Ideate Solutions: #adsk2014

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February 25, 2015

DPR Slicer v5

The free add-in from DPR Construction helps automate the creation of 3D Views with appropriate content for tasks that are best performed in Navisworks, such as clash detection. The add-in lets a user easily define projects, based on floor levels, where section boxes will enclose the model, say level by level. It also lets you associate view setting with the section box view that is to be produced, for example by discipline or by building system – and subsequently you can export all required views as Navisworks cache files. This is the process that is repeated as the Revit Models are developed – and so it aids with interoperability by making it easier to produce the latest iteration of the assembled building.

Download DPR Model Slicer for Revit!

View Instructional Video in DPR Model Slicer!

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

Jim Cowan
Ideate 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 University of Manitoba, Jim has special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). YouTube Channel: MrJimCowan

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February 17, 2015

Light Analysis

Lighting Analysis can be added to Revit 2014 and 2015. It lets you produce graphic output showing light levels and it evaluates the results (pass/fail) with regard to LEED accreditation. A floor plan view, a 3D view and schedules are produced automatically to assist in managing and presenting the light analysis.

The pricing structure includes a free level and a fee level for high and low resolution analyses based on the area of floor objects visible in the LEED 3D view at the following rates:

Low Resolution (6 ft. grid)-Free up to -25,000 sq. ft., then 1 CC per 12,500 sq. ft.
High Resolution (1 foot grid)-Free up to -6,000 sq. ft., then 1 CC per 3,000 sq.

You can control your analysis costs in 2 ways:

By hiding floor objects in the LEED 3d view that you are not interested in.
By selecting in the analysis dialog one or more levels to analyze rather than the whole building.

Download Lighting Analysis for Revit!

View Instructional Video in Lighting Analysis!

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

October 2, 2013

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2014: Hidden Command – Export to DGN

At Ideate we are always digging and searching information to help improve your workflow. Have you ever needed to export your drawing to DGN because your work is going to be consumed by Microstation users without AutoCAD and hence no way to open a DWG? Read on for your options:

AutoCAD Civil 3D includes AutoCAD Map functionality and has historically included a command MAPEXPORT (not available in Civil 3D 2014 ribbon interface) to export to DGN and other formats listed in the picture below.

While this command is still available, Civil 3D now includes a newer command, DGNEXPORT (Application Menu > Export < DGN), to export to DGN. This command has options to specify the seed file and mapping setup such as layer, linetype – see picture below. Read the Help file to learn more about exporting to DGN and its limitations.

Tip: Before exporting Civil 3D objects to DGN, export the Civil features to AutoCAD using the appropriate EXPORTTOAUTOCAD (Application Menu > Export > DWG) command. In the resultant file, if need be, use BURST to reduce any blocks that remain to AutoCAD entities as well. Burst is similar to explode but maintains attributes and block entity layers and is well suited for this purpose.

You can access the same command using the command EXPORT (Application Menu > Export < Other Formats) and pick the appropriate DGN format.

Read further in the Help file about all the commands to import/export DGN files and associated system variables.

If you have to use MAPEXPORT and it does not work, follow the steps per this Autodesk technical solution.

Gaurav Bagga
Ideate Infrastructure Solutions Application Specialist

Gaurav is a well rounded Application Engineer and Project Manager for Infrastructure Solutions at Ideate based out of San Francisco. He has over 15 years experience in construction industry and has been helping numerous small, medium and ENR 500 firms maximize their CAD investment for the last ten years. Gaurav is an Autodesk Certified Instructor and Autodesk Civil 3D Implementation Certified Expert. He has taught at several conferences, CAD Camps and Autodesk University. He has taught AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Land Desktop and Map 3D to thousands of students and helps Ideate develop the Infrastructure Services curriculum and courses. With his extensive CAD technology background he helps Bay Area engineering and surveying firms analyze and improve their design and drawing production process thereby improving productivity and the bottom line. Follow Gaurav on Twitter: @BeGeez

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August 29, 2013

What's New in AutoCAD MEP 2014: Off the Scale! - Annotation Scaling and Unit Scaling Enhancements

AutoCAD MEP 2014 has some solid enhancements, one of them that will give companies and users flexibility is the ability to easily move from one unit to another which will more accurately represent annotation when scaled and get expected appearance and size relative to other objects.

AutoCAD Architecture and MEP have had real-world units since the original releases, along with a method for displaying annotation at different sizes for various drawing scales. When AutoCAD introduced Annotation Scaling, there were some very low level conflicts between the two systems. These resulted in rather unfortunate problems with the relative size of annotation.

When Drawing Units are changed, between units like meters and millimeters for example, you don’t want the content that is annotation scaled to become too large or small.

With the enhancements to the annotation and unit scaling, drawing units are changed, object tags, text and other annotation scaled objects now have the expected appearance and size relative to other objects.

In addition, many AutoCAD settings, such as linetype scale, are now properly modified when units are changed.

The bottom line is firms will be able to create more accurate construction documents with properly scaled tags, text and other annotation.

Shruti Harve, LEED AP

Ideate Senior AEC 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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August 28, 2013

What's New in AutoCAD MEP 2014: Saved by Zero! - Set to layer zero feature

AutoCAD MEP 2014 has some solid enhancements, one of them that will give companies and users additional control over consultant files is the ability to Set to layer zero command which modifies the definition of a selected block so all content objects are set to Layer 0.

Have you ever gotten a drawing from a consultant and wondered why the color of a block does not change as you expect it to? Most likely, the reason is that the components of the block are not on Layer 0. Layers that cannot be deleted, but are not apparently used, may also be due to this setting. MoveBlockToLayer0 will correct the definition of a block by changing all components with one click.

This new, timesaving command allows you to change the layer of all drawing entities to layer zero in a single click. You can also clean up drawings with objects on unused layers by moving them to layer zero.

What is now done with a single click would previously require several actions: edit block reference > select all objects > set to Layer 0 > save changes.
This new enhanced Set by Zero drawing feature will:

Improve block CAD standards
Minimize errors resulting in objects on wrong layers
Modify the definition of a selected block to layer zero
Save time changing entities to layer zero

The bottom line is firms will be able to increase productivity and set drawing entities to layer zero in a single click.

August 27, 2013

What's new in Revit Structure 2014: Structural Analytical Model Improvements

As you know, identifying and resolving issues such as unconnected beams, isolated nodes, and other inconsistencies, when transferring the Revit Structure model into a structural analysis program, is very important and yet time consuming and tricky. Revit Structure 2014 has some great new tools that will help with speedier resolution of these issues. These tools are:

By Default, each node now has a read only property which enables the user to see the connectivity of the node.

The standard Structural Template now contains 2 filters that will help with being able to easily identify issues with the Analytical Revit model

The Wall Adjustment tool now has improved functionality where in you can now also adjust analytical walls in relation to nodes of analytical floors and analytical foundation slabs

June 28, 2013

Autodesk InfraWorks: New File Type Support

When speaking to our customers at Ideate, Inc. we often receive requests for easier ways to create visualizations and renderings using different types of combined model data. This year, Autodesk InfraWorks includes two added file types that allow users to directly import Revit .RVT and Point Cloud files into their InfraWorks models. From there, the Presentation tools in InfraWorks can be used for quick and easy renderings and visualizations.

Included with Autodesk’s Building Design Suite Ultimate, and Infrastructure Design Suite Premium and Ultimate editions, Autodesk InfraWorks adds a great tool and tremendous value to the 2014 design suites.

When installed through the Infrastructure Design Suites packages, Autodesk InfraWorks loads two new files types into the list of available data sources.* In the previous releases of InfraWorks, known as Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler (AIM) and AIM R2, the .FBX option was the only way to import a Revit model into InfraWorks and required an extra step to create the .FBX file.

The new Revit .RVT file option allows users to directly import Revit files and place them in the InfraWorks model. This option is compatible with Revit 2014 files, and requires users to have Revit 2014 installed on the same system (it does not work without Revit installed, or if you have a pre-2014 version installed).

Point Cloud support has also been added to the list of Data Sources and supports the new Autodesk ReCap .RCS and .RCP files.

As with all other data sources, once a Point Cloud or Revit file has been added, they must be configured and placed into the InfraWorks model. However, with the shared material libraries for Autodesk products, materials and textures from Revit files are now transferred over to InfraWorks automatically (it does take a few minutes to process and load the Revit model).

With the added benefit of Proposals and Scenarios in Autodesk InfraWorks, we now have a quicker and easier way to create realistic visualizations and renderings while incorporating Revit models into a real world environment built from GIS, CAD, 3D Model, Raster, Point Cloud and other data sources.

Visit our website at www.ideateinc.com/2014 for videos and information on the 2014 Autodesk product line.

*Currently, the Revit .RVT import option is not available with Building Design Suite installations.

Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE

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June 27, 2013

New in 2014: Introduction to Autodesk InfraWorks 2014

Here at Ideate, we have been working hard to review all of the new products and features of the 2014 Autodesk design suites. This year, Autodesk has re-branded and enhanced their Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler (AIM) program as Autodesk InfraWorks.

Autodesk InfraWorks is an easy to use, high-level collaboration, communication and visualization tool for planners, designers, and anyone else involved in the planning and pre-design phase of a project’s lifecycle.

All capabilities that existed in the last release of AIM (version R2 via Subscription Center) have been carried over and enhanced in Autodesk InfraWorks. New create and edit feature options allow users to create riverways, pipes & structures, and tree alleys while enhanced road styles provide new profile viewing and editing capabilities.

The Autodesk Material libraries are shared in the 2014 product line, making interoperability even easier, and providing a high level of consistency across renderings and visualizations from product to product. The added ability to directly import Autodesk Revit models allows a seamless incorporation of proposed designs into existing condition models built from GIS, Civil 3D, DWG, and other 3D model data.

Point Cloud data compatibility has also been added to Autodesk InfraWorks, and with the release of Autodesk ReCap, processing, editing and using point clouds is easier than ever.

Autodesk InfraWorks also includes brand new functionality in the form of Proposals and Scenarios that can be created within the InfraWorks model to highlight different design alternatives. Users can easily switch between Proposals to quickly show changes to the design. Scenarios can be published and shared online with an Autodesk 360 account.

For non-design suite owners, Autodesk has also created a way to access shared models via InfraWorks for the Web and the InfraWorks 360 mobile app for iPad. Both are free products that either work directly in a web browser, or can be downloaded and installed on an iPad.

Included with Autodesk’s Building Design Suite Ultimate, and Infrastructure Design Suite Premium and Ultimate editions, Autodesk InfraWorks adds a great tool and tremendous value to the 2014 design suites.

Don’t forget to look through the great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

May 31, 2013

What’s New in Revit Structure 2014: Reinforcement Rounding

This is Shruti Harve, Senior Application Specialist at Ideate, Inc.

One of the new features added to Revit Structure 2014 is the ability to apply ‘rounding’ to Structural Rebar. In the ‘Reinforcement Settings’ dialog box for Structural Rebar, there is now a new option: Reinforcement Rounding which allows for defining whether reinforcement rounding is applied to a Project or not as well as specify rounding for calculated Bar lengths and Bar segment lengths.

You can also specify Fabric Sheet dimension values for Structural Fabric Reinforcement. You can Select Custom from the list and enter an unlisted value in the Rounding increment field.

Don’t forget to look through the great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Navisworks, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

May 30, 2013

New Alternate Dimension Functionality in Revit 2014

In coordination with the Ideate, Inc. YouTube video on Autodesk Revit 2014 - Alternate Dimensions, this post describes how the Revit 2014 dimensions styles now include the ability to incorporate Alternate dimensions within the same dimension string.

One of the long standing requests for Revit was the inclusion of alternate dimensioning. This improvement allows firms to create dimension strings with alternate dimensions in a variety of dimensional unit formats. Figure 1. This new ability, eliminates time-consuming workarounds of including multiple dimension formats within construction documents.

Figure 1

Alternate dimensions can be included within all dimension types including: Aligned, Linear, Radial, Diameter, Arc Length, Spot Elevations, Spot Coordinates, and Spot Slopes. In order to take advantage of the alternate dimensions, dimension types now include parameters to set where alternate dimensions reside, the unit format, and if there will be a prefix and/or suffix within the alternate dimension. Figure 2.

Figure 2

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2014

Ron Palma
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Ron has over 24 years of experience in the architectural industry as a drafter, designer, lead project designer, trainer, and a CAD manager implementing Autodesk Architectural Solutions for a residential design firm. His instructional background includes being an Autodesk Certified Instructor, trainer, support technician, educator at Portland and Clackamas Community Colleges, as well as a U.S. Army certified instructor where he was a senior instructor at Ft Lewis Washington. Ron is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard and platoon sergeant, training and mentoring soldiers in their careers. Ron is a published writer and continues to author professional technical training manuals and shorts for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit. As an Autodesk Certified Instructor, Ron provides Revit Architecture training and support for AEC firms. Follow Ron @RonPalmaAEC.

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May 29, 2013

Revit 2014: New Enhancements to Stairs and Railings

Ideate, Inc. is pleased to show a continuation of development for stairs and railings that began in Revit 2013 and continues in Revit 2014. New in 2013 was the assembly of stairs as common components (run, landing, support) with associated handles that allowed them to be resized outside of the sketch mode. There was the addition of placement justifications (left and right) there was new behavior where stairs runs could overlap in the same stair. Railings had a new added handrail and top rail elements with options to extend top rails and handrails, which allowed designers to address ADA standards.

In Revit 2014 there are new justification options – Exterior Support Left and Right for placement of stairs so you can now be pacing the stringer face and not the inside width of the stair.

Revit 2013

Revit 2014

There is also a new control on the stair landing which allows you to easily adjust the connection between run and landing.

Revit 2013

Revit 2014

There is also the restored ability to edit temporary dimension for the components which was not possible in the 2013 release.

Stairs got a lot easier in the 2013 product and that development has continued in this 2014 release.

Separate components with their own properties makes it possible to customize each component and the new enhancements let you continue to work on the components – with less need to resort to the embedded sketch, although that option remains and allows for custom shapes for stringers, treads, railings and handrails.

Don’t forget to look through the great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

Jim Cowan
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience and Autodesk design solutions expertise have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include 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 University of Manitoba, Jim has special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). YouTube Channel: MrJimCowan

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May 24, 2013

Navisworks 2014: Point Cloud Support - ReCap

Ideate, Inc. is pleased to show additional support for large point clouds within Navisworks 2014, which provides new opportunities for documentation of a site’s context or for comparisons between the proposed building model (BIM) and a scanned “as built.”

ReCap has two file formats (RCS and RCP). The file reader does not convert data to objects that reside in the model but instead makes a link to the RCS/RCP file. If you intend to share the data then the linked files have to be provided external to the scene, ideally in a folder or location that maintains the same relative position as the original files.
ReCap files can be managed to support fast updating of the point cloud. Under the Navisworks Application menu and the Options button, there are choices that let you control the display speed for the point cloud as you navigate through the scene. You can check for clashes and include points.

Navisworks ReCap Options

ReCap files can be appended direct to Navisworks and they can be linked to Revit 2014.

Don’t forget to look through the great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

May 23, 2013

New in 2014: Autodesk ReCap Part 2 – Key Features

In Part 1 of our ReCap posts, we discussed how this new application processes and combines laser scan files into a ReCap Project. Now we’re looking at some of the Key Features available once the projects are launched.

Along with standard navigational tools like pan, zoom, orbit, look, and fly-through, ReCap also has the capability of editing point cloud data; something that has not been a part of Autodesk software in the past.

Selection Tools

Annotation Tools

The bottom-center of the screen includes annotation tools for notes, distances, angles and faces, as well as selection tools for editing. Window and Fence tools can be used to easily crop or delete selected sections of the point cloud, quickly removing unwanted data and reducing file size.

Display Tools

The upper-left of the screen includes display options to control how the point cloud data appears in the application. The Project Navigator, Limit Box and Display Settings allow users to control which files from the dataset are displayed, how much of the data is displayed, point color, point size, background data, and lighting and shading effects.

With functionality similar to point cloud review and processing tools from Trimble and Leica, Autodesk customers now have access to a program that can process and edit point cloud data prior to being used in Autodesk design software like AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Revit, Navisworks and Autodesk InfraWorks. Best of all, it’s included in the 2014 Autodesk Design Suites and available now on Subscription Center.

For a video of Autodesk ReCap in action and other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new Autodesk 2014 releases, visit: ideateinc.com/2014
Ideate Note: If you are experiencing a Fatal Error issue when trying to launch a ReCap project this is most likely based on system hardware rather than an issue with the application. For more information about this issue and Ideate’s solution, read our recent blog post titled: Help! Autodesk ReCap is Crashing.

May 22, 2013

New Room Calculation Point Functionality in Revit 2014

In coordination with the Ideate, Inc. YouTube video on Autodesk Revit 2014 - Room Calculation Point, this post describes how the Revit 2014 “room aware” families now include the capability of recognizing rooms and spaces they reside in.

One of the long standing requests for Revit was the ability of families recognizing a room or a space that they belong to. A new setting within “Room Aware” families allows you to turn on a parameter known as a Room Calculation Point. Room aware families include families such as furniture, doors, casework, generic models, specialty equipment, and windows. Turning on the Room Calculation point within one of these family type enables the Room Calculation Point arrow. Figure 1.

Figure 1

The Room Calculation Point includes a string with two arrows pointing the direction in which the family recognizes the room or space it resides in. Upon loading the family into a project. room aware elements report the room they are in through the To Room: and From Room: parameters. Previous versions of Revit initially recognized the To Room: and From Room: parameters, but would not update if the families were moved or flipped to a different room. With the Room Calculation Point enabled in a room aware family the To Room: and From Room: parameters become dynamic reporting the room that these types of families live in. Figure 2.

Figure 2

May 21, 2013

New in 2014: Autodesk ReCap Point Cloud Review and Processing (Part 1)

Here at Ideate, we try to take advantage of all opportunities to test and work with any new Autodesk product that might be useful to our customers. This year, Autodesk released a new point cloud processing application called Autodesk ReCap.

With functionality similar to point cloud review and processing tools from Trimble and Leica, Autodesk customers now have access to a program that can process and edit point cloud data prior to being used in Autodesk design software like AutoCad, AutoCad Civil 3D, Revit and Autodesk InfraWorks. And best of all, it’s included in the 2014 Autodesk Design Suites.

This is a great opportunity for end users to now review and process large lidar datasets in an application made specifically for that task, without having to purchase additional software. Additionally, Autodesk ReCap (.RCP) projects and (.RCS) files can be directly imported into 2014 Autodesk applications.

Autodesk ReCap includes a processing engine that allows users to select multiple data files at once, and produces a single (.RCP) Project file that links back to the processed data. Each original data file becomes a (.RCS) file that is part of the project. Process time is dependent on the size and amount of files selected, and during our testing a 1.5 GB dataset with eight original files took about an hour to complete. A convenient timer also provides an estimate on how long each file and the entire project will take to process.

Once processed, the ReCap project can be launched directly, and the composite point cloud appears in the application. Here’s a screenshot of the completed point cloud in ReCap (file provided by Surface and Edge 3D Laser Scanning).

For a video of Autodesk ReCap in action and other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new Autodesk 2014 releases, visit: ideateinc.com/2014
Ideate Note: If you are experiencing a Fatal Error issue when trying to launch a ReCap project this is most likely based on system hardware rather than an issue with the application. For more information about this issue and Ideate’s solution, read our recent blog post titled: Help! Autodesk ReCap is Crashing.

May 20, 2013

What’s New in Revit MEP 2014: This “Fitting” is Just Right! Ability to Embed .CSV File to Revit MEP Fitting Families

Revit MEP 2014 has some great enhancements, one of the best is the ability to embed the .CSV file onto Revit MEP fittings, and other types of families as well.

One of the most common issues that we come across when supporting Revit MEP for designers at Ideate, Inc. is the common problem of “custom” Pipe Fittings that do not display the correct proportional (connector sizes are indicating the correct diameter, just not the graphical appearance) size. The main reason for this is because the Lookup Table file ( or .CSV file ) for that family isn’t found. To overcome this issue, and others, the ability to embed the .CSV file has been added.

This new feature is different in this release of Revit in four distinct areas:

Pipe and conduit fittings use the function: size_lookup.
“Lookup Table Name” is a user defined parameter, which can be modified or removed.
The “.csv” is removed from table names in formulae. See the following example:
• e.g. [size_lookup (“Pipe Fitting - Generic,” “FOD,” Nominal Diameter + 0' 0 1/8" Nominal Diameter)]
A new Lookup Tables Manage… button has been added. This is a new button available in the Family Types window to manage lookup tables. The Manage Lookup Tables dialog lists all related lookup tables for the family. It provides the ability to import, export or delete lookup tables for the family. See the following dialog:

One of the major benefits of this feature is that with the .CSV data embedded into the family, that family will then “know” how to model themselves, which if the file was “not found” could lead to unexpected results.

Using this ability to add the lookup function to the family will provide a convenient means to not only define parametric fitting content, it will be flexible for use even if not all considerations are accounted for in the “embedded” lookup tables by the use of the default value parameter in the function.

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for AutoCAD MEP, Revit Structure, Revit Architecture, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

Bill Johnson
Ideate Senior MEP Application Specialist

Bill has over 20 years experience in applying AEC design solutions for large commercial companies. A graduate of Pasadena Institute of Technology, he has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill has also had the opportunity to act as Lead AutoCAD Designer for multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley.

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May 17, 2013

Help! Autodesk ReCap is Crashing

Here at Ideate, we try to take advantage of all opportunities to test and work with any new Autodesk product that might be useful to our customers. This year, Autodesk released a new point cloud processing application called Autodesk ReCap. For those of you who have had a chance to install this product, I hope you’ve been able to try it out and see what it can do.

If you’re like me and some of the other techs here at Ideate, you may be running into a Fatal Error issue when trying to launch a ReCap project. Before I go into the details, let me first say that this doesn’t happen on all systems, and from what we’ve been able to find, it is actually based on system hardware rather than an issue with the application.

So here’s the issue: Autodesk ReCap has successfully been installed, registered, and launches successfully on your computer. A new project is created, and lidar data files are selected for processing (so far all is well). The point files complete processing successfully, and an option to “Launch” the ReCap project appears. However, once you click on “Launch Project,” ReCap crashes and an error report appears on screen. Quite frustrating, seeing as everything up to this point has been successful and has gone as expected.

The technical staff here at Ideate is running Lenovo W530 laptops with 64-bit Windows 7, quad core processors, 16 GB of RAM, and NVidia K2000M graphics cards. This is by far a sufficient system for running Autodesk ReCap. Additionally, an old test machine that we have is a Dell M6300 with Windows 7, 8 GB of RAM and an older NVidia Quadro FX graphics card (below recommendation). The issue above occurred on the Lenovo system rather than the Dell system. On all Lenovo’s that we tested, the application consistently crashed upon launch of the project. With the Dell system, everything ran smoothly.

After some digging, and after reviewing the system .NFO file for the Lenovo, we noticed that it actually comes with two graphics processors; the high-performance NVidia card that we ordered with the system, and an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 processor that comes with the laptop by default. Apparently, the crash is being caused by the system defaulting to the Intel card rather than the high-performance NVidia card.

That led us to the solution for the issue, which requires some manual changes to the graphics settings on the laptop. By accessing the NVidia Control Panel, we were able to override the default settings that were pointing the application and the 3D OpenGL preset to the Intel card instead of the NVidia card. Once those were changed, everything was up and running without any fatal errors.

To fix the problem, right click on your desktop and access the NVidia Control Panel. There are TWO settings that need to be adjusted. On the left under 3D Settings, click on Manage 3D Settings. From there, the main window will display two tabs.

On the Global Settings tab, select 3D OpenGL Stereo from the list of Global Presets, and change the Preferred Graphics Processor to High-Performance NVIDIA Processor.

Then switch to the Program Settings tab. In the Select a Program to Customize area, select Autodesk AutoCAD. Under Select the Preferred Graphics Processor for this Program, select High-Performance NVIDIA Processor.

Click APPLY, and exit the NVidia Control Panel. As far as we can tell, both of these need to be changed. If either of the two is not set, the program continued to crash.

Here’s a Video of the process: http://screencast.com/t/S0KrIhb3Zl

To recap the issue, the fatal error only occurred on our Lenovo systems, so it may not happen to you. However, if your workstation also has dual graphics processors and ReCap is crashing, give that a try.

For a video of Autodesk ReCap in action and other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new Autodesk 2014 releases, visit: ideateinc.com/2014