Revit Swept Blends - Chimney WIP

Thought I'd share a work in progress.
Custom Home with Corkscrew Chimney.
This was accomplished using Revit 2009 using the swept blend tool and arrays.


Click on the image to download the family.

AUGI Career Center - It's NEW!

Get a Job, Get Noticed, Get your career advice at careers.augi.com. Check out the latest offering from your friends at AUGI.com - It is a Web-based career center that connects job seekers with prospective employers in our industry. AUGI's job board was made possible by connecting with Job services leader, Jobtarget. The new job board is available at careers.augi.com.

Fixing Missing Hatch Problems - Error Reading Hatch pattern

From time to time you might run into this problem with files you receive from others.
Problem:

• You receive an autocad drawing. You open the file and attempt to change or match a hatch pattern. You receive an error reading hatch pattern.

Solution:

• List the hatch to find out name of the missing pattern.
• Search for this pattern. In the example in the video below, I was able to find the pattern in a modified acad.pat file on a designers computer (c:drive).
• Create a text file with the name that is the same as the missing pattern (case sensitive).
• Paste the missing pattern into this file and save to a folder within the AutoCAD Support file search path.

Watch the video to see it in action - http://screenr.com/UKs using the "twitterized" screen capture software screenr. or check out the embedded blogger version below:

New Screencaster Video Twitter tool - Screenr.com

I thought I'd share this tool with you. I have found it very useful for doing a quick screen capture and then tweeting the video link directly inside twitter.



The tool is web based, it records high def video and audio. When it is done, you'll get a preview and the ability to tweet it directly, download the mp4 file, post it to Youtube, copy paste the embed link and or copy the url and send it via email using your own client. It is easy to use and free! What can be better than that!

How to create video using Screenr


Watch the video above to learn how easy it is use. I recorded myself recording a screenr video using Camtasia so you could see the entire process. I will, of course, continue to utilize camtasia for the videos I wish to edit, but when I need a quick video to post for someone, expect to see a screenr.com version. Want to see the output from screenr? Click the hyperlink below.

How to Video Created using Screenr

Removing Portions of a Continuous Dimension in Revit

Want to remove portions of a continuous dimension string within Revit but don't want to delete and re-create the string? Use the grip and your Right Mouse Button (RMC). Delete Witness Lines is the command. Watch the video to learn how.

Content Browser Hotfix - Confiming the fix for ADT 2007

Although there is no official hotfix release yet, for the content browser drag and drop issue, I can confirm that the "unofficial" hotfix does indeed restore the missing functionality for all releases going as far back as ADT 2007. Those of you who know what I am talking about will find the files made available by Odin Cary on Archidigm.

Fellow blogger, David Koch, of The Architects Desktop also discussed the issue in a blog post. There is a thread in the Autodesk Discussion Group alluding to this fix, unfortunately, none of the resources linked to above mentioned Architectural Desktop 2007 which is still the bread and butter for many firms.

Without a method of repairing my workstation, I was near "re-imaging" the pc in order to update some company standard tool palettes. To make a long story short, the hot fix mentioned in some of the above links does indeed work for ADT 2007. I have confirmed that. Those that wish to read about the ordeal can continue below...

After installing Revit Architecture Suite 2010, I was suprised to find out that my install of Architectural Desktop 2007 would no longer allow me to drag and drop palettes from the content browser to the application. Since the "AutoCAD" native import and export of tool palettes is disabled in the vertical products, I was left with attempting to rebuild tool palettes one tool at a time. This is unacceptable and left me without a means to re-build or extend some standard palettes in use by a large number of users. It also was an ALL Stop issue related to pushing out Revit Architecture 2010 to others in the firm.

After failing to uncover a hotfix, service pack, or mention of the problem related to ADT 2007 I resorted to standard processes. I attempted the fix on my own by doing the repair option. When this failed I resorted to the standard uninstall/reinstall dance. When that too I attempted a more vigorous repair option, this time by uninstalling all Autodesk products, purging the known hideouts and registry entries and then reinstalling in order of release.

Since none of these steps worked, I submitted a trouble call to Autodesk Web Support. While I waited for a response, I prepped my machine for a clean wipe and re-image for the hard drive. I was pleasantly surprised when Autodesk responded with an "as yet" unpublished Hotfix (see the Archidigm link). This am, I applied the Hotfix and was once again able to drag and drop palettes into ADT2007.

This fix is easy to apply, simply rename the offending file in the Autodesk Shared folder and copy in the new dll. You can get them at Archidigm or wait for Autodesk to post them.

Change your habits to speed up your Revit Model Response

Are you one member of a team who is working in a Revit Model? Wish you could speed up your file access? You can, but you must enlist the help of your team mates. Create a new text based legend and always set it active when you STC. (See image below)



My teams use a legend with the following title: *****Open and Save*****
On this legend you'll find a project "ToDo List", "User Coordination Notes", and more.

We've got three special text styles for use on our ToDo List. A grey version that indicates the item is complete, a black version that indicates a current item, and a red style that identifies something as "Hot" or "Important".

Each open and save operation is much quicker when performed with this view active.

Revit Tip - Clearing overlapping walls and room separation lines.

Keep your model performing optimally by eliminating conditions that result in overlapping room separation lines and walls. As an aid to assist you in finding these conditions, create a view template with these conditions:

• A graphic override for room separation lines where lines are red and heavy
• Model graphics style: set to wireframe.

Now whenever you need to clean up these conditions, you can apply the view template (see example image below) temporarily and you'll be able to see graphically where the "coincident" conditions exist.

Autodesk University 2009 - Have you Registered yet?

Did you know that AU registration is open? If you haven't yet registered, you'll want to hurry up and get registered. Do it now, before all the good classes are gone!



See you at Autodesk University 2009.

Adding Attributes to Dynamic Blocks - Don't forget ATTSYNC

I received a request to update some dynamic blocks this morning. The blocks were originally set up with a text entity that was allowed to be relocated much like an attribute, but was hardcoded to display a single value. Now that value had to be more "dynamic". Lets edit it and replace the text with an attribute.


The image shown displays two blocks, the one on the left has already been updated with an attribute. Notice that there is no text displayed. Remember this when you go to modify yours... You'll need to sync the attributes before the text will display appropriately. We'll cover that at the end of this post.

How to Add Attributes to Dynamic Blocks

1. Open the drawing containing your dynamic block



2. Select your block and right click choosing "Block Editor" from the context menu as shown here.




3. Delete your text and click the define attribute tool within the block editor.
   Note: Your previously assigned actions will become disconnected as shown in the image below. This is not a cause for concern, we will fix that by double clicking and selecting our new attribute.





4. Enter the values for your new attribute and ensure that you LOCK the attribute position as indicated in this image.





5. Place your attribute and double click any "disconnected" actions then select your new attribute definition.



6. Close the block editor and update the block.



7. Type "ATTSYNC" and select your updated Dynamic Block.



8. Your edits are complete, now start using it.



9. You might have noticed that in practice your attribute will update upon changing the attribute value...no need to wait and click the "Apply" button to see the new value as shown in this image.

For more info and help with Dynamic Blocks, visit the Dynamic Blocks forums at AUGI.com