The 'Out of the box' (OTB) Duplex Receptacle.rfa family REVIT supplies is as good a place as any to start to investigate just how a typical REVIT electrical family works.
First of all you can host it to a wall in a linked architectural model, but most interesting is the fact that there is a 'nested' annotation family within the 3D family.
When in a Plan view all you see is the correctly scaled annotation symbol (as shown on the left) but in a 3D or Elevation view you see the physical 3D elements on the right.
View the CADclip below for a breakdown and introduction to dissecting this interesting little family.
Once you get the just of it, modifying these electrical families will become much less of an issue.
Here's a great but simple tip that can stop you from pulling your hair out.
If you try to open a Central File in REVIT and you are NOT using the same version (and Build number) of REVIT that was used to create the Central file, the 'Create New Local' option is not available, greyed out or disabled.
a) If you are using an older version of REVIT then you are hooped and cannot open the file, period. Go away.
b) If you are using a newer version of REVIT then just open the file, upgrade it to your version of REVIT (done automatic) then 'save as' the file and click the 'Option' button in the Save dialog box and check off the option for 'Make this a central file after save'.
Then you need to close this new central file and relinquish everything.
Lastly you can now open the same file and the 'Create New Local' option is BACK !
I have seen this problem where the REVIT version is the same but the culprit is the 'Build Number'.
Also if this is / was a central file that has been relocated to a new folder the 'create new local' will be grey out or disabled. You need to make it into a central file again. Just open it anyway, then do a saveas click the 'Option' button in the Save dialog box and check off the option for 'Make this a central file after save'. Then you need to close this new central file and relinquish everything. Then try to open it again and notice the 'Create New Local' should be available.
REVIT with real curbs, roads, sidewalks and retaining walls !
Can you see the smile on my face : ))
I am quite excited to start learning Eagle Point's
Landcadd and Siteworks "FOR REVIT".
These two very established software products have been available to AutoCAD as 3rd party applications for many years. Tried, True and Tested.
Stay tuned for some great tips on Landcadd and Siteworks for REVIT.
We all know that REVIT sucks at adding in the surrounding landscape elements, curbs, sidewalks, roads, retaining walls, cut & fill and grading. Anything outside the building for that matter.
Stand up and say "HALLELUJAH" to these great new REVIT add-ons. But they are not new products at all, they are old products now being made for REVIT.
After installation you will see two new tabs on the ribbon with Landcadd and Siteworks Labels.
. . . . and . . . . . . awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. . . . . . we go !
Nothing like fresh REVIT add ons, especially from a company like Eagle Point, to make my day : )
Combine this with REVIT 2013 (code named One Box) and you've got some serious power at your fingertips.
Oh and last but not least you can import and export the data via LandXML format for our Civil 3D friends !
Retrieve Technologies, owned and run by Dave Arnold inHenniker NH , has been Illegally selling copy written CADclips Training videos for over 3 years.
This is direct and blatant Copyright Infringement and subject to all legally binding regulations.
"I know this because I have direct evidence. I Daryl Gregoire, am the creator and owner of all 'CADclips' training material and I now have a seperate independant Corporate vOffice account (from my day job) that has my own personally created CADclips material on the vOffice shelf.
We, CADclips have made several attempts to contact Retrieve and they have chossen to ignored us and continue to sell our copyright material.
If you, your company or corporation has CADclips videos on the shelves of their vOffice, rGuide or vBooks it is 'Illegally Distributed' material and has been for 3 years.
CADclips has never been compensated for any Retrieve Technology sales.
Not a dime.
Retrieve is in direct competition with CADclips, sells CADclips material on their site and does not compensate CADclips ??
Hello Dave and Oscar, what you are doing is "Illegal" and your attempts to ignore us is about to take a change in direction.
Both Legal and Social actions are being rigorously persued by CADclips to resolve these matters.
If you, your company or corporation currently has CADclips material in your vOffice
be prepared to have it removed from your account.
We attempted a working relationship with Retrieve Technologies over 3 years ago. It didn't work out. We parted on good terms. They were told to remove all of our material. They never did remove it and have been selling it for over 3 years at a Corporate Enterprise wide level. They have NEVER paid us a single solitary dime. How much do you think they owe us ??
I REPEAT:
If you or your company has CADclips videos on the shelves of their vOffice, rGuide or vBooks it is 'Illegally Distributed' material.
I am the owner and creator of that material.
During the day I work for a very large Architectural / Engineering corporation. When I went to the corporate Training vOffice site (owned by Retrieve Technologies) I noticed all of my own personal Training Videos sitting there ?
See Image Below.
(just one screen capture . . . . there are many more)
I personally did recent work for Cedarglen homes in Calgary Alberta, Canada. They are a progressive company who treat their staff with respect and provide a challenging work environemnt.
Cedarglen are currently looking for a Full Time REVIT / BIM Implementation person.
Calgary Alberta is BOOMING in a second consecutive wave of work overload and a "prospering lifestyle" seems to be the trend.
You can contact Sam Ahn directly at sahn@cedarglenhomes.com to inquire about this position. You can also phone them at 1-403-255-2000.
Below is the job description. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cedarglen Homes is currently seeking a BIM Implementation Specialist to join our design and drafting team.
ABOUT CEDARGLEN HOMES:
• Cedarglen Homes is one of Calgary's most established builders, and a recent recipient of the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Builder of Excellence for providing "An Outstanding Home Ownership Experience" for Single-Family Homes in Calgary.
• We are a progressive home builder ready to take the next steps in bringing BIM to the residential building industry to gain a competitive edge.
• We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes use of our corporate gym, an outstanding pension and longer weekends.
• Cedarglen Homes offers a positive team-oriented working environment and unique corporate culture.
• Our office is conveniently located in Calgary's Southeast with the amazing amenities of Deerfoot Meadows nearby.
ABOUT YOU:
• You are passionate about the world of BIM.
• You bring to the table extensive 3D drafting experience in the residential field.
• You are a natural teacher and love to train others in the exciting world of 3D drafting.
• You are driven and able to maintain the momentum in utilizing BIM in the residential housing market.
• You foresee the potentials of BIM and single-family home buildings.
ABOUT THE POSITION:
• This role will utilize Revit Architecture for all things BIM-related.
• You will be responsible for training pertinent team members on Revit.
• You are well-organized and will implement and maintain a standard template.
• You will complete working drawings for both single-family and multi-family projects.
• You will work with our marketing department to create collateral and marketing materials.
Please submit qualifications via email to sahn@cedarglenhomes.com . Submissions should include letter of interest, resume and portfolio.
I am working with a guy who has inherited a poorly organized, massive airport REVIT project full of links.
Can you say "Ouch"
Oh man, what a friggen mess. Migraine material in fact, but we must trudge on and persevere : )
Worksets had been enabled already so the first thing we did was create a new workset for each link.
Then we put each link on it's corresponding workset by selecting the link and changing the 'instance' Workset property.
This is good common practice.
That seemed to be doing ok because we could now utilize those new worksets to control the links but for some VERY STRANGE reason all the links were still being globally controlled by a separate workset that existed when the project was inherited.
So how can a link be controlled by two separate worksets ??
Makes no sense . . . . .
Here's the workset tip of the year.
The links have both an 'Instance' and a 'Type' workset property !!
The Type property was set to that pre-exisitng workset.
So now we changed both the instance and type workset property and we have gained full control of the links via worksets.
The reason there are both an instance and a type workset property has something to do with placing multiple copies of the same link in the file but in our case that is not the case.
PROBLEM SOLVED . . . . . time for a coffee : )
Great minds are created by NEVER giving up, when others do.
I started using REVIT shortly after it was acquired by Autodesk which was April 2, 2002.
Hard to believe it's been ten years.
Where did the time go?
I open AutoCAD 2013 now and I hardly know what I am looking at.
I think I have forgotten more about AutoCAD than most people know.
I also assumed that everyone was on REVIT Subscription and running the latest release of REVIT or at worst one version back but after networking with my BIM / CAD manager buddies at the Calgary REVIT User Group I discovered that is no where true.
It seems that many consultants are still using REVIT all the way back to version 2009 !!
I like the new Sky option in REVIT 2013. When you first turn it not you may not see anything until you have the Sky (above horizon line / Level 1) in your view. You need to be looking 'Up' to see the sky.
The resulting sky is impacted by the Sun settings for Azimuth and Altitude. So the higher the sun is in the sky the lighter the sky will be. Give at a whirl.
This effect is located in the view's 'Graphic Display Option' dialog box as a view property. You can also set the color of the space below the horizon line (shown in Green). Why not take the extra step and save the View Template. Keep in mind that the view templates now update the views instantly like everything else in REVIT. HUGE !
The Sky functionality is available in Elevation, Section, Isometric, and Perspective 3D views. Also the background options are available in Hidden Line, Shaded, Consistent Colors and Realistic visual styles.
I had wishful thinking that Autodesk may scrap the Project Browser as it is and allow us to create custom access to what is managed thru the Project Browser. (Palettes) However my hopes once again are shattered.
Some of favorite features are:
1. The ability to search the Project Browser for content. Yes, thank you, that helps . . . a little bit but no cigar.
2. The Design Suite is now delivering Architecture, Structure and MEP in a single interface all under one application. Yeah !
3. Real time updating from View templates to the actual view. Most would wonder why it didn't do this already as that would be the intension.
4. Dimension enhancements.
5. Double click a Family to open it for editing. I think I've been doing this instinctively for ever so no adaptation will be required here.
6. REVIT Server enhancements to allow storage of a central model on multiple servers.
7. Parts and Assemblies have improved but I haven't tested the waters.
8. Double click the wheel button to Zoom All to Fit.
9. Stair and Railing Improvements look promising but from what I have read it's not 'Complete'. . . . what . . . . Autodesk releasing a half baked feature . . . . could this be true !
10. MEP allows centerlines of rounder elements. WE'VE BEEN WAITING : )
11. MEP includes Site Tools. Thank you.
12. Save your selection sets. Yes, great feature and HUGE time saver.
13. Structure has some nice REBAR and Reinforcing improvements that will be well accepted.
Most of us are aware that you can click and drag the Ribbon Panels to re-arrange them within the Ribbon but did you know (as shown above) that you can drag the Panel(s) right off the Ribbon ?
I have been forcing myself to use 'Keyboard Shortcut' commands a fair bit these days but floating my favorite Panels onto my second monitor seems to be working quite nicely and beats the heck out of having to click the Tab on the Ribbon before getting access to the tool you want.
I run into all kinds of wonderful REVIT problems in my day to day teaching.
Here's a great tip for REVIT users new and old.
The first time you attempt to rename a Level or associated, non duplicated Floor Plan or Ceiling Plan, REVIT will prompt you to rename the corresponding Level and Views. . . . . depending on which one you are renaming.
You can reply Yes or No to the 'Would you like to rename. . . . " question.
Here is the message when renaming a Level for the first time.
Here is the Message when you rename a Floor Plan or Ceiling Plan.
Take note of the slight variation.
As long as you answer 'Yes' to either message above REVIT will rename the views and the level and keep them synchronized. The problem starts when you click the 'No' button and then decide you would rather have them synchronized.
When you say 'No' you have Separated the naming of the Ceiling Plan, Floor plan and Level altogether. If you want to go back to being synchronized follow the 5 steps below. (* Duplicated Views do not come into play. They always stay independently named.)
Once separated you may attempt to get them all synchronized back again but you may get this aggravating message and cannot solve the problem:
"The name entered is already in use. Enter a unique name."
If Expand this message says:
You can however re-synchronize them but you must follow these steps in this order.
1. Decide on a name you want the Views and Level to use. ie: Level 1
2. Rename both the Floor Planand Ceiling Plan something other than Level 1and nothing already in use.
(Right click the view in the project browser)
This is a temporary.
3. Rename the Level to be > Level 1
(click the level name in a section or elevation view)
4. Rename the Floor Plan and Ceiling Plan > Level 1
5. They are now re-synchronized. Try renaming either the Floor Plan, Ceiling Plan or Level and you will get the 'renaming' message again and this time you can say 'Yes'
Now you are back on track !
Quite often the culperate is the Ceiling Plan. Don't forget about the Ceiling Plan.
In REVIT, using Copy and Paste from Level to Level is such a powerful tool. Over time it simply becomes the norm to all of us regular REVIT users. To loose that ability at this point would be devistating. I'd have to change trades.
For those who are not in the 'know', you can instantly copy many objects from one level (or area) of a building to other levels or areas.
This is available with model elements as well as annotation elements.
Everytime I show someone how you can create an entire multi storey building and have all the schedules etc. update instantly it brings a smile to the room. All in under10 seconds !
Below I extend that 10 seconds to a 6 minute CADclip and add my 2 cents along the way.
The CADclip below (part of a 75 video series) demonstrates how to load structural beams and columns into REVIT Architecture and at least one way of placing the beams overhead.
The components are created and viewed in Plan, Section and 3D.
In REVIT there are at least a two ways to to get your footing lines to be 'dashed' in a plan view.
After adjusting the 'View Range' of the plan view to include the footings you can use the 'Beyond' 'Linestyle' or you can use the 'Linework' tool to override the linestyle.
You can even make lines 'Invisible' with the 'Linework' tool.
Outside the View Range aspect you can use this same process to override the linework in almost any view type, including 3D views.
