Time to start again

believe it or not, it is already time to start the new editions... (I am not sure I am ready...)

I just got "extracted Word docs" from the publisher. After we submit our files, they go through several hands and changes before becoming printed pages. There is a compositor who does the paste-up of the final pages. The artwork must be processed into the required format. There is a proofreading pass, the index is compiled, the table of contents finalized and built and probably a few other steps I forgot. Much of this work is performed in Microsoft Word, but the final steps occur outside Word. So, when it comes time to repeat the entire process and start over again for the new release, we need to get Word documents back. So they "extract" them from the page layout files. This is not completely automated from what I understand and someone must manually check each document before making them available to us.

This year we get a new Word template, so style names are changing and some other subtleties. (Never a dull moment). Our task now, as the authors, is to:

1. Decide WHEN to start writing. Factors influencing this are the current state of the beta release of the software, how likely that whatever we want to start writing about will change in the next build and of course our own schedules.
2. Setup folders, files, SnagIt profiles, schedule time, and plan tasks with co-authors.
3. And most important, become familiar with the new version of the software.

Every year it is the same. This time a year comes around and we say:
"this year we will get the manuscript out earlier..."

"Hey Paul, how's that working out for ya?"

Let's see how that goes this year... Stay tuned.

AutoCAD MEP 2010 Book in Progress

Being the glutton for punishment that I am, I have signed on to write my third book this year!

I have teamed up with three industry experts to write Mastering AutoCAD MEP! The first edition of this book should be published this fall. We expect to have it available in time for Autodesk University and hopefully several weeks before. As many of you may know, by background and experience is in architecture.

Therefore I have teamed up with three top-notch professionals in the MEP space for this project:


Darryl McClelland has 19 years of practical design in MEP engineering. Although his primary focus was the design of mechanical systems, he spent 11 of those 19 years designing electrical and plumbing systems’ as well. He also ran his own engineering business for 8 years. His design experience ranges from complex research laboratories and institutional facilities to medical and professional office buildings, and everything in between. He is a graduate of Purdue University and an active member of ASHRAE and ASPE.

Martin J. Schmid, P.E. has worked with Autodesk for the past four years working on site with customers to implement best practices using AutoCAD MEP and Revit MEP. Prior to joining Autodesk, Martin worked in a variety of roles in a variety of architecture and engineering firms, including electrical designer, engineering coordinator, and application developer. Martin has a Master's Degree in Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University, and a Masters in Business Management of Technology from the University of Texas in San Antonio. Martin has used AutoCAD since version 10, and has developed custom applications built on top of AutoCAD MEP extending the capability to suit the specific niche needs of customer applications. Martin has a beautiful wife and two lovely daughters, and works from his home in San Antonio, TX.

Gregg Stanley has over 22 years experience in Mechanical Process Design focused on Water Wastewater treatment systems using AutoCAD based solutions since Release 1.1. Gregg has also been in the position as a CAD Manager responsible for developing and instituting company specific customized applications, CAD standards and training. He has written and presented several training classes on AutoCAD and AutoCAD MEP both internally to coworkers, as a independent consultant and at Autodesk University. Gregg's current position is at Autodesk as a Quality Assurance Analyst and with Product design as a Piping Subject Matter Expert for AutoCAD MEP focused on the Piping application. Gregg is responsible for working with the larger development team and a Usability / Interaction Designer to redesign the 3D piping application and for quality assurance and quality control of several AutoCAD MEP features.

I am very excited to be working with this fine group of experts and look forward to having the book available soon.

Here is a quick look at the (preliminary - i.e. subject to change) table of contents:

Preface

Section I Introduction and Methodology
Quick Start General Overview
Chapter 1 User Interface
Chapter 2 Conceptual Underpinnings of AutoCAD MEP
Chapter 3 Project Navigator

Section II Working with MEP Objects
Chapter 4 Energy Analysis
Chapter 5 Mechanical Systems
Chapter 6 Piping Systems
Chapter 7 Electrical Systems

Section III Content and Display
Chapter 8 Content Creation - Styles
Chapter 9 Content Creation - Equipment
Chapter 10 Content Creation - Fittings
Chapter 11 Display Control (Advanced)

Section IV Drawing Documentation and Coordination
Chapter 12 Sections
Chapter 13 Managing Updates and Interference Detection
Chapter 14 Annotation, Property Sets and Schedules
Chapter 15 Plotting and Publishing

Section IV Appendices
Appendix A Online Resources
Appendix B Tips and Tricks
Appendix C Network issues, WAN

New Edition of Mastering AutoCAD Architecture

Having skipped the 2009 release, there has been a bit of a hiatus, but I am happy to say that the new edition of Mastering AutoCAD Architecture is well underway. The book remains 18 chapters plus appendices. This new completely revised edition will cover all of the topics of previous editions and is fully updated to utilize the new 2010 interface and ribbon. Chapter 1 through 6 have already been completed through tech edit. The manuscript for Chapters 7 through 9 and 13 through 15 are currently finished and in the hands of the tech editor. Those should be flowing through to the copy editor soon. Chapters 10 and 17 are currently in manuscript edit. For this edition, I have enlisted the services of David Koch to assist with manuscript edit. David is a long time member of the ACA user community and helps moderate the Autodesk ACA discussion forum. David has provided invaluable assistance to me in helping get these chapters updated quickly. At the current rate, we hope to finish the remaining manuscript by the end of the month and hopefully tech and copy edit shortly after that. That puts us well on track for a late summer, early fall release. I will post back here with more details as they become available.

The First Proofs are in

When I began this blog, I promised a peek into the process of CAD book creation. Well, I have been quite the last few weeks because I have been busy... ehem.... creating CAD books. :-)

Well, I started getting proofs back.In the old days, you would literally get a printed proof to review. These days we get a PDF. The PDF looks like the final page will look in the printed book. It is the first time I "see" what the final pages will look like. The publisher has changed a few things this year. There are some new header graphics and slightly different fonts. But the big change is that the books are going to 8 1/2" x 11" trim size. I am not sure how I feel about the new size yet, but everyone else seems to like it and think it is a good thing, so we'll see.

In the image I have posted here, you can see a bit of the process. Basically, I scroll through the PDF document and look for items that need to be fixed. This is my last chance, so if I miss somethign in the proof, then you guys email me about it. :-)
The newest Acrobat has some nice text editing and proofing tools, so the process is pretty easy, if I see something, I just add the edit directly in the page. I can also highlight items or add callouts to explain changes I need. Right now I am working pretty closely with the compositor to get the figures right. They are currently coming out too light and too large. They are working on it and will send an updated proof when they have the changes made. Once we get a final proof that we all like, I "sign" off and that's it. That chapter is ready for press.
Now we just have to repeat for every chapter before we can actually GO to press...

So, with that, I must get back to writing... Cheers.