All BIM All the Time

Blue Beam Revu & Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 15:25:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

It has been some time since I have been able to sit down and create some good content. To be honest, I have been working on a couple of very interesting projects with some very interesting clients that are taking Revit to another level in terms of design, communication, and coordination. Revit MEP has certainly come a long way since the beginning.

However, the reason I wanted to create a quick post is to praise Blue Beam a little bit more. These guys have really 1-up'ed Adobe with the software that they have created. If you are not familiar with Blue Beam, first of all I beg you to go download Vu (the free version and give it a go), but second it will change your life with the speed at which it opens and navigates PDF files. Begin as with many of the MEP files myself and my team has to deal with it very nice to smoothly navigate.

Now on top of being an excellent, smooth, flawless app to review and markup PDF's. There is a thing called Studio that comes standard with Revu. This is like Dropbox built right into a PDF viewer. It allows us to post and share documents (not just PDFs) with others that we invite to the folder. Then if we markup say a shared PDF the other people are able to see those markups almost instantly. This has come in very handy for field work such as RFI's and punch lists but I have also used it for presentations. I have also helped a couple of firms use this instead of a traditional FTP site so that they can share the PDFs every couple of days.

One last point about Studio, if you do happen to have Revu (paid) and you share something, someone with Vu (free) is still able to see and interact with the document though they cannot post anything to the shared folder themselves. In speaking with a contractor colleague they use this for bidding processes to share the documents in this way.

Enough of my soapbox and now back to your regularly scheduled programming...Cheers!

Revit Category Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 22:55:00 +0000

In a stroke of pure brilliance Luke (@lukeyjohnson) over at What Revit Wants has setup a Revit Category Guide (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AldGdRkpk2bedElRNDZGTFdHLUZPQktqbXktY0pWU0E#gid=0).

The intention of this guide is to break down the categories inside of Revit and describe some of their most important properties. I agree with Luke that this is something that should have been done long ago to explain especially the lesser utilized categories. These categories are not just restricted to model categories such as doors, mechanical equipment, etc but also system categories like walls, duct systems, etc. I have put some information up there revolving around the MEP categories as that has been my personal focus for many years. And as I get great pleasure in helping others understand the in's and out's of BIM I hope to continue to apply my knowledge to this document.

Cheers,

Ian

Revit Model Performance Technical Note 2014 (UPDATE)

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 17:09:00 +0000

I thought it important to post up a link to the updated 2014 model performance technical note. This is really important if you are looking for a new computer or workstation to run Revit on. As well as a some solid high level strategies for model breakout and organization.

Just a couple of quick points to keep in mind about the computer architecture. In terms of HD if possible get a solid state drive (SSD) for at least the OS and installation of Revit. This will dramatically improve the open and save times of local files. Also in terms of Graphics card attempt to find a card with at least 2 gb of on board memory. Remember too that it is not critical to spend the money on a heavy duty workstation card a high end gaming card from Nvidia or ATI will do just as well.

If you are attempting to build a future proof machine make sure that there are some stereoscopic or 3d capabilities even if your monitors cannot handle it right now.

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/autodesk_revit_2014_model_performance_technical_note.pdf

BIM 360 Glue Quick Tricks

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 18:10:00 +0000

I had to repost this. The guys & girls over at Beyond Design have posted some tips and tricks in regards to how best to setup and utilize Glue. I have been using Glue on a couple different projects (mainly coordination) ranging from simple office buildings to intense hospitals. I agree with all 6 of these points. Even though I do wish more of the Navisworks functionality was available via Glue. I know with time and access to the API it will be.

http://beyonddesign.typepad.com/posts/2013/08/6-rules-for-coordinating-construction-models-with-bim-360-glue.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+beyond-design+%28Autodesk+-+Beyond+Design%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Cheers,

Ian

Default View Templates - Revit 2013 / 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 18:44:00 +0000

A few days ago I was asked the question on how to apply a Default View Template to new Views in 2013 and 2014. Back in 2012 we were able to just simply open the Manage View Templates dialog box. Below are the steps that we now have to go through to apply or change a default view template

Lets say you go to create a floor plan so we would go over the View tab > Create panel > pull-down on Plan Views > select Floor Plan

In the New Floor Plan dialog box select Edit Type.

In the Type Properties dialog box select View Template applied to new views button.

This will then open the Apply View Template dialog box that we are used to previously.

And you can select the view template you wish to have associated by default. Then the next floor plan, in this case, will use whichever view template you have applied.

This is exactly the same type of process that will need to be followed for all other types of views, sections, 3D, elevations, etc. This can come in handy especially for sections because you an now have different section types for each discipline that can be filtered out of the others' views.

Cheers,

Ian

Revit 2014 Custom Pipe Elbows

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 16:51:00 +0000

Hello All,

It has been some time since I have written on here. Many things have happened CADworks & ENGstudio's have merged about year ago now to form ENGworks. Things are going very smoothly and picking up speed around the world, many new and exciting opportunities as well as partners!

The reason I have come out of hibernation is because I wanted to discuss a strange bit of functionality that I had discovered with one of our best content creation experts. Briefly to explain the issue we were experiencing was that in Revit 2014 when we would attempt to use a "custom" or fitting that we had created from scratch the elbow would not work when defined in the pipe type.

NOTE: This is also assuming that we have also remapped or imported the lookuptable into the upgraded 2013 custom fitting.

Some of you may have seen this same type of error in previous version of Revit if you have created any custom fittings.

The simple solution, that certainly took some time to sort out, is to map the Angle parameter to the primary connector as well as the secondary. In previous version of Revit it was only required to map to the secondary so that Revit would bend the fitting to that point while maintaining the primary connector as the insertion point.

Once the primary connectors' angle is mapped load it back into your project and make sure it is defined in your pipe type. It should then work with all angles that are defined in the lookuptables.

I hope this may help those of you out there that may have been struggling with this fitting issue in 2014.

Cheers,

Ian

Revit MEP Content Management Solutions Presentation

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:03:00 +0000

I am proud to announce that CADworks will be providing some informative presentations about our Content Management Solution. We have been developing this solution for 3 years now and are about to roll out our 4th version. Sign up to find out what we will be changing and adding. Cheers Ian

Revit® MEP Content Management Solutions Presentation

by

I am especially eager to introduce you to CADworks Revit MEP solutions that will make managing content and modeling Revit MEP piping systems much more enjoyable. This web-based presentation will introduce you to CADworks Content Management Services and CADworks Piping Productivity Pack. If none of the below times are convenient, please email me Bernie Duncan and we will work out another schedule. I hope to speak with you soon.

Please register for one of CADworks Revit® MEP Content Management Solutions Presentation below:

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 9:00 AM Central at: Register Now
Thursday, September 9, 2010 Noon Central at: Register Now
Friday, September 24, 2010 8:00 AM Central at: Register Now

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the training.

For more than two decades CADworks has developed new tools and services for the AEC industry, including for building products manufacturers, creating streamlined processes for working together. We’ve taken the cutting edge of BIM technology and sharpened it - enhancing its usability and maximizing its potential. CADworks strives to make the AEC processes seamless as well as successful for everyone involved.

Today CADworks offers focused BIM solutions to the extended AEC community.

For MEP engineers, along with the adoption of digital processes has come the realization that Content is first and fundamental to success. Today, CADworks® Content Management Service for Revit® MEP allows engineers to effectively achieve full participation in existing BIM promises by providing not only appropriate and quality Content, but the tools needed to sort out the new complexities of BIM. This solution offers a purpose-built Content Management Service for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems engineering.

CADworks Revit Piping Productivity Pack

This collection developed by CADworks of Pipe Types and Fittings, including Conduit Types, is now available for the extended MEP community for Revit MEP 2010 and 2011. These additions to our Comprehensive Content Suite greatly expand the power and capability of Revit MEP users.

Net Neutrality

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:43:00 +0000

So this is a topic that has been receiving quite a bit of fuss as of recently with the whole Google and Verizon trying to team up and create a premium internet experience that would offer fast speeds a basic information super high way express lane, no minis or prius' here. We would be talking Maserati speed and luxury. I for one think that it is kind of bs to have a tiered leveling of the internet, I could see if businesses may want to separate themselves but it seems harsh to say umm your not good enough for the premium, if i wanted that experience I would dress like a bum and walk into . Thanks I'll pass. Here is a really nice infrographic that helps explain net neutrality.

Via: Online MBA Programs

Revit MEP 2011 Update 1

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:24:00 +0000

Download is the latest update for Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2011 software as part of AutoCAD® Revit® MEP Suite 2011 software. There are separate downloads for the 64 bit and 32 bit versions.

Update 1 is not a full install; rather it is using service pack technology similar to AutoCAD®- based products. Prior to installing the Update 1, please verify that you have already installed the First Customer Ship build of Autodesk Revit MEP 2011. This is how Autodesk has been pushing updates out lately, which is different than in years past where you had to download and install a whole new build of the program.

The service pack can be applied to both the standalone and suite versions of Autodesk Revit MEP 2011. This is also different than in years past. Autodesk used to have different downloads for the Revit MEP build and the Revit MEP Suite build.

For a list of improvements, please download the Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2011 Update Enhancement List: or see them below.

Update Enhancement List

Improvements made in Update 1 build (20100614_2115):

Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2011 Enhancements

• Improves stability of the Location dialog.

• Improves performance of panel schedule views.

• Allows Calculated Values to be added to Load Summary section in panel schedule templates.

• Improves display of panel schedule borders.

• Improves the stability of distribution systems that use a L-G Voltage value of None.

• Enables Slope and Justification editors for layouts that include duct and pipe accessories.

• Enables Copy/Move/Array tools for layouts with sloped and non-sloped pipes.

• Improves sizing when a round takeoff is connected to a rectangular duct.

• Improves stability when changing the location setting for heating and cooling load calculation in worksharing.

• Improves stability when connecting conduit to equipment surface.

• Improves surface connection between different design options.

• Improves cable tray bend radius control.

• Improves temp dimension witness line snapping in surface connection edit mode.

• Improves converting cable tray tee to cross.

• Improves stability when drawing a cable tray from equipment.

• Improves stability when editing type properties of electrical equipment.

• Disables the Modeless Properties Dialog when a value is changed in the Type Selector to avoid confusion or an incorrect property change.

• Updates the pressure drop calculations through a transition using the coefficient loss method when reporting the static pressure on systems.

• Improves Move functionality to allow the user to select different views without having to reselect elements.

• Improves Move and Copy functionality to allow the user to move/copy at any angle when an elbow fitting is included in the selected elements.

• Improves Move and Copy functionality during movement in 3D views.

• Improves Move and Copy functionality to maintain depth when used in elevation or section views.

• Improves Rotation functionality to allow the rotation of sprinklers in elevation views.

• Disables disconnect warnings when drawing round duct from a rectangular duct using the tap fitting “Tap-Perpendicular”.

• Ensures the direction of the connector on Air Terminals is verified for the proper orientation of the Air Terminal.

Autodesk® Revit® Platform 2011 Enhancements

• The list of supported video cards and drivers has been updated.

• Improves stability in working with families.

• Improves stability when deleting views.

• Improves stability when export to gbXML.

• Improves stability when view "Analytical Surfaces" in the Export gbXML dialog.

• Correct export of embedded curtain walls to gbXML.

• Improves stability when export to DWG.

• Improves stability when export a split view with shared coordinates to DWG.

• Respects crop region with blocks when exported to DWG in wireframe visual style.

• Correct placement of annotation when exported to DWG.

• Improves stability when Export to DWF.

• Improves stability and performance when working in the Materials dialog.

• Improves IFC import to display a warning when encountering a geometry issue that would have previously caused instability in some cases.

• Improves Properties Palette and canvas interaction that caused unstable graphics if family regenerations were interrupted.

• Updates to placed instances will now occur when reloading a Family Parameter into project environment as a Reporting Parameter.

• Improves In Canvas Parameter Labeling to allow a Reporting Parameter to be created when an Instance or Type Parameter could not be.

• Disables Reporting Parameters between In Place Families and Reference geometry.

• Correct parameter names display within the Decal Dialog.

• Improves consistency between Revit and Max when exporting lights with IES files via FBX.

• Restored custom quality setting that controls number of refractions in a rendering.

• Improves the performance when adjusting the exposure of a rendered image.

• Improves issues encountered when rendering elements with different phase settings.

• Repairs upgrade issue with certain light fixtures using IES files.

• Repairs printing issue where Scope Boxes from Linked files were visible despite Print settings turning them off.

• Ensures correct orientation of Elevation tags when tag family is edited.

• Improves stability when switching among the tabs in RVT Links Display Settings.

• Improves stability when ungrouping arrayed elements.

• Improves Filter Rules.

Autodesk® Revit® 2011 API Enhancements

• Elements will now be properly joined when the ExternalCommand concludes when using automatic regeneration and automatic transaction

• ExportImage(ImageExportOptions ) no longer throws an exception when given a set of views

• ElementParameterFilters now operate properly against ElementType elements

• Improves stability when saving a family and there are event subscribers for Save or Save As.

• Closes the Family editor environment after loading a family via the API

• Improves stability when using selection APIs to pick grid elements.

• Dynamic Model Update: GetChangeTypeGeometry() now triggers properly when active type is changed

• Improves stability for Dynamic Model Update: when registering updaters and more than one application is registered

Updated Autodesk SEEK Video

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:43:00 +0000

I had the great honor of producing another video for Autodesk. Check it out: here.

How to Blast BP: Image War

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:12:00 +0000

So I have a Digg Feed on my igoogle and this morning it came to my attention how much negative attention BP has been getting. I will say yes I have been living under a rock for a while and not really paying much attention to the millions of barrels of oil that have been pouring into the Gulf. It is not really apathy, I just don't want to hear guys who get paid more money than god to talk about random sh** and lie directly to the people. So here are some of the best images I could find about this...

Ecotect - Performative Design

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:22:00 +0000

So Dr. Andrew Marsh (one of the founders of Ecotect, a very good energy analysis software) has a blog or 2 rather called Performative Design and Informative Design very cool stuff. Here are some of the applets from his site, you will need java installed on your browser to play with these, and if there are any comments please leave them on Dr. Marsh's site. There are many more samples on his blog and has been constantly adding to it based upon his time stamps. These applets give rise to some quick analysis, and I would like to think that these analysis options will be built into Revit so that we are able to use some of this information and integrate it into our designs. It has already been noted on may blogs out there that Revit 2011 has included some daylighting and sun path analysis directly into the software. I just hope some day there perhaps in our IPD solutions there is a quick way to do CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), even though there really are an infinite number variables that will need to be taken into account to do such a "push button" analysis.

This browser does not seem to have a Java plug-in. Get the latest Java plug-in here.

Real-time interactive daylight modelling in action.

This browser does not seem to have a Java plug-in. Get the latest Java plug-in here.

The relationship between the Earth and the Sun.

Ashrae bim conference

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:49:00 +0000

So cadworks has been invited to speak at ashraes bim conference in chicago. This conference brings people from desiIogn and construction together for the purpose of oinformation exchange. Today we are spesking about bim and how the general concepts apply to engineering design. Other speakers include general contractors architects and subcontractors. Almost time to get going. More later.

Sent from my Windows® phone.

Autodesk Lover Maker 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:41:00 +0000

The guys at ADSK labs have one hell of a sense of humor...

"Autodesk Love Maker 2011 helps customers design, visualize, and simulate complex personal relationships. The most complex and mission critical challenge of all, love, can now be designed instead of merely fallen into. Autodesk Love Maker 2011 allow couples to create and maintain a rich 3D digital prototype of their relationship. They can experience their love before it's real and make important changes before anything happens that someone might regret later on. This makes romantic relationships better, faster, and cheaper."

Check it out on ADSK Labs: http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/love_maker/overview/

Futuristic Applications for Today

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:18:00 +0000

Interesting article...We will see how this impacts the building industry, maybe someday we will literally be able to walk through a building before it is built or push our designs to be the best they possibly can be.

1. Augmented Reality and Reality Browsers. You may not be familiar with this phrase, but you’ve already seen this in action on TV and the movies. When you see actors interacting with a virtual computer screen that’s actually an overlay on the space around them; moving files with the swipe of their hand, opening documents in mid air – that’s augmented reality. Augmented reality applications can already be found on mobile phones. The new Android has an application called Layar. Layar is a “reality browser. Users will simply use their phone’s camera feature to point at scenes or objects and the technology will overlay additional information or data on the screen about those objects. For example, say you’re in a new city or town and are looking for a Chinese restaurant, you would point your phone at the street or neighborhood where you are and Layar will tell you what businesses are around you. Think of this application as on-demand Yellow Pages.

How to take advantage: You’ll want to make sure that your business appears accurately on Google Maps. Bryce Sady, a Boston-based healthcare marketer recommended the following: “Enter in the address (not the business name) on maps.google.com and see if it shows up. You can advertise your business for free on Google Maps .When adding the category of business you are in, think about search terms that someone would enter in on their phone or GPS to find a business like yours. Also, be sure and upload an updated photo of the storefront. Prices, hours, credit cards taken are all helpful information for users. If you are listed, you will want to verify the listing, so that it shows up as "owner-verified" in results.”

2. Location-Based Applications: With the widespread incorporation of GPS devices and applications, it’s easier than ever to get real-time information on where your friends are and what’s around you. This trend is related to augmented reality applications because it’s “location-based” technology that is one of the first consumer-accessible ways that we use it. Twitter was a pre-curser to this trend when people were using it to tell their friends where they were and connect in real time. BrightKite was another location-based application that was a little before its time in giving you updates as to where your friends are. The latest in the mix is Foursquare: A location-based service based on your Twitter network with an added layer of social gameplay. Currently Foursquare is gaining traction in big cities.

How to take advantage: You have to be visible, listed and tagged in all the right places, Google Maps and Yelp. Another important way to take advantage of these applications and trends is to build an active community that sincerely promotes your product and talks about it online. If you’re a small business, you must start a customer community program this year. Make it a point to build an accurate customer list that includes e-mails. Create a Facebook Fan page, Twitter, Foursquare, BrightKite and any other location-based application account and offer specials and promotions through those channels to your customers. Also check out: Google Latitude to Loopt and FireEagle,

3. Interactivity and Crowd Sourcing –Wikipedia is a great example of crowd sourcing. But as the trend has become more commonplace, people have come up with increasingly more creative ways to use it. Take Dahlia Lithwick, for example. By day, unassuming Supreme Court reporter, but for her special project, she decided to write her novel (Saving Face) using input from her Facebook Fans. From the other end of the spectrum, budding inventors can use the power of crowds to think up, develop, manufacture and market new products on Quirky. Say that you have a great idea, but don’t have the engineering skill to design it. Submit it to Quirky and engineers will help. The community serves as the market test site and the proceeds from products that actually sell are divided among the community according to their level of input.

How to take advantage: Make it a point to add “interactivity” to your products and services. If you’re thinking about writing a book, involve your audience in the process. If you’re planning on a new product, create a space where customers and users can put their two cents in. Put a crowd sourcing button on your web site from IdeaScale and let your customers tell you what new features to add. Create a Facebook Fan Page or a blog-style web site dedicated to your next new venture and engage your readers in the conversation. Use social media tools like Search.Twitter.com to search on your company name or industry terms to see what people are saying about it in real time in their own words.

4. Real time collaboration –Google Wave is an innovative new way for people to communicate and collaborate. Wave is already being used for projects and collaboration among many small groups and organizations around the world, in large part because of its strength in combining familiar communication platforms. But it’s really no fun or no good if everyone you work with isn’t on the system. Maybe that’s why it’s been so slow to build steam. Because I run so many virtual teams, I think that Google Wave is an amazing way to stay connected, work collaboratively and efficiently with people from all over the world as if they were right next to you.

How to take advantage: Get yourself on Google Wave and get everyone you work with to sign up too. Connect with associates and customers and collaborate on projects in real time.

5. Digital Branding/Real Time Branding: The internet revolution has made it hip to be small. Small businesses can increase their brand equity by becoming ubiquitous participants on social media sites. But there are more opportunities for small businesses who want to build their brand in a more subtle, more cost effective way. Ex-Yahoo Real Estate executive, Arjun Dev Arora used his expertise in real estate to create ReTargeter, a brilliant way to get past visitors BACK to your site. The technology places a little “burr” of code onto your web site – much like the little burrs you might collect on your pants while your hiking. Then once visitors that have been to your site, they collect these digital “burrs” as they wander off to bigger sites like CNN.com, for example. As they wander the web they see a subtle ad for your site on the sites they are visiting (such as CNN.com, that have ad spaces) thereby increasing the perception of your brand and enticing them to return to you.

How to take advantage: Look at digital advertising opportunities. Do your customers have a favorite site in your industry? Offer to sponsor a page or become a regular contributor.

Flight Patterns over a 24 hours period

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:47:00 +0000

HDR Time Lapse...

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:53:00 +0000

I always thought is it possible to do this in Revit or Max?

Twin Peaks San Francisco Sunrise (HDR time-lapse) from Chad Richard on Vimeo.

Internal Discussions

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:12:00 +0000

This is the greatest thing I have seen in quite some time, cheers to whom ever made this.

A Day in the Net

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:24:00 +0000

Bam Bam

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:43:00 +0000

I was thoroughly entertained by whomever composed the counter-point to TheRevitKids post this morning, Barney Rubble you know who you are. And Fred Flintstone adding valuable insight. I must say cheers. (If I had not already mentioned I am blood of 2 Architects) I have been in fact holding a post back simply about the relationship between architects and engineers. Though since all my points have now been exposed here is a link to read them first hand. I must also applaud Jeff for not dismissing these comments but rationally responding.

http://therevitkid.blogspot.com/2009/10/too-expensive.html

Revit 2010 Update 2 build (20090917_1515)

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:54:00 +0000

It is out, with no real improvements. Mostly adding stabability...

Autodesk Revit MEP 2010 Enhancements

Wire length in the Circuit Properties dialog will now display “Not Computed” for the wire length when a panel has not yet been assigned to a circuit.
The calculation of complex space volumes for heating and cooling loads has been improved.
Panel and circuit information can now be displayed in a mechanical equipment schedule.
Improved the ability to swap one type of pipe or duct accessory for another type of pipe or duct accessory.
When use of the Split tool on a duct segment creates a union, the union is no longer automatically deleted when a new duct is connected to the union.
Improvement of a duct segment centerline alignment when rotated in an elevation view.
Windows and doors set as demolished will no longer appear in a gbXml export.
Improved stability when copying elements from one family to another in the Family Editor.
When the Create Similar tool is used for a sloped pipe, the slope is now properly maintained for the new pipe.

Autodesk Revit Platform 2010 Enhancements

Annotation objects no longer disappear when panning a view that spans two monitors.
Improves stability when switching between Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 software and Google Earth™ software.
Improves the modification behavior of hosted sweeps (i.e. gutters) attached to joined roofs.
Improves stability and performance when modifying walls.
Improvements to shared nested families.
Improves stability when modifying masses.
Improves design option rules adherence for walls in different design options and worksets .
Family and type information can now be read in Autodesk® 3ds Max® software from an FBX® file exported from a non-English version of Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010.
Improves stability when adding views to sheets.
Improves stability when making a design option primary.
Improves stability of printing views in wireframe mode.
Shadows will no longer be cropped when a view is printed or exported to a DWF™ file.
Subscription notifications are now available from InfoCenter.
Improves stability when reading IFC files.
Improves stability when opening a project with an inserted TIF image and when importing a TIF image.
ViewCube® navigation tool and the navigation bar will now display correctly after unlocking the computer.
Improves stability when removing panels from the ribbon.
Improves stability when cancelling a move, delete or copy command.
Improves performance of view renaming and the Workset dialog.
Mass floor schedules will now update when a level is renamed.
A form element that has a divided surface applied to it will now be correctly generated after a copy, paste, or move.
Improves stability when exporting to DWG.
Dimension and spot elevation values will now display correctly in a dependent view.

AU cant come soon enough....

Click here to go to the download page

IES

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:28:00 +0000

So IES has released VE 6.0, exciting times...everything is evolving nicely. It even has this new product inside of it called Gaia, what is Gaia you ask? Anyone remember this?

Thats right Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within...They said Gaia was our life energy, or something like that. What Gaia and VE 6.0 have to do with each other is very very cool, it provides a nice way to track analysis and makes reports that are very easy to read and understand for everyone, there are 3 columns one for a picture one for the raw data and one for the explaination. Lets not forget an entirely new UI, which makes things very easy to find and access to more poking around in the dark for the button that you need. I am working on a sample project, stay tuned for updates.

The Workflow Map

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:34:00 +0000

This really does not have to do with BIM or with Tech. But if you are in a rut, trying to get alot done while making the right decisions, these ideas and theories really do help. This image is from David Allens book Making it All Work.

Here is the link to the original image on Flikr: The Workflow Map

The Revit Kid.com!: Mentoring the Future.

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:09:00 +0000

So I must give it to the RevitKid for coming through again, I was just speaking with my boss about this the other day, even though this article speaks about Architects, us engineers are in the same boat. I think one of my mentors said it very eloquently, "Most people your age don't care about learning and only want to do the minimum required of them."

"The Revit Kid.com!: Mentoring the Future.:
"Mentoring Emerging Professionals
Gordon E. Mills

'One of the dilemmas encountered by emerging professionals occurs after they complete their formal education and enter the work force as interns. At issue is the failure experienced by so many to connect with a supervisor and a mentor who can act as guides in their formation as design professionals.

A combination of demographics and a troubled economy make it more important than ever that we solve this problem, both as individual professionals and as firms. Demographic studies suggest that architects will soon retire in greater numbers than new workers entering the profession. And if architecture faces a generation that departs the profession because they cannot find work that enables them to advance their careers, we may see a repeat of the 1990s, when abandonment of the profession was common. Individuals, firms, and clients all suffered and continue to suffer from that loss of a generation.

As an architect who has led a good sized firm and spent recent years engaged in a volunteer capacity with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, I have some thoughts about how we might improve what established professionals can do for the benefit of interns, the firms in which they work, and the clients they serve... Continue Reading...'""

The Coolest Thing Since the Ipod

noreply@blogger.com (Ian McGaw) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:02:00 +0000

You have got to be out of your mind, I want this everywhere from the subway to 7/11

Multitouch Media Application Pro v3.0 from Falcon4ever on Vimeo.