AutoCAD Electrical 2023

[rhesusminus]

Anyone else?

Click here -> What's new...   <-

[galashkina]

I have installed AutoCAD Electrical 2023. Now I have a new desktop, although I didn't plan it.

Did I not take something into account when installing the program?

[testsubject]

Only 3 new things?

I am happy that the Signal Arrows Update is finally there.

[rhesusminus]

You get what you're paying for 😋

Exactly.... The "signal update" is FINALLY there.. I'd consider this a bugfix rather than a new feature 😕

And "Copy project".. It's the same as the previous one, but now you can copy files that are open in AutoCAD.. Which is nice.. and.. a bugfix?

The "CAT-MFG-ASSYCODE Key System" is only applicable if you're using AcadE with Vault Professional, using items. Which rules out most AcadE users.... Again... This was a bug in previous releases if you ask me.

[alds02]

I will eagerly await feedback about this "quality improvement," but without holding my breath:

Design is only a portion of my job so I won't be able to try it out personally for a little while.

[galashkina]

For information. Maybe someone will face a similar problem.

I accidentally turned on "Tablet Mode" - this is a modified "Desktop" interface.

[testsubject]

My sentiments exactly. I am disappointed with this year's version. 

I agree that these items are more like bug fixes that should have been in there a long time ago and in the 25 years that I have use ACE, I have never used Vault.

[jseefdrumr]

To be completely frank and honest, I am disappointed with every year's version. I'm still using 2021 because what's the point of migration when there's nothing new? And in point of fact, if it were possible, I'd still be on 2017. In my experience, this software seems to get less stable as time goes on and this strongly incentivizes me to not upgrade.

Only a few years ago I was kind of on the fence, but more and more it's getting to the point where, if my employer asked me whether we should spend more money on a different software, I'd be inclined to say yes. Of course, the problem there is that no one wants to spend more if they can get by with what they have.

And so the salient question becomes, how long can they continue to 'just get by' with this software? Eventually those of us who are really cognizant with its ins and outs are going to retire, or change careers, or end up with an employer using other software. Younger folks don't really seem to grasp how ACAD and ACADE work, and many of them seem to expect the software to do more work for them than ACADE does. This is especially true for those who have experience with competing software. Things that were intuitive in other programs are difficult in ACADE, or not even possible. All users have to manage all their own catalog data because there are no convenient links or portals that keep product information up to date. To this day, the default ACADE catalog holds scores of obsolete components and product lines, while not including newer ones that are gaining in popularity every day.

When I first started using Vanilla ACAD back at the turn of the century, it seemed like there were patches and hotfixes multiple times per year. And that's when they weren't releasing 'new' versions on a yearly basis. Maybe I'm old (actually yes for sure I'm old) but I miss the old days when this software felt like it was actually being ... developed. ACADE doesn't even really feel like it's being maintained.

These days, it's just a means to an end, the one chosen by my employer and/or their bean counters, and not necessarily the best thing available.

[ccad2509]

Abject failure again

Minor fixes

Core Autocad functions being touted as new ACADE functionality

Electrical ideas being ignored 5th year in a row

And abject failure to even consider new functionality by competitive products

And again, further and further behind the market leaders for functionality and ease of use

Welcome to Autodesk’s plan to marginalise and abandon its electrical products

[galashkina]

---

@testsubject wrote:

... and in the 25 years that I have use ACE, I have never used Vault.

---

I think linking the AutoCAD Electrical, Inventor and Vault programs is a strong marketing ploy.

Next, it is necessary to create a training project to demonstrate how it works.

[ccad2509]

too late on inventor/vault/ACADE integration

I’m sure the combined talents of Autodesk were watching the live stream Eplan event last week on LinkedIn

(no too arrogant to look at what the competition is saying or doing)

So this is my take

    1.  Common data next steps for Eplan is to get part manufactures to quote for parts in your project via Eplan’s Epulse/data portal applications

In terms that Autodesk might understand

         a)Extra revenue through finder’s fees

          b)More companies queuing up to join the on-line parts database because they don’t want to miss out on sales

    2.  Cloud based version of Eplan is on its way

    3.  A quote from one of the participants “Breaking down the walls between mechanical and electrical” can mean only one thing in my mind and that’s a seamless bi-directional integration between Eplan and mechanical 3d modelling applications

Now how prepared is Autodesk electrical for any of those scenarios ?

Autodesk has had since 2006 to get their ACADE  to inventor link working now Eplan is going to refocus its army of programmers to this issue how fast do you think it will take them to get a far better bidirectional link working ?

[galashkina]

I'm just suggesting creating a learning project. I think it's always better to do something than to do nothing.

[ccad2509]

Galashkina

You me and most of the people in this thread have been here a number of years for me it was at the beginning ACADE 2006 when i was working for an Autodesk dealership being tech  support for this product

year in year out less is done the new features being promoted are all features in the core Autocad product

any electrical features now being promoted are bug fixes not true new features

development has stalled theirs a mindset at Autodesk that we have done our job

taking a dispassionate look at the opposition

while Autodesk fixes minor bugs (while ignoring the big system wide bugs)

their competitors have been adding more electrical orientated functionality even the dreaded Solidworks electrical has more new features than ACADE

ACADE is now effectively dead no devolvement no new features to catch up with its competitors

And now marginalised as a Autocad toolset on rental

So what does Autodesk need to do to get back in the game

1. Stop whining and get your online parts portal sorted
2. Sort out a bi-directional link between phoenix/Wiedmuller/Wago terminals apps
3. Get a working tia portal working same goes for the Rockwell equivalent
4. At least do the ideas station ideas you promised to do
5. At least do 20 bug fixes per release (that’s at least 10 years work)
6. Sort out a standard link between ERP systems and ACADE
7. Sort out a link between labelling systems and ACADE
8. Sort out a link between CNC machines and ACADE
9. Sort out a link between thermal calculation software and ACADE
10. Sort out a link between Sistema software and ACADE
11. Sort out a proper electrical 3-d environment instead of wasting your and my time learning inventor

That will put you back in the top 5 ECAD solutions

So plan it / resource it  and pay for it

[ccad2509]

and just to insult autodesk even more

this just appeared in my inbox from eplan

https://blog.eplan.co.uk/rittal-epocket?utm_campaign=EPL_UK_EN_2018_Blog&utm_source=hs_email&utm_med...

its going to take autodesk at least 10 years to even get close to what this is doing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[acclarkJR2TJ]

It would be better if they would stop doing a "new" release every year.  They don't do it for Inventor.  It isn't new, it's the same old issue wrapped in a different bow.  They should spread the releases out to every other or every couple years.  Taking the time between updates to work and patch the minor issues we all complain about.

[jseefdrumr]

That's how it used to be - we only got new releases every few years and with each one there were significant changes to the software. There were also relatively frequent patches to support this. Back then, you also got 'real' software licenses, instead of subscriptions. Meaning, if you didn't like the direction the software was going, or if they introduced a buggy release, you could just keep your happy butt on the older version for as long as needed, or forever.

Now, with subscription-based software, we are all unwilling business partners with Autodesk. Should anything happen to their servers, their clouds, etc that prevents us from signing in, we can't work. Our ability to use this software is completely dependent on the health of Autodesk and its technology.

It's not a choice I would willingly make, but then, it wasn't one that was offered to me. From where I sit, this was all done in the pursuit of profit, rather than the goal of making a superior product, because ACADE has become demonstrably worse as a software package since that change. It's quite clear that whatever extra money they get from subscription licensing doesn't go towards improving ACADE.

It must be noted, of course, that Autodesk isn't the only company who does licensing like this. However, that doesn't excuse sacrificing the quality and integrity of your product. Most others don't, and the fact that we see it happening here says quite a lot about the state of Autodesk as a company and the 'relationship' they have with their customers.

[ccad2509]

I see you’ve finally come over to my point of view
plain Autocad clone perpetual licence zwcad you can buy 3 for the price of one rental
electrical design see electrical perpetual licence the price of 2 years AutoCAD subs
true 3d electrical modelling designed by electrical engineers for electrical engineers’ perpetual licence just over the rental cost of an inventor see electrical 3d panel plus
game over

[mlaterradeHPV27]

This one bugged me since 2009...

I recently installed 2023 ACADE, and have yet to have to set it back to 1 from 0.

It happened daily for me on 2022, and would just keep my system variable monitor on so I know when it decides to go to 0, I can reset. It appears that they have it fixed (Jinx).