BUG - Sweeps using Pick Path Option

This one comes courtesy of fellow AUGI member patricks.  He posted that he "discovered that sweeps with picked paths instead of sketched paths will not display a surface pattern when a material is applied. This occurs in both in-place families and regular families."

I was able to confirm this (with and without Web Update 1) and submitted a SR (Support Request) to Autodesk.  Here's their response...

Thank you for contacting Autodesk Support. I have submitted this issue to our development team and will let you know their findings/recommendations as quickly as possible.

So for now, if you are creating a family with a sweep and want a material with a surface pattern, do not use the Pick Path option until we get a fix.

I'll post an update as soon as I receive one.

Linked File Cannot Be Saved Error Message

I've had a few clients get this message in the past and seen a few posts on AUGI as well.  Many have said that it's a meaningless message and that is can be ignored, but it's an annoyance and usually messages in Revit mean something.

This past week I had a client get it again and the linked Revit file hadn't been touched in quite some time, so it was really puzzling.  Usually, you can just open the linked file, save it, close it, then reload the link and be go to go...but this time that didn't work.  So I sent the message to Autodesk and here's the response I received...(I added the bold and underline to point out a few things)

Thank you for contacting Autodesk Support.  I apologize this issue is occurring as I know it must be frustrating.  Our development team is working to correct this on a future release.

If a linked RVT file contains a linked DWG (or other "CAD format") file, and the DWG file has changed on disk since the last time the linked RVT file was saved, then when the linked RVT file is loaded (as a link)  the DWG file is reloaded which Revit interprets as a modification.

As long as your client is not trying to make any changes related to shared coordinates, the message is harmless and can be ignored.  But if they are trying to do something related to shared coordinates (including moving an RVT link that uses shared coordinates), the message will prevent those changes from being saved. 

A workaround is to open the linked RVT file that the message complains about, save it, and close it.  That should save the RVT link with the latest version of the DWG links inside it, so that when it is later opened as a link the message will not appear.  Of course, the message will reappear when a DWG file is modified again, until the RVT link is re-saved.

So it appears that it is a harmless message as long as you are not doing anything with shared coordinates.  This message has been coming up in a few releases of the software now, so hopefully the development team can come up with a solution.  And if they do, hopefully it's not like the Wall Sweep fix that wasn't documented.

And yes, once everyone STC and closed local files, they were able to open the link, save, close and the message went away.

Sweep Updates in 2009

I was in the process of writing up a post on wall sweeps and how you have to make sure that the origin point of the profile ("insertion" line of the sweep) cannot even touch the edge of an opening, or it will break the sweep.  It was something I've been meaning to do and an AUGI post that I responded to finally got me motivated. ;-)

Well, I was getting the images ready (in 2009) and unbeknown to me, the sweep didn't break at the edge of the opening like it was supposed to!?!?!  What the heck is going on... did I not put the sweep exactly at the window sill elevation...was the sweep "insertion" line not in the correct position...I was somewhat dumbfounded.  I went back to 20008 and did the exact same thing and the result was what I was expecting...the sweep broke at the sill of the window.

So what is the deal.  Well, I went back to look at the release notes for RAC2009 and I did not see anything about updates to the sweeps.  Leave it to Autodesk to throw in some updates and let us figure (stumble) upon them on our own.  It appears that you CAN have a sweep run along an opening and the sweep will not break if the "insertion" line touches the opening.  Now granted, as soon as the sweep crosses the opening, it will break.  

The images below show the same sweep used in the above 2008 image in 2009.  I even threw in the section showing the dimensions to the opening and the top of the sweep...which is the "insertion" line for the sweep.

 

So, to recap...

• If you are using 2009, you can place sweeps along-side openings and not have to worry about where the insertion point of the profile is.
• If you are using 2008, you have to be careful when placing sweeps along-side openings.  The insertion point of the profile can not touch the opening, or it will break the sweep.  You can flip the sweep (using the flip arrows in an elevation or 3D view) and adjust the height accordingly.  If you have a sweep between two openings, you need to change the insertion of the profile to not be on the edge of the profile...center is a good option.

Autodesk Acquires ECOTECT and Finalizes GBS

As part of its on-going commitment to support the practice of sustainable design and green building in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced two acquisitions to improve building performance analysis in the building information modeling (BIM) process. Autodesk announced that it has completed the acquisition of substantially all the assets related to the ECOTECT software tools for conceptual building performance analysis from both Square One Research Ltd. and Dr. Andrew Marsh. Autodesk also announced that it has completed the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Green Building Studio, Inc., a provider of web-based whole building energy, water and carbon-emission analysis software.

The entire article can be read here.

New Revit Builds (Web Updates) are Available

The first Revit builds (or Web Updates are they are calling them) are now available from Autodesk for the 2009 products, currently for English versions.  Other language versions of Web Update 1 will be available in the coming weeks.  The builds can be found here...

New Revit Architecture Build (build number 20080602_1900)

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=11017599

New Revit MEP Build

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=11273489

New Revit Structure Build

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=9281007

Here is the list of Web Updates for Revit Architecture according to the downloadable pdf...

Improvements made in Web Update 1 build (20080602_1900):

Note: It is highly recommended that you reinstall the content when installing Web Update 1 due to changes in the rendering library and other pieces of content.
Architecture/Platform Enhancements
 Improves performance when modifying customer visibility settings for linked files, when many volumes exist that are bound by the linked file.
 Improves the plotting consistency of certain components that are placed over hatched elements in coordination and architectural discipline views.
 Rooms will now export Revit internal parameters for IFC.
 When rendering, the progress bar reports correct percent complete.
 “Intensity” on Decal Types dialog was changed to “Brightness” to match Help documentation.
 Spot elevation with Display Elevation = Top & Bottom Elevation will now report the correct bottom elevation for sloped elements.
 In plan view with medium or fine detail level, spot elevations now report the correct top or bottom elevation of a beam that is joined to a column.
 Improves stability when changing the visibility of a link in a view template.
 “Downlight – Spot” light family no longer has duplicate Tilt Angle parameter.
 Lights that were in a light group that was deleted are no longer controlled by the deleted light group; instead they are controlled by the Ungrouped Lights status.
 Improves the ability to enter custom DPI value in the Render dialog.
 Improves stability when exporting to CAD formats.
 Improves stability when closing SteeringWheels.
 Improves stability when adding elements to a group.
 Families that contain arrayed voids will now function properly in the project.
 Improves stability for users with non-English operating systems when using the Open/Save dialog.
 Notes created in Revit for a DWF markup object will now propagate to the DWF after selecting publish.
 Enabling daylight portals will now affect the rendered appearance.
 Spotting on interior renderings with many internal light sources no longer occurs.
 Improves appearance of decals using cut-outs.
 Corrects “Unable to Start” error when starting the application.
 Model lines now remain in the correct design option when split.
 Structural columns will now have a higher priority when joined to non-bearing and shear walls.
 For sweeps on an arc wall, you now have the option to change sweep returns.
 Restores some structural components in SouthAsiaLibrary content bundle.
API Enhancements
 Parameter binding performance has been improved.
 The JoinType method has been implemented for the LocationCurve of structural members.
 Mullion LocationCurves are now accessible through the API.
 External programs may now suppress VSTA startup warning messages.
 The built-in parameter MATERIAL_PARAM_TRANSPARENCY now returns the correct set value.