What Revit Wants

Autodesk Exchange now with Revit Apps!

2012-01-31T11:41:00.000+10:00

Go to http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/ and click Autodesk Revit on the drop-down list. A number of free add-ins are already available.

Autodesk Exchange has been active for AutoCAD for a while now, but it looks like this will become a somewhat 'official' delivery method for add-ins in the future (think Autodesk Seek for add-ins...)

Direct link:

Autodesk Exchange for Revit

Autodesk ceases Windows Vista support for new products

2012-01-31T08:55:00.000+10:00

Beginning January 1, 2012, Autodesk will have formally ceased support of the Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System for all new (and upgraded versions) of its products and services released in 2012.
Currently shipping versions and previous versions of our software (delivered prior to January 1, 2012) will continue to be supported on this operating system.

via
Autodesk - Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Vista Compatibility - Microsoft Windows Vista Support FAQ

Pretty funny that XP is still supported... that OS has some legs!

Open Source Dynamo plug-in for Vasari meets Autodesk Labs

2012-01-30T14:31:00.000+10:00

Just in case you missed this - Autodesk has picked up the previous work of Mr Keough on Dynamo and provided a Labs plugin for Vasari!

Dynamo for Vasari
Build parametric functionality on top of Vasari with a graphical user interface. Autodesk has extended the open source effort of Ian Keough by adding some additional nodes and packaging it in an installer for Vasari to make it easier to get up and running. The download also includes some sample workflows.
// Download
// Wiki help

via
Two New Free Addins available for Project Vasari - It is Alive in the Lab

More from Wiki help below:
Autodesk has extended the open source effort by adding some additional nodes and packaged it in an installer for Vasari to make it easier to get up and running. We have also provided some sample workflows which you can find below...

Installation

Download the zip file from the Labs site.
Run Vasari_2-1_WIP_Dynamo_Add-In.exe
Keep the option to also install Vasari_2-1_WIP_Solar_Radiation_Add-In.exe
Launch Project Vasari

Getting Started

Launch Dynamo.
Click Add-Ins tab>Visual Programming panel>Dynamo.
Follow the sample workflows below for instructions on use.

Revit Hardware

2012-01-30T12:18:00.000+10:00

Alexander Vysotsky makes the following recommendation:

CPU - i7 second-generation
Memory - 8 or 16 GB of DDR3
Video - NVidia Quadro, more accessible - GeForce (Budget)
Hard Disk Drive - solid-state, more available - WD Raptor
Screen - 1 or 2 display with a resolution FullHD (1920 x 1080), 22 inches

via
Google Translate
of
Заметки о Revit и том, что с ним связано: Конфигурация компьютера для работы в Revit

For further information, check out my previous posts:
Xeon vs Custom Built

The CPU to beat (December 2011)

Hardware priorities for Revit

Computer configurator for Revit

Revit benchmark

Forum links (2009)

Google Earth 6.2 new rendering method is smoother - better background images for Revit?

2012-01-27T08:58:00.000+10:00

Google Earth 6.2 features a new way of rendering all those mosaic pics of satellite and aerial photographs, smoothing out the borders between them so the globe looks even more like our beautiful blue planet.
That smooth beauty is not just visible from a distance, either — as you zoom in, the seamless look continues, all the way down to the closest views.
...
If you haven’t used Google Earth in a while, download Google Earth 6.2 and look at how much better it’s become.

via
Google Earth 6.2 Is a Massive Improvement, Shows Smooth Blue Planet [PICS]

Find and view selected objects in 3D camera views using the Viewcube

2012-01-25T16:30:00.000+10:00

To lock to the current selection

Right-click the ViewCube and click Lock to Selection. If Lock to Selection is checked when a view orientation change occurs, the ViewCube uses the selected objects to calculate the center of the view and zooms to the extents of the selected objects. When the option is unchecked, the ViewCube uses the selected objects to calculate the center of the view and zooms to the extents of the model.

To examine an individual object with the ViewCube

In the model, select one or more objects to define the center point of the view.
Click one of the preset locations on the ViewCube, or click and drag the ViewCube to reorient the view of the model. The ViewCube reorients the view of the model based on the center point of the selected objects.

via
Wikihelp

Real-time visualization with Lumion

2012-01-25T16:08:00.000+10:00

I have previously posted about the future of real-time visualization tools. Lumion appears to be developing a bit of a following. Have you used it? How did you implement it?

If you haven't seen what it does before, there is a set of videos at this link:
Revit Landscape - Urban Design: Lumion 3D

Promo video:

If you want to see a project go from Revit to Lumion (also this thread):

A free version for non-commercial use is available from this page. The free version will apparently be updated to version 2 in January 2012 (only a few days of that month to go...)

The company line:
Lumion® is a real-time 3D visualization tool for architects, urban planners and designers.
It’s perfectly suited for creating videos, still renderings and live demonstrations with a quick turnaround.
Lumion offers excellent graphics in combination with a fast and efficient workflow, saving you time, effort and money.
It is in fact so easy to create awesome still renderings and videos with Lumion® that it almost feels like cheating.

Scripts and plug-in for Grasshopper from The Proving Ground

2012-01-23T16:57:00.000+10:00

Nathan Miller of The Proving Ground says:

"As a key component of this, I have added a lot of content to my program lab. The page includes a growing collection of scripts. My focus right now is on documenting code for RhinoCommon and Grasshopper that I think may be useful in scripting workshops. Processing and Revit code is also sprinkled throughout.

I am also releasing The Proving Ground plug-in for Grasshopper."

via
The Proving Ground by Nathan Miller: The Proving Ground Wiki and Program Lab

ANZRS version 3 just released - download links

2012-01-23T12:35:00.000+10:00

For more detail on the changes since Version 2, please refer to the ANZRS v3 Change Log. Download

Download ANZRS version 3.

Overclock your video card - but stop if you smell something burning

2012-01-20T11:16:00.000+10:00

In the past, overclocking your graphics was risky, difficult, and yet at the same time it could be very beneficial. These days, it is easier to do, but video cards are often cheaper and some people may ask 'is overclocking really worth it?'

In any case, if you are interested in giving it a go, the new overclocking utility of choice is MSI Afterburner.

Obviously, you use this utility at your own risk...

MSI Afterburner

Platform: Windows
Price: Free
Download Page

Features:

Change your core clock, shader clock, memory clock and fan speed using simple sliders
Works on nearly any video card, not just MSI-manufactured cards
Turn on voltage tuning for super high overclocks
Built-in access to MSI’s Kombustor benchmarking tool
Monitor your clocks, voltage, fan speeds, frame rate and more from the app’s drawer or from an on screen display during games
Save your settings to five different profiles for quick loading
Take screenshots and capture videos from your games with hotkeys
Fine tune the automatic fan control so you stay at the temperatures you want
Multiple different skins for changing the interface
Start with Windows or apply settings at boot, so your card is always overclocked

via
App Directory: The Best Video Card Overclocking App For Windows | Lifehacker Australia

Make Windows Explorer Left Sidebar Expand As You Navigate Through Folders

2012-01-20T11:08:00.000+10:00

In Windows 7, by default, Explorer’s sidebar stays the same size unless you click within it. That is, if you use the right pane to navigate through folders, as most of us do, the left sidebar doesn’t change. With a simple tweak, though, you can have the left sidebar focus on your current folder in the tree as you click around the right pane. To enable this feature:

Open up Explorer and go to Organize > Folder and Search Options.
On the General tab, look under “Navigation Pane” and check “Automatically expand to current folder”.

via
Make Windows Explorer’s Sidebar Expand As You Navigate Through Folders | Lifehacker Australia

The Revit Community

2012-01-20T08:51:00.000+10:00

It can be really had to keep up with all of the Twitter and blog data that is generated every day on the topic of Revit. However, if you have the time to skim through the main Revit blogs and tweets, you will likely find something that will increase your productivity.

In the interest of sharing, here are a few links that may help you get started -

My blog reading list:
Google Reader link here or site link here

Another blog list:
Revit OpEd: Blog Listing - Revit Focus

Revit chat (IRC site open to guests):
http://revittotd.com/chat

Revit content:
Crowd sourced content list

Architecture magazines - full issues for download

2012-01-20T08:40:00.000+10:00

Old school: Arts and Architecture

Other:
Dwell magazine back issues

Also old school:
New Zealand Design Review

Press and Drag = 0

2012-01-19T14:27:00.001+10:00

A few years ago, Phil launched his anti Ribbon campaign with a T-shirt (anyone remember Use2009UI=1)?

In response to this post and various recent tweets, I thought some of you might appreciate an anti Press and Drag shirt.

Click here to buy a Press and Drag shirt

http://www.cafepress.com/whatrevitwants

Autodesk Student Version Download Center

2012-01-18T13:29:00.000+10:00

Here is a link:
Download Center

How to fix broken Russian Type Catalogs

2012-01-18T13:25:00.001+10:00

There have been a few posts recently about how to fix Type Catalog errors. If you use Russian Revit (particularly Web Update 2), the following fix will be useful (the key part is changing the file encoding to Unicode):

We find the folder for Russia, such as doors, inside we see two types of files *. RFA and *. TXT First, the actual file of the family, the second directory sizes. Here is a directory and have a problem! Open the text file the appropriate "problem" families, with - Notepad:

Without changing anything, just save the file as ... and change only the encoding to Unicode.
Resave the file over an existing one.
Before opening the file, do not forget to remove the check mark in the properties file read-only

via Translated version of

Borissofff: Cервис-пак для Revit 2012 (WU 2) и ошибка кодировки

Some Photoshop Tips for enhancing Architectural Photographs

2012-01-18T09:14:00.000+10:00

I'm sure many of you are very experienced Photoshop users, so I won't bore you with too much detail. There are just two things I wanted to mention:

If you have a photo that was taken in less-than-perfect light, try the Image - Adjustments - Shadow/Highlight tool. Some experimentation with this adjustment can yield very good results.
One principle of Architectural Photography is that of Straight Verticals. If you have an image that has warped verticals due to perspective, you can use the Filter - Distort - Lens Correction tool in Photoshop.

Here is an example:

Original Photograph

Adjusted Shadow / Highlight and Lens Correction

For more photography and composition principles, check out AB4061 Is That a Photograph? Architectural Photography for 3D Rendering.

Create a multiboot USB pen drive inside Windows with YUMI

2012-01-16T10:24:00.000+10:00

YUMI-0.0.4.0.exeSource Code

How to Create a MultiBoot USB Flash Drive

Run* YUMI-0.0.4.0.exe following the onscreen instructions
Run the tool again to Add More ISOs/Distributions to your Drive
Restart your PC setting it to boot from the USB device
Select a distribution to Boot from the Menu and enjoy!

via
YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux

New Revit Forum - in German

2012-01-13T14:11:00.000+10:00

Here is a link:
http://forum.rug-dach.de/

Translated to English

If you want to quickly search the major Revit forums, feel free to use my custom search tool.

Revit Accuracy and Precision

2012-01-13T11:05:00.000+10:00

Do you ever struggle with lines jumping around at extreme zoom levels, or weird numbers appearing when you are using many decimal points in your dimensions (like 1000.0000034)? This may be why:

Revit uses double precision numbers for all calculations (as do all CAD systems), and they are only good to around 14 or 15 digits.
http://forums.augi.com/showpost.php?p=134341&postcount=4

(the above post was by irwin, Revit Founder)

And:

Other programs allow more decimal digits but they do try to fake (unsuccessfully) more precision than they can really provide.
http://forums.augi.com/showpost.php?p=134356&postcount=5

Clean up your DWGs before Linking them

2012-01-13T09:07:00.000+10:00

Great list of tips on cleaning up DWG files, including how to PURGE REGAPPS. Read more at:
The CAD Setter Out

Interestingly, one of the most important BIMandments, according to Twitter, is to never import a DWG file.

This post gives a kind of list of best to worst practice:
What Revit Wants: DWG Import and Link Methods

TinyTask - ultra lightweight macro recording tool

2012-01-11T16:41:00.000+10:00

This little utility is VERY basic. It can basically can record mouse movement and clicks, and keyboard input. You can record a task, save it to a file, open an existing recording, and play. There are some basic options to do with 'Play Speed' and number of repeats.

Download link

It can even save your recorded macro as an EXE file - however:
There are pros and cons in saving the macro in .rec file or compiling it to an .exe file. Once compiled into an EXE file, you can run the macro without TinyTask. However, the play speed and repeat count/continuous playback option are hardcoded during compilation and can no longer be changed. If you save it into a .rec file, it requires TinyTask to run but you can set the play speed and repeat count/continuous playback.

For more detailed information, check out this post:
TinyTask: Small and Lightweight Automation Software | Raymond.CC Blog

Image via Raymond.CC Blog

A feel good Twitter story

2012-01-11T16:32:00.000+10:00

Do you ever have trouble installing Revit?

DavidJnrAdjei David Jnr Adjei

#Revit 2012 does not want to install on my PC. It never completes, Help? #Architecture

8 Jan

lukeyjohnson Luke Johnson

@DavidJnrAdjei Use Process Explorer and kill any msiexec that keeps thrashing the CPU high .. after this installation should continue #revit

9 Jan

DavidJnrAdjei David Jnr Adjei

@lukeyjohnson Luke that worked perfectly, finally can get some work done. Thanks for your help

5 hours ago

@lukeyjohnson Luke Johnson
@

@DavidJnrAdjei Glad I could help! Have fun with it. #revit

8 minutes ago

How to easily make an RSS feed from a Twitter search

2012-01-11T09:17:00.001+10:00

Simply replace the following bolded text with whatever you desire:

Hashtag search:
http://search.twitter.com/search.atom?q=%23YourSearch

User mention search:
http://search.twitter.com/search.atom?q=%40UserName

Keyword search:
http://search.twitter.com/search.atom?q=Your+Keywords

These actual links can be used in most RSS readers.

Read more and via:
Creating a Twitter Search, Hashtag, User, Favorites or List RSS Feed � Learning LibTech

BIMandments on Twitter

2012-01-10T16:15:00.002+10:00

An interesting discussion is starting on Twitter in relation to key principles or rules when using BIM and particularly Revit. Check it out:
BIMandments

This word is a mashup of 'commandments' and BIM (obviously). Feel free to add your thoughts by adding #BIMandments to your tweets.

via
Twitter / Search - BIMandments