CAD Shack
Orient to View
Working in 3D can be e real challenge at times when you are used to only worrying about 2 dimensions. One tool I have found to be very handy is the ability to orient a 3D view of a multiple story building to show just one floor at a time.
To do this go to the View menu and select Orient and then To Other View.This will bring up a dialog that allows you to select the floor you want to view.
After you pick the floor, it will look like you have a plan view. Orbit your model to reveal your single 3D floor for coordination.
To do this go to the View menu and select Orient and then To Other View.This will bring up a dialog that allows you to select the floor you want to view.
After you pick the floor, it will look like you have a plan view. Orbit your model to reveal your single 3D floor for coordination.
Spacebar Short Cuts in Revit MEP
Sometimes you just stumble on things. One of the designers in my office told me if you type the letter C and hit the spacebar Revit will go into the copy command, just like in Autocad.
I thought she was lying, but it worked. I tried other letters and here is what I found.
A - Array
C - Copy
D - Door
E - Edit Requests
F - Flex Duct
G - Create Group
O - Offset
P - Pin
R - Reload Latest
S - Shade
T - Thick/Thin Lines
V - View Properties
W - Wall
Z - Zoom Window
These are based off the text file "KeyboardShortcuts.txt" found in the Program folder under Program Files. Because I don't use some of these at all, and I wanted to know if I could change them, I dug a little deeper.
I thought she was lying, but it worked. I tried other letters and here is what I found.
A - Array
C - Copy
D - Door
E - Edit Requests
F - Flex Duct
G - Create Group
O - Offset
P - Pin
R - Reload Latest
S - Shade
T - Thick/Thin Lines
V - View Properties
W - Wall
Z - Zoom Window
These are based off the text file "KeyboardShortcuts.txt" found in the Program folder under Program Files. Because I don't use some of these at all, and I wanted to know if I could change them, I dug a little deeper.
In the example above I edited KeyboardShortcuts.txt and changed the shortcut for delete to just E. Because the first short cut (alpha-numerically) is the default that spacebar will fire, E will now delete selected elements when I hit spacebar. Save this text file and restart Revit to load the changes.
Now go crazy. I bet there are a lot of old AutoCAD commands that will make sense in Revit. It helps when you switch between the programs, and it makes some people more comfortable and fast.
It's a good thing.
Revit MEP HVAC Plans Ceiling Plan or Floor Plan?
If you are using Revit MEP, you might be thinking about your HVAC plans and wondering should you use a floor plan (which looks down and excludes the ceiling grid) or a Ceiling plan (which looks up and seems to invert which duct is actually on top when duct cross).
Here is what I have come up with so far.
I use both.
I model in the ceiling plan view because I need the ceiling grid to place my diffusers and miss the lights fixtures. Then I annotate in the floor plan view which I place on the sheet. There I have the correct orientation of duct.
I never print the ceiling grid. This comes from having AutoCAD drawings in which my ceiling grid and the architects often were different. I guess that is not such a problem with Revit, but I have become accustom to not printing it. In AutoCAD I would make it no plot, so I can reference it. Modeling in the ceiling plan view handles that.
Every firm is different, but this way is an idea. Post a comment to let me know what you do.
Here is what I have come up with so far.
I use both.
I model in the ceiling plan view because I need the ceiling grid to place my diffusers and miss the lights fixtures. Then I annotate in the floor plan view which I place on the sheet. There I have the correct orientation of duct.
I never print the ceiling grid. This comes from having AutoCAD drawings in which my ceiling grid and the architects often were different. I guess that is not such a problem with Revit, but I have become accustom to not printing it. In AutoCAD I would make it no plot, so I can reference it. Modeling in the ceiling plan view handles that.
Every firm is different, but this way is an idea. Post a comment to let me know what you do.
MEP Analysis Extension for AutoCAD MEP and Revit MEP
Kyle B. just announced on the duiscussion groups a newly available Autodesk LABS extension. The MEP Analysis Extension contains 25 HVAC utilities for sizing duct work, sizing piping, sizing HVAC equipment, calculating cooling and heating loads for commercial and residential buildings, calculating psychrometric properties of air, performing U-Value calculations, sizing electrical wire, and much more, all in the name of saving energy and the environment.
Available as a Technology Preview feature, the Extension is programmed to expire within 30 days of installation.
Autodesk is looking for feedback to help them make better products.
The technology preview will run through October 31, 2008.
Available as a Technology Preview feature, the Extension is programmed to expire within 30 days of installation.
Autodesk is looking for feedback to help them make better products.
The technology preview will run through October 31, 2008.
Revit MEP 2009 Web Update
I guess this happened earlier, but I thought I would pass it on. Down load here.
Here what it does from the read me.
? Improves performance when modifying customer visibility settings for linked files, when many volumes
exist that are bound by the linked file.
? Improves stability when exporting complex views to AutoCAD DWG format, when the hidden lines in
those views have a large gap width.
? United Kingdom content is now included in the English installer.
? Improves stability when editing a family in the System Editor.
? Improves stability when upgrading previous release files that contain certain schedule configurations.
? IES light fixture information exported to the IES now contains correct direction
information.
? Improves performance when opening views with multiple unconnected systems.
? 1 and 2 pole panels can now be assigned to 3 Phase Distribution Systems.
? Wires in a view no longer impact the display of color fills.
? Wires are no longer trimmed according to the extents of the light source geometry.
? Light fixture preview images do not include the light source geometry.
? Improves the plotting consistency of certain components that are placed over hatched elements in
coordination and architectural discipline views.
? Improves consistency of panel schedule column sizes when panel name is changed.
? Duct and pipe accessories can now change types without disconnecting from duct and pipe segments.
? Rooms will now export Revit internal parameters for IFC.
? When rendering, the progress bar reports correct percent complete.
? “Intensity” on Decal Types dialog was changed to “Brightness” to match Help documentation.
? Spot elevation with Display Elevation = Top & Bottom Elevation will now report the correct bottom
elevation for sloped elements.
? In plan view with medium or fine detail level, spot elevations now report the correct top or bottom
elevation of a beam that is joined to a column.
? Improves stability when changing the visibility of a link in a view template.
? “Downlight – Spot” light family no longer has duplicate Tilt Angle parameter.
? Lights that were in a light group that was deleted are no longer controlled by the deleted light group;
instead they are controlled by the Ungrouped Lights status.
? Improves the ability to enter custom DPI value in the Render dialog.
? Improves stability when exporting to CAD formats.
? Improves stability when closing SteeringWheels.
? Improves stability when adding elements to a group.
? Families that contain arrayed voids will now function properly in the project.
? Improves stability for users with non-English operating systems when using the Open/Save dialog.
? Notes created in Revit for a DWF markup object will now propagate to the DWF after selecting publish.
? Enabling daylight portals will now affect the rendered appearance.
? Spotting on interior renderings with many internal light sources no longer occurs.
? Improves appearance of decals using cut-outs.
? Corrects “Unable to Start” error when starting the application.
? Model lines now remain in the correct design option when split.
? For sweeps on an arc wall, you now have the option to change sweep returns.
Revit® MEP 2009 Web Update Enhancement List
2
? Improves the fidelity of printing and exporting of hidden lines shown in structural and MEP views.
Autodesk Acquires Green Building Studio
Well, I didn't see this coming, but what do I know? Autodesk has acquired Green Building Studio. Check out the official press release here.
I'm going to start something Green for Autodesk to buy.
I'm going to start something Green for Autodesk to buy.