Just returning from a week long vacation although you may have noticed in social media, the blog, and on email I failed in remaining disconnected during the week long wind down.
Here is the list of things I did over the course of the week off:
Spent quality time with the family including the July Fourth holiday and defended my house from all the newly legalized aerial fireworks coming in from other neighbors.
Mowed the lawn a few times, edged the yard, weeded the garden, spruced up the fish pond.
| Climbed up Bells Canyon with my oldest son. |
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| Hiked the San Rafael desert in South Eastern Utah photographing thousands of years old petroglyphs and pictographs. |
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Got my Google+ account, explored it and gave away several Google+ accounts, and still have a couple invites left to give out. Google+ is the new social networking hub for Google that combines Facebook and Twitter into one. Very interesting product but what I find best is the Hangout video chatting with up to 10 people. In fact I had a Hangout chat with Curt Moreno aka Kung Fu Drafter for an article he is wrinting. We need to hold a Hangout chat among 10 bloggers or geeks every two weeks and discuss what’s going on out there and new technology.
Will Google+ succeed, only time will tell but in reality I did not need another social network to keep active in. It is definitely a work in progress and working on plumbing, API, and other network integrations completed. Perhaps the bigger question is will Google pull a Buzz or Wave (RIP) by not establishing this social network option clearly defined and unique and a standard worth peoples time instead of just another friend feed aggregator. How do I get my Facebook and Twitter photos and updates linked instead of posting by copy paste to each also how do I use my Flickr within Google+ Picasa instead of having to use another hosted photo solution just to use Google+.
Took many photos to process them to 3D models using the free Autodesk Project Photofly including interesting geology and ant hills as tests to create 3D models and point clouds.
Now I need a good caffeinated nudge to get me going and thought I would play on that with explaining the new AutoCAD 2012 Nudge feature as well as drinking a strong iced coffee.
In AutoCAD 2012 there was a new Nudge feature added. Some used to raster editing applications may recognize this Nudge ability, but AutoCAD users have always asked the AutoCAD Team why they could not move an object simply using their arrow keys. Well now you can do just that in AutoCAD 2012. Use the Ctrl key and the arrow key to nudge a selected object a few pixels at a time. Since it uses the arrow keys it is limited to orthogonal moves. Give Nudge a try!
Cheers,
Shaan
Shaan,
Could you fill me in on the need for a nudge tool in a precision drafting package? First thing that comes to mind is the problems I’ve had supporting users when they eye ball locations instead of using snaps then try to perform some type of shape command (hatching and area come to mind).
Not trying to be negative, just trying to find the positive.
Thanks,
Mike
MIkeR
I completely understand your concern. Nudge is not for sloppy detailing, but instead where you have items that are not spatially relevant or need precision but just need to look to be in the relative right location and move them slightly and easily. Imagine blocks such as trees, cars, furniture etc you place in your drawing.
why did the dev team waste their time on this? when you all you need to do is hit m enter. then move it where ever and however you like. Really odd IMO, when there are lots of really useful wish list items out there no being included.
When I first read about the NUDGE command I was horrified as I imagined users creating all sorts of chaos that would be almost impossible to spot. I played with it when 2012 first came out and although it worked “As Advertised” I too was stumped as to why this was “Asked for” and furthermore included in a precision software program.
Then a few weeks ago I was finishing some drawings and needed to move a few leader lines so the arrowhead was better positioned in the gap of the dashed line it was passing through and the light bulb went off. Nudge was the answer here. Since then I have used it many different ways on details and drawings, when I needed to move a non-crucial part of a drawing to improve the visibility of a more crucial part.
Is this tool dangerous? Yes, but then again so is the text editor. Is it the “Best” new tool that could have been added? No, but now that it is there, don’t dismiss it without trying it.
Set snap on and then use Nudge, nice and precise.
Scott,
Not every feature is the right fit for everyone but most every feature is a result of customer requests and prioritization. Wish every feature in every product was a home run with everyone but sadly that’s not realistic but they do try.
Here is another great opportunity to get your suggestions adn priorities to the AutoCAD Design Team adn have other fellow users rank them.
http://autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines/2011/06/submit-your-ideas-for-autocad.html
I used a .lsp program called NUDGE and really liked it. The difference between the NEW Autodesk Nudge and the NUDGE.LSP is the lisp could use a set numeric value and rotate. It also could move diagonally. Just thought Autodesk could make a better mouse trap. IMHO