AutoCAD WS for iPhone, iPad, iPod

Autodesk launched today on the app store AutoCAD WS for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. This mobile app enables you to view and work with AutoCAD drawings on your iOS devices. Here is a link AutoCAD WS. Youtube Video here

Features include:

• Open DWG drawings uploaded to your free* AutoCAD WS online workspace
• See all aspects of your DWG file, including external references, layers, and image underlays
• Use Multi-Touch zoom and pan to more easily navigate very large drawings
• Tap objects to select, then move, rotate, and scale
• Draw or edit shapes with accuracy using Snap and Ortho modes
• Add and edit text annotations directly on your device; no need for paper mark-ups
• Validate distance measurements in the drawing while you are onsite at the actual location
• Save your edits to your AutoCAD WS online workspace, so your drawings stay up to date
• Share designs with others directly from your device
• Work with other people on the same DWG file simultaneously
• View edits to drawings in real time: AutoCAD WS immediately captures changes made by you and others in your online workspace.

Subscription Advantage Packs 2011 Released

Autodesk has just released this year’s Subscription Advantage Pack for all Autodesk’s 2011  Products.

Clients with subscriptions that are still active can log into Subscription Center to download the subscription packs and other Autodesk product enhancements and get early access to the latest software technology. I have also provided a link to Videos you can download that show off the Subscription Advantage Packs. Advantage Pack 2011 Videos

Product Releases with Subscription Packs are below with links to the pack itself. please note you need log in to access the links: Don’t forget if your not on Subscription speak with your local reseller.

Revit Architecture 2011
Revit MEP 2011
Revit Structure 2011
AutoCAD 2011
Navisworks 2011
AutoCAD Architecture 2011
AutoCAD MEP 2011
Inventor 2011
AutoCAD Mechanical 2011
AutoCAD Electrical 2011
3ds Max 2011
Maya 2011
MotionBuilder 2011
Mudbox 2011

If you are unsure how to access Subscription Center you can view several PDF guides that are an invaluable self-help support resource for using and managing your Autodesk Subscription Service. Guides Here

Revit 2011 Product Update #2

Autodesk has released web update #2 for Revit MEP, Revit Structure, and Revit Architecture. You can find more information on the download pages below.

Revit MEP 2011

Revit Architecture 2011

Revit Structure 2011

Enjoy!

Purge Unused - Revit

I have created a short video on how to use the Purge function in Revit. I demonstrate using Revit MEP software, the same method can be used with any of the Revit products. I also talk about file size and how you can reduce it not just by purging elements in your project but also by saving your project using the compact file option when saving.

You can approach purging unused elements in many different ways, my recommendation is not to purge all the time. Purging can be a time consuming depending on what elements you are looking to purge. Revit by default looks at your project and any objects not in use get a checkbox next to them to be purged. This can be beneficial and not beneficial, I explain in the video, reason it’s great would be I can purge all items at one time. I would only recommend if sending to a consultant or archiving that project.

If you still plan on working with this project you are better off making sure all boxes are unchecked and picking particular items manually that you wish to purge. This gives you control so that you are not accidentally purging text styles, dim styles, section markers, pipe types, duct types etc that you have not used in your project. Think about it the same way as AutoCAD, if you purge specific items and you need them back you will have to either re-import them or create those styles. Costing you time and money.

Also you have to take your template file size into account, remember if you put every family in your template and the template is let’s say 15mb. Your project when started will be 15mb. Try not to put to much into your template, if you want specific families you use on every project in then please add them but you might want to purge certain Types of that family so not all are in the model. My recommendation for template size would be 7 to 15mb, our here are around 8mb.

Lastly the compact file option when saving I show at the end of the video, will and could drastically reduce the file size. On this small project you will see the file size reduce in my opinion a great amount. In a past project I had it was 150mb I then purged the project went down to 115mb I then used the compact option and reduced file further to 90mb. about a 40% size change.

Here is the link to my YouTube video. Purge Unused Elements using Revit

Enjoy!!

Creating Custom Diffuser Tag

We all know that not all out of the box Revit MEP content meets our company standards, and often that is the result when we are talking about the diffuser tag in RMEP.

I have created a short video on how you can modify the OOTB diffuser tag to pull the neck size and type mark parameters from the diffuser itself.

The finished tag will look like this:

Here is the link to my youtube video. Creating Custom Diffuser Tag

enjoy!!