Elevation Marker Showing on Level Above

An Elevation Mark will show up in every Level that is shown in the Elevation View. You need to be careful of this because it may not be your intention to show the Elevation Mark (Bubble) in every view. The image below is showing an interior elevation on the right which includes just a small sliver of the Level above (Level 2) which means that the Elevation Mark is showing on Level 1 AND Level 2. Should the Elevation Crop Region have to cross the Cut Line instead of the Level to display? I think so.

Lights in GWB Ceiling not working

Seems that the default GWB Ceiling is not allowing lights to be copied or arrayed (unless you use the Radial Array). It gives the old 'Can't place inserts outside of hosts. These elements won't be copied.' message. It's weird because when you turn the ceiling into an ACT type, the lights can be copied and arrayed fine. After this you can turn the ceiling back into a GWB and there is no error message.

Visibility Options THE LIST

How many ways are there to display or not display stuff in Revit? Lots. Let's review a few and then discuss Parts Visibility.

Here's a list to get us started:

Visibility Graphics
Worksets
Filters
Mass Object Visibility
Temporary Hide/Isolate
Phases
Design Options
View Range
Discipline
Scope Box
Crop Region
Depth Clipping

And then there is Parts Visibility. You can divide a wall up into Parts for various reasons and then depending on the 'Parts Visibility' setting you see the original geometry or the parts. Here a picture of it...

Here's more to add to this (posted here by Dave Jones):

Checklist: 33 steps to being able to 'find stuff'
Check to see if:
1. The object or category is temporarily hidden
2. The object or category is hidden in the view
3. The object is being obscured by another element
4. The object's category or subcategory is hidden in the view
5. The object is outside the view's view range
6. The view's far clip depth is not sufficient to show the object
7. The object resides on a work set that is not loaded within the project
8. The object resides on a work set that is not visible in the view
9. The object resides on a work set that is not loaded in a linked file
10. The object resides on a work set that is not visible in a linked file
11. The object resides within a group (detail model) and it has been excluded from the group
12. The object is part of a design option that is not visible in the view
13. The object is part of a linked file that is not visible in the view
14. The object has one or more of its edges overridden to display as ''
15. The object is a family and none of its geometry is set to be visible in the view type
16. The object is a family and none of its geometry is set to be visible at the view's detail level
17. The object is set to not be visible at the category's detail level
18. The element has been placed outside the view's crop region (visible extents)
19. The element is an annotation object and does not reside entirely within the annotation crop region
20. The object's phase settings or the view's phase settings prevent the object from displaying in the view
21. The view's discipline is prohibiting the visibility of the object
22. The object is affected by a filter applied to the view
23. The object is subject to an element override, set to background color
24. The object is subject to a category override, set to background color
25. The object style is set to background color
26. The object is constrained to a scope boxes that is not visible in the view
27. The extents of the object itself don't permit it to be seen
28. The object is a mass, and 'Show Mass' is turned off
29. The object's host view has been deleted (area boundaries)
30. The view's scale is prohibiting the object's visibility
31. The object is a linked instance with coordinates too great for Revit to handle
32. The user has incorrectly identified the link instance to which the element belongs
33. The object is in a link that is not in its correct position
34. Wall is subsumed by automatically-embedded curtain wall
35. Something is really far away from the middle of the project and when the view is zoomed to fit, everything disappears
36. Element is white and its edges coincide with other objects. E.g., GWB ceiling in RCP.
38 check your crop regions extents, chances are that a very small portion of the object is outside your Plan Region and causing the whole element to not show up.

Navisworks: Unhide before Clash Detective

A common workflow in Navisworks is to use 'Find Items' to make 'Search Sets' of similar items. Often, people will use 'Hide Unselected' to confirm that 'Find Items' worked. Problem is, the 'Clash Detective' will only find clashes in visible objects. To fix this, make sure that you toggle the 'Hide Unselected' button so that the entire model is showing before running 'Clash Detective'.

Autodesk should modernize the 'Find Items' tool to be more 'Google-Like' as well as more visual.

Revit Architecture 2013 Bundle Released!

Join me on this 18 hour journey of a Revit project. We will start with client sketches and a blank screen and then move right on to explore schematic forms, coordinate with consultants and produce construction documents. Along the way we use industry-tested Revit best practices to develop our design. Since collaboration is key to the BIM process, we will use worksharing for internal collaboration and file linking for external collaboration. You will not only learn to use Revit, you will understand the workflow and actually have fun on the way!

orug: ORUG Meeting Oct.11th

orug: ORUG Meeting Oct.11th:        ...

Bolt Hole Family in Columns

How do I add bolt holes to columns and beams as pictured above?
1. Make a family using the Generic Model-Face Based template.
2. Make Reference Planes and Parameters as needed.
3. Extrude the voids into the host and then use the cut geometry tool to cut the voids out of the host.

Reference Tags for Renderings

I've always been annoyed that there is no tag for camera views. That fact remains but there is technique that can help. It's referencing a saved rendering view through an Elevation Tag. Here's how to do it...

Elevation Tag
Options Bar-check Reference other View
Choose a saved Rendering View

Make sure to choose Reference Other View before clicking in the drawing area...

Then click...the Elevation marker will show...

When you double left click on the Elevation View you will be taken to the Rendering view

Revit Architecture 2013 Fundamentals Video Released

I'm pleased to announce my latest video for learning Revit Architecture 2013 Fundamentals. A real wall was built in the making of this video. If you hear a distant high pitched giggling, that's just my toddler sending joyful sound waves (and the occasional sippycup) though the new insulated office wall. As with all of my videos we focus on one project from start to finish with no 'off-camera magic'. Everything I do, you will do. You'll start with a basic sketch as illustrated below and end up with a set of documents including lots of colour renderings, plans, sections and details. Hope you enjoy and your feedback is always appreciated.

Revit 2013 NWC Exporter not Installing

Thanks to Dwayne Lindsey for this post. It's a little old but still applies when a Navisworks NWC Exporter is not installed by default.
http://navis-infocenter.blogspot.ca/2009/07/navisworks-exporters-not-installing.html

Italian Revit Architecture

Nice to see how Revit is being used around the world. A brand new edition of Revit Architecture 2013 guide has just been published. Even if you don't speak italian, the sample files may be worth a look. I will be doing a review in upcoming weeks. The full name is "Revit Architecture 2013 - La grande guida" published by Mondadori. Some of its main features of the book are:

- 380 pages with beautiful examples of italian architecture
- 600+ images
- 450MB examples and exercises

Books can be found on every online bookstore or ordered directly by sending an email request to: 4mshop@4mgroup.it

Caution: Filled Regions Move with Datums

Filled Regions move with Datums. If you were to draw a Filled Region at a Grid or Level, it will be locked to that Level and move with it. Detail Components and Detail Lines do not move with Datums so this can be a little unexpected and strange. 

Workaround: Group your Filled Regions and they will no longer move with Datums. It's a good idea to group 2D items anyway.

Why We Need to Collaborate

orug: ORUG Meeting April 26th

orug: ORUG Meeting April 26th: New Season; New Ideas. ORUG's Spring Meeting is April 26th ...

Dangers of Importing CAD into Revit

Importing and Linking CAD should be avoided. But why? And if it is unavoidable, how can I do it safely?
Here are some answers:

Potential Issus with Importing/Linking dwg (CAD) files into Revit

• Corrupt dwg
• Large file size and extraneous information
• Linked CAD can become unlinked but will still display. This can cause confusion as to what the latest file is.
• Possibility of someone exploding, causing up to 10,000 extra elements.
• Many AutoCAD layers and linetypes are brought in after an explode
• Size of CAD needs to be under 20miles in diameter. There can be items which are not part of the primary drawing that are very far away from 0.
• Visual clutter
• dwg files from programs like AutoCAD Architecture and Civil 3D may need special plugins to see all of the data.

More Issues...

What Can be Done

In AutoCAD:
Wblock only necessary information
Purge
Audit

In Revit:
Always link, don't import
Current View Only (for 2D dwgs)
Detailed explanation here for Survey drawings

Importing  and Linking CAD Best Practices part 1
Importing  and Linking CAD Best Practices part 2

Imported 3D AutoCAD not Sectioning

Canadian Consulting Engineer BIM Article

Here's an article that Bill Wright (Revit MEP Implementation Specialist) and I recently co-authored for Canadian Consulting Engineer, February 2012 Issue page.26.

True Tales of BIM
Consultants share their insights into what it takes to successfully implement building information modeling. As it turns out, managing and understanding people is as important as being familiar with the actual technology...

Revit Structure 2012 Intermediate Training Videos Released

Introducing video training for Revit Structure 2012 Intermediate. This 7.5hr course completes the workflow of a project focusing on industry best practices along the way. Picking up where the fundamental course left off, this course covers intermediate and advanced topics like Phasing, Families and Collaboration. Watch some free sample videos here. The Revit Structure Bundle contains 14 hours of project specific training.

Video: Splitting Columns

Here is a video showing the workarounds for splitting columns.
The workarounds demonstrated are changing Vertical Columns to Slanted and/or using the Coordination Monitor.

Video: How to Fillet in Revit

Back in 2006 I did a simple post on how to Fillet. Now we have a video...

I can trim, offset and align but where's fillet?


Fillet is used with a 'draw' tool like line or wall. Here's how to put a radius on the corner of walls;
Start the wall tool and choose fillet arc from the dropdown list.
Pick the two corner walls and draw a preliminary arc.
Pick the arc and adjust the radius by typing the number in the dimension.

Revit Fill Patterns (Hatch Patterns): Part 1

Revit Hatch Patterns: Part 1

Hatch patterns in Revit are referred to as 'Fill Patterns'.
When applied to a Revit material they can be either 'Surface Patterns' or 'Cut Patterns'.
Surface Patterns: Fill Patterns on an element in projection.
Cut Patterns: Fill Patterns on an element when cut.

Revit further divides them into 'Model' and 'Drafting'.
Model: Is always real world size (for instance 8"x4"x2.5"). Useful for measuring brick coursing.
Drafting: Is always a printed size (for instance measured off the sheet as 1/16"). Useful for representing diagonal masonry hatch no matter the scale.

Fill Patterns start life as a .pat file. The same file used in AutoCAD and other programs for hatches.
Here's a site with some free .pat files. As an example, you could download the Brickpat.zip file. This contains a bunch of sample brick hatches in .pat form. Take a look at the thirdrun.pat. These .pat files can be opened and edited in Notepad. Here's an AutoCAD dwg file made by Chirag Mistry which explains how to write and edit a .pat file for Revit. Most .pat files are 'Drafting' patterns according to Revit. In order to make them 'Model' patterns you need to add ";%TYPE=MODEL" to the second line of the pat file (without the quotations). You can do that to the thirdrun.pat file.

Once your .pat file is ready you can import it into Revit. This can be done under Manage-Additional Settings-Fill Patterns. You can then choose 'Drafting' or 'Model'.

Here are the steps for importing a .pat file:
Model
New
Custom
Import
Choose the .pat file. (thirdrun.pat)
Scale (this can only be changed on import)

You can also make simple crosshatch patterns within Revit (no need for a .pat file) . Just follow these steps:

Manage-Additional Settings-Fill Patterns. You can then choose 'Drafting' or 'Model'. 
Drafting or Model
New
Simple
Name
Line Angle
Line Spacing
Parallel Lines or Crosshatch

These Fill Patterns can now be applied to Filled Regions and Revit Materials.

Please read this AUGI thread for additional reference:
http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=57164

BIM & BEAM: Autodesk ForceEffect Version 2.0 Now Available!

BIM & BEAM: Autodesk ForceEffect Version 2.0 Now Available!
Autodesk ForceEffect is a free app available for Apple iPad and iPhone from the iTunes App Store that allows engineers including structural engineers to model and simulate concepts.

Revit 2012 Hangs at Splash Screen or Crashes with Unrecoverable Error - The Revit Clinic

Revit 2012 Hangs at Splash Screen or Crashes with Unrecoverable Error - The Revit Clinic

AutoCAD in Plain English: Getting License on Same Computer as LMTools

AutoCAD in Plain English: Getting License on Same Computer as LMTools: This may help you to get a license if your AutoCAD (or Revit) is on the same machine as your LMTools. C:/ Window/System32/driver/etc/hosts(open with ...

Video: Object Visibility Using Detail Level and Subcategories Between Views

In this video we will be learning how to control the visibility of a drop panel between views. We will be exploring  Detail Level control as well as Subcategories.

View Filter Walls by Function

I've noticed some Revit users making Worksets in order to manage visibility. While this can be done it's not really necessary or advisable. Worksets can create more work for the user if they are used like layers in AutoCAD. One such example I've seen is a Workset for interior and exterior walls. View filters can be used to filter walls based upon the 'function' parameter in the wall's Type Properties. Walls Types can be defined as Interior, Exterior etc. Then you can make a View Filter based upon the wall's function which is selected automatically.

How to make a View Filter:

Visibility/Graphics
Filters
Edit/New
New Filter, call it 'Interior Walls'
Select 'Walls' as the Category
Filter by: Function
Equals: Interior
OK
Add-Interior Walls
Turn on/off the visibility or override the graphics