Autodesk Support Answers on youtube

When a client calls me up with a support question and I can't seem to find the solution I contact Autodesk Support. Now Autodesk has two youtube channels dedicated to MEP support.

On the AutoCAD MEP and Revit MEP support side at Autodesk I often speak with two individuals to find the solutions to our clients problems. The two MEP support specialists at Autodesk have launched two channels on youtube called SupportAcadMEP and SupportRevitMEP

At those channels you will find answers to questions that had been asked through Autodesk Support. Check them out you will find the videos very informative and helpful.

Don't forget to signup for a youtube account and subscribe to those channels and the many more channels offered by Autodesk on youtube.

enjoy!

William Wright
Application Consultant

Schedule Parameters from a Nested Family

So you have a family let's say a "Toilet". This toilet is working great in your project you can schedule all the parameters that belong too it, but one thing is missing. The "Flush Handle" of the toilet just wont schedule any of the parameters why is that?

Well if this is you then we have the solution, certain families at times you might want to have nested into another. Example would be two separate families the "Toilet" and the "Flush Handle". The Flush Handle is nested into the Toilet family so they load together in my Revit project.

However in order to have a nested family schedule you need to open the nested family "Flush Handle" select Family Categories and Parameters and make sure Shared is checked in the dialog box under Family Parameters (see photo)

hope this helps Enjoy!

Revit Content Keeps Coming

I was searching the net today and came across some companies that have launched more Revit Content. This content is more on the Architectural side and these companies are well known in the industry and have had content out on the past. Here is the breakdown

KONE - Provides solutions for the installation and maintenance of elevators, escalators & automatic doors.

• With the EcoSpace Toolbox, you can obtain 3D models and Specifications for the EcoSpace Elevator Product you selected based on your specs.
• after selecting and working through the configurator on the webpage click Draw 3D Revit Model
• Now the KONE's configurator will take some time and generate a Revit RFA file that you can now place into your model

Sto Corp - Sto is the world leader in cladding, coating and restoration systems.

• Sto has an Architectural Toolbox this configurator will generate wall types for Revit
• After selecting your options Bldg Type, Wall Structure, System Type & Product Series you are then presented a screen to download the Revit RVT File, download the Spec or Brochure on that Wall Type
• I have tested this and it works nicely.

Jeld Wen - Windows & Doors

• Jeld Wens Architectural Toolbox works much the same as above
• Able to generate Revit Content and Specs from it.

Pella - Windows and Doors

• Pella has a simple Architectural Toolbox you maybe asked to input an email address to view the Revit Content.
• Able to generate Revit content for the product line.

Oh and don't forget to check out CADdetails BIM 3D Design Content for even more manufacturers content.

The companies stated above do not just have Revit content, other content may include sketchup files, dwg files and vectorworks etc. My post is related to Revit.

I completely understand that some of this might not be new, but what I have discovered when speaking with clients is they have issues finding the content when going to the manufacturers website and that could be because a 3rd party company is providing the service / configurator.

I have tried to combine some of the latest I have found and will continue to add as the weeks go by. I hope I helped some people.

Enjoy!

Revit 2010 Switching to classic UI

I was browsing the Autodesk knowledge base and came across the link for switching your Revit 2010 software (Arch, Structure, MEP) user interface from the Ribbon to the 2009 and previous classic user interface.

Click on the following link Switching to pre-2010, Classic user interface

enjoy!

Solar Radiation Technology add on

Latest from Autodesk Labs is an add-on for Revit MEP and Revit Architecture called Solar Radiation Technology Preview. Use the Solar Radiation Technology Preview to analyze the effects of solar radiation on various surfaces of your conceptual building model.

You can find links to a video and read me files on using the add on in the link above. Be sure to have Revit Update #1 for 2010 installed before using this add on.

Revit MEP 2010 Update #1

Old news but good news, I just wanted to make the post link for the latest build for Revit MEP 2010 called Update #1. You can download the build from here Revit MEP 2010 Update #1. Remember that when an update comes out for one version of Revit, example Revit MEP, that same day a the same build will come out for Revit Architecture and Revit Structure.

When collaborating on a project coordinate and discuss with the other disciplines to stay on the same year and build number.

AUGI AEC Edge

AUGI has developed a downloadable mahazine called AUGI AEC Edge. This is an exciting new print and digital publication designed to enable architects, engineers, designers, and builders using Autodesk AEC products to be more productive, better informed and help keep them at the top of their game.

Link can be found here AUGI AEC Edge definately worth the read. I believe the magazine is out quarterly right now starting with this issue.

Control Linked Model Halftone

In my line of work I have clients asking me the question. “How can I control the line weights of an architects model that has been linked into my Revit MEP as a background.

So what has happened is when using Revit MEP, the workflow is to link in the Architects Revit model into your project. When you create views under any other MEP discipline the Architects model (background) is automatically grayed out and the line weights are control by the software. This is a hard coded feature inside of Revit MEP 2009 and previous releases.

Some clients felt that the view was way to light and had troubles viewing the background when the view was printed. In Revit MEP 2009 and previous releases you had to change your MEP views to a different discipline either to Coordination or Architectural and then control the linked model components individually using object styles. This can be a pain especially when you are trying to use the software to its fullest and utilize MEP disciplines to clean up the project browser.

In Revit MEP 2010 the display of the background is still the same hardcoded however Autodesk has created a new setting under Manage > Settings called Halftone / Underlay that will allow you to modify the linked background line weights within a few clicks of the mouse. See screenshots below.

Image 1: As you can see the image to the right shows that I have my 1 – Mech view under Mechanical discipline and HVAC Sub-Discipline.

Image 2: Shows the Architectural background as Revit MEPs default hard coded line weights.

Image 3: In Revit MEP 2010 with your view open that you wish to make the underlay change to click on Manage then click on Settings and activate the Halftone / Underlay tool.

Image 4: With the Halftone / Underlay box open you are able to control the underlay line weight by clicking on the No Override fly out and changing the Weight to a different line weight. Make sure you uncheck Apply Halftone box for this override to work.

Image 5: Or you can click on the reset button and control the halftone of the underlay as indicated in this photos.

This has been a long post, but I hope that the post has helped many of you with your underlay line weight issues. Again assuming you have upgraded to Revit MEP 2010.

Revit MEP Manufactured Content

Revit MEP users have been waiting for a long time ever since the inception of Revit Building Systems now called Revit MEP for Manufactured Specific Content.

Well wait no longer as more and more manufacturers on the mechanical side are creating content for Revit MEP. I have compiled a list of the ones I know of. If you know of more please let me know and I will add them as well. Be careful when using manufacturer content, as some content may be bloated and slow down your model. It is difficult to know who actually build the families for these manufacturers.

Below click on the manufacturer and you will be taken to the Revit content page. Some of the sites require you to create a login.

McQuay International

Trane

Loren Cook

GreenHeck

Price

Titus

York

Ruskin

A.O. Smith

I hope I have been able to help some Revit MEP users with these links. My posts have been far and few between lately, however I will post topics as I find them interesting enough to share.

Autodesk MyFeedback Portal and Forums Closing May 30th 2009

This is a link to another blog post on the subject "Autodesk MyFeedback Portal and Forums Closing May 30th 2009". Visit Shaan Hurley's blog to find out more information regarding the closing of Autodesk's MyFeedback Portal and the new site that Autodesk will be launching in replace of MyFeedback Portal.