The system variable PICKADD has been changed for 2011. Most people probably will not notice, but I like it. Previously, there were 2 choices for this variable, 0 and 1. A setting of 2 was added. See the summary below.

• 0 - means that only your last selection is valid. In other words, if you select a entity, then select another entity, the first one becomes unselected.
• 1 - is what most people use. This allows you to continue to add entities to a selection set.
• 2 - works just like 1, expect that when using the ._Select command, the entities remain selected when the command is over. Previously when you used the ._Select command then executed a command, you had to use _P to refer to the previous selection set. Now you can use the ._Select command, create a selection and then launch the desired command with the selected objects pre-selected.

For more details, see: PICKADD - AutoCAD 2011 Documentation

Today is not April 1 is it?

OK, I really had no idea in my earlier post and was simply poking fun at Wikipedia, but lo and behold - there will be a Mac version of AutoCAD soon. [System Requirements] | [4 page brochure]

I have to admit, after several years of debate on the Autodesk newsgroups [* see bottom of post] and in other places, I did not see this coming.

I hope the Mac effort did not take anything away from the effort being spent on the next version of AutoCAD for Windows (due in March 2011?). Is the code base being shared or developed side by side? I've only seen the highlights of this announcement, so this may have already been answered. Read more »

If you follow the link in my previous post for AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011 Update 1, you will see that the update download has been removed due to problems discovered soon after its release.

If you have installed this update, there is a HotFix available to resolve the problems that the Update introduced at some point. According to the Update 1 page, there will be a revised Update 1 released. Not sure if it will be named Update 1, Update 1A, or Update 2.... Read more »

Update 1 for AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011 has been released today. Are you wondering what problems were addressed? Check out the README file that comes with every update.

In fact, don't just download the .EXE and start clicking away - take a couple of minutes and read the README file. It will tell you exactly which file to download, what files you might want to backup before application of the update, and how to extract the MSP file, among other things....

There is a link to the README file on each of the download pages, listed below.

AutoCAD 2011 Update 1

AutoCAD LT 2011 Update 1 Read more »

Autodesk is conducting a poll/survey on your involvement with discussion groups, forums, and user communities in general. If you would like to participate, click here. Read more »

According to a well trusted source, there will be a Mac version of AutoCAD 2012.

Ok, I guess Wikipedia is not a well trusted source, but someone named Rzęsor added this bit of info to the AutoCAD wikipedia page on July 26 2010 - so either this is wishful thinking, or Rzęsor is telling the world something he/she shouldn't be.... or I suppose it could be a good guess that comes true... (Here is a screen capture if you prefer)

So what do you think? Do you want a Mac version? Do you care?

Disclaimer: No, I do not have any 'inside info' on AutoCAD 2012, this post is purely about the Wikipedia article. Read more »

Graebert has announced the availability of ARES Commander Edition for Mac OS X. This is a Mac app, no emulator required. ARES is now the first single CAD application to run on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

ARES Commander Edition for Mac lists for €995, but is available at 50% off (€495) through the end of September 2010. A 30 day trial version is available also. I recently reviewed the Windows version of ARES Commander Edition for Cadalyst. If you are a Mac user, are you going to give the trial version a tryout? Read more »

Well, not that either one ever slows down...

Donnie Gladfelter of Cad Geek fame, not to mention author of the new book, AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011 - No Experience Required, is the AutoCAD Expert of the week over at AutoCAD Exchange. C'mon, head over there and ask him a question - he literally wrote the book on it! :-)

Next Tuesday, Heidi Hewett is presenting a webcast on AutoCAD 2011, highlighting the latest productivity enhancements, estimated at up to 44% over previous versions in a recent productivity study. Sign up here for the presentation, and check out this post over at the blog nauseam. I'll see you (well, sort of...) on Tuesday at the webcast. Read more »