Cadalyst Labs Revit 8 review

Yet another Revit 8 review; which ends up with a “highly recommended” from Steven Ross of Cadalyst AEC. Check it out for yourself.

http://aec.cadalyst.com/aec/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=180949

Resolving dimension export font format issues

Have you every noticed that when you export your Revit plans to DWF/DXF that the dimensions can go screwy if you attempt to stretch the dimensions? For some reason although the font type for the dimension in the DWG/DXF is supposed to be the same as the font in Revit, it as actually TXT.shx in disguise!

When you stretch the dimension in Autocad the font changes from Arial (if that is your default font in Revit) to TXT.shx.

The only way I have managed to resolve this problem is to change the STANADARD font type from TXT.shx to Arial as soon as you open up the exported DWG/DXF in Autocad. So to change the font formatting in Autocad; open up your exported Revit DWG/DXF, then go to the Format pulldown menu & find Text Style. Then change style name “Standard” font from TXT.shx to Arial. If you make changes to the dimensions now the formatting remains fine.

What are mergered collinear lines?

Well I wonder this, as it is a new feature in Revit 8.1; the ability to merger collinear wall lines in DWG/DXF exports. In previous releases of Revit if you exported a number of walls to DWG/DXF, often you would find that extra lines appeared to make up the wall length. Refer to the Autocad screen image below.

The new merger collinear wall line function, found in the DWG/DXF export options, will create a single line where several walls would normally generate a series of shorter lines of the same line weight and layer.

This new functionality will create far cleaner DWG/DXF exports.

Revit 8.1 latest build

The latest build of Revit 8.1 is available for download from the Autodesk website; the build release number is Build Number: 20050914_010.

Revit Structures 2 review

With Revit Structures yet to be released out side the US, this will provide interested parties an insite into what is coming.

http://www.aecbytes.com/review/RevitStructure.htm

Free IFC model viewer

With the introduction of IFC export in Revit 8/8.1, you may find the following application called DSS IFC viewer, extremely useful. It is free & can be downloaded from the following address….

http://lists.dds.no/mailman/listinfo/ifcviewer

It will even open DWG & DXF files!

Revit 8.1 Dimension improvements

The way RB8.1 creates dimensions has been improved. There is now a new dimension type that allows vertical & horizontal dimensions to be created between construction elements that are at angles to one another. This new dimension type is now referred to as “Linear Dimensions”. The previous linear dimension tool has been renamed to “Aligned Dimensions”.





A point to note when using the new linear dimension tool, is that it is not obvious to use! You must pick two points, before creating the dimension. If you refer to the image below, you will notice a highlighted grey dot, in this case it is the second node point before creating the dimension.

Autodesk User Conference 2005 & Revit 8.1

Autodesk UK announces Autodesk User Conference 2005

Autodesk UK will hold a UK user conference on Wednesday 2nd November in London. It will give users a chance to investigate Autodesk’s latest technologies & from what I’m hearing CEO Carol Bartz herself, will be the keynote speaker.

What new in Revit 8.1

After a few issues, Autodesk have finally released Autodesk Revit Building 8.1 worldwide. Its more a half release rather than a point releases, highlights include:-

Additional continuous footings types
Non-vertical walls from massing elements
Vertical/horizontal dimensions
Tag all not tagged for s selection
The shaft tool
More options for panels & mullions
Mullion joint control
Type drive curtain mullions & panels
Adjust curtain grid to create equal panel sizes
Flip control for workplane base families
Linked DWG/DXF files retail layer settings on reload
Schedule elements in linked models
Coordination monitor
Include links in DWF exports
Export viewports to a separate layer
Support for NURB surface imports
Worksets- relinquish all mine
Worksets- Compact file options on save
Worksets- Detach from Central
Worksets- Audit on opening
Worksets-Open & clode is independent of editable
Set orbit centre by selecting an object
Temp hide/isolate for curtain wall/systems
Collate option when printing
Improvements in room area options
Topo-surface built from a point file


Linked DWG/DXF files retain layer settings on reload

This is a valuable improvement. If you had ever linked in a DWG/DXF into your project file & then turned off/overridden any graphics in the linked file, then reloaded the file, all the overridden graphics reset themselves. Now in RB8.1 overridden graphics are preserved by default. You can however turn off this setting & your reloaded file will display its default state.

Non-vertical walls from massing elements

When Autodesk first introduced Building Maker in RB7, I got very excited about it possibilities. However, after a short space of time playing with the new functionality, I discovered that more organic style architecture was not going to be possible. However, with the introduction of non-vertical walls from massing elements in RB8.1, the organic dream is possible. You will need to create your massing object first, then use wall by face command on the non-vertical faces.



Basic walls types can be selected to create the non-vertical walls & these walls will schedule. I have included a couple of examples that have been created using this new functionality.