Autodesk has announced the next release of AutoCAD, called AutoCAD 2002. It will be generally available in July, 2001.

Compatibility With BG-Map:

We have tested BG-Map with a pre-release copy of AutoCAD 2002 and have found no compatibility issues. In other words, you can use the current version of BG-Map with either AutoCAD 2000 or AutoCAD 2002 with equal functionality. The next release of BG-Map will also maintain this compatibility.

So, it's your choice. If you wish to take advantage of the new features, of AutoCAD 2002, you may. Or, you can stay with AutoCAD 2000 until the next release of AutoCAD is rolled out.

As you probably know by now, a new Windows version of BG-BASE is currently in development - yes it really is happening! The initial version of this software will be demonstrated at the BG-BASE exhibit at the 2001 AABGA conference in Denver.

We have been in contact with Mike O'Neal of BG-BASE in an effort to insure compatibility between BG-Map and BG-BASE for Windows. As far as we can determine, there appear to be no major compatibility issues. We hope to obtain a pre-release copy of BG-BASE for Windows soon for actual testing with BG-Map.

Here's an update on plans for future updates and additions to BG-Map:

BG-Map - (Next Update Fall 2001)

Facilities Management Module (next update Summer 2001)

Garden Notepad (next update Fall 2001)

Networking gives you the ability to share BG-Map information among staff and departments. For example, a networked BG-Map workstation can give horticulture staff the ability to locate plants, print maps, and update records via Garden Notepad without using up the time of plant records personnel.

What You Need to Network:

There is no limit to the number of BG-Map workstations that can be networked. Here's what you will need:

Tim Thibault contributed an article on the mapping at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Tim traces the history of Descanso Gardens, reviews the major collections, and describes the garden's ambitious mapping project.

Former Holden Arboretum intern Gergely Boroczki wrote an article on a simple technique to map complex densely planted areas without the need to survey with a total station, GPS, or tape measure.

And Rhoda Maurer of the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College contributed an article covering the purchase and use of a new high precision GPS system for mapping of the plant collections.

Reference Blocks are AutoCAD drawing files, separate from you basemap, that can be overlaid onto your basemap for reference purposes. They usually contain information that is not often needed but which must be referred to occasionally. By placing this information in separate files, you reduce the size of your basemap, and therefor increase performance. In AutoCAD, Reference Blocks are called "External References" or simply "Xrefs".

Reference Blocks can contain an aerial photos, topographic map, utility maps, landscape architects' drawings, or other information.

Creating Reference Blocks:

Reference Blocks can be created in the same way as any other AutoCAD drawing. To be used as a Reference Block, the drawing must be created in real world scale, use the same coordinate system as your basemap, and have an insertion base point of 0,0.

Creating a Reference Block by Removing Information From Your Basemap:

You can remove information from your basemap and place it in a Reference Block. To do so, you must use the AutoCAD WBLOCK (Write Block) command. For details, refer to your AutoCAD documentation.

Using Reference Blocks:

To temporarily overlay a Reference Block, select "Attach Reference Block" from the AutoCAD File menu. Or click on the icon that shows a piece of paper attached by a paper clip. Then, select the file to attach.