AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite 2009.1

There is an update to the Revit Suite product line that will be available around mid-September. The update though is not to Revit, it's actually adding AutoCAD Architecture to the bundle! That's right, Revit Architecture Suite will now (well, soon anyway) include Revit Architecture, AutoCAD and AutoCAD Architecture. This was just shared with the Autodesk reseller community and more details will be available in the next couple weeks. Stay tuned!!

Again, I just want to re-iterate that this is NOT an update or service pack to ANY of the products listed...this point release is only being done to redo the Suite bundle for Architecture. The version of Revit Architecture that will be shipping with this Suite release is Web Update 1.

NOTE: This 2009.1 release will be English only for FY09.

Changing Parameters from Type to Instance - Revisited

I was reading a post by Brian Renehan @ Revit Fix about changing parameters that are in the out-of-the-box families.  As I previously posted, you don't have to go through these steps to change from Type to Instance...there is a check box you can use in the Options Bar.

This got me thinking and testing as well...since you can modify one of these "system" parameters based on Brian's post, what happens if you try to delete or modify the name.  Well, here's what I found...

The image below is what I did when I changed the Category to Generic Model and modified the Height Parameter.  I changed it to say "Height Test", made it Instance Based and changed the parameter category to Other.

 

Then, I changed the Family Category back to Casework and took a look at the parameters again.  Interestingly the Height parameter came back... as a Type Parameter and without a Value.  The Height parameter that I had modified was still present with the changes that I made, and was the parameter that was being used for the dimension label.

So the parameters that you see in the templates are really built into the programming of the family category.  If you really want to see what parameters are built into a family, start a family as a Generic family and then change it to another Category.  The Generic family basically only consists of the parameters in Identity Data and when you change it to another Category, the parameters built in will appear.

Revit® Extensions for Revit® Architecture 2009

Something new to play with!!  Log into the Autodesk Subscription Center and go to the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC): Product Modules & Add-Ons section to get to the page to download the tools.  They don't exactly put new things on the top, so you have to navigate in the list to find it...here's the screen shot of what I saw.  Note: Your list may be different than the image below.

Revit® Extensions are a series of easy-to-use applications that extend the capabilities of Revit® Architecture 2009 software in key areas, including modeling, coordination, and documentation. Specifically, the extensions provided in this executable file are: Grid Generator, Freeze Drawings, Compare Models, Text Generator, Elements Positioning, and Microsoft Excel®-based Model Generation.

As I have time (which hasn't been a lot lately), I will report back on some of the extensions.  Enjoy!!

New Service Pack for Revit Suite Products

I saw this title - Autodesk Releases Service Pack 1 for Revit Architecture - on TenLinks Daily yesterday and thought I would clarify what it meant.  This is NOT a service pack for Revit...it is a service pack for the AutoCAD portion of Revit Suite (Architecture and Structure).  There are 4 separate downloads for the AutoCAD 2009 Service Pack 1...AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite and AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite.

Please make sure you download the correct service pack for the version of AutoCAD you are using.  And remember, Revit uses Web Updates not Service Packs for the updating process.

Structural Link Showing Blue Dots at Columns

I get this question every once in a while when some of the Architectural firms start working with Structural firms that are using Revit Structure...what are these blue dots at the columns and how do I get rid of them??

Well, these blue dots are really the analytical representation of the structural column from the link.  They may not always show up, it really depends on how the structural view were created and/or how the Visibility Graphics are set in the Architectural file.  Here's how to get rid of them if they do show up...

• Go to Visibility Graphics for the view
• Click on the Revit Links tab
• Under the Display Settings (next to the Structural Link) click By Host View to get to the RVT Link Display Settings 
• Under the Basics tab, select Custom and then go to the Model Categories tab
• Under Model Categories, change <by host view> to <Custom>
• Under the All and None buttons, make sure to check "Show categories from all disciplines"
• Scroll down to Structural Columns and expand to see the Analytical Model sub-category
• Uncheck the Analytical Model sub-category and OK out of the dialogs.

 

Now the analytical representation, or blue circles, are gone from the columns.

Basically, if you see any blue circles on the Structural Link regardless of the View your looking at, it's displaying the Analytical representation.  Use Visibility Graphics to get rid of them...because they will print if you leave them turned on.