Frequently Asked Questions
Here are links to various categories of questions:
Q: Can you provide my team some training on how to configure AUD?
A: Contact me with details of what you’re looking for. DL Consulting created the only comprehensive training on configuring AUD, and I’m happy to chat about your needs, give you suggestions, and if appropriate help with your training.
Q: What kind of trainings does DL Consulting provide at this time?
A: We do two kinds of training sessions at this point:
Q: Are the DL Consulting training manuals still available? How can I get them?
A: DL Consulting has not updated the training manuals for several years. Once Spatial Business Solutions (SBS) took over the product from Autodesk, the pace of enhancements outstripped our ability to keep up. However, if you elect to have DL Consulting provide you with on-site training, these old but still useful materials will be provided at no additional cost in PDF format.
A: Contact me with details of what you’re looking for. DL Consulting created the only comprehensive training on configuring AUD, and I’m happy to chat about your needs, give you suggestions, and if appropriate help with your training.
Q: What kind of trainings does DL Consulting provide at this time?
A: We do two kinds of training sessions at this point:
- in-person configuration training sessions for a new team that is considering or just starting an AUD project.
- In-person refresher trainings for existing clients or existing customers who have AUD and are striving to maintain their configuration.
Q: Are the DL Consulting training manuals still available? How can I get them?
A: DL Consulting has not updated the training manuals for several years. Once Spatial Business Solutions (SBS) took over the product from Autodesk, the pace of enhancements outstripped our ability to keep up. However, if you elect to have DL Consulting provide you with on-site training, these old but still useful materials will be provided at no additional cost in PDF format.
Q: Can DL Consulting still provide custom user training?
A: Once you have a utility-specific AUD configuration and you're ready to deploy it within your utility, it's essential to train your designers. For many years DL Consulting has delivered custom user training for utilities. These trainings can be quite comprehensive and completely utility-specific. Contact DL Consulting and ask about what's possible and what's required to deliver a fully customized training.
Q: How are such trainings created?
A: DL Consulting creates three sets of documents that are central to the training. The first is a PowerPoint presentation that would be used by the trainer (or trainers in situations where there are many users). This presentation contains custom graphics that explain the how and why of every feature, and walk through examples of how to leverage the software. The presentation also contains detailed speaker notes for use by the instructor (and as you'll see, for use within the reference manual as well). The second deliverable is a comprehensive training manual for designer use. This manual is generated from the PowerPoint content so the graphics and detailed notes within the PowerPoint are available in an easy reference form. Finally, custom exercises are also created for most trainings using the utility's specific configuration.
Q: How long does it take to create such a training?
A: DL Consulting can usually create such a training in a 3 or 4 month timeframe, depending on other commitments.
A: Once you have a utility-specific AUD configuration and you're ready to deploy it within your utility, it's essential to train your designers. For many years DL Consulting has delivered custom user training for utilities. These trainings can be quite comprehensive and completely utility-specific. Contact DL Consulting and ask about what's possible and what's required to deliver a fully customized training.
Q: How are such trainings created?
A: DL Consulting creates three sets of documents that are central to the training. The first is a PowerPoint presentation that would be used by the trainer (or trainers in situations where there are many users). This presentation contains custom graphics that explain the how and why of every feature, and walk through examples of how to leverage the software. The presentation also contains detailed speaker notes for use by the instructor (and as you'll see, for use within the reference manual as well). The second deliverable is a comprehensive training manual for designer use. This manual is generated from the PowerPoint content so the graphics and detailed notes within the PowerPoint are available in an easy reference form. Finally, custom exercises are also created for most trainings using the utility's specific configuration.
Q: How long does it take to create such a training?
A: DL Consulting can usually create such a training in a 3 or 4 month timeframe, depending on other commitments.
Q: What kind of support can DL Consulting provide?
A: Generally DL Consulting provides support for things we have configured, or things within our core expertise. Because every AUD configuration is different, and configurations are created in different ways, it is not always practical to "take over" support from another organization or to provide help on unique one-time problems.
Q: How does one contract for and pay for DL Consulting support?
A: For existing clients, DL Consulting generally provides hourly support on a time-and-materials basis. This can vary, for example, if you simply want the ability to call whenever you're having an issue, it is possible to be on retainer for a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual fee. Another support model is to focus on a "defect list", and to work down the list over a pre-determined period of time.
Q: What are DL Consulting's core areas of expertise with regards to AUD?
A: DL Consulting has not updated the training manuals for several years. Once Spatial Business Solutions (SBS) took over the product from Autodesk, the pace of enhancements outstripped our ability to keep up. However, if you elect to have DL Consulting provide you with on-site training, these old but still useful materials will be provided at no additional cost in PDF format.
A: Generally DL Consulting provides support for things we have configured, or things within our core expertise. Because every AUD configuration is different, and configurations are created in different ways, it is not always practical to "take over" support from another organization or to provide help on unique one-time problems.
Q: How does one contract for and pay for DL Consulting support?
A: For existing clients, DL Consulting generally provides hourly support on a time-and-materials basis. This can vary, for example, if you simply want the ability to call whenever you're having an issue, it is possible to be on retainer for a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual fee. Another support model is to focus on a "defect list", and to work down the list over a pre-determined period of time.
Q: What are DL Consulting's core areas of expertise with regards to AUD?
A: DL Consulting has not updated the training manuals for several years. Once Spatial Business Solutions (SBS) took over the product from Autodesk, the pace of enhancements outstripped our ability to keep up. However, if you elect to have DL Consulting provide you with on-site training, these old but still useful materials will be provided at no additional cost in PDF format.
Q: At what point will DL Consulting no longer provide training and support?
A: The target timeframe is sometime in 2027.
Q: Will it be possible to get the legacy DL Consulting configuration training document after that time?
A: DL Consulting will no longer provide the PDFs for the training materials. By that time, things will likely have evolved such that there are better configuration tools and the materials will no longer be particularly useful.
Q: Are there other consulting organizations that provide similar services?
A: Spatial Business Solutions (SBS) is the primary source for service and support of AUD, as they are the developers and distributors of the software. In addition, consulting services are provided by Atwell LLC, a consulting organization with offices across the US within their Power &* Renewable Energy practice, and PlannedScape, a small consulting operation in Southern California.
A: The target timeframe is sometime in 2027.
Q: Will it be possible to get the legacy DL Consulting configuration training document after that time?
A: DL Consulting will no longer provide the PDFs for the training materials. By that time, things will likely have evolved such that there are better configuration tools and the materials will no longer be particularly useful.
Q: Are there other consulting organizations that provide similar services?
A: Spatial Business Solutions (SBS) is the primary source for service and support of AUD, as they are the developers and distributors of the software. In addition, consulting services are provided by Atwell LLC, a consulting organization with offices across the US within their Power &* Renewable Energy practice, and PlannedScape, a small consulting operation in Southern California.