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3D modeling software aligns more closely with AutoCAD, offers an enhanced user interface, and now comes with cloud-based services.
The most significant new items in Autodesk Inventor Professional 2013 are also new in AutoCAD 2013, which is part of Autodesk's master plan to have all its programs look, feel, and operate as similarly as possible. In this review, I'll begin and end with the two updates that will probably attract the most attention, and fill the space In between with some of the less splashy but still noteworthy changes.
Welcome!
It's hard to miss the first new feature, because the new Welcome screen is all you see when you launch Inventor Professional 2013 (figure 1).
The Welcome screen is divided into three sections: Work, Learn, and Extend.
Work. This section gives quick access to buttons that create new files, open existing files, and let you customize the default template files. This latter button brings up a small dialog box with two sets of radio buttons that let you set measurement units and drawing standards for new files. This can now be done at any time - not just while you are installing the software.
Learn. This center section contains links to a series of interactive tutorials, including Getting Started and What's New. There is extensive user support and training in a variety of formats and from a variety of sources, including local user groups, Autodesk University, and possibly your dealer. Autodesk maintains a discussion forum that is actively monitored by Autodesk employees, and the new searchable online Wiki Help functionality means that help is constantly being updated with user input. There are also several independent chat forums.
Extend. The final panel lets you connect to Autodesk Exchange, where you can find a number of add-on apps. To quote the Welcome screen, these apps are "powerful, fun, and help you get...