May 31, 2012

eLearning – Upcoming Revit/Civil 3D Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education.

Upcoming classes include: 
6.05.12::Civil 3D 201:
Civil 3D 2013 Update
6.12.12::Revit 201:
View Properties – Controlling Visibility
Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.

Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com

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May 30, 2012

Autodesk Navisworks 2013: New Features Focus

Teresa Martin, Senior Application Specialist, Ideate, Inc. reviews the best of the new features in Navisworks 2013.

Autodesk Navisworks 2013 has some fantastic enhancements this year. Two of the best new features are native Revit support (no more exporting via NWC from Revit!) and the display of levels and grids from Revit in a scene view. Both features have been high on user’s wish lists and this year Autodesk’s Navisworks team has delivered. The grids and levels can be turned on per level or all levels and can also be ghosted on levels above or below the designated level. For Navisworks project teams whom have been struggling with this issue by making their own 3D grids in either Revit or AutoCAD, this will be a most welcome feature.

Additional features that are worth a look are as follows:
  • Clash results that include locations by level as well as the grid reference.  Further, clash results may be sorted by level, proximity as well as grid location!
  • Costs can now be added to scheduled tasks in Timeliner
  • Ability to drag and drop search and/or selection sets directly into the task manager in Timerliner!  Huge time savings for creating simulations!
  • New Selection Inspector Tool for finding objects.
  • Vault integration
  • Additional file support for Primavera P6 v8, Archicad 14 and 15 as well as Faro 4.8.
See Ideate’s YouTube Playlist featuring Navisworks and a bevy of the new Autodesk 2013 software solutions.

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2013 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2013



Teresa Martin
AEC Solutions Application Specialist

Teresa is a graduate of Cornell University and has over 20 years experience in the architectural and construction industry. She has spent her career pursuing her interest in 3D modeling and computer-aided-design having worked alternately as a designer, project manager, CAD manager, 3D modeler and educator. Teresa currently develops curriculum and customized content as an Revit Implementation Expert. As a trainer in Revit, Navisworks, and Ecotect, Teresa brings her real-world experience to the classroom.


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May 29, 2012

Classroom Training – Open Classes

Know It. Ideate Training.

Position yourself to land dream projects. Tap the full potential of your software solutions. Increase your facility, fluidity and capability to maximize the value of your precision software tools.

Here are a few of the training opportunities Ideate has to offer in the coming weeks:
6.06-08::Portland
Revit Architecture Fundamentals
6.06-08::San Jose

Revit Architecture Fundamentals
6
.11-13::San Jose
Revit MEP - Mechanical and Plumbing Fundamentals
6.18-20::San Francisco

Revit Architecture Fundamentals

Know your software. Sign up now!

May 28, 2012

What’s New in Revit Structure 2013: Area and Path Reinforcement Now Visible in 3D Views!

Thank you for visiting Ideate’s blog to check out the new features added to Autodesk Revit Structure 2013. My name is Shruti Harve and I work as a Senior Application Specialist at Ideate, Inc. When modeling Rebar using Revit Structure, I almost always have to use a combination of the Area, Path and Rebar reinforcement tools. But because rebar modeled using Area and Path reinforcement did not display in 3D, it was always a challenge to create a 3D reinforcement detail. But not anymore with Revit Structure 2013! 

Starting in Revit Structure 2013, Area and Path Reinforcement is now able to host structural rebar, much like the way that beam systems and trusses host structural framing. You can now display rebar elements in floors, walls or foundation slabs, in all views including 3D views, schedule rebar and remove the area or path system to expose the individual rebar elements. 


In addition to that, the following enhancements have been made to modeling reinforcement in Revit Structure 2013:
  • Improved Snapping-To Fillets and Hooks
    This feature provides references on a stirrup/tie rebar fillet and hook that provide standard bars an additional reference for rebar joins. Users can now select a layout rule before clicking to place rebar
  • Fabric Reinforcement Added to Revit Structure
    You can now place evenly lap-spliced Fabric Sheets in floors, walls or foundation slabs
  • Several New Structural Units Added
    Several new Structural units have been added including those for structural rebar, i.e. Reinforcement Area and Reinforcement Area per Unit Length.

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2013 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Civil 3D, 3ds Max Design, AutoCAD, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2013



Shruti Harve,

LEED AP, AEC Solutions Application Specialist

Shruti holds a Master of Science degree in Architectural Computing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and is LEED accredited. Her experience includes working in Architecture and Construction firms in India and the United Kingdom as well as Structural Engineering firms in the Bay Area providing design, 3D modeling and drafting services. At Ideate, Shruti provides training and support for Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, 3ds Max, Ecotect and AutoCAD Architecture.

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May 25, 2012

What’s New in 3ds Max Design 2013: Direct link of Revit Architecture (.rvt) Files.

Thank you for visiting Ideate’s blog to check out the new features added to Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2013. My name is Shruti Harve and I work as a Senior Application Specialist at Ideate, Inc.

One of the big steps in the Revit Architecture - 3ds Max Design workflow to create photorealistic renderings/animations, was exporting the Revit Architecture model as a ‘.fbx’ file to import into 3ds Max design and this had to be done every time the Revit Architecture model changed. I am glad that this is no longer the case starting in 3ds Max design 2013 with the addition of the “Link Revit” option that lets you directly link and import the Revit Architecture model into 3ds Max design.

The ‘Link Revit’ option can be found under the 3ds Max Design 2013 Application pull down grouped under ‘Import.’ This launches the File Link Manager that lets you insert a link to the Revit Architecture (.rvt) model.


Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2013 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2013



Shruti Harve,

LEED AP, AEC Solutions Application Specialist

Shruti holds a Master of Science degree in Architectural Computing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and is LEED accredited. Her experience includes working in Architecture and Construction firms in India and the United Kingdom as well as Structural Engineering firms in the Bay Area providing design, 3D modeling and drafting services. At Ideate, Shruti provides training and support for Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, 3ds Max, Ecotect and AutoCAD Architecture.

Get it. Know it. Use it.

May 24, 2012

eLearning – Upcoming Revit/Civil 3D Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education.

Upcoming classes include: 
5.29.12::Revit 201:
Worksharing Best Practices
6.05.12::Civil 3D 201:
Civil 3D 2013 Update
Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.

Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com

Get It. Know It. Use It.

May 23, 2012

AutoCAD 2013 – More on Enhanced Model Documentation Tools

Model Documentation Tools are back and better than ever! This is Derek Wielkopolski, Support Manager and Application Specialist at Ideate, Inc. and I’m happy to say this is one of my favorite new features in AutoCAD. 

In this year’s release Autodesk has significantly improved upon this already very useful feature. Model Documentation Tools allow you to quickly create drafting views from 3D objects; and not just plans and elevations, but sections, details, and isometric views too. 

Creating these views is as simple as going into the new Layout tab on the ribbon and selecting which objects to create the view from; and not just AutoCAD objects but objects modeled in Autodesk Inventor too! And all without the hassle of any type of file translator either 

Once the views are created you have a near endless array of visual and styling options. Annotations like dimensions and text can even be applied to these views. And since they’re dynamic, any modifications to the object are immediately reflected in the view. 

With the new section and detail tools creating sections and details are as easy as drawing in a section line or detail bubble. Just as you can change the visual settings of views, you can customize the look and feel of the sections and details using the section/detail style manager. 

Want to learn more, take a look at the three videos I recorded highlighting the new Model Documentation Tools’ features in AutoCAD 2013. 




Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2013 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2013



Derek Wielkopolski
Technical Support Manager/Application Specialist

Derek holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University, Rhode Island. He is experienced working within the AEC industry from concept design through construction administration for both small and large scale projects. As Ideate’s Support Manager he ensures a timely and quality response to support requests and questions. Follow Derek on Twitter: @dwielk

Get it. Know it. Use it.

May 22, 2012

Classroom Training – Open Classes

Know It. Ideate Training.

Position yourself to land dream projects. Tap the full potential of your software solutions. Increase your facility, fluidity and capability to maximize the value of your precision software tools.

Here are a few of the training opportunities Ideate has to offer in the coming weeks:
5.31-31::San Francisco
Revit MEP - Electrical 1 Day
6.01-01::San Francisco
Revit MEP - Mechanical 1 Day
6
.06-08::Portland
Revit Architecture Fundamentals
6.06-08::San Jose

Revit Architecture Fundamentals
Know your software. Sign up now!

May 21, 2012

New Parts and Assemblies Functionality in Revit Architecture 2013

In coordination with the Ideate, Inc. YouTube video on Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013 – Construction Modeling, this blog describes a few improvements with the Revit Architecture 2013 Construction Modeling tools. Last year introduced new tools for the Construction Modeling industry, specifically Parts and Assemblies. With the new Revit Architecture 2013 these new tools have been improved for greater flexibility.

One such area is that Parts now have the capability of being merged/joined together with other parts, whether they were derived from the same host or not. Another improvement is that parts can now be excluded from the model.  Excluded parts are not included in material takeoffs or schedules. Excluded parts will highlight when the cursor is over the part. To bring the part back, highlight the excluded part and use the Restore Parts tool.

For those of you working with parts, you know that you have had the ability to divide parts into smaller pieces. This was accomplished by sketching the division lines, or by using intersecting references such as levels or grids. With the Revit Architecture 2013 release, not only can divisions be made, but the division edited to include a gap between the parts as well as a division “split profile.” Figure 1. A new division profile family is available now so that new division edges may be created to fit your construction methods.

Figure 1
Previously the only type of elements that could be turned into parts were layered systems such as Walls, Floors, Roofs, and Ceilings. With the release of Revit Architecture 2013, Structural Beams and Columns can now have parts derived from them and modified with standard tools such as dividing, excluding, and restoring. Figure 2. Additionally, shape handles along the edges of all parts are now available to manipulate the size of and shape of your parts.


Figure 2

Revit Architecture 2013 has also expanded the capabilities of the assemblies’ tool. When generating views from an assembly, six new elevation views are available for inclusion to the assembly view package.

Another improvement made is that views generated within an assembly can now be placed on standard sheets or the assembly sheet making it easier to organize your drawing set. Additionally assembly views now include the Rotation on Sheet parameter allow you to rotate the view on a sheet in order to better arrange the views on your sheets.

I invite you to start looking at the new features and enhancements for the parts and assemblies tools as these tool sets can aid in creating an accurate model. Have Fun!

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2013 releases for Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Navisworks, 3ds Max Design and more: ideateinc.com/2013



Ron Palma
AEC Solutions Application Specialist

Ron has 23+ years of experience in the AEC industry as a designer, lead project designer, trainer and CAD manager. His instructional background includes Autodesk Certified Instructor, trainer, support technician, educator at Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College, and a U.S. Army certified instructor. Follow Ron @RonPalmaAEC.

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May 18, 2012

Working with Saved Selection Sets in Revit 2013

Have you worked on a project in Revit and gone through the trouble of selecting a number of elements to be modified, then realized that you needed some additional information, or needed to check on something else before you modified the elements? Did you then clear the selection, checked on the information or reference, then went back and re-selected the same elements previously so that NOW you could modify it? 

New to Revit 2013, you have the ability to save any selection of elements that you have selected, and recall those selections at any point. 

In order to Save Selection Sets you must first select the elements that will be within the selection. Standard selection methods apply, [Cntrl] + Pick, Drag the cursor for Window and Crossing selections, or use Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013.

Once the elements have been selected, in the Modify| Xxxx tab, under the Selection panel, you can select the Save tool to create a Saved Selection. Enter a name for the desired selection. Later this selection set can be recalled at any time by accessing the Manage tab, and under the Selection panel selecting the Load tool. This will display the Retrieve Filters dialog where your saved selections can be recalled, selecting the elements within the filter. 

As the Load button is placed in the Manage tab, I have found it advantageous for it to be placed in my Quick Access toolbar for quick retrieval of my saved selections. This has been something needed for quite some time and I am very excited to take advantage of selection sets that I create in my models. 




Ron Palma
AEC Solutions Application Specialist

Ron has 23+ years of experience in the AEC industry as a designer, lead project designer, trainer and CAD manager. His instructional background includes Autodesk Certified Instructor, trainer, support technician, educator at Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College, and a U.S. Army certified instructor. Follow Ron @RonPalmaAEC.

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May 17, 2012

Locating Views that are assigned to a Sheet in Revit

Have you ever activated a view on a sheet to make some quick changes or adjustments? Have you later needed to find out the name of the view on the sheet so that you can simply work on the actual view and not have to work on the view through the sheet? Here are some quick ways of finding out the name of a view placed on a sheet:
  1. While the view is active, turn on the crop boundary. Hover the cursor over the boundary to read the tooltip and status bar. This will tell you what the view name is.
  2. In the Project Browser under the Sheets category, expand the [+] beside the Sheet name and a list of the views assigned to the sheet will be displayed.
  3. My favorite option, especially if you have a number of views on a sheet such as a detail sheet is to use the Ideate Explorer for Revit. With this method, look at the Visible in Active View option. This will display a Viewports Result, expand the Viewports until you can see a list of views.
Now here is where using Ideate Explorer is cool. The other methods list out the views, so now you have the view names narrowed down, but you have to figure out which view you actually need. With the Ideate Explorer, you can select the view name, which will highlight the view on the sheet. With this method you get a visual of which view you are trying to find with the name listed in Ideate Explorer.


You can download Ideate Explorer by visiting the Ideate Explorer website.



Ron Palma
AEC Solutions Application Specialist

Ron has 23+ years of experience in the AEC industry as a designer, lead project designer, trainer and CAD manager. His instructional background includes Autodesk Certified Instructor, trainer, support technician, educator at Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College, and a U.S. Army certified instructor. Follow Ron @RonPalmaAEC.

Get it. Know it. Use it.

eLearning – Upcoming Revit Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education.

Upcoming classes include: 
5.22.12::Revit 201:
Residential Construction in Revit Architecture
5.29.12::Revit 201:
Worksharing Best Practices
Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.

Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com

Get It. Know It. Use It.

May 16, 2012

Autodesk Revit Server 2013 – WAN Collaboration Made Easier

I have to say I’m pretty happy with the updates Autodesk has made to Revit Server 2013. Although certainly not in the forefront of all of the hot new features of Revit 2013, model management and collaboration are certainly just as important in the BIM workflow. How do I know? I see it everyday in Ideate, Inc.’s technical support department; customers needing to know how their project teams spread about several offices can collaborate on a single Revit model.

The biggest change in Revit Server 2013 is now central models can be saved to different servers! Remember in Revit Server 2011 and 2012 there was a single central server and then multiple local servers setup in a hub and spoke-like environment. 


In Revit Server 2013 they’ve switched to a matrix like environment allowing models to be stored on multiple servers depending on the roles assigned to that server.


There are three roles of which any combination can be assigned to a server.

Host The Host role supports storing of central models for server based worksharing

Accelerator The Accelerator role allows users to specify that server and access server based data through it

Admin If the Admin role is enabled, then the Revit Server Administrator web-based management utility can be invoked on this server.

Take a look at the quick video I made outlining the setup and some tips I learned when configuring our Revit Server 2013 Network.

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2013 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Navisworks, 3ds Max design and more: ideateinc.com/2013



Derek Wielkopolski
Technical Support Manager/Application Specialist

Derek holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University, Rhode Island. He is experienced working within the AEC industry from concept design through construction administration for both small and large scale projects. As Ideate’s Support Manager he ensures a timely and quality response to support requests and questions. Follow Derek on Twitter: @dwielk

Get it. Know it. Use it.

May 15, 2012

Classroom Training – Open Classes

Know It. Ideate Training.

Position yourself to land dream projects. Tap the full potential of your software solutions. Increase your facility, fluidity and capability to maximize the value of your precision software tools.

Here are a few of the training opportunities Ideate has to offer in the coming weeks:
5.16-18::San Francisco
Revit MEP Electrical Fundamentals
5.30::
San Francisco
Revit MEP Overview
5.31::
San Francisco
Revit MEP Electrical
6.1::
San Francisco
Revit MEP Mechanical
Know your software. Sign up now!

Ideate, Inc. Announces New Workflows in Ideate BIMLink 2013

SAN FRANCISCO, California - 05/15/2012 - Ideate, Inc., a leading Autodesk Authorized Developer and Autodesk solutions provider offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to the AEC industry, today announced an update to Ideate BIMLink, the popular application for Autodesk Revit software. Expanded content and improved performance give users of Ideate BIMLink 2013 unprecedented access to and control of BIM data.

With Ideate BIMLink 2013 the Revit project team and non-Revit using data contributors can access information appropriate to their needs within a platform that safeguards the BIM model against error. Ideate BIMLink is used for a wide variety of data management tasks and now in 2013 supports several new important workflows including the ability to automatically generate consultant sheet lists, automatically populate with unplaced spaces, export detailed information about parts and materials and assist with view template implementation.

“We recognize the importance of a timely product delivery and are pleased to be able to deliver both Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013 within a few days of the official Autodesk Revit product launch this year,” said Ideate Inc. president Bob Palioca.

“We’ve included many new features and improvements thanks to all the great customer input we’ve had,” remarked Ideate director of Software Development Glynnis Patterson, “And we’ve also re-tooled Ideate BIMLink with significant performance improvements that will bump our customer’s ROI even higher.”

Ideate BIMLink is priced at US$850 with an upgrade from version 2012 priced at US$250. Ideate BIMLink is currently available via download from www.ideatesoftware.com/bimlink and from authorized Ideate reseller partners. For information on network pricing, contact sales@ideatesoftware.com.

Ideate BIMLink works with Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Revit MEP, and Autodesk Revit Structure software in conjunction with all versions of Microsoft Excel. A no-charge 30-day trial version of Ideate BIMLink software is available at http://www.ideatesoftware.com/download

Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Revit will be shown at the upcoming Revit Technology Conferences (RTC); one in North America on June 28-30, 2012 and another in Australia May 24-26, 2012.

About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a member of the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) with 25+ years experience in software development and specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM).

Ideate BIMLink lets users pull data from an Autodesk Revit software file into user-friendly Microsoft Excel and push Excel data into Revit with equal ease. www.ideatesoftware.com/bimlink

Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk solutions provider, offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to AEC professionals. Established in 1992 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ideate is recognized as an Autodesk Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk’s highest levels of authorization. Ideate, Inc. operates five Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATC): San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose, California; Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Ideate facilities are Autodesk Authorized Certification Centers, providing globally recognized certification courses for professionals who sell, service and support Autodesk products and solutions. For more information visit www.ideateinc.com

Autodesk, ATC, and Revit, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

###

May 14, 2012

Working with Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013

With the new release of Revit 2013, Ideate has been right there updating its software too. The new Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013 can be used to browse through elements in the entire project, in the active view, or through the current selection, to select individual elements, elements by type, or family. Additionally, a search window can be used to find elements in your project that contain specific text in their name.

You can use Ideate Explorer for Revit to Quickly Find and Select the Elements You Need:
  • Ideate Explorer for Revit will catalog or “index” all the elements within your project, including elements not found within the Project Browser and elements that are invisible.
  • Information can be organized by Category, Workset, Room, Space or Level. Use the text-based search to dig into Family Name, Type Name, Part Materials, or any Text string for even more complex searching.
  • Use Ideate Explorer for Revit to open views where elements are visible.
  • Use Ideate Explorer for Revit to select all or some elements based on your criteria then exit and use Revit to make the changes you need such as: delete elements, swap elements for different types, edit element properties.
With the introduction of Parts in Revit 2012, these type of elements can be divided, and their materials changed. Use Ideate Explorer for Revit to search for parts that are using a named material, so that you can make property changes.

One change that has been beneficial to me is the ability of placing the Ideate Explorer tool in the Quick Access Toolbar. To do so, right-click the Ideate Explorer tool in the Add-Ins tab, and add it to the Quick Access toolbar. This tool will now remain in the toolbar regardless of whether you close Revit, or open a new Project. So now, Ideate Explorer for Revit is right at your finger tips!

Download your free trial today.



Ron Palma
AEC Solutions Application Specialist

Ron has 23+ years of experience in the AEC industry as a designer, lead project designer, trainer and CAD manager. His instructional background includes Autodesk Certified Instructor, trainer, support technician, educator at Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College, and a U.S. Army certified instructor. Follow Ron @RonPalmaAEC.

Get it. Know it. Use it.

May 11, 2012

What’s New in AutoCAD for Mac 2013

Autodesk just announced their new 2013 products; of which AutoCAD for Mac was released side by side with AutoCAD for the first time ever since the product was released for 2011.  As the Support Manager and AutoCAD for Mac Application Specialist here at Ideate, Inc. I’ve been seeing more and more interest in AutoCAD for Mac as more people are using Macs in the workplace.

AutoCAD for Mac 2013 was released with a whole host of new features and enhanced functionality like, array enhancements, improvements to the hatch editor, more intuitive 3D modeling, PDF underlay support, strike through text, and Model Documentation support. But one of my favorite new features is the Project Manager. 

One of the most requested features I saw from our customers was the ability to have sheet set manager like functionality in AutoCAD for Mac. The Project Manager is their answer, and even goes a step further to incorporate some Mac OS-centric features.

Think of the Project Manager as a file cabinet for your DWGs. It organizes your drawing’s layouts and sheets; all of which can be accessed, modified, and plotted right from within the Project Manager without having to use Finder or Spotlight to hunt through numerous project folders on your network.

The Project Manager uses .dst files to store project information. For those familiar with AutoCAD for the Windows platform you’ll notice this is the same file the Sheet Set Manager uses. You can work with these files between both platforms seamlessly adding to, modifying or creating new projects as needed. Each Project Manager project contains its own standard properties like, project name, number, client, etc. and any custom properties you define as well.

Projects can be organized by discipline in an easy to navigate drill down format, and can be divided into groups, for example; Architectural, Structural, and MEP. Those groups can then be divided into sub-groups; Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection. After adding your DWGs or specific layouts to their respective groups, the Project Manager will populate each drawing’s layouts as part of the sheet list. Sheets also contain both standard and custom properties that can be modified, including whether or not the sheet is included in the Publish list for batch plotting. Once a DWG has been added to a project you can easily open that file by first clicking on one of its layouts then by clicking on the reference, launching a new window with that drawing ready for editing. Need to find that dwg on your network? Not a problem, you can easily use the “Open in Finder” button to quickly find it (one of those Mac OS-centric features I can’t live without).

And when you’re ready to print your sheet set you can use Publish. Publishing a sheet set is a quick couple of clicks and eliminates having to open individual DWGs and manually plotting each layout. You have the option to plot to a physical plotter or the built in Mac OS PDF generator. Each sheet can use its own page setup or all sheets can use a specified uniform page setup.

Want to see the Project Manager in action? Take a look at this video.

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2013 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2013



Derek Wielkopolski
Technical Support Manager/Application Specialist

Derek holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University, Rhode Island. He is experienced working within the AEC industry from concept design through construction administration for both small and large scale projects. As Ideate’s Support Manager he ensures a timely and quality response to support requests and questions. Follow Derek on Twitter: @dwielk

Get it. Know it. Use it.

May 10, 2012

eLearning – Upcoming Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education.

Upcoming classes include: 
5.15.12::
Revit 201: Roof Framing in Revit Structure
5.22.12::

Revit 201: Residential Construction in Revit Architecture
5.29.12::

Revit 201: Worksharing Best Practices
6.5.12::

Civil 3D 201: Civil 3D 2013 Update
Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.

Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com

Get It. Know It. Use It.

May 9, 2012

New Stair Functionality in Revit Architecture 2013

In coordination to the Ideate Inc. YouTube video on Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013 – Component-based Stairs, this blog describes how the Revit Architecture 2013 Stair tool has undergone a few improvements. In addition to the Stair Sketch tools from previous Revit versions, a new Component based stair is now available. Component stairs refer to the new Assembled Stair system family. These new types of stair families consist of a number of sub families that represent parts of the stair such as the run type, landing type, stringer support types and even the cut mark type. Collectively these families form a component stair family.

Some of the new functionality with component stairs includes the ability to create stair runs that can dynamically be previewed as 3D elements during sketch mode. Additionally, you can specify to create the run based upon a Location Line that allows you to draw the run on the left, center or right side of the run. (Figure 1)


Figure 1

In previous releases the sketching of stair runs automatically created landings. In the Revit 2013 release, landings can also be created automatically or added after laying out the stair runs, and as with runs can be viewed dynamically in 3D views during the sketching process.

With the creation of Component Stairs, new stair shapes are available when placing stair runs. These include spiral stairs that have angles greater than 360°, curved stairs of angles less than 360°, L-shaped winder stairs, and U-turn/switchback winder stairs. (Figure 2). The ability of creating stairs with angles greater than 360°, gives you the ability of creating stairs that overlap other runs, something that could not be accomplished in earlier releases.


Figure 2

A Precast Stair family is now available within Revit Architecture 2013 that allows you to specify how runs of stair attach to a landing. Notches can be applied to the run where the run stops at a landing and a run can also include a notch at the top of the run representing real building methods. (Figure 3)



Figure 3

In addition to the above items, Revit Architecture 2013 Stair elements now support the creation of stairs that include multiple runs leading to the same or different levels. Through the use of standard modifying tools such as Move, Mirror, Copy and Rotate, runs can be manipulated and Landings modified to support multiple stair runs. (Figure 4)


Figure 4

These are only a few of the things that can be accomplished with the Revit Architecture 2013 Stair tools. I challenge you to roll up your sleeves and start looking at the type properties and nested families that are used within the Component Stairs. As you are learning these new tools, the original sketching tools are also still available to make your transitioning toward using these new tools easier. Have Fun!

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2013 releases for Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Navisworks, 3ds Max Design and more: ideateinc.com/2013



Ron Palma
AEC Solutions Application Specialist

Ron has 23+ years of experience in the AEC industry as a designer, lead project designer, trainer and CAD manager. His instructional background includes Autodesk Certified Instructor, trainer, support technician, educator at Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College, and a U.S. Army certified instructor. Follow Ron @RonPalmaAEC.

May 8, 2012

Classroom Training – Open Classes

Know It. Ideate Training.

Position yourself to land dream projects. Tap the full potential of your software solutions. Increase your facility, fluidity and capability to maximize the value of your precision software tools.

Here are a few of the training opportunities Ideate has to offer in the coming weeks:
5.10-11::Seattle
BIM for Contractors
5.14-15::San Francisco
Revit Architecture Beyond the Basics
5.16-18::
San Francisco
Revit MEP Electrical Fundamentals
5.21-23::
San Francisco
Revit Architecture Fundamentals
Know your software. Sign up now!

May 3, 2012

eLearning – Upcoming Revit Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education.

Upcoming classes include: 
5.8.12::Revit 201: Revit + Light Meter
5.15.12::Revit 201: Roof Framing in Revit Structure
Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.

Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com

Get It. Know It. Use It.

May 2, 2012

Ideate, Inc. Announces Powerful Project Auditing with Ideate Explorer for Autodesk Revit 2013

SAN FRANCISCO, California – 05/02/2012 - Ideate, Inc., a leading Autodesk Authorized Developer and Autodesk solutions provider offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to the AEC industry, today announced a 2013 update to Ideate Explorer for Autodesk Revit software. This new version is built for the Autodesk Revit 2013 suite of solutions and enhances the ability to search, select, and audit Revit building information models.

Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013 includes new elements that directly correspond to Autodesk Revit 2013, including a number of stair elements, support for View References which permit scanning and zooming to any reference location. Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013 also includes enhanced support for Parts.

“Ideate Explorer will help users more efficiently navigate entities in any BIM project, but it’s been invaluable for cleaning up and standardizing conversions from AutoCAD,” notes Ideate customer Crystal Pearson, CAD Lead at Tetra Tech. “Not only has Explorer saved us a great amount of time; it has also eliminated much of the frustration we would have experienced without it. Users of all levels will instantly see the benefits of this essential tool.”

“We recognize the importance of a timely product delivery and are pleased to be able to deliver both Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013 and Ideate BIMLink within a few days of the official Autodesk Revit product launch this year,” said Ideate Inc. president Bob Palioca.

Ideate Explorer for Revit is priced at US$399 with an upgrade from version 2012 priced at US$200. Ideate Explorer for Revit is currently available via download from www.ideatesoftware.com/ideateexplorer and from authorized Ideate reseller partners. For information on network pricing, contact explorer.sales@ideateinc.com.

Ideate Explorer for Revit works with Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Revit MEP, and Autodesk Revit Structure software in conjunction with all versions of Microsoft Excel. A no-charge 30-day trial version of Ideate Explorer software is available at www.ideatesoftware.com/download. Ideate Explorer for Revit and Ideate BIMLink will be shown at the upcoming Revit Technology Conferences (RTC); one in North America on June 28-30, 2012 and another in Australia May 24-26, 2012.

About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a member of the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) with 25+ years experience in software development and specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM).

Ideate Explorer for Revit is a simple, powerful Autodesk Revit software add-on to explore, quantify and manage the 100,000+ building elements in a Revit model. www.ideatesoftware.com/ideateexplorer

Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk solutions provider, offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to AEC professionals. Established in 1992 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ideate is recognized as an Autodesk Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk’s highest levels of authorization. Ideate, Inc. operates five Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATC): San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose, California; Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Ideate facilities are Autodesk Authorized Certification Centers, providing globally recognized certification courses for professionals who sell, service and support Autodesk products and solutions. For more information visit www.ideateinc.com

Autodesk, ATC, AutoCAD and Revit, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

May 1, 2012

Classroom Training – Open Classes

Know It. Ideate Training.

Position yourself to land dream projects. Tap the full potential of your software solutions. Increase your facility, fluidity and capability to maximize the value of your precision software tools.

Here are a few of the training opportunities Ideate has to offer in the coming weeks:
5.7-9::Sacramento
Revit MEP Electrical Fundamentals
5.7-9::San Francisco
Revit Structure Fundamentals
5.14-5.16::
Portland
Revit Architecture Fundamentals
5.14-15::
San Francisco
Revit Architecture Beyond the Basics
5.16-18::
San Francisco
Revit MEP Electrical Fundamentals
Know your software. Sign up now!