0003 - Description of each module
Below you can see the complete list of modules that this course contains. Although you will also be able to see all the topics from the side menu (on the left), here we will explain the main topic that each of them deals with.
Modules
- 00 - Welcome
- 01 - Getting started with ARES Trinity
- 02 - Synchronize Files
- 03 - Workflow in the Cloud
- 04 - Control User Access & Rights
- 05 - Email notifications
- 06 - Session Handling
- 07 - Comments and Markups
- 08 - Version History
- 09 - Share View-Only Links
00 - Welcome
This module aims to quickly explain the most relevant things that the student should know before starting. If you want to learn how to download and install the programs, or how to activate a license or trial license, you should see the online course that we have prepared with these topics. Click here.
01 - Getting started with ARES Trinity
This module begins with a video that quickly demonstrates the features of ARES Trinity. This allows you to have a notion of all the things that can be done, and that will be learned throughout the course.
Next, the creation of a free Graebert account is highlighted, since it is essential to be able to activate the programs, whether you have a paid license or you want to activate a 30-day trial license.
We close the module by comparing similar tasks in ARES Commander, ARES Kudo and ARES Touch, which allows us to discover the similarities between the 3 programs, which makes it easier to understand how to call a command, or use dialog boxes, or even drop-down menus.
From this module begin the QUIZ that are essential to be able to evaluate what the students have learned and that will be essential to obtain a certificate at the end of the course.
02 - Synchronize Files
ARES Trinity is a set of collaboration and communication features that flow between ARES Commander, ARES Kudo and ARES Touch. For this, the files (drawings) must be hosted in the cloud. This module focuses on explaining how this process works and what steps must be followed to upload files to the cloud. These steps are critical to being able to collaborate with other users on the same file.
03 - Workflow in the Cloud
Thanks to what we learned in the previous module, we are now ready to start using the collaboration tools. It is time to learn what it is like to work with a file in the cloud. If you are already used to working with ARES Commander with local files, doing so now with files hosted in the cloud is very similar. The main difference is that instead of being saved on a local hard drive, the changes are saved in a cloud directory, through a cloud storage service such as Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, etc.
However, we believe that before using the collaboration tools, it is worth reviewing some basic functions for creating and editing 2D drawings. Some side-by-side comparisons will help you understand the similarities and differences between ARES Commander, ARES Kudo, and ARES Touch.
04 - Control User Access & Rights
Now that we know how to upload drawings to the cloud, and we know how to edit them — even from different devices running different programs — we must learn how to share these drawings with other users. They, in turn, will have roles that allow them to edit the drawing or to only view it. These functions open up a huge spectrum of possibilities, as we will see throughout the course.
Perhaps you are already familiar with the tools of Google Docs, or Google Drive for sharing documents online, or giving access to directories. Well, we will learn the CAD versions of these tools during the course.
05 - Email notifications
In a previous module, we talked about synchronization. Well, the truth is that the automatic notifications that are sent by email are part of that synchronization.
Each change made in a drawing by a user generates a notification that is sent to the rest of the users. This maintains direct and constant communication with the drawing. You will be able to know who made the change, and when. You do not need to wait for the user to tell you that they have made a change; the program takes care of it. You will see how much time can be saved by just this function!
06 - Session Handling
In this module, we will learn how to manage simultaneous file access by multiple users. When sharing a drawing file with other users who have editing rights, it is vital that only one of them can edit it at a time; otherwise it would be chaos.
Whoever opens the file first controls the editing session; any users who open it later will be temporarily prevented from editing. (Although a later user can ask the first user to release the drawing so that he can edit it.)
Consulting the drawing is an option that is always available. In other words, one can navigate through the drawing, take distance or area measurements, or even make comments. This is true even if you can only access it in visualization mode.
07 - Comments and Markups
We talked a moment ago about the comments. The truth is that there are two types of comments that can be created through ARES Commander, ARES Kudo, and ARES Touch. We call one simply comments, while the other is called markups.
The first simply refers to text notes that we can associate to drawing entities. Other users will see these comments, and will be able to reply to them. With markups, we can even add photos and voice notes, as well as insert preset and custom stamps.
Enabling every collaborator to comment on the same drawing saves a tremendous amount of time — and money. You should try this feature to understand its power — it will change the way you work with drawings.
08 - Version History
As an online drawing evolves, updates are generated, and with them come new versions that are automatically saved in a history. This is very important, especially when sharing a drawing with other people.
Imagine that a user wants to know what has changed between the current version of the drawing and a previous one. The truth is that the user can find out easily, since we have tools to compare versions. We can also promote a previous version so that it becomes the current version. Can you imagine the power that this gives to those responsible for the project?
09 - Share View-Only Links
Did we save the best for last? It's hard to know what your favorite ARES Trinity feature will be, but I'm sure that view-only links will be a top pick.
The reason is very simple: Thanks to this function, you can share the drawing with other users through a URL.
This URL can be deactivated at any time, it can be changed, and it can even be set to automatically expire on a date you choose. With this URL, a user without any type of license will be able to view the drawing from their browser, thanks to ARES Kudo. This is free for those who access the link.
If a client or other link user wants to comment on things in the drawing, they can do so, but first they must create a free Graebert account.
You (or your colleagues who share access to the online drawing) will be able to continue working and modifying the drawing. Your customer will always be able to see the latest version of the drawing, because the link is kept up to date. If you want your client (and other users who know the URL) to stop having access, you can simply turn off the link. Or you could add a password, which would add another level of security to the drawing.
10 - Links of interest
The last module aims to facilitate access to other topics and resources of interest, including other videos that we have published on our YouTube channel. This module will evolve in response to the queries of our online students.