The longest AutoCAD command name

Thanks to a comment by CAD-a-Blog on Facebook, we have rerun the query for the AutoCAD command with the longest name (from the AutoCAD command database on CADforum.cz/commands). As you probably know, the previous leader was the "CUSTOMERINVOLVEMENTPROGRAM" command. This is no longer true. This poor guy now shares only the 6-7th place. The current leader is now the "DISPLAYMANAGERCONFIGSSELECTION" command (30 characters).

The latest chart (based on AutoCAD 2014):

1.    DISPLAYMANAGERCONFIGSSELECTION 30
2.    AI_OPEN_FACEBOOK_WITH_PRODUCT  29
3.-5. OBJRELDUMPENHANCEDREFERENCES   28
      OBJRELSHOWENHANCEDREFERENCES   28
      AI_OPEN_TWITTER_WITH_PRODUCT   28
6.-7. AI_DOWNLOAD_LANGUAGE_PACKS     26
      CUSTOMERINVOLVEMENTPROGRAM     26

The AutoCAD variables can also offer some good picks:

1.    PREVIEWCREATIONTRANSPARENCY    27
2.    SHOWPAGESETUPFORNEWLAYOUTS     26
3.-4. SURFACEASSOCIATIVITYDRAG       24
      PLOTTRANSPARENCYOVERRIDE       24
5.-8. DGNIMPORTUNITCONVERSION        23
      UCS3DPERPDISPLAYSETTING        23
      UCS3DPARADISPLAYSETTING        23
      CONSTRAINTCURSORDISPLAY        23

Full list of AutoCAD commands and variables in multiple language versions can be always found on CADforum.cz/commands

WebGL Export-Publisher - from Revit straight to the web

The Autodesk "appstore" site Exchange Apps offers an interesting add-on for Revit, which allows to easily export Revit 3D models into interactive 3D graphics for display in web browsers. You can simply present your 3D projects directly on your website. This method is an alternative to the web publishing tools in the Autodesk 360 cloud.

The plug-in applicatios WebGL Export-Publisher is offered as a 30-day trial version and after the trial period it can be licensed via the vendor's site. The price of the license is 30 Euro.

Similarly to other Exchange Apps tools, this application is very very simple to install. The plug-in is installed directly into the Revit environment, where you can run it from the "Add-ins" tab. You can begin to export your models using a simple dialogue.

The output of the conversion is a .html and a .wpm (WebGL-Publisher) file, plus a folder containing textures and JavaScript libraries that are automatically generated. Just copy the exported data to your server's web folder for publication on the internet.

The vendor claims support for all popular web browsers, so there should be no problem to display the models. In fact, not every browser supports the native WebGL JavaScript API interface, which is neccessary to display and run the output data. Therefore, it is necessary to manually setup some browsers. Read the vendor's technical information here. The downside of this application is that it does not always export the entire model correctly so some elements may be missing in your exported (published) model.

The application is very easy to use, to setup and to create exports. The output data is graphically pleasant, and it can be used as a presentation of your projects on the internet. You can judge yourself in the sample video:


L.Stanik, CAD Studio

New cloud apps - Autodesk Configurator 360, Mockup 360 and Sim 360

Autodesk introduced a trio of new "Autodesk 360" cloud CAD applications. Shortly after the recent launch of the cloud-based 3D CAD software Autodesk Fusion 360, this family of new generation advanced design tools for design and manufacturing grows again.

Autodesk Configurator 360

The most interesting application from this trio is the Autodesk Configurator 360. This is the first cloud-based product configurator - allowing easy custom configuration of manufactured products. As Autodesk puts it, Configurator 360 is absurdly simple to use. And that's true. Directly from digital prototypes (.IPT Inventor files) you can generate an interactive web product catalog with parametric configuration - dimensional and logical parameters offered in this catalog are automatically taken over from the parameters of 3D CAD models in Inventor, from their iLogic rules, or from the Inventor ETO parameters (in fact, Inventor ETO Server runs in a background of the Configurator). Sales teams or even customers of manufacturing companies can so easily configure the desired version of a product and send you a request for quote or an order - straight from their web browser or their mobile device (tablet). The configured model can be also downloaded in a wide range of different image- and 3D CAD formats (you can limit the format range).

On the publishing side (as the manufacturer) you just upload an IPT file and select its parameters to publish. You can limit the access to the configurator, or you can release it publicly. The generated web catalog can be branded with logos and color-options and you can set the communication contacts. A sample product catalog and subsequent processing of the product configurations (customer view):

You can try out both pages yourself - online from your web browser (you may need to enable Silverlight as instructed):
- Product Catalog, CADstudio logo, Sieve

Configurator 360 video:

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Autodesk Mockup 360

Autodesk Mockup 360 is an easy-to-use cloud tool for rapid aggregation of CAD data from different sources (formats), their mockups, clash/collision checks, for measuring and easy sharing of 3D models with suppliers and customers. Invited participants can discuss and comment the models, and collaborate online on very large volumes of 3D CAD data. Mockup 360 does not require any special IT infrastructure to manage. Thanks to a plugin you can also publish data to Mockup 360 directly from within Inventor 2014 and 2013.

Autodesk Mockup 360 video:

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Autodesk Sim 360

The family of CAE simulation tools "Autodesk Sim 360" was extended with a version of Sim 360 Pro (includes also the AEC analysis tool Robot Structural Analysis 360) and Sim 360 Moldflow for plastics simulation. These new simulation tools offer not only computing features but also advanced tools for editing of the model geometry and their preprocessing for simulation and analysis (especially meshing).

The new Autodesk 360 cloud tools, Autodesk Sim 360, Autodesk Mockup 360 and Autodesk Configurator 360 significantly increase the function set of Autodesk Product Design Suite. These applications are currently available only for the North American market, but you can try them in a form of a free 90-day trial. Download links:

- Mockup 360 trial
- Configurator 360 trial
- Sim 360 trial