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Wednesday, May 2, 2012
It’s been a busy few weeks since Intergraph started shipping CADWorx 2013. ECE ordered updates for every customer and they are arriving…albeit slowly. We are turning them around as fast as possible. Installation is the same as previous versions. It will install on AutoCAD 2012 and below including most verticals (the AutoCAD 2013 Compatibility and for that matter feature release is due in June). The default install directory is c:\CADWorx 2013.
With the new specification there is a slight change in the way you start Piping but to make things smoother ECE threw together an Installation and Quick Start Guide. It is short and sweet and will get you running Pipe in a snap.
Beyond that, we have been working on 2013 Specifications. We started with the Import Legacy Specification Webinar and tomorrow we are demoing our 2013 Specification Wizard in conjunction with the importer to seamlessly handle KEYWORDS – a mainstay for CADWorx Users in the past. (Registration Here). In addition to taking care of Keywords, the 2013 Spec Wizard also takes care of the multiple End Types which get created during conversion (more on that later).
Did I mention ECE we will run your converted Specifications through our 2013 Spec Wizard for FREE if you are an ECE Customer? Contact Us for details.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
All,
This post I’d thought I’d talk about PLANTMO since ECE just released a new version of the product. One of the main reasons we developed PIDMO and PLANTMO was that our CADWorx Users would successfully use CADWorx PLANT on projects but struggle with leveraging the data generated by the software. All the information was available in the database but databases are just not that easy to learn and use – especially SQL Queries.
With PLANTMO, the CADWorx User has a standard windows application with a clean interface that accesses the CADWorx PLANT database from outside the CADWorx environment. This means that the Engineering Team, Lead Pipers or anyone with the application can see and leverage the CADWorx PLANT data. The interface we developed provides an immediate view of the CADWorx PLANT database along with all the filtering and sorting anyone would want. In addition, the user can export any listing (filtered or otherwise) to Excel in a predefined Excel Template. Best of all the data is across the entire project not just the current drawing as seen by the CADWorx Users.
There are really too many features to go through so please download and take a look. Just install and open an a CADWorx Database. If you don’t want to use a real project, we place a demo project in the C:\PLANTMO folder during installation.
The download link is below:
http://www.ecedesign.com/PLANTMO
Let me know what you think!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
CADWorx 2013 was released on April 2 and started shipping the beginning of this week.
CADWorx 2013 includes:
Improved Routing
CADWorx 2013 features all new pipe routing capabilities that drastically cut down the time it takes to model your piping systems. To save even more time during routing, when a pipe run has an offset or changes direction, the software prompts the user with multiple routing options that make piping sense.
Quicker Modifications
Making changes with CADWorx 2013 is a breeze! You can now grab a segment of a pipe run and drag it to a new location, and all of the components in that section of line move with it.
Move Items effortlessly with ‘Drag-lock’
Want to move a flanged valve to another part of a line? The exclusive ‘drag-lock’ feature allows you to drag that valve past any other in-line component, even through elbows and changes of direction. With drag-lock you don’t even have to change your UCS, and even the flanges, gaskets and bolts come along for the ride! We know modifications are a necessary and often time-consuming part of what you do and — CADWorx just cut that time in half!
Better ‘Cats’ and ‘Specs’
The new catalog and specification editor allows for efficient and structured creation and control of company and project piping specifications. These tools also make it easier to include or save specifications (specs) with a project upon completion or hand over.
Change Size
You no longer have to redraw a line because it has changed size. A couple of clicks and the routine starts its magic. But it gets better, and that is because changes are not made arbitrarily if a proposed change creates multiple options, the program seeks advice from the best mind it knows — yours — to make the final selection.
Change Specs
You can now change the piping spec of any line at any time. With this capability, items in the old spec are exchanged for new items in the substituted spec. Items stay connected throughout the process, eliminating connectivity problems and the need to redraw!
Rules Based Piping
CADWorx 2013 now has the ability to build into the design process optional piping rules. Though powerful, these rules also allow the designer to override them in special cases. This vastly improves the overall design integrity by allowing companies to apply design standards that control how the system is built but also allows the flexibility needed to produce the best possible design.
Piping Branch Tables
Intuitive pipe branch table creation introduces the special ability to quickly add branch rules to piping specifications. This eliminates the guesswork in these connections and enables designs to conform to company or project standards.
Intelligent Assemblies
This latest release adds the ability to develop and save assemblies of components. These assemblies can be built from any combination of components and then reused parametrically in the future. Users can build a library of standard assemblies that can then be reused by any project member. This saves time and money while boosting accuracy through standards
ECE is processing all upgrades and sending out CD’s over the next few weeks! If you are a non-ECE customer please contact your reseller for details.
Monday, April 9, 2012
ECE Hasp Licensing System
The PURPLE Key is for Stand-Alone Licensing. The RED Key is for Network Licensing.
Stand-Alone
STEP 1: Install PIDMO, PLANTMO or PLANTMO-CAD. The installation package will automatically install the Sentinel Hasp Runtime Drivers required for the licensing.
STEP 2: Insert the PURPLE into any available USB Port on the computer. The HASP key will be recognized and PLANTMO, PIDMO, or PLANTMO-CAD will be authorized to run.
Network Installation
STEP 1: Install PIDMO, PLANTMO or PLANTMO-CAD on one of the Workstations.
Note: Skip to STEP 4 if you are installing the RED Network HASP Key on an existing CADWorx Network Server.
STEP 2: Browse to the ‘C:\Program Files\ECE Solutions’ Folder or C:\Program Files(x86)\ECE Solutions’ Folder and locate the lmsetup.exe License Manager Installation Package. Copy the lmsetup.exe to the Windows Server that will house the RED Network HASP key.
STEP 3: Install the lmsetup.exe and insert the RED key into the server.
STEP 4: On each local Workstation, open an Internet Explorer Browser Window and Navigate to the following link:
http://localhost:1947
A shortcut to the link is installed with PIDMO, PLANTMO and PLANTMO-CAD in the Start Menu under “ECE Solutions”. This link is to the SENTINEL HASP License Manager Admin Control Center and controls and monitors the HASP Key licensing.
STEP 5: Using the left-hand Menu bar, Select the the status of all HASP Keys can be monitored. The below screen shot displays the current keys connected to the system. The HASP SL key represents an Evaluation key. The 88104 RED Hasp Key represents an ECE Network Key. If this is visible then the User can Skip the remaining steps and start the required application.
STEP 6: If the listing above does not include the HASP Key with Vendor ID 88104 then Click on the “Configuration” button in the Options Menu on the left and then click on the “Access to Remote License Managers” Tab. The following screen will appear:
STEP 7: Enter the IP ADDRESS of the Computer the RED Network Key is plugged into and press the “Submit” button. Ensure the first two checkboxes are checked. The third checkbox is usually not required.
STEP 8: Click back to the “Sentinel Keys” Screen using the button in the Options Menu. Wait up to 2 minutes and the required ECE RED Network HASP Key should appear.
STEP 9: Start and Run the application.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
All,
We have just posted the latest Webinar…
CADWorx: Tips and Tricks: Session 1
Please take a look and let us know what you think.
Also, if you have any topic requests then please comment here and I will try to work them in the schedule!
Thanks,
Jeffrey Suffet
ECE Design
Friday, March 9, 2012
Last year, Intergraph came out with their CADWorx Reinstatement Program. The program has been a raving success and the response was over-the-top!
With that in mind, Intergraph just released a new CAESAR II “Get Compliant” Special.
Ok…So a what does the Special Program mean to you?
If you have an old license of CAESAR II and the hardware lock (USB or Parallel) to go along with it then give us a call. It doesn’t matter when you bought it or what version of CAESAR II your using. For a limited time, ECE can get you to the latest version of CAESAR II for approximately 1 year of Annual Maintenance.
What’s the catch?
Intergraph does require you purchase Annual Maintenance for the upcoming year but this does get you a year of Support and Program Updates.
Contact Me for more information…
Thanks,
Jeffrey Suffet
ECE Design
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
In our previous post, I discussed installation of the CADWorx Software Suite and finished with the HASP License Manager. Depending on your network configuration, CADWorx may or may not ‘see’ the License Manager installed on the server. In these cases, there is a bit of extra work to ‘point’ the CADWork (or for that matter CAESAR II or PV ELITE) workstation to the License Manager.
Step 1: On the Workstation, Find the example NETHASP.INI file. The default CADWorx location is: “C:\CADWorx 2012\Plant\Assidrv”. The default CAESAR II Location is: “C:\Program Files (x86)\Intergraph CAS\CAESAR II 5.30\Assidrv”. The default PV ELITE Location is: “C:\Program Files (x86)\Intergraph CAS\PV ELITE 2011\Assidrv”.
Step 2: As shown below, open the NETHASP.INI file in Notepad and change the NH_SERVER_ADDR entry by replacing the “xx.xx.xx.xx” with the IP address of the Server where the License Manager in running.
Note: Ensure there is no semicolon (;) in front of the NH_SERVER_ADDR line. This is the comment symbol and everything after a semicolon is ignored on a particular line.
Step 3: Save the modified NETHASP.INI to a known location on the hard drive.
Step 4: Close Notepad and the NETHASP.INI file
Step 5: For CADWorx, Copy the NETHASP.INI to the same directory as the AutoCAD executable: acad.exe. The default location for the AutoCAD 2012 executable is “C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2012 – English”. For CAESAR II and PV ELITE, copy the NETHASP.INI to the install location of the respective program. For CAESAR II, copy the NETHASP.INI to the install location of CAESAR II. The CAESAR II default location is: “C:\Program Files (x86)\Intergraph CAS\CAESAR II 5.30\”. The PV ELITE default location is “C:\Program Files (x86)\Intergraph CAS\PVElite 2011\”
Step 6: Run. The respective program should now be able to ‘see’ and acquire a license from the server.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
CADWorx and HASP Licensing Installation and Overview
Intergraph CADWorx & Analysis Software employs the Sentinel HASP Technology for software protection. The HASP Technology is a hardware locking system and requires this Hardware Lock to run. The Hardware Lock consists of small Green or Red USB Key. There are some older USB as well as Parallel port keys that will not be discussed today. Further, there are some newer technologies coming that will also not be discussed.
The Green USB Key is a local lock. The Red USB Key is a Network Lock.
Note: Intergraph CAS has also started to implement an Intelligent Serial Number technology on its products. At this time, only CAESAR II and PVELITE are affected. Serial Numbers are required to install the software applications
CADWorx Software Installation
The User will receive an Installation CD with the purchased software. Upon placing the CD in the computer CD/DVD ROM drive, the user is prompted to install the software through a Webpage Interface.
Note: For CADWorx Installations (PLANT, P&ID or Steel), the User is required to first load a compatible AutoCAD and run it at least once.
Installation
For CADWorx PLANT & P&ID Installations, once the webpage has opened, click on the PLANT & P&ID Install and follow the prompts to install like any Windows Application.
Note: For the HASP installation, when the installer prompts the User to Select a Green or Red key, ALWAYS SELECT THE GREEN KEY. AGAIN, ALWAYS SELECT THE GREEN KEY.
After the CADWorx PLANT/P&ID software is installed, the Intergraph CAS Software Installer will launch the Sentinel HASP Runtime Drivers installer. Once completed, the main software installation is completed.
CADWorx Steel Professional gets installed with CADWorx PLANT. Therefore, clicking on the CADWorx Steel Installer is not required. This Install is actually for a stand-alone version of CADWorx Steel that employs a different Licensing Technology.
CADWorx Design Review can/should be installed next. Clicking on the entry in the webpage will run through the installer.
Green HASP Keys
The Green HASP Key is a local lock. Once CADWorx is installed, insert the Green Key into a spare USB port and run CADWorx. If the key is eligible to run the Version of CADWorx installed then the program should start without issue.
Note: A RED LED should light up on the Green key. This may take some time as Windows may try to reinstall or update the Sentinel drivers automatically. If the light fails to come on then there is an issue with the USB port, the key, or the driver installation. The first step is to reboot. The second is to try a different USB port. The third step is to re-install the runtime drivers.
Red HASP Keys
The Red HASP Key is a Network lock. Once the CADWorx software is installed on the local workstation(s), the Red Network Key along with the Sentinel Hasp License Manager software needs to be installed on the desired license server as follows:
- Install the Sentinel Runtime Drivers on the Server: Download Here
- Install the License Manager on the Server: Download Here
- NOTE: Ensure the User selects “Install as a Service” during the installation routine for the licence manager
- Insert the Red key in a spare USB Port
Once the License Manager is up and Running and the Red Key is inserted with the LED lit, try and start CADWorx on the User’s Machine.
If the application does not run then a bit more setup is required…
This will be covered in the next post…
Monday, February 20, 2012
Hello,
I think the first thing we should do is introduce ECE.
ECE Design is the Intergraph CADWorx & Analysis Global Network Partner in the United States for the #1 ‘Production Ready’ AutoCAD based Plant Design Software! From CADWorx PLANT to CADWorx P&ID to CAESAR II and PV ELITE, ECE was built to Sell, Support and Train the CADWorx & Analysis Suite of Software.
ECE is solely committed to helping our clients across North America achieve success with the CADWorx Analysis Suite of software.
So…If you have an issue with a CADWorx or Analysis Product please contact us. Either fill out the Contact Us form, email us, or just pick up the phone and call us. We are here to help!
Thank you,
Jeffrey Suffet
Vice President
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