Ceiling Grid Lines Don’t Move

Never had this one happen until the last class I taught.  Had a student moving their Ceiling Grid lines in one of the exercises and the Lines were not moving.  I watched a couple times (to make sure they were using the Tool correctly, which they were) before I noticed something…the “Disjoin” checkbox in the Options Bar was checked, but it was greyed out…couldn’t change it.  So I had the student get out of the Move command and then grab something else (like a piece of furniture or something) and go back into the Move command.  There, we could uncheck the “Disjoin” checkbox and had them move the object (to make sure the “Disjoin” unchecking stuck).  So with the “Disjoin” unchecked, I had them go back and try to Move the Ceiling Grid Lines…bingo, it worked!

If you weren’t aware, the “Disjoin” checkbox remembers whether or not it was checked the last time you were in the Move command.  So, if you try and move your Ceiling Grids, make sure the “Disjoin” checkbox has been unchecked.

Copy Doors and Constrain

I’ve had a few people ask me recently why they can’t copy Doors from one wall to another.  I was surprised they couldn’t as I could without any issues.  But then something clicked…the Constrain checkbox.  Sure enough, if Constrain is checked, you can’t copy a Door outside of the wall it’s placed in.  So in order to copy the door from one wall to another by utilizing the Copy tool, just make sure the Constrain checkbox is unchecked.

Or, just utilize a right-click and Create Similar.

Disallow Join vs Don’t Clean Join

Ever wonder what the difference was between these two, or even know that there was a difference between these two options?  Both are part of the Wall Joins tool and are selected by different methods. 

The Disallow Join option is selected when you pick the end of a wall with the Wall Joins tool when it’s not connected with another wall, or now in 2011, when you right-click on the drag grip of a wall and select Disallow Join.

     OR    

The Don’t Clean Join option is available when you are trying to manipulate a wall join.

Now for the difference…and we’ll work with the 2 walls at the intersection. 

If you use the Disallow Join, you’ll get this result…

And if you use Don’t Clean Join, you’ll get this result…

As you can see, Disallow Join doesn’t allow the walls to cleanup at all.  Where as the Don’t Clean Join keeps the walls joined, but doesn’t clean up the materials.  In this case, that meant the gyp board didn’t try to cap off the masonry wall.

New Revit Tools-Features Available Soon for 2010 Products

**Credit goes to David Light where he provided information about this subject on his blog…especially for those of us that couldn’t attend**

As you may have already seen out on the blog-o-sphere, some bloggers were invited to see a sneak peak at some new features the folks at Autodesk are getting ready to roll out for the Revit 2010 products…which is being called the Revit 2010 Subscription Advantage Pack.

Unlike previous extensions they’ve released to subscription customers, this is going to be very similar to a “point” release…kind of like they did in the Release 9 days (before they went to the year designation) where they introduced 9.1 around the same time of the year.  So this will be a whole new release from the sounds of it.

There is one small thing…

It’s only going to be available to subscription customers!!

Here is a list of improvements that will be included with this new release…

• Additional keyboard shortcut commands
• A UI to control keyboard shortcuts
• Conditional formatting in all products
• DWG export improvements
• Text formatting – from shortcuts
• Find and replace text
• Model lines to Detail lines and back
• Link file improvements
• API improvements
• Autodesk Revit Model Review
• Revit DBlink
• Image modeler will now be included so you can create point cloud data from images and export this to DWG and import this into Revit
• Wood Wall Framing tool

Also, many have been wanting/waiting to see some of the tools in Revit Structure to be available in Revit Arch…the wait is over!  These tools will now be included in Revit Architecture…

• Curved beams
• Beam copping
• Create Trusses
• Tag beam systems
• Slab directions and decking
• Slanted columns
• Split with Gap

One the new features/release is available for download (which sounds like possibly this week), I will throw out a post mentioning that they are available.  I’ll also post as I can about the new features.

Revit Architecture 2010 (RAC 2010) Service Pack-Web Update 2 Now Available

I’m somehow not surprised this came out today (9-30-09), the second Service Pack/Web Update for Revit Architecture 2010.  The download can be found HERE.  There are two separate downloads…one for 32bit and one for 64bit.  Make sure you download the correct version!

Revit Structure and Revit MEP Updates are also available!

As always, be sure to read the ReadMe File before starting the installation!!

And if you haven’t seen the Architecture update list, here it is below…

Improvements made in Update 2 build (20090917_1515):

Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2010 Enhancements

• Annotation objects no longer disappear when panning a view that spans two monitors.
• Improves stability when switching between Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 software and Google Earth™ software.
• Improves the modification behavior of hosted sweeps (i.e. gutters) attached to joined roofs.
• Improves stability and performance when modifying walls.
• Improvements to shared nested families.
• Improves stability when modifying masses.
• Improves design option rules adherence for walls in different design options and worksets.
• Family and type information can now be read in Autodesk® 3ds Max® software from an FBX® file exported from a non-English version of Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010.
• Improves stability when adding views to sheets.
• Improves stability when making a design option primary.
• Improves stability of printing views in wireframe mode.
• Shadows will no longer be cropped when a view is printed or exported to a DWF™ file.
• Subscription notifications are now available from InfoCenter.
• Improves stability when reading IFC files.
• Improves stability when opening a project with an inserted TIF image and when importing a TIF image.
• ViewCube® navigation tool and the navigation bar will now display correctly after unlocking the computer.
• Improves stability when removing panels from the ribbon.
• Improves stability when cancelling a move, delete or copy command.
• Improves performance of view renaming and the Workset dialog.
• Mass floor schedules will now update when a level is renamed.
• A form element that has a divided surface applied to it will now be correctly generated after a copy, paste, or move.
• Improves stability when exporting to DWG.
• Dimension and spot elevation values will now display correctly in a dependent view.

Autodesk® Revit® API 2010 Enhancements

• Improves stability when subscribed to a DocumentOpened event.

Note:

• The service pack contains changes from the previous service pack (Update 1 - June 2009).
• The service pack can be applied to both the standalone and suite versions of Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010.

Revit Architecture 2010 Certification Exams are Ready

As I posted last week, the Revit Architecture Certification Exams should be available the week of July 13, 2009…and they are!  Visit http://www.autodesk.com/certification for the info on preparing for the exam.  To sign-up for an exam, visit http://autodesk.starttest.com/.

The Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 Exam Guide is intended as a resource in your preparation for the exams to become Autodesk certified. It will help you understand the structure and content of the exam, and to develop a personal strategy to successfully pass the Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 Certified Associate and Certified Professional exams, and includes information on re-certification from Autodesk Revit Architecture 2009 Certified User.

Revit Architecture 2010 Certification Exams

EDIT: Visit http://autodesk.starttest.com/ to take the 2010 Exams!

It’s time to start preparing for the Revit Architecture 2010 Certification exams as they are almost ready!  I received my results today as I participated in the beta testing for both the Associate and Professional exams a little while ago.  According to the folks over at Autodesk Certification, the Revit Architecture 2010 Associate and Professional exams should be available next week (week of July 13, 2009).  You can check the following website - http://www.autodesk.com/certification to check on information for the exams and preparation guides.  The 2010 information is not available quite yet (probably next week along with the tests), but you can get a pretty decent idea from the 2009 preparation information.

One thing to remember about the Professional Certification…you have to pass the Associate exam before you can receive your Certified Professional status.  You can however take the tests in any order if you wish. 

Good Luck!!

Oh, one more thing (a little work-place plug)…if you are located in the Northern Illinois area, Wisconsin or Minnesota, you can take the exam at any one of the MasterGraphics locations.

Revit Architecture 2010 (RAC 2010) Service Pack-Web Update 1 Available

It’s finally here, the first Service Pack/Web Update for Revit Architecture 2010.  There are two separate downloads…one for 32bit and one for 64bit.  Make sure you download the correct version!

As always, be sure to read the ReadMe File before starting the installation!!

And if you haven’t seen the Architecture update list, here it is below…

Improvements made in Update 1 build (20090612_2115):

Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2010 Enhancements