The CAD Masters

Top Civil 3D 2014 New Features

Neil Bondy — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:43:56 +0000

Civil 3D 2013 and Civil 3D 2014 Interoperability

For previous versions of Civil 3D, the dwg file format is year specific. Civil 3D .dwg files opened in a newer version could not be downgraded without losing the modeled data, or using LandXML to translate models. Civil 3D 2013 can open and work with drawings saved in 2014, no save as or export is required. This comes with a few caveats – 2013 cannot edit pressure networks created in 2014, and data shortcuts are static (they don’t update when the referenced file is updated).

Data Reference Caching

Data references other than surfaces are now saved in directly in a drawing file. This can lead to a lot of performance benefits, especially when working with files in remote locations.

Pressure Pipe Networks

Data references are now available for pressure pipe networks. You can use data shortcuts to reference your pressure pipe networks in other drawings. This was an important feature missing from Civil 3D 2013 pressure pipes.

Windows 8 Support

Civil 3D 2014 is supported on 64-bit Windows 8. It is not supported on Windows XP.

Other Changes

See the Autodesk Help Website for a complete list of other Civil 3D 2014 changes.

Top Civil 3D 2014 New Features
©CAD Masters Inc.

Top AutoCAD 2014 New Features

Kyle Kondo — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:59:15 +0000

Here is a list of some of the top AutoCAD 2014 new features in no particular order.

Autodesk ReCap (Reality Capture)

Autodesk ReCap comes with AutoCAD and is used to process point cloud files. Given that laser scanned data is becoming more common, this tool is a great way to work with large data sets and import that data into AutoCAD, as well as other Autodesk software. The main strength of ReCap is the graphics engine and how it is able to smoothly display point clouds with tens of millions of points.

Autodesk 360 – Live Bing Map Data

The Live Maps feature brings in aerial imagery from Bing directly into AutoCAD. Your location can be defined using .kml and .kmz files. Even if your drawing is not georeferenced, you can still use this command. The commands are easy to use and should meet your quick mapping needs. One caveat with this command is that if you need to see the map in paper space, you will need to turn on the GEOMAP on in the viewport. Note that you cannot print or plot the images because it’s against the terms of services (section 3.2 (s)).

Merge Selected Layers

Layer Merge is a great way to remove layers that you cannot purge. It is now available with a nice graphical interface directly from the layer manager.

Xref Upgrades

This new feature makes it easy to switch the path type (Absolute/Relative/No Path) directly with the XRef command. It is also easy to change XREFs from Attach to Overlay directly in the XRef command.

Command Line Search – Auto correct/synonym search

Auto correct is a great tool for searching for commands and variables for when you have forgotten. One of the nicest parts is you can right-click in the command line to easily customize the options in case you do not like specific features related to it.

Windows 8 Support

AutoCAD 2014 is the first official AutoCAD release that supports Windows 8.

Top AutoCAD 2014 New Features
©CAD Masters Inc.

Revit vs. Revit LT

Brian Lee — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:05:57 +0000

Revit comes in five different flavors

Revit (aka: One Box)
Revit Architecture
Revit MEP
Revit Structure
Revit LT

Revit One Box includes all of the components of Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, and Revit Structure. The easiest way to get Revit One Box is to purchase the Autodesk Building Design Suite Premium or Ultimate. If you do not need the MEP or Structural tools, then purchasing Revit Architecture or Revit LT may be acceptable.

Revit Architecture vs. Revit LT

Revit Architecture and Revit LT are very close to each other in functionality, but there are several key areas where the two programs differ.

File Formats – LT Creates Different .RVT Files

Revit LT has its own project file format (.rvt) that is different than the Revit projects created in Revit One Box, Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, or Revit Structure. A project file created in Revit LT must be upgraded if used in the other Revit products.

Opening a Revit LT project in anything other than Revit LT will result in a warning dialog box. Once the file is upgraded to the full version, it can no longer be edited in Revit LT. Note: Project Spark was the old codename of Revit LT.

Revit LT based projects (.RVT) have an “LT” symbol on the preview thumbnails indicating the LT file format.

Once a Revit .RVT project has been modified it can only be linked into Revit LT read-only. You cannot copy elements from any linked Revit projects.

Family files (.rfa) do not have the same restrictions as projects. Most families created in full versions of Revit can be opened and edited in Revit LT except for Mass, Adaptive Component, or Curtain Panel Pattern Based Families.. This means that component modelers can use Revit LT to build families for use in full versions. Revit LT users can also use Revit families available from sources such as seek.autodesk.com.

Custom Modeling – Massing and Forms

Revit LT does not support as many options for modeling irregular geometry. Revit LT does not support massing objects. Revit LT does not support in-place families (families never loaded that only exist in a project). Revit LT will let you create families manually with geometry forms and load them into a project still. This is a suitable work around for custom families with irregular geometry, though you still can’t create families with adaptive points and masses.

Collaboration – No Worksharing.

Since Revit LT is designed to be used on smaller projects, it does not support Worksets and Worksharing. This means only a single person can work on a project at a time. If you require multiple users working on a project simultaneously, then Revit LT will not meet your needs.

Visualization – Find your own render.

Rendering photo-realistic images locally is not available in Revit LT. However, it does support rendering in the cloud with Autodesk 360. As of this writing Autodesk allows unlimited rendering credits, but additional fees may apply in the future. You must be on subscription to use the service.

Civil 3D Compatibility – ADSK Files

Revit LT does not support transferring Revit project data to Civil 3D using ADSK files. This functionality is only available in the other versions of Revit. See here for more information on transferring data to Civil 3D using ADSK files.

IFC Files

Revit LT does not support exporting to the IFC file format. This can prevent you from exporting your Revit project to AutoCAD Architecture or other software packages.

Add On Applications – No Access to the API

Revit LT does not support third party add-on applications. For example, if you wanted to use CMI Tools for Revit, you would not be able to in Revit LT.

Links

This is not a full list of all the differences between Revit and Revit LT. Just a highlight of some of the prominent ones. For more information on the differences between Revit and Revit LT, see the following Autodesk links.

Revit vs. Revit LT
©CAD Masters Inc.

Civil 3D Hydraflow Storm Sewers Import Coordinate Shift

Kyle Kondo — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:53:15 +0000

When working with Civil 3D Hydraflow Storm Sewers, if you export an .stm file from Civil 3D and then subsequently make edits in the .stm file in Hydraflow and save the .stm file, you will find that the coordinates for the pipes and structures have shifted. If working in feet, this shift may be only thousandths of a foot. This can still be a problem since everything in Civil 3D is dynamically connected. For example, this can change how your pipes and structures appear in your profile and section views.

Following is a figure showing the shift in coordinates. On the left is the .stm file exported from Civil 3D. On the right are the coordinates in the .stm file after it has been saved in Hydraflow. Since the coordinates end up different, when working in Hydraflow, it’s a good idea to keep your original Civil 3D exported .stm files separate from the ones saved by Hydraflow.

When importing this .stm file back into Civil 3D and updating your pipe network, you will find that your structure and pipe locations have changed to the values in the .stm file. As a workaround to this problem, we’ve created a utility that will generate an updated .stm file containing the correct coordinates from the original Civil 3D .stm file and the modifications from the Hydraflow .stm file. Note that this application will not work if the number of pipes and structures in the two .stm files do not match.

You can download the application here. This software is provided as-is. Use the following instructions to update the coordinates:

Extract the HydraflowCoordinateFix.exe file and run the program.
Select the Civil 3D .stm with the correct coordinate values (the one not saved by Hydraflow).
Select the Hydraflow .stm file, the one with your changes, but incorrect coordinates.
Select a new file to write to (as long as you don’t choose a file from steps 2 or 3, then it will not modify those files).
Click OK.
Import the new .stm file into Civil 3D. It should apply your Hydraflow updates, but use the correct coordinates.

Civil 3D Hydraflow Storm Sewers Import Coordinate Shift
©CAD Masters Inc.

Federal Transportation Legislation MAP-21

Michelle Self — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:45:36 +0000

I’d like to share with you information I’ve found while researching MAP-21, the new legislation that affects federally funded transportation projects. On October 1, 2012, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, MAP-21, went into effect. It contains funding incentives for States that adopt innovative project delivery methods. From what I’ve read, the incentive can be as large as 5% of the total project cost for using innovative technologies. One qualifying innovative technology is the use of “Advanced Modeling Technology” which is later defined as “including 3-dimensional digital modeling that can:

Sec 1503 (j)
(A) accelerate and improve the environmental review process;
(B) increase effective public participation;
(C) enhance the detail and accuracy of project designs;
(D) increase safety;
(E) accelerate construction, and reduce construction costs; or
(F) otherwise expedite project delivery with respect to transportation projects that receive Federal funding.”

If you’d like more details, there’s a Q&A on the federal website where you can read more. If you venture into the actual text of the legislation, relevant sections include:
Sec 1304: Innovative project delivery methods
Sec 1503: Project Approval and Oversight

The bill, especially those bullets are a perfect match for the Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite products. This will result in federally funded projects looking for engineers and contractors that can fully leverage digital 3-dimensional modeling technology. This means not just Civil 3D and Revit for design, but other programs as well:

Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler (AIM) is gaining ground for preliminary design, planning, and increasing public involvement.
Navisworks is being used more and more for project management and construction coordination in infrastructure.
Map 3D is the perfect tool for collecting and entering data for project lifecycle management.

Many State and local owner/operator projects receive federal funding. This should give you confidence in your investments in Autodesk technology as well as your investments in staff training. Even though this legislation currently only affects transportation projects, in the future water and other utilities are next in line from what I’ve been hearing.

Federal Transportation Legislation MAP-21
©CAD Masters Inc.

Creating Custom AutoCAD Linetypes

Maribel Pabalan — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:41:48 +0000

As one of the instructors here at CAD Masters, I’d have to say one of my favorite topics to teach is creating custom AutoCAD linetypes. While not too difficult, it tends to be a task many users choose to leave to their company’s CAD manager. If, in the event that you know exactly what linetypes you would like to create yourself, use either of the two methods below to do so.

Adding to the Existing acad.lin File

The first method consists of adding the definition of your custom linetype to your acad.lin file. To find the location of this file, at the command line, type (findfile “acad.lin“). The acad.lin file is where the definitions of many of the default linetypes reside. Let’s take a look at one of the existing definitions to see how they work.
*BORDER,Border __ __ . __ __ . __ __ . __ __ . __ __ . A,.5,-.25,.5,-.25,0,-.25
Every linetype definition consists of two lines of text. The first line consists of a standard asterisk, the linetype name, and a description including a text preview of the linetype. The second line is where it starts to get tricky. First we have a standard letter A to specify the alignment type (always A in AutoCAD linetypes), then a series of values to define the actual pattern. Positive values represent a line of that length, negative values represent a space of that length, and zeroes represent periods. Below you can see how these values relate to the actual linetype.Linetypes with text become a bit more complicated by including a portion specific to the text in brackets. This bracket portion defines the linetype text, text style, text size, rotation angle, horizontal offset, and vertical offset.
*HOT_WATER_SUPPLY,Hot water supply ---- HW ---- HW ---- HW ---- A,.5,-.2,["HW",STANDARD,S=.1,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.2
The most difficult part about this is determining the horizontal and vertical offsets, but even those are not too hard to figure out by experimenting and giving your linetype a few test runs. Choose a text style that exists in all of your drawings, such as the Standard text style. Make sure the text height for that style is set to 0 in the drawing so that the text height is controlled by the height setting in the linetype (s=.1) and the LTSCALE, rather than a static value.

At the bottom of the acad.lin file is space to add your own custom linetype. Compose your own, and save the file. If done correctly, you should now be able to load this file using the LINETYPE command. Load your new custom linetype, and you’re done!

Custom AutoCAD Linetypes with Express Tools

The second method of linetype creation doesn’t require you to create your own linetype definition in the acad.lin file, but does require AutoCAD Express Tools to be installed. On the Express Tools tab of the Ribbon, expand the Tools panel to find the Make Linetype and Make Shape buttons.

The advantage to using the Express Tools method is that it allows you to easily create shapes and incorporate these into your linetypes. Draft your shape, and then use the Make Shape tool to create a .shp file for it. Use the SHAPE command to insert your shape into your drawing, and draft the pattern of your linetype.Now, use the Make Linetype tool to create your linetype based on this pattern. It will prompt you for a location for the new .lin file and the linetype’s name and description. When it asks for the starting and ending points for the line definition, specify the region that will be repeating throughout the linetype.Select the objects that compose your linetype, and ta da! You have your own custom linetype incorporating a custom shape.In order for linetypes using shapes to work properly, both the .lin and .shp need to be in a Support File Search Path, such as the location of your acad.lin file.

Creating Custom AutoCAD Linetypes
©CAD Masters Inc.

Revit Render Colors Faded – Mental Ray – Gamma Correction

Ken Ho — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:31:58 +0000

If you have tried rendering in Revit, you may find that the materials have colors that look faded or washed out when rendering. This is because Revit does not apply any gamma correction. While there are settings to apply gamma correction in 3DS Max, this option does not exist in Revit. Fortunately, it is possible to preprocess the material image files manually to account for this.

Gamma Correction

Images are typically encoded with a gamma setting of 2.2, as are the materials in the Autodesk Materials Library. To counteract this, reduce the gamma to the inverse value, approximately 0.45. This can be done with image editing software such as Photoshop.

By default, the images for the material library are installed in the following location:64-Bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Materials\Textures 32-Bit Windows: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Materials\Textures

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

If you do not have any image editing software, try GIMP which is a free Photoshop alternative that easily lets you modify the gamma level of an image file. To adjust the gamma level in GIMP 2.8, on the Colors menu, click Levels. In the Levels window, under Input Levels, set the gamma to 0.45 and click OK.

Applying the Material in Revit

To apply the gamma adjusted material in Revit, in the Ribbon, on the Manage tab click Materials. Select your Material, and click Appearance. For the Image, select your gamma corrected image file. Now when rendering, the appearance of the material will be closer to that of the original.

AutoCAD, Revit and Microsoft RDP 8.0 (Remote Desktop Protocol)

Kyle Kondo — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:48:17 +0000

Microsoft’s RDP 8.0 protocol for Remote Desktop was first released with Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. Fortunately, it can also be installed on Windows 7 SP1 workstations. Installing this update can make using AutoCAD and Revit smoother when working through Remote Desktop.

One of the biggest improvements to RDP 8.0 is that it can now send UDP packets along with TCP. UDP, as opposed to TCP does not require handshakes between the two computers but instead sends the data one-way. For example, streaming video is typically sent via UDP packets since it’s a one-way broadcast. Similarly, a lot of data sent through Remote Desktop can be interpreted as one-way. The fact that Microsoft now separates out the type of data that it sends with Remote Desktop makes it easier to work with CAD software remotely.

Installation

Following are the installation instructions to set up RDP 8.0 on your Windows 7 SP1 computers. These updates must both be installed on both the client computer used to connect, and the host computer with AutoCAD or Revit installed. You can safely ignore the first restart after the first package. Just make sure to restart after the second update package.

Install Support for DTLS from Microsoft
1. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2574819
Install the RDP 8.0 Protocol
1. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2592687

Settings

On the computer that is acting as the host, use the following steps to enable RDP 8.0. This is the same set of steps in KB2592687 rewritten:

Click Start, type gpedit.msc, press the Enter key.
In the Local Group Policy Editor, browse to the following:
1. Local Computer Policy->Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Windows Components->Remote Desktop Service->Remote Desktop Session Host->Connections
2. Right-Click Select RDP transport protocols and click Edit.
3. In the Select RDP transport protocols window, select Enabled.
4. For the Transport Type, select Use both UDP and TCP.
5. Click OK.
In the Local Group Policy Editor, browse to the following:
1. Local Computer Policy->Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Windows Components->Remote Desktop Service->Remote Desktop Session Host->Remote Session Environment
2. Right-Click Enable Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 and click Edit.
3. In the Enable Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 window, select Enabled.
4. Click OK.
Restart the computer.

Performance with AutoCAD

One of the largest complaints when trying to use AutoCAD over Remote Desktop would be when selecting large objects such as external references, blocks, or hatches. This typically results in a long delay as you are forced to wait for the display to refresh. The performance of selecting a large surface in Civil 3D and then panning is greatly enhanced with RDP 8.0. The only downside to using RDP 8.0 and UDP packets with AutoCAD is that there seems to be a slight input delay between the mouse and crosshairs. This delay is very slight and varies depending on connection strength.

Performance with Revit

Traditionally Performance in Revit with Remote Desktop works better than AutoCAD. The issue with selecting large objects and waiting for the display to refresh is not as prominent with Revit. One of the largest performance gains when enabling RDP 8.0 and UDP packets is that you’ll find that navigating in 3D is much smoother. As with AutoCAD, depending on your connection strength, there may also be a slight input delay. Despite this, given the importance of the 3D model in Revit, it is worth installing the RDP 8.0 protocol.

Recommendation

If you use any graphically intensive software through Remote Desktop, it would be in your best interest to install the update and enable UDP as described. You will find that your experience of working with drafting and modeling software such as AutoCAD and Revit through Remote Desktop much more seamless than before.

Troubleshooting – User Account is not Authorized for Remote Login

Users may encounter authorization issues when logging in to an RDP 8.0 host for the first time. If this is the case, try to log in to the machine directly. If it is not possible to log in to the physical computer directly, use another workstation with an RDP version prior to version 8.0, such as a Windows XP workstation to log in. Another way we found to log in was by using a phone RDP client. Once logged in, use the following instructions to fix the problem.

Click Start, type compmgmt.msc then press the Enter key.
In the Computer Management window, expand System Tools, expand Local Users and Groups, select Groups.
Double-click on the Remote Desktop Users group.
In the Remote Desktop Users Properties window, on the General tab, click Add.
In the Select Users, Computers, Service Accounts, or Groups window, for the object names to select, enter your User Name.
Click Check Names.
Click OK to close the the Select Users, Computers, Service Accounts, or Groups window.
Click OK to close the Remote Desktop User Properties Window.
Log off and the try to log in using the RDP 8.0 client.

AutoCAD Map 2013 Service Pack 1 and the Communication Center

Kyle Kondo — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 17:37:34 +0000

AutoCAD Map 2013 Service Pack 1 was recently released. It’s not available through the support.autodesk.com website yet, but is available through the Communication Center in AutoCAD.

The Communication Center does not automatically update your AutoCAD software, but provides a method to alert you when an update is available and give you a somewhat seamless path to get the upgrade.

Use the following steps to upgrade your version of AutoCAD:

Make sure you are logged on as a local Administrator on your computer. Watch for the product update notification in the Communication Center in the upper right corner of AutoCAD and click the Product Update button, .

This should open up your default web browser. If you are using Internet Explorer, click on the yellow bar at the top and click Allow Blocked Content.

The website will then update to show you the following.After reviewing the Readme, click Update and Internet Explorer should begin downloading and installing the update.

If you do not manually close AutoCAD, you will get a warning telling you the program will need to be closed before proceeding. Despite the fact that this window says it will close AutoCAD automatically and reopen it, it’s best to manually close AutoCAD yourself at this time before you click OK to continue.

Once the process is finished, you should be able to open up AutoCAD and run the ABOUT command. In the upper left corner, it should show you that Service Pack 1 has been installed.If using this version for production work, we would recommended you wait approximately two weeks after the service pack has been released before installing to ensure there are not any problems.

Autodesk University 2012 – Cloud Control

John Catoline — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:00:54 +0000

Fall is upon us and for those in the CAD world that means Autodesk University is approaching. AU is by far the biggest and most popular even that Autodesk has to offer. It brings Autodesk, Vendors, Partners, and Customers together in a free for all learning environment. A networking nexus of designers, dreamers, and technology pushers… Game players and changers all under one roof – in Vegas, no less. What I always enjoy about AU is the how the technology is shown being used for practical purposes; how powerful design software performs, and is changing the construction landscape. Plus you do get to partake in the beer bust.

The theme this year, if there is one significant emphasis, is the “Cloud.” Autodesk calls it Autodesk 360 and they have been rapidly developing it over the last 2 years, building on the continuing acceptance of BIM design. The cloud, formerly known to the CRM crowd as SaaS (Software as a Service) has advanced Autodesk’s underlying business strategy over the years. They have seen plenty of success in their mobile applications with Sketchbook Pro and AutoCAD WS and are expanding Autodesk 360 to give access to analytical tools, including energy analysis, simulation, and collaboration. BIM in the Cloud takes our everyday CAD experience to the next level. AU 2012 will exhibit these opportunities in a multitude of ways, through software, educational, and practical paradigms.

The other transformation to note with Autodesk is the “consolidation” of software into industry-specific Design Suites. These suites host up to a dozen individual software products at a fraction of the cost. Along with this, among the products in the suites interoperability has increased dramatically. They cover the wide swath of software needed for the entire process of a project; from conceptual design, to engineering, to construction workflows. This confluence of product lines is no mere coincidence, but a step in the process to give access to all tools for all people. Autodesk CEO, Carl Bass, called this the “democratization of design” through collaboration, coordination, and communication. In other words, there is no box. Will it play out in the real world? AU 2012 will make the case.

This year is as important as ever to attend. So after you fill up on turkey, get your fill of CAD, Clouds, and Candy at AU 2012 from November 27 -29, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. See you there…

Save up to $500 on Early Bird rates for AU Las Vegas 2012 before October 15.