AutoCAD on Parallels

Oct 18, 2006, 04:33 AM #1
Elvis_2006 Junior Member Join: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	I'm no AutoCad power user, I use AutoCAD LT 2004 to check drawings by others, and I find that it runs acceptably under parallels. So far I've had no problems, but I'm not exactly stretching it. I also use 3D Studio Max, which to be honest struggles a bit. Navigating complex scenes is slow, some textures display poorly and anti aliasing does not work in the viewports, all due (no doubt) to the software emulation of the graphics adaptor. Obviously this does not affect the final renders as rendering is a processor driven actvity. I like the advantage of being able to switch between mac and PC whilst I work, but for complex 3D scenes it's more practical to use either a Wintel box or bootcamp. However, I would say that a few minor bugs aside I'm very impressed with Parallels. 8/10
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Oct 18, 2006, 04:33 AM

Elvis_2006
Junior Member

Join: Sep 2006
Posts: 7

I'm no AutoCad power user, I use AutoCAD LT 2004 to check drawings by others, and I find that it runs acceptably under parallels. So far I've had no problems, but I'm not exactly stretching it.

I also use 3D Studio Max, which to be honest struggles a bit. Navigating complex scenes is slow, some textures display poorly and anti aliasing does not work in the viewports, all due (no doubt) to the software emulation of the graphics adaptor. Obviously this does not affect the final renders as rendering is a processor driven actvity. I like the advantage of being able to switch between mac and PC whilst I work, but for complex 3D scenes it's more practical to use either a Wintel box or bootcamp.

However, I would say that a few minor bugs aside I'm very impressed with Parallels. 8/10

Oct 18, 2006, 07:20 AM #2
archibrat Junior Member Join: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	Using ADT 3.3 and ADT 07 I am an architect and have been using both with XP running on a 17" MB Pro with 2 gigs ram with great results. It seems to handle the 3D models fine, renders in about the same speed as my 2yr old Dell Pent. 4 desktop; (about 3 - 30 seconds slower given the rendering options). There is a very slight lag in the mouse tracking, but most people do not notice this issue. My wife's low end Dell laptop has the same issue. There is a problem with the middle button of a 3 button mouse. It does not work to PAN as it does running traditionally. This is a big pain for me. I use my middle button to PAN and having to type in P + enter each time I do so is annoying. This is a Parallels issue with 3 button mice drivers.. They do not allow you to modify the middle button; or program it. Hopefully this will get fixed. I think there is another way around this if you can find someone who can program AutoCAD's mouse input commands.
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Oct 18, 2006, 07:20 AM

archibrat
Junior Member

Join: Oct 2006
Posts: 7

Using ADT 3.3 and ADT 07

I am an architect and have been using both with XP running on a 17" MB Pro with 2 gigs ram with great results. It seems to handle the 3D models fine, renders in about the same speed as my 2yr old Dell Pent. 4 desktop; (about 3 - 30 seconds slower given the rendering options). There is a very slight lag in the mouse tracking, but most people do not notice this issue. My wife's low end Dell laptop has the same issue. There is a problem with the middle button of a 3 button mouse. It does not work to PAN as it does running traditionally. This is a big pain for me. I use my middle button to PAN and having to type in P + enter each time I do so is annoying. This is a Parallels issue with 3 button mice drivers.. They do not allow you to modify the middle button; or program it. Hopefully this will get fixed. I think there is another way around this if you can find someone who can program AutoCAD's mouse input commands.

Oct 20, 2006, 04:25 PM #3
flak Junior Member Join: Jun 2006 Posts: 4	no problems with middle mouse button for me! I'm using paralles on my Macbook Pro and a bluethoot logitec mouse... the middle button works just like in a pc. (latest build of paralles and acad 2006) For the cursor issue... there is a work around: in windows go to the display properties, select the settings tab and press the advanced button... once on the new window select the troubleshoot tab, then look for the hardware acceleration control and select one less than full. This fixes the cursor issue... I been doing great since I discovered thar... good luck.
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Oct 20, 2006, 04:25 PM

flak
Junior Member

Join: Jun 2006
Posts: 4

no problems with middle mouse button for me!

I'm using paralles on my Macbook Pro and a bluethoot logitec mouse... the middle button works just like in a pc. (latest build of paralles and acad 2006)

For the cursor issue... there is a work around: in windows go to the display properties, select the settings tab and press the advanced button... once on the new window select the troubleshoot tab, then look for the hardware acceleration control and select one less than full. This fixes the cursor issue... I been doing great since I discovered thar... good luck.

Oct 21, 2006, 11:43 AM

billearl
Member

Join: Sep 2006
Posts: 32

Double Cursor Fix

Quote:

Originally Posted by flak

For the cursor issue... there is a work around: in windows go to the display properties, select the settings tab and press the advanced button... once on the new window select the troubleshoot tab, then look for the hardware acceleration control and select one less than full. This fixes the cursor issue... I been doing great since I discovered thar... good luck.

Thanks for the great tip, flak. It also works in Virtual PC for those with PPC Macs.

(Mac Pro, iBook, AutoCAD 2004)

Dec 23, 2006, 07:30 PM

pablom
Junior Member

Join: Dec 2006
Posts: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by flak

flack - after all the years I've used Windows I'm not sure why I never thought of that! very good tip to getting rid of the double cursor...

I run an original MacBook (Core Duo not Core 2 Duo) with 2GB ram and 256MB assigned to Parallels with no issues. I do mostly 2D drafting with some 3D solids from time to time and it runs as good as the Dell Inspiron 600 it replaced, for what I need it to do. I work in construction and I have no problems opening and modifying large AutoCAD files from architects and engineers.

I mainly use Parallels for AutoCAD and Internet Explorer to access my company's Exchange webmail, since using anything else limits the webmail's features. But the speed of Parallels is completely adequate, even when I have the MacBook plugged into a 2nd display running at 1600x1200 resolution.

Jul 11, 2007, 10:01 AM #6
auhlixer Junior Member Join: Jul 2007 Posts: 2	but now the cursor doesn't seemlessly go from osx to xp you have too control+alt
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Oct 25, 2006, 05:58 PM

jmavra
Junior Member

Join: Oct 2006
Posts: 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by archibrat

I was also having the same problem with the middle button not panning, but got it working yesterday. Go to mac System Preferences, then Keyboard/Mouse settings and change the middle button to BUTTON 3. When you go back to Autocad it should now work the way you want it

Jan 7, 2007, 10:41 AM #8
SnowZ Junior Member Join: Jan 2007 Posts: 3	Inventor 10 Have Beta Build 3106 and have no regrets. Would highly recommend Parallels to anyone wishing to run Autodesk
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Jan 7, 2007, 11:06 AM #9
angelo Junior Member Join: Dec 2006 Posts: 5	Yep, been using Revit 9.0 and 9.1 a lot in Parallels. The temp dimension bug is the only thing that's annoying. Everything else is just peachy. It's so nice to have a rest of Mac OS X available for use while working in Revit! Angelo
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Jun 15, 2007, 10:17 PM

#10

Anarchytec
Junior Member

Join: Dec 2006
Posts: 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelo

Yep, been using Revit 9.0 and 9.1 a lot in Parallels. The temp dimension bug is the only thing that's annoying. Angelo

Well - seems the temp dimension bug is back in 3.0 (thru latest build).

Hope this gets fixed soon. As is with V3, using Revit is fairly untenable in Parallels.

Back to Boot Camp....:)

-Phil

Feb 15, 2007, 04:38 PM #11
MuSonics Junior Member Join: Jan 2007 Posts: 2	AutoCAD LT on Parallels I just started using Parallels today for the first time. I'm an old-time Mac user and have, for years, been looking for a way to run AutoCAD. It did run, sort of, with Virtual PC, but it was very slow. So, I eventually bought a Windoze PC just to run AutoCAD. Today I downloaded the latest Parallels (Build 3150), and used Transporter to convert my Virtual PC virtual machine for Parallels. The process was very straightforward, and took about 30 minutes. My VPC machine is about 10 GB, so that's not too bad. (The conversion took 2 steps: first convert the VPC machine while running in VPC on a pre-Intel Mac, transfering this to my Mac Pro, and then convert again on the Mac Pro.) The very first thing I did was fire up AutoCAD LT 2007. The OS is Windoze XP. Amazing. It is very fast and my years of looking for a workable Mac/AutoCAD solution are over. This a absolutely perfect for my needs. I am a consultant, so I am not creating drawings, but I do a lot of markups and overlays (add layers) to send back to architects and other design team members. And, I don't work in 3D. My work is in churches and performing arts centers (acoustics and audio) some with multiple buildings on one campus, and some of these projects (and the AutoCAD files) are hefty. Also, remember that this particular verision and build of Parallels is a Beta: It's only going to get better. My setup: Mac Pro Dual-Core Intel @ 2.66 GHz, 9GB Ram, Mac OS 10.4.8
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Feb 15, 2007, 04:38 PM

#11

MuSonics
Junior Member

Join: Jan 2007
Posts: 2

AutoCAD LT on Parallels

I just started using Parallels today for the first time. I'm an old-time Mac user and have, for years, been looking for a way to run AutoCAD. It did run, sort of, with Virtual PC, but it was very slow. So, I eventually bought a Windoze PC just to run AutoCAD.

Today I downloaded the latest Parallels (Build 3150), and used Transporter to convert my Virtual PC virtual machine for Parallels. The process was very straightforward, and took about 30 minutes. My VPC machine is about 10 GB, so that's not too bad. (The conversion took 2 steps: first convert the VPC machine while running in VPC on a pre-Intel Mac, transfering this to my Mac Pro, and then convert again on the Mac Pro.)

The very first thing I did was fire up AutoCAD LT 2007. The OS is Windoze XP.

Amazing. It is very fast and my years of looking for a workable Mac/AutoCAD solution are over.

This a absolutely perfect for my needs. I am a consultant, so I am not creating drawings, but I do a lot of markups and overlays (add layers) to send back to architects and other design team members. And, I don't work in 3D. My work is in churches and performing arts centers (acoustics and audio) some with multiple buildings on one campus, and some of these projects (and the AutoCAD files) are hefty.

Also, remember that this particular verision and build of Parallels is a Beta: It's only going to get better.

My setup: Mac Pro Dual-Core Intel @ 2.66 GHz, 9GB Ram, Mac OS 10.4.8

Jun 19, 2007, 12:59 PM #12
lucerodesign1 Junior Member Join: Jan 2007 Posts: 9	Running AutoCAD LT 2008 - OK, mostly I've been running AutoCAD LT on my MBP since January and it's been relatively smooth sailing. The new version of parallels is much better, but I noticed a problem this morning. I updated to LT 2008 last month and just today started using it in coherence mode. I could not execute the XREF command to manage my external references. I would get a fatal error and AutoCAD would quit. I tried purging, auditing, etc..., but nothing helped, then I tried several other projects and got the same results. Problem with AutoCAD? No, it all worked fine when I went to fullscreen. I'll post on the Autodesk forum as well to see if this is an update that Autodesk can provide. Thankfully there's an easy work around. Oh and by the way, you can never have too much RAM, especially in a notebook.
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Jun 19, 2007, 12:59 PM

#12

lucerodesign1
Junior Member

Join: Jan 2007
Posts: 9

Running AutoCAD LT 2008 - OK, mostly

I've been running AutoCAD LT on my MBP since January and it's been relatively smooth sailing. The new version of parallels is much better, but I noticed a problem this morning.

I updated to LT 2008 last month and just today started using it in coherence mode. I could not execute the XREF command to manage my external references. I would get a fatal error and AutoCAD would quit. I tried purging, auditing, etc..., but nothing helped, then I tried several other projects and got the same results. Problem with AutoCAD? No, it all worked fine when I went to fullscreen. I'll post on the Autodesk forum as well to see if this is an update that Autodesk can provide. Thankfully there's an easy work around.

Oh and by the way, you can never have too much RAM, especially in a notebook.

Jun 19, 2007, 02:10 PM #13
irelandshope Junior Member Join: Oct 2006 Posts: 14	I'm having a similiar problem with Architectural Desktop 2006. If I launch ADT by double clicking on a dwg file which will launch parallels and then Autocad in coherence it will crash after a few seconds. However if I launch Autocad first in windowed mode and then open the file no problem. I can also switch to coherence and again no problem. It seems strange. I tried your problem with xrefs but could not cause a fatal error.
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Jun 19, 2007, 02:10 PM

#13

irelandshope
Junior Member

Join: Oct 2006
Posts: 14

I'm having a similiar problem with Architectural Desktop 2006. If I launch ADT by double clicking on a dwg file which will launch parallels and then Autocad in coherence it will crash after a few seconds. However if I launch Autocad first in windowed mode and then open the file no problem. I can also switch to coherence and again no problem. It seems strange.

I tried your problem with xrefs but could not cause a fatal error.

Jul 24, 2007, 03:10 PM

#14

lucerodesign1
Junior Member

Join: Jan 2007
Posts: 9

One more issue

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucerodesign1

It was hard for me to articulate the following issue, because I really didn't understand the root of this problem until just recently, and couldn't comment until yesterday on the Autodesk discussion group, but there's another problem I've been facing that so far has not been resolved. Posting from Autodesk AutoCAD LT discussion group.
I use a second display and a Wacom Intuos 9x12 graphics tablet. The proportions of the laptop display are forced onto the second display at the setup orientation. In my configuration, what this effectively does is prohibit me from using my tablet on the upper portion of my second monitor. I have to release Parallel's control of the cursor (ctrl-option) in order to access that part of the screen by pen. That is bothersome, and I hope someone can help figure it out. I've tried changing every related setting that I can think of, but with no luck. If anyone has any insight as to how to fix this, PLEASE let me know.

Thanks!

Jul 25, 2007, 04:50 PM #15
mdozier Junior Member Join: Jul 2007 Posts: 1	jumpy mouse we use mbpro intel core 2 with 2g memory - been running parallels 3 with xp-pro and AutoCAD '07 using the mighty mouse instead of a microsoft mouse we used the standard parallels tools driver and in windows set the mouse to windows default settings, then adjusted the speeds and the thing smooths out fine. the only issue is the scroll wheel (ball) - the zoom can get a bit jumpy but with a little adjustment it gets usable. the speed settings in preferences on the mac side and windows side can be adjusted such that the mouse ends up being pretty seamless. the wireless microsoft optical mouse and the wired microsoft optical mouse speeds are considerably faster than the bluetooth mighty mouse and transitioning between the two is unbearable - you must drastically change the settings and even then the microsoft opticals never seem to smooth out. hope that helps a bit...
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Jul 25, 2007, 04:50 PM

#15

mdozier
Junior Member

Join: Jul 2007
Posts: 1

jumpy mouse

we use mbpro intel core 2 with 2g memory - been running parallels 3 with xp-pro and AutoCAD '07

using the mighty mouse instead of a microsoft mouse we used the standard parallels tools driver and in windows set the mouse to windows default settings, then adjusted the speeds and the thing smooths out fine. the only issue is the scroll wheel (ball) - the zoom can get a bit jumpy but with a little adjustment it gets usable.

the speed settings in preferences on the mac side and windows side can be adjusted such that the mouse ends up being pretty seamless.

the wireless microsoft optical mouse and the wired microsoft optical mouse speeds are considerably faster than the bluetooth mighty mouse and transitioning between the two is unbearable - you must drastically change the settings and even then the microsoft opticals never seem to smooth out.

hope that helps a bit...

Jul 1, 2007, 01:26 PM #16
abhayos Junior Member Join: Jul 2007 Posts: 1	Properties Crash We have been using Autocad in Parallels 3.0 and every time we use the properties dialog box Autocad crashes. Has anyone else had this problem and did you resolve it??
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Jul 4, 2007, 05:31 PM

#17

cviebrock
Junior Member

Join: Jul 2007
Posts: 1

Same here

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhayos

We have been using Autocad in Parallels 3.0 and every time we use the properties dialog box Autocad crashes. Has anyone else had this problem and did you resolve it??

Same issue here. Opening the properties dialog, xref dialog ... basically any of those "floating" dialogs results in an access violation and crash:

FATAL ERROR: Unhandled Access Violation Reading 0x0002 Exception at 2h

This only happens in Coherence mode, but is completely reproduceable. Full screen and OS window work fine. From the Autodesk crash report, I get the following info (which may be of use):

<OpenGLInfo Vendor="Parallels Inc. & ATI Technologies Inc." Renderer="ParallelS over ATI Radeon X1600 OpenGL Engine" Version="2.0 ATI-1.4.56" />
<GraphicsInfo InfoType="D3D9Config">
<![CDATA[ Driver: PrlVideo.dll
DriverVersion: 3.0.4128.0
Description: Parallels Video Driver
DeviceName: \\.\DISPLAY1
VendorId: 6840
DeviceId: 4401
SubSysId: 0
Revision: 0
WHQLLevel: 0
DeviceType: 0
AdapterOrdinal: 0
Caps: 0
Caps2: 0
Caps3: 0
Presentation: 0
Cursor: 0
Dev: 0
PrimitiveMisc: 0
Raster: 0
ZCmp: 0
SrcBlend: 0
DestBlend: 0
AlphaCmp: 0
Shade: 0
Texture: 0
TextureFilter: 0
CubeTextureFilter: 0
VolumeTextureFilter: 0
TextureAddress: 0
VolumeTextureAddress: 0
Line: 0
MaxTextureWidth: 0
MaxTextureHeight: 0
MaxVolumeExtent: 0
MaxTextureRepeat: 0
MaxTextureAspectRatio: 0
MaxAnisotropy: 0
MaxVertexW: 0
GuardBandLeft: 0
GuardBandTop: 0
GuardBandRight: 0
GuardBandBottom: 0
ExtentsAdjust: 0
Stencil: 0
FVF: 0
TextureOp: 0
MaxTextureBlendStages: 0
MaxSimultaneousTextures: 0
VertexProcessing: 0
MaxActiveLights: 0
MaxUserClipPlanes: 0
MaxVertexBlendMatrices: 0
MaxVertexBlendMatrixIndex: 0
MaxPointSize: 0
MaxPrimitiveCount: 0
MaxVertexIndex: 0
MaxStreams: 0
MaxStreamStride: 0
VertexShaderVersion: 0
MaxVertexShaderConst: 0
PixelShaderVersion: 0
PixelShader1xMaxValue: 0
Dev2: 0
MasterAdapterOrdinal: 0
AdapterOrdinalInGroup: 0
NumberOfAdaptersInGroup: 0
DeclTypes: 0
NumSimultaneousRTs: 0
StretchRectFilter: 0
VertexTextureFilter: 0
MaxVShaderInstructionsExecuted: 0
MaxPShaderInstructionsExecuted: 0
MaxVertexShader30InstructionSlots: 0
MaxPixelShader30InstructionSlots: 0

]]>
</GraphicsInfo>

Jul 18, 2007, 12:27 PM

#18

ddfrye
Junior Member

Join: May 2006
Posts: 3

AutoCAD crash workaround

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhayos

We have been using Autocad in Parallels 3.0 and every time we use the properties dialog box Autocad crashes. Has anyone else had this problem and did you resolve it??

I am running AutoCAD 2008 in Parallels 3.0 (had been running v2.5 with the same problems). I have found a couple of workarounds:
1. If I switch to full screen mode (on my 17" MBP) the problem goes away. I only have the problem in coherence mode.
2. If I want to stay in coherence mode, I open the tool palette first (either pick from the toolbar or enter '_ToolPalettes at the command line. I can then close the tool palette if I don't want it open. I can then open any palette, including properties, that I want to. If I don't open the tool palette first, any other palette I open causes the AutoCAD crash. Please note the difference between a dialog box and a palette: in recent versions of AutoCAD many dialog boxes have been replaced by palettes. I have never had any problem opening any dialog boxes, only palettes.

Jul 2, 2007, 03:25 AM #19
husnainlotia Junior Member Join: Jul 2007 Posts: 4	Autocad When I switch to full screen running AutoCAD, I get a marked loss of display quality. Any suggetions?
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Jul 3, 2007, 05:29 AM

#20

ludesign
Junior Member

Join: Jul 2007
Posts: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by chell

Are there any AutoCAD users out there that have tried parallels. Does it run well with such graphic intense programs??

I have found at leat two graphics / CAD programs using OpenGL that does not work with version 3, and which worked fine on older versions. When will we see an update?

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