Category: Uncategorized

Grouping sheets by Revision in Project Browser

Luke Johnson

I had a bit of a problem using Revit OOTB (out of the box) parameters to group sheets by Revision, so I did it super-quickly using a custom parameter.

Here are the steps:

  1. Add a new custom parameter to sheets, such as ‘Sheet Revision Group’ or similar.
  2. Open a schedule that shows the Revision you would like to group, and add this parameter to the schedule.
  3. Modify the custom parameter on all the sheets to match the Revision (you can do this quickly by toggling the ‘Itemize each instance’ tick box).
  4. Now you can easily use this parameter to group your sheets by the Revision.

Please note that this technique forms a ‘break’ between Revit native revision data and the custom parameter, so only use this technique if you understand this issue.

I have provided a quick video of the technique:

Fast searching for local Revit content using Free indexing tools

Luke Johnson

If you are searching for Revit files on your local hard drive, try using the search tool Everything – its super fast.  If you want to index local network shares, and you are:

using a 32-bit OS – you can use Windows Search and the Add-in for Files on Microsoft Networks.

using a 64-bit OS – you can use Google Desktop (Search), and then add the local shares as additional paths.

If you are using Google Desktop, you can also improve the indexing of CAD files by installing the ‘General CADD Pro’ indexer:
After installing Desktop Search, download, unzip the zip file and run SetupGeneralCADDIndexer.msi to install the General CADD Desktop Search Plug-In.
click this link  

From http://www.generalcadd.com/plugin-1.htm

These tools can help you if you want quick access to the families in your library, but your folder organisation leaves something to be desired…

Remove Stored username and password on Windows Vista

Luke Johnson

I have been experiencing some Event 1030 errors, and the ‘Details’ tab in the Event Viewer shows the following:

ErrorDescription Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password.           following asf

To correct this, I have tried removing the stored usernames and passwords (on Windows Vista), using this technique:

  • Type Control keymgr.dll and hit ENTER
  • The Window Stored Usernames and Passwords opens, this is we’re you can edit, backup or remove them easily.

This information was found at:
http://www.techmixer.com/remove-stored-username-and-password-on-windows-vista/

Smoother multitasking while Rendering in Revit

Luke Johnson

Revit 2011 (Mental Ray) utilises all available CPU cores that the OS can ‘see.’  When multitasking, your PC may slow to a crawl after a render begins.  You can limit the amount of CPU time that the Render process sees by either:

  1. Adjusting the ‘Affinity’ to limit the amount of cores the render process can access (using Task Manager).
  2. Adjusting the ‘Priority’ to Low to allow other processes to have more overall CPU time.

Simply open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and then right-click on the render process (fbxooprender2.exe).  You can now adjust the Affinity and Priority.

Video below:

Dimond Architects Blog: Sustainable Cities Event 2010 – Singapore

Luke Johnson

“Dimond Architects has been able to recently put forward a proposal for a prototype version of the design for Taiwan (to later be incorporated into Eco-City projects in mainland China).”

Read the rest of the post – link below:
Dimond Architects Blog: Sustainable Cities Event 2010 – Singapore: “For hundreds of thousands of years man fought to make a place for himself in nature. For the first time in the history of our species, the s…”

 

Cuttable vs Non-cuttable families

Luke Johnson

You want to know which families are cuttable and which are not.  Revit 2011 help gives the answer:

Cuttable families (link):
Casework
Ceilings
Columns
Curtain Wall Panels
Doors
Floors
Generic Models
Roofs
Site
Structural Columns
Structural Foundations
Structural Framing
Topography
Walls
Windows

Non-cuttable families (link):
Balusters
Detail Items
Electrical Equipment
Electrical Fixtures
Entourage
Furniture
Furniture Systems
Lighting Fixtures
Mechanical Equipment
Parking
Planting
Plumbing Fixtures
Specialty Equipment

What is a cuttable family?

If a family is cuttable, the family displays as cut when the cut plane of a view intersects that family in all types of views.  From Revit 2011 help.