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Microsoft Office 2007 has been delayed. There are a couple of possible reasons:
Signum sine tinnitu--by Guy Kawasaki: Corrected RSS Feed
This is the right feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/guykawasaki/Gypm
Click through to the full ‘toon, is it you too?
Doug Savage does a chicken toon every day: http://www.savagechickens.com/
Microsoft WinFS promised to revolutionise the way people access information on their computer. Storing files in a relational database structure, categorised by attributes/tags, would have ended the limitations of a folder hierarchy.
The idea appealed because often files have more than one reason to exist. Placing them in a folder forces us to decide where to store information based on only one aspect. I don’t really care where, or how, something is stored as long as I can find it. I want to do that based on what it is not where it’s stored. If my file is that leaf, circled on the lower left, why the need to remember which branch of the tree it’s on?
Back in August 2005 I speculated how WinFS could impact Building Information Modelling:
What's in Store... What will WinFS mean for CAD & BIM? – RobiNZ CAD Blog 08/2005
The ability to associate data from multiple applications in multiple forms using relationships, rather than disk file/folder structures, seems useful for users trying to bring together the masses of distributed data which represent a BIM Project.
At the time Microsoft described WinFS as:
“The new relational file system for Windows. As an essential piece of Microsoft’s Integrated Storage strategy, WinFS bridges the gap between file systems and databases and provides a unified, rich programming platform for all data: structured, semi-structured, and unstructured.”
Essential? Well, maybe not:
The Fishbowl: We Come to Bury WinFS...
“WinFS is dead. Its carcass is being split between SQL Server and ADO.NET, and the relational filesystem that was going to change the way we use computers is no longer just postponed to be shipped after Vista, it’s gone.”
If WinFS as a PC file store is dead it’s a pity. Are we condemned to being forever lost in a forest of [directory] trees?
There are a few solutions with current technology;
Desktop Search; Although limited to the indexing capabilities they do allow you to find information irrespective of location. Only thing is you don’t want to search every time you need a commonly used file.So my solution to the limitations of a folder tree is a map tree!
A recent Cadalyst article examines MindManager as a tool for CAD Management.
This is one of my main uses as I’ve found the elements that make it a wonderful knowledge capture tool for collaboration work just as well for pure documentation.
I now use MindManager as the authoring tool for my CAD Standard/System Documentation only exporting to other formats for others to reference, if at all. I’ve shown some of this in the MindManager posts on this blog and have more planned.
If you have potential uses for MindManager & CAD you’d like discussed, ideas for future posts, let me know.
MindManager Won't Think for You — But it Helps ~ cadalyst
Mind-mapping tool enhances collaboration for business planning, project brainstorming, design what-ifs and more…
I went to an Auckland AutoCAD User Group meeting tonight and after an excellent demo of Revit Building and Revit Structure, thanks Rich & Damien, the discussion turned to the subject of the next meeting – AutoCAD 2007.
The question was asked: “How do you re-path xrefs in the new 2007 External References Manager (right), it’s not that obvious how you save the path, and can you revert to the old dialogs if preferred?” I remembered reading the answer to the old dialog but couldn’t recall so here it is…
But first, why a new palette and how do you use it?
Adding DWF as a possible reference type meant the designers had the choice. Create yet another dialog for reference management or create a new interface for all types of file references. The External References Palette was combines the old Xref and Image Manager dialogs. It’s worth trying as it provides the only dialog to manage DWF references.
I show a few possible states and how to edit the references in this interface, and those classic dialog commands…
Continue reading "AutoCAD 2007 Xref Manager Palette Vs Dialog" »
So you need to do both Building Systems and Building related work. Will the discipline targeted Autodesk AEC applications allow this and what are the limitations.
Autodesk AEC Desktop Family:
The vertical nature of the “AEC Desktop family” makes this simple to answer. Autodesk Building Systems contains all the capabilities of Architectural Desktop, which in turn contains all of AutoCAD. The user interface presented on installation may not be identical but the functions are there. You may have to create a profile & workspace but once done ABS can do all that ADT allows.
Autodesk Revit AEC Family:
Once Revit was the same for everyone, but things aren’t so simple anymore. Revit became Revit Building, soon joined by Revit Structure and Revit Systems. There has been some debate on how the “flavours” of Revit compare for those doing multi-discipline work. Although sharing a common core they appear to be more companions, rather than vertical products, with selected tools exposed to suit the target design role.
So can you do buildings in Revit Systems?
I can’t comment, as Revit Systems is not released in New Zealand, however Steve Stafford has posted a excellent comparison on his Revit OpEd blog. It shows the Revit Building and Systems Design Bars and discusses what is, and isn’t, included.
Revit Building & Revit Systems Design Bar Comparison - Revit OpEd
Presentation Zen uses recent Aussie and Kiwi tourism promotion videos to introduce the impact of applying bold images and “The rule of Thirds”, a photographers favourite, to improve presentations.
The comments on the “100% Pure” are interesting to read. I’ve seen it screening on Discovery and wondered what sort of impact it has when you don’t already live here!
Presentation Zen: The power of the visual: Learning from Down Under promotion videos
Mindjets new CEO, Scott Raskin, has a goal;
“Our goal is to make our MindManager software a must-have productivity solution for individuals, business teams and organizations all around the world.”
While this is worthy I think it needs a slight revision;
“Our goal is to make people realise our MindManager software is a must-have productivity solution for individuals, business teams and organizations all around the world.”
As mentioned earlier the the only problem I have seen with MindManager in a corporate environment is the perception that a MindManager Map is not a “proper” business document. Maybe the real problem is they are graphic, attractive, efficient and far too much fun to create 
Mindjet Corporation Appoints Scott Raskin as New CEO - Mindjet: Press Release
It’s interesting to see what people look at and I thought worth sharing the top “Top 15 Entry Pages” for this blog. There are some old, some new and quite a mixture of topics!
This wish, originally suggested in the forum by “Wallace”, has been granted which just shows that Michael S. Scherotter (Product Manager, Solution Platforms, Mindjet) is far more productive on long haul flight than I am. I just watch movies, read, eat or sleep! The Map Explorer adds a pane to the MindManager Interface showing the current map as a navigable hierarchical tree. It also allows basic topic editing enabling rename/delete of the current topic and insert of sub-topics, siblings, call-outs or floating topics within the Explorer Pane. The Map expands to show the topic selected in the Explorer view and, if not visible at the zoom level, pans to the topic. It’s a nice way to browse a complex map and I thought could be handy to use in Presentation Mode. Unfortunately by default this mode hides the Toolbars & Task Panes but you can restore them using the Options Button > Toolbar settings in Presentation Mode; Adding Explorer to the existing Map and Outline Modes in MindManager gives a very versatile interface to access and manage complex information. Thanks to Wallace, Michael and long-haul air travel! Get the MindManager Map Explorer at: http://www.mindjet.com/labs/MapExplorer.html UPDATE 25–06–2006: Jason Dorko discovered a limitation for Tablet users. The Map Explorer view doesn’t display, or try to recognise, inked topics. See his Map Explorer post for details. UPDATE 22–07–2006: Jason will be happy, now supports ink!
Thanks to the MindManager User forum RSS Feed I discovered Mindjet Labs have released a free Map Explorer Add-in for MindManager Pro 6.
To enable Task Panes in "Presentation Mode"
If you want a nice overview of the technology being offered for Building Information Modelling (BIM) check out H. Edward Goldberg’s recent Cadalyst article. It covers a range of BIM related solutions from VectorWorks, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Graphisoft, Gehry Technologies, & 1ST Pricing.
There are concise descriptions of the applications each is offering and how they fit into the BIM process. Given that BIM is a process, more than just an application, it’s good to be aware of the alternatives that are out there!
State of the AEC Industry 2006 - BIM solutions are changing the AEC landscape. - Cadalyst AEC
“Major AEC software companies recognize that BIM, which I'll use to refer to building information modeling, affects the entire building lifecycle, and they are responding.”
Nick Duffill has an interesting approach to analyse if software mapping applications can add value to your organisation.
Beyond Crayons: How does mapping software create value inside organisations?
“Ask yourself: "What core processes are not working very well today because we struggle to describe and communicate fundamental concepts in a consistent and engaging way?"”
I use MindManager for information management and documentation more than collaboration. In fact I usually share maps as exported conventional format documents such as Email, Word, or PowerPoint. The reason is that when people see my source maps I invariably get these reactions;
Does business expect conventional text formatted documents because typewriters, later word processors, are the established authoring tools? Graphic information is accepted for some types of documentation, think of spreadsheet charts, but people struggle when first confronted with a graphic map format simply because it is different. I’ve found the toughest part of introducing mapping to your workplace as a documentation tool is getting people to appreciate that “spider-web” I play with is a document!
One thing missing from TypePad is statistics for RSS subscribers. I used FeedBurner for that but never knew how many were still using the default TypePad Feed. With the new TypePad/FeedBurner connection I’ve found 500+ subscribers are monitoring the combined feeds which is far more than the 100 or so I knew about previously.
All I can say is thanks for reading!
This is only of interest to TypePad Publishers and Readers using my RSS Feed. As of tonight I’m using a new TypePad/FeedBurner feature to redirect all my subscribers, whether from the default TypePad Feed (via typepad.com) or Feedburner Feed (via feedburner.com), to one source feed.
Whichever you use there should be no impact but it makes management of the feed easier and reader statistics more accurate for me. If you experience any problems with the RSS feed please leave a comment or email me.
The new Architectural Desktop & Building Systems community at AUGI is live.
Read about it here: BLAUGI: New Architectural Desktop Community Launch at AUGI!
View it here: AUGI Architectural Desktop and Building Systems Community (req. free AUGI registration)
I don’t have a Mac but those that do seem to love them. I love using MindManager so suspect Mac users will love MindManager for Mac.
Click on the map thumbnail to learn more about the Mac version and how MindManager Windows users can share information with their new Mac colleagues.
via The Mindjet Blog
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