Classroom Training – Open Classes

Know It. Ideate Training.

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

Here are a few of the training opportunities Ideate has to offer in the coming weeks:

4.17-19::San Francisco
Revit Architecture Fundamentals
4.23-25::Seattle
Revit Architecture Fundamentals
5.1-3::San Jose
AutoCAD Fundamentals

Know your software. Sign up now!

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2014 Pressure Pipe Network Enhancements: Creating a Pressure Network from an Object

At Ideate, we are reviewing and summarizing the enhanced features of the latest releases of Autodesk Software. In this blog post, I will be discussing one of the numerous additions to the editing functionality of Pressure Pipe Networks in Civil 3D 2014. Specifically, Autodesk has added the ability to create a Pressure pipe Network from an AutoCAD or Civil 3D object.

Pressure Pipe Creation Options in Civil 3D 2013 vs. 

Pressure Pipe Creation Options in Civil 3D 2014

This function is accessible from the Pipe Network drop down menu on Create Design Panel of the Home Tab and works in the same way as creating a gravity pipe network from an object. After starting the command, selecting the object, and indicating the flow direction, the Create Pressure Pipe Network from Object box appears. 

Create Pressure Pipe Network from Object Dialog Box

In this dialog box, Pressure Network properties and options are specified for creation as shown in the image above. Click OK to complete the process, and the new Pressure Network appears in the drawing and in the Prospector tab under Pressure Networks.
 
If you’ve taken advantage of the Pressure Network tools in Civil 3D 2013, be sure to give this new feature a try when you install the 2014 release.

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

---

Kate Ming
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Kate has 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, and utility design. She also has experience with utility demand analysis and Low Impact Development plans. At Ideate, Kate provides training and support for Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and Navisworks.  

Get it. Know it. Use it.

Autodesk 2014 – Network License Behavior and License Cascading

This is Derek Wielkopolski, Support Manger with Ideate, Inc. We always seem to get a lot of questions about network license behavior when we get a new release. 2014 products are rolling out and it’s always a good idea to have a refresh on this topic, especially with the cascading sequence.

So what is license cascading? By definition, “Cascade Licensing is implemented for mixed-product environments where a single license manager is servicing multiple Autodesk products. Cascade Licensing allows an Autodesk product to obtain a license that belongs to another Autodesk product in the same license pool. With Cascade Licensing, lower ranking product licenses can be used before higher ranking product licenses; when all lower ranking product licenses are in use, a product will cascade up to use the license of a higher ranking product.”

Some really good docs to keep on hand are Understanding Cascade Licensing For Autodesk Products and 2014: Cascading Sequence For Autodesk Products.

A note about license behavior and previous versions; if a single user is working in identical products but different version years this will consume two separate licenses. For example if I’m working in Revit Architecture 2013 and switch to a different project and launch Revit Architecture 2012, I will pull two licenses. Take a look at the Autodesk document Understanding Previous Version Support For Autodesk Point Products for more info.

As always email me at support@ideateinc.com if you have any questions.

Don’t forget to look through other 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

---

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

Get it. Know it. Use it.

What’s New in Revit MEP 2014: The Situation is Terminal! Ability to Add Air Terminals to Duct

Revit MEP 2014 has some great enhancements, one of the best is the new ability to place Air Terminals directly on Duct. 

One of the most common workarounds that we come across when supporting Revit MEP for HVAC designers at Ideate, Inc. is how to show a Air Terminal coming off the duct AND have the flow calculations still be correct. Now with this new feature, users will be able to place/host air terminal devices (grilles and diffusers) directly on the face of a duct and have air propagate correctly in the system. 

This new feature supports the placement of air terminals on the surface of ducts to reflect real-world installations. 

This feature: 

• Place air terminals directly on a duct face, including rectangular, round and oval duct. 
• Drag the air terminal on to the duct face with the “Air Terminal on Duct” command enabled. 
• Check if the engagement length works well for the connection of the air terminal to the duct. 
• After placing the air terminal on the duct face, copy the air terminal along the duct or rotate the duct to check the connection.

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for 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.

Get it. Know it. Use it.