Tag: revit 2010

Use 2009 UI with Revit 2010 (cya Ribbon!)

Luke Johnson

If you really hate the ribbon (also widely known as DLM – Drunken Leprechaun Mode) in 2010, give this a go:

  1. Create this file:
    C:Program FilesAutodesk Revit Architecture 2010ProgramDebug.ini

  2. In this file, type:
    [DebugModes]
    Use2009UI=1

When you next open Revit, you will be using the ‘Classic’ UI.If the above is too much of a pain for you, go to http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=103069&page=14 and get the AutoHotKey executable that does it for you (you will need to login).

If you want to use your 2009 Keyboard Shortcuts, make a copy of your 2009 keyboard shortcuts file in your 2010 program folder and rename it “KeyboardShortcutsOld.txt”. Restart Revit.

(it really does work)

Thanks to ArchTech and the AUGI Forums for this.Use this at your own risk, and keep in mind that Autodesk will not support issues specifically related to use of the ‘superseded’ user interface. Enjoy!

Exposing the Revit Database (very cool)

Luke Johnson

Ooh La La! Does Revit really want you to see what goes on under the hood? Well, if it can help you understand Revit better, then I would suggest that it does (because it will help you know how to ‘treat Revit right’). So, how do you do it?

There are two main ways:

  1. Using the RvtMgdDbg API add-on
    This is the most comprehensive method, in that it allows you to ‘Snoop’ virtually all parts of the Revit database.

  2. Using the RDBLink Tool from Autodesk Labs
    This method actually allows you to modify and then update Revit model element properties.

Both of these methods expose the Revit database, which allows you see how things really go together. The Revit database is really what makes everything else possible: from environmental analysis to the basic parametric nature of elements. It’s exciting stuff!I will do individual posts on how to setup and use both these methods in the near future.

Revit 2010 Macro Manager – AUGIWorld Magazine

Luke Johnson

There is a nice, basic guide on using the Revit 2010 Macro Manager in the latest AUGIWorld Magazine.
(LINK UPDATED 14/03/2011)

Check it out if you are interested in the API.

Picture from AUGIWorld Magazine.

Once you get into Revit programming, check out The Building Coder.

There is also an article in the magazine on Autodesk Impression, if you are interested.

Revit 2010 Web Update…who posted it first?

Luke Johnson

We are all grateful for Update 1 for Revit 2010. But who in the blogosphere posted it first?

According to my research:

EDIT: Steve from Revit OpEd has quite rightly noted that he was actually the first at T minus 56 minutes (56 mins before Gregory). Touché!

  1. Gregory Arkin – Revit3D.com (first!)
  2. Harlan Brumm – The Revit Clinic (about 1 hr 41 mins later than the first)
  3. Jay Polding – revit in plain english (about 1 hr 59 mins later than the first)
  4. The Revit Kid! (about 2 hr 25 mins later than the first)
  5. Erik Egbertson – Inside the Factory (about 2 hr 47 mins later than the first)
  6. Jeremy Tammik – The Building Coder (about 3 hr later than the first)
  7. Erik Lewis – Who’s afraid of the Big Bad BIM? (about 12 hr 51 mins later than the first)

What’s the point of this? Well, it shows that ‘the system works’ and the word certainly gets out! It also shows who I subscribe to and how quick they were off the mark!Hopefully I have helped you connect to some of these great blogs.

SECSplashWnd error – Revit 2010 stalls on loading

Luke Johnson

I logged this error with Autodesk Support:
“…Sometimes Revit 2010 x64 running on my Vista 64 bit machine will not load at all – the program stalls with ‘SecSplashWnd’ showing in the taskbar…”

And they replied with the following:
“…There are similar issues logged with the support team.A damaged Microsoft .NET Framework can cause this error. Updating to the latest version of .NET won’t remove the damaged version from the system.
Please make sure that you are installing the program when you are logged in as the local administrator of the machine, and that all the other programs are closed, including antivirus, firewall, etc.
1. Download and save the .NET Framework 3.5 installers from the following link:http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6c095bba-6100-4ec9-9c54-6450b0212565&DisplayLang=en
2. Download and save the .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 installer from the following link:http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=AB99342F-5D1A-413D-8319-81DA479AB0D7&displaylang=enPLEASE NOTE: the next two steps will remove ALL instances of the .NET Framework from your system. If you are using any software encryption or logon technologies that require the .NET Framework to operate, they will not operate until you have installed another instance of the .NET Framework.
3. Download and run the .NET Framework cleanup utility from the following link. Select all versions and click Cleanup Now. http://astebner.sts.winisp.net/Tools/dotnetfx_cleanup_tool.zip
4. Install .NET Framework and the Service Pack that you previously downloaded.
5. Restart your system.
6. Once the system has restarted, repair Revit using Add or Remove Programs.Once you’ve updated the .NET Framework and repaired AutoCAD, try launching the application.
I recommend that you uninstall and reinstall .Net in Windows safe mode:http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS75218 Clean installation on Windows® XP…” (bold mine)

As you can see, .NET needs to be fixed to correct this error. I haven’t yet attempted this fix, as the problem goes away for me after a reboot – if it continues to be a problem, I will have a go at the steps described.

Let me know if this helped you.

NOTE: The .NET Cleanup Tool link doesn’t appear to work – go to this site to find it.

Ribbon performance…bring on the Web Update

Luke Johnson

I had a persistent crash when ‘tearing an item off’ the Ribbon, so I logged a Support Request.

The following admission from the Autodesk Support Team representative is quite telling:
“So far we have seen some issue with the ribbon performance. The ribbon performance issue has already been logged with the development team and they are trying to address this issue on the web update. “


Well I hope they ‘succeed’ and don’t just ‘try’! The reply from Support also included a number of steps to try and fix the issue – but I think I might just wait for the Web Update.

One interesting tip from the representative was:
“Disable or Reduce Tooltip Assistance
Set “Options”, “General”, “Tooltip Assistance” to “Minimal” or “None” to increase performance.”

Give it a go – see if it revs up your Revit 2010.

Revit 2010 Web Update…

Luke Johnson

So, you want to be kept right up to date and be notified when the new Revit 2010 Web Update comes out?

Here’s how:

  1. Go to http://rss-support.autodesk.com/subscription
  2. Tick the boxes for the products you are interested in (for example, I just ticked ‘Revit Architecture’)
  3. You will be presented with the RSS url for the feed that you want – simply add it to your favourite RSS reader.

I am currently using Outlook 2007 to keep track of the all the RSS feeds I am interested in – this way I can easily email interesting information to other staff in the office.Revit wants, no, Revit NEEDS for you to keep it up to date! While your at it, feel free to add my RSS to your reader by the link on the right or by: http://feeds.feedburner.com/WhatRevitWants?format=xml

Revit occasionally wants some outside help…

Luke Johnson

So I got a nice email from Avatech yesterday saying that I could download the full Avatech Utilities for Revit 2010 for free!

If you are signed up with Avatech, you may have got a similar email.

Otherwise, look into it at:
http://www.avatech.com/solutions/building-design/product-details.aspx?product=44

There is a ‘Lite’ version that anyone will be able to get for free.