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Updated Autodesk Land Desktop Training Book from Cadapult
Added: (Sat Apr 01 2006)
Cadapult Software Solutions, Inc., an Autodesk authorized publisher, announces the release of their newest training book: Digging Into Autodesk Land Desktop 2006. The 2004 version of this book was Cadapult's first in a series of courseware for the Autodesk Infrastructure Solutions product line, specialized CAD software for the civil engineering, surveying, mapping and facilities management industries. In 2005 Cadapult published similar training books for Autodesk Map 3D and Civil 3D.
Though intended for 3-day, instructor led training, which Cadapult offers, the books work well for classes of any duration, as well as for self-study, according to Rick Ellis, the author and CEO of Cadapult. Mr. Ellis served as CAD manager at a multidisciplinary civil engineering firm before becoming a CAD trainer and consultant in 1996. Dissatisfied with the available training materials, he began to develop his own customized curricula, based on straightforward, cohesive datasets and logically sequential exercises based on real-world tasks. Once clients and other training centers expressed interest, Cadapult began publishing their training materials, and sales are brisk.
Over twelve hundred copies of his 2004 Land Desktop, and nearly one thousand more of the Map 3D and Civil 3D books have been purchased by colleges, training centers and technical schools, as well as individuals world-wide. Cadapult decided to update the Land Desktop book for the 2006 version, even though Autodesk made few changes to the software in the last two years. "The updates in the book mostly involve the advances to the core AutoCAD program, primarily the user interface", says Mr. Ellis. "Autodesk is focusing its energies on the Civil 3D product now, so we will not likely update the Land Desktop book again, though we expect sales to the huge established user base to continue for several more years", he added.
Cadapult plans to update their Civil 3D and Map 3D courseware each year, to keep up with the annual software releases from Autodesk, according to Russell Martin, who handles Cadapult's business development, and also serves as technical editor of the training books. Mr. Martin, who has over twenty years experience with AutoCAD and mapping/GIS software, added: "Cadapult also plans to introduce advanced level training books for both Civil 3D and Map 3D, as interest in that software increases, and we're looking into publishing training books for other specialized Autodesk products."
All of Cadapult Software Solution's training books are exercise based, providing step-by-step procedures for many common tasks, while defining terms and explaining concepts. Complete datasets for all exercises are included with each book, and they are all available directly from their web site: http://www.cadapult-software.com/store (503) 829-8929