

This is by no means a complete list of new features, but I've just scratched the surface in playing with it. More new stuff to come....with explanation.

Come for the Civil 3D, Stay for the Dirty Jokes

You know what I love about our industry? You're hard pressed to find people who can't appreciate a dirty joke once and a while. This week my esteemed colleagues Russ, Marketing Mike and myself are at the WLIA show in lovely Appleton , WI. Now, I enjoy trade shows because I get to see a lot of clients all in one spot and get to show off Civil 3D to people who may have never been exposed before. Then there's the friendly teasing of the people running our competitor's booth.

But trade show days get long. So the three of us basically took turns making each other turn red with embarrassment.

A good time was had by all.

Now, I'm not actually going to tell a dirty joke, per se... BUT...

Isn't Forced Insertion illegal in all 50 states?