Maxwell Render for Revit

Luke Johnson

EDIT
More info and screenshots at:
http://support.nextlimit.com/display/maxwelldocs/Revit+-+The+Ribbon+Panel

We knew that VEO was using Maxwell since way back in 2008.  Now there is a direct Revit plugin for current Maxwell users:

The Maxwell Render team are very excited to announce a brand new plugin for Revit!
Revit users can now enjoy this new comfortable and timesaving workflow for editing and rendering scenes, using Maxwell Render directly from the Revit interface. Here are a few of the highlights:

  • Compatibility with Revit 2012 and 2013 – any edition
  • Support for Revit lights including IES
  • Support for many built-in Revit materials
  • Ability to override scene materials with MXM files
  • Maxwell Grass
  • Multilight read-back: changes made to lights in Multilight can be imported back into the Revit scene
  • Easy access to the Maxwell material gallery directly from inside the Revit UI

 For full release notes and plugin user guide please refer to our support center here
 The Revit plugin is free to all of our customers and is available for download now from the customer gateway. If you cannot log-in or do not know your password please contact us here.

via
Maxwell Render Newsletter

More info on RFO at:
2012: Maxwell for Revit

Revit Programmer challenge: Revit Add-in Backup Tool

Luke Johnson

I was going to make a script or something myself, but I figured there is a API-guy out there waiting to make something useful and simple like this.

Challenge:  make a tool (can be an application, script or CMD) that locates and backs up all API add-ins from Revit add-in files.  Ideally, this tool would place the result in a ZIP file with subfolders that are logical and could be ‘restored’ to a new / clean installation of Revit.

Go!

Note: if you are going to ‘take the challenge’ I recommend that you post a comment so that you can co-ordinate with other coders if necessary.

Some of my notes below:
Need at least 2 x add-in folders and any referenced dlls

On my PC:
C:ProgramDataAutodeskREVITAddins2013
C:UsersLukeAppDataRoamingAutodeskRevitAddins2013

Wiki – addin locations:
http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Revit/enu/2013/Help/00006-API_Developer%27s_Guide/0001-Introduc1/0018-Add-In_I18/0022-Add-in_R22

Environment variables:
http://www.askvg.com/list-of-environment-variables-in-windows-xp-vista-and-7/

CMD Reference:
http://ss64.com/nt/

Download a backup copy of LOTS of your Google Data

Luke Johnson

Just go to https://www.google.com/takeout/ and login.

Many Google Services are supported – Blogger page export was recently added.  You can also backup all of your Google Drive docs and original Youtube videos.  The list goes on:

Some more info:
Google Takeout now offering Blogger and Google+ Page exports –

And some seemingly outdated (?) info at:
the Data Liberation Front 

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