Dept. of Events - Date Change for AIA/LA TAP @ USC

Changed Date!

Event: AIA/LA Technology in Architecture Practice (TAP)
When: November 5, 2010
Time: 6-8 PM
Where: USC - Wong Conference Center in Harris Hall 101
Admission: Free to AIA members, $10 General Public
Continuing Education Credit (CEU): 1.5

Subjects: Tiger by the Tail - Small firm strategies in BIM Adoption
Presenters:

• Tom Morales, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP (Outsource model) Adjunct Professor, Cerritos College & BIM Consultant
• Shobhit Baadkar (Collaborative model) - Principal, Titan AEC
• Cliff S. Moser, MSQA, AIA, LEED AP (Partnering model) - VP Operations and Healthcare Practice, CADFORCE Inc.

Overview:
This session will involve an interactive discussion about streamlining the adoption of the BIM model in small architectural practices. It will cover the ways of collaborating and working with BIM providers and colleagues in order to ramp up quickly and effectively in providing professional services. Why do small firms have an advantage in using outside sources for the BIM process? Because they can easily tailor their work flow to the different process that BIM demands, having only a small investment in digital, hardware and communication overhead or in tech personnel. This is a strategic advantage because in order to truly take advantage of BIM there must be a complete overhaul of the traditional work flow process.

You can register by clicking HERE.  Admission is FREE to AIA Members and $10 for General Admission.

IsReference Setting - Weak and Strong

I've written posts about Reference Planes in the past, these are a couple specific examples:

Once Upon a Reference Plane
Is you Is or Is You Ain't

I've neglected to mention this change: In the past using the Weak reference setting would not generate drag arrows. They've changed this at some point, which I haven't pinned down (2010ish) but I think it had to do with the changes to the massing conceptual design environment.

The Video that appears below demonstrates some subtlety between the Weak and Strong reference settings. The nice names like Front, Back, Top and Bottom are all Strong references by the way. When you combine Weak references with a dimension assigned to a Instance parameter you get "move" behavior when you use the Align tool. When you do the same for Strong references you get "stretch" behavior. If you want your family to move, think Weak. Think Strong for Stretch.

Dept. of Off Topic - Site Cleanup

I don't have a sense of how attached people are to what I've stored on this site but I do know that I've grown weary of scrolling my own site to get to various links. I've condensed all the links that I used to have on the right side bar to the maximum of ten sub-pages that blogger allows.

If you've become accustomed to finding something via my blog then most likely you'll find it on the sub-pages now. I hope that you'll find the shorter length of the blog page overall as pleasing as I do. Another advantage of the sub-pages is that I can use more html formatting to start considering flagging blogs or sites that I want to highlight as more active etc.

I have been told from time to time that people rely on the Builds and Updates page to check for the most recent build information. I try to keep that as current as possible and it is easier to check the build number here than on Autodesk's site since they buried the build number in the pdf they issue for each web update.

I also increased the maximum number of posts that can appear to five so that the posts and the sidebar are nearly the same length. I hope these subtle changes make the site a bit cleaner and clearer. As you were...

Managing Visibility of Linked Files

Aaron Maller of Malleristic Revitation and Beck Group shared a technique (in a comment to my previous post) that he and his current firm like to use to manage the visibility of specific categories in linked files. He/they rely on View Templates extensively to manage the user project experience.

The trouble, for most people, with View Templates when it comes to linked files is that they may not know when the linked files they'll need to use will become available. This means that they usually wait for them and then spend some time dealing with cleanup.

The technique that Aaron describes involves linking blank/empty placeholder files into their project templates. This way their View Templates can be configured to affect the placeholder in advance. Once a real project file is available they can use Reload From to replace the placeholder. Their View Templates and its views are already configured to hide certain categories so no real effort is required of the project team at large.

Different/special coordination views and View Templates can be used to show Levels and Grids for example so that it is easy to use Coordination Review or Copy/Monitor.

We can manage visibility of linked files with:

• Visibility/Graphics - RVT Link overrides
• Workset manipulation - as described in my previous post
• View Templates - as described in this post
• Some combination of the above

Which is easiest depends on your perspective. A small firm with a few users working on their own projects might choose one route while Aaron's firm will many users to support have chosen this one. Either way his/their approach might just be something you haven't considered?

Workset Visibility in Linked Files

Warning: Worksets are not for visibility control purists need to walk away, put some ear plugs in and repeat after me, "Nah nah nah, I can't hear you Steve, I can't hear you".

When you work with linked project files a common issue people deal with is controlling the display of the linked levels and grids. The first person I recall discovering the technique I'm about to describe is Daniel Stine, the author of several Revit books.

If your project and the other project files use specific worksets for certain elements, like Levels and/or grids you can control their visibility quite easily. Here's the steps:

• For each linked project file - define a workset(s) name for the linked elements
• Have the source of each file make sure the elements are assigned to this workset(s)
• Create the same workset(s) using the same name in your own project
• Un-Check Visible by default in all views

When you import the other project file Revit will recognize the workset that uses the same name and respect the fact that your workset by the same name isn't supposed to be visible, rendering their workset "invisible" too. I've created a brief video that explains this too.

For the purist that prefers to use Filters for visibility control, Revit doesn't provide access to project file parameters like file name or project name. If Revit did then we could filter for the grids in the other file instead. If the grid family name chosen by the other project file creators was carefully assigned/selected we could control it with Filters.

Little Finish before the Big Finish - Copy Monitor Etiquette

Here's a quick one. When you use the Multiple selection option during the Copy/Monitor process you must remember to click the little finish button on the Options bar before clicking the big FINISH green check mark button. If you don't you don't get your copies or any monitoring to take effect. Here's a quick video to show what I'm referring to.

Revit MEP gets a book!

Wiley recently published their book for Revit MEP: Mastering Autodesk Revit MEP 2011.

It has been a long time coming. It started out with different authors, got postponed due to schedule conflicts and finally settled in on the current author team of Don Bokmiller, Marvin Titlow and Simon Whitbread. I don't know Don or Marvin personally but I've known Simon for many years now. It takes a lot of time and effort to write a book and that they accomplished it must be a relief and satisfying. A least the terror (I know I've felt terror) is past them...for now.

If you are getting started with Revit MEP then you'll want to check out their book. If you've been using it for a few years you might wish for more depth but I'm certain you'll still find useful information throughout.

Here are some links you can review:
Description
Table of Contents
Author Information
Downloads
Contents
Part 1 General Project Setup
Index

Revit AppStore

Jeremy Tammik of The Building Coder wrote a post over the weekend that shared some info on a new site called the Revit AppStore. Carl Hoffstedt with Astacus AB has started the site with the intention to help manage applications for Revit.

The site lists three reasons to use Revit AppStore:

• Run your apps from anywhere
• Easy way to find new apps
• It's Free!

The site asks:
So, are you a Developer?
The RevitApp Store SDK is small and simple to use. It is based on an IExternalExtension interface that is the communication with the RevitApp Store. The Apps you create will be protected against copy and execution outside of the Revit AppStore using an AppProtection class.

It also invites us to suggest applications that ought to be available. It will be interesting to see how it develops (pun intended).

Introducing Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 is Available

I got an email today from a friend letting me know that my book arrived today. I say my because the book is Patrick Davis' project. Charlie Busa, Beau Turner and I contributed chapters to the book earlier in the year. I was a bit surprised to get asked to contribute considering a few years ago I bailed out on Willem and Wiley/Sybex. No hard feelings retained, lucky me! I haven't mentioned it until now because I'm slack and I lost track of where it stood in the publishing process.

This book is meant to be a lighter text than the heavier (literally) Mastering Revit Architecture 2011 book, its bigger brother. Here's a few details:

ISBN: 978-0-470-64971-8
Paperback
544 pages
Listed Price: $49.99 USD (Wiley site price)

If you'd like to see a bit more of the book you can review the following:
Author Information
Table of Contents
Description
Downloads

Excerpts (PDF):
Contents
Chapter 1
Index

Speaking for myself, and I imagine for the others, I sure hope that it meets the needs of people getting started with Revit!!

Dept. of Events - Two Sessions at Acadia 2010

For more information and to register, visit the ACADIA 2010 Site.

Event: Acadia 2010 - Conceptual Design in Autodesk Revit Architecture Workshop
When: October 18-20, 2010 (three day workshop)
Time: 9:00AM -4:00 PM
Where: Cooper Union - New York, New York
Admission: For event registration refer to website (ranges from $120-$595)

Subject: Conceptual Design in Autodesk Revit Architecture
Presenters:
Matt Jezyk, Senior Manager, Autodesk AEC Conceptual Design Products
Lira Nikolovska, Principal Designer, Autodesk AEC BIM User Experience
Greg Demchak, Senior Designer, Autodesk BIM User Experience
Zachary Kron, Autodesk AEC Senior Quality Assurance Analyst

Overview:
The aim of this workshop is explore the new Revit conceptual design workflows, specifically parametric modelling and performative design using Autodesk® Revit®. The first part of the workshop will focus on the ins and outs of the new form making and manipulation tools including creation of parametric rigs to drive and modify form, surface panelization, reporting parameters and adaptive components. The second part of the workshop will focus on analysis applied early into the design process (conceptual energy analysis, solar radiation, use of structural analysis plug-ins), and will also provide overview of API features such as Analysis Visualization Framework and Dynamic Updating.

30-day trial copies of Autodesk Revit Architecture / Autodesk Revit MEP will be available for those who do not already have this software. Educational copies of Revit are available for free for students and faculty and can be downloaded in advance.
_____________________________________________________________________
Event: Acadia 2010 - Sustainable Design Workshop
When: October 18, 2010
Time: 9:00AM -4:00 PM
Where: Cooper Union - New York, New York
Admission: For event registration refer to website (ranges from $120-$595)

Subject: Performative Design with Autodesk Ecotect Analysis
Presenter: Dr. Andrew Marsh, Sr. Principal Engineer, AEC-Simulation

Overview:
The aim of this workshop is to explore the boundaries of generative and performative design using Autodesk® Ecotect® Analysis, Autodesk® Green Building Studio® and Autodesk® Revit®.

The workshop will focus on the use iterative techniques and automated feedback from performance analysis to optimise and refine building geometry. While developing scripts in Autodesk Ecotect is quite easy and the fundamentals can be picked up during the course of the workshop, some experience with programming concepts and/or languages will be advantageous.

While mainly directed sessions, there will also be scope to develop some custom scripts, so participants are encouraged to consider problems specific to their own schemes or designs as the basis of their work. 30-day trial copies of Autodesk Ecotect Analysis and Autodesk Revit Architecture / Autodesk Revit MEP will be available for those who do not already have this software.

Dept. of Events - RTC USA Call for Abstracts - Now Open

Would you like to present a session at the Revit Technology Conference in Huntington Beach, CA this year?

As I've mentioned in earlier posts it is now scheduled for June 23-25 (Thursday-Saturday). The committee is now ready to receive session proposals (abstracts). If you are interested you can submit your ideas HERE.

I've created a RTC page here at OpEd just to capture some info as we move forward.

Dept. of Events - AIANY Tech Committee - DESIGNING, Design, Assembly, Industry

Event: AIA/NY Tech Committee
When: October 12, 2010
Time: 6-8 PM
Where: Center for Architecture (Tafel Hall - Lower Level)
Admission: Free through support by ABC-Imaging


Subject: DESIGNING Design, Assembly, Industry
Presenter: Scott Marble Marble Fairbanks - NY,NY

Overview:
Based upon the recent work of Scott Marble and Marble Fairbanks.

The logic of digital processes in architecture has begun to structure the way that architects design, builders build, and industry is reorganizing. These processes have generally followed one of three directions that are only now beginning to coalesce into a coherent system of architectural production: Designing design is a procedural issue, and addresses how design processes are being influenced by new digital workflows; Designing assembly is a material issue, and addresses how digital production, processes, and material properties influence design concepts; Designing industry is an organizational issue with a drive toward integration, where vast amounts of design information span across multiple disciplines and can be modeled and managed more efficiently. Scott Marble, a founding partner of NY architecture firm Marble Fairbanks, will present these topics in the context of his firm’s recent work, as well as within the context of a current research project (and forthcoming book) that he is directing at Columbia University’s GSAPP, entitled, The Columbia Building Intelligence Project (C BIP).

PLEASE NOTE: SEATING IS LIMITED. PLEASE RSVP TO ATTEND.

Dept. of Events - AIA/LA TAP at USC

Changed Date!

Event: AIA/LA Technology in Architecture Practice (TAP)
When: November 5, 2010
Time: 6-8 PM
Where: USC - Wong Conference Center in Harris Hall 101
Admission: Free to AIA members, $10 General Public
Continuing Education Credit (CEU): 1.5

Subjects: Tiger by the Tail - Small firm strategies in BIM Adoption
Presenters:

• Tom Morales, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP (Outsource model) Adjunct Professor, Cerritos College & BIM Consultant
• Shobhit Baadkar (Collaborative model) - Principal, Titan AEC
• Cliff S. Moser, MSQA, AIA, LEED AP (Partnering model) - VP Operations and Healthcare Practice, CADFORCE Inc.

Overview:
This session will involve an interactive discussion about streamlining the adoption of the BIM model in small architectural practices. It will cover the ways of collaborating and working with BIM providers and colleagues in order to ramp up quickly and effectively in providing professional services. Why do small firms have an advantage in using outside sources for the BIM process? Because they can easily tailor their work flow to the different process that BIM demands, having only a small investment in digital, hardware and communication overhead or in tech personnel. This is a strategic advantage because in order to truly take advantage of BIM there must be a complete overhaul of the traditional work flow process.

You can register by clicking HERE.  Admission is FREE to AIA Members and $10 for General Admission.

Dept. of Subtle - Elevations

I chose the Dept. of Subtle for this because what pleases one person may be unsatisfactory to another, thus subtle. I got an email asking for some assistance with improving elevation views. After sending off a quick reply with a list of choices I thought I'd put it here too. I often respond to a question, then later think I wrote a post here only to realize that it was just a private reply. Quite frustrating when I search my own blog for a subject I'm positive I wrote "something" about.

For elevations there isn't an easy button. At least not an automatic nice elevation button. You get a view easily, no problem. The elusive quality of nice is a bit harder to automate.

Here is the list:

• Object Styles - Global changes that affect all views but checking them may reveal that certain categories are not set to ideal lineweights. Adjustments should start here.
• Visibility/Graphics Overrides - Where Object Styles fall short this option give you the abililty to make local (view specific) changes to improve the appearance of element on a category by category basis.
• Filters - These permit further customization based on category and/or parameter settings to alter the line weight, color and patterns for elements. They are applied by view so they only affect the views you need to improve.
• Silhouette Edges - Part of the Graphic Display settings you can force edges of walls and openings to take on a heavier line weight. This is usually a bit too much like a "shotgun" fix which will require some use of the Linework tool to offset the "massive" alteration of a view.
• Element Overrides - Right Click option when you select an element or elements. This will give you the ability to alter the appearance of elements further back in elevation or to even hide certain items that are confusing to see in the view.
• Linework Tool - This tool is meant to override the appearance of a single element at a time. It is focused on Line Style so you can increase the line weight or pattern by choosing a specific line style to show instead of the current appearance of the element. It is not adding new lines, it is simply changing how the line of an element is displayed. For this reason it is a better choice than using detail lines to enhance the view.
• Drafting - If you can draft in AutoCAD to improve the appearance you can do the same thing in Revit. Just use detail lines and sketch over the model in the view. These lines will only show up in the view you add them to but you won't have to export to cad etc... Last resort ideally.
• Regions - These can be used to impose patterns and color, even masking to help improve the appearance of a view. For example, a heavy "base" pattern for the "site" ground plan can be achieved by sketching a solid filled region whose color is black. This can be used instead of the fill pattern for the site toposurface (turn it off in V/G). You can also experiment with the Object Styles and V/G settings for toposurface but often an elevation looks better with a simpler approach.
• Color Fill - These can be used in sections to show rooms with color or patterns if desired. Won't work in elevations though because the rooms needs to be "cut" for the color show.
• Materials - For example for curtain wall panels you can customize the materials to show different panel styles more clearly. You just need to new material and panel type for each kind of panel. Same logic applies to other elements.
• Detail Level - Remember too much detail in an elevation view can hurt print/plotting performance so use V/G to set certain categories to show the appropriate Detail Level if coarse isn't quite detailed enough.

To manage some of these remember View Templates, they'll make the repetitious application of some of these tools much more pleasant!

Any comments? Additions?

Creating a Local File - Clue to a Problem

The Revit Clinic confirmed an issue I've been seeing for some time now. I thought I wrote about it in the past but it seems that I haven't. If you click on a central file (2010 and 2011) Revit detects this and checks the Create New Local option.

If you find this option disabled (gray'd out) then that's a clue that something is wrong. The situation I've observed and the clinic's first listed problem is that Revit thinks that your computer is finding the central using a different path than other members of the team that have also created local files. In my case I usually find that someone is showing a path that reflects the Network Neighborhood path instead of a formal Drive Letter mapping. In a couple of other cases I've encountered a specific IP address instead.

A post yesterday at The Revit Clinic confirmed that these issues are indeed a problem for Revit when we intend to create a local file. If you find the Create Local File option disabled, STOP. Get some help to fix your path before you find yourself unable to Synchronize with Central.

There are two other explanations offered in The Revit Clinic's post; worksharing isn't enabled and a corrupt central file/thumbnail issue. I've also observed that the so called corrupt central file is occasionally really a local file. In this situation someone saved their local file in the folder where the central file was and chose to overwrite the file. The unfortunate consequence of this is that nobody else can synchronize with central because it isn't a central file anymore. Take care, it's dangerous out there folks.

Conceptual Energy Analysis

In my earlier posts I didn't get into the details of the new features revealed in the Subscription Advantage Pack that just became available. A post today at Inside the Factory means I can be lazy and just point you in their direction. That is, assuming you haven't already watched them?

Autodesk is getting quite proactive about explaining features with video. The only trouble with this is figuring out where to find information on a given feature. Pulling it all together so the average user can find it all will be the ongoing challenge, I think.

Here's the links to each video, just to be a little bit redundant:

Choosing the Project Location and Weather Station
Using Automatic Form Rationalization
Changing Energy Settings
Customizing Form Rationalization
Performing Conceptual Energy Analysis

Dept. of Workarounds - Inspiration

I saw this picture on There I Fixed It, an amazing collection of odd things and solutions to problems.

It made me think that I should use it as my "mascot" for Dept. of Workarounds.

2011 Subscription Advantage Pack posted at Autodesk Subscription

I could have prepped this message in advance but I wasn't positive it would be released on the date they hinted at on Monday. The hint was accurate. This means that you can visit the Autodesk Subscription site to download the Subscription Advantage Pack for 2011 Revit Architecture, Structure and MEP.

Quite a few other bloggers have announced this already so I hope this isn't reaching you for the first time now. Robert Manna (don't think: Do Revit) mentioned some information I've not seen repeated so I'm echoing it now.

Autodesk is working on a beta Wiki

Robert's post included links to three different topics of the wiki, they are:

Revit Server Installation
Revit Server Administration
Conceptual Energy Analysis (This link isn't working yet)

Revit Web Update 2 Posted - Build 20100903_2115

The web updates for each Revit version became available while I was "winging" it back to the west coast. The Revit Clinic made the announcement initially and several other blogs are echoing the announcement to get the word out. Me too! Note that this is NOT the Subscription Advantage Pack I was writing about over the last couple days. That is still forthcoming. See the notes at the end of this post.

Click these to visit the download pages, choose your language.
Revit Architecture
Revit Structure
Revit MEP

Notes:

• Web Update 1 (WU1) is included with Web Update 2 (WU2) - It is not necessary to install WU1 first, WU2 will take care of it.
• The Subscription Advantage Pack (SAP) that is imminent will require WU2 so there is no redundancy to install WU2 now and then the SAP when it goes live.
• It will be necessary to visit the Subscription site to get the SAP when it becomes available.

Revit Server

I've been patiently waiting for some real information on this concept since I first heard a little birdie mention it at the end of last year. In my previous post I listed the bullet points I saw during our presentation but I didn't really explain the problem that this feature is intended to solve.

Fundamentally a firm with more than one office is at the mercy of their internet connection between offices when attempting to collaborate on a single project file. The existing methodology for Central and Local files passes too much data back and forth to be practical. As a result many firms have invested in server computer and hardware based WAN acceleration like offered by Riverbed. This technology does improve the situation and in many cases turning an unacceptable situation into a viable one. Revit Server is both a server computer based application and optimization within Revit itself to improve the project file relationship further.

Do you need Riverbed? Maybe. If you already have it you are primed for further improvement. If you don't you could evaluate it (Revit Server) and then decide whether investing in Riverbed is warranted, it may still be beneficial. The bandwidth available between offices is the critical variable.

• The first hurdle, if your firm doesn't have a server this solution won't help you. Hopefully a firm with more than one office isn't in this situation?
• The second hurdle, the imminent release is limited to your intranet/domain which rules out collaboration with external project teams that can't be permitted access to your domain. EyeTee talk for allowing other people in other firms to access your project folder(s) from outside your computer network. This rules out multi-firm collaboration unless you can work with EyeTee to provide a common domain for the whole team. Remember this is the first release and they clearly understand the desire to accomplish the broader collaboration between external firms

The user interaction is described well on David Light's blog because he captured images of various dialog boxes. From the user's point of view there isn't much difference. They create a local file just like before but they choose a project from the Revit Server instead. This is exposed via a drop down option on the Collaborate ribbon's Synchronize panel.

On the management side the firm must choose a dedicated server (choose an office location) for Central Files and the Revit Server software is installed on this server. The Revit Server Administrator application provides access to the Central files for each project as well as other maintenance items. If you browse the network using Windows Explorer it won't see the Central Files on Revit Server. They will only be accessible via the Revit Server Administrator application.

I wrote earlier about Globalscape's WAFS application and to me they seem quite similar. The most notable difference is that a company with active Autodesk subscription for Revit gets Revit Server for the subscription fee (or if you prefer to think of it as "free"...no additional money). Globalscape's solution will cost about 3K for each agent software initially with a yearly subscription fee thereafter. You'd need two agents to accomplish sharing between two offices, more agents for more offices naturally.

Robert Manna and David Light both shared network charts that explain the relationship between computers. They both have had the benefit of using the technology during early testing. I mentioned earlier that Robert is conducting an AU Virtual session about their implementation on an ongoing project.

Part of the technology includes a reworking of the user permissions that used to be collected into individual files (eperms). A new database is now used to manage user borrowing to provide a more robust monitoring and control system.

Back to workflow, all changes made to your local file are saved to a central file that is on a server located in the same office as your local. The changes to this central file are passed to the central file that exists on Revit Server. Changes made by others are also passed to Revit Server and these changes are passed to each other's local files via the Central files that are on their own office's servers. During the presentation yesterday it was stated that 100 milliseconds seems to be the threshold at which synchronization delays are perceived by a user so that is the threshold they are seeking to avoid, faster not slower than 100ms.

Some observations:

• Language is going to be a difficult transition, the word server, central and local all get used in an overlapping manner. For example, I'm saving my local file, it synchronizes with the "local" server which synchronizes with changes at the Revit Server installed on the master project server.
• If your firm has servers but doesn't have dedicated EyeTee staff this may seem "hard".
• The minimum requirements (see previous post) may deter your EyeTee staff if they are not ready to deal with the implications of deploying a server operating system that is newer than your current domain is using.
• It has always been a good idea to use a dedicated Revit server but getting that budget approved if it isn't already set up this way may be another hurdle.
• Spontaneously deciding to put a project at a specific office because the majority of the staff is in that office might contradict the single Revit Server location chosen. For example a project using teams in Phoenix and Tuscon might not enjoy the best results if the Revit Server is located in the Dallas office. It is technically possible to provide a Revit Server in multiple locations but each is blind to the other and teams can only access one at a time. The simplest implementation at this time is to focus on a single location to use Revit Server and this location provides access for all other offices.
• Worksharing monitor will be replaced with a Autodesk Bluestreak based solution that requires users to join this additional Autodesk technology and that might be a deterrent.

I encourage you to read both David's post and Robert's post as they have been using this tool for awhile now. They both offer worthy insight that should help you decide how well it will meet your needs. Keep in mind that this, like many other developments, are a stepping stone toward further developments in worksharing.

Added: Lachmi Khemlani's AECBytes has a new article based on an interview with Autodesk and Robert Manna. You can read it HERE. The article also discusses the new Conceptual Energy Analysis tool.

[Added March 30, 2011] Jame Wong has a couple videos on his blog to guide you along with installing and setting up Revit Server.

Blogger Day - When??

So when will this stuff become available? The Autodesk folks here advise us to visit our subscription site frequently as it will become available quite soon. Marketing will begin in earnest Wednesday-ish.

Blogger Day - Feature Focus 3 - Structural Enhancements

Here's a slide of the three items getting presented.

Blogger Day - Feature Focus 2 - Conceptual Energy Analysis

This feature set allows us to study different designs with energy analysis in mind. Which form provides better results than another? Quickly! This post is a bit sparse on this one but more info to follow, here's the slide of the workflow (linked from Robert Manna's blog).

Blogger Day - Feature Focus 1 - Revit Server

Quick Overview of Revit Server:

It is a software solution that takes advantage of server technology (hopefully existing in your firm)

• Uses a Central Project server and Local Project Servers
• User experience is simple - select a project file from a Revit Server list of projects
• Performance - data borrowing speed goal is 100ms or less
• SWC Process
• #1 Reload latest is from Local Server if data has been prefetched from thetrnal server
• # Model Update - This is a function of Revit on the local machine. Revit Server project will not affect this.
• #3 Save - Data needs to migrate to the central project server

There can only be ONE central server (technically possible to create multiple but teams are limited to one at a time) This means it is WAN/Domain exclusive or in other words, limited to inside the firewall, all teams must share the same domain. Daily users provide the Central server name or IP address to connect

Technical Requirements:

• One Server per location (exception as mentioned earlier about one server)
• Windows Server 2008 (64 bit OS)
• Internet Information Server 7.0
• Web Services
• Silverlight plug-in for revit Server Administrator
• Minor configuration changes (~ 5 IIS settings)
• Prefer a project server that doesn't have office email exchange server and other web heavy applications

Limitations:

• End users cannot delete, rename or move central and folders on Revit central servers using revit client, but they can do that using Revit Server Administrator
• Disabled features: Editing requests and Rollback
• No longer possible to work at risk
• Worksharing monitor does not function with Revit server but will be replaced by a Bluestreak add-in monitoring worksharing activity

Revit Server Administrator: (highlights)

• Any user can type the server name in browser window (access controlled by IT permissions)
• Based on Microsoft Silverlight tech. Must install plug-in
• Create, delete, rename and move folders and cntral models on central server
• lock/unlock central models for backup and restoration
• View submission history for any model

Robert Manna with Burt Hill has been working with this technology quietly behind the scenes. He shared a nice graphic relationship diagram on his post a few minutes ago.

He disclosed that he's doing a AU Virtual class on this subject, you'll want to check it out!
...snip
I can also finally admit that my AUv course "Virtually" There: Using Revit with Geographically Dispersed Teams: AB22-1R" is intended to primarily focus on Revit Server, implementing it, and our experience using it on a real project team involving multiple offices and an external consultant.
...snip

Opening Slide at Blogger Day

Let the webcast and blogging of blogger day begin! We are going to discuss the new Conceptual Energy Analysis tools and Revit Server technology.

Dept. of Subtle - Flipping a Fitting Replaces Other Fitting

This is a follow up to last Friday's post about sloping pipe. After using the Slope tool you might have noticed that a couple fittings were reversed. When I used the "flip arrow" to fix them I realized that another fitting nearby was affected too. A fitting getting flipped is effectively changing the slope of the pipe slightly because the origin of the fitting is altered slightly. The larger the fitting and the more eccentric the shape the more it can affect the piping. I created a second VIDEO to explain it further.

Revit Blogger Day at Trapelo Road

I alluded to this in my post yesterday. I'm outside Boston at Autodesk's Trapelo Road office attending a Blogger Day event. We've started out our morning together when David Mills welcomed us and introduced us to fellow Autodeskers, Angela Chan and Lilli Smith. Matt Jezyk tuned in from afar via conference call. Bloggers attending are David Harrington, Jeffrey Pinheiro, David Light, David Baldacchino, Laura Handler, Krista Manna, Robert Manna and me. Buildz blogger Zach Kron and Autodesker crashed our meeting too.

A formal blogger webcast begins at 12:30 PM (EST) so we can't reveal what is discussed just yet. Keep an eye on the bloggersphere and Twitter.

In the picture: (clockwise starting at left lower corner) David Light, David Baldacchino, Laura Handler, David Mills, Angela Chan, Lilli Smith, David Harrington, and Jeffery Pinheiro. Missing...me, Robert and Krista Manna.

Dept. of Off Topic - Hotel Thoughts

I caught a red eye flight from LAX on United courtesy of Autodesk Saturday night so that I can attend "Blogger Day" at the Trapelo Road office, near Boston. A webcast for bloggers starts up at 12:30 PM EST Monday, September 27th so hopefully you'll be hearing quite a bit about the substance of the event from bloggers during and shortly thereafter.

I've been joined here (so far) at Aloft (A Vision of W Hotels) in Lexington by Robert and Krista Manna, David Light, David Baldacchino and David Harrington. What is it about the name David and blogging about Revit?? I also learned too late that Jeffery Pinheiro (The Revit Kid) is also attending and we didn't know to look for him while hanging out at the WXYZ Lounge tonight.

There is evidence in the picture above that HVAC engineers do use flat oval duct! Nice that 2011 provides for such ducts!

I wrote about my visit to Aloft the last time I was here. This time I was pleased to see that a couple of the things that I found curious were not still curious. For example I found that there was an outlet available for my phone charger this time. The roller shades both fit in their tracks properly and extend to the base of the window sill.

The entrance slider doors haven't changed (not too surprised though) and I took a picture of David Baldacchino rushing out of the building in an emergency and running into the fixed panel of the second slider.

Well, off to bed to dream about new features for Revit! Be sure to check your news reader at lunch and after, Twitter too!

Dept. of Subtle - Sloping Pipe Creates New Pipe

I guess I've never paid close enough attention. When you use the Slope tool in Revit MEP the resulting sloped pipe is really new pipe. Revit recalculates what is necessary to create the slope and reassembles new pipe into the configuration.

I realized this when I was discussing a few options for displaying vent piping differently from the sanitary piping. One technique is to just use the Comment parameter (or some other custom one) to add a "vent" comment. A filter is used to isolate pipes, fittings and accessories that contain the criteria "vent". Pretty straight forward unless you decide to slope the pipe afterward. The sloped pipe loses the comment because it is new pipe and the code that rebuilds the pipe doesn't capture the Comment parameter value. I've posted a VIDEO to help explain this.

Dept. of Subtle - Single Duct VAV and Linked Connectors

The stock Single Duct VAV family has its supply in and out connectors linked. It turns out that this link is causing an error message when you use the Check Ducts tool.

Air terminals use connectors that have their Flow Configuration parameter assigned to "Preset". This means that the user assigns a specific flow value, such as 150 cfm.

The VAV needs to have the connector that supplies air to the air terminals (diffuser) set to a Flow Configuration value of "Calculated". This allows all connected air terminals flow settings to accrue to the VAV. The Single Duct VAV family has the correct Flow Configuration settings but the connectors are linked.

If the link is removed, no more warning! Here's a VIDEO to help see it.

Dept. of Duh - Deleting a System the Easy Way

Okay I'm not the sharpest tack at times. Using Revit MEP, I was asked how best to delete a system, like a circuit or supply air system. I started to suggest it was easy using the System Browser. One of the students then said, "Why don't you just use the delete key?". Uh...well that works too! It isn't obvious, at least it wasn't to me, but you can select your system and hit the DELETE key, gone it is! You can also activate the Modify Ribbon to click on the Delete button (Red X). It's pretty effective eh?? Here's a VIDEO just in case this text is mumbo jumbo.

Dept. of Quirky - Copy Monitor Fixtures

I observed that rotating a fixture using the Space Bar doesn't cause Revit to consider the fixture moved when using the Copy Monitor feature. If the fixture is moved then it generates a coordination warning. This means you can't just rely on the software to let you know a change occurred that needs to be dealt with. It can't do everything for us but I'd have thought this sort of change would get trapped at least. Here's a VIDEO that explains it visually.

Dept. of Woe - Delete Checked

A short post while hoping power is restored in my hotel. A sad yet amusing tale with sympathy... Our intrepid "victim" was dutifully reviewing warnings and was thoughtfully deleting said warnings once read. His thinking was, "I'm deleting the warning not actual elements, why would Revit do that?" I admit I laughed when he said this and then realized he was sharing a painful experience. How kind of me! He finished by saying he found out a little later how wrong his thinking was.

I often wonder why the brute force response to all offenses, DELETE the offender!, "off with its head! Revit could use a kinder gentler approach. How about, "Hi Steve, you've made a fine mess of your project, would you like me to renumber all these elements that share the same irrelevant mark value?" "Shall I turn on leaders for all these poor room/space/area tags that have wandered outside their yard?" "Shall I open the Pod Bay door Steve?" "Yes Hal (Revit), open the Pod Bay door please.

Be careful! It's dangerous out there!

RTC USA 2011 - Web Page Now Ready

We just turned on the initial page ready for RTC USA site. We were just working out a couple kinks. I'm writing because the page will has a button to indicate how interested you are in the event.

Naturally we hope that everyone will want to attend, but we probably won't have room for everyone. Keep an eye on the RTC site, it is live now. Clicking the "buttons" now will just take you to the site.

Amended: It's up now!

Dept. of Off Topic - Are You a Target?

Ever feel like you are this guy? I hope not! Thanks to my friend Bruce for making me aware of the image. I found it on Scrape TV, don't know if credit belongs elsewhere.

Dept. of Subtle - Face Based Families and Schedule Level

Face based families are a bit awkward when you place them because they infer a relationship with a level that often doesn't match your intentions. The correct level assignment is created when you place them in a plan view because the associated level is explicit and unchangeable. It is a different story in elevation and section views though. As you'll see in the VIDEO the Schedule Level parameter appears in the properties palette for these families. The parameter name is a bit ironic since the parameter does not appear in schedules!! Schedules have a nice Level parameter but we can't change it within the schedule view.

When you place face based families just remember to check the Schedule Level parameter so that it will have the correct Level assignment in your schedules.

Dept. of Echo - Revit MEP - Invalid Duct Fitting K-Factor Database

I've written about this issue a couple times in the past. A post appeared today on The Revit Clinic and Inside The System that deals with it occurring in Revit MEP 2011 now too. Here's the text of the "fix":
...snip
Recently, we have had several reports of this error happening in 2011, and in most cases, neither of these recommendations have fixed the problem. Generally, this error is a result of a 3rd-party DLL not being registered properly when installing Revit MEP 2011.

These are the steps to manually register the DLL, which should clear the above error:

1. Click on Start…Run
2. Type regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit MEP 2011\Program\ASHRAEDUCTDLL.dll" in the window
3. Click OK

A dialog box indicating that the DLL was registered successfully should appear. If not, please proceed to the steps below.

1. Click on Start…Programs..Accessories
2. Right-click on Command Prompt
3. Select Run as…
4. Select Administrator
5. In the command prompt, type CD \ to get back to the root of C:
6. Type cd Program Files\Autodesk\Revit MEP 2011\Program
7. Type regsvr32 “ASHRAEDUCTDLL.dll"

After confirming that the DLL registered successfully, launch Revit MEP to confirm that the error no longer appears.
...snip

Call for Abstracts - RTC Gold Coast Australia

The Australian Revit Technology Conference will be held at Jupiters Gold Coast, Queensland, between the 26th and 28th of May, 2011.The online abstract submission site is now open, and will close on Friday October 22nd, 2010.

We are now seeking abstracts from individuals interested in speaking at the event. Increase your profile in the industry - speak at RTC 2011. This is your opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with other Revit Users.

Submitted abstracts will be double-blind refereed by the RTC Committee. Abstracts will be approved on their merit, within the conference’s time and resource constraints. Successful applicants will present in either a 55 minute or 80 minute session or a 90 minute lab. Applicants should indicate the preferred length of their planned session. Sessions can take the form of labs, technical presentations, or facilitated forums. Case studies demonstrating innovative or well-developed practice are welcomed. Abstracts should be classified as Intermediate, Advanced or All Levels in the following streams:

• Architecture
• Structure
• MEP
• BIM Management & Collaboration
• Sustainability
• Owners / Facility Managers
• Visualisation and Presentation
• General
• Principals

Please note that this current call for abstracts is for the Australian event only, and a second call for abstracts will be made in relation to RTC USA, to be held in Orange County, California 6 weeks later. You are free to submit abstracts for either event, or for both, once the US abstract site has opened.

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT NOW

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You can follow the events on Twitter now.

Dept. of Subtle - Moving Fields in a Schedule

As you probably already know, moving schedule fields around is limited to a Move Up and Move Down button in the Schedule properties dialog. A schedule with many fields has a list longer than the space in the dialog allows for. Revit introduces a vertical scroll bar to help us out. The list doesn't follow the movement of a field as you move it up and down though which means you lose track of where it is as soon as you raise it above the top of the displayed list or drop it below the bottom of the displayed list. We get to play a little game of "click, click, click, scroll, click, click, click, scroll" until we find it in the correct location.

It is this annoying issue that caused me to realize that I could just select everything else I want to move under or above a given field instead. One click of the Move Down or Up would put it exactly where I wanted it to be. It is a bit of reverse thinking, do the opposite of what you want, to get what you want. I figured a VIDEO would help this post so I made MADE ONE. Hope it helps!

AUGI | AEC EDGE - Seeking Department Editors

There are two departments in AUGI's eZine AUGI | AEC EDGE called; Inside Track and Heads UP. We'd like to find two people that are interested in taking these departments over, one person for each or one person to take over both depending on your interest.

Your task is to compile information that will be useful and interesting to our members and readers as time passes between issues and compile this information into each department's space for each issue. Ideally with some passion and effort you could make it a lot better than I've been doing. This means you need to stay plugged in to what's going on around us to help us stay informed (and not just in the Revit "sphere").

• Inside Track is intended for recent developments, interesting products, Autodesk Lab items etc.
• Heads UP - bugs, recent known issues other red flag items for Autodesk software that might get missed and worth echoing. It can also be culled from recent member posts advising of an issue that has yet to be acknowledged.

If you are interested please send me an EMAIL