Revit has some embedded videos in the help system. The first time you discover these, it feels like you’ve discovered an unopened gift. As the excitement builds, you click on the link to play the video lesson. If you are on a 64 bit version of Windows, you will be caught in an endless ritualistic loop of installing the Flash plugin, clicking a link and seeing a broken image tag. It is as if one must know a secret handshake to get the videos to play. Alas, it is not your fault. You have chosen a modern, shiny new system, presumably for the access to vast quantities of RAM. It must be assumed that such an advanced user needs no access to these ‘help’ videos. Well it isn’t, and this time there’s little Autodesk can do to fix the problem, short of using some other technology to deliver the videos.
I’ve run across this problem myself, and solved it in much the same way as Harlan describes below. One of the baffling things is that 64 bit operating systems have been available for more than a few years now. You would think that a company such as Adobe would have been more on top of the move to 64 bit. Read on for the fix:
If you are running 64 bit Revit and you try to run a video from the Help files, you will notice that it doesn’t play. It will prompt you to install Adobe flash, and then the video will not run.
Currently Adobe Flash Player does not support playback in a 64 bit browser. It is possible to run it on 32 bit browsers installed on 64 bit systems, but unfortunately Revit will default to the 64 bit browser in Help. Click here for more information on Adobe’s schedule for Flash Player 64 bit support.
So, to view the videos, you can do the following:
Launch the Help menu.
Open the document with the video and select the video link.
Right click inside the dialog and select Jump to URL.
Copy the text from the Current URL dialog.
Launch 32 bit Internet Explorer and paste the contents into the address bar.
Click here to view a short video illustrating this process.
A couple of critical Hotfixes for Revit have been released today and last week. I would have posted about the first earlier, but Autodesk University as well as more frequent Twitter activity sapped all my blogging powers. Do a quick search for #AU2009 on Twitter… So, I must recharge my batteries now and prepare a series of recaps for you all in the coming days. Hold on tight.
The first fixes some issues with wall editing! Boy if that isn’t something every architect and structural engineer needs… as well as some MEP folks. You should seriously consider applying this hotfix. Thanks to Harlan for sharing.
A new Wall hotfix has been posted. This hot fix applies to Revit Architecture, Structure, and MEP and addresses a issue that causes a crash when modifying or deleting walls. Files are included to fix Update Release 2 or the Subscription Advantage Pack, so make sure you download and install the correct files. Also, make sure to go over the readme files included.
Secondly, there is a hotfix that only applies to those who have installed the RAC (Revit Architecture) Subscription Advantage Pack. Does it repair the broken Classic Mode hack? Sadly no. But you will have control over the graphic display of Structural elements after applying this repair. Everyone else, move along, there’s nothing to see here.
A new hotfix was released today for anyone running the Revit Architecture 2010 Subscription Advantage Build # 20090925_1815. After applying the Subscription Advantage Pack for Revit Architecture 2010, the structural settings dialog is no longer accessible. The included hotfix will resolve this issue. I have included both the technical solution with additional information as well as a link to the hotfix below:
BIM and cloud computing have traditionally not been very close friends. What is interesting, is that there are companies out there innovating. There are model servers, data exchange formats, cumbersome and expensive hardware solutions that don’t really address all the issues.
Does this mean that the competition is moving ahead. Maybe, but technology leaps come in shifts, not incremental change, and the development of the BIM sharing in ArchiCAD 13 is simply a redo of a tool they already had. If you managed to click through and watch the video on Teamwork, it is less impressive than the article makes it out to be. Revit can add color to worksets as well with filtering, and while doesn’t have chat, there are already many standalone technologies for this. All of this seems really distracting to getting work done. There has to be better ways to manage a project and improve communication. It may not be the right path.
Is that a pie in the sky, or SAAS?
One possible alternate future in Autodesk Labs may be just what we all need: Project Twitch. Sure this is being touted as a way to try before you buy AutoCAD, Inventor, Maya and Revit without the ability (yet) to save and print. There is a real potential for this to become something beyond play. This is true Software as a Service (SAAS), which seems to hold the possibility of reducing many obstacles to adoption. What obstacles? Well, collaboration, as in the solution above, would be a hurdle not requiring a lot of hardware or convoluted rights management to access parts of the building, it would just work. It would remove the barriers of geographically dispersed teams, and allow better and more reactive collaboration the way Revit currently works.
SAAS when done well, can help reduce hardware and operating system upkeep and could potentially become much less of a burden on IT departments and cost-concious design firms who could use a bit of a break after the last 18 months. This would open up your favorite design tools, like Revit to any platform you wish to use such as; Windows, Mac OSx, Linux, PS3, or whatever… OK maybe not a Commodore 64, but most anything.
Again, this is just a possibility. Two things need to happen; there needs to be an increase in trust from the industry that hosted data and applications are secure and highly available, and secondly there needs to be an improvement in performance. While just a technology preview, Project Twitch is not yet ready for replacing a locally installed application that works even when the power goes out. Someday… just maybe it will. OK, stop daydreaming and get back to work.
It always fascinates me the way folks who use Revit on projects are so willing to share their work, their process and their joy with the rest of the AEC community. This project, by _Space Architecture (http://www.spacegroup.co.uk/), really shows how the whole project team benefits from using Revit as their BIM solution to the benefit of better architecture and a happier client. View the video, it’s really informative as there are interviews with the design and construction team members right down to the tradesfolk getting the work done and resolving collisions before they happen in the field.
Looking for ways to save money on training? Why not attend a short focused event that will provide high value at an affordable cost? The following topics are announced:
Nov 13 @ 10AM PST – Integrating: Revit with Ecotect – 2 hours
Nov 23 @ 10AM PST – Secrets of Revit Conceptual Massing – 2 hours
Integrating: Revit with Ecotect
Looking for ways to integrate sustainable design into your current workflow, or simply a way to work smarter? Perform analysis of building designs when it has the most potential rewards, during conceptual design. Seating is limited, so sign up today.
Topics Covered:
Using Revit conceptual models
Preparing a Revit project model
Export options for gbXML
Compelling reasons for exporting to DXF
Optimum Ecotect import settings
Considering site and weather conditions
Applying parametric rules to Ecotect objects
Performing early daylight and thermal analysis
Iterative design and optioning
View the full course information, and sign up today at EventBrite.com
Secrets of: Revit Conceptual Massing
Revit Architecture 2010 has some very powerful conceptual design tools, but for those migrating from earlier versions of the software using these new tools can be daunting at first. If you want to understand how to create flexible, parametric building forms this class is for you. We will cover the essentials of the conceptual mass editing environment, as well as how to create sophisticated organic forms. Seating is limited, so sign up today.
Topics Covered:
The Conceptual Design environment
The Importance of building jigs
Pros and Cons of choosing a modeling method
Working with legacy massing objects
From box to organic form
Subtleties of the environment
Surface rationalization
Creating and extending panel families
Extracting data for design analysis
View the full course information, and sign up today at EventBrite.com
Other News:
Additionally, full course sample agendas are now released for Revit Architecture 2010 and Ecotect Analysis 2010. For more information visit the Training page.
The Revit Architecture production training is part of the Productivity. Fast!™ implementation system. This allows you to get up to speed quickly by combining training with a live project and applied concepts. Mentoring and project assistance is provided ‘just-in-time’ so you can get your work done and capture lessons learned. Below is this four-part system of implementation which allows an entire office, or just a single pilot project to be completed with confidence. Each of these activities is a four-day period, which may be delivered all at once, or as project and team needs require.
Essentials Course
Advanced Course
Project Mentoring and Best Practices (Checkpoint)
Project Quality Assessment (Post Evaluation)
For more information, visit the Services section of the main website.
There should be a content bill of rights or something to ensure that you are receiving the best quality Revit families for use in your projects. Good content can really add value to the design and documentation process, and bad content can make working in Revit less than fun. I’ve downloaded some really unusable items and even had the unfortunate experience of watching poorly built content sail through a QA process. Why does this happen? Is it lack of training, experience, communication, or is it a result of lack of documented process and specifications?
COMMENTS WELCOME
I’m working on co-authoring a series of articles, whitepapers, or some guide that will assist in the process of finding, evaluating, and augmenting Revit families for use in your firm. Ultimately, it comes down to identifying what is most important to you, the users. I would really like this to be a conversation, to aid in the planning of this work. Please add your comments to this post, sharing your horror stories, pet peeves, or ah-ha moments as you work with Revit families.
The expression “fail to plan, plan to fail” can have tremendous relevance in the design and construction of any size projects. When implementing a technology such as Revit in your firm, you really must plan. Blindly marching forward as if it is just another CAD application will certainly lead to failure. Understanding the shift to a building information modeling approach is not just a technology change; it is also a cultural change both internal and external to your firm. Most importantly, Revit and BIM both facilitate and demand a process change.
BIM in itself can be classified as a way of working, not just the tools that get you there. It’s about: communicating differently and more often, understanding how work completed today affects future participants in the process of building, operating and ultimately deconstructing a building, and finally it is about reducing waste. Understanding process and the impact of planning can be very time consuming and challenging effort.
If you are just beginning to think of how to incorporate new processes into your organization, you have to think like a consultant. Research and document current processes, challenges, and bottlenecks within your firm. Develop an implementation plan that determines your needs beyond obtaining the software and training. Implementation plans that I have developed for organizations often involves getting buy-in from management and the staff prior to moving forward. Also, determining who, what and when are important aspects to solving what you need to get started. Choosing the right team members, what type of project it is, and understanding the schedule have a tremendous impact on the planning and ultimate success of your pilot project. Do you need content (Revit families, details, templates, tutorials, standards, etc…) in place before proceeding with a pilot? Who receives training? When and how much? Every organization is different and you need to plan carefully.
Once you have made BIM a priority, have completed a pilot, and hopefully a formal evaluation of how things went, the planning does not end. In order to maximize the benefits of BIM on your projects, you really must create a BIM Project Execution Plan. By identifying the purpose and needs BIM will fulfill for the project, and clearly communicating roles and responsibilities, you better ensure success.
All of these topics require additional time to discuss. I will outline BIM planning in further posts.
To get you started in thinking about the process; this planning guide and it’s associated tools are available for free from the Computer Integrated Construction (CIC) Research Group at Penn State. It’s a component of the building Smart alliance (bSa) National BIM Standard™, or NBIMS.
I don’t usually receive presents for Halloween, but this year, under the twirling vines of the pumpkin patch we find little gifts from Autodesk. They arrived with much fan fare in the form of Autodesk Subscription Advantage Packs.
Much has been discussed regarding Autodesk Blogger Day. Here are some examples of early information regarding the Revit loot:
The Revit tools have lots to be excited about. I really am looking forward to trying out the framing tools, and using Image Modeler to capture context of a site. I will later add a review of some of these features, once I have had the time.
A new ribbon tab is available in the Renovation Extension for AutoCAD Architecture 2010 - (click to zoom)
AutoCAD Architecture users don’t fret… although the bloggers have been busy discussing what new toys Revit users on current subscription may download today, ACA has some pretty neat tools as well. If you’ve ever tried to document a renovation project using “AutoCAD for architects” you have probably been frustrated dealing with Layer Key Overrides. It is easy forgetting to disable them and accidentally placing objects on layers they were not intended. To the rescue: Renovation Extension 2010.
Much like phasing in Revit, this tool helps automate the ability to demolish (sans a sledge hammer tool), and add walls representing new construction easily. Once you enable the settings, it’s as simple as deleting a wall, door or window to enable a copy of that object to change “phase” to demolition. Drawing a new wall, automatically treats it as new construction and more importantly, moving a wall will demo the old wall and a portion of the connecting walls, and create infill accordingly. By having control over phase and the ability to lock down existing conditions preventing accidental edits is fascinating. It just may change your established workflow. This may all seem like magic, and I believe it might be.
Hmmm… Revit phasing isn’t quite as simple as this. Score one for the dedicated AutoCAD Architecture fans and users. The links to both sets of mid-year updates in the form of slick marketing videos follows:
If you wish to concurrently work in Revit for creating construction documents, and visualizations, you must learn to separate logically. Digital entourage such as RPC content, or people cars and trees can coexist in your building information model. This video shows how you can use worksets to contain elements you do not want visible in all views.
Warning: I finally picked up a new headset for creating these recordings, so the volume may be a little higher than previous videos. Enjoy.
As an added tip: If you forgot to uncheck the box “Visible by default in all views”, no problem, just carefully follow the steps below:
Create a brand new workset to contain the model components you wish to control visibility of, being sure this timeto uncheck the ‘visible’ box
Be sure to ’synchronize with central’, or ’save to central’ depending on your version of Revit, reliquishing all borrowed
Make the workset you wish to convert ‘editable’
Choose the old workset containing the objects you wish to make invisible in the project views
Click Delete
Now the important part here is to choose the new workset to move these items to, we certainly don’t wish to delete our model components
Now just use Visibility/Graphics Overrides (keyboard shortcut VG) to change the visibility in selected views from the Worksets tab.
For other cool tips, or more information on this method described above be sure to go to http://au.autodesk.com, sign in and search for the Autodesk University 2008 class I co-authored called “Horrible Hacks”. If you are attending AU this year, hopefully I’ll see you there.
