November 23, 2015

e-Learning - Upcoming AutoCAD Civil 3D, Revit and Ideate Software Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education.
11.24::Revit 201:
Revit Scheduling
12.4::Revit 201:
Coordinating Revit Architectural Model For Consultants
12.9::Ideate Software:
Revit Model Management with Ideate BIMLink
12.10::Ideate Software:
Auditing Your Revit Project with Ideate Explorer
12.15::Ideate Software:
Introduction to Ideate Sticky
12.16::Revit 201:
Working with Materials in Revit
12.23::Infrastructure 201:
Civil 3D - Settings and Styles
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.

Classroom Training - Open AutoCAD, Revit Architecture and Revit MEP 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.
12.1-12.2::San Jose
Revit MEP - Electrical Fundamentals
12.3-12.4::San Francisco
Revit Architecture Beyond the Basics
12.7-12.8::San Francisco
Revit MEP - Mechanical Fundamentals
12.8-12.10::Seattle
Revit Architecture Fundamentals
12.8-12.9::Sacramento
AutoCAD Beyond the Basics
12.10-12.11::San Francisco
AutoCAD Beyond the Basics
Know your software. Sign up now! 

Contact the Ideate Training Department at 888.662.7238 x1012 or education@ideateinc.com

November 19, 2015

How to Display Linetypes in AutoCAD Correctly in Model and Paper Space


If you create your model at a 1:1 scale and print on 1:1 scale you are all set and don’t need to read any further.

If you are reading this chances are your projects are large and you don’t typically print on 1:1 scale. And displaying linetypes in paper space and model space simultaneously has been an issue.

To rephrase, the problem is printing linetypes correctly for a typical AEC project in model space and paper space at the same time. This question gets asked very frequently and I decided to address it here.

Linetypes are controlled by four variables: LTSCALE, CELTSCALE, PSLTSCALE and MSLTSCALE.

LTSCALE is global scale factor for the drawing

CELTSCALE is the current object scale factor

PSLTSCALE is the paper space scale linetype factor

MSLTSCALE is the model space linetype factor (introduced in AutoCAD 2008)

To put simply set the value of the above four variables to 1 and your linetypes will show appropriately in both paper space and model space. Make sure you set the appropriate annotation scale in the model space – as pointed by the arrow in the screen shot below (1/4” = 1’). Problem solved!


 
 
Suggested further reading for conceptual understanding:

About Linetypes

LTSCALE and PSLTSCALE system variables

Linetype Scale (MSLTSCALE and PSLTSCALE)


For more information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at
www.ideateinc.com

 


 

http://www.ideateinc.com/about/techteam.htmlGaurav Bagga

Senior Application Specialist Infrastructure

Gaurav is a Senior Application Specialist for Infrastructure Solutions at Ideate based out of San Francisco. He has over 18 years of experience in construction and related software industry. With this extensive design technology background he helps engineering and surveying companies, federal and state government agencies, and ENR 500 firms critically analyze and improve their construction drawing production process. He implements Civil infrastructure design technology led by InfraWorks and Civil 3D and has helped Ideate grow Civil Infrastructure Services. Being an industry recognized speaker he has presented cutting edge design technology at several industry conferences such as Autodesk University. @BeGeez
 


November 18, 2015

Autodesk Advance Steel 2016 – Creating Custom Connections


Recently, here at Ideate, Inc., a technical inquiry came through asking about Autodesk Advance Steel and the ability to create a custom connection.

Custom or User Defined Connections were introduced to into the list of available Advance Steel features with later releases. This feature allows users to save Manually Created Connections, which have characteristics not available in the Connection Vault, to a library where they can be reused at similar connection points on any model.

To add a User Defined Connection the Custom Connections Library, the connection will first to be modeled in Advance Steel.  To assist with understanding this process I created a short video going through the process of creating a custom connection.
 
This “Manual” Connection type was built up of manually created and added objects such as Bolts, Plates, Columns and Beams. The Connection type can simultaneously be built up with objects from Intelligent Connections available in the Connection Vault.  Refer to Figures 1 through 3 below.


Figure 1 – Advance properties of manually created plate
Figure 2 – Advance properties of bolts


Figure 3 – Advance properties of Intelligent Custom Connection – Bolts on beam gauge line
 

To assist in modeling the template connection, Advance Steel contains a number of intelligent “Building Blocks” allowing the user to insert objects with simple intelligence. This intelligence, will also be saved to the Custom Connection library. Some of these intelligent fields will update the relevant object when this connection is used on sections of a different size, and allow users to quickly modify the connection once it has been reused.
 
 
Thank you for reading. For more information on AutoCAD and other Autodesk products, and information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com.



 
http://www.ideateinc.com/about/about.html

 
Senior Application Specialist MEP/AEC Solutions

Bill has over 25 years experience in applying MEP & AEC design solutions for large commercial companies, this has led to actively develop Autodesk® Revit® implementation strategies, techniques, and procedures for architectural and MEP companies. He has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill is an Autodesk MEP Implementation Certified Expert, and has been the Lead Designer for several multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He graduated from the Pasadena Institute of Technology and has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley. Bill has over 25 years experience in applying MEP & AEC design solutions for large commercial companies, this has led to actively develop Autodesk® Revit® implementation strategies, techniques, and procedures for architectural and MEP companies. He has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill is an Autodesk MEP Implementation Certified Expert, and has been the Lead Designer for several multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He graduated from the Pasadena Institute of Technology and has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley.

November 16, 2015

e-Learning - Upcoming Revit, Civil 3D and Ideate Software Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education.
11.19::Ideate Software:
Ideate BIMLink for Revit MEP Projects
11.24::Revit 201:
Revit Scheduling
12.4::Revit 201:
Coordinating Revit Architectural Model For Consultants
12.9::Ideate Software:
Revit Model Management with Ideate BIMLink
12.10::Ideate Software:
Auditing Your Revit Project with Ideate Explorer
12.15::Ideate Software:
Introduction to Ideate Sticky
12.16::Revit 201:
Working with Materials in Revit
12.23::Infrastructure 201:
Civil 3D - Settings and Styles
12.29::Revit 201:
Documenting Your Project in Revit MEP
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.

Classroom Training - Open Revit MEP, Revit Architecutre and AutoCAD 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.
12.1-12.2::San Jose
Revit MEP - Electrical Fundamentals
12.3-12.4::San Francisco
Revit Architecture Beyond the Basics
12.7-12.8::San Francisco
Revit MEP - Mechanical Fundamentals
12.8-12.10::Seattle
Revit Architecture Fundamentals
12.8-12.9::Sacramento
AutoCAD Beyond the Basics
12.14-12.16::San Francisco
Revit Architecture Fundamentals
Know your software. Sign up now! 

Contact the Ideate Training Department at 888.662.7238 x1012 or education@ideateinc.com

November 13, 2015

Did You Know That You Can Add, Combine Or Remove Dimensions From A String Of Dimensions?


Hi folks IX  here.  One of the Senior Application Specialist here at Ideate, Inc.

Have you ever wanted to add or remove a dimension at the end of a string of Revit dimensions?  Or even better yet add, combine or remove dimensions from the middle of a string?

Well you’re in luck you can! Nope I’m not joking, teasing you or pulling your leg.  You really can…  Come on you should know me by now.

When working with existing Revit dimensioning strings you have three different workflows (options) to add, combine or remove dimensions from a dimension string.

Edit Witness Lines Option:

• The Edit Witness Lines tool allows users to add additional dimension(s) to end of dimension a string.

1. Select the dimension string
2. Select the Edit Witness Lines button from the ribbon
3. Select an element to add a dimension to
4. Pick in space to end command
 
 

• The Edit Witness Lines tool allows users to remove (combined) dimension(s) in a dimension string.

1. Select the dimension string
2. Select the Edit Witness Lines button from the ribbon
3. Select on the element that you wish to remove the extension line from
4. Pick in space to end command
 
 
 

Grip Edit Option:

• Selecting the middle Grip Dot on a dimension string extension line allows users to remove a dimension at the end of a dimension string.

1. Select on the dimension string
2. Select on the middle Grip Dot on the extension line (and Hold pick button down)
3. Move extension line to element that second extension is on and let go of pick button (it’s a simply drag and drop)

 

 
• Selecting the middle Grip Dot on a dimension string extension line allows users to combine dimensions in the middle of a dimension string.

1. Select on the dimension string
2. Select on the middle Grip Dot
3. Drag dot to the element extension you line to combine




One of my favorite tools (Tab Key):


• The Tab key allows you to pre-select a dimension that you then can select to delete.


1. Move your curser (mouse) to the dimension line you wish to delete from the string
2. Press the tab key to pre-select the dimension
3. Select the dimension and delete
 

 
 
Enjoy these Dimensioning String Editing workflow tips and tricks. Look for my next month’s BLOG where I’ll be covering adding equality formula to a dimension string.
 
Cheers,

IX

For more information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at
www.ideateinc.com
 

 

Eugene O'Day

AEC Senior Application Specialist

Eugene A. O’Day, IX, with more than 25 years of architectural and mechanical experience, offers a trained focus on all things Revit and BIM. Teaching is a passion of his. Eugene has been an instructor in undergraduate degree programs, has traveled worldwide teaching Autodesk solutions to major corporations, has taught at accredited ATCs throughout the Northwestern region, and is a frequent and popular instructor, speaker, and presenter for AUGI® CAD Camps, Revit – and related product user groups. He has also been a trusted public school district advisor on new drafting instructor hires. At Ideate, Eugene provides training and support for Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and AutoCAD. Eugene is also a Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional.

November 12, 2015

Autodesk Webcast Series: The Evolution of AutoCAD Civil 3D - Part2


Are you sill using Land Desktop every day or are you working in a previous release of AutoCAD Civil 3D thinking "there is no need to move to the current release?" Maybe you are contemplating making the move to AutoCAD Civil 3D? In this webcast series, we will travel through time and show you the ease of bringing that Land Desktop data forward and how to use it once in AutoCAD Civil 3D. We'll have a conversation about styles - what and how many you actually need to get that company template rolling. We will progress through the releases from 2010 to 2016 and show you all the great reasons to move forward to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 and not look back.

Date: Wednesday November 18, 2015
Time: From 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Pacific Standard Time)


For more information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com

November 11, 2015

Collaborate with Design and Construction with Advance Steel


As a steel detailer or fabricator, do you face challenges collaborating with engineers and contractors? Then this event is for you.
Register for this webcast to learn how:

• Revit steel design accuracy and libraries have been enhanced to help generate more accurate and reliable data exchanges with fabricators and contractors. This also includes discussing recommended modeling best practices for engineers when sharing models downstream.

• Revit and Advance Steel work together to improve collaboration between design and detailing. The bidirectional integration makes it faster and more transparent to synchronize changes between Advance Steel and Revit.

• Navisworks Simulate can help you as a steel contractor better estimate, coordinate and plan your steel project while also improve communication with the general contractor.

Bring your questions and participate in our live Q&A with product and industry specialists.

Date: Thursday November 19, 2015
Time: From 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time)


For more information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com
 

November 10, 2015

Collaborate With Design and Construction With Advance Steel


As a steel detailer or fabricator, do you face challenges collaborating with engineers and contractors? Then this event is for you.

Register for this webcast to learn how:

• Revit steel design accuracy and libraries have been enhanced to help generate more accurate and reliable data exchanges with fabricators and contractors. This also includes discussing recommended modeling best practices for engineers when sharing models downstream.

• Revit and Advance Steel work together to improve collaboration between design and detailing. The bidirectional integration makes it faster and more transparent to synchronize changes between Advance Steel and Revit.

• Navisworks Simulate can help you as a steel contractor better estimate, coordinate and plan your steel project while also improve communication with the general contractor
Bring your questions and participate in our live Q&A with product and industry specialists.

Date: Thursday November 19, 2015
Time: From 11:00 am to 12:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time)

Register Now!
 
Thank you for reading. For more information on AutoCAD and other Autodesk products, and information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com


 

November 9, 2015

e-Learning - Upcoming Revit and Ideate Software Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education.
11.10::Revit 201:
Revit Import into 3ds Max
11.11::Ideate Software:
Auditing Your Revit Project with Ideate Explorer
11.12::Revit 201:
Getting Started with Presentations in Revit Architecture
11.13::Revit 201:
Converting Blocks to Families and Working with 2D Content in Revit
11.19::Ideate Software:
Ideate BIMLink for Revit MEP Projects
11.24::Revit 201:
Revit Scheduling
12.9::Ideate Software:
Revit Model Management with Ideate BIMLink
12.15::Ideate Software:
for Revit MEP Project Ideate Sticky
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.

Classroom Training - Open Revit and Civil 3D 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.
11.16-11.18::San Francisco
Civil 3D Fundamentals
11.17-11.19::San Francisco
Revit Structure Beyond the Basics
11.23::San Francisco
Revit Architecture Families
12.1-12.2::San Jose
Revit MEP - Electrical Fundamentals
Know your software. Sign up now! 

Contact the Ideate Training Department at 888.662.7238 x1012 or education@ideateinc.com

November 5, 2015

Linking Revit Models Project Base Point to Project Base Point With Revit 2016 R2


If there is one thing that all of us Revit users can admit to, it would be the fact that at some point in our Revit career we forgot to coordinate our Survey, Project and Origin points with other linked models. Perhaps we were really unaware of each points function, until it was too late.

I am admittedly excited about a new option for linking our Revit models, and it has to do with linking them by their Project Base Point. This new feature is available in Revit 2016 R2, and to me, it is a game changer for coordinating Revit models.

We frequently receive tech support cases in which the end user has received coordination models and upon linking them, none of them line up. Typically, they have exhausted each of the linking options without any success, which is where we come in. After a little history on how the project was coordinated to start with, we usually come to the same conclusion: nothing was coordinated when the project commenced. The way around the linking issue involves using Shared Coordinates, which is a little bit of work to set up and coordinate, but it is such an awesome and powerful feature, and it also keeps you honest.

When you take your first look at the coordinate points in Revit, it is easy to conclude that there are two coordinate system points in the software and this is because if you go to Visibility/Graphics to the Site category, you can turn on the Project Base Point and the Survey Point. The result is that you see a Triangle (The Survey Point) and a Circle (Project Base point).  Most people believe that the Origin Point in Revit is the circular (Project Base) point, but that is actually not the case. In Revit, there are three points – Survey Point, Project Base Point and an invisible point called the Origin Point. When linking Revit models Origin to Origin, Revit will align models based on the invisible point (Origin Point) and not the Project Base Point (Circular Point). What do people typically do then? Most people unclip the Project Base Point and move it to match the location of the other Revit models. After moving the Project Base Point, they attempt to re-link them Origin to Origin, only to discover that it did not work.

Well, the good news is that now you can move your Project Base Points to match the entire project teams Project Base Points and then link the models via the Project Base Point option. This feature will save you the time it takes to set up and coordinate a Shared Coordinate System.
Be on the lookout for a future video blog post that will dive a little deeper into the Revit Coordinate System.

In this example, we are comparing both a Structural Model and Architectural Model of the same project. Looking at the Survey Point and Project Base Point data, both models appear to be coordinated in terms of coordinate system data, which is a good thing!



With both the Project Base Point and Survey Point in the same coordinate system, we will attempt to link the Structural model into the Architectural model via the Origin to Origin positioning.


 

Upon linking the Structural Model into the Architectural Model via Origin to Origin positioning, we quickly realize that the models do not align. This is because the circular point is actually the Project Base Point and NOT the Origin Point. The Origin Point is actually invisible and this is what can get people in trouble when the coordinate system is not coordinated at the beginning of a project.


To find the true Origin Point in a Revit model, simply Unclip the Project Base Point, then right-click and select “Move to Startup Location.” By doing this, IF the Project Base Point was unclipped and moved away from the Origin Point to start with, then the Project Base Point will move back to the true Origin Point. If the Project Base Point does NOT move, then the Project Base Point and Origin Point are in alignment with each other, which means that it was not unclipped and moved away from the Origin Point to start with.

 
In our case, after selecting the “Move to Startup Location” option, we discovered that the Project Base Point was unclipped at one point in time from the Origin Point (red arrow) and moved to a gridline intersection (green arrow) to match the Structural consultants file. This explains why the Origin to Origin feature will not work to align these particular models. If this happens, unclipping the Project Base Point and moving it so that the entire project teams coordinate system matches is a wise idea. This way all disciplines Spot Elevations, Spot Coordinates, Levels, etc. will match up. The only downside is that linking Origin to Origin will NOT work, unless the Architect physically moves the entire model to the Origin Point, which becomes an impossible task at the design continues to progress.
 
 
If your Project Base Points align, you are not using Shared Coordinates, and linking Origin to Origin does not work out, then try linking your models by “Auto-Project Base Point to Project Base point”.
 
 
After failing to link our Structural model Origin to Origin, we linked it in using the “Auto-Project Base Point to Project Base point” feature, and as you can see, both projects align very nicely. In this case, we opted out of using Shared Coordinates.”
 
 

For more information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com





Sash Kazeminejad

Ideate AEC Senior Application Specialist

Sash brings proficiency in Autodesk solutions including AutoCAD and Revit Architecture to Ideate customers. His industry experience includes project management, BIM Management, and design for Architectural firms in California, Montana and Oregon. He is LEED accredited professional and is on track to achieve California licensure with Oregon to follow. In his academic life, Sash was awarded a variety of college scholarships, earned a BA in Environmental Design, a MA in Architecture from Montana State University (MSU) and taught Building Information Modeling courses at MSU Gallatin College. As a Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Instructor, Sash provides Revit Architecture training and support for AEC firms.@sashpdx.

Get it. Know it. Use it.
 
 

November 4, 2015

AutoCAD Drawing Housekeeping


As an Application Specialist at Ideate, one of my primary roles is to provide technical support to our customers. I'm still surprised to discover that many support cases are related to drawing file housekeeping. Periodically running the following commands could save an AutoCAD user hours of time and frustration:
AUDIT
RECOVER
RECOVERALL
-PURGE (All, Regapps, Orphaned Data). 

AUDIT
Use this command when the drawing is open. It attempts to find and fix drawing errors.  I recommend running AUDIT at least once a day.
RECOVER
Use this command when the drawing is closed. It tends to do a more thorough job of fixing errors than the AUDIT command. I recommend running RECOVER on a drawing weekly.

RECOVERALL
This command will not only run RECOVER on your host drawing but all of its drawing Xrefs as well. Upon completion, a report is generated that can be copied to the Windows Clipboard and pasted into Notepad or MS Word for review. I recommend running RECOVERALL weekly on a drawing with Xrefs.

-PURGE
This is the command line version of PURGE. It gives you additional 'object' types to purge out of your drawing not available in the classic version; such as unreferenced REGAPPS. I recommend running -PURGE>All and -PURGE>Regapps bi-weekly on your host drawing and its Xrefs.

 
The important point about purging Regapps is that an excessive amount of unreferenced Regapps can cause drawing performance issues. Your host drawing can even get them from Xrefs. Recently I ran the command on a customers' drawings that couldn't be referenced; many had over 80K!  Afterwards, they stayed attached and opened much faster.

Another object type that should be purged is Orphaned data, -PURGE>O.  Unmapped DGN linotypes can unexpectedly bloat the size of the drawing causing serious performance issues. This option is available out-of-the-box beginning with AutoCAD 2015. A DGN hotfix is available for AutoCAD 2012, and for AutoCAD 2013-2014 products. 

If it gets to the point where you are constantly having issues with your drawings to include crashing, the Autodesk Knowledge Network article on How to repair corrupt AutoCAD files is a great resource. It includes all the drawing housekeeping commands discussed above as well as workarounds for saving most of your data.

Lastly, please submit the Autodesk Customer Error Report with your email address each time an Autodesk product closes unexpectedly/crashes and the dialog appears. You may not think sending them in will help you. However, they are used by the development team to identify defects for Hotfixes and Service Packs. A potential immediate benefit is that we can create an Autodesk Support case asking to locate the CERs, review them, and provide feedback on what may be causing the crashing.

So, as you are feverishly working on your design projects, remember to periodically run the above drawing maintenance/housekeeping commands.  They only take seconds to run, but can save you hours of lost time and frustration. Now if only Autodesk had some commands to keep my cubicle in order and clean.
  
Thank you for reading. For more information on AutoCAD and other Autodesk products, and information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com.



ENI Application Specialist

Daniel is an Application Specialist for Infrastructure Solutions at the Ideate Sacramento office. He is a California licensed Civil Engineer and LSIT with over 9 years land development design experience and 6 years Civil–GIS software consulting. Additionally, he provided 6 years of engineering support at a municipal public works department. At Ideate, Daniel assists Civil Engineering and Surveying firms in maximizing their utilization of AutoCAD Civil 3D through consulting, training, mentoring, and technical support. He conducts standard classroom and custom training on AutoCAD, Map 3D, and Civil 3D.
 

November 3, 2015

AutoCAD 2016 PDF Enhancements Part Two


At Ideate Inc. we are delving into the latest release of AutoCAD. Among the numerous enhancements to AutoCAD 2016, here are a few of the PDF additions.

Separate PDF dialog box?    

In previous releases of AutoCAD, the DWF and PDF settings were in the same dialog box. With this latest release, PDF options now have their own dialog box. This box can be accessed from the Output tab of the Ribbon (image 1), in the plot box after you choose a PDF printer (image 2), and in the right click menu on the sheet set manager (image 3).

 
Image 1: Accessing the PDF settings box on the Output tab of the ribbon

 
Image 2: Accessing the PDF options box in the plot box after selecting a PDF printer

 
Image 3: Accessing the PDF options box from the sheet set manager
  
The new PDF export to dialog box is centralized location for PDF print settings. Now instead of having to dig through several dialog boxes to set up your PDF print options, you can set them all in one box, as shown below.  Additionally, PDFs created from AutoCAD can now retain their hyperlinks and have bookmarks.  I cover this in another blog...
 
 
  
PDF Plot Presets
 
Additionally, there are new PDF printer plot options (pc3 files) that come with your standard AutoCAD 2016 install.  These options indicate PDF quality so you don’t have to set quality options for each PDF you create.  The options include: General Documentation, High Quality Print, Smallest File, and Web and Mobile.  For specific setting details for each option, refer to the link below... 
 
 
 
 Image: PDF plot preset options
 
To summarize, new PDF functionality include:
 
 • A PDF settings dialog box accessible from the ribbon, the plot dialog box and the sheet set manager

• Preset PDF quality options


For information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com



Kate Ming

AEC Application Specialist


Kate is a California licensed civil engineer with a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley. Prior to Ideate, she worked at a multinational company for four years doing general civil design on large infrastructure projects. She is versed in roadway, rail, utility design and site development. She also has experience with utility demand analysis and Low Impact Development plans. As a Civil 3D Autodesk Certified Professional Kate provides training and support for Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and InfraWorks.
 


Get it. Know it. Use it.

November 2, 2015

Systems, Layers and Layer Keys


By utilizing functionalities like layer keys and systems in AutoCAD MEP, the user will gain control over on what layer a given object will end up on. This tip is based upon electrical devices, and systems, but should be applicable to HVAC objects & systems as well as piping objects and systems.

Layers, layer keys and systems are taken from the “Aecb Model (US Imperial Ctb).dwt” template, but layer colors have been altered to display better on a white background and the layer standard edited to reflect the tip intentions. 

All objects in AutoCAD ACA/MEP have a default layer key that controls which layer the object will end up on, but in AutoCAD MEP we can also work with systems. Basically the system layer key will override the object layer key, and place the given object on the systems layer.

Below a single switched socket outlet, and a single pole switch has been placed in the system “230 V Lighting” and “230 V Power”, resulting in the same objects ending up on different layers.



The systems layer key overrides the object layer key because the system definition tells it to, so let’s have a look at the system definitions. Under the Design Rules tab in the Style Manger when editing Electrical System Definitions, we find the Layer Key dropdown list.
 

By picking a layer key from the list, the system will override the object layer, and place the inserted object on the system layer. By leaving the field blank, the system will ensure that the object is placed on the layer defined by the object’s layer key.

If you want to separate the various objects in the same system on to different layers, but keep a relation to the system, use the override field.
 
 

The objects will then be placed on a generated layer, if the Layer Key drop down is left blank, the object layer key, will identify the layer, but any layer field in that layer can be overridden with values from this dialog.
 
You can control the color, line width and other layer properties, but make sure that there is a layer key to all the layers needed, that way the template file doesn’t need to be filled with layers.

AutoCAD MEP will when it generates layers using the override functionality go look for the generated layer in the layer key list, and if it finds it will create the layer using the properties from the layer key list.
dialog.
 
Thank you for reading. For more information on AutoCAD and other Autodesk products, and information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com.



 
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Senior Application Specialist MEP/AEC Solutions

Bill has over 25 years experience in applying MEP & AEC design solutions for large commercial companies, this has led to actively develop Autodesk® Revit® implementation strategies, techniques, and procedures for architectural and MEP companies. He has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill is an Autodesk MEP Implementation Certified Expert, and has been the Lead Designer for several multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He graduated from the Pasadena Institute of Technology and has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley. Bill has over 25 years experience in applying MEP & AEC design solutions for large commercial companies, this has led to actively develop Autodesk® Revit® implementation strategies, techniques, and procedures for architectural and MEP companies. He has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill is an Autodesk MEP Implementation Certified Expert, and has been the Lead Designer for several multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He graduated from the Pasadena Institute of Technology and has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley.