How many Sheets of drywall in my design with contingencies?

You may have created a number of schedules in Revit but have you attempted to create whats called a calculated value?  This is how we can begin to extract quantities of information from those intelligent families we have been told give us a ton of information from our BIM model.  I'm going to show you how to create a very simple one for quantities of drywall which can be adapted and changed for many other calculation values coming from a Revit model.

First we will begin by creating a wall schedule from a model that has already a number of different walls created in the Revit platform.  Once those walls are defined and created we will go to the Views tab on the ribbon were we will choose the schedules option and select to create a Schedule/Quantities type.

From the category list make sure you select the wall category and then select ok.

In the schedule properties dialogue box you will now be able to choose from the list on the left what types of fields you would like to add to your schedule.  At this point we need to make sure we add the "Area", "Family and Type", "Level", "Length","Cost" fields.

Go to the Sorting and Grouping tab in the schedule properties and make sure you have enabled the "Grand Totals" parameter.

Hit Ok, and you will have a new schedule created listing all the wall families that have been created in your design.  Everything up to here is pretty much standard for schedule creation, now we must take it a step further.

On the left hand side of your screen go to properties and click on any of the tabs listed, each will take you to the specific tab of the schedule properties where we began to define our Schedule/Quantities. 

Make sure you go to the "Fields" tab and there you will find the calculated value button. This is where we will begin to create a more intelligent schedule.  

This will open a new dialogue box that will allow you to create a brand new field which you will call Drywall Quantities.  Notice how we defined this as a formula type and made sure that the type was an integer.  The formula portion of the formula is case sensitive, so make sure if you write the name of the field "Area" you make it with a capital"A" otherwise it will  to know which filed to look for.  The idea in the formula creation is very much along the same line of the excel formula process.  I also added a contingency value for waste which is 5%.

Hit Ok, and you will now see a new column in your schedule that has the quantities of drywall per wall.

Take it a step further and you can go to the formating tab on the left hand side of the properties screen and select the name of the field and choose the calculate totals which will give you an over all total of all the drywall for a particular design.  I should mention that at this point it is including all types of walls, even those which may not have drywall actually as part of the assembly, so you can take it further by adding filters by family and this will give you a more detailed idea of quantities 

Hope you found this tip useful.

Solar Radiation Preview plug in

When creating a conceptualization model in Revit you can now use the same radiation analysis that is used inside the Ecotect platform(not as detailed but good nonetheless).  This will enable architects to get a better understanding of how the orientation of their design will be affected by the solar radiation thereby creating a better sustainable design that will consider heating and cooling loads for the life cycle of the building.

Check the link below that will allow you to download this great plug in from the Autodesk labs website.

Solar Radiation Plug In

Cheers,

Revit Architecture 2010 Crash known Issue

I just helped a client with an issue that has been having problems starting up their Revit Architecture 2010 software.  Apparently its an Autodesk known issue so if your having this problem too, go to the following link and follow the instructions of the document which may help.

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 Crash Issue

Hope this helps.


Cheers.

Controlling Wall Materials through Base & Top line extensions

If you have gone through the process of developing a wall type in Revit, then you may have noticed that there was little to no control for these materials when it comes to defining offset distances from the top or bottom of the level the walls are placed on.

This can only be done if you create a base/top line extension parameter.  To create this parameter first you must go to the type parameters of a wall type you want to modify.

Then go to the wall assembly by selecting the "structure" parameter button.

Once there make sure that your preview window is turned on and that you have the view set to section view which will activate the lower portion of the edit assembly window.  Otherwise you will not be able to continue with the next steps.  I also prefer to zoom in on the upper or lower portion of the wall depending on which part of the material you are trying to modify.

Select the modify button, then when you bring your mouse into the preview window you will see that the lower or upper portion of each material will be highlighted as you place your cursor over the bottom or top of each material.  Click on one material and then you will see an icon which looks like a lock become visible.  If you click on the lock it will be change its display from looking locked to unlocked.

This will now create a new parameter within the properties of the wall that will be visible after you leave the type properties dialogue box and go to the instance parameters of the wall.

Now in section if you select the wall some new arrow grips will be visible that will allow you to manually adjust the height of the newly unlocked material allowing more control for material placement making your wall assemblies more realistic to true construction design.

I created the brick ledge on the lower wall using a wall reveal with the default profile size that is given.  You can apply a specific reveal within the properties of the wall if you want, but thats another blog all together.

Revit Structure 2011- Checking for Rebar Interferences

As part of the Subscription Extensions there is now the ability to verify that your reinforcement design is correct by running a reinforcement interference check via the extensions manager.  This is assuming you have access to the subscription website which is available to Autodesk clients(previously a great sales tool to get the latest and greatest software as its released) now an even better tool to keep up to date with all the new stuff being developed.

First you must begin by placing reinforcement within the properties of concrete structural members via the extensions manager.  Select each member individually and go to the extensions manager to define what type of member is going to be reinforced.

First place the beam reinforcement based on what ever layout rules and type of rebar you require from the Revit library.:

Place column reinforcement and Footing reinforcement again, based on layout rules that suit your structural design.

After all the reinforcement for a typical structural bay has been defined, then you can now run an reinforcement interference check for the selected families.  This intereference check will verify that there is no overlapping geometry based on your rebar placement, thereby reducing unnessary collisions with your rebar layout.

I always like to make my rebar be visible in the 3D view, this can be done by selecting the rebar families and then going to the visibility states in the properties and making sure that its visible as a solid in the 3D view.  Anything in 3D is always good as far as I'm concerned.

Select the members that you want to run the check on:

Selcect the Interference Check of reinforcing bars from the extension manager list of extensions

This new window will show you a list of all the interferences tht occur within the family and with any other adjacent family that also has reinforcement embers assigned to it.

These results can then be exported out to word, or excel, hope you like this extension.

DWF add-on for Firefox

The DWF functionalty is something that many people use for sharing info internally or externally in their office workflow.  Autodesk Labs website has released an add-on that allows for he firefox browser users to be able o navigate and view DWF files like the Internet Explorer.


Yet another ever changing workflow, that helps the world become flatter!!!!!

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/firefox_adr/

Folow the attached link to be able to see it for yourself.

Subscription Advantage Pack's

Another great reason why being part of subscription is getting all the new extensions that are released periodically.  Now, there is a new Subscription Advantage Pack.  There is one download per Revit flavour and there are some pretty cool additions to the platforms.  The one that I like the most is for Revit Architecture which allows for stud modeling to occur.  This has always been a question when talking about wood framing in residential designs, and we always left it alone.  Now, we can in fact model that actual stud framing for a wall, and openings, very cool!!!.

I would suggest that you go to your Subscription webpage and have a look at the new Advantage Packs to see what the new extensions are all about.

How Do I?

With all the buzz going on about Revit, there are a large amount of users that are either learning Revit from the newbie stand point, or are the Revit power users creating content, developing families and fully customized families for your business.

It's been some time since my last post, but training and implementing Revit Arch/Struct have kept me busy. However, instead of providing one of the many types of posts that describe the new tip or trick for Revit 2010 I would like to post a question.

What do you find is the most frustrating thing that you are encountering about Revit? This question is an open ended question for the reader to interpret his/her own frustrations and hopefully respond with a question related to something they’re having problems with related to Revit Architecture/Structure..

Now, I guess this might be a dangerous thing because it can potentially be setting myself up for the unanswerable question, but what the heck, I deal with Revit on a daily basis, so who better to stump or ask for knowledge than a propeller head like myself.

I hope I can help and maybe at least provide some useful insight regarding the Revit learning curve.

I do have two suggestions for the new users:

1) Always look at the Type Selector
2) Always look at you options bar.

Paying attention to these two parts of the interface can help solve many issues since Revit has a way of usually giving you what you need when you need it.

Cheers,

AU University 2008

Autodesk Universtiy 2008 was just held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Needless to say it was fantastic. There are definitely some very interesting things heading our way, for all those of us on the Revit Platform.

Specifically: Revit Structure and Robot Structural Analysis workflow along with the AutoCAD structural detailer software(ASD). We will be able to not only generate and create the 3D model in Revit Structure but push the model out to ASD for shop drawing creation using the CIS/2 format. What I saw was definitely impressive, but I am still very curious as to how the file sizing will be handled in ASD since modelling in the CAD environment can often lead to very big file sizes. Anyone who has used Architectural Desktop can relate to this.

Revit Architecture and Inventor also seem like they are heading toward a more seamless form of communication. A very nice demonstration of curtain walls created in Revit and sent to Inventor for panel sizing and creation was also among the highlights of the conference.

I do plan on posting some more useful tips and tricks relating to Revit Arch. and Revit Struct.
in the mean time watch the clips posted on my blogg and maybe even become a follower of my blog to keep updated as new posting become available.

Thats it for now. Remember to keep living la vida Revit!

Show Bearing & Non-bearing Walls

This post addresses a question I have had many clients ask me as they begin to develop their documents in Revit. In CAD many firms develop different lineweight or colour representations for the Bearing and Non-bearing elements they are documenting. Revit does define structural usage parameters within each element but this does not affect the visual display of these objects. To do this we have to use the filters tool in the visibility graphics.

First: We open the visibility graphics in the view we want to show the bearing and non-bearing elements.

Second: We select the Filters tab and open this portion of the window. Then select the Edit/New button to open the Filters dialogue box.

Third: We define two new filters. By selecting the new filters button. Name one Bearing and the other Non-Bearing to easily identify later.

This is where we begin to use some of Revit's fantastic categorizations. After all it is BIM and all the info is properly organized. We choose from the categories list to define specifically what we are filtering. Choose the Walls category, then on the right define the filter rule to be "structural usage".

The key here, is the defining the proper "equals" definition below the filter rule. If you are defining the "Bearing" filter then choose the Bearing from the equals menu, and vice versa for the "Non-bearing" filter.

Ok, we are almost done. Hit the OK button to accept the settings, which will take you back to the V/G(visibility graphics) dialogue box. Now all you have to is ADD the new filters created to this view.(notice how i said "this" view.) These filters are defined per view basis, just as all the definitions for the V/G are per view basis. Adding the filters to other views is very easy since you just created the filters.....anyway I digress..

Select the ADD button in the V/G view. Then you will see the names of the two filters created in the add filters dialogue box. Select them , then hit OK.

Now, you will see the filters listed in the view, so really its just a matter of defining how you want to display your Bearing & Non-bearing elements. Use the override tools to redefine the appearance of these elements(remember, projection or cut lines will show changes on the elements depending on where the elements are displayed in relation to your view range). Change the line weight or pattern displayed for the elements.

Once you have defined the changes to the filters, all you have to do is add some walls to your view. Select the "Structural wall" tool and these walls will appear as you defined "Bearing" walls to appear. Select the Architectural "Wall" tool and these walls will appear as you defined the "Non-bearing walls. (Each wall has a parameter that defines whether its bearing or non-bearing)

Now you can quickly display these elements the way you want. With Revit, life is good!!

If you have any questions related to this topic or any other related topics, refer to my e-mail link, and I'll try and help. Cheers.

Creating an AXONOMETRIC VIEW-REVIT

With all the great things that Revit has to offer, creating views is one its most powerful tools. We use all the views for our documentation, but sometimes Revit provides tools that give us the ability to kick it up a notch. Axonometric views are nothing new to designs, but the ability to create them is usually limited to those with time and patience(something we usually don't have enough of). Revit uses Sections and referencing tools that allows for these type of views to be created seamlessly. I am a visual learner which is why anything with a video is always good for me. Have a look at this AVI and you too can create an axonometric view that will WOW, any Revit non believer. I know the video is small, but the key here is:

1. Copying the default 3D view and renaming it to Axonometric view
2. Create a new Section of the building: Rename to Axo-section
3. Go to the New 3D view.(Make sure you click an empty space in the view window)
4. Select from View pulldown menu the "Orient" tool then "Orient to View"
5. This is where you select the Section created "Axo-section"
6. Once in the new view you can orbit as if in 3D perspective
7. Voila!!!!!! Axonometric Section.

Converting the PCP to CTB

CONVERTING PCP REVIT FILES TO AUTOCAD CTB FILES

Anyone that has taken the leap from the 2D CAD world to the 3D Revit platforms has undoubtedly seen the great benefits that come from using BIM(Buiding Information Modelling) software. Parametrics, Bi-directional association, highly coordinated documentation, the list goes on.
Since converting to any new software can be hard due to the learning curve involved; Revit mitigates this process by allowing files to be exported to DWG format at any point of the design. This capability is very powerfull when releasing documentations to consultants that may not be on the Revit platform but still require the designers to provide key documentation. One great feature of this export functionality is the ability to carry over the plot definitions that Revit applies to its families into a CTB file for use in AutoCAD.
The process is simple:
First take an existing Revit file and export out to CAD using the CAD standards format. Then when exporting out, you will notice that a PCP file is created with the same file name as the one used to export out. This PCP file is the Plotting Configuration that Revit uses. Now we must convert this PCP to a newer plot configuration like CTB.
Open your CAD software and using the Plot Style Table configuration you must define a new name from the pull down list given. At this point AutoCAD will prompt to choose whether you would like to create one from scratch, use a CGF file, or a PCP or PC2 file. Choose PCP selection and then browse to the directory where the export was done. Then define the name of the Configuration and finish.
You will now be able to use the Revit plot configurations for all layers used in the current drawing based on the Revit lineweight.
Now you can not only send those files to consultants but they can be plotted in the same great way that Revit prints any view, that is if your feel nice and want to give them the CTB file as well.