Rating: 
Summary: MicroStation for AutoCAD users by Conforti
Review: As a beginner to Microstation I had a time with the first example. I'll admit I am biased towards Autocad as that is what I've used for ten years.I was hoping for a book that shows how to do each Autocad command in Microstation. This book does not do this very completely. The index of the book does not list all of the command sets of either program, so you are not getting a lot of coverage on most topics. Trying to find answers to everyday problems is not possible for the most part with this book. My suggestion to anyone who truly wants to learn the other program whether it be Microstation or AutoCad is get a good book on either subject. The most accomplished Microstation user I know swears by Frank Conforti's books on Microstation.
Rating: 
Summary: Could have been better
Review: As a beginner to Microstation I had a time with the first example. I'll admit I am biased towards Autocad as that is what I've used for ten years. I was hoping for a book that shows how to do each Autocad command in Microstation. This book does not do this very completely. The index of the book does not list all of the command sets of either program, so you are not getting a lot of coverage on most topics. Trying to find answers to everyday problems is not possible for the most part with this book. My suggestion to anyone who truly wants to learn the other program whether it be Microstation or AutoCad is get a good book on either subject. The most accomplished Microstation user I know swears by Frank Conforti's books on Microstation.
Rating:
Summary: It is a good starting point but not for advanced features
Review: First off this book is based on AutoCAD 14 and Microstation J. That information should be much more up front than it currently is. Since I am familiar with AutoCAD 2000 sometimes the book seems out of date. (well it is, acutally) Secondly, Frank Conforti who writes the Microstation portions of the book, frequently says, "this is easy in Microstation." I get tired of not only the bias but also the oversimplification of the operations. Thirdly, a great deal of the book covers the company histories of Autodesk and Bentley. The writers expressed the value of this to help understand the different philosophies behind the two packages. While I found it interesting, it didn't help me one whit to make me a better user of either program. Fourth, the book deals primarily with the similarities of the two programs. While this is good for a beginner, it leaves unexplained the true power of each system because most tasks can be accomplished in several different ways. The book usually explains the way that is most similar in each program rather than the most efficient way to get something done in each program. The book doesn't cover the tremendous rendering capabilities of Microstation at all, since this is not something that AutoCAD does. Since I think this is a book that would be most helpful to people who are just making the switch (not me who switched four months ago, 90% of what I would consider useful information I've learned on my own or from my fellow workers), it ought to have a chapter about first timers pitfalls. One specific first-timer pitfall is the behaviour of the right mouse button. In AutoCAD the right mouse button is equivalent to hitting enter. It completes every command and restarts the command. In Microstation it is completely opposite; it behaves like AutoCAD's esc key. So the experienced AutoCAD user practically without thinking hits the right mouse button to complete a command, but he will discover to his dismay that nothing happens because he just cancelled the command. This just takes some getting used to. Another thing that everyone tells the new user is there are keyin commands like AutoCAD's command line. Well, hardly. With AutoCAD to create a line all one had to do was type "l" and hit enter. To get microstation to do the same command from its key-in window, first you have to click with the mouse in the key-in window they type "place line" which can be abbreviated to "pl l". This is much more work than simply clicking the line tool from the toolbar. It has two particularly useful chapters that each take a fairly simple project and go step-by-step through the process of creating the project using each CAD package. It also has an excellent chapter on translating from one to the other. It points out the pitfalls and incompatibilities as well as explaining when you should and shouldn't translate. If I've sounded critical its because I was really wanting a book that teaches more advanced features of Microstation. This isn't it. If you want a nice history of computer aided design, this is a good book. Or if it is your first time using Mircostation this would be pretty handy (though it needs the chapter I described above)
Rating:
Summary: It is a good starting point but not for advanced features
Review: First off this book is based on AutoCAD 14 and Microstation J. That information should be much more up front than it currently is. Since I am familiar with AutoCAD 2000 sometimes the book seems out of date. (well it is, acutally) Secondly, Frank Conforti who writes the Microstation portions of the book, frequently says, "this is easy in Microstation." I get tired of not only the bias but also the oversimplification of the operations. Thirdly, a great deal of the book covers the company histories of Autodesk and Bentley. The writers expressed the value of this to help understand the different philosophies behind the two packages. While I found it interesting, it didn't help me one whit to make me a better user of either program. Fourth, the book deals primarily with the similarities of the two programs. While this is good for a beginner, it leaves unexplained the true power of each system because most tasks can be accomplished in several different ways. The book usually explains the way that is most similar in each program rather than the most efficient way to get something done in each program. The book doesn't cover the tremendous rendering capabilities of Microstation at all, since this is not something that AutoCAD does. Since I think this is a book that would be most helpful to people who are just making the switch (not me who switched four months ago, 90% of what I would consider useful information I've learned on my own or from my fellow workers), it ought to have a chapter about first timers pitfalls. One specific first-timer pitfall is the behaviour of the right mouse button. In AutoCAD the right mouse button is equivalent to hitting enter. It completes every command and restarts the command. In Microstation it is completely opposite; it behaves like AutoCAD's esc key. So the experienced AutoCAD user practically without thinking hits the right mouse button to complete a command, but he will discover to his dismay that nothing happens because he just cancelled the command. This just takes some getting used to. Another thing that everyone tells the new user is there are keyin commands like AutoCAD's command line. Well, hardly. With AutoCAD to create a line all one had to do was type "l" and hit enter. To get microstation to do the same command from its key-in window, first you have to click with the mouse in the key-in window they type "place line" which can be abbreviated to "pl l". This is much more work than simply clicking the line tool from the toolbar. It has two particularly useful chapters that each take a fairly simple project and go step-by-step through the process of creating the project using each CAD package. It also has an excellent chapter on translating from one to the other. It points out the pitfalls and incompatibilities as well as explaining when you should and shouldn't translate. If I've sounded critical its because I was really wanting a book that teaches more advanced features of Microstation. This isn't it. If you want a nice history of computer aided design, this is a good book. Or if it is your first time using Mircostation this would be pretty handy (though it needs the chapter I described above)
Rating: 
Summary: Review comment
Review: From "Design Drafting News," Oct. 1997
By William McPherson, Designer/Drafter, DYK Incorporated
I was able to re-create what was occurring in the book on my computer screen, which allowed me to absorb the information much better.
...[T]he authors suggest possible solutions to avoid... conflicts. This proves to be extremely helpful as you know how to fix the potential problems before they occur, thus saving you, your company and client, time and money.
As an AutoCAD-trained designer/drafter, this book proved to be a helpful tool in explaining MicroStation, a product that I had no experience or knowledge of. It is a practical guide that should be in any AutoCAD operator's library. This book is a must for anyone who needs to convert AutoCAD files to MicroStation files or vice versa.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent for Job Enhancment capabilities.
Review: I have used AutoCAD for about 10 years, of course I am biased. Using this new publication provides a very easy and comfortable way of crossing back and forth between the 2 programs. it is obvious that a lot of working knowledge of each program has gone into this text. I have ENHANCED my job proficiency as a mechanical designer being able to say I possess a productive capability using either CAD program. I am better with AutoCAD but Microstation is coming up fast.
I am 50 years old and I truly respect what computers can do if you allow yourself to learn without fighting. This text provides that medium allowing anyone to become proficient with AutoCAD or Microstation, I am no longer biased towards either program. Excellent publication.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for Job Enhancment capabilities.
Review: I have used AutoCAD for about 10 years, of course I am biased. Using this new publication provides a very easy and comfortable way of crossing back and forth between the 2 programs. it is obvious that a lot of working knowledge of each program has gone into this text. I have ENHANCED my job proficiency as a mechanical designer being able to say I possess a productive capability using either CAD program. I am better with AutoCAD but Microstation is coming up fast. I am 50 years old and I truly respect what computers can do if you allow yourself to learn without fighting. This text provides that medium allowing anyone to become proficient with AutoCAD or Microstation, I am no longer biased towards either program. Excellent publication.
Rating:
Summary: Contents
Review: Introduction
Part I: A MicroStation/AutoCAD Review
Chapter 1: Product Overview: A Look at the Two Packages
Chapter 2: Sample Design Session: A Day in the Life of MicroStation and AutoCAD
Chapter 3: Hardware Considerations
Chapter 4: The Graphical User Interface: Communicating with the Software
Chapter 5: Fundamental Concepts: A Comparison of Basic Drawing Parameters and Tools
Chapter 6: Navigation: Moving Around the Drawing
Chapter 7: More Fundamental Concepts: A Comparative Review of Advanced Drawing Tools
Chapter 8: Plotting with MicroStation and AutoCAD: A Comparison of Plotting Techniques
Chapter 9: Customizing MicroStation and AutoCAD: Comparison of Tools and Techniques for Customizing and Automating Command Entry
Chapter 10: File Formats: Understanding Files Supported by MicroStation and AutoCAD
Chapter 11: Translation and Conversion: MicroStation to AutoCAD and AutoCAD to MicroStation File Transfers
Chapter 12: Text and Data: Working with External Text Files and Databases
Part II: Managing Two CADs Under One Roof
Chapter 13: Peaceful Coexistence: Living with Both Systems
Chapter 14: Cross Training and Cross Hiring: Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Work Force
Chapter 15: Industry Standards: MicroStation and AutoCAD: Compliance with and Deviation from Industry Standards
Appendix A: MicroStation to AutoCAD Command Listing
Appendix B: AutoCAD to MicroStation Command Listing
Index
Rating:
Summary: Contents
Review: Introduction Part I: A MicroStation/AutoCADReview Chapter 1: Product Overview: A Look at the TwoPackages
Chapter 2: Sample Design Session: A Day in the Life ofMicroStation and AutoCAD
Chapter 3: Hardware Considerations
Chapter 4: The Graphical User Interface: Communicating with the Software
Chapter 5: Fundamental Concepts: A Comparison of Basic Drawing Parameters and Tools
Chapter 6: Navigation: Moving Around the Drawing
Chapter 7: More Fundamental Concepts: A Comparative Review of Advanced Drawing Tools
Chapter 8: Plotting with MicroStation and AutoCAD: A Comparison of Plotting Techniques
Chapter 9: Customizing MicroStation and AutoCAD: Comparison of Tools and Techniques for Customizing and Automating Command Entry
Chapter 10: File Formats: Understanding Files Supported by MicroStation and AutoCAD
Chapter 11: Translation and Conversion: MicroStation to AutoCAD and AutoCAD to MicroStation File Transfers
Chapter 12: Text and Data: Working with External Text Files and Databases Part II: Managing Two CADs Under One Roof Chapter 13: Peaceful Coexistence: Living with Both Systems
Chapter 14: Cross Training and Cross Hiring: Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Work Force
Chapter 15: Industry Standards: MicroStation and AutoCAD: Compliance with and Deviation from Industry Standards Appendix A: MicroStation to AutoCAD Command Listing
Appendix B: AutoCAD to MicroStation Command Listing Index
Rating:
Summary: The perfect guide for the "bi-directional" tendencies in you
Review: The is a must-have book for those of us not well versed in both AutoCad and Microstation. It is expecially valuable if you are proficient in one system, and have had some training but not much experience with the other. No matter which way you are approaching from, you are able to understand the instructions by using whichever you are most proficient in. What more can you ask? Simple instructions & good illustrations.
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