Category: Uncategorized

Point Cloud Extension coming for 3dsMax 2014

Luke Johnson

“new ability to import and visualize massive datasets captured from reality as point clouds. If you are a modeler, you can view point clouds in true color in the 3ds Max viewport, interactively adjust the extent of the cloud displayed, and create new geometry in context by snapping to point cloud vertices.”

Coming 30 September 2013

Read more:

Code Calcs is back, and its working on 2013 and 2014. Do you like saving time?

Luke Johnson

There is a difference between BIM and automation.  Using Revit for BIM isn’t automatic – you need skills, time and effort to make it work.

Certain Revit add-ins fill a real need to make that leap between ‘hard work BIM’ and ‘automated BIM’.  SAuBIM – Code Calcs is a proven tool for automating compliance checks related to room areas.  It has been updated to version 2.0, and is working with 2013 and 2014.

Oh, and did I mention that Harry Mattison has been involved in the process – you won’t be disappointed!

As Jeff says:
Simply click “Update Tags” and you have calculated data semi-automatically updated into your room tag!

You can get hold of Code Calcs for Revit 2013 and 2014 by using this link.

If you haven’t heard of it before, it automatically creates schedules for:

·         Occupancy Loads (Per Room)
·         Required Male Water Closets
·         Required Female Water Closets
·         Required Lavatories
·         Required Drinking Fountains
 
and it allows you to tag this important data in intelligent Room tags.

Using your Revit model for construction site layout by converting to points with Point Layout

Luke Johnson

Interesting – this kind of turns the point cloud technology upside down… It goes something like this:

  • Revit model 
  • to points
  • to site survey hardware (set out the building)
  • build it
  • then laser scan the as constructed
  • compare points of the as built model for quality control
The part I’m trying to get my head around is this – these aren’t really point clouds, but rather, they are setout points of Revit BIM 3D elements for construction use.  Perhaps the word ‘point’ is going to be more popular than the word ‘BIM’ this year 🙂

Learn more / trial at:
Point Layout | Construction Layout Software | Autodesk

Paint colours – adsklib for download

Luke Johnson

Dunn Edwards have provided an adsklib file for download that matches their paint colours to Revit materials.

I previously posted about Lysaght adsklib way back in 2011:
What Revit Wants: Lysaght Bluescope Colorbond Autodesk Material Library

I look forward to the day when all manufacturer materials come in adsklib format – would save us all some work 🙂

Here are the Dunn Edwards links:

Revit Materials 
‘adsklib’ file (20mb)
  D.E. 5000 – 5093 colors

(dropbox access request)
http://www.arch-intel.info/revit-dunn-edwards-paint.html

They also provide some informative videos —

Getting the adsklib into Revit:
Setting up corresponding colours:

Material Graphics Surface Pattern vs Realistic View

Luke Johnson

Ever noticed how the Graphic Surface Pattern of a Material will override a Walls surface in a Realistic (ie. materiality / render check) view, but not the edges?

Firstly, I don’t think Graphics values should affect Realistic view at all.  Secondly, it should at least be consistent: either override wall faces and edges, or don’t override at all, yeah?

Anyone know if this was fixed in 2014?

Revit 2013 – DWG export Color ID global change bug

Luke Johnson

I thought I got in a loop today:

  1. Export DWG
  2. Expand All
  3. Select all rows
  4. Try to delete the number in the Color ID box
  5. This warning will come up:

You have to press Close for every selected row (could be hundreds) – quickest way is to hold down the Enter key until the warning goes away.

Originally I thought this was a looping bug, but it is just Revit being overly thorough 🙂

Creating an Excel auto-save backup task

Luke Johnson

Ever pressed Cancel or No when prompted to save an Excel spreadsheet?  Lost your work?  How about this backup task… it basically copies Excel backup files to another location so that Excel can’t delete them when it closes.

  1. Open Task Scheduler (tap Windows Key; start typing “task scheduler”, press enter/click on it when result is at top of Start Menu).
  2. Click Action – Create Basic Task
  3. Give it a name and click Next
  4. Select “When I log on” as the Trigger
  5. Select “Start a Program” and click Next
  6. Type “Powershell” in the Program Name, then
  7. in the “Add arguments (optional):” box, type “% {Copy-Item -path C:UsersusernameAppDataRoamingMicrosoftExcel -recurse -force -destination D:BackupExcelAutosave}” (changing the username to your username obviously, and also modify the destination directory if you want), then click Next
  8. Then tick the box “Open the Properties dialog for this task when I click Finish”, then click Finish.
  9. Under the “Triggers” tab, double click the “At log on” trigger, then tick the box “Repeat task every:” select an interval (i have 1 hour) and duration (i have 12 hours), make sure “Enabled” is selected, then click OK, then OK on the properties box.

via
microsoft office – Recovering Excel documents that were closed without saving – Super User

The path on Windows XP is something like:
C:Documents and SettingsUSERNAMEApplication DataMicrosoftExcel