The Revit Clinic

Revit Quiz: Why can’t I move this Linked Model?

You have a linked model that you cannot select or move.  You notice it doesn’t even highlight when you hover over it.  You have verified it is not pinned, the workset it visible and editable and it is not in a group.  What else could it be?

Scroll down for the answer…

 

Check for Design Options under Manage > Design Options.  It is possible to create a Design Option Set, and place the linked file in this set.  Because by default Exclude Options is checked, Revit does not select the linked file when you hover or click on it.

If you un-check Exclude Options you should be able to select the link.  This approach is useful should you wish to additionally lock down a linked file from accidentally being moved.

Special thanks to Tim Wadlock for passing this tip along!

Transparent Columns in Detail Callouts

I have had this question come up a few times and thought the explanation was worth a blog post. Let's say you have the following scenario of a wall and column:

 

You add a Floor Plan Callout, which results in what you expected:

 

And then a Detail Callout, where the results are not what you were expecting:

 

So why does the column appear to be transparent in the Detail callout?

The reason for this is that, when unjoined, the wall and column occupy the same physical space. You do not see this display in your Floor Plan and Floor Plan Callout because of the "show family pre-cut in plan views" parameter of the column family.

This parameter determines whether the column displays based on the cut plane specified in the project's view or within the family. Keeping this parameter checked results in columns that always display the same regardless of the project view's settings. More information on this can be found in the Specifying How a Structural Column Displays in Plan View document in the Help menu.

So when this parameter is checked, you are not seeing the 'real' relationship between the elements in your Floor Plan and Plan callout - you are seeing a representation of the column based on the cut plane in the family.

To further clarify, if you edit the column family, go to Family Category and Parameters and clear this checkbox, you'll see the that column displays with the same sort of transparent appearance in all views, not just the detail.

 

The way Detail Callouts are generated internally is different from true 'plan' views and they do not use this parameter, so they show consistently based on the cut plane of the project regardless of whether it is checked or not.

The ways to approach this would be to join the wall and column where applicable (so their geometry no longer overlaps) or to use a Floor Plan callout when needed instead.

I hope this helps!

Troubleshooting Elements that disappear when Rendering

I have worked with a few reports of this behavior reported by David Light and on the Autodesk Discussion Groups.  I wanted to also include the troubleshooting process which has resolved many of these occurrences below:

Each step should be tested individually as the root cause may vary from workstation to workstation and all steps should not be required.  Test rendering the same view after each step:

1.  Windows Temp Folder

Close Revit 2011; then empty the contents of the Windows Temp folder at: 

%Temp%

2.  Hotfix – Black Preview Swatch

Apply the swatch hotfix below, which contains an updated material file:

Hotfix – Black Preview Swatch

3.  Uninstall \ Reinstall the Revit 2011 Shared Material Library

The following technical solution outlines both uninstall and reinstall steps:

Uninstalling the Autodesk Material Library 2011

If the issue persists, there are 2 additional items to verify:

• Run Revit as an administrator by right-clicking on the shortcut > Run as Administrator.  Verify if the results are consistent.
• Log onto the same workstation with a new Windows user [preferably one that has never logged onto the workstation] and test the render with the same project \ view.

2 New Autodesk Labs Downloads

There are 2 new Autodesk Labs downloads available, which I have included below:

Project Vasari 1.1

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

Project Nucleus

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

Revit 2011 FBX to 3ds Max 2011 Tips

I wanted to organize a few tips when exporting from Revit 2011 to FBX format and going into 3ds Max 2011…

1.  Keep the Revit \ Max version in mind

A Revit 2011 FBX export should be imported into 3ds Max 2011 due to the protein appearance format.  For additional information see the technical solution here.

2.  Apply the 3ds Max Hotfix 4

Hotfix 4 – Autodesk 3ds Max 2011
Hotfix 4 – Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2011

There were several FBX improvements, including 3 specific to Revit with the 3ds Max 2011 hotfixes.  I have included the 3 from the readme below:

•FBX files from Autodesk® Revit® with RPC content loaded as empty scenes; all of the content now loads correctly.
•An empty scene was created when loading RPC assets from Autodesk® Revit® through FBX.  An empty scene is no longer loaded.
•When using Autodesk Revit 2011, FBX texture maps were using GUID labels for naming texture maps; texture maps now use their appropriate file names.

3.  Update the FBX Plug-in to 2011.3.1

From 3ds Max 2011 > Import > FBX > Web Updates > Yes > Download Free FBX Plug-ins, FBX Converter, and FBX QuickTime Viewer > FBX 2011.3.1 Plug-in for 3ds Max 2011 [32-Bit or 64-Bit].  Close Max 2011, run and install, launch Max 2011.

4.  Where are the Revit materials stored?

After you update the FBX Plug-in version, the .FBM folder issue is corrected for importing and linking FBX files.  The .FBM folder will now be created and saved in the same location as the FBX file you imported \ linked.

Previously, before the updated plug-in version, the materials were always unpackaged to the users %Temp% folder.  While the hotfix corrected some of the naming issues, in order to have the .FBM folder created [which contains the un-packaged materials, .xml files, .mi files, and .exr files] ensure to update the FBX Plug-in from step #3 as well.

5.  Preparing the model and exporting \ linking \ importing into Max

Included below is a quick process to take from Revit to Max via FBX:

•  In Revit, in a 3D View hide elements or use a section box you do not want to be included in the export.
•  The default 3D View you do this in will be included in the FBX file.
•  R >  Export > FBX, name and save file.
•  Next you want to link the file into Max.  From the File Link Manager, browse and select the FBX file to attach.  Or import under Import > Import.
•  Rendering > Render Setup > Assign Renderer > mental ray Renderer.

6.  Additional documentation

If you have access I would recommend reviewing the Autodesk University Revit® to 3ds Max® via Autodesk® FBX® documentation or screencast here.

In addition, the Revit 2011 Help Documentation has the process + tips here.

If anyone has any additional items they would like to add please leave a comment below! 

 

New Version of Revit DB Link 2011 available on Subscription Center

There is an updated version of Revit DB Link 2011 available on Subscription Center at the link below [login required]:

Subscription Center - Revit DB Link 2011-02-10

This release includes a number of performance, memory utilization and stability improvements.

With this updated version it is important to keep in mind the log files are now stored at the following location:

Vista \ Windows 7 - C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Revit DB Link 2011\log

Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\Revit DB Link 2011\log

Project Vasari 1.1 Trailer

If you have not seen it yet, there is a new preview for Autodesk Project Vasari 1.1 available here.

Revit Quiz: What Controls the Wall Wrapping Location at Inserts?

In your project you set the wall type to wrap at inserts but by default the layers wrap to the center of the wall.

What controls the wall layer wrapping location at inserts?

Scroll down for the answer…

For doors and windows you can set the wall wrapping location as needed for the wall.  A maximum of two closure planes are allowed.  

In the door / window family simply add a reference plane where desired > Properties > check Wall Closure.

Ideally you want to constrain this reference plane to the wall face with a dimension line and lock the padlock constraint.

In the project the wall wrapping should now match this reference plane location.

Some additional links are included below:

Setting Layer Wrapping

Reference Plane Properties

After Installing the Roombook Extension the Location of a Shared Link Cannot be Updated

I wanted to outline a scenario after installing the Roombook Extension.  If you have a Revit linked file with the position currently recorded [for example you previously used Acquire Coordinates] and you attempt to move this link instance in the host project the following error will occur:

A serious error has occurred. It is strongly recommended that you use Save As to save your work in a new file before continuing.

Note that you should be unable to click and drag the link as previously, and the error occurs when you attempt to use the Move tool on the link instance.

When the Roombook Extension is installed you will need to follow the workflow below to allow the link location to be updated:

1.  Select the Revit link > Properties > Shared Site.

2.  Change the Choose Site option from Record current position as… to Do not share site of selected instance.  Click OK.

3.  Now you can select and move the link as needed.  When complete, navigate back to the Choose Site dialog.

4.  Set the option back to Record current position as…  Save the project, and save the position back to the linked file if prompted.

Behavior to Be Aware of when Copy/Monitoring

The following items are outside the scope of Copy/Monitor functionality that you might want to familiarize yourself with:

1. Shape Edited Slabs

Shape edited slabs will copy as flat. Try to use the Slope Arrow tool to slope slabs where possible or use a separate slab for each file.

  
2. Wall Cleanups

Walls will not clean up when Copy/Monitored if profile sketches have been applied to them. To work around the issue, eliminate the profile sketches where possible, use masking regions to hide the plan linework at the cleanups, or try using the Edit Wall Joins tool (this may not work for every scenario).

 

3. Wall Location Lines

Walls will always be Copy/Monitored by their center lines. You may want to only copy/monitor the structural portion of the architect’s walls, so in the Copy/Monitor Options dialog, you may set the new wall type to only represent the core structure. Unfortunately those copied walls will not line up with the core of the architect’s walls, as they will be Copy/Monitored by their center lines.

 

4. Other Elements

Remember, Copy/Monitor is only designed to be used with Levels, Grids, Vertical Columns, Walls, and Floors. If you need similar functionality with other elements such as roofs, trusses, in-place elements, or slanted columns you can use TAB to cycle through the selection set until you select the individual element in within the linked file, and then use Modify > Copy to Clipboard and Modify > Paste > Aligned to Same Place to make a copy of the element within your host file.

Is there any other Copy/Monitor behavior you'd like to add or any other methods you use? If so, please comment and I'll make any needed updates to the post. If you'd like to see the Copy/Monitor functionality expanded to include other elements, please feel free to provide feedback here.