The Revit Clinic

Using Annotation from Linked Views & Troubleshooting Missing Annotation

By default you can utilize annotation, such as dimensions \ room tags \ text \ etc, from a linked model view in the host model view.  Under Visibility \ Graphic Overrides > Revit Links, you can set the link to By Linked View or Custom:

 

When you select a linked view that contains annotation, it should display in the host model:

However if you find the annotation missing from the linked view, there are a few common items to confirm which I have organized below:

1.  Is the Linked View Parallel to the Host View?

One of the most common causes of this behavior.  Say you have a section view in the host model, which cuts through the linked model.  In the host section view, you set the link to use a view containing annotation.  However the host section view is not parallel to the linked section view:

2.  Linked Model Rotated?

Similar to #1, is the linked model slightly skewed in the host model?  For example if the host and link should both be horizontal, zoom in to confirm they are parallel.  If this were the case the annotation would not display:

3.  Visibility \ Graphic Overrides Set Visible?

If set to By Linked View or Custom, the linked model geometry will not be using the host visibility settings by default.  In this case it is important to open Visibility / Graphic Overrides, and confirm the specific annotation categories are visible:

4.  Element in Link Hidden in Host?

This one is easy to overlook; let’s take the following example:

-You tab-select annotation in a linked model [from the host model view]
-Right-click > Hide in View > Category
-This hides the specific annotation category from the link
-You later check the V/G > Revit Links > Display Settings and confirm the category is visible but does not appear in the model

When you hide categories in this manner Revit creates custom display settings for the link instance.

You can confirm this under Visibility / Graphic Overrides  > Revit Links > Display Settings.  When you tab-select and hide a category in the link, the link name should be expanded to show that link instance and it should read Custom:

Let me know if you can add any additional examples!

Revit Schedule Survey

Our friends over at Inside the Factory have posted a new survey about Revit schedules.  They are conducting some research and would love to hear from you.

I can relate to Dave's story about how cool Revit schedules were when you first saw what they could do.

To give them a hand in their efforts, check out the post over at:

http://insidethefactory.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/01/revit-schedules-a-love-hate-relationship.html

Hotfix: Improve Stability When Uploading to Revit Server, Part 2

The updated version of the Revit Server stability Hotfix has been released, and is available for download here:

Hotfix - Autodesk Revit Server 2012 - Improve stability when uploading to Revit Server

This Hotfix addresses a crash that may occur when Revit is uploading data to Revit Server during a Synchronize with Central operation.

The Hotfix must be applied to both Revit Server and the Revit product to be effective. Instructions on how to do so can be found in the Readme.

Please also note that you need to have Update Release 2 installed for your Revit product (build number 20110916_2132).

Thanks for your patience while we worked on getting the files updated!

New Version of eTransmit for Revit available now on Autodesk Labs

Got a note last night about a new version (1.1).  Check out what the eTransmit team has been up to:

eTransmit for Revit – Technology Preview 1.1

The eTransmit for Revit team is pleased to announce that a new version of the eTransmit for Revit technology preview is now available for free download from Autodesk Labs.  This preview is available worldwide and will expire after June 30, 2012.

What’s new in 1.1?

You might recall that back in July we did a user survey to gather feedback from those of you who had tried eTransmit for Revit.  One of the things that we heard very clearly is that there are a number of people who were experiencing problems using the initial version.  Based on this, our biggest focus for this version was fixing issues.  For a complete list you can review the release notes and known issues, but highlights include:

• eTransmit will no longer crash when you try to create a transmittal on a network drive.
• The progress bar now updates correctly when there are errors and warnings (previously it gave the impression that the transmittal had failed when there were only warnings).

In addition, there is one new feature.  In version 1.1, you can use eTransmit even if you have one or more models open. 

Known issues:  Unfortunately, transmitted models still do not open correctly if you double-click on them from the operating system.  To open a transmitted model correctly, use Revit’s file open command.  This and other known issues are listed in detail in the release notes and known issues.

 What else did we learn in the user survey?

The survey certainly confirmed that eTransmit for Revit is a useful tool that saves time.  Most of the respondents envisioned using it to share models outside your firm a few times per week and many respondents would use it for archiving models as well.

As part of this survey, we asked participants to prioritize twenty-five wishlist items.  Based on the ranking, the top 25% are shown here:

 

The orange bars indicate the total points assigned to each request based on the number of users who classified it as “most important”, “very important”, etc.  Our team can’t promise anything about the future of eTransmit for Revit, but we did want to give you some idea of what your feedback has said.  Many thanks go to everyone who participated in the survey or offered suggestions via other avenues.

Thanks for taking the time to try eTransmit for Revit.   Suggestions, problems, and questions are all welcome at Labs.Revit.Etransmit@autodesk.com.

 

Interior Elevations and Large Coordinates in the Project

Let’s look at a quick troubleshooting scenario around interior elevations, which appear distorted.

You have an interior elevation of a room which looks like this in 3D:

However the interior elevation is displaying the cabinets as transparent:

This type of display inconsistency is often related to large coordinates in the model.

Once the distance range passes outside the 20 mile “box” you could potentially run into this behavior.

Revit 20 mile origin limit for imported and model geometry

Walls which appear transparent, or are displaying elements behind them, is often the same underlying issue.

The process below should help better determine if a stray element is creating large coordinates in the model:

1. Open a 3D View > Enable every Visibility \ Graphic Overrides Category for all Disciplines
2. Set the View Phase Filter to None
3. Verify all Worksets are visible in the 3D View
4. Reveal Hidden Elements
5. Set Discipline > Coordination
6. Zoom to Fit

If the view appears blank on zoom this indicates there are 2 or more elements a far distance from each other.

For example, the model may be in one location where a stray plumbing fixture was inadvertently moved further away, causing coordinates well over 20 miles.  Cross select portions of the view to see if any stray elements are selected.

Hopefully, if you can isolate and delete the element [or correct the location] the interior elevation appearance should return to an expected state.

Structure Generator for Autodesk Revit

Just in Time for AU and a little Thanksgiving treat.  A new Technology preview is available for Revit Architecture and Revit Structure.

Structure Generator Overview:

Project Structure Generator for Autodesk^® Revit^® Structure and Autodesk^® Revit^® Architecture software is a technology preview that provides a connection between massing models and objects created during conceptual design and structural elements such as beams, column, walls, plates. With Project Structure Generator, structural engineers and architects, from the earliest stages, can very quickly create and visualize a physical and analytical model of a structure based on the massing model.

• Automatically create and visualize a physical model of the structure with mass objects
• Generate variants of the physical and analytical model with structural systems based on the massing model.
• Predict volume and weight of materials used.
• Extend model to Revit Structure or Revit Architecture.
• Extend massing model to structural analysis with Project Storm a cloud based technology preview on Autodesk Labs that allows static analysis to be performed or to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional software.

Watch the video can go get your's at on Autodesk Labs: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/revit_structure_generator/

Workflow Feedback

If you are interested in helping Autodesk create a better workflow between Autodesk Products, please take this short survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NLBM883. 

Your input will help us create a more fluid workflow between design solutions. Ask yourself the questions below – if you said yes then we would like your feedback.

• If Revit is your primary design tool, have you ever had to include AutoCAD drawings or produce AutoCAD drawings as a deliverable? 
• If AutoCAD (includes all DWG-based products) is your primary design tool, have you ever worked with others on a project that might include some Revit information?
• Have you ever worked with others on a project that might include a model from software other that Revit?

Thank you!

 

Journal File Parser

Last weekend I wasn't feeling that great, and decided to play around with some scripting while we were just sitting around watching football. What I ended up with was a Journal File Parser, and I think it turned out to be useful enough to share.

What it does, is parses through a folder of journal files and pulls out the following:

Journal File Name
Start Date & Time
Username
Revit Build
Hardware Acceleration Status
Graphics Card
Graphics Driver
Operating System
Last Memory Usage Statistics
Last Entry Line

It takes all of this information and populates it into an Excel file.

So how is this useful?

When someone comes to us with a Revit problem, one of the first things we want to do is check the basics. Are users on the latest build? Do they have certified graphics cards? Are the correct drivers installed? Instead of having to open individual journal files to check all of these things, a single run of the script will pull out all of the information. Even if users aren't having problems, it could be used as a quick audit to make sure everyone is on the same build, has the same drivers, etc.

In addition, if a user is crashing, this can help us understand which journals to look at, and to eliminate memory as a suspect. The Last Memory Line will tell us how much memory was left the last time Revit reported it in the journal. So if the available RAM is really low, we'll be able to quickly identify it. If a user experienced an issue but they weren't sure which journal recorded it, we can quickly verify the Start Date/Times of the journals to be able to narrow down the right files faster. Also, if the Last Entry Line ends with 0:< finished recording journal file, that session probably wasn't a crash, so we can focus on the sessions that ended unexpectedly without having to open each one to check.

To use the script:

1. Create a 'Journals' folder in the same directory as the Script file.
2. Place all journal files to be parsed in this folder.
3. Double click the .vbs to run.
4. An Excel file named 'Journal Data.xls' will be created in the same directory as the script file.

Now keep in mind, I'm certainly not a programmer - so if it's reporting information you're not expecting, please let me know and I will be happy to fix it!

Download Journal File Parser

I'm finding lots of great uses for it already, and hopefully you will too. :)

Scheduling Duct and Pipe Elbows by Angle

A common request we are seeing is the desire to schedule duct and pipe elbows by angle so that they can be scheduled and ordered. As the Angle parameter is a System Family it cannot be scheduled normally.

The help automate this process we have found that creating a Shared Parameter with a formula should pull the angle of the elbow, which in turn can be scheduled.

The process for goes like this:

1. Create a Shared Parameter file.
2. Edit the elbow families and add the Shared Parameter.
3. In the Family Types, set the formula for the Elbow Angle parameter to = Angle.
4. In the project, create a duct or pipe fitting schedule with the Elbow Angle Parameter (along with any other parameters). 

 

You should now have a schedule that shows the Angles. From here, you can filter the information to best suit your needs.

One thing to keep in mind, is that initially the schedule will show all fittings (Tees, Crosses, Transitions, etc.), so filtering by "Elbow Angle > Parameter Exists", should only show the elbow families with the shared parameter.

Here is a video of the process:

Credit to Jason Martin for verification of the process.

 

In the project, create a duct or pipe fitting schedule with the Elbow Angle Parameter (along with any other parameters). 

You should now have a schedule that shows the Angles. From here, you can filter the information to best suit your needs.

One thing to keep in mind is that initially the schedule will show all fittings, so to only show the elbows set the schedule to filter by "Elbow Angle > Parameter Exists".

Here is a Video of the process:

Autodesk Cloud Rendering Hotfix released

Here is a list of what has been fixed. 

Cloud Rendering Web Portal: 

1. Re-render rendered the wrong view or had wrong thumbnail or view name.  We fixed two bugs in the gallery re-render feature. These should fix the wrong view re-render issues for new and previously uploaded files. 
2. Estimated time remaining information on progress bar.  The thumbnail progress bar remaining time estimate was not showing up when the mouse was hovering on it. 
3. Shorter view name in tooltip.  When you hover on a thumbnail in the gallery the pop-up that appears now displays the short version of the view name. 
4. Re-render email option added.  In the dialog that appears when re-rendering an image it's now possible to enable/disable the email notification 
5. Zoom sensitivity in panorama viewer.  We adjusted the zoom sensitivity in the panorama viewer.  There are slightly different behaviors depending on the browser used. That's expected. 
6. TIFF panoramas display.  Panoramas generated from TIFF images were not showing in the panorama viewer. 
7. Panorama size limited.  A Flash limitation in the Internet Explorer panorama viewer cannot display large panoramas.  Panoramas sizes are now capped for this reason and for overall system performance control.

Renderer:

1. Materials with bump set to 0 rendered black.  When a bump of relief map was set to 0 intensity the material was rendering black. 
2. Index of Refraction for Generic materials not working.  Generic materials had a fixed IOR of 1.5. Now we use the refraction parameter value correctly. 
3. Better rendering timeout estimation.  Some renderings were failing if they were taking longer than the estimated time. Now we allow extra time. 
4. Reflectivity parameters (equal values) error.  When Generic material reflectivity parameters were set to the same value the material was rendering incorrectly. 

Revit Add-in: 

1. Section box fix.  In some cases the section box was not cutting the geometry correctly when objects were visible in other non-sectioned views.  We now handle that case correctly. 

Download the add-in again and reinstall it to get this fix. 
http://rendering.cloud.autodesk.com 
New Rendering -> Download Rendering Add-in 

To download localized versions of the add-in, switch the page language before downloading (the option is a the bottom of the page).