Autodesk AutoCAD AutoCAD Mechanical - 2012 Installation Manual

AutoCAD Mechanical 2012

Installation FAQ

©

be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose.

Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder.

Trademarks

The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December, 3December.com, 3ds Max, Algor, Alias, Alias (swirl design/logo), AliasStudio, Alias|Wavefront (design/logo), ATC, AUGI, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Simulator, AutoCAD SQL Extension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, Autodesk, Autodesk Intent, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Streamline, AutoLISP, AutoSnap, AutoSketch, AutoTrack, Backburner, Backdraft, Beast, Built with ObjectARX (logo), Burn, Buzzsaw, CAiCE, Civil 3D, Cleaner, Cleaner Central, ClearScale, Colour Warper, Combustion, Communication Specification, Constructware, Content Explorer, Dancing Baby (image), DesignCenter, Design Doctor, Designer's Toolkit, DesignKids, DesignProf, DesignServer, DesignStudio, Design Web Format, Discreet, DWF, DWG, DWG (logo), DWG Extreme, DWG TrueConvert, DWG TrueView, DXF, Ecotect, Exposure, Extending the Design Team, Face Robot, FBX, Fempro, Fire, Flame, Flare, Flint, FMDesktop, Freewheel, GDX Driver, Green Building Studio, Heads-up Design, Heidi, HumanIK, IDEA Server, i-drop, Illuminate Labs AB (design/logo), ImageModeler, iMOUT, Incinerator, Inferno, Inventor, Inventor LT, Kynapse, Kynogon, LandXplorer, LiquidLight, LiquidLight (design/logo), Lustre, MatchMover, Maya, Mechanical Desktop, Moldflow, Moldflow Plastics Advisers, MPI, Moldflow Plastics Insight, Moldflow Plastics Xpert, Moondust, MotionBuilder, Movimento, MPA, MPA (design/logo), MPX, MPX (design/logo), Mudbox, Multi-Master Editing, Navisworks, ObjectARX, ObjectDBX, Opticore, Pipeplus, PolarSnap, PortfolioWall, Powered with Autodesk Technology, Productstream, ProMaterials, RasterDWG, RealDWG, Real-time Roto, Recognize, Render Queue, Retimer, Reveal, Revit, RiverCAD, Robot, Showcase, Show Me, ShowMotion, SketchBook, Smoke, Softimage, Softimage|XSI (design/logo), Sparks, SteeringWheels, Stitcher, Stone, StormNET, StudioTools, ToolClip, Topobase, Toxik, TrustedDWG, U-Vis, ViewCube, Visual, Visual LISP, Volo, Vtour, WaterNetworks, Wire, Wiretap, WiretapCentral, XSI. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Disclaimer

THIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS MADE AVAILABLE BY AUTODESK, INC. "AS IS." AUTODESK, INC. DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS. Published by: Autodesk, Inc. 111 McInnis Parkway San Rafael, CA 94903, USA

Introduction

Installation Overview

1

The process of installing or deploying AutoCAD Mechanical 2012 consists of the three main steps shown in the diagram above.

■ Preparation is very important for achieving a trouble-free and successful

installation.

■ Entering Information varies depending upon the kind of installation or

deployment you need.

■ Installation or Deployment executes quickly once you have made and

specified your choices.

You will either perform an installation on a single computer or create a deployment for multiple computers. In both cases, you decide whether to accept the typical default options or select your own options to configure a custom installation. Although the AutoCAD Mechanical Installer has been designed to be self-explanatory, you can find answers to your installation questions in the

1

FAQ provided here. Note that complete details for creating deployments are provided in the Network Administrator's Guide.

What kind of installation will you perform?

Here are the four main installation types with a summary of the data and decisions they require:

■ Typical installation with default options. For a typical installation,

begin with a proper preparation (page 5). Then, just click through the

installer, providing your serial number (page 6), product key (page 6),

and license information (page 7). Pre-selected components will be installed

with AutoCAD Mechanical.

■ Custom installation with selected options. For a custom installation,

in addition to the items listed above for a typical installation, you will also

need to determine:

■ Which of the additional bundled products (such as Autodesk Design

Review) to install with AutoCAD Mechanical.

■ Which features (page 10) (such as Express Tools) to install with

AutoCAD Mechanical.

■ Whether to install new content libraries or use existing shared libraries.

■ Select standard content libraries to install.

■ Whether to accept the default to create a desktop shortcut.

■ Whether to install any available service packs (page 10), either from

Autodesk or from a local or network drive.

■ Typical deployment with default options. To create a typical

deployment using default options, in addition to providing your serial

number, product key, and license information, you will:

■ Name your deployment.

■ Specify a location for your administrative image (page 16).

■ Specify whether you want a network log file (page 15).

■ Determine whether to run installations to workstations in silent mode

(page 16).

■ Determine whether you want to create a client log file (page 8) in the

Temp directory of each workstation.

2 | Chapter 1 Introduction

■ Custom deployment with selected options. For a custom deployment,

in addition to the items listed above for a typical deployment, you will also specify:

■ Which of the additional bundled products (such as Autodesk Design

Review) to install with AutoCAD Mechanical.

■ Which features (page 10) (such as Express Tools) to install with

AutoCAD Mechanical.

■ Whether to install any available service packs (page 19) and whether

to merge them with the deployment or append them.

■ Whether to add additional files (page 20) to the deployment.

■ Whether to install new content libraries or use existing shared libraries.

■ Select standard content libraries to install.

■ What modifications to make to the default search paths and the location

of some program files.

■ User preferences.

■ Whether to enable access to communication channels (page 20), live

updates, and RSS feeds.

■ Whether to enable access to online resources.

Installation Overview | 3

4

Installing AutoCAD Mechanical on a Single

2

Computer

How can I prepare for a successful installation?

You can avoid problems and ensure a smooth installation of AutoCAD Mechanical by employing the following best practices:

■ Confirm that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements.

(Click "System Requirements" at the bottom of the Installer window.) Important: Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 (available on product disc) must be installed before you install AutoCAD Mechanical.

■ Be sure you have Administrator permissions in Windows

■ Remove previous installations of this release of AutoCAD Mechanical,

including any Beta versions.

■ Install all Microsoft Windows

■ Before you install, exit all active applications. An even better approach is to

install AutoCAD Mechanical first thing after starting your computer, before using any applications.

■ Turn off your anti-virus program.

®

system updates and restart your computer.

®

.

How can I choose the language in which the Installer instructions are presented?

If other languages are available, you can choose the language in which Installer instructions are presented from the Installation instructions drop-down list on

5

the Installer Launch page. Note that this will also set the language for your software, although later you can change that by selecting another language from the Product Language drop-down list on the Install > Configure & Begin Installation page of the Installer.

How do I choose the language for my software?

If other languages are available, you can choose the one you want to use within AutoCAD Mechanical. Select a language from the Product Language drop-down list on the Install > Configure & Begin Installation page of the Installer.

Where can I find my serial number and product key?

Your serial number and product key are on the outside of the product packaging, or in the Autodesk Upgrade Licensing Information email. The serial number must contain a three-digit prefix followed by an eight-digit number. The product key consists of five characters.

What if I've lost my serial number or product key?

Contact the Autodesk Business Center (ABC) at 800-538-6401 for assistance if you lose your serial number or product key.

6 | Chapter 2 Installing AutoCAD Mechanical on a Single Computer

How do I know if I have enough disk space for the installation?

The Install > Configure & Begin Installation page of the Installer shows you how much disk space is required for your installation and how much disk space you have available.

How do I select a license type? What is the difference between a stand-alone license and a network license?

Choose the type of installation to deploy based on the type of software license you purchased: stand-alone license or network license.

A product with a stand-alone license is registered and activated for an individual computer. While your software can be installed on multiple computers in your facility, a stand-alone license allows only one AutoCAD Mechanical to be operational. If you need to run AutoCAD Mechanical on more computers, you need to either purchase more stand-alone licenses or convert to using network licenses.

With network licenses, AutoCAD Mechanical can be installed and run on multiple computers, up to the maximum number of licenses you've purchased. The Network License Manager utility "checks out" licenses until they are all in use. No additional computers can run the program until a license is "checked in."

For more information, see the Network Administrator's Guide.

How do I know if I have enough disk space for the installation? | 7

What is the purpose of a client log file?

A client log file contains detailed installation information for each workstation. This information may be useful in diagnosing any installation problems.

The client log file is located in your Windows "Temp" folder.

How do I register and activate my software after I have finished the installation?

After you've installed your software, the easiest way to register and activate your software is with the Product License Activation wizard. You can navigate to the wizard from the Start menu. Alternatively, you can send an email message, fax, or postal mail with registration information to Autodesk.

What are the additional products available for installation?

The following additional products are available to install:

■ Autodesk Design Review — Allows users to review, measure, redline, and

annotate DWG, DWF, and DXFx files without the original Autodesk

creation software.

■ Autodesk Inventor Fusion— Digital prototyping technology that unites the

control of parametric, history-based modeling with the speed of direct,

history-free modeling, enabling users to choose the modeling approach

that is right for the task at hand.

Note: To effectively install Inventor Fusion, you must install both the Inventor Fusion product and the Inventor Fusion plug-in listed in the configuration area. Click on the Autodesk Inventor Fusion band to reveal the configuration area.

■ Autodesk Vault— Data management tool to track work in progress and

maintain version control in multi-user environments. It allows design

teams to organize and reuse designs by consolidating product information.

Users can store and search both CAD data and non-CAD documents.

8 | Chapter 2 Installing AutoCAD Mechanical on a Single Computer

Where do I customize my installation?

Click on the AutoCAD Mechanical band of the Install > Configure & Begin Installation page of the Installer to reveal the configuration area. Optional

features are listed there, many of them pre-selected for installation.

What are content libraries and how do I install them?

AutoCAD Mechanical provides content libraries with hundreds of thousands of pre-drawn standard parts. Libraries are available for each of eighteen countries, containing parts that correspond to the standards of those countries. During installation of AutoCAD Mechanical, you choose whether to install one or more of these libraries or instead use your own existing shared libraries. If you choose to install content libraries, you select the libraries for those country standards you need.

If later, after installation, you want to add or remove content libraries, you do this by launching the Installer in maintenance mode and choosing Add or Remove Features to select the standard content libraries you require. To launch the Installer in maintenance mode, navigate from Windows Start to the control panel for adding, changing, and removing programs. When you select AutoCAD Mechanical as the program to change, the Installer will open in maintenance mode.

How can I install medium resolution Material Library images?

In addition to the Material Library images installed by default with AutoCAD Mechanical, you may also install the Medium Image Material Library if you plan to perform large renders or create close-ups of objects which require high quality textures. Installation takes place after you've installed AutoCAD Mechanical. When you invoke either the RENDER or RENDERCROP command from within AutoCAD Mechanical, a task dialog will appear to provide an opportunity for downloading the Medium Image Material Library.

Where do I customize my installation? | 9

How can I be sure available service packs are included in my installation?

You can include a service pack for your installation in the Service Pack section of the Installer configuration page. Three options are available:

■ Download the available service packs from Autodesk.

■ Install a service pack from your local network drive.

■ Do not install a service pack.

If you select the option to download and apply a service pack from Autodesk, it will be downloaded automatically. If your installation is up-to-date, a message will tell you that a service pack is not available.

What features can I customize?

Most features are pre-selected for installation with AutoCAD Mechanical. However, you can de-select any feature you choose not to install or select one of the few features that have not been pre-selected. To do so, you must first reveal the feature tree, which is hidden when you choose a Typical install in the configuration area. To reveal the feature tree, choose the Custom install option.

Here are the features available when you install AutoCAD Mechanical:

■ Model Documentation: Interface for Autodesk Inventor Server, a

programming component that allows you to open and query the geometry

and feature information of an Autodesk Inventor part file or other imported

models and to create the corresponding data within AutoCAD Mechanical.

■ Autodesk Inventor Link: Tool for linking Autodesk Inventor assembly

(.iam) and part (.ipt) documents to .dwg files. Once linked, a 3D model is

displayed in model space. Then you can generate drawing views in paper

space and annotate them.

■ CAD Standards: Tools for managing design files for compliance with

your standards.

■ Database: Database access tools.

■ Dictionaries: Multi-language dictionaries.

■ Drawing Encryption: Security tool for protecting drawing files with a

password.

10 | Chapter 2 Installing AutoCAD Mechanical on a Single Computer

■ Express Tools: Productivity tools to extend AutoCAD functions for

dimensioning, drawing, object selection, and object modification. These tools are not supported by Autodesk.

■ Fonts: AutoCAD fonts and TrueType

■ Autodesk Content Explorer: Interface for quick browsing of DWG files

®

fonts.

on local and network drives and on Autodesk Seek. Note: In order to search network folders, the Autodesk Content Service utility must also be installed from the Tools & Utilities component of the Installer.

■ Autodesk Seek: Web service for finding, previewing, and downloading

branded and generic building information modeling (BIM) files, models, drawings, and product specifications directly into an active AutoCAD Mechanical session. AutoCAD Mechanical users can also upload their drawings to Seek.

■ License Transfer Utility: Tool to allow users to transfer an Autodesk

product license between computers.

■ Reference Manager: Utility that allows users to view and edit the paths

of externally referenced files associated with a drawing.

■ Samples: AutoCAD Mechanical samples, DesignCenter samples, and

Visual Lisp® samples.

■ Tutorials: Visual Lisp

®

Tutorials

What features can I customize? | 11

12

Creating a deployment to multiple computers

3

How can I prepare to create a successful deployment to multiple computers?

You can avoid problems and ensure a smooth deployment of AutoCAD Mechanical by employing the following best practices.

■ Confirm that your network, servers, and client workstations meet the

minimum System Requirements for AutoCAD Mechanical. (Click "System Requirements" at the bottom of the Installer.) Be sure that you have installed the .NET 4.0 Framework.

■ Understand the type of license you have purchased. For a network license

deployment, you should also be familiar with the type of license server model you want to use, as well as the license server name(s).

■ Obtain Administrator permissions to create and install deployments.

■ Install the latest Windows

Mechanical will be deployed and restart them.

■ Create a shared folder where deployments will reside. Create a subfolder for

each deployment you plan to create. Verify that all users have full read/write access to the network share where your deployments will be located. Note: If you create AutoCAD Mechanical deployments in multiple languages, each language requires a new deployment in a separate deployment folder.

■ Identify locations for your support content files and any additional files you

need.

■ Copy the entire installation from the product media to a local drive and

create the deployment from that location.

®

updates on all computers to which AutoCAD

13

■ Before you create the deployment, exit all applications and turn off

anti-virus programs.

How do I select a license type? What is the difference between a stand-alone license and a network license?

Choose the type of installation to deploy based on the type of software license you purchased: stand-alone license or network license.

A product with a stand-alone license is registered and activated for an individual computer. While your software can be installed on multiple computers in your facility, a stand-alone license allows only one AutoCAD Mechanical to be operational. If you need to run AutoCAD Mechanical on more computers, you need to either purchase more stand-alone licenses or convert to using network licenses.

With network licenses, AutoCAD Mechanical can be installed and run on multiple computers, up to the maximum number of licenses you've purchased. The Network License Manager utility "checks out" licenses until they are all in use. No additional computers can run the program until a license is "checked in."

For more information, see the Network Administrator's Guide.

How can I choose the language in which the Installer instructions are presented?

If other languages are available, you can choose the language in which Installer instructions are presented from the Installation instructions drop-down list on the Installer Launch page. Note that this will also set the language for your software, although later you can change that by selecting another language from the Product Language drop-down list on the Install > Configure & Begin Installation page of the Installer.

14 | Chapter 3 Creating a deployment to multiple computers

What is the benefit of a network licensed version of the software?

With a network license, you can use the Network License Manager to install your software on more systems than the number of licenses you have purchased. At any one time, you can run the software on the maximum number of systems for which you have licenses.

What is the purpose of a client log file?

A client log file contains detailed installation information for each workstation. This information may be useful in diagnosing any installation problems.

The client log file is located in your Windows "Temp" folder.

What is the purpose of a network log file?

A network log file keeps a record of all workstations that run the deployment. The log lists the user name, workstation name, and the status of the installation. You can refer to this file for status information and details about problems (such as low disk space or inadequate permissions) that users have encountered during installation.

What is the benefit of a network licensed version of the software? | 15

What is an administrative image?

An administrative image is a collection of shared file resources created during the deployment process and placed in the shared network deployment folder from which multiple workstations install the product.

Where should the administrative image of my deployment be located?

The administrative image for your deployment should be stored in a shared folder (a network share) you have created before you launch the deployment. Name the shared folder "Deployments" and put it on the Desktop of the server where you will store deployments.

How will individual users find the deployed administrative image?

When you are finished creating the deployment, users can install their software by using the shortcut located with the administrative image. The shortcut name matches the deployment name that you specified when you created the deployment.

Notify users of the location of the administrative image, instruct them to double-click the shortcut, and provide any other necessary information.

What is 'silent' deployment mode?

A deployment running in 'silent' mode proceeds without input from individual users, who receive no requests for interaction.

When silent mode is 'off', interactive entries may be made during the deployment process.

16 | Chapter 3 Creating a deployment to multiple computers

What are the additional products available for installation?

The following additional products are available to install:

■ Autodesk Design Review — Allows users to review, measure, redline, and

annotate DWG, DWF, and DXFx files without the original Autodesk creation software.

■ Autodesk Inventor Fusion— Digital prototyping technology that unites the

control of parametric, history-based modeling with the speed of direct, history-free modeling, enabling users to choose the modeling approach that is right for the task at hand.

Note: To effectively install Inventor Fusion, you must install both the Inventor Fusion product and the Inventor Fusion plug-in listed in the configuration area. Click on the Autodesk Inventor Fusion band to reveal the configuration area.

■ Autodesk Vault— Data management tool to track work in progress and

maintain version control in multi-user environments. It allows design teams to organize and reuse designs by consolidating product information. Users can store and search both CAD data and non-CAD documents.

Where do I customize my installation?

Click on the AutoCAD Mechanical band of the Install > Configure & Begin Installation page of the Installer to reveal the configuration area. Optional

features are listed there, many of them pre-selected for installation.

What features can I customize?

Most features are pre-selected for installation with AutoCAD Mechanical. However, you can de-select any feature you choose not to install or select one of the few features that have not been pre-selected. To do so, you must first reveal the feature tree, which is hidden when you choose a Typical install in the configuration area. To reveal the feature tree, choose the Custom install option.

What are the additional products available for installation? | 17