Category: Uncategorized

Properties Palette craziness – solution

Luke Johnson

After a few emails back and forth to a very helpful person at Autodesk, I finally tried putting both the Properties Palette and the Project Browser onto the ONE MONITOR – and the problem disappeared! You can do this by ‘double clicking’ on the top bar of the Properties Palette and Project Browser – this moves them into the default position.

Image of problem fixed (notice that ‘common’ appears in the dropdown list):
So, this isn’t strictly a ‘solution’, as I prefer to work with two monitors. But it will do for now.

Properties Palette on second monitor (problem):

Project Browser on second monitor (problem):
Has this happened to you? Feel free to comment.

Unpredictable Properties Box Behaviour

Luke Johnson

If you select multiple views in the Project Browser in Revit 2011, how would you modify their common properties?

If you attempt to directly modify them in the open Properties palette, they are not modified. In fact, the only thing that is modified is the ‘active’ view – not the ones you have selected in the Project Browser.

The even weirder part is that the Properties palette shows a mixture of properties from the selected views in the Project Browsers AND the active view (which is not selected). Scary!

This is a dangerous little workflow anomaly. Keep it in mind until the Factory fixes this up.

Revit 2011 Secret #11 – Customize QAT

Luke Johnson

Wow, Revit is starting to finally allow some actual customization of the User Interface!

If you intend to use the Quick Access Toolbar a lot, have a look at the new things you can do – such as sorting the icons…


Put your most used shortcuts to the far right of the QAT – this is closer to the centre of the drawing window.


As with 2010, you can move the QAT below the Ribbon if you like.

I fear the day that the Revit UI adopts a tool like the CUI manager from AutoCAD. Keep it simple!

2011 Media vs Download – Box of Goodies

Luke Johnson

I received our DVD media for Revit 2011 today – and man, what a box of goodies! Here is a list of the discs in the box:

  • Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011
  • AutoCAD 2011 32-bit (Disc 1 of 2)
  • AutoCAD 2011 64-bit (Disc 1 of 2)
  • AutoCAD 2011 32-bit and 64-bit (Disc 2 of 2)
  • AutoCAD Architecture 2011 64-bit
  • AutoCAD Architecture 2011 32-bit

The interesting difference between the download page and the DVD media is that the media includes a set of Vanilla AutoCAD discs, whereas the download page ONLY allows you me to download AutoCAD Architecture. (And yes, I know that you can run AutoCAD Architecture as Vanilla AutoCAD with a shortcut.)

But if you chose not to receive your media, it seems you are going to miss out on a purely AutoCAD-only install option.

SuperTip #3 – Keyboard Shortcuts

Luke Johnson
The best way to become faster at using Revit is to trigger more commands with the keyboard. This is a trick that anyone using AutoCAD learned years ago. You can just hit a few keys much faster than you can find a little button with your mouse. Plus, you don’t have to wait for the interface to catch up with (yes, I’m talking to you, Mr. Ribbon!)

Over the past few years, I have put together a pretty comprehensive and fast set of Revit keyboard shortcuts. As I am right-handed and will generally have my right hand on the mouse, these shortcuts are set up around the fact that my left hand will be sitting around ASDF on the keyboard. Most of them are based on two-character shortcuts, and they generally reflect the first letters of the command they are triggering.

Some of them are a throwback to the old AutoCAD days (you will know them when you use them 🙂

So, here is my gift to all of you:

Keep in mind that you can check the Keyboard Shorcut of a command simply by holding your mouse over the button of that command. The Tooltip will show the Keyboard Command.

If you have any other tips about Keyboard Shortcuts, please comment here.

In other news, now you can follow us on Twitter.

Dimond Architects – Affordable Accommodation Proposal

Luke Johnson

At Dimond Architects, we recently responded to an interesting client brief.

The Client was seeking a scheme that retained existing trees, provided affordable housing and was highly rated in terms of energy efficiency.


Our design essentially achieved these aims. We were sensitive to the significant existing trees on the site, and a vegetation buffer was maintained along 3 sides of the lot. The overall impact of the provision of carparks was minimised.


Given the need for affordable housing in Australia, and indeed in many parts of the world, we feel that our experience in combining affordability with energy efficiency and environmental sensitivity will be of great benefit to future Clients.

The Dimond Architects team has a combined focus for 2010 on professional development in the area of sustainability. We aim as a team to further build upon our green credentials which will affirm our profile as an environmentally focused architectural practice. These goals are exemplified by our membership to the Green Building Council of Australia and our Director’s Professional Development commitments impacting the whole team.

Feel free to contact us:
Dimond Architects Pty Ltd
Unit 2 Ground Floor
13 Carnaby Street
Maroochydore Qld 4558
Australia PO Box 980
Buderim Qld 4556
Australia Ph: (07) 5451 0988
Fax: (07) 5443 6866 Email: info@dimondarchitects.com.au

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