Autodesk duped me into doing a crossgrade from AutoCAD 2005 to AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite 2010 back in 2009 since my AutoCAD had fallen into legacy state. At that time I wanted to familiarize myself with Revit Structure to see if it would be something I could use in my particular business niche which is detailing precast concrete cladding. I played with it enough to conclude that it would be more time consuming than it was worth...in my application at least.

My decision to do the crossgrade was based on Autodesk providing 3 software products...AutoCAD 2010, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2010 and Revit Structure 2010 which was the case in that version. As of 2011 Autodesk decided to combine the install of AutoCAD and AutoCAD Structural Detailing on a single disc. Even though you could open ASD 2011 and work as if it was AutoCAD, even Autodesk didn't recognize it as AutoCAD 2011...what you had was AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2011 (UP MINE!). The same occurred in 2012. I tried to install HDI drivers for AutoCAD from my plotter manufacturer (Canon) that say they are for AutoCAD 2011 and when I start the installation I get a message saying no version of AutoCAD is on my computer (UP MINE AGAIN!!).

So now I have Revit Structure Suite 2013 loaded. Still no separate AutoCAD installation but this time there's no separate launch icon for AutoCAD 2013 (even though it's really a stripped down ASD 2013) like was installed in 2011 and 2012. You have to find the AutoCAD launch icon in a folder buried in the program files and copy/paste it to your desktop (A MILDER ENEMA THIS TIME IN RETROSPECT).

But for the grande finale Autodesk has officially dropped Revit Structure Suite as of about a week ago. I've remained on subscription for all these years, forking over $750/year for the priveledge of NOT getting AutoCAD as they promised me in 2010. Now what??? I call Autodesk and ask what options I have as far as the 2014 version. I'm told they don't currently know what options I'll be offered and probably won't until early 2013. My subscription is up for renewal in September of 2012. If I'm not a subscription customer I won't be eligible for any upgrades to Revit Structure or AutoCAD Structural Detailing. I don't even know if that will be an option at this point (JUST BEND OVER AND SHOVE IT IN ALL THE WAY...I'm used to it, Autodesk!!!).