Help! My .dwg Is Too Large For Email

I was on tech support when a client called in with a question about making a .dwg file smaller. The client had used Revit to export a floor plan to a .dwg to hand off to a consultant, but once exported, the file size was too big to send via email.

In response, I shared some things to consider when exporting a Revit view to a CAD file:

• Although exporting a view creates a .dwg, it doesn't create an optimized .dwg. Here are a couple of ways to try to optimize it:

1. After exporting the view to a CAD file, open the .dwg in AutoCAD, use the PURGE or the -PURGE commands to purge the model and clean up the file. 
2. Save the file.
3. Check the file size. Is it smaller? If not, go to the next bullet point.

• After the .dwg has been exported, open the file.

1. Use the WBLOCK command to create a new .dwg using the Entire drawing option. See the image below.
2. Specify a location and name for the new .dwg.
3. Specify the Insert units for the .dwg.
4. Press [OK]. This will create a new “native” .dwg from the exported Revit view .dwg. This .dwg should be optimized and be the absolutely smallest the CAD file can get without deleting geometry.
5. Check the file size. The file should be smaller and optimized for working with AutoCAD consultants.

Use this process to optimize and reduce the size of your exported .dwg files prior to sending to consultants. 

Until next time, 
Ron

For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Ron Palma
AEC Application Specialist
Ron has 25+ years of experience in the architectural industry as a drafter, designer, lead project designer, trainer, and a CAD manager implementing Autodesk Architectural Solutions for residential design firms. His instructional accomplishments include: Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), trainer, support technician, educator at Portland and Clackamas Community Colleges, as well as a U.S. Army certified instructor. Ron holds a BA in Instructional Design suma cum laude, is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard, where he is a First Sergeant of an Infantry Company, specializing in training and mentoring soldiers in their careers, and has been deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Resolute Support. Ron is a published author and continues to write professional technical training manuals and shorts for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit. As an Autodesk Certified Instructor and Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional, Ron continues to provide Revit Architecture and AutoCAD training and support for various AEC firms. @RonPalmaAEC

Revit Live: Explore Your Model

Transform your Revit models into interactive visualizations you can step into and explore with Revit Live! 

This cloud-based software allows you to move around your model, from outside to in, up and down stairs, and through doors that open when you approach them. You can also easily explore the model from any height; view it from the perspective of a toddler or wheelchair user. It even comes with options to control the time of year and day, giving you a good idea of how your structure will appear in different light and weather conditions.

It’s easy to convert your Revit files into Revit Live. Simply create a 3D view that contains the things you want to see in Live. Click a button, and all your content is carried over, including materials, lights, and Rich Photorealistic Content (RPC) Families – no need to rework anything. Your terrain model will be extended to the horizon to produce a robust 3D landscape. Then it’s easy to move around and present with the simple click and drag method and by using the mouse wheel.

One of the most promising features of Revit Live is non-Revit users can really get a feel for your design without owning Autodesk Revit Software. All they need to do is download a free 30-day trial of Revit Live.

Options for exposure control and animations are available in Stingray – but I will save that for a later post.

For now, check out the accompanying video to this post to see Revit Live in action. 

For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Jim Cowan

AEC Senior Application Specialist

Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience, Autodesk design solutions expertise, and status as an Autodesk Certified Instructor have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor, and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include eLearning, interoperability between solutions, and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot–Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at the University of Manitoba, Jim has a special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings, and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). You can learn more from Jim on his YouTube Channel.

BIM 360 Team: Service Unavailable?

With cloud computing becoming more prevalent these days, much of our data is now being stored in “The Cloud.” So, what happens when The Cloud is unavailable? Does all work come to a screeching halt? In some cases, the answer may be yes. But have no fear, we have a recommended practice for moving forward with Revit projects stored in the BIM 360 Team cloud.

With Collaboration for Revit (C4R) and BIM 360 Team (cloud storage space or “the hub”), Revit models are processed via C4R and stored in the BIM 360 Team hub. Essentially, the Revit model “central file” is stored in The Cloud, with BIM 360 Team being the interface to manage and view the model.

After a Revit model has been processed and stored in BIM 360 Team, a cache file is created on the local machine that was used to process the Revit model. This cache file enables faster loading and synching times when working between C4R and BIM 360 Team. Other team members can use Revit with C4R to open models from the BIM 360 Team hub, which in turn creates a cache file on their local machines. Essentially, this becomes their copy of the Revit model.

Since the local copy of the Revit model is a cache file, it is hidden from the everyday user, and is assigned an arbitrary name with letters and numbers, as depicted below.

The fact that cache files are created by initially opening a file from the BIM 360 Team hub and then updated each time the Revit model is synched means that a local copy of the model can be worked on in the event the BIM 360 Team service becomes unavailable.

To locate the cache file for a project, use Windows Explorer and copy/paste one of the following addresses:

• For Revit 2015: %localappdata%\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit 2015\CollaborationCache

• For Revit 2016: %localappdata%\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit 2016\CollaborationCache

• For Revit 2017: %localappdata%\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit 2017CollaborationCache

Once the folder has been located, look for the Revit (.rvt) model with the naming convention described and depicted above. Once the cache file is located, determine amongst your team members the copy that should be used.

Ideate’s recommendation is to use Revit to open and detach the cache file, then process the file as a new Central model on your local network. Note that once detached, the file will no longer synch with the model stored in BIM 360 Team. This will allow users to create local copies to work from in the traditional work sharing environment. Later, when the BIM 360 Team service becomes available, the Central model can be detached from the local network and processed back to the BIM 360 Team hub for cloud collaboration.

Alternately, the cache file can be detached, worked on, and saved. When the BIM 360 Team service becomes available, the changes can be copied from the detached copy of the Revit model, then pasted into the Revit model in BIM 360 Team. Note that this is a less desirable process, as Revit building element relationships may not be coordinated correctly and can be time consuming.

We realize that both methods are not ideal courses of action, but if time working on the model is critical, the above suggestions will help you move forward.

For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Ron Palma
AEC Application Specialist
Ron has 25+ years of experience in the architectural industry as a drafter, designer, lead project designer, trainer, and a CAD manager implementing Autodesk Architectural Solutions for residential design firms. His instructional accomplishments include: Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), trainer, support technician, educator at Portland and Clackamas Community Colleges, as well as a U.S. Army certified instructor. Ron holds a BA in Instructional Design suma cum laude, is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard, where he is a First Sergeant of an Infantry Company, specializing in training and mentoring soldiers in their careers, and has been deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Resolute Support. Ron is a published author and continues to write professional technical training manuals and shorts for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit. As an Autodesk Certified Instructor and Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional, Ron continues to provide Revit Architecture and AutoCAD training and support for various AEC firms. @RonPalmaAEC

Build Great Things

Ideate, Inc. is proud to partner with Connect2Classes, a Seattle based website where prospective students can search and register for local and online classes.

Focused on customer satisfaction, Connect2Classes (C2C) is your go-to resource to find learning opportunities in the Seattle area for hundreds of varied topics.

After receiving frequent requests for Revit classes, C2C and Ideate have partnered to address the growing market demand. Ideate’s emphasis on quality education is a perfect fit for the C2C business model and we are proud to offer monthly Revit Architecture classes at our downtown Seattle office, as well as online.

Visit C2C’s website for additional details.

For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

Creating & Showing Individual Wall Wraps at Wall Ends in Revit

As an application specialist who provides Autodesk Revit Architecture training and solutions for customers in the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner industries, I keep up to date on features that users in those industries would like would like to see in Revit software. One that I have heard users speak of for years is the ability to control Wall Wraps on each end of a wall and have those controls as Instance Parameters.

The wall wrap parameters exist as Type Parameter in a Wall Family, and there are no controls for end 1 and end 2. With wraps enabled, a freestanding wall will have wraps at both ends. Furthermore, if you want the same wall type to have wraps for some walls and no wraps for other walls, you must duplicate the wall type, so you can sort the Type Parameters out. For those of you who have dealt with this issue, you know it is unfavorable, because you are managing additional walls just so you can control the wall wrapping.

Until an improved feature is addressed in Revit, we have to resort to a workaround. Fortunately, there are a few workaround options out there. The one that I came up with uses the Door Family Template to create the wall wrap. Why use this template? Because families such as doors and windows have reference plane options that control wall wraps that allow us to create a workaround family to control wraps at each wall end, individually.

Here is a screenshot that highlights the steps for creating this family. I encourage you to give it a try and play around with your options. 

You can also watch my screencast, Control Wall Wraps at Each End of a Wall, on the Autodesk Knowledge Network.

Additionally, I created a Revit Wish list feature for individual Wall Wraps. If you are interested in voting for this feature, visit Autodesk Community’s Revit Ideas and vote for, Wall Wraps, Inserts, and Wall Layer Extension.

Thank you for reading! For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Sash Kazeminejad
AEC Senior Application Specialist 
Sash is a registered Architect and LEED Accredited Professional who holds a Master of Architecture from Montana State University. Sash’s experience includes project management, BIM management, and design for architectural firms in California, Montana, and Oregon. In addition to being a Bluebeam Certified Instructor, Sash is As an Autodesk Certified Instructor, Sash who provides Revit Architecture training and solutions for AECO firms. @sashpdx 

Why InfraWorks 360 is Worth Paying For

The time you save is worth the price of subscription.

As the ENI Manager here at Ideate, I have been working to help sort out some of the software details that went into effect with the transition to Autodesk AEC Collections and the retiring of Design Suites at the end of 2016. One of the larger changes that came with this transition was the packaging and offerings associated with Autodesk InfraWorks 360. Some customers have been asking if they need to upgrade to a full version, or if InfraWorks 360 LT is sufficient, and how they might better justify the cost involved if InfraWorks 360 is right for them.

If you're in that group wondering what version you need, the following might help.

Some of biggest differences between the full version of InfraWorks 360 and the LT version, based on this feature comparison, are the cloud collaboration and the Road, Bridge, and Drainage design features. However, the one function that has been worth the cost of upgrading, in my opinion, is the item listed as "Automate Model Creation." It doesn't seem like much, but it's the one feature everyone will use, regardless of industry or design focus. Not all customers will need Road, Bridge, or Drainage design, and maybe you don't have immediate plans for cloud collaboration, but you can use Model Builder.

Model Builder, listed as "Automate Model Creation" in the PDF matrix, automatically finds, downloads, imports, and stylizes existing GIS data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and OpenStreetMaps to create a functioning model of the existing conditions. If you can search for a place online—think Bing or Google Maps—you can probably find it in Model Builder. Without Model Builder, even the most experienced GIS users may take a few hours to search for, find, and download the right data from their favorite sources. At that point, the data still needs to be imported and stylized manually.

With Model Builder, the entire process from finding data to importing and stylizing in InfraWorks 360 is automatic, and it usually completes in 15 minutes or less. There is a maximum download area of 200 sq.km, but models can be combined after they are created.

For more details on the difference between InfraWorks 360 LT and InfraWorks 360, read my post, Flavors of InfraWorks.

It seems worth noting that the full InfraWorks 360 subscription gives you access to periodic updates that are released throughout the year. If you're wondering what's new in the latest release (v2017.3 at the time this post was written), here's a great article from the Autodesk team.

For more information on purchasing InfraWorks 360, or if you have any questions, please contact sales@ideateinc.com, we are happy to help.

Thank you for reading. For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com.

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Matt Miyamoto

ENI Manager & Senior Application Specialist

Matt is an ENI Manager and Senior Application Specialist in Ideate, Inc.’s Seattle office. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed Civil Engineer. Prior to joining Ideate, Matt worked as a civil engineer, using Civil 3D on a variety of projects including site development, roadway improvements and infrastructure design. With over 10 years of experience in the civil engineering industry, Matt now provides training, consulting, technical support, and implementation strategies for organizations transitioning to Civil 3D. Matt is an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), as well as an Autodesk Certified BIM Specialist: Roads and Highway Solutions. Additionally, Matt is and Autodesk Certified Professional for AutoCAD, and AutoCAD Civil 3D. He can be found on twitter as @MattM_PE

The Flavors of InfraWorks 360

During a recent round of customer visits, I was pleased to hear questions about Autodesk InfraWorks 360 and its features. Many of those questions revolved around what exactly our customers had access to, and what the differences between the available versions were.

Over the years, InfraWorks has seen a number of name changes, feature updates, additions, and modifications. And, unlike other Autodesk applications, the software is not on an annual rollout, meaning new features and functions are released throughout the year via periodic product updates.

Before I really get into it, though, here is some background information:

1. InfraWorks 360 IS NOT a serial number based application.
2. InfraWorks 360 IS a product entitlement assigned to an individual user's Autodesk account by the contract holder or software coordinator. 
3. InfraWorks 360 can be installed on any 64-bit Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10 OS system without a serial number.
4. A user's Autodesk Login activates the features and functions when the program is launched.
5. Version updates are released periodically throughout the year, unlike the annual releases of other Autodesk products. The current version at the time of this post is 2017.3.
6. User accounts and entitlements may not be shared per the license agreement.

Diving in, as of January 2017, you have two options for InfraWorks 360:

Option 1 - InfraWorks 360 LT 

Previously, the "LT" version of InfraWorks 360 was included as part of the now-retired Design Suites, and it has limited or “light” functionality compared to the full version of InfraWorks 360.

It should be noted that the LT version is no longer available for purchase, but can be accessed by customers who have an existing and active maintenance subscription for Autodesk® Infrastructure Design Suite Ultimate edition, Autodesk® Infrastructure Design Suite Premium edition, or Autodesk® Building Design Suite Ultimate editions.

This means if you are an existing customer with an active subscription for one of the older suites, you are entitled to InfraWorks 360 LT. If you are a current subscriber of the new AEC Collection, you have access to the full version of InfraWorks 360.

Option 2 - InfraWorks 360

This is currently available as an individual product subscription or as part of the AEC Industry Collection from Autodesk, and it includes access to all features and functions of the product.

As of the 2016 release of InfraWorks 360, the once “a la cart” Road, Bridge, and Drainage design modules are now included as part of InfraWorks 360, at no extra cost. Learn more about this change.

Here's a handy PDF, Autodesk InfraWorks 360 vs.Autodesk InfraWorks 360 LT Comparison Matrix, highlighting the differences between InfraWorks 360 LT and InfraWorks 360.

To find out what version of Infraworks 360 you’re currently running, launch the program and open one of your models.  Click on Settings and Utilities, then Application Options to access the About dialog.  The version you have is listed on the upper left corner of the About information.  If you are on subscription, you can download and install the latest version of Infraworks 360 through the Autodesk Desktop App.  Please note, Infraworks 360 models are version specific, so updating to the latest version will also prompt you to upgrade any existing models the next time they are opened.

There it is, now you've got a breakdown of the two remaining “flavors” of InfraWorks 360 and how (or why) you have access to a particular version. 

If you have LT and want more information on purchasing a full version of InfraWorks 360, please contact sales@ideateinc.com.

Thank you for reading. For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com.

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Matt Miyamoto

ENI Manager & Senior Application Specialist

Matt is an ENI Manager and Senior Application Specialist in Ideate, Inc.’s Seattle office. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed Civil Engineer. Prior to joining Ideate, Matt worked as a civil engineer, using Civil 3D on a variety of projects including site development, roadway improvements and infrastructure design. With over 10 years of experience in the civil engineering industry, Matt now provides training, consulting, technical support, and implementation strategies for organizations transitioning to Civil 3D. Matt is an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), as well as an Autodesk Certified BIM Specialist: Roads and Highway Solutions. Additionally, Matt is and Autodesk Certified Professional for AutoCAD, and AutoCAD Civil 3D. He can be found on twitter as @MattM_PE

Got Certification?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a reliable way to gauge someone’s AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or Revit experience before they are hired and start working? There is a certain peace of mind that comes with knowing what a person can do, especially when they will contribute to the success of your organization.

One of the biggest challenges we hear from our customers here at Ideate, is how to find qualified engineers, architects, and drafters to hire. In some cases, there are numerous applicants interested in a position, and all of them list “AutoCAD Experience” on their resumes. The trouble is “experience” can mean anything from having used AutoCAD in the past, to having taken an AutoCAD class in college or at a technical school, to actual on-the-job use of the program. Skill level varies widely and it is difficult to know how someone will perform before they are hired and on the job. If a person is hired who doesn’t have the needed skills, both the company and the employee have lost valuable time and energy.

Implementing an application-based skills test during the interview process is one way to help gauge the level of experience a user has. However, developing the test for your standards, and scheduling the exam takes time and resources.

An alternative, and arguably much easier solution, is to look for Autodesk Certified Professionals when reviewing resumes and interviewing job applicants.

The Autodesk Certified Professional program ensures a reliable validation of skills and knowledge in the use of Autodesk applications. Hiring certified professionals can lead to accelerated staff development and improved productivity.

Ideate is proud to feature multiple Autodesk® Authorized Training Centers (ATC) and Autodesk® Certification Centers (ACC), providing globally recognized training and testing. Ideate offers Professional level certification exams for AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, and Revit MEP. *

Are you a current professional looking to distinguish yourself from others? Gaining Autodesk Certified Professional status will provide an industry-recognized credential that helps prove your skill level to current and future employers. With an Autodesk certification, you will enhance your credibility and career success.

*Please note, exam vouchers must be purchased directly through Ideate and individual appointments are scheduled monthly at our Authorized Certification Centers. For more information and to schedule an exam, please contact us at education@ideateinc.com or 888.662.7238 x1012.

Thank you for reading. For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com.

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Matt Miyamoto

ENI Manager & Senior Application Specialist

Matt is an ENI Manager and Senior Application Specialist in Ideate, Inc.’s Seattle office. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed Civil Engineer. Prior to joining Ideate, Matt worked as a civil engineer, using Civil 3D on a variety of projects including site development, roadway improvements and infrastructure design. With over 10 years of experience in the civil engineering industry, Matt now provides training, consulting, technical support, and implementation strategies for organizations transitioning to Civil 3D. Matt is an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), as well as an Autodesk Certified BIM Specialist: Roads and Highway Solutions. Additionally, Matt is and Autodesk Certified Professional for AutoCAD, and AutoCAD Civil 3D. He can be found on twitter as @MattM_PE

Performance Degradation

Recently, while doing some research for a technical support case at Ideate, I came across this article on the Autodesk Knowledge Network (AKN), “Civil 3D Performance Degradation.” Posted back in October, this article provides a fix for performance-based issues occurring across multiple users in an organization.

Per the article, some of the issues addressed are long wait times when opening files, long lags during the PURGE and AUDIT commands, and additional lags with dialog boxes appearing and plotting. The issue affects both AutoCAD and AutoCAD Civil 3D, from the 2014-2017 releases. If you’re encountering any of these issues, I strongly encourage you to check the article out.

The solution is straight forward and involves replacing the existing AECCNETWORK.dbx file with the new one provided by Autodesk.

Here are some additional things to note:

1. You will need Administrative rights for the system to complete the process.
2. Applications must be closed before applying the update.
3. The update needs to be implemented on each user’s machine, at once.
4. The performance problem will recur if an unpatched version of Civil 3D is used to open a file.
5. The performance problem is fixed at the time a drawing file is saved in the updated version of Civil 3D, not when the .dbx file is replaced.
6. The first time a user opens a file, the update will not be evident.
7. Performance will greatly improve after the first save.
8. External references need to be resaved to see the benefit of the update.

Items 3-5 are very important to remember. If the fix is not applied to each user’s machine and an unpatched version of Civil 3D opens the file, the performance problem will recur. With that in mind, I want to reiterate, the fix should be applied to each machine at once, rather than as needed. All files, including XREFs, will also need to be opened and saved before there is a noticeable change in performance.

If you have been running into company-wide performance issues, this very well could be the solution you need.

Thank you for reading. For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com.

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Matt Miyamoto

ENI Manager & Senior Application Specialist

Matt is an ENI Manager and Senior Application Specialist in Ideate, Inc.’s Seattle office. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed Civil Engineer. Prior to joining Ideate, Matt worked as a civil engineer, using Civil 3D on a variety of projects including site development, roadway improvements and infrastructure design. With over 10 years of experience in the civil engineering industry, Matt now provides training, consulting, technical support, and implementation strategies for organizations transitioning to Civil 3D. Matt is an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), as well as an Autodesk Certified BIM Specialist: Roads and Highway Solutions. Additionally, Matt is and Autodesk Certified Professional for AutoCAD, and AutoCAD Civil 3D. He can be found on twitter as @MattM_PE

The Future for ClashMEP and MEP Coordination Workflows

This article was written by Brett Young, CEO at BuildingSP, an Ideate, Inc. partner.

BuildingSP is working on very exciting process improvements in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) space for building information modeling (BIM). I want to give you a view of what we’re working on and how we intend to change construction.  

In the last several months, we’ve developed and released ClashMEP, a dynamic clash detection tool for the Autodesk Revit platform. ClashMEP differentiates itself from other clash detection tools in the following ways:

• Real-time. ClashMEP works as the user models, so feedback on clashes is real-time.  

• Meta-data. Integration of clash detection at the modeling level increases available meta-data associated with a clash instance.  

• Connected. Various types of Revit file sharing, like Collaboration for Revit (C4R), allow for immediate model updates and clash collaboration.

ClashMEP is a break-out tool for clash detection because it removes a separate workflow from the BIM coordination process. It changes the milestone-like “batch” and file-based mentality of clash detection and creates a continuous process within the modeling platform. On its own merits, ClashMEP is a revolutionary product for the AEC industry.

We are not done yet with our work on real-time clash detection. The greater opportunity is to leverage ClashMEP’s differentiators and create a new platform for clash detection that aggregates clashes across the whole project, in real-time. 

Here are what we see as the unique capabilities of this new platform:

• Automatically Generate Clash Tracking. As soon as a clash is created, the clash can be tracked in the system. This changes clash management from a milestone-based system to one of a “clash ledger.”  Clashes are continuously tracked and managed rather than reported in batches.  

• Enhanced Accountability. Using meta-data from the modeling environment, we can more actively manage the clash process. The following information would be known for each clash:

• The date and time the clash was created.  
• The name of the modeler who generated the clash. 
• The name of the modeler responsible for the other system.
• The systems involved in the clash. 
• The files that were in use when the clash was generated.

• Deeper Metrics. Measuring progress and open issues gives a high-level view of current conditions.  Many management methodologies (lean, agile, scrum) rely on metrics to determine progress along complex tasks. A ClashMEP-enabled clash tracker would provide metrics that are deeper, richer, and at a higher granularity than a tracker based on a milestone / batch paradigm. 

• Automatically Close a Clash Issue. Just like a clash can be opened as an issue when it is generated, a clash can be flagged as resolved when it is no longer a clash. Current clash management solutions rely on manual closing of issues, which creates an additional lag in the metrics as well as additional time. A ClashMEP-enabled clash tracker eliminates the manual input of closure and provides better metrics.

The analogy we’re using when talking with customers is of a “clash ledger.” This clash ledger would have an up-to-date, real time list of how many clashes are currently in the model. Management of these clashes can be filtered, sorted, triaged, and prioritized. For example, clashes over 2-weeks old represent a larger risk than clashes created in the last hour or day. A clash created without then-current models or incomplete model sets represents poor model discipline and can be rejected as a false positive for the originator to fix. Each clash would have meaningful data automatically attached to it. The amount of manual input would be very low, relying instead on automation.  

We’re very excited about moving ClashMEP from where it is today and really changing the workflow. In AEC, we need a continuous process for management of our models, not the old paradigm of meeting-based clash coordination. All current users of ClashMEP get access to our new platform and we’re very near to announcing a release date. Get in contact with us so we can talk about your projects and how we change your BIM workflow.  

Creating an Origin Point Marker for Revit

For those of you who have read my blog posts, attended my e201s, taken a course with me, or seen me present at a Revit Users Group, you are already aware I am a big fan of the Revit Coordinate System. After spending a considerable amount of time studying how models link and how Shared Coordinates work, the system makes complete sense to me. Well, for the most part, but it did take some time to get there. For instance, I was initially convinced the Project Base Point and Internal Origin Point were the same thing, but after doing lots of testing, I did realize they were, in fact, not the same points.

Starting in Revit 2010, Autodesk provided the ability to display the location of the Project Base Point and the Survey Point by turning on their visibility states in the Visibility/Graphics dialogue box. In my opinion, this was a game changer for the Revit Coordinate System, because it gave us a visual explanation of how the Revit coordinates work. Prior to Revit 2010, understanding the Coordinate System was challenging, to say the least.

While we can now see the Project Base Point and Survey Point markers, we still cannot see the Internal Origin Point. Finding the Internal Origin Point is quite easy, but wouldn’t it be nice if we had a marker that could visually display the location of the Internal Origin?

My video, Creating an Origin Point Marker for Revit Projects, shows you one of the ways in which you can create a marker for the Internal Origin Point. It is important to note, you need to ensure you find the Internal Origin first. To do this, start with the out of the box Revit Template or use the Move to Startup Location feature on the unclipped Project Base Point. Once you have found the Internal Origin, you will be able to place the Marker Family and pin it into place to prevent accidental movement. Also, keep in mind, the marker family will crop out of your view if it lies outside of the crop region.

If you would like to show support for the idea of having a native Revit marker for the Internal Origin Point, then I encourage you to visit my post on the Autodesk Website and vote for this feature by clicking the “Vote up” icon on the left hand side of the page.

Thank you for reading! For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Sash Kazeminejad
AEC Senior Application Specialist 
Sash is a registered Architect and LEED Accredited Professional who holds a Master of Architecture from Montana State University. Sash’s experience includes project management, BIM management, and design for architectural firms in California, Montana, and Oregon. In addition to being a Bluebeam Certified Instructor, Sash is As an Autodesk Certified Instructor, Sash who provides Revit Architecture training and solutions for AECO firms. @sashpdx 

Mass Models: Two alternate Energy Analysis Model Studies

This post was updated on March 29, 2017, and is part-one of a four-part series on Energy Analysis Modeling.

Suppose you have two alternate building design options, both created using masses, and you want to evaluate and compare the energy performance of your designs. Well, I have good news for you; you can create two energy analysis model (EAM) studies in Revit, in about 5 minutes.

And, if you're working in Revit 2017, you have access to Insight 360, which lets you see the building's performance overall (EUI) in addition to the specific impact of various design factors, such as a range of alternate insulation values or wall/window ratio. 

The goal of this post is to help you establish an energy efficient direction for the design at a conceptual stage. We will go in depth with Revit building elements and things like the thermal properties of materials later in this four-part series. 

To start, I want to focus exclusively on managing thermal conceptual values applied to various mass surfaces and generalized energy loading according to building type. For example, the weather station data is specific to the building's location and the study factors in the surrounding context.

All classroom activities on the ground level

Classroom activities stacked

When using masses for your energy analysis model you will be asked to select values from a compact dialog that assigns your design assumptions. These can be values related to:

• Energy loads such as occupancy (i.e., office, school, or residential)
• Geographic location and a local weather file
• Percentage of glazing on surfaces
• Thermal conductivity of the masses faces (i.e., Walls, Floors, Glazing, and Roofs)

This process will enable you to compare the energy performance of both of your designs and select the one that works best for you.

Once you have decided on the best design option, you can refine the masses by adjusting values per surface or by assigning occupancy per mass zone - I will explore this workflow later in the series. For now, watch my video, Revit: Energy Model Studies and Insight 360, and let’s see which building design option makes most sense, purely from the energy use point of view.

Don't forget to stay tuned for parts two through four of this series, where I will be covering Mass Overrides for Surfaces and Zones, Building Elements with Masses, and Building Elements and Material Thermal Properties.

For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Jim Cowan

AEC Senior Application Specialist

Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience, Autodesk design solutions expertise, and status as an Autodesk Certified Instructor have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor, and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include eLearning, interoperability between solutions, and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot–Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at the University of Manitoba, Jim has a special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings, and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). You can learn more from Jim on his YouTube Channel.

Creating Lettering on Glass (Decals Part Two)

In my post last week, My Model is Finished, Now to Add The Decals, I showed you how to use the Decal tool in Autodesk Revit software to apply a raster image into 3D views and Renderings for use as television screens, building signage, photographs, and paintings. I want to take that one step further now and show you another use for decals, lettering on glass.

With standard decals, a Source image is added to a Decal Type with the decal in turn being added to a surface. When creating the appearance of lettering on glass, two image files need to be used:

1. One that is considered the Source image and will represent the lettering or symbol “painted” on the glass
2. One that will be used as a mask, or in decal terms, a Cutout.

The Source image will generally include any lettering or symbols against a transparent background. Most photo editing programs will allow you to create an image that includes the transparent color. In the image below, the checkered pattern indicates the transparent background.

Note: Just using a Source image with a transparency is not enough to create the lettering effect.

The Cutout image is used as the mask for the Source image, and it is black and white. The black portion of the image is the transparent area from the Source image and will not display when applied to a surface in Revit. The White area is the “Cutout” of the mask where the text and symbols of the Source image will be placed.

To create the decal, use the Decal Types tool found in the Insert tab>>Link panel>>Decal flyout>> Decal Types tool.

In the Decal Types dialog, select the Create New Decal icon (see image below) to create a new decal. For the Source image, which will be the actual decal/image applied to the glass, pick the […] beside the Source to select the Source image to be used.

At the bottom of the dialog, choose the Cutouts drop-down menu and select “Image file” from the list. This will display a Source box similar to the Source box at the top of the dialog box. Pick the […] to select the image that will be used as the Cutout.

After the Decal Type is created, use the Place Decal tool to add the type to a glazing surface. Once rendered, you should have what appears to be lettering on glazing.

Cutouts can also be used to mask any image for portions of the image you do not want to show up in your Rendering. In the following example, an Image and a Cutout was used to place Graffiti on a building.

To see this workflow in action, watch my video, Creating Lettering on Glass.

Have fun working with decals and making your renderings dynamic.

For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Ron Palma
AEC Application Specialist
Ron has 25+ years of experience in the architectural industry as a drafter, designer, lead project designer, trainer, and a CAD manager implementing Autodesk Architectural Solutions for residential design firms. His instructional accomplishments include: Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), trainer, support technician, educator at Portland and Clackamas Community Colleges, as well as a U.S. Army certified instructor. Ron holds a BA in Instructional Design suma cum laude, is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard, where he is a First Sergeant of an Infantry Company, specializing in training and mentoring soldiers in their careers, and has been deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Resolute Support. Ron is a published author and continues to write professional technical training manuals and shorts for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit. As an Autodesk Certified Instructor and Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional, Ron continues to provide Revit Architecture and AutoCAD training and support for various AEC firms. @RonPalmaAEC

Revit or FormIt for Massing?

Revit and FormIt each have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to Massing. As an AEC Specialist at Ideate, I am deeply familiar with both. Here I highlight the differences and provide examples of how you can get the best of both worlds by using them together.

Revit lets you use parameters and organic forms in creating masses. However, it is not very intuitive when it comes to creating families. It requires a plan for content creation and someone with advanced skills in Family creation.

FormIt 360, on the other hand, is very intuitive and easy to use, but has no parameters to drive content form. It does create forms categorized as “masses.” FormIt files (*AXM) can be converted to Revit files and the default “masses” can be used for energy analysis and By-Face creation of Revit elements.

These two products can also work together, giving you the benefit of intuitive modeling in FormIt, and the ability to swap FormIt forms, or “masses,” for true organic masses in Revit, when needed.

Revit masses representing activities can be assembled to create a school proposal.

FormIt Groups can be easily modeled to create forms categorized as masses and convertible to a Revit mass in Revit. FormIt 360 Pro is a product in development so its features are evolving day-by-day.

A FormIt Group is used to pass changes along in a project file and to separate components. It is like a Family (Revit), Block (AutoCAD), Component (Sketchup), and a Cell (Microstation), but is editable inside of the project file.

While intuitive, FormIt also involves some planning around controlling visibility, managing groups, creating content as separate AXM files, working with Materials and Scenes, and more. Reviewing an application’s features is not enough. You need to understand how best to apply those features.

Watch my video, Revit or FormIt for Massing?, for a demonstration on how both products can be used together to leverage their strengths, as outlined below.

Revit:
+ Data rich (parameters)
+ Parametrically driven
+ True Organic Forms

FormIt:
+ Intuitive modeling
+ Familiar functionality (Sketchup)
+ Interoperability with Revit

For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Jim Cowan

AEC Senior Application Specialist

Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience, Autodesk design solutions expertise, and status as an Autodesk Certified Instructor have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor, and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include eLearning, interoperability between solutions, and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot–Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at the University of Manitoba, Jim has a special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings, and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). You can learn more from Jim on his YouTube Channel.

My Model is Finished, Now to Add the Decals (Decals Part One)

In my post From Napkin Sketches to Revit, I showed you how to use the image command to apply a raster image of a napkin sketch, add it into your Revit model, scale it, and use it as a background to trace over to create a BIM model. In that post, I mentioned images could only be added to 2D views, but by using the Decal tool in Autodesk Revit software, an image can be used within 3D views and perspectives.

The Decal tool can be a helpful tool when the desired effect is to use an image to enhance your model. Decals can be used to display a client’s signage on a building, a painting in an office or living room, a football game on TV, or even your business name lettered on a glass door, and it is typically used when rendering a model.

Working with Decals:
The Decal tool can be found in the Insert tab. This tool is a dual functioning tool; pick the bottom portion of the tool to flyout the two tools related to decals.

The Decal Types tool is used to create and configure a decal for use in the model.

In the Decal Types dialog box, new decals can be created, duplicated, renamed, and deleted. The list on the left contains any decals configured in the project. 

The settings on the right side of the dialog box control various settings for the selected decal from the list on the left. Settings such as Selecting an image to use a decal, the Brightness, Reflectivity, Transparency, and Finish of the decal can all be controlled here.

After a decal has been created and configured, use the Place Decal tool to place the decal on a flat or curved surface. Note that the decal image will be visible when using a Realistic visual style and when rendering. If you are using a visual style other than Realistic, the decal will not show at the time you add the decal.

At the time, you add the decal to a surface, the decal boundary appears, and it will adjust to either a curved or a flat surface. Keep in mind, the decal is designed for use in a rendering. Although it will display when using the Realistic visual style, the boundary of the decal will appear.

Images and the Image tool are used to display the image in a 2D view such as a plan and elevation view. Decals can be used in 3D views and are typically effective when the 3D view is rendered, otherwise the Realistic visual style will display the decal boundary.

So there you have it, use Decals to enhance your renderings by helping them be a bit more realistic, incorporate logos or images that would not be able to be used by using the Image command. 

To get a closer look at this workflow, watch my accompanying video, My Model is Finished, Now to Add the Decals.

For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Ron Palma
AEC Application Specialist
Ron has 25+ years of experience in the architectural industry as a drafter, designer, lead project designer, trainer, and a CAD manager implementing Autodesk Architectural Solutions for residential design firms. His instructional accomplishments include: Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), trainer, support technician, educator at Portland and Clackamas Community Colleges, as well as a U.S. Army certified instructor. Ron holds a BA in Instructional Design suma cum laude, is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard, where he is a First Sergeant of an Infantry Company, specializing in training and mentoring soldiers in their careers, and has been deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Resolute Support. Ron is a published author and continues to write professional technical training manuals and shorts for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit. As an Autodesk Certified Instructor and Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional, Ron continues to provide Revit Architecture and AutoCAD training and support for various AEC firms. @RonPalmaAEC