Reference Books
Drew Fulford
--
Drew Fulford B.A.Sc. Systems Engineer
Solid Caddgroup Inc. Burlington, Ontario
Tel: (905)331-9670, Fax: (905)331-7280
Corporate: http://www.solidcadcam.com/
Visit my MCAD website @ http://www.mymcad.com/
"Smatheis" <smat...@gemcor.com> wrote in message
news:f0957...@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Way back in the 90's, you would get a nice thick set of reference books
when you spent thousands of dollars for a CAD software. The "Getting
Started" book is of very little use and the "Help" in Inventor does not live
up to it's name. Has Autodesk written comprehensive manuals for
Inventor(hardcopy or pdf)? Are there any good third party books?
>
Michael Johnson
Thank you for your response. If we're not getting a manual because of
environmental groups, or available storage space, then why can't Autodesk
make a manual optional and charge for it, 20, 30, 40, even $50 or more, I
would be most happy to pay it. As for the books listed on your web site,
they are all written for v3 or v4 and I'll say that some of them are so full
of errors and missing commands it's hardly worth the time to read them,
Inventor from the top is the only book for Iv5 listed. I ordered it back 3
weeks ago, not here yet. Do you honestly think it's fair to a beginning
Solid Modler to learn this program with only the tutorials furnished by
Autodesk???
Regards, Mike
"Drew Fulford" <dful...@solidcadcam.com> wrote in message
news:6724188920BD9E9E...@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Michael,
>
> While i personally share your desire to have Printed manuals, i must admit
> that i do get complaints from customers about manuals from some
> "environmental" types. Especially when they order big qty's of packages
only
> to be stuffed in a vault somewhere. To them, disposing of these manuals is
a
> task they'd rather not have.
>
> One nice thing about edocs is that corrections can be made easily via new
> downloads.
>
> I guess we all have to start to lose our old habits.
>
> - Drew
>
> --
> Drew Fulford B.A.Sc. Systems Engineer
> Solid Caddgroup Inc. Burlington, Ontario
> Tel: (905)331-9670, Fax: (905)331-7280
> Corporate: http://www.solidcadcam.com/
>
> Visit my MCAD website @ http://www.mymcad.com/
>
>
>
> news:1EAEB849918C0227...@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > I'm glad someone had the nerve to bring this to the attention of the
> group, I just didn't have it. I have wasted several hours and boy do I
mean
> several hours, even days trying to learn to use this program. I am
> thoroughly disgusted with the material available (all Iv4). I am further
> very disappointed and unhappy with autodesk. You would surely think that
for
> the price they charge for this program they would include a manual with
it.
> >
> > Michael Johnson
> > Johnson Technical Services
Drew Fulford
Drew Fulford
The green submarine amazon link lists one R5 book from Elise Moss as well as
Inventor from the top. In addition the Blue CrWare link links to another R5
book that i personally like and use. Thats 3 in total from 3rd parties :)
I agree that to self learn from zero with whats provided is insufficient.
However i know many that have.
Did you ask your dealer for books when you bought?
- Drew
--
Drew Fulford B.A.Sc. Systems Engineer
Solid Caddgroup Inc. Burlington, Ontario
Tel: (905)331-9670, Fax: (905)331-7280
Corporate: http://www.solidcadcam.com/
Visit my MCAD website @ http://www.mymcad.com/
"Michael Johnson" <mjoh...@johnsontech.org> wrote in message
news:4B124E371F5573AF...@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
chris
third party and, be honest, am kind of disappointed. The subjects are very
limited to the field of the author's experiences. No one knows the software
better than those who wrote it - the AutoDesk people. I'd like to see some
thick manuals as AutoDesk did for the Mechanical Desktop R2. They cover
almost everything you need to know about the MDT- part modeling, assembly,
dwg. I have no idea why AutoDesk stops doing it. Seeking "help" from
Inventor is really pain in the ***. I'm the only who's using IV at my
company, the rest are still using MDT. So far my best resource is this DG.
Hope AutoDesk considers this matter seriously.
"Michael Johnson" <mjoh...@johnsontech.org> wrote in message
news:4B124E371F5573AF...@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
Keith Bender
of time to spend on learning, so I'd like to have a manual to take with me
on the road, or to the "library". I spend all day sometimes on Inventor,
I'd like to be able to step away from the computer and have a different kind
of relaxing study - read about something new to try tomorrow or such! Not a
tutorial, but more a reference that shows in detail what capabilities
Inventor has.
Elise Moss
rather than a tutorial book. A book that outlines commands/command syntax
rather than walking you through how each command works; something like the
type of book Ralph Grabowski is good at.
Am I correct?
I am gratified to hear the positive comments coming back on my R5 Inventor
Fundamentals manual. I have taken the feedback from this forum to heart and
incorporated many of your suggestions and comments into both R5 books.
My ADT book is outselling my Inventor books almost 2 to 1, so my publisher
is having me work more on ADT texts, but, as a mechanical engineer, I much
prefer writing (and working) on Inventor.
I also have a limitation as my publisher insists that I keep my books under
350 pages. I ignore that constraint to a certain degree (my Fundamentals
book runs almost 600 pages), but it does create a problem when writing on
Inventor.
Elise Moss
"Keith Bender" <kei...@aptix.com> wrote in message
news:04ADE57A55A2D676...@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
enric ribas
but I think it's needed. There are people who have been using Inventor for a
while who don't know how to use certain features, like edit sketch
coordinate (including me), and that's one of hundreds of examples.
And as long as I have an author in ear's reach (or to others if they know of
a book that exists), I would like a tutorial book that starts a project from
the top. Most books start with part modeling and then assembly constraints
etc.. That's great if you're Boeing and an airplane this year is basically
the same as an airplane last year with some changes, but we (and I assume
others) have to design things from scratch sometimes. I don't know of any
book that starts a project with no existing parts, actually designing...
thanks,
enric ribas
Richard Hinterhoeller
Elise:
Actually, I think both are needed, but I concur with your observation
that a reference book is needed.
Tutorials are excellent for a newbie to follow a relatively simple
design to completion. They show the capabilities of IV and allow the
user to exercise some of the features. The problem is that IV is used
so rich in features that the tutorials aren't likely to cover them all.
I can only speak for myself, but once I am functional on a program, I
like to devour a big, thick, reference book during my off time. I don't
memorize these books, but by reading them you gradually assimilate the
diverse capabilities so that you know they are there when you need them.
I also believe it has to be a book. You don't retain information as
well off a screen, many reading opportunities are out of reach of the
computer and it just takes me forever to find information on-line.
Richard
Elise Moss wrote:
>
> What I am hearing from the group is they would prefer a reference book
> rather than a tutorial book. A book that outlines commands/command syntax
> rather than walking you through how each command works; something like the
> type of book Ralph Grabowski is good at.
>
> Am I correct?
>
> I am gratified to hear the positive comments coming back on my R5 Inventor
> Fundamentals manual. I have taken the feedback from this forum to heart and
> incorporated many of your suggestions and comments into both R5 books.
>
> My ADT book is outselling my Inventor books almost 2 to 1, so my publisher
> is having me work more on ADT texts, but, as a mechanical engineer, I much
> prefer writing (and working) on Inventor.
>
> I also have a limitation as my publisher insists that I keep my books under
> 350 pages. I ignore that constraint to a certain degree (my Fundamentals
> book runs almost 600 pages), but it does create a problem when writing on
> Inventor.
>
> Elise Moss
Elise Moss
Shih's book, and Cheng' s book all discuss how to build an assembly from the
bottom up or the top down. So, he either doesn't have the patience to go
thru any of the existing books out there or he just doesn't know that those
books exist.
Inventor is a very feature rich software and a thick reference book is
definitely a nice idea. Finding a publisher who would be willing to print
one is going to be the problem because my current publisher definitely will
not go for it. He simply doesn't think there is a big enough market or a
big enough margin to be made.
I think as the market grows more publishers will be interested and
supportive of this type of book.
I am interested in meeting users and readers at Autodesk University and
hearing their ideas of what they would like to see in future books.
Keep a good thought.
Elise Moss
"Richard Hinterhoeller" <rhinter...@cogeco.ca> wrote in message
news:3BEC32E0...@cogeco.ca...
John Walker
I'm with you Elise
I've not, unfortunately, read the books you have done :-(, but I have
studiously worked every example in Ron Cheng's book which starts with
building parts and ends with assembling them.
It's also worth mentioning that whilst the book I have was written for
IV3, pretty much all of the content was applicable to IV5. Sure I'd have
liked the latest, up to date, info on Iparts and other features that have
been added in later versions, but generally, it is a lame excuse to claim
that unless you have the very latest documentation you cannot do
meaningful training.
I certainly agree with the consensus here that the lack of printed manuals
(with a product of this level) is really a big let down, but I do think
there are some good publications out there. Whether we should all be
expected to buy them in order to get up to speed is another matter!
Finally, now I'm up to speed with the product, I guess a reference book
explaining each command is all is all I'm missing.
John
Web: http://www.jwp.co.uk
Ron Myers
We have attempted (and I believe accomplished) just that, to create a
"Reference" that can also be used as an Instructor Led or Self Paced course.
Fee free to contact me for more information or go to www.crware.com
Ron Myers
CrWare
"Keith Bender" <kei...@aptix.com> wrote in message
news:04ADE57A55A2D676...@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
Ron Myers
Great to hear some positive remarks, training indeed can make all the
difference. Sounds to me like you also had a great instructor.
Ron Myers
"John Tinelli" <jo...@ashly.com> wrote in message
news:437AA6AA9467E42E...@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I was going to stay out of it but I cant. I read thought the I5 official
> training courseware book. I did get allot out of it. But my return on
> investment with Inventor has really paid off by taking the AutoDesk
> certification courses. Myself and my employee took the course last week
and
> go back at the end of the month for the advanced training. Man the
> difference a classroom can do. At least for me. Yes its nice to go at your
> own pace but, maybe I'm one of those that doesn't have the ability to hurl
> people out of my office all day so I can read.
>
> I liked the AutoDesk official courseware book. Although I did find a
couple
> mistakes in it.
>
> john tinelli
>
>