The Revit Clinic

New Version of Autodesk Revit DB Link 2012 Available

A new version of Revit DB Link 2012 was just posted to the Subscription Center, in the Product Enhancements section.

The new release is intended to address the following issues:

1. The following error when attempting to export:
   
   Error: Attempted to read or write protected memory. This is often an indication that other memory is corrupt.
   
   
2. A blank RoomFromToAssociations table caused by project phasing.

 

Revit Visibility Hierarchy

Revit gives the user a number of ways to override the display of an element.  It may not always be clear which method “wins” over another method, but there is a visibility hierarchy.  This list may not cover every possible scenario but does include common overrides.  

10 being the lowest and 1 being the highest using walls as an example:

1. Line Work Tool
2. Override Graphics in View > By Element > Halftone
3. Graphic Display Options – Silhouette Edges
4. Override Graphics in View > By Element
5. View Filters
6. View Depth – “Beyond” Line Style
7. Phasing Graphic Overrides
8. Visibility / Graphic Overrides > Override Host Layers > Cut Line Styles
9. Visibility / Graphic Overrides > Projection \ Cut Lines
10. Project Object Styles

Here is a graphical example using walls:

Another example to this:

• There is a Visibility/Graphic Override for the wall category in the view
• The wall has an override by element
• The view uses a phase graphic override
• There is a view filter applied overriding the graphics of walls over a specific thickness

When all 4 of these overrides are in place, by default the Override Graphics in View > By Element is visible since it is highest up the chain at #4:

Remove that override and I now see my view filter:

Remove the view filter and I see the phasing graphic override:

And lastly, change the phase filter of the view and I will see my Visibility/Graphic Override:

You want to update a revision/issue title block label globally in multiple sheet views

A user who recently migrated from AutoCAD to the Revit Architecture Program and wanted to know how to update a revision/issue title block label globally in multiple sheet views without the need to edit every single individual sheet view contained within the project. When the user used to issue drawings using AutoCad, every drawing has a revision consisting of an xref with the revision data attached to every drawing.

Following these simple steps set out in this link below to our Technical Solution contained within our Knowledge Base to explain how to add a label to a titleblock, which can be updated globally in multiple sheet views in Revit Architecture 2012.

You want to update a revision/issue title block label globally in multiple sheet views

Microsoft Windows Vista Support FAQ

This is a very quick post for today.  Are you using Windows Vista and Autodesk software?  Please take a few minutes and check out our Micosoft Windows Vista Support FAQ.  It has important information regarding Autodesk products and Windows Vista.  

Even if your not a user of Windows Vista, I'd still recommend you should give it a read.    

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/