Welcome eTransmit to Revit

eTransmit is now available for Revit, in Autodesk Labs, as a technology preview!
Automatically detach from central, include reference files like dwgs and dwfs. Great job Autodesk Labs.

Link http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/revit_etransmit/

Revit Bench Marks

Some recent testing of Xeon and I7 processors, we tried to use closest comparable hardware.

Intel Core i7-950 Quad Core @ 3.07 Ghz
12GB RAM
Windows 7 64-bit
Nivida Qudro FX 1800
6 Opening and loading custom template
9 Creating the floor levels and grids
26 Creating a group of walls and doors
44 Modifying the group by adding a curtain wall
21 Creating the exterior curtain wall
10 Creating the sections
11 Changing the curtain wall panel type
36 Create 3D view and render
31 Export all views
194 TOTAL

Intel Xeon W3565 Quad Core @ 3.20 Ghz
12GB RAM
Windows 7 64-bit
Nivida Qudro 2000
4 Opening and loading custom template
8 Creating the floor levels and grids
24 Creating a group of walls and doors
43 Modifying the group by adding a curtain wall
18 Creating the exterior curtain wall
9 Creating the sections
9 Changing the curtain wall panel type
34 Create 3D view and render
29 Export all views
178 TOTAL

Revit-Up

Well finishing up this year and preparing for the new year.
I have spent some time building some application, creating content and starting our Revit Standards Manual. The key to creating the content and standards this year has been; keeping notes, documenting what the standards are and following some sort of guidelines.

To do this, I simple started with our old CAD Manual and the National CAD Standards. This gave me the basis of how the final drawings should look. I then proceeded to look for some Revit based standards for my content. I found that at on the Autodesk seek website http://seek.autodesk.com/revit.htm.

Finally, listen to your users. The guys using the software on the job everyday will tell you the issues. Some will ripe Revit apart others will tell you about the difficulties and success.

Completed My Fist Revit App

Created my first Revit App. Learning the API is a little bit of a challenge. The most challenging thing was learning VB.net, I have managed a little VBA, a decent amount of LISP and some scripting. Well VB.net is none of those.

The overall goal was to mimic a custom LISP routine that we use in AutoCAD.
1. Print a to DWF and or PDF to a Current Plot Folder
2. Copy the file or files to a archive record issue for the issue letter or number
3. The file name to Project Number-Sheet Number-Revision Number
4. Search the Plot folder for previous versions of that sheet and delete them
5. Seamless process without allot of user in put

The app requires you to print one view at a time, but it does read the sheet and file for all the information needed, no user input except to click OK if it finds an error (with reason) or OK that is complete.

Revit Pen Settings

I have been working through our company pen settings over the past couple of weeks. I had plenty of feedback from co works about the pen weights. In the process of trying to tweak the different settings, I found through research (AUGI and Discussion Groups) that pens 1 and 2 (model) and pen 1 (drafting) effect majority of the hatching or fill patterns.

Model Pen 1 drives the model hatch pen weight. Model Pen 2 drives the ceiling grid pattern pen weight. All fill regions are assigned to Annotation Pen 1 by default.

To give myself more flexibility in our pens I have decided to move all objects off of pens 1 and 2. Seems a little bold, but I believe it will give us more flexibility in the long run.

Improved UI

Many needed improvements have been made to the Revit UI.

Quick Access Toolbar Modifications
1. Single QAT in both project and family editor.
2. Increase number of default commands out of the box, not only that, but they are sensible.
3. Customization of the QAT, including moving items and adding separators.

Side Browsers (Project Browser, Systems)
1. You can now stack Browsers, like Project and System Browsers.
2. New Properties Browser has been added, this allows users to level their property dialog box up when working in a project, verses opening and closing.

Modify Tools
1. Yes, the modification tools have been moved to the left end of the Ribbon to maintain consistent tool locations.
2. The modify Tab now includes object specific commands (move, copy, array, etc.)
3. Modify commands are now available prior to selection or after, like AutoCAD.
4. Type Selector has been moved to Property Browser.
5. When placing objects, the contextual tab (like Place Wall) has been merged with the Modify tab. This will greatly reduce the need to bounce from one tab to another.
6. Several tool icons have been updated for easier access and readability.

Revit 2011 Text Updates

Leader Enhancements

Something we have all been asking for, the ability to specify the location of the leader from our text. Many of us have CAD standards that specify 1st line, center or last line of text. Revit only gave us the ability for the top line of text. Revit now has the ability to specify four new locations (Middle Left and Right and Bottom Left and Right).

Text Borders

New option in the text type properties allow you to show the text border. In type properties lock for a check box parameter called show border. This will box out the notes.
Also you can now control the margins of the text box (which we can also consider the masking region for Opaque option). This setting is found in the text type properties also, called Leader/Border Offset.

Bentley / Revit Integration

There are several new plugins by Bentley that attempt to address interoperability with Revit.

First is the iModel Plugin that translates a Revit model to Microstation V8i. You can read more about it and download here http://communities.bentley.com/UserGroups/GroupDetail.aspx?GroupID=80

Seciond is a Revit plugin for the Bentley Integrated Structural Model (ISM). You can read more about it and download here http://www.bentley.com/en-US/Promo/ISM/downloads.htm#revit

I hope this provides a better means to work between Revit and Bentley products without using IFC or Navisworks and I'd like to know if anybody is having any success with this workflow.

Adding Symbols in Text Box

I am working with our group to start creating details in Revit. We came across the issue of adding symbols in our text. We started by just typing abbreviations, this added to our normal note size. I did some research and found Revit supports Windows Character Mapping.
Here are the simple steps to do this;
1. Ensure Number Lock is on
2. Hold the [ALT] Key
3. While Holding [ALT] type in code suing Number Key Pad (Number pad on right side of keyboard
4. Release [ALT] Key
If I would like to add the degree symbol in a note all I have to do is Hold the ALT key and type in character map code "0176".

*You must use the number pad, traditional numbers above the letters will not work.

Some of the Standard Codes:
0176 Degree
0248 Diameter
0178 Squared
0179 Cubed
0177 Plus-Minus
0174 Registered
0169 Copy Right

**Laptop users can not use the numbers on the traditional keyboard above the letters. Majority of laptops have a number pad overlaid into the keyboard area that you can utilize with the number lock key and the same method.
***You can also utilize this same method in AutoCAD and other Windows Programs.

I started working on interiors in Revit also. I ran into several little things as I worked through my first attempts. Some key points

1. Don't just render a high quality image right away. Takes time and you don't have any idea of your lighting. I start with a quick draft to check lighting.
2. If doing a render with sun and artificial light, you may need to tweak the light out put of interior lights or adjust render exposure. I also found changing the sun angle from 35 deg to 70 deg.
3. Play with your materials, you can adjust settings for all materials, you are not stuck with out of the box materials.

First Try at Rending in Revit

Here are the results of my first tries at Rendering in Revit. I have been busy work in a different areas in Revit, but I have not spent much time on rendering. I found the quality of the images to be pretty good for my first major attempt.
I have noticed a few items. First the Exterior Rendering is easy. Make sure you add some ground below it, looks funny floating in mid air. I did this by creating a separate project for the site. I created a Topo Surface and divided it to create the parking area and grass. I also created a floor for the concrete walks and added some plantings.

This image is a dark, but shows the concept. I added exterior lighting and created a night rendering. I had to adjust my materials on the CAD EXPO sign at the top of the building. I adjusted the materials and adjusted an area for the material called self-Illumination. I would also adjust the exposure settings the next time I render the view. That would allow me to adjust the exposure.

Up Date: I have adjusted the exposure setting and rendered it again.

Door Family with Jambs

I have had several request for a door family that has jambs included in the rough opening. This is something Revit does not have out of the box. It is made for walls that are either concrete or block construction that we need to be able to dimension to the door rough opening. So, I have put together a basic door to get you started with. Select link at bottom of post to download.

It is basically a single hung flush door. The Jamb and door together make up the open size. In the type settings you can change door height and width along with jamb depth (all three sides) jamb width for sides and jamb width for head jamb. Under the instance or Element you can change the door inset (this controls the offset of the door from wall face on the non-swing side. The rough opening also automatically reports the correct width and height by adding Jambs and width/height.

Single-Flush-Jamb-RR.rfa

Upgrading Families in Revit

Although it is not necessary to upgrade all families before using them in a new version, it may be desirable to upgrade your family files (especially your larger ones) to avoid upgrade delays when you add families to projects.

The utility is located on the installation dvd for Revit. You will need to look in the Install Tools and Utilities area and then utilities from the left hand margin be directed to the utilities on the dvd. Files are designed to first find any existing family that you have, then upgrade them to the current release.

1. Copy the files into a directory common to your family files
2. Double click on the Batch Family File Generator (upgrade_rfa.bat). After a moment a file named famlist.txt will be created.
3. Drag and drop the Family File Upgrade Utility (upgrade_rfa.txt) onto the Revit Icon (or shortcut). Revit will now start, open and save all of the family files found in the family.txt file.

NOTE: Be sure that the file identified in the "family.txt" files should be upgraded before running the "upgrade_rfa.txt" utility. It is advisable to review the files found in the "family_rfa.txt" before proceeding. Once a file is upgraded it cannot be brought back to the previous release.

NOTE: Also note that family files marked as "read only" cannot be upgraded and will cause the upgrade_rfa.txt file to "run out of sequence" and the process will be stopped.

DO NOT modify these downloads to upgrade project files ! ! !

Site Analysis- Permeable vs Non-permeable

How about using the AREA tool to create a visual analysis of Permeable vs Non-permeable surfaces on a site plan. Revit can easily be used to compare the areas in both numerical view (Schedule) or visual with a color fill plan. An idea is to create a permeable parameter. You can then create a new view change view settings to see the site objects. Create some spaces and fill the parameter for permeable with Permeable or Non-permeable. Apply color fill based on permeable parameter. Finally create a schedule to extract information for square footage of each.