I have been receiving a few requests for access to files that were previously linked to What Revit Wants via Google Drive. Somewhere along the line, Google (in its wisdom) decided to change security requirements and now my inbox has been filling up with ‘Share requests’. My opinion on Google business practices in general is pretty well known after this saga.

Some of the more popular files requested in recent times have been:

  • CurvedMullionLJ.zip – from post here about Curved Mullions
  • SetMarksToElementID.zip – from post here
  • PointCloud.zip – from post here
  • Generic Label.rfa – from post here
  • URL Text Symbol Annotation D download.rfa – from post here

In any case, I have now decided to move the hosting of What Revit Wants files and resources to wrw.is and you can view and download them all below.

Note: you will need to login to this site FIRST to see and download the files.

Update: It was pointed out to me by someone on the inside that the workflow I describe below essentially amounts to a back-channel unsupported and in fact inappropriate use of BIM 360 Docs. I was surprised at this, as I had essentially obtained this information from the Autodesk forums. What is wrong with the steps below? The answer is apparently this: A paying BIM 360 Docs customer is not supposed to invite a free user into their projects. This is apparently part of the terms of use for BIM 360 Docs customers. I was not aware of this, and in fact I’m unsure where to find it in the documentation.

Just to be clear, while the steps below *work* at this time, it apparently is an unsupported and inappropriate workaround and there could be risks (financial or otherwise) for BIM 360 Docs customers who invite free users into their projects. You should only invite:

  • BIM 360 Docs users for which you have paid for and applied an entitlement
  • BIM 360 Design (C4R) users who have purchased their own entitlement

I expect this workaround may eventually be disabled by Autodesk? You can view if you have exceeded your purchased package of BIM 360 Docs entitlements in the relevant Autodesk Manage pages. For example, it might show 16 of 10 licenses used in red? This is where I think there is potential for Autodesk to back charge users who abuse this current state of affairs.

My advice: check directly with Autodesk about who you can and cannot share your BIM 360 projects with…and proceed accordingly.

Situation:

You are a paying BIM 360 Docs user and would like to invite a non-paying user to collaborate inside a BIM 360 Docs workspace. Perhaps you just want them to be able to upload and download files, but not Collaborate in Revit…

Solution:

They need to create a free BIM 360 Docs account, and then get invited to your workspace.

(see above update)

Steps:

Non Paying User –

  1. Go to Autodesk BIM 360 Docs – Get BIM 360 Docs (Free Forever)
  2. Create a BIM 360 Account and Autodesk login if necessary (using email)

Paying User / BIM 360 host admin –

  1. Go to your Account Admin
  2. Add the User and Company (using email) (see above update)
  3. Go to Project Admin
  4. Add the User
  5. Go to Document Management
  6. Share a Folder to the User or their Company

Access and Upload Documents for Free User –

  1. Login to BIM 360 BIM 360 Docs Sign In
  2. Click on Change Account
  3. Select the workspace from the Paying User
  4. Access the Folder that was Shared to you – you can now Upload and Download with a Free account

Thanks to this forum page for the idea.

Aaron Maller, aka twiceroadsfool, has been sharing his Revit door family package on RevitForum for the past few years. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can check out his post in the thread here:
http://www.revitforum.org/architecture-family-creation/1242-doors-download-nested-panels-nested-frames.html

In the thread, he gives instructions on how the door families work, and a link to download the 179mb zip package:
First important part. The way they work is you only place the ones that say DOOR at the beginning of their name, obviously.

Download Link for the v4 Doors, a sample file with the doors in them, and the Door Schedule accompanying them, is here:
 https://www.dropbox.com/s/lcr5gobpuv…015v4.zip?dl=0

Thanks for sharing Aaron!

Older posts:
Doors for download, Nested Panels and Nested Frames..

Heads-up via http://notanotherrevit.blogspot.com.au/

Did you ever notice this handy little selection toolset?

Pretty cool, huh?

Update: Dieter has correctly pointed out that these selection tools are part of the Bimits package:
http://www.bimits.eu/bimits-en/bimits-extensions.html

The Advance steel addin can be downloaded for free:
https://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/Index?id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com%3Aadvancesteelandadvanceconcreterevitplug-in_windows64%3Aen

I’m not saying that AceCad BIMReview is a great program, but its another free tool to keep in mind.

There is also a good list going at http://bimblog.bondbryan.com/interoperability/, which includes:
BIM Surfer (open source WebGL viewer)
Constructivity Model Viewer (PC only)
DDS-CAD Open BIM Viewer (PC only)
FZKViewer (PC only)
Solibri Model Viewer (PC and Mac)
Tekla BIMsight (PC, Windows tablets, iPad and iPhone)
xBIM Xplorer (PC only)

Anyhow, to try BIMReview Lite, download the installer at:
BIMReview – BIM Project Collaboration

Install ‘core’ only.

Switch to the free version by direct text editing this file.
“C:Program FilesAceCad Software LtdBIMReview 7.2BIMReview.exe.config”

Like this:

Or in Options:

I noticed some cutting errors when opening IFC from Tekla (the beam ends should cut back):

Supported filetypes:

Check it out:

Download page

Quote:
“nanoCAD is a well-proven DWG-compatible CAD program that includes AutoCAD-like APIs. It’s totally free. No catches. No adware. No crippleware. No incessant nagging. Up until now, the free version has been the only version of nanoCAD offered to the USA. No doubt, the best value in the industry (even better than DraftSight [it lacks APIs in the free version]).”

via
Exclusive: Evan Yares on nanoCAD USA – WorldCAD Access

There is apparently over “20000 pages of documentation” that will be released, along with videos and 3D asset files.

It could be interesting to see how this release intersects with the development of Revit standards and Revit content globally…

The Autodesk Creative Commons “Area”:
AREA | creativecommons

“The group adopted the Creative Commons licensing which means 20,000 pages of documentation, 70 videos and 140 downloadable 3D asset files are now ready to be modified, remixed and shared globally.”

via / heads-up:
Autodesk makes huge trove of docs, training materials and 3D asset files available under Creative Commons – Boing Boing

As per the above Autodesk page, “More content to come soon…”

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

September | 2012 | Handout Links
1) LARUG Presents_Jay B Zallan_Bootlegging Keynotes for Good not Evil II.pdf
1a) 2013 JBZ_LARUG_Custom _Keynotes.txt
2) LARUG Presents_Troy R Gates_Formula Driven Families & Noteblocks.pptx
2a) Revit Formulas for Everyday Usage_Revit Forum.pdf
2b) Family: Comments.rfa
2c) Family: Keyplan.rfa
2d) Family: Project Comments.rfa
3) LARUG Presents_Brian Andresen_Worksharing.pdf

September | 2012 | LARUG YouTube Channel 
Recorded session videos will post shortly after the live presentations & will continue to be added to at:
LARUGs BIMconsortium Youtube Channel Videos

via
Los Angeles Revit Users Group Blog: LARUG Presents: Essentially Revit | September 2012 Handouts & Links