Create FREE 3D Adobe PDF files from Revit

Here is a little GEM that I saw a couple of weeks ago on What Revit Wants the reason for re-posting, well it tells you how to Create a 3D PDF files from Revit for FREE and I love the FREE appliactions plus when I want to find it again I know I have it here on my Blog.

Original Posting Create 3D PDF files from Autodesk Revit for free

Here is how to do it:

1. Close Revit
2. Download and install i-model plug-in for Revit (you will have to register)
3. Download and install Bentley View
4. Open a Revit project
5. Open a 3D view
6. In the Ribbon, go to Bentley - Publish as i-model
7. Open the i-model DGN in Bentley View
8. File - Print to PDF
9. Tick 'Print to 3D'
10. Click Printer button
11. Choose a place to save your file
12. Open the 3D PDF in Adobe Reader
13. Have fun navigating your Revit model inside a 3D PDF file.

Enjoy

Revit Structure 2012 Update 2 Ready - Well Nearly!

Autodesk have just posted Update 2 for Autodesk Revit Structure 2012

It is available to users who have purchased a valid license for Autodesk Revit Structure 2012, Autodesk Building Design Suite Ultimate 2012, Autodesk Building Design Suite Premium 2012, Autodesk® Plant Design Suite Ultimate 2012, Autodesk® Plant Design Suite Premium 2012 or AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite 2012, and is subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that appears during installation.

For a list of improvements, please download the Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2012 Update Enhancement List: BUT read below

      Update Enhancement List (pdf - 184Kb)

Note: Build Number can be found in the Update Enhancement List

Note: Enhancement list will be updated within two business days of Update 2 being posted to include Update 2 improvements.

In English - Don't bother downloading the Update Enhancement List, because as always we at Autodesk never complete software, updates or patches etc. as a one stop shop.

We (Autodesk) have decided to release this two days before we finish the Enhancement List or documentation, cos we don't have clue what's in there anyway ;0)
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Ummmm usually there is a Subscription Advantage Pack released about now, so is there or isn't there going to be one this year?

Hell ~ What do we pay subscription for, sure there will be, two or three weeks before they release 2013!

Revit is about BIM
BIM is about Information
Information is about good communications
Autodesk you are poor communicators
Your User Base expects and deserves better

6/10 Do Better

UPDATE it's now two days later and here is the file for Update 2 

      Update Enhancement List (pdf - 200Kb)
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Autodesk Cloud - Apps, Enhancements, Services

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Autodesk Cloud, is a collection of more than a dozen web-based capabilities, products and services that enable customers to extend their desktops with greater mobility, new viewing and sharing capabilities, and more computing power, helping them better design, visualize and simulate their ideas.

In addition, Autodesk Subscription customers will now have exclusive access to cloud-based, high-performance rendering and design optimization, and enhanced collaboration capabilities.

Autodesk Subscription now provides 3 GB of online storage for each seat of software on Subscription for greater access to design and engineering documents, anywhere, anytime.

Read more Here
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Finally CSC Intergration Tool for Revit Structure 2012

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It's great to see that after six months from the launch of  2012 CSC have finally released their new BIM integration tool, Revit Integrator. This unique and free tool enables structural engineers and technicians to synchronize models between Autodesk Revit Structure and CSC's steel building design software, Fastrak, and concrete building design software, Orion.

Why has it taken so long and why is the download file size 10x that of previous versions, because CSC software also includes all the families it need to operate without having to rely on the families provided by Autodesk.

As Yoda would say "Worried Am I" yet another source of families to validate or worry about.

The link over at BIM and Beam is broken and gives a 404 error message so use This One to get to press release page about the software and This Link to get you straight to the download page.
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Autodesk® Design Review for iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.

 

Description

Expedite the design review process by viewing and redlining design files in the field. Autodesk® Design Review mobile app enables you to review Autodesk 2D and 3D design files directly on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. View, mark-up, and annotate drawings on the spot, reduce the need to carry around over-sized paper drawings, and enjoy an all-digital design review workflow.

✓View
• Open and view 2D and 3D DWF files from your Autodesk Cloud account
• Use multi-touch to zoom, pan, and rotate drawings
• View meta data and other details about elements within your drawings

✓Markup & Annotate

• Use simple and intuitive redline and markup tools to communicate changes
• Add text or comments using familiar callouts and drawing tools

Autodesk Inc. Web Site                              Design Review Mobile Support
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UK & Ireland Revit User Groups

View UK Revit User Groups in a full screen map - Click the map location indicators above for links to web sites and linked-In groups 

(A)	LRUG	London Revit User Group	10th Meeting due November 2011
(B)	GRUG	Glasgow Revit User Group	6th Meeting due 19th October 2011
(C)	ERUG	Edinburgh Revit User Group	2nd Meeting was July 2011
(D)	BRUG	Bristol Revit User Group	2nd Meeting was May 2011
(E)	RUGL	Revit User Group Leeds	3rd Meeting due 28th September 2011 4th Meeting due 23rd November 2011
(F)	RUIG	Revit Users Ireland Group	2nd Meeting was September 2011
(G)	MRUG	Manchester Revit User Group	2nd Meeting due 9th November 2011
(H)	RMUG	Revit Midland User Group	Linked-In Group - No actual meetings arranged yet
(I)	NERUG	North East Revit User Group	Linked-In Group - No actual meetings arranged yet

NBS and The National BIM Library

NBS is pleased to announce the development of the National BIM (Building Information Modelling) Library for the UK construction industry.

The National BIM Library, which will be accessible online and free of charge, will enable architects, contractors, interior designers and other construction professionals to locate and download generic BIM objects for a comprehensive range of systems and products such as walls, windows, doors, foundations, cladding and roofs.

The service, which will go live in November with the first set of objects, will be built up to become the primary source of standard and proprietary BIM objects.

By also publishing property definitions for all systems and products, NBS will also establish a common approach to quality standards across the construction industry, with a view to encouraging consistency and collaboration.

The development of the National BIM Library is the latest step in NBS's efforts to provide, share and maintain quality information for the built environment and by extension, support the growth of BIM as an information-rich database and highly effective business process. It also supports the launch of NBS Create, the groundbreaking new specification tool, which truly brings specification into the BIM arena.


The generic models will initially be delivered in IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) and Autodesk Revit formats with the intention of making content available through a variety of alternative formats as soon as possible.

The National BIM Library will also offer manufacturers the opportunity to have their proprietary objects authored to the new standard and hosted within the National BIM Library as well as other information sources such as ribaproductselector.com and the NBS itself. This will facilitate generic objects to be replaced at later stages of a design with specific manufacturer's objects once specified.

To register your interest in BIM object authoring and hosting, please email BIMobjects@theNBS.com.

To subscribe to our BIM Bulletins to receive the up to date information about the National BIM Library and regular BIM news, click here.

Project Neon for Revit

Have you tried Project Neon?  It’s a cloud rendering service. You can render your Revit (and AutoCAD) model online now, using Autodesk render farm. Then you can download the final result. It’s fast, free (at least for now) and you can use your valuable hardware and software while it renders your model.

If you’re interested try it here: http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/neon/
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GRAPHISOFT BIMx

I would like to see this kind of app for Revit



GRAPHISOFT BIMx is an innovative, interactive, BIM communication tool for architects setting new standards for design communication and presentation in the AEC industry. BIMx now turns the iPad/iPhone into a full-fledged interactive building model explorer device as well.

More info:
http://www.gsbimx.com
http://www.graphisoft.com/products/bim-explorer/

Scott White & Hookins are looking for Revit Technician

Technician - Structural/Civil

This is a great opportunity for someone who knows Revit Structure already or who is keen to rapidly develop their experience in this growing and exciting area.

We are seeking an enthusiastic Civil/Structural Engineering Technician with good AutoCAD and structural detailing experience to develop and promote our Revit capability throughout the practice. You would be able to work with Architects who are leaders in the BIM field on interesting and challenging projects, in a professional and supportive working environment alongside other Revit experts.

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Main purpose of job

To work as a Structural/Civil Engineering CAD Technician on a wide variety of challenging and interesting projects covering many different construction sectors throughout the UK, including healthcare, commercial offices, education, retail, mixed use and residential schemes.

To help ensure that Scott White and Hookins provides a first class structural and civil engineering consultancy services.

To contribute to Scott White and Hookins’ vision and strategic objective to provide a fully integrated, high quality service to our clients in a friendly, professional manner and to reflect our passion for innovative and sustainable construction.

For more information and an application form CLICK HERE 

RECRUITMENT AGENCIES NEED NOT APPLY

Project Spark ........ Teething Problems ?

All excited I have downloaded and installed Project Spark which could be called Revit LT but isn't because although it uses the same file extensions it's not directly compatible with Revit file Doh....

On booting for the first time I get two error messages

Then

Checking the Paths under Options

So off to look at Wikihelp, Find information about where the spark templates should live which is the same location as RST and RAC so then off to my hard disk under C:\ProgramData\Autodesk I have the RST 2012 but now also have RLT with no file structure below but no Spark (Ummm which is kind of Revit LT)

Is this a UK or World install cock-up on Autodesks part or just my install?

The people that created the Wikihelp for Spark on this matter must have edited the Revit one (sensible) but they forgot to alter the icon used in the top right corner.

Off then to the Autodesk Spark Discussion Group to report back my findings as Autodesk need feedback on this latest Lab offering and I have posted the above at http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Project-Spark/Where-are-the-templates-for-Spark/td-p/3144862

I did not notice that my "cock up" had automatically been replaced by four **** up on posting! "Neat feature" I just hope no one with a dirty mind does not think that I used the F -Word which my Mum said I should never use in public ;0)

Shame you can't get back to edit a post on their group once submitted....

I'm really trying to get my head around Autodesks game plan with Spark, ok ultimately they are a business and will want to make money off a LT version of Revit - but why not be honest and not try to hook a load of people to help you develop and bug fix the product before it's no longer free and you are then expecting the hooked users paying big bucks for a cut down product ( AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT)

Ummm I'm an ex Generic CAD user..... that product that was bought by Autodesk and marketed as AutoCAD LT before they actually released AutoCAD LT and they then asked me if I would like to pay £99 for the pleasure of cross grading a month after having just paid £99 for the pleasure of upgrading my Generic CAD because it had more compatibility with AutoCAD...... £99 was a lot of money in those days <VGB>

I wonder how long it will be before its just a "little bit of history repeating itself"

So as too an answer to where the templates should be ...... Once I get one I will post it below here

POST UPDATE

 Ummmm a bad install thinks Autodesk, re-install it is the advice...... So I installed at work but I actually opened up the options and ensured that Metric Content was selected

In fact there are three screens of options

And the copy at work installed A-OK
Back to the home copy and Control Panel to Repair and it knew that the templates and content had not been installed, a ticking content as above screen shots from the work install and hay-presto fully working software with content.

Now the content is saved in a folder under c:\programdata\autodesk\RLT

Ummm so why not call Spark what it is Revit LT ?

New Technology Previews Project Spark and Storm

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You may have seen around that two new technology previews have been released around BIM.  Project Spark is now available to try out.  David Light has written a concise overview on his blog, Project Spark - quick overview.

  

Also, if you want to learn more about Project Spark at the up coming AU, Harlan Brumm, of Revit Clinic will be teaching a class on Spark at the conference.  He will also be joined by the product manager for the technology preview.

There is another technology preview on labs that worth checking out.  Project Storm is a technology preview that provides cloud-based structural analysis to structural engineers using Revit Structure.  Check out the post over on Its Alive in the Lab for all the details. I've downloaded and about to play but you must ensure that you have installed RST2012 Update 1 before installing Project Storm.

Education Community BIM Workshop

Autodesks' Inside the Factory Blog are excited to announce the launch of the Autodesk BIM Workshop.

This online experience was created to help prepare the next generation of architecture, engineering, and construction management students for professional practice. The site has an abundance of learning material, videos, and exercises designed to educate on BIM and sustainable design practices along with Integrated Project Delivery concepts.
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Revit Application Store

Thanks to Gregory Arkin over at BIMBoom Revelution for pointing this one out Click Here to pop over to the ApplicationStore to download the Revit Apps

AutoCAD WS Mobile App - Update 1.3

It's time to take a look at the new features that have been added to the latest release of the AutoCAD WS for mobile app, AutoCAD WS 1.3.
AutoCAD WS for mobile is available now for iOS on the App Store and for Android in the Android Market.

App Store - http://autode.sk/adicd2
Android Market - http://autode.sk/i7iqoa

The new features added to the app for version 1.3 include:

- Layers support
- Accurate input of distances and lengths
- Area measure tool
- File Management

Towards a new Uniclass

In this short article, Construction Project Information (CPI) reports on the current state of play in the development of a new and dynamic Uniclass.
CPI promulgates Uniclass (which includes the Common Arrangement of Work Sections - CAWS) nationally. CPI committee members comprise representatives from RIBA, RICS, UKCG, ICE, CIBSE, CIAT and CIOB.

CPI established its Uniclass Working Group in 2006, to consider proposals for revision of the Tables in Uniclass. This has resulted in the release of a new Table, Z, for CAD, and the development of a Uniclass Online Tool for generating layer classifications from the Uniclass tables and for requesting new classifications.

Tables under review within the Working Group include those for Construction Entities (Table E), Elements (Tables G and H) and Work Sections (Tables J and K). It has been agreed that the Elements Tables should be combined, and that the Work Sections Tables should be combined.

NBS has contributed particularly to the review of the Work Sections Tables, through its reworking of Table J (CAWS) in order to support the new NBS. The NBS proposals have been endorsed in principle by the Working Group, but have yet to be endorsed formally by the CPI committee itself.

The work that NBS has done on Work Sections has also led to proposals from NBS for the unifying of Uniclass, which could affect all the Tables eventually, but would affect just the Facilities (D), Construction Entities (E), Spaces (F), Elements (G and H), Work Sections (J and K) and Products (L) Tables to start with. New Tables might also be developed as a result of this proposal, e.g. for Activities. Again, these proposals have been endorsed in principle by the Working Group, but have yet to be endorsed formally by CPI itself.

AutoCAD for Mac so when will Revit for Mac be released

Autodesk announce Autocad 2012 for Mac at 5pm GMT Today

So when will there be a Revit for Mac?

Could this be the death of the PC as we know it!

AUGIuk Revit Camp - Call for Speakers

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Below is a Cross post from the AUGIuk Web site

 

AUGIuk are hosting a one Day Revit Camp comprising 75min classes covering Revit Core, Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit MEP. The format of classes will be that similar to Autodesk University and also used in the AUGIuk Design Academy.

If you are interested in speaking at the AUGIuk Revit Camp, you're invited to submit a proposal by 30th October 2011. We welcome submissions from experienced presenters or those with industry knowledge in either the Core Revit product or one of the Revit Vertical products.

Please submit a proposal to the Chairman of AUGIuk Paul Oakley via email at:- Paul.Oakley@AUGI.com

 

Class Proposal Guidelines for AUGIuk Revit Camp

Classes should help differentiate AUGIuk Revit Camp from other ATC or similar training that are available. Classes should be focused on specific aspects of the software and classes must not be a product demo. Attendees are seeking classes that will help them overcome practical design and workflow challenges in their day-to-day work.

AUGIuk Revit Camp offers attendees a unique opportunity to learn new ways to streamline processes using Autodesk solutions.
What to Include in Your Proposal:-

• Class Outline
• Speaker biography

What Makes a Proposal Successful?
A good proposal should successful focus on one or all of the following elements:

• State-of-the-art tools, tips, and techniques that represent best Revit practices in the various disciplines.
• Personal and team productivity-boosting solutions for common day-to-day tasks and issues faced by attendees.
• Specific methods to improve concept-to-completion cycles: workflow, collaboration, productivity, and overall efficiency.
• Focus
• Business considerations and strategies for evaluating, adopting, and maintaining new technologies.

Many attendees are requesting more classes that cover advanced topics. We therefore invite proposals with more challenging content that will engage and benefit "power users"; that is, professionals with five or more years of industry experience.

SAMPLE PROPOSAL

A sample AU proposal which shows the type of sessions we are looking for:

 

Real World Problems - Real World Revit® Solutions: Model Management

1.5 hr. Class Skill Level: Intermediate

Target Audience/Who Should Attend: Intermediate-level users of Revit
Using real-world solutions as examples from real-world Revit® problems, this class will introduce core concepts for successful Revit model management. See why the proper setup and use of the correct template is a critical first step to a successful Revit project. Learn how to intelligently manage data between several disciplines and still maintain modelling accuracy. Explore the principles of file linking, exchanging data between linked files, and coordinating building locations, and how to avoid and resolve conflicts between building systems and design teams by strategizing work division between Revit models (or within a single model). See why your production quality is only as good as your IT strategic goals, and how your PC specifications may affect the bottom line on a project.

Class Objectives

After attending this class, you will be able to:
Outline a strategy for maintaining a good template file
Manage template setup for both internal Revit data management and traditional analog production requirements
Develop a workflow strategy for projects with multiple models
Determine appropriate multidisciplinary work environment: linked vs. singular model
Communicate effectively on key IT issues and effective strategies that relate to managing Revit models
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Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie)

For anyone interested in taking BIM into FM

Course 1, Part 1.
Course 1, Part 2.
Course 1, Part 3.
Course 1, Part 4.
Course 1, Part 5.

UK Revit System Wall Families Update...

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There is now a spreadsheet, a kind of starter for 10, on the AUGIuk Revit Architecture Localisation forum

Please add wall configurations that you have been using to this thread at http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=132040

Here is a typical wall construction from a recent scheme I have worked on:-

25 x 125 ThermoWood Cladding

42 x 42 Horizontal battens
21 x 50 Vertical battens

Breather membrane

100mm medium density block
100mm cavity filled with mineral wool
100mm light weight block
20mm Plaster

The more feed back we get from you the better the end result will be.

Revit System Wall Families - UK Localisation

Ralph Pullinger and I are looking at developing a UK Based System Wall Family Template, and we require your help. But in order to do so you will need a little background information and briefing on the kind of information we need to know.

During the composition of a presentation entitled “Family Planning ~ First Encounters” for the ninth meeting of LRUG the London Revit User Group, I contacted Ralph Pullinger Autodesks’ Structural Technical Specialist, Northern Europe about the disappearance of the GRBENU_Walls.rvt system file from the Autodesk Web site and a long discussion about the need for Autodesk Revit localised family content took place.

For those of you that are not aware of what the GRBENU_Walls.rvt was, I blogged about it way back in January 2008. The naming convention for this system had problems in that it was not documented and was not  consistent in the use of upper and lower case, spelling and use. However it was a good first attempt at creating a UK and Europe Wall System Family.

So our mission is to create a new UK Wall System Family and here is the brief and pre-requisites, it:-

·         Must satisfy historical, current and future needs

·         Be flexible

·         Have a naming convention that is clear and easy to understand

·         Be consistent

·         Include material properties (the I in BIM) weight, thermal, strength etc.

·         Be properly documented for the end user.

The manufactures literature from both block and insulation manufacturers have provided many forms of wall make ups that will achieve or exceed the Building Regulations Part L U-values of the day, however we would like you to contribute by providing information about what forms of walls constructions have been and are currently actually being specified and used on real live schemes.

Thus we will be able to construct a UK Wall System family that is true representation of UK building practice.

This ties in quite nicely with the fact that AUGIuk working in conjunction with AUGI have arranged for Revit Localisation (OK they used the “z” instead of the s) UK Forums, which have just been set up under the AUGI Revit Forums.

Localisation Discussions related to localisation or regional issues of Revit Architecture.

Localisation Discussions related to localisation or regional issues of Revit Structure.

Localisation Discussions related to localisation or regional issues of Revit MEP.

Architecture Thread on this subject see http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=132040
Structure Thread on this subject see http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=132039

The Building Coder - Revit API Training Material

Jeremy Tammik over at The Building Coder has just posted that:-

"The Revit 2012 API training material that we use for our ADN trainings is now available online to the general public from the Revit Developer Center. Here is a direct link to it, with no guarantee that it will remain valid in future.
It includes three subfolders:

• Labs
• Presentation
• Sample Drawing

These are the Powerpoint presentations used for the training:

• 0_Revit_Programming_Training_Class.pptx – Overview
• 1_Revit_API_Intro.pptx – Basics
• 2_Revit_UI_API.pptx – User Interface and Events
• 3_Revit_Family_API.pptx – Family API

The labs parallel the three main presentations:

• 1_Revit_API_Intro – Basics
• 2_Revit_UI_API – User Interface and Events
• 3_Revit_Family_API – Family API "

To read more Click Here to get to the original posting.

The London Revit User Group ran an evening about Revit API's a few months ago, so this may be of interest to those members that attended the evening.
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AUGIuk Revit Camp - Call for Speakers

Call for Speakers

Wednesday 1st February 2012 – London Venue
AUGIuk are hosting a one Day Revit Camp comprising 75 min classes covering Revit Core, Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit MEP. The format of classes will be that similar to Autodesk University and also used in the AUGIuk Design Academy.

If you are interested in speaking at the AUGIuk Revit Camp, you're invited to submit a proposal by 30th October 2011. We welcome submissions from experienced presenters or those with industry knowledge in either the Core Revit product or one of the Revit Vertical products.

Please submit a proposal to the Chairman of AUGIuk Paul Oakley via email at:- Paul.Oakley@AUGI.com

Click Here to read the rest of the posting on the AUGIuk web site

I Am Proud to be an IEng-ineer

You may have seen in The Structural Engineer and the IStructE monthly newsletter that the IStructE are supporting the Engineering Council in their campaign to raise the profile of Incorporated Engineer (IEng) registration.

The Engineering Council has now launched a series of IEng logos and an email signature to be used by Incorporated Engineers. The email signature is designed to promote your professional status while also raise awareness of IEng.

While the signature is designed to be used on email the Engineering Council are also happy for you to use it elsewhere such as business cards, letters and online profiles.

Please visit the Engineering Councils news section to find out more information about the Engineering Council campaign.  Engineering Council launches initiative to up IEng registration.

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Autodesk_Revit_Structure_2012Update_1_Content

As has been documented on my blog the UK install did not give you everything it should have. Autodesks’ immediate fix, was to recommend installing the USA metric families. This does not provide everything.

Previously I reviewed what you should get and what’s missing once you have downloaded the USA Metric and created what should have been installed in the first place.

Autodesk have now release Autodesk_Revit_Structure_2012Update_1_Content (zip-33.4MB) which is strangely available from the Autodesk Revit Structure Services & Support Page – Product Download page and not Updates page, where one would logically expect an Update to be?

The structure within this Guide has been based upon :-

What installed in UK RST2012

What installed as a US Metric Library

Cross referenced with what was in RST 2011 UK Install

Material within the Content Update 1 released on the 10^th July 2011 is shown as ü

Content not included in Update 1 released on the 10^th July 2011 is shown as û

Click Here to download this Guide in Adobe pdf format.

Whilst I applaud Autodesk for actually providing a list of content within the RST2012 Update 1 Content  package they still have not explained why this content is included in the Update etc. In the main it appears to be an attempt to provide the missing templates that did not install for the UK and other countries

There is one family that is not template related i.e. the Rebar Shape 33 – that is contained within Update 1, however none of the material removed or missing from the rest of the library that is documented in my library guide to 2012 posted on my blog on the 15^th April is included within Update 1

My constant request to Autodesk over the last five years has been:-

Each folder should have a basic *.txt file that should contain the following:-

Number of files in the folder

Number and Names of Files Deleted ~ (with some explanation of why they have been removed)

Number and Names of New Files Added~ (with some explanation of why they have been added)

Number and Names of Files Modified ~ ( or updated and why?)

Where Manufactures specific content is supplied it would be useful to have a hyperlink to their web site or information within the familiy, that is after all what the I in BIM is all about! 

Revit is about BIM
BIM is about Information
Information is about good communications
Autodesk you are poor communicators
Your User Base expects and deserves better

6/10 Do Better
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