The Revit Clinic

The case of the deleted elements…

Many of us have been in a situation where we create a new local file, and notice specific elements missing from the file.  It might be tags, keynotes, text, etc...  The question is how did these elements get deleted?

More often than not if a specific object type is missing throughout the entire project, “Select all Instances” may have been used to select them.  Once selected they may have been deleted from all views.

The following journal excerpts will give you a better idea of what to look in a journal file to isolate this scenario.  In this example let’s use “text” as the missing object type…

The user selects a portion of text:

"SEL RESULT: Text Notes : Text : 1/4"" Arial"

User then right-clicks, “Select all Instances”:

Jrn.Command "ContextMenu" , "Select all elements that have the same type as the selected element , ID_PRJBROWSER_SEL_ALL"

User then deletes them:

Jrn.Command "AccelKey" , "Delete the selection , ID_BUTTON_DELETE"

All matching instances of this text deleted from project:

Jrn.Data "Transaction Successful"  , "Delete Selection"

Troubleshooting Startup Delays

I’ve had a few scenarios over the last few weeks isolating what may be causing Revit 2010 to launch slower than expected.  I wanted to pass along the best approach to troubleshoot this, as well as 3 common areas to verify on the workstation.

To best isolate what may be going on, open the latest journal file.  For each action in the journal file, a time\date stamp is recorded.  These time stamps will best explain where the delay may be occurring.  For example:

 

Look for long time changes between actions.  If you come across one, you can isolate exactly where the delay is occurring.

The 3 most common causes of startup delays typically are as follows:

1.  License Connection

Check the line directly before and after the “License Mode” and “Expiration” in the journal file.  The 2 time stamps should be close together. 

 

If there is a substantial delay, try steps # 1-4 and # 6 from the technical solution below:

Revit network license troubleshooting

2.  ProteinMaterial Library on a Network Location

The recommendation is to have the read-only render appearance library location on the local workstation drive.  You can avoid startup delays by keeping the path to the default location in Options > Rendering > Render Appearance Library Location > “C:\Program Files\Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010\Data\Rendering\assetlibrary_base.fbx”.  You can see this information in the first journal image referencing “Protein”.

3.  Recent Files List

Revit can potentially experience a startup delay when files are referenced in the Revit.ini Recent File list that may have moved.  For example a server may have changed locations or have been renamed.  To simply test this you can open the Revit.ini file on the workstation located in "C:\Program Files\Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010\Program", make a backup of the file, and then locate the following line:

[Recent File List]

To test, remove all of the entries beneath the “[Recent File List]” to “[Recent Workset List]” leaving a blank line so it appears as follows:

[Recent File List]

[Recent Workset List]

Launch Revit 2010 to see if the startup time has improved.

Workset Assignment View Filter

This issue came up the other day and I thought it would be useful to pass along.  A sometimes forgotten filter rule we can sort all objects by is workset.  There may be scenarios where graphically seeing which objects are assigned to which worksets may be useful.

We can achieve this by creating view filters, and enabling them in a view as needed.  Colors can be assigned to each filter to easily differenciate which objects are assigned to which workset.

I’ve included a quick video example of this process below:

Workset View Filter

New Update Available

In case you haven't seen it yet, last night we posted the latest update for Revit Architecture , Structure, and MEP 2010.

You can download it from:

Revit Architecture Web Update 2

Please select English when asked to choose a language.

A list of the enhancements can be found in the Update Enhancement List pdf posted on the download page as well as a readme file.

The update is also available for Revit Structure and MEP from the following locations:

Revit Structure Web Update 2

Revit MEP Web Update 2

Please make sure to download the 32 or 64 bit version based on your operating system. 

I highly encourage you to download and install this update.  It contains a lot of good fixes on addessing major product stabilty issues. 

Error 17

I want to pass along a technical solution and a bit of additional information to troubleshoot a licensing status some users have come across.  The most common cause of this “error 17” status is a corruption of the CascadeInfo.cas file.  This could occur where the workstation may have crashed, or where there was an event such as a power loss.  When this does occur the CascadeInfo.cas file is not properly closed out, and could potentially become corrupt.  The next time Revit is launched the file cannot be read resulting in the error, along with a floating licensing error.

Renaming or deleting the file will recreate it automatically the next time Revit 2010 products are launched.  In most cases this resolves the error status, but there are a few possible scenarios where the following troubleshooting technical solution should be helpful.   For example adding the FLEXLM_TIMEOUT variable has been known to resolve the status as well.  I have included the link below:

Revit 2010 error 17 license status troubleshooting

If after following the above process the issue persists please collect the requested files in the technical solution and log a support request or contact your reseller.

FNP_ACT_Installer.dll error when installing

When attempting to install your Revit 2010 product, you might receive the following error and the installation rolls back:

1: 5 2 Failed to Load FNP_ACT_Installer.dll. 3: 126

This error is caused by a conflict in a Macrovision DLL file on the machine, most often seen after installing AutoCAD 2010. To resolve the error you can do the following:

1. Download one of the following zip files, based on the Operating System that you are running:
   
   32 bit Vista/XP: Download FNP_Act_Installer_32_bit
   64 bit Vista/XP: Download FNP_Act_Installer_64_bit
   
   
2. Extract the DLL file to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdLM\R1, overwriting any existing version.

After replacing the DLL you should be able to install.

Investigate Product Stability Issues

Check out this new video solution that I just finished about troubleshooting and investigating pesky product stabilty problems (ie crashing) in Revit.  Hope you like the video. 

10 Linked \ Imported File Tips

Continuing the series of 10 quick tips, here are some topics for linked or imported files.  Please note any videos included below are for workflow reference and do not contain sound…

1.  TAB select \ copy linked objects

You can toggle object selection through a linked file using the “TAB” key to select, and open Element Properties as needed to view the object information.

Along with this, once selected you can copy & paste the object directly from the link into the host file using the clipboard copy and paste tools: Video Example

2.  Hosting component families on a linked file

Component families need to be of “face-based” type in order to detect a linked model as a host.

3.  Revit links instance count

For each instance of the linked file, Revit adds a number under "Revit Links" when expanded so they may be individually toggled for overrides: Video Example

4.  Deleting all instances of a linked file

If all instances of a linked file are deleted you should receive a warning.  However the link reference still appears in Manage Links, and can be unloaded \ reloaded.  If the file is reloaded and it is still not visible, there may not be any active references in the project and it should be removed \ re-inserted: Video Example

5.  Hide elements in view

You can hide portions of a linked Revit or CAD link as needed using the “TAB” key to select objects >Hide in View > Elements.  For a CAD file, select the instance > Query > Delete or Hide in View: Video Example

6.  Central file or local file link?

When linking a Revit project file into a host project, ensure the link was last saved as a central file.  Links that are considered local files will check for a related central file as they are loaded.  This can cause a performance hit which can be avoided by ensuring all links are central files.

7.  2 mile warning on import

If you receive the “Revit cannot import because it will create a Revit model that is larger than 2 miles across” warning and the CAD file contents are within 2 miles in size, there are 3 items to verify:

1.  Turn on all layers in the AutoCAD file and zoom extents to ensure there are no stray objects.
2.  Not only check a top view in AutoCAD but also open an elevation and 3D view to ensure the entire model placement is within a 2 mile area.
3.  If the CAD file contains AEC objects, ensure to set PROXYGRAPHICS to 1 in the CAD file.  This can reduce the occurrence of this warning when these objects are present to ensured they are properly displayed.

8.  View annotation through a linked file

If the linked file contains annotation such as room tags or dimensions, and you wish to show this in the host project, set the “Visibility \ Graphic Overrides” to “Linked View” or “Custom”: Video Example

9.  Selectively toggle linked files in a schedule view

You can toggle visibility and of linked files in a schedule table view: Video Example

10.  When to split apart your Revit project file?

There is a good explanation in our Model Performance Technical Note regarding when to split apart your project file which I have included below:

Consistent customer practice is to break up a large model into multiple files of about 160 MB each for
32-bit Revit, or 200 MB for 64-bit Revit, then link together the resulting project files. Such a procedure
will work best if the user can work on one file while the other links are unloaded for a majority of the
time.

10 Revit Tag Tips

Continuing the series of 10 quick tips, here are 10 tips and videos for tags in Revit.  Please note the videos do not have sound and are for reference only….

1.  Display the rectangular box in a room tag family

When editing a room tag and the lines around the room number are not visible, verify annotation categories are visible.  Open Visibility / Graphics Overrides > Annotation Categories > check Show annotation categories in this view:  Video Example

2.  Cannot tag top face with spot elevation tag

If you are unable to tag a face with the spot elevation tag, verify Model Graphics Style is not set to Wireframe:  Video Example

3.  Section tag center line

The section callout head family center line contains a hard-coded parameter for Rotate with Section.  This will allow the line to rotate with the section head.  While you cannot add this to new lines, you can copy the line and modify as needed:  Video Example

4.  Nested annotation text readability

If you come across text that is not staying readable in families containing a nested family; verify the Keep text readable setting in the nested family: Video Example

5.  Tag all multiple categories

To tag all for multiple object types, use the CTRL key to select as many categories as needed:  Video Example

6.  Room tag model orientation

When adding a room tag, you can specify Model orientation to have it align with model elements.  Simply use the SPACE bar to toggle the elements it will be aligned to: Video Example

7.  Design options and view tag visibility

To determine how view tags show when design options are in place, you can specify the visibility of a view tag in the Instance Properties: Video Example

8.  Section view hide at scales coarser than

When you add a section view tag, it takes the current view scale and makes this the default for Hide at scales coarser than.  This is good to keep in mind if tags drop out of a view when the scale changes: Video Example

9.  Add a rotation parameter to project north symbol

To make updating a true north \ project north symbol easier, you can add a type parameter for the rotation of the symbol line: Video Example

10.  Add visibility parameter to imported image in annotation family

Technical Solution

Video Example

Printing images in Revit 2010 products

If you are experiencing issues printing views or sheets containing images in Revit 2010 products, the three topics below should improve this behavior:

1.  Update 1

There were a number of printing, image handling, and print preview improvements with the Update 1 release for 2010 products.  Ensure you are running the latest build by applying the update below.  I have included the 3 links for each product:

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010
Autodesk Revit Structure 2010
Autodesk Revit MEP 2010

2.  Latest Printer Drivers

If images are still dropping out or mirroring when printing, it may be related to the printer driver.  For Revit 2010 products ensure you are running the latest printer driver specific for your operating system.  Typically if the image prints to DWF or PDF normally it may be related to an outdated printer driver.

3.  HP Plotters

If you are still experiencing issues, and are printing to an HP Plotter, there is a potential situation where images may drop out when printing.  To resolve this behavior, I have included a Technical Solution below covering this scenario:

Images drop out when printing to HP plotters from Revit 2010 products