To easily diagnose his problem I requested him to send me the print screen of the Autocad error or notification box.

Job Already in Progress

A plot or publish job is already being processed in the background.  Only one job can be processed at a time.

Wait for the job to complete, and then try again.

This is not actually an error but a notification for background processing in Autocad.  When this is enabled you can only plot one autocad file at a time. In short, if you have 100 different drawing file, you need to wait for the previous plot job to complete before you can iniate a new plot job. 

If you hate to wait and want to get rid of this job already in progress thing.. then you should turn off the background plot. 

Go to Format (shortcut = OP)  >> Options >> Plot and Publish tab >> unchecked the plotting & publishing background processing option.

That’s how to get rid of that “Job in Progress – - plot and publish notification” in Autocad.

After 30 minutes, I came up with this structure:

Well, we already have Autocad MEP 2009 and REVIT but I want to know what the Autodesk will recommend for the above plan.  I’m also eyeing on the Microstation products.

This is what makes me busy these days.  Hunting down the best 3D Software for Plant Solution (Waste Water Treatment Plant, District Cooling, Plant Design etc etc..)

This is not a good sign.

By becoming a member of Autodesk Student and Design Community you can connect with students and faculty from all over the world and share interests in the field of Architecture, Civil engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design and animation and games.

You would also have the access to Download Free Autodesk Software and self-paced tutorials.

Free Autodesk Software that you can download:

• Download Free Revit Structure
• Download Free Revit Architecture
• Download Free Autodesk Alias Studio
• Download Free Autodesk Inventor
• Download Free Autodesk Viz
• Download Free Autodesk Impression
• Download Free Autocad Civil 3D
• Download Free Autocad MAP 3d
• Download Free Autocad Raster Design
• Download Free Autocad Electrical
• and many more

You just need to have a school-issued email address to register. Here is the new member registration page. If you don’t have school e-mail address you can invite a faculty member so they can authorize you to access the page.

So thats a quick tip to download Free Autodesk Software. – thanks Daniel.

I have been posting the new features of Autocad MEP 2009 and have read alot about. Now I can personally see how it works and I hope that this upgrade is better than Autocad MEP 2008. I have encountered several bugs and problems on the MEP 2008 and I have managed to get along it with it.

The Autocad MEP 2009 offers some solutions for the problems in previous version.  Along with the free Autocad MEP 2009 is the free update for Autocad Revit MEP Suite 2009. Autocad Revit MEP Suite is actually a two products in a package – those are Revit MEP 2009 and Autocad MEP 2009.

Whatever problems I encounter with the new Autocad MEP release for sure you will see it here.  Of course, I will post also good things about this product so stay tuned.

If in case you have some observations or problems you feel to share then please do so. Just leave a comment on this post and let us exchange our views on it.

Have a nice day to all.

The thing is he is not using the educational release, he is using a licensed one so this plot stamp should not be present in his drawing.  Quick research shows that the stamp is some kind of Autodesk bug (not sure about this but this is what I read from autocad forum & discussion).

What should he do then to remove the plot stamp “Produced by an Autodesk Educational Product“?

Follow this steps:

1. Open the affected drawing
2. Type dxfout in the command prompt
3. Save the dxf in the location you can easily access
4. Now, type dxfin in the command prompt
5. Browse the file you save in step 3
6. Save the file as dwg

The Produced by an Autodesk Educational Product should be removed upon completion of the steps above.  If the educational product plot stamp still appears, check the xref file and apply the steps I’ve mentioned above.

Kaspersky 2009 can detect malicious program, can pick up trojan, adware, or malware which other spyware programs failed to see. Now you will get a free internet security solution that combines antivirus protection with a personal firewall and an anti-spam filter that will surely protect your PC against malicious code, adware, spyware, hacker attacks, dialers, spam and network fraud.

Here are the download links for free Kaspersky 2009 Key.

• kav 2009 english: http://devbuilds.kaspersky-labs.com/….0.0.357en.exe
• kav 2009 russian: http://devbuilds.kaspersky-labs.com/….0.0.357ru.exe
• kis 2009 english: http://devbuilds.kaspersky-labs.com/….0.0.357en.exe
• kis 2009 rusian: http://devbuilds.kaspersky-labs.com/….0.0.357ru.exe

If you have the old version, you can re-use your Kaspersky 7 key code or license code.

You can also use the free Kaspersky 2009 Activation Key: T6B6K-8YK22-VBQH7-ZUZJG (update:  this key exceeds its limit and not working anymore)

Just copy and paste the above code in the activation form during KIS 2009 installation. Make sure you use this key before you run the trial version. Here is also the Kaspersky Activation Page where you can request the Free Kaspersky 2009 Key. Enter the activation key, click next. Ignore the customer ID and password. Then you will see link where you can download your free Kaspersky 2009 Key.

Also read:

Download Kaspersky 2009 Key Free @ caddengineer.com

Guide in Kaspersky Activation Code & Kaspersky License key @ wisewealthbuilder.com

Another 6 Months Free Kaspersky Key @ ofwlayf.com

Autodesk Seek is a web-based search tool content primarily designed for AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) Industry. It allows architects, engineers, cad technicians and students to find generic or manufacturer specifications ,building products components or associated design content. The content could includes downloadable 3D models, 2D drawings, specifications, description for particular product component.

Put is simply as a compilation of content from several external sources and content libraries provided with Revit Architecture 2008, Revit MEP 2008, Revit Structure 2008, Autocad Architecture 2008 & Autocad MEP 2008 where the searchable design content supports different file types such as DGN, DWF, DWG, DXF, GSM, LCF, PDF, RFA, RVG, RVT, SKP & ZIP.

How to use the Autodesk Seek?

1. Search or browse the file that you are looking for
2. Select the row in the search result page that you are interested in
3. Dwonload the relevant design files. (You must confirm that you agree to the Terms and Conditions before you can download a file)
4. Save downloaded file to desired location
5. Use and open the file with appropriate application.

This tool will surely be useful for AEC practitioner – from designer down to the Cad Technicians. A very good source to search and download free autocad blocks, 3D models and revit family.

And before I forgot, Autodesk Seek has Autodesk Seek Viewer browser add-on so you can inspect availabe 3D model virtually before downloading the file.. Sweet huh….

Link for free downloadable autocad blocks & cad software.

When you see the “Unreconciled New Layers” notification on the bottom right corner of your drawing screen it is always a good idea to view the unreconciled new layers in layer properties manager and fix the layer otherwise this will surely bug you when you plot your drawings. Believe me! because if you are going to plot the drawing without reconciling the layers, the plot notification dialog box about the unreconciled object will pop up many times. If you have 50 unreconciled layers you have to act on 50 popup box before you complete your plot command. The friendly Ctrl+alt+del will come to the rescue, should you find yourself in a hard situation like this (boss is standing behind you, waiting for the print out of drawing )

So you know what to do the next time you see the layer notification as illustrated above. But what if upon clickng the wonderful “View unreconciled new layers in Layer Properties Manager” link you were welcome by the famous “MEP 2008 Fatal Error Notification box” what will you do then?

My advise, AUDIT & PURGE your drawing. This will remove the unused Autocad Blocks and layers in your drawing. Reconcile the drawing – if the error still persist then most probably the affected acad drawing may have exceeded the number of layer filters that could have been causing the fatal error. We have to delete these layer filters inorder to save drawing. I once encountered this error and when I look at the layer management I observed that layer names with different symbols and characters are present in my drawing. To workaround layer reconciliation without the encouter of autocad mep fatal error , reconcile the affected drawing by accessing layer manager (default shortcut command = LA). Delete the excess & erroneous layer filter by clicking the “yes” in the dialog box that will appear. Reconcile all the layers and you are done!

Should you have a nicer way to fix this problem please share by commenting on this post.

That’s all for today, I hope this help you in anyway.

Cad filing structure is very important specially if your team is involved in differernt projects. When you have thousands of projects, consisting of thousands of drawings you will realize the proper filing and cad drawing and reference control is a must. Because good structure in filing your autocad drawings will save time in archiving, controlling and accessing the files you need to retrieve.

Here is a typical cad filing structure I proposed and implemented in our Engineering Department.

Typical CAD Filing Structure:

1. CAD Main Folder.
2. Folder alloted for files management & administration of CADD Engineering Department.
3. Key Performance Indicator Folder
4. Monthly Report monitoring files storage.
5. Folder for acad drawings, autocad blocks, common drawings & system file for Autocad MEP (previously ABS) & CADD related software.
6. Location of standard CADD drawings.
7. HVAC, ELEC, PLUMBING & ARCHITECTURAL Autocad MEP (ABS) mvpartS & catalog location
8. AutoCad blocks, ACAD title block location
9. Storage for standard logo of client, consultant.
10. Designated folder for any autodesk upgrade, utilities, patch, fixes
11. Default MEP styles & template location, including the autocad lisp routine & special script used for Autocad MEP (ABS) & Autocad
12. Information Center. Common problems resolved, tips, productivity hints including the Engineering webpage for any Cad Update & New technology
13. Folder for Data and Drawing control management and monitoring
14. Monitoring Files & drawing logs
15. Important information from client / consultant about the project
16. Drawing request receiving and outgoing monitoring.
17. Submittals and other reports, monthly, weekly as per project summary
18. Project Folder – all projects subdivided according to project index.
19. Project subfolder that have the project code and short description as a folder name for quick and easy reference.
20. Subfolder of project designated to store all the CAD drawings subdivided in four categories (construct, elements, views & sheets)
21. Constructs. Main drawing / shop drawing designed separately per services.
22. Drawing storage for Architectural discipline
23. Subparts related to Architectural as per client’s requirement.
24. Construct folder for Electrical
25. Subfolder storage for Electrical
26. HVAC drawing storage (contains subfolder related to HVAC)
27. PLUMBING drawing storage (contains subfolder related to HVAC)
28. This is one folder that consist of per project auto cad block, autocad title block, standard drawings used repeatedly on the entire project (Typical drawings, templates, special blocks..etc)
29. This is where the plot sheets are located. Composed of drawing xref’ed to views for publication, printing either by hard copy or softcopy.
30. Views, elevations, schedules xref’ed to construct. This is subdivided per discipline and may have subfolder depending on the nature of the project.
31. Any e-mail, communication correspondense important to the project – external / internal
32. Other files, drawings, or reference useful for a particular project.
33. Specifications of parts/ equipment. These are commonly scanned & soft copy of the parts specficiations provided by client
34. Transmital folder for files use to track the rawing receiving , submission, logs commitment up to completion of the project.

Shown in the Figure above is a sample of standard CADD filing structure and the coding index I implemented in our CADD/Engineering Department. I also set special permission on specific folder (per discipline) so user can customize the subfolders provided they have access on it. By default, each folder is configured per user with the permission / security applied

Under the project folder, folder creation and management is automatically generated using the Autocad MEP project navigator & project browser. It is recommended to use the project browser in creating subfolder ( if the user is permitted) in order not to mess up with the xrefing of drawing files, and folder indexing.