Month: February 2013

Could your current success soon be obsolete?

Luke Johnson

Autodesk certainly faces the Innovators Dilemma – particularly with regard to cloud technology (think of them supporting VEO while building 360).  Phil Read includes the following footnote on page 16 of his AB2340 handout:

*  Clayton Christensen refers to this as the “Innovators Dilemma”: Internal competition that cannibalizes existing, successful processes are discouraged. Apple is one of the few businesses that will actively cannibalize successful products. The philosophy is that since their competition is trying to do this, the best way to compete is to do it better. Be the best in the world at making successful products obsolete.

PDF Download: http://tinyurl.com/bsoyp2l 

via http://www.architecture-tech.com/

And yes, its was difficult for me to post something that puts Apple in a positive light 🙂

Live 3D views with Photo as Background (render not required)

Luke Johnson

Here’s one that has been sitting in my draft posts for a while…

Basically, its an example of what you can do by overlaying views on Sheets.  In this case, I have used a Drafting View with an imported Image, as a background to a 3D Camera View.  As this was an alteration job on an existing dwelling, I was able to essentially ‘line up’ my Revit Camera with the physical camera location.  After a bit of tweaking, I had basically matched the Camera to the Photo.

Then, its simply a matter of putting the 3D View on top of the Drafting View on a Sheet.

Now you have a photo background to a live 3D view – you don’t have to re-render to see the changes to your building.  You can use various visual styles like Shaded or even Realistic.  I hope some of you find this technique useful!

James Hardie Revit 2013 content downloads

Luke Johnson

Direct links:
James Hardie Revit curtain wall files 2013.zip
James Hardie Revit basic wall files 2013.zip
JH_Product_Profiles_Archive.zip (CAD DWGs)

(you *may* have to use Firefox with Downthemall to properly download from these links)

To recursively extract all of the DWGs from the last link, use the method described here.

via ACCEL HARDICONTENT | JAMES HARDIE

Using Consistent Workset names to control Linked Model Visibility Graphics

Luke Johnson

Nice idea from bim42:
Each trade model contain a limited amount of worksets, each draftsman working on his own linked model, so I was able to create the same worksets in my compiled model.
Worksets in the Coordination Model
These worksets can now be used to create filters containing every element of the specified trade.

via
Revit linked models visibility | BIM 42

Deleting SLOG file to fix "Central Model cannot be found"

Luke Johnson

From rvit:
We got everyone else to sync and get out of the model.  Then, in the central file’s backup folder, we hunted down the SLOG file… and deleted it.
And that works.  He opens his local file and all is right in the world.  Everyone else hops in and all is still well.  Revit generates a new SLOG file and people can get work done.

Read the rest (including disclaimers) at:
SLOG it Out – Cannot Find Central File � RVIT – Revit rants, tips, and junk

Note: you should be able to find the slog file under the _backup folder of the affected Central (order by Date modified):

Tagging Architectural Columns

Luke Johnson

Steve posted a few interesting things about Tags recently, including:
These categories are immune to Rotate with Component:
Foundations, Floors, Ceilings, Roofs, Furniture, Furniture Systems, Casework, Generic Models, Structural Columns, Detail Components, Massing, Mass Floors, Curtain Panels, and Specialty Equipment.
and
Architectural Columns, Shaft Openings remain immune to tagging at all.

Now, in the first instance, this proves again why some holistic Category Definition document is urgently needed.  I have called for this a few times before, but I haven’t seen one yet.  In relation to Steve’s post, the Category Definition document would have to further describe how the Tags of each Category operate…

Secondly, I’m assuming that Steve means you can’t Tag by Category on Architectural Columns.  Because you can use a Multi-Category Tag on Architectural Columns without any issue.  Obviously, this is an annoyance.  A couple of ideas on how to get around this:

  1. Don’t use Architectural Columns, use Structural Columns instead (these can be tagged by category).  In a BIM silo, you shouldn’t have a problem…
  2. Nest a shared Architectural Column into a Generic Model family and constrain to suit.  Link some parameters through if you want.  Now you can tag the Generic Model, while the Architectural Column will still Schedule and it will even automatically join with adjacent / touching walls.  You will obviously lose some abilities native to Architectural Columns, like Attach / Detach.
  3. Use Multi-Category Tags on your Architectural Columns
  4. Use Structural Columns instead 🙂

Read more:
Revit OpEd: Rotate with Component

Free Basic Revit Course by AlexVysotskiy – 39 videos, 3 hour

Luke Johnson

I have reposted Alex Vysotskiy before.  He recently uploaded a large set of Youtube videos, including a Basic Course and a course on the Family Editor.  See playlists below:

Embedded playlist – Basic Revit Training:

Embedded playlist – Family Editor:

Read the main post on his blog:
Revit and its friends: Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013: Basic (free video on-line training)

Heads-up:
http://twitter.com/REVIZTO/statuses/301073717075783680

Small firms can do BIM too, but be realistic about it – 7 quick quotes

Luke Johnson

The task of adopting BIM can be very daunting for a small firm.
…
there will likely be negative consequences for not doing it.
…
the technology is evolving to have a democratizing effect on the design industry
…
There is no set guide on how to implement BIM.
…
There is no single tool that can handle all aspects of BIM
…
New team members who know current tools but don’t know much about design and construction can be a good compliment to a staff that knows how to design and build but doesn’t know the latest BIM tools.
…
If you are looking for a clear road map of how to deliver a BIM project, you won’t find it.

Read the full article by Kris Weeks at:
Braving the New World of BIM

Generic Annotation as Keynotes

Luke Johnson

BIM Aficionado posted a while back about using Generic Annotations and Note Blocks as a workaround for genuine Keynoting.  I have posted about similar things before, although I am more proud of my Keynote Legend workflow.

In any case, he provides a full guide along with example files at this link:
https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B_caWTSMFC8cZC1TSXRoUTdRVjItTWVsSGpXdGdPQQ/edit

Pretty interesting method, with the Excel CSV / Family Types too.

Read more / via:
BIM Aficionado: Generic Annotation Keynotes