It is good news that AUGI will be bringing this event back to a city near you. At the end of last year the firm that organized CAD Camps ended its relationship with AUGI. That combined with the fiscal unpleasantness that has been a prominent part of this year meant that having any of these events was very unlikely.
It's my personal belief that even if there had been no management changes that any or even all Camps that might have been scheduled would have been cancelled in light this year's economy. It was hard enough to sustain AUGI World and get the AUGI|AEC EDGE magazine to happen let alone get a series of CAD Camps going.
Regardless it appears that 2010 will bring them back and hopefully the economic situation will rebound along with it. I wish it happened on my watch but I'm grateful there is progress.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Conical Ceiling Condition
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Video Bandwidth
If you've attempted to watch a video and got a bandwidth message, it has been fixed. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Revit MEP - Duct Size in Tags
This is subtle but RME changes how the size of a duct is listed in the tag according to the view orientation of the view that you place your tags in. In plan you get this for a 36" wide x 24" high duct.
In elevation/section however you get this for the same duct.
This convention is defined by the practice of listing the visible (what we see in the view) dimension first. In plan width is visible so it is first. In elevation/section the height is visible and therefore first in the tag values.
In elevation/section however you get this for the same duct.
This convention is defined by the practice of listing the visible (what we see in the view) dimension first. In plan width is visible so it is first. In elevation/section the height is visible and therefore first in the tag values.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Errors and Omissions
Every now and then I read an article pumping BIM or Revit. It used to be few and far between but new articles pop up daily lately. All too often the words, never, perfect, automatic, press-of-a-button and many more show up in the text. These words are used to compare Revit with other software and are often meant to highlight the strengths that Revit has. The fact that we can generate elevations and sections easily and that they are derived from the model without drawing them completely from scratch is wonderful. Many examples can use a little dose of reality.
There is an Urban Legend where a person bought a Winnebago and thought the cruise control didn't require someone behind the wheel. Most people laugh or at least chuckle at the notion that someone would set cruise control and get up to make a sandwich (the version I've heard, and believed too for awhile, the most) and think that the vehicle could safely navigate on its own.
Let's be clear...we can make mistakes in Revit too.
I used the image above a few days ago regarding interference detection but each of these things can be done easily in Revit.
Revit coordinates information much better and makes it more obvious that things are wrong too, like the things in the image. When things are working well, if it is correct it is correct everywhere. With Revit, when it is wrong, it is wrong EVERYWHERE too. This is an important distinction. When comparing Revit to other software the thing that is wrong in other software may be correct elsewhere because there is no connection to the other drawing or representation of the building. The distinction here is that documents are derived from the modeling process in Revit and embellished to create a finished document, with documents as the deliverable or focus for now.
Schedules are never wrong! I read this one every now and then, unfortunately this is incorrect. A schedule that does not use sorting/filtering, design options or phases as criteria will not report incorrect information. A schedule will NOT misrepresent data though. For example, a single panel door will not magically become a double panel door unless someone swaps a single for a double in the model. A schedule CAN misrepresent the whole story though by excluding information because of criteria applied by the user. User Error CAN and WILL creep into a Revit model. You can't blindly accept the results you get.
If we can make mistakes in cad and in Revit then what's the difference?
The difference is in how many of the mistakes are easily prevented or eliminated. Revit does a great job of managing the annotation related to views, sections, elevations, details and enlarged views etc. So much of the hassle of checking these is greatly reduced. When mistakes are made in Revit a team is much more likely to bump into them because they are working on the same data set or model. With the separate file process used by cad a team can be quite isolated from one another. How do I know if someone is making mistakes in their drawing if I really only see their work when it is printed out? Even then I have to visually compare their work with mine. Digitally I can reference their files and check them on the computer. All of this is so much easier, or at least more fluid, and we are always in the context of the building with Revit.
So much of quality assurance is the rigorous studying of printed drawings for inconsistencies. Much of it is based on years of experience and even intuition. I know that this and this are likely conflicts so I'm hunting for them. Most firms have checklists that go on for days.
It is my observation that teams using Revit know more about each others work and the whole building than teams who use other software. How can you avoid being more aware of what someone on your team has been up to when you see and walk by their work in the model each day? I've also observed many times that two users will have a conflict because they both observed a problem and set out to fix it at the nearly the same time, which generates a permission warning.
With my Revit bias you won't likely find me telling you Revit isn't the correct choice for you. I do want you to have realistic expectations though. The Staples EASY Button is a great fun thing to think of but what we do in this AEC business is rarely truly easy.
Mistakes can and will be made using Revit. Revit does give you a much better chance to catch and minimize mistakes as well as the opportunity to focus on making good decisions, and doing so as early as is practical so that the costs associated with those decisions can be managed well. Said another way, a past client once said to me in language more colorful than I'll write here, "My staff are making mistakes in cad all day long, at least in Revit they will be better coordinated!". Perhaps a bit too practical or not a lofty enough goal, but focused and realistic!
There is an Urban Legend where a person bought a Winnebago and thought the cruise control didn't require someone behind the wheel. Most people laugh or at least chuckle at the notion that someone would set cruise control and get up to make a sandwich (the version I've heard, and believed too for awhile, the most) and think that the vehicle could safely navigate on its own.
Let's be clear...we can make mistakes in Revit too.
I used the image above a few days ago regarding interference detection but each of these things can be done easily in Revit.Revit coordinates information much better and makes it more obvious that things are wrong too, like the things in the image. When things are working well, if it is correct it is correct everywhere. With Revit, when it is wrong, it is wrong EVERYWHERE too. This is an important distinction. When comparing Revit to other software the thing that is wrong in other software may be correct elsewhere because there is no connection to the other drawing or representation of the building. The distinction here is that documents are derived from the modeling process in Revit and embellished to create a finished document, with documents as the deliverable or focus for now.
Schedules are never wrong! I read this one every now and then, unfortunately this is incorrect. A schedule that does not use sorting/filtering, design options or phases as criteria will not report incorrect information. A schedule will NOT misrepresent data though. For example, a single panel door will not magically become a double panel door unless someone swaps a single for a double in the model. A schedule CAN misrepresent the whole story though by excluding information because of criteria applied by the user. User Error CAN and WILL creep into a Revit model. You can't blindly accept the results you get.
If we can make mistakes in cad and in Revit then what's the difference?
The difference is in how many of the mistakes are easily prevented or eliminated. Revit does a great job of managing the annotation related to views, sections, elevations, details and enlarged views etc. So much of the hassle of checking these is greatly reduced. When mistakes are made in Revit a team is much more likely to bump into them because they are working on the same data set or model. With the separate file process used by cad a team can be quite isolated from one another. How do I know if someone is making mistakes in their drawing if I really only see their work when it is printed out? Even then I have to visually compare their work with mine. Digitally I can reference their files and check them on the computer. All of this is so much easier, or at least more fluid, and we are always in the context of the building with Revit.
So much of quality assurance is the rigorous studying of printed drawings for inconsistencies. Much of it is based on years of experience and even intuition. I know that this and this are likely conflicts so I'm hunting for them. Most firms have checklists that go on for days.
It is my observation that teams using Revit know more about each others work and the whole building than teams who use other software. How can you avoid being more aware of what someone on your team has been up to when you see and walk by their work in the model each day? I've also observed many times that two users will have a conflict because they both observed a problem and set out to fix it at the nearly the same time, which generates a permission warning.
With my Revit bias you won't likely find me telling you Revit isn't the correct choice for you. I do want you to have realistic expectations though. The Staples EASY Button is a great fun thing to think of but what we do in this AEC business is rarely truly easy.
Mistakes can and will be made using Revit. Revit does give you a much better chance to catch and minimize mistakes as well as the opportunity to focus on making good decisions, and doing so as early as is practical so that the costs associated with those decisions can be managed well. Said another way, a past client once said to me in language more colorful than I'll write here, "My staff are making mistakes in cad all day long, at least in Revit they will be better coordinated!". Perhaps a bit too practical or not a lofty enough goal, but focused and realistic!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Dept. of Subtle - Ceiling Types and RME
I mentioned this item in a tweet the other day after I finished and scheduled it for posting.
When an architect uses the Basic Ceiling > Generic type they are creating a situation for the Revit MEP user they may not be aware of. Face based content does not orient themselves to the correct side or face of this ceiling. For air terminals and others this means they are usually upside-down. I created a short video to demonstrate what I'm writing about.
You can listen and watch below:
Here's an image to convey the issue without watching the video. The left side is a Basic Ceiling and the air terminals are upside down. The right side is the Compound Ceiling and the air terminals are okay.
When an architect uses the Basic Ceiling > Generic type they are creating a situation for the Revit MEP user they may not be aware of. Face based content does not orient themselves to the correct side or face of this ceiling. For air terminals and others this means they are usually upside-down. I created a short video to demonstrate what I'm writing about.
You can listen and watch below:
Here's an image to convey the issue without watching the video. The left side is a Basic Ceiling and the air terminals are upside down. The right side is the Compound Ceiling and the air terminals are okay.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Training? Don't Do THIS!
Are you getting some training soon, are you planning for some soon? Let me offer my opinion?
As a consultant/trainer one thing that really gets me down is when I find out that students who just went through training don't actually start their project right away or worse get assigned to a project using something else for months. Why does it bother me? Because it is a colossal waste of everything! Your time, my time, the firm's money, morale...everything.
Is your firm going to start training soon? Are they doing it the "old school" way...train for a few days and then go back to regular work? PLEASE!!! Don't! You are just wasting your precious resources.
This might seem counterintuitive, a consultant/trainer suggesting you don't train?? Believe it or not we want you to succeed and we like knowing that our students have been successful. I suppose there are some who might just be happy to get paid and not care what you do with the knowledge or how successful you are but speaking for myself and many others I know, we hate finding out about this.
Before you train make sure you have something real and productive for the students to do with Revit after training before you commit. Then make sure they do it immediately after training ends. Better still embrace the concept that I advocate and that CDV Systems has been using for several years now, "Train the Project".
It's a familiar thing to read and hear, practice makes perfect. Training makes people aware of features, gets them familiar with techniques and builds confidence but using the software for real, on a project, is what makes it all really sink in.
Okay I know, you make great plans and reality messes everything up. Just promise to try try try your best!!?? I wish you all the best in this!!
As a consultant/trainer one thing that really gets me down is when I find out that students who just went through training don't actually start their project right away or worse get assigned to a project using something else for months. Why does it bother me? Because it is a colossal waste of everything! Your time, my time, the firm's money, morale...everything.
Is your firm going to start training soon? Are they doing it the "old school" way...train for a few days and then go back to regular work? PLEASE!!! Don't! You are just wasting your precious resources.
This might seem counterintuitive, a consultant/trainer suggesting you don't train?? Believe it or not we want you to succeed and we like knowing that our students have been successful. I suppose there are some who might just be happy to get paid and not care what you do with the knowledge or how successful you are but speaking for myself and many others I know, we hate finding out about this.
Before you train make sure you have something real and productive for the students to do with Revit after training before you commit. Then make sure they do it immediately after training ends. Better still embrace the concept that I advocate and that CDV Systems has been using for several years now, "Train the Project".
It's a familiar thing to read and hear, practice makes perfect. Training makes people aware of features, gets them familiar with techniques and builds confidence but using the software for real, on a project, is what makes it all really sink in.
Okay I know, you make great plans and reality messes everything up. Just promise to try try try your best!!?? I wish you all the best in this!!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Blog Updates
I don't often mention new blogs (or new to me anyway) anymore. I developed a fear that the staccato posting of each new blog I find would get tiresome. Instead I just quietly add them to the list on the side. I revised the naming of the international blogs today to place their language or country first in parenthesis. I thought it would make it easier to find a language first alphabetically and then focus on a blog name. In doing so I came across at least five more international blogs, Russian, French, Dutch and Norwegian.
I contemplated moving the Revit Blogs(Reseller) into the other groups rather than calling them out...and then went ahead and did it.
I added a new link for the Revit Timeline post at AUGI. It lists every version release of Revit since the begining, including point releases and name changes. David Conant started the thread while it was still part of Chris Zoog's website Zoogdesign and I've been keeping at it since then. I also copied it into Beau Turner's Revit Wiki.
I added a custom Google Search to the sidebar which will generate results from my blog and all those I have listed on the side too. Try criteria like "worksets" or "parameters" or "families" and see what kind of results you get now.
When a hotfix was issued recently I decided to add a new set of links to the Current Revit Builds group.
They are the "Is there a XXX Update/hotfix??" links at the bottom, one for each version of Revit.
As you've probably noticed I've begun getting back into the notion of using video. I can do a lot more with less time (as long as I don't get too hung up with making good videos) and spending a bit less time writing to describe things as well. Hopefully they'll be useful too.
I added a Twitter widget on the sidebar. Not much of a Twitterer really but I do tweet occasionally. I'm at a conflict with Twittering about my blog posts. I'd rather come up with some other reason to Tweet.
As of today blogger tells me that I have 626 subscribers. Google analytics tells me that visitors come by Monday - Friday in numbers between 350-600 per day. The weekends dwindle which I believe indicates that many of you actually have lives, which is good! I appreciate the continued interest, it makes me feel like keeping on keeping on, Thanks!
I contemplated moving the Revit Blogs(Reseller) into the other groups rather than calling them out...and then went ahead and did it.
I added a new link for the Revit Timeline post at AUGI. It lists every version release of Revit since the begining, including point releases and name changes. David Conant started the thread while it was still part of Chris Zoog's website Zoogdesign and I've been keeping at it since then. I also copied it into Beau Turner's Revit Wiki.
I added a custom Google Search to the sidebar which will generate results from my blog and all those I have listed on the side too. Try criteria like "worksets" or "parameters" or "families" and see what kind of results you get now.
When a hotfix was issued recently I decided to add a new set of links to the Current Revit Builds group.
They are the "Is there a XXX Update/hotfix??" links at the bottom, one for each version of Revit.
As you've probably noticed I've begun getting back into the notion of using video. I can do a lot more with less time (as long as I don't get too hung up with making good videos) and spending a bit less time writing to describe things as well. Hopefully they'll be useful too.
I added a Twitter widget on the sidebar. Not much of a Twitterer really but I do tweet occasionally. I'm at a conflict with Twittering about my blog posts. I'd rather come up with some other reason to Tweet.
As of today blogger tells me that I have 626 subscribers. Google analytics tells me that visitors come by Monday - Friday in numbers between 350-600 per day. The weekends dwindle which I believe indicates that many of you actually have lives, which is good! I appreciate the continued interest, it makes me feel like keeping on keeping on, Thanks!
Automatic Sketch Dimensions
If you say, "What are those?" then this post is for you. Actually this video is for you. I've posted or mentioned them in other posts before too. You can watch the VIDEO HERE or listen and sort of watch below.
To summarize, Automatic Sketch Dimensions are added to your family when you add constraints in the form of parameters and dimensions but don't constrain the symbolic lines and the sketches for the 3D geometry that you create.
To summarize, Automatic Sketch Dimensions are added to your family when you add constraints in the form of parameters and dimensions but don't constrain the symbolic lines and the sketches for the 3D geometry that you create.
Roof Example - Slope and Shape Editing
A post at AUGI asked about a roof condition that followed a curved wall. They wanted the roof to use a 1/12 pitch (1 inch rise per 12 inches of run for metric and slope in degrees folks). This is easy to do by specifying one segment of the roof as Defining Slope. This is the result.
Notice that the edge at the far left in the elevation is sloping? This is the sketch view using a slope arrow but it could have been done by assigning the Defines Slope parameter to the side sketch line segment too.
It was easy except they want the roof edge at the start to be parallel to the ground AND the roof edge at the end to be parallel too. Using this technique creates a roof object that represents a flat plate roof (imagine building it on the ground first, flat) structure that is lifted into place and the far end lifted up to create the pitch.
To create a roof that provides the parallel conditions at both ends we can use the Shape Editing tools instead. This will let us specify the elevation at each point of the roof. This also means that we are creating a warping roof surface. The rafters will each have a unique slope/pitch. Here's the result.
This is the sketch view of the roof using the Shape Editing tools and specifying a four (4) offset at the far left end.
Two approaches with different results. It all comes down to the desired result.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Egress Path Update
I don't get as many requests for this as I used to because I've made it easier to just download them directly. I got a request today from a new user who wasn't sure how to get the families and schedules into their project or template. So I wrote back to explain and while I was writing it occurred to me that maybe others might have wondered about this too.
First, if you don't know what this is about you can use THIS SEARCH to see all the posts I've made about it already.
Second, I recorded a VIDEO to explain how.
Third, you can watch or at least listen below to see how to get the content in your project or template:
I used Revit Architecture 2009 to record the video because that was the file version that I happened choose. I probably should have done it with 2010 but the concepts are the same.
Fourth, I've added another video to demo how to use them, as requested.
Last, seasoned users know that there are other ways to get the content in the project too as well as using them in the project. I just showed one, pretty simple, way to get where you want to go.
First, if you don't know what this is about you can use THIS SEARCH to see all the posts I've made about it already.
Second, I recorded a VIDEO to explain how.
Third, you can watch or at least listen below to see how to get the content in your project or template:
I used Revit Architecture 2009 to record the video because that was the file version that I happened choose. I probably should have done it with 2010 but the concepts are the same.
Fourth, I've added another video to demo how to use them, as requested.
Last, seasoned users know that there are other ways to get the content in the project too as well as using them in the project. I just showed one, pretty simple, way to get where you want to go.
Revit Structure - New Extension - Element Positioning
A recent post from BIM and Beam blog. This is an excerpt:
...snip...Download the Extension from the Subscription Center under the “Revit Extensions for Autodesk Revit Structure 2010” link.
Revit Structure has various tools to adding tags to your structural elements. One can add them to the element one-by-one or, by using the “Tag all” tool, can add them automatically within the current view. However, it would be more practical if it could be able to add tags by defining more than just the current view as well as to be able to set a distance for the placement of the tags and number them by element, type, and/or level.
Revit Structure 2010 now has an extension that will give more flexibility to adding tags within your project. This Element Positioning extension allows these basic functions:
...snip...Download the Extension from the Subscription Center under the “Revit Extensions for Autodesk Revit Structure 2010” link.
Revit Structure has various tools to adding tags to your structural elements. One can add them to the element one-by-one or, by using the “Tag all” tool, can add them automatically within the current view. However, it would be more practical if it could be able to add tags by defining more than just the current view as well as to be able to set a distance for the placement of the tags and number them by element, type, and/or level.
Revit Structure 2010 now has an extension that will give more flexibility to adding tags within your project. This Element Positioning extension allows these basic functions:
- Create a set of elements and divide them into categories and types
- Sort elements depending on their location in the project
- Add a tag describing a user-defined position at the location specified
- Object category (e.g. beam)
- Object family (e.g. steel W-section)
- Object type (e.g. W12x26)
- Object geometry
- Object location (level)
- Material of which the object is made (after you select the option)
- Bars reinforcing for RC elements (after you select the option)...snip...
The blog continues to explain each subset of the extension a bit more, check it out?!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Is it CAD or Revit?
I received a sample drawing today. We were discussing detailing with Revit. While I was checking it out I thought of the cassette tape competition for our money back when Memorex was asking us "Is it Live or is it Memorex?" in their commercials.
Considering the focus of this blog you might logically conclude that the above image is a detail completed in Revit. If I didn't give it away would you assume it was Revit or CAD?
It is a Revit detail. All too often people dismiss Revit as not being as efficient as other software for this type of drafting or that the results don't look as good. On both counts they are mistaken.
By the way, the detail is from Scott with WTW Architects in Pittsburgh, PA. (RIP Scott, he passed away a couple years ago now)
Edit: per a comment here is another image of the same view with the Detail Components category turned off. The text, dimensions, callout and grids are obviously annotation.
Considering the focus of this blog you might logically conclude that the above image is a detail completed in Revit. If I didn't give it away would you assume it was Revit or CAD?
It is a Revit detail. All too often people dismiss Revit as not being as efficient as other software for this type of drafting or that the results don't look as good. On both counts they are mistaken.
By the way, the detail is from Scott with WTW Architects in Pittsburgh, PA. (RIP Scott, he passed away a couple years ago now)
Edit: per a comment here is another image of the same view with the Detail Components category turned off. The text, dimensions, callout and grids are obviously annotation.
BIM Definitions - A Lighter Side
While attending the Revit Technology Conference in Melbourne in June this year Wesley Benn shared a number of alternative meanings during various sessions. Here are the ones I captured. Yes, I'm ridiculously late in writing about my experience there. I'll use the lame excuse that I'm waiting for some photos...well I tried.
BIM = Big Incomprehensible Mishmash
BIM = Blindly Initiated Mission
BIM = Bed, Internet & Masseuse
BIM = Beautiful, Intriguing Missive
BIM = Bloody Incredible Mate!
Have you got some to add? I'm sure there are a lot of interesting combinations that are possible.
BIM = Big Incomprehensible Mishmash
BIM = Blindly Initiated Mission
BIM = Bed, Internet & Masseuse
BIM = Beautiful, Intriguing Missive
BIM = Bloody Incredible Mate!
Have you got some to add? I'm sure there are a lot of interesting combinations that are possible.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Family Editor - Annotation
This is a quick reminder. When you first open a Revit template or any family for that matter, what you see depends on the way the previous user left it. If they turned off categories or altered a view in some other way that's what you see.
The reminder therefore is, when you open a template be sure to check Visibility/Graphics and the Annotations tab. Some or all of the categories listed here are quite often turned off. Particularly true of finished content because this improves the thumbnail we see while loading content. This is also why most stock content is using a 3D view oriented to a side view so that annotation is automatically removed.
The reminder therefore is, when you open a template be sure to check Visibility/Graphics and the Annotations tab. Some or all of the categories listed here are quite often turned off. Particularly true of finished content because this improves the thumbnail we see while loading content. This is also why most stock content is using a 3D view oriented to a side view so that annotation is automatically removed.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Pads and Slope Arrows
I received a question the other day about an unwanted sliver of a toposurface element appearing. At first the assumption was related to Design Options because there was quite a bit going on. Turns out adjusting the pad and its Slope Arrow could resolve the issue. Here's a picture of Pad A and B. Pad "B" obviously has the sliver problem.
Pad A is two pads, one flat and one sloping. Both pads are set at their lowest elevation and the Slope Arrow tells the pad to go UP. Here are the properties of the sloping pad.
And here are the properties of the Slope Arrow for A.
Pad B is also two pads but they are defined a little differently.
Pad B's Slope Arrow properties.
When you need a pad to slope it seems that it is more reliable to define the lowest elevation and work up than in the reverse. At least it helped resolve this sliver.
Pad A is two pads, one flat and one sloping. Both pads are set at their lowest elevation and the Slope Arrow tells the pad to go UP. Here are the properties of the sloping pad.
And here are the properties of the Slope Arrow for A.
Pad B is also two pads but they are defined a little differently.
Pad B's Slope Arrow properties.
When you need a pad to slope it seems that it is more reliable to define the lowest elevation and work up than in the reverse. At least it helped resolve this sliver.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Introducing Revit Architecture 2010 - BIM for Beginners
This book has been updated for 2010 and you can order it now.
If you look closely you'll my find my name listed at the bottom, "Foreword by Stephen Stafford". I was flattered when Tatjana asked if I would do it. I was excited to get my review copy just to see a little bit of "me" in print. Imagine my surprise...no foreword at all, not even in the Table of Contents. Deep sadness sets in...must find will to live...
In my role as editor for the AUGI|AEC EDGE eZine and doing technical editing for the Mastering Revit Structure 2010 book due out soon I'm becoming well aware of publishing trials and tribulations. Suffice it to say that there is no foreword for now. Now that you've decided not to rush out to buy, haha!...don't let that sway you! The book looks as good as ever and the authors remain top notch! You can also check out their other book Mastering Revit Architecture 2010. It is also available now.
[Addendum: February 3, 2010] I added a link to the sidebar at the right side of this blog if you want to read the foreword despite it being missing in the book.
[Addendum: March 27, 2010] A new run including the foreword is out now. A really nice review was posted on Mark Kiker's blog even before he knew that I had the slightest involvement with the book.
If you look closely you'll my find my name listed at the bottom, "Foreword by Stephen Stafford". I was flattered when Tatjana asked if I would do it. I was excited to get my review copy just to see a little bit of "me" in print. Imagine my surprise...no foreword at all, not even in the Table of Contents. Deep sadness sets in...must find will to live...
In my role as editor for the AUGI|AEC EDGE eZine and doing technical editing for the Mastering Revit Structure 2010 book due out soon I'm becoming well aware of publishing trials and tribulations. Suffice it to say that there is no foreword for now. Now that you've decided not to rush out to buy, haha!...don't let that sway you! The book looks as good as ever and the authors remain top notch! You can also check out their other book Mastering Revit Architecture 2010. It is also available now.
[Addendum: February 3, 2010] I added a link to the sidebar at the right side of this blog if you want to read the foreword despite it being missing in the book.
[Addendum: March 27, 2010] A new run including the foreword is out now. A really nice review was posted on Mark Kiker's blog even before he knew that I had the slightest involvement with the book.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Titleblock Parameters
You want to add a parameter to your title block family so that you can change the value for each sheet/title block.
You need a Shared Parameter. You add this parameter to the title block family. When you define the parameter you must be careful to choose the correct data type so you can store the values you want ie; text, number, integer etc.
Once you have defined the Shared Parameter (SP) you can add a Label to the title block and select your SP. Assuming everything else is done in the title block, save and load it into your project.
In the project the parameter value will not let you edit it until you add the SP to the Project via Manage Ribbon tab > Project Parameters (Settings menu > Project Parameters in 2009).
It is here that you define whether your parameter will be distinct for each sheet or the same for all sheets.
If distinct then you assign the parameter to category: Sheets (instance parameter).
If the same for all sheets then you choose category: Project Information (Type Parameter).
You need a Shared Parameter. You add this parameter to the title block family. When you define the parameter you must be careful to choose the correct data type so you can store the values you want ie; text, number, integer etc.
Once you have defined the Shared Parameter (SP) you can add a Label to the title block and select your SP. Assuming everything else is done in the title block, save and load it into your project.
In the project the parameter value will not let you edit it until you add the SP to the Project via Manage Ribbon tab > Project Parameters (Settings menu > Project Parameters in 2009).
It is here that you define whether your parameter will be distinct for each sheet or the same for all sheets.
If distinct then you assign the parameter to category: Sheets (instance parameter).
If the same for all sheets then you choose category: Project Information (Type Parameter).
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Nesting a Hosted Family - Clarification
Task - You want a family to be hosted when used in a project.
Consideration - You've built your family with nested components
Limitation - The hosting must be defined in the last family, the one that goes in the project. If you create a hosted family and nest it in another family it will lose the hosting behavior.
Said another way, you cannot expect a hosted family to retain its hosted behavior when you nest the family in another family.
Consideration - You've built your family with nested components
Limitation - The hosting must be defined in the last family, the one that goes in the project. If you create a hosted family and nest it in another family it will lose the hosting behavior.
Said another way, you cannot expect a hosted family to retain its hosted behavior when you nest the family in another family.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Hotfix Revit 2010 Platform - Walls
The Autodesk Update site has a new Hotfix item. The description is a bit vague: This hotfix addresses issues related to deleting or modifying walls, a crash may occur.
You need to make sure that you read the Readme file. You need Web Update #1 installed first too. There is a hotfix for 32 bit and 64 bit versions. Surprisingly low tech patch process. Same hotfix applies to each version so just repeat for the others if you have them too.
It's a good idea to keep an eye on this site every now and then.
[Edit: Aaron Rumple posted at AUGI that this hotfix disables the 2009 UI Revit.ini hack that permits users to use the 2009 user interface instead of the Ribbon. Stay tuned to the thread or here for an update.]
You need to make sure that you read the Readme file. You need Web Update #1 installed first too. There is a hotfix for 32 bit and 64 bit versions. Surprisingly low tech patch process. Same hotfix applies to each version so just repeat for the others if you have them too.
It's a good idea to keep an eye on this site every now and then.
[Edit: Aaron Rumple posted at AUGI that this hotfix disables the 2009 UI Revit.ini hack that permits users to use the 2009 user interface instead of the Ribbon. Stay tuned to the thread or here for an update.]
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