planning & implementing a successful autocad upgrade

Planning and Planning and Implementing a Implementing a Successful AutoCAD Successful AutoCAD UpgradeUpgrade

Planning and Planning and Implementing a Implementing a Successful AutoCAD Successful AutoCAD UpgradeUpgrade

Rick StavanjaPresident, CAD Systems Analyst

Tangra Development, Inc.rick@tangra.com

MAN-W2

Upgrading AutoCAD

Summary

What We Will Cover…Past Upgrade MistakesThe Real Issues Involved In Successful

UpgradesHow To Analyze and Assess Your

SituationThorough Planning Implementation Strategies

What We Won’t Cover...How To Install AutoCAD

Upgrading AutoCAD

Questions Must Be Answered...

How much will an upgrade cost?Can we still use our

existing systems?Can we still use our

existing systems?

Why should we upgrade?

Will we have any downtime during

the upgrade process?

Should we switch to

Windows 95 or Windows NT?How much training will be required?

How much training will be required?

Can we still use our favorite AutoLISP programs?

When is the best time for us to do an upgrade?

Technology

Companies Used to Look at Computer Technology in Order to Gain a Competitive Advantage

Today Companies Rely on Computer Technology Just to Remain Competitive

All Too Often Companies Now Upgrade Technology Only When They Have To… Not When They Want To

The Legacy Of Failure

Upgrading For the Wrong Reasons Almost Always Ensures Some Level Of Failure

Failed Upgrades Have Long Lasting Effects

Failures Are Remembered Longer Than Successes

The Goal

Take a New Approach To The Problem Face The Real Issues Put Your Organization In The Best

Possible Competitive Position

Remember. . .

The Cost Of Doing a Bad Job Far Exceeds The True Cost Of Doing It Right

The Big Picture

What Steps Need To Be Taken To Do The

Job Right?

The Big Picture

Assessment Identify Goals Comprehensive Planning Determine Strategy Thorough Implementation Follow Up Support

Assessment

Understand Your Products & ProcessesWhat does the staff produce?How is it produced?What changes could make the most

impact?What good things should we keep doing?What bad things should we stop doing?

Determine Staff CapabilitiesDetermine the productivity scale.What is the staff capable of?

Assessment (continued)

The Current SystemHow far can we go with what we have?What more do we need? Is anything on the horizon to consider?

Evaluate AutoCAD FeaturesWhat features are we using now?What features should we be using now?Objectively evaluate new and old features.

Assessment (continued)

AutoCAD Issues & ComponentsWill a new AutoCAD impact our CAD

Standards?Will we need to rewrite our AutoLISP

Applications?… Menus?… Scripts?Do you need to accommodate roaming

AutoCAD users?How can you satisfy the needs of both

power users and novice or casual users?

Assessment (continued)

Other TangiblesTraining

What training needs to be done?Do we require training in issues outside of

AutoCAD?What training options do we have?

BudgetWho can approve a budget?What budget hurdles must be overcome?

TimingAre there events that may be effected?

Assessment (continued)

IntangiblesOffice Politics

Be aware of internal power strugglesFollow the chain of commandThe larger the project, the more likely

someone will encounter conflicts along the way

PersonalitiesIdentify possible advocates & dissentersBe sensitive to stepping on toes

Assessment (continued)

Identify Resources Peer or Production Staff IS Staff Vendors Consultants User Groups Systems Software Training Literature Online

Identify Goals

The Obvious Goal Do the job better, faster or cheaper.

Ask Yourself Questions What capabilities of AutoCAD will make our

designs better or our staff more productive? How can we make the process of designing

better or more efficient? How much more efficient can we expect to be? What are the foreseeable costs in upgrading? What hidden hurdles may stand in the way?

Identify Goals (continued)

Consider All Factors From AssessmentBe Diligent & Thorough

Identify Attainable TargetsBe Conservative

Plan For Delivering MoreBe Creative

Example GoalsUpgrade to AutoCAD R14 and Pentium II class

workstations for all CAD seats by January 1.Convert to a network-based design team running

AutoCAD on the network.Target an additional 10% reduction in editing time by

increasing use of editing features such as grips, context manus, the properties toolbar and Bonus Tools.

All hardware and software upgrades will be done after normal business hours.

Phase in utilizing XRefs and Paper Space as a fundamental drawing mechanism for all production drawings to achieve a 20% reduction in design and drafting time within 18 months.

Begin an ongoing training program targeted at getting all production CAD operators up to an AutoCAD Level II certification level within 16 months.

Make a Decision And Sell It

Sell The Project Like Any Proposal Large upgrades are big projects… treat them

accordingly

Identify The Benefits Identify all pertinent issues Be Thorough

Quantify The Issues Make reasonable estimates Management will likely digest them further

Live Presentations Work Best …but they’re the scariest...

Planning

Thorough Homework Technology changes quickly... Stay current.

Determine a Realistic Schedule Don’t set yourself up for failure

Test All Procedures Rehearse procedures & consider pilot projects

Contingencies for Surprises Plan on nothing going as planned

Plan Beyond Implementation Plan for tech support, ongoing training, etc...

Strategies

Training Do all training before implementation Reduce or eliminate the time between training

and implementation Users requiring substantial training should be

given adequate time to digest it Training on systems configured like your own Train users not just in AutoCAD, but other new

issues and processes as wellChanges to CAD StandardsNetwork IssuesProcedures

Strategies (continued)

Upgrading Systems Upgrade existing systems Replace with new systems Standardizing Systems

Upgrading Operating Systems Windows 95... Windows NT4 Windows 98... Windows NT5

Installing Upgrades Manual Installations Scripted & Network Installations

Implementation

Execution Large Teams Versus Small Maintain Consistency

Communication Cellular Phones or Pagers For Team Members Identify Telephone Extensions of Target Systems Take Advantage of Existing Network Communicate Problems & Solutions

Document Everything It’s Never Too Early to Start a Knowledge Base

Cloning Systems

Saves Substantial Setup Time Duplicates a Pristine Configuration Disk Imaging Software

Ghost (Symantec) DiskClone (Quarterdeck) DriveImage (PowerQuest) FlashClone (Suredata)

Understand the Limitations FAT vs. NTFS Hardware Must be Consistent

Windows NT Issues Machine & Network SIDs

Automated Application Installation

Scripted Installations Microsoft Sysdiff Tool Management Applications

Microsoft BackOffice SMSSeagate WinstallCA Unicenter

When Something Goes Wrong

Be Prepared You WILL Overlook Something Temporary Replacement Systems Revert To Old System When You Experience a catastrophe,

Determine the Cause in Order to Avoid a Repeat

Beyond Implementation

Provide Mechanism For Feedback Centralized Technical Support Log All Problems Monitor Progress Internal User Groups Intranet Site Email Document Everything

Sit Back And Relax

Let The Problems Settle Down Start Preplanning For The Next

Upgrade

psst... Release 15 is right around the corner...

Resources

For This Presentation and Links toOther Software and Hardware Discussed

TodayPoint Your Web Browser To...

www.tangra.com/au98/man-w2(Materials will be posted September 17)

Direct Your Email Questions To...

rick@tangra.com

Autodesk University

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www.tangra.com