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/

Plenum Spaces Revit MEP 2011

I found a some new features in Revit MEP 2011 that is very useful for dealing with Plenum Spaces. First, you can set a type property of a level to tell the use of the level is for plenum space. This helps by creating a specific views for plenums, and all spaces added in these views will be assigned as plenums (instances property). Second item is the new instance property in spaces that assign it has a plenum space. This new property will allow for better calculation

Why are these plenum spaces relevant? Without plenum spaces the energy model for Heating Cooling Loads will be in accurate. Also you find that your gbXML exports not to work very well.

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.

Some Little Keyboard Helpers

Press [Tab] key to select objects in line with the object you pick.

When object is selected [Alt] + [Enter] keys takes you to instant properties.

When object is selected [Ctrl] + [Enter] keys takes you to type properties.

[Ctrl] + [Left Arrow] will select previous objects.

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.

Revit 2011 Release

Just in case you did not see it yet. Revit 2011 (all flavors) have been released.

Second I just saw the posting on the subscription center that the Revit Extensions are available. They are very limited at this time, unless you are using Revit Structures (seems to be allot of Robot integration directly into Revit). Main one is the Shared Parameter Converter it provides the ability to change family parameters to Revit shared parameters. A second functionality is to add or replace shared parameters to one or multiple Revit families file in one process.

Finally several of the main stay tools are out for Revit 2011 products; Globe Link, Batch Print, Space Naming Utility, Autodesk Revit DB Link 2011, Worksharing Monitor and Autodesk Revit Model Review 2011.

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.

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 ! ! !

HVAC zones

New feature to Revit MEP 2009 is Zones. Zones will allow engineers break up the rooms in the building in to, based on engineering volumes. This adds another great tool that is part of the typical mechanical design work flow for system equipment selection as well as to perform accurate heating and cooling loads calculations.


The new zones integrate seamlessly into the current tools of Revit MEP. Zones will have the ability to export the newly created HVAC zone datafor use in the IES. Heating and cooling loads reports have also been enhanced to reflect the powerful HVAC zones and spaces functionality.