Tom Lazear Archway Systems, Inc. 2134 Main St. #160 Huntington Beach CA 92648 714 374-0440 phone 714 374-0441 fax [email protected] Versa Central California: Greg Crossley PO Box 382 Prather CA 93651-0382 559-977-9105

Northern California George McMeans 56 Nichols Ave Point Richmond CA 94801 CAD 510 231 0502 Versatile Computer Aided Design www.versacad.com Volume 5 Apr 04 Number2

simplicity and then to automatically make a 3D model Upcoming Events when the file is taken into a 3D such as MicroStation for Hope to see you at one of these events. Call for tickets: presentation. Or, take the layout and the elevation and April 23 Skills USA Riverside using the Group –Iso command that is unique to April 23, 24 CELSOC Anaheim VersaCAD, and make an isometric line drawing without May 17-21 UGS-PLM Anaheim ever leaving VersaCAD. Rhino 3D and Frank Gehry VersaCAD’s Breakthrough Pricing Frank Gehry Architects is one of the leading architectural firms in the world. They use a variety of software tools to Makes Pirating Software Legal do their way-out buildings including Rhino 3D, VersaCAD has announced a new method of pricing MicroStation, Catia and AutoCAD. Here is a model of a software more in line with what users want. For years, museum in Germany done in Rhino, courtesy of Reg users have wanted to copy software freely and put it on any Prentice their IT manager. computer when the need arises. To answer that need, VersaCAD is now available as a site license at a price that is set according to the size of the organization. A company with as few as 5 employees can enjoy the benefits of a site license for just $1000 per year, or up to 10 employees for just $1500. That means they can give the software to anyone involved with one of their projects so the office and field people can use the electronic form of the drawings. “The VersaCAD Unlimited Site License has enabled our field personnel and others to view market and facility drawing files on the spot whenever needed,” states Scott Limbacher, Vice President of Construction and Maintenance for Stater Bros. Markets. “We already knew that VersaCAD was a versatile and easy to use CADD VersaCAD shown at 4 tradeshows program as we have been using it for many years. The new VersaCAD was license agreement gives us remarkable flexibility and ease presented at CITEA, of mind.” Existing users can continue with the old pricing the EAST Inside… or switch to an Unlimited Site License. conferences in Little Who's who at Archway Systems...... 2 VersaCAD and 3D Rock and Report: More on Changing CAD...... 2 An interesting, little known fact about VersaCAD is its Sacaramento and News from VersaCAD users ...... 3 compatibility with 3D software such as Rhino 3D or also at CAROCP in Training Class Schedule ...... 3 MicroStation. VersaCAD allows for z coordinates on all Pomona. Over 30 Versatile Computer Aided Design...... 3 symbols in a symbol library and allows for assigning z students attended Content is King...... 3 coordinates to geometry such as lines and circles. That workshops at the Tim Barnett………..…...………..…...3 makes it quite easy to do all the layout work in VersaCAD EAST conferences. Strange Cal Rules……………….…....4 TransMagic……….....……… ……....4 using VersaCAD’s keystroke efficiency and menu Who’s who at Archway Systems Erik Wordal Training in Cal coastal Arlene Black Admin and sales Rick Plummer Mftr consultant and sales Tom Lazear Admin, Sales and training Greg Crossley Central Calif office George McMeans Sales & training in Nor. Cal. Josh Lazear Webmaster Mike Lazear Programming & support Dan Lazear Administration Sandy Lazear Accounting Greg Hamano Support & Training Jeff Martin Civil Consultant and training Oscar Diaz Solid Edge Training

REPORT More on the Changing CAD World

The January newsletter addressed the changes taking place in the world of CAD software supply. In just the past few months there have been even more changes:

First there was the big announcement that EDS sold their CAD division, UGS PLM Solutions, for 2.05 Billion dollars. Amazing. That is over 2 times their annual sales. But, it is understandable when you consider that the new standalone company is one of the three largest CAD companies in the world, alongside Catia and Autodesk. All three have about the same dollar volume of sales annually, although Autodesk sales have dropped off the past couple of years and Catia is a bit below UGS. This shows the value placed on being a world leader in manufacturing CAD software, which UGS surely is with their Solid Edge, I-deas and Unigraphics products. UGS is the standard at world leading manufacturing companies including GM, GE, Boeing Military and more. Solid Edge itself has grown to be the standard at Alcoa, Amada, ….L3 and other leaders. So, UGS is a strong and profitable company with a very bright future. UGS has promised that it is business as usual and they will keep all of their resellers and employees.

Archway has announced breakthrough pricing for VersaCAD. Users have long complained about complicated licensing methods and have longed for the ability to freely and easily install a favorite software on any computer they like at any time they want to meet their needs without having to worry about licensing or being accused of being a pirate. All the pirating within a company is evidence of the desire of users to do that. A recent article in the Orange County Register Business section related the companies recently burned by the Business Software Alliance, which organization’s function in life is to police companies and find those that illegally have copied software on more computers than they paid for. Examples in the article included a hardware-product distributor in Aliso Viejo who settled for $200,000 to cover illegally copied software. A manufacturing company in Illinois settled for $120,000. Recognizing the fact that honest management have no idea that the copying is going on, and that many employees don’t realize that they are breaking the law, Archway decided to do something positive about the problem. So, the Corporate site license was introduced. Small companies pay very little for the corporate license which also includes a year of updates and phone support. The annual subscription starts at $1000 per year and increases with size of company. Subscribers get increased company productivity and the peace of mind to know that they are legally using software and that they will not be surprised one day when the software cop catches them cheating.

Bentley has now passed Autodesk as the networking leader. Not the networking that you might be thinking of, but, the networking between engineers, architects, vendors, contractors, manufacturers and all the others that must pass files of their designs from person to person and company to company. Interoperable file formats has been a cry of users from the beginning of CAD. Much time is spent just converting from one file format to another. Bentley ‘s new release of MicroStation and the applications that run on top are now the most interoperable of all CAD. MicroStation v8 2004 Edition, can edit more releases of AutoCAD than AutoCAD itself. MicroStation reads every release of AutoCAD DWG or DXF from 2.6 through 2004, and, without translation edits the file and can then return it in the same format. And, MicroStation’s editing tools are superior to AutoCAD’s. So, what you have is a super-AutoCAD. But, that is not all. MicroStation can read and write all versions of MicroStation files dating back to the 80s. And still further, MicroStation can read and write these formats in the standard version of MicroStation at no additional charge: IGES, STEP, SAT, X_T, CGM and more. Unequivocally, MicroStation v8 2004 Edition is the world leader in “networking”. Civil engineering software is another area where there have been some changes. Bentley Systems really dominates the area of road and rail design, two of the hottest construction categories at the moment. Bentley’s MicroStation is the standard CAD in 48 of the 50 state DOTs as well as the federal DOT. In addition, Bentley’s InRoads is the most comprehensive road design software on the market and is standard at 25 DOTs. Also, Bentley owns Geopak (standard at 15 states) and MX which is popular in Europe and standard in at least one state. During the past year, Autodesk acquired CAiCE which is standard in one state. Watch for market battles in this segment since infrastructure design is hot in every state. CAD in schools is under severe pressure due to state budget problems, the emphasis on the 3 R’s, and the aging of technology educators. Many high schools are dropping technology education altogether. Hopefully, for the sake of US productivity, this is just a cycle and technology education will reemerge even stronger. Training Class Schedule can take them into MicroStation, VersaCAD or really any Archway offers a variety of training classes using the modern software. There is a search engine with it. Try latest of each software. Classes are 1 to 4 days in duration this, get your free password, then login and launch the and cover subjects in depth using certified materials. building database called CADBlocks. Then, search for Classes are offered in Solid Edge, SolidThinking, Rhino, modular buildings. You will see several manufacturers MicroStation and VersaCAD. All classes are 8:30 am to 5 listed. Choose one and drill down until you find the size pm. We now have three locations: our Huntington Beach and style you want. Then, download all the drawings for it training center (HB), Riverside CA (RS), and Bay area in dwg. Then, open in MicroStaiton or translate to (BA) or classes can be delivered on-site. For MicroStation VersaCAD and open there. and other Bentley courses, see also: Information Handling Service has all of the worlds http://bentleyinstitute.bentley.com/search/search.aspx engineering standards available online. Archway has just Upcoming classes: signed up to represent them in California. If you subscribe MicroStation V8 User Update 2nd Edition- Covers V8 to any standards such as ASME, AIA or others, call us to and V8.1 new features. This is a revised, one day class. see how to get that information online and always uptodate. Course includes a workbook. Cost is $300. HB: Apr 19, Archway has compiled several thousand VersaCAD May 10 BA: Apr 13 RS: May 18 symbols which will be made available in the next release. InRoads Basics- This is a Bentley certified, 4.5 day Everything from trees and plants to doors and windows, class using Bentley’s InRoads 8.2 training manual. Cost is garage doors, PCB symbols, weld symbols, weld pipe, store $1650 including course book and instruction. Next class fixtures and more. HB: May 17-21 RS: Jun 14-18 Mechsoft is an add-onto Solid Edge that includes Moving to MicroStation- Covers the basics of engineering formulas and predesigned parametric parts MicroStation 2D for persons who know another CAD. This including bolts, nuts, gears, springs and more. is a good first class in Bentley’s certified course series. Let us know if we can help you find what you are looking Cost is $900 HB: Apr 7-9, Apr 28-30, May 26-28 for. RS: Jun 21-23 News From VersaCAD Users: Essential MicroStation. Even deeper than Moving to (See also www.versacad.com >Customers) MicroStation, this four day class is basic for new users. Rick Etsell Next classes: Cosst is $1400. HB: Apr 13 to 16, May 11- Thanks for the personal response. I appreciate your efforts 14 BA: Apr 27-30 RS: May 11-14 to maintain and improve VersaCAD….I first started using Productive MicroStation. Covers advanced production CAD in 1984. Later I did a comparison between AutoCAD features in MicroStation. Cost is $1200 HB: Apr 20-22, and VersaCAD for the small naval architecural firm I was May 5-7 working for, and was very surprised to find how easy MicroStation Basics. A quick, 2 day course in VersaCAD was to learn and use. It blew AutoCAD away, MicroStation 2D that is tailored to a discipline, eg Civil, and was nearly as powerful as Medusa. Architectural or plant. Fee is $600. HB: Apr 26-27, May Tom Duffany, Construction Design 3-4, May 24-25 BA Apr 13-14 I have drawing files (in VersaCAD) that date back to 1988, VersaCAD/Rhino Quickstart- Learn VersaCAD basics in excess of 10,000. I use VersaCAD solely as an plus new translator and Library manager. Then, learn how architectural applicatiion. I do residential design work. to move files to Rhino and create 3D models. Two day Real-time zoom is great. class, $495. TBA. Tim Barnett, Barnett Offshore Design Ltd Rhino Level 1 training- Three days on how to model I have been a loyal and very satisfied VersaCAD user since in Rhino 3D. Cost is $695. 1994. I purchased VersaCAD from Coast Design in Rhino Level 2 training- Advanced modelling in Rhino Auckland NZ. I was subsequently told by Coast Design 3D. Cost is $695. Next course June 9-11 that VersaCAD was no longer supported. I have today, Solid Edge Basics - The goal of this 4 day course with much elation, discovered your site. I run Vcad 7.05 making the student ready for productive work with an from keyboard and mouse. Thank God you are still alive- introduction to Part, Assembly, Draft and Sheet Metal VersaCAD is the only software that I could come close to modules of Solid Edge. At $1200 this is a very cost- saying in perfect. In 10 years operation, I have not had a effective and quick way to get started in Solid Edge. TBA single problem. Most of all it is designed for logical Content is King thinking people and has none of the nerd baggage that so The time has come when CAD software by itself is not much software has. enough. The market is demanding more and more content Versatile Computer Aided Design and much is available. For example, you can download The name VersaCAD was derived from the title above over 1,000,000 drawings from CADRegister, the free because it is applicable to so many design situations. To online service from Thomas Register. The formats include see how VersaCAD applies to many situations, go to dwg and dxf for 2D work plus many solid modeling www.versacad.com > “See how VersaCAD can be used…” formats for 3D models. There are three categories: files The list includes: architectural plans, elevations and details, for building projects, files for machine parts and parts for mechanical part, maps, electrical schematics, plant layout, plant projects. If you download the files in dwg or dxf you piping isometrics, and more.

ONLINE STANDARDS & SPECS ARCHWAY’S PRODUCT LINE •Information Handling Services Archway is a full service provider of technical software and •NetSpex & Site Menu for Standards hardware serving the Academic, Architectural, Civil and Mechanical Engineering Markets. SERVICES •Training CAD SOFTWARE: •Phone support •VersaCAD Win & Mac •On-site support •MicroStation and applications •System Integration •NetSpex & Site Menu for standards •Networking •MicroStation utilities by GDM •Customizing •InRoads & Geopak Civil Software •Consulting •Solid Edge •Contract software development •Plassotech finite element modeling •Web page development •Softree civil surveying •CAD file translation •Mech Soft

•AutoCAD LT TransMagic •TransMagic-translation If you need to convert between any of these 3D file types, we invite you to checkout TransMagic: GRAPHICS & ANIMATION SOFTWARE: Solid Edge or Microstation To/From... •Softimage Catia v4 or v5 •Solid Thinking Unigraphics •Masterpiece (inside MicroStation) ProEngineer •Rhino 3D, Flamingo, Penguin Any Parasolid based software (SolidWorks for example) •3DJoy for Mac Any ACIS based (AutoCAD) •ArchVision libraries IGES 3D •Adobe: Photoshop, Video Collection… Or, between any of those above. TransMagic can also clean •Macromedia: Illustrator, Director, Flash… up a file that is difficult to convert. We have just been approved as a dealer for TransMagic and would be glad to help you. We are offering a 10% introductory discount. COMPUTER PERIPHERALS •Applica –enables 4 users of one PC Strange California Rules •Lightest portable XGA projector A new California education policy lists vocational courses •3D MicroScribe digitizer that are adequate to receive UC accreditation for transfer (very important for high school principals). The new policy CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT is called A-G. Strangely, all the approved courses are in •Field Manager from Info Tech photography. Take a picture, get credit. Design something •Estimator from Info Tech with CAD, no credit. Write or email your congressman if you agree with us that this makes no sense and that this new policy is not good for the 80% of students who go directly into the workforce and never go to college. Help keep Tom Lazear California competitive! Archway Systems, Inc. 2134 Main Street #160 Huntington Beach CA 92648 PRESORTED STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID Santa Ana, CA Mini-Mailers