The ASI BSD Blog is here!

Our new address is asi-bsd.blogspot.com - I'll be moving posts over to this new site over the next several days. The plan is to have the CADRE BSD blog down by the end of the month, so make sure you update your links.

Thanks for tuning in - we'll have lots of new stuff on the new site soon!

David B.

Moving the Address Soon...

Since we're winding the CADRE side of the business down, I plan on changing the title and path to the blog. As soon as I get the changes done, keep your eyes open for the new links. I'm going to have it linked to me personally, so that' why the name and URL change. Stay tuned....and if you've got some suggestions for the new blog name (nothing obscene please), post them up here and I'll try to come up with a really chintzy prize for the winner! If you want to receive notification of the change, send an email to davidb@cadresys.com before Nov. 1st, 2007.

thanks - David B.

Big News!!!! Advanced Solutions Inc. Purchases CADRE Systems Inc.

After 10 years of working for CADRE, I find myself getting ready to go to work for a new firm. It's always a bit scary, but in this case I know a few people that work for this company. The most important thing to me as a consultant and instructor has been and always will be my clients. Many of you are my friends, and it's those relationships I cherish the most. I've made this a point to our new partners, and they wholeheartedly agree with me - we're going to do whatever it takes to take care of our clients.

I also find myself very excited about the opportunities that become available when moving to a new company. We'll also have a much larger support and services team, and several of the hats I had to wear at CADRE I won't be doing anymore (such as the ATC Manager role) - which hopefully will mean I can dedicate more time to this blog, content, handouts, etc. So, I'm really stoked - so as this goes along, I'll proved some insights here.

For the most part, the technical staff and sales staff will become Advanced Solution employees effective November 1st. I have several items that have to be done to complete this transition but some items won't be done by that date (such as replacing and updating our blogs) due to the fact that I have AU content that needs to be finished. Our FTP site will probably also be replaced, so as I get a new site, I'll post the new links here so they'll be easy to find.

For the CADRE clients that have been around since 1993, thanks a million and stick around - its' going to get even better than before!

For more information about the upcoming merger, follow this link:

http://www.advancedsolutionsonline.com/about/pressroom_100407.jsp

Happy Cadding! - David B.

AutoCAD Architecture/ MEP 2008 Service Pack 1 Now Available!

Autodesk has release a service pack for both AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD MEP 2008 - here are the links to download them

AutoCAD Architecture:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=10109723&linkID=9240658

AutoCAD MEP (for non-Revit MEP Suite users):

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=10109709&linkID=9240938

AutoCAD MEP for Revit MEP Suite Users

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=10109672&linkID=9240938


thanks - David B.

New Build of Revit MEP is now available!

Autodesk has just released a new build of Revit MEP 2008 that affects content and other issues with the program. For information about this buils go to the following link:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=9262907

For a fill description of the changes, go to this link:

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/rme2008_wu2_list.pdf

Let me know if you have any issues installing or running this link. May sure you record your serial number and re-use it as needed when reinstalling the program.

thanks - David B.

Update from the 2007 NC AIA Show - Revit Families!

Doug, Kristen and I are here at the 2007 NC AIA show and just got an interesting visit from the guys at USG Gypsum. They have added a substantial amount of content for their products to their website at http://www.usgdesignstudio.com/ that includes Revit families for walls, ceilings and more! This is for all the folks that keep asking us about the manufacturers and who's making content. From what I found they're light years ahead of other prefab wall and acoustial ceiling manufacturers, but I've talked to others lately that are working on the same thing, so it should get interesting.

Try this stuff out and let me know what you think -

thanks - David B.

And Now...Free Stuff!

Okay, now that our FTP site is finally up and running, we've made available our custom templates for AutoCAD Architecture/MEP, as well as samples of custom styles. If you'd like to gain access to these files, simply send me an email to davidb@cadresys.com, and I'll send you the link and password. I'm also working on a series of Revit MEP templates that enhance some of the families used (including more lights, equipment, etc.) as well as schedule tables, etc. As soon as I get a good copy to start from I'll get that posted. I'm also working on the IES Virtual Environment tools to get a better understanding of how it's making many of its calculations, so hopefully I'll have the new dataset I'll be using at AU available early so you'll have a chance to test it out before the class.

Speaking of classes, we've had a lot of interest in Revit MEP classes her at CADRE. Right now we're offering these classes:

- Revit MEP HVAC Quick Start - 1 day at CADRE
- Revit MEP Electrical Quick Start - 1 day at CADRE
- Revit MEP Plumbing/Fire Protection - 1 day at CADRE
- Revit MEP Family Customization - 1 day at CADRE

Check with your account manager or email me and I'll send you information - the last few classes we had were packed, so interest is really picking up.

I've also had a lot of users asking about custom content for Revit MEP. If anybody out there is making anything cool and is willing to share it, let me know and I'll post it to our FTP site - and maybe I'll throw in some CADRE goodies as well. In the meantime, the best site I've found so far is Revit City (www.revitcity.com) - check it out, it does contain some MEP items that you can use to create Revit MEP families from.

Thanks - David B.

Updates on Tool Palette Customization

AutoCAD Architecture/MEP 2008 made some changes to how palettes are customized. In 2006 and previous verions, group information was stored with the AWS profile located in the local user's documents and settings folder (see my previous post). Starting with the 2007 releases, groups are now stored with the ARG file created as part of setting up your options. One issue several users were having is that a user could create custom palettes in a shared network environment, and have options set to look at the shared location for the tool palettes. However, palettes were not sticking in groups. With some help from Joshua at Autodesk support, we traced down that the user's workspace was not set to automatically save changes - and in these cases once a user placed their palettes into groups, a program close and reopen would not save the changes for the groups. I've been running several custom palettes for the last few days, and setting my workspace to automatically save changes seems to have fixed the problem.

In regards to catalog controlled palettes, we're still having some issues with items remembering their tool's locations, etc. As I get some good clear directions working, I'll post them here.

One item I am working on is a set of AutoCAD MEP palettes that emulate Revit MEP design bar layouts, to make it easier for user to work in a dual environment. Autodesk is putting a class on about this at AU this year, so if you're working in this mode I'd recommend that class. For my class on Power Tips for Templates for AutoCAD MEP at AU this year, a lot of what I'll be teaching is geared towards setting these items up so that they have similar behavior for both packages. As Revit MEP progresses, I'm expecting to post more docs here on it.

And then there's more...stay tuned.

thanks - David B.

AU 2007 is coming!

It's almost time to start thinking about signing up for Autodesk University 2007. It's back at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Nov. 27-30th. There's a ton of great classes this year - I'll be doing a couple on template best practices, wall customization in AutoCAD Architecture, using Revit MEP for analysis, and a closing class on Revit MEP's HVAC and Electrical tools. Don't worry, I'm working on new jokes...

For more information go to this link: http://www.autodeskevents.com/au2007/

Signup starts the first part of August, so get ready!

tks - David B.

I'm back...

After weeks of neverending fun and games (and work), I'm back online. Had a great vacation, got a chance to think through a few new ideas. Hope everyone's having a great summer, so let's get started on 2008.

thanks -David B.

Tips on Customizing Tool Palettes for ADT/ABS

Below is a collection of tips, tricks and Autodesk tech support documents about customizing tool palettes. There’s a variety of information here, so I’ll try to group it according to the task you’re trying to accomplish.

Creating Custom Palettes

1. Always know where the palette files are stored – check the path under Options > Files. The first path in the Tool Palette files location is where your palettes will be stored. Make sure you know this location – change it to an empty folder and AutoCAD will create a new .ATC file that allows you to build Palette tabs from scratch.

2. To add new palette tabs, simply right click on the tool palette title bar and select New Palette. Give the new tab a name with NO WILDCARD CHARACTERS – dashes and underscores are OK, but don’t use periods, commas, etc. Spaces are OK to use as well.

3. Turn Auto-Hide off when customizing palettes – right click on the title bar of the palette and make sure the Auto Hide feature isn’t checked, or click on the single arrow at the bottom of the title bar to turn it to a double arrow (which indicates Auto Hide is turned off).

4. Additional project specific palette paths will be added when the Project Navigator as used – don’t worry about these or delete them, they’ll just come back when you start using the tool. But they are helpful when you are trying to create a set of palette tabs that are project specific – that’s why they show up first in the list after you start to use the Project Navigator.

5. Drag and drop details, symbols and other existing drawings you want to have on the palettes from Windows Explorer to your palette. If you don’t get an image of the symbol, open the drawing up. Change to whatever view of the symbol you want, then right-click on the palette tool that’s missing the symbol. Use the Set Image from Selection tool to set the image for the tool.

6. For Building Systems users, place an MvPart in a drawing, then save the drawing. Once the drawing is saved, you can drag and drop the part to a palette, but ABS doesn’t look at that particular drawing to find the part (unlike blocks). It’ll use the catalog location as the source location for the part.

Helpful Support docs from Autodesk:

Adding toolbar commands to tool palettes
Autodesk Web Link:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=7290039&linkID=2476059

Creating tool palette icons for DesignCenter content
Autodesk Web Link:http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=7340112&linkID=2476059

Tools not copied when tool palette is dragged into catalog
Autodesk Web Link:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=6932010&linkID=2476059

Sharing Tool Palettes

1. If you want to create a set of palettes that are shared, the simplest method is to create a location on your server that you have full rights and permissions to. Add this to your tool palette file locations (at the top of the list) or just re-path to this folder only. Create the palettes as needed. Once completed, simply go to another user’s workstation and add the shared path at the bottom of the tool palette file locations path. If you don’t want the rest of the users to edit these palettes, the set the permissions for the folder to read only (and don’t let users have any write capabilities or you’ll have a ton of “New Palette” files to contend with in the folder.

2. Use Catalogs to backup customizations as well as share with other machines. You can add custom palettes from a catalog by simply dragging the individual palette from a catalog – at the bottom right corner a refresh icon will appear when the palette has been added to a workstation. This allows the creator of a palette tab to update the tab automatically when the catalog is updated. NOTE: Local users must have FULL ADMINSTRATIVE RIGHTS to their computer if you’re going to be creating and editing palettes.

3. To create a new catalog, open the content browser, and then right click in the grey area of the browser – choose the Add Catalog command. Choose Create a New Catalog, and then choose browser to locate the catalog on the server. Form here you can open the catalog and add categories by right clicking in the catalog and choosing Add Category. After your categories have been created, left click on a palette tab and hold it, then drag the palette into the catalog.

4. If you create palette tabs in a category, you can drag the entire category into another user’s workstation and a palette group will be created.

5. If the content you’re placing on a group of shared palettes is located on a network and is using styles from the default styles folders, make sure you’ve edited the second path (the Tool Catalog Content Root Path) location on the AEC Content tab under the Options command to point to this location. Also, if you are creating your own custom styles, create new drawings under this path and add your custom styles to these new drawings – don’t add them to the default drawings, as these may get updated with new releases of the software.

6. If a palette is missing icons or is pathed to incorrect locations, right click on the title bar and choose Refresh Palette Set – this will go back and check for missing icons, incorrect paths and more and try to fix it for the user.

Helpful Support docs from Autodesk:

Adding custom AutoCAD® tool palettes to Architectural Desktop or Autodesk Building Systems
Autodesk Web Link:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=9237867&linkID=2476059

Palette Groups

1. Palette groups are controlled by a file in your local user login directory (see the technote below). However, you can edit the location of the profile.aws file in the registry and have it look to a shared location. Here’s a sample key you can edit:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R17.0\ACAD-5004:409\Profiles\ADT2007\General]"ProfileStorage"="U:\\CAD2006\\Support\\Profiles\\ADT2007\\Profile.aws"

In this example, the path was changed from C:\Documents and Settings\davidb.CADRESYS\Application Data\Autodesk\ADT 2007\enu\Support\Profiles\Architectural Desktop - Imperial\Profile.aws to the shared drive on the server. Access to this folder should be restricted so only a CAD manager or main user can edit the pathing. (Thanks to Michael Z for this one!)

2. AutoCAD profiles and groups are linked to each other, but don’t always correctly store information. When editing the AutoCAD profiles, if you change your profile to look at different location for the tool palettes, then change it back to the original location, the sorting of the palettes is lost (as well as the location of tabs in particular groups, so avoid changing the palette path only. Instead, create a customization profile you can use to create your tabs, and then add the groups. Copy your palettes into categories in a catalog (see above for creating catalogs). After creating your tabs, change back to your original profile, but change the location of the palettes to an empty folder. Next, drag and drop your palette groups from a catalog into ADT or ABS, and the sorting and groups will be properly created.

Helpful Support docs from Autodesk:

Locating information related to user interface
Autodesk Web Link:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=4175052&linkID=2476059

Network deployment of palette groups
Autodesk Web Link:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=6414822&linkID=2476059

Installing tool palette groups with deployment image for network installation
Autodesk Web Link:http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=7569785&linkID=2476059

Creating an ADT Profile in ABS 2007
Autodesk Web Link:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=8108322&linkID=2476435

If you have some of your own tips, add them here - we're always looking fo good ideas!

Thanks - David B.

Link the Door Number to the Room Number in Architectural Desktop

Okay, since I've several "how'd you do that" questions about linking door numbers to room numbers, I thought I'd add a little description on how to do this. It works pretty much the same way for Architectural Desktop 2006 and 2007, and will probably work the same way for the next release (I'll update this as needed).

You'll want to set this up in your base template - if you started from the AEC Model templates, you'll already have some examples of property set definitions in the template. To access these, go to the Format menu and choose Style Manager. Browse to the documentation objects and follow these steps:

1. Create the ROOMOBJECTS property set definition - right click on the property set definitions, and then choose New to create a new property set - name it ROOMOBJECTS.
2. In the dialogue area to the right, choose the Applies To tab - make sure the applies to option is set to objects, then check the box for spaces.
3. Select the Definitions tab - choose the top right icon for creating a Manual Definition - name this one NUMBER and choose OK. Check the settings under the Format column - let's change this to Upper Case, so we can type in any number or letter combination we want, and any text in the room number will come out upper case. After you're finished, choose Apply at the bottom of the dialogue, but don't close the dialogue yet (if you do, hit enter to repeat the last command and reopen the Style Manager).
4. Go back to the left side of the dialogue - right click on property set definitions again and choose New to create another Property set - name this one DOOROBJECTS.
5. In the dialogue area to the right, choose the Applies To tab - make sure the applies to option is set to objects, then check the box for doors.
6. Select the Definitions tab - choose the fourth icon from the top right icon and create a Location property definition - name this one NUMBER, then scroll down under the Space property definition in the dialogue and find the ROOMOBJECTS property definition - make sure that NUMBER is checked here - this is what links the door number to the room number - choose OK to close the dialogue. Check the settings under the Format column - we need to change this to Case - Upper, the same that we did for the room number. Choose OK to close the Style Manager and save your template.

Now you can edit any existing door tag (the ones that ship with Architectural Desktop are great examples to start from). Most of these are multi-view blocks that contain nested blocks, but you can use the Define Schedule Tag tool (located under the Format Menu) to create your own tag - if you do this in your template, the tag will always be there when you create a new drawing, but you can also build this in a separate drawing such as the Schedule Tables master style drawing locate in your C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\ADT 2007\enu\Styles\Imperial folder.

If you open this drawing you'll see there are several Multi-view block definitions already created, including one called Aec6_Door_Tag. This particular symbol uses a plan block named Aec6_Door_Tag_Basic_P - insert this into your drawing at 1:1 scale (set this in the bottom right corner of your drawing prior to placing the tag). Right click on the block in the drawing and choose Block Editor - and notice that the attribute for this block is already called DOOROBJECTS:NUMBER - by naming the attribute using the property set name first, then adding a colon between the set and the definition, this is what tells the tag where to get its information from. So, in this case, we don't have to do anything - this tag will read the DOOROBJECTS property set definition and get the information from the ROOMOBJECTS' Number property set definition.

The location definition knows where to get the room number from by the use a "STAR" grip - typically, when a door is placed, and the DOOROBJECTS property definitions are added to a door from the Extended data tab of the properties dialogue, the star will appear when the door is selected. From here you can drag the star into any room that has a space located - and the door will get its information from the room. The act of tagging a door will also add the property set definitions to the door, but I personally like adding the definitions to the door itself in the base plan - and have it fill the tag out automatically.

Try this out and let us know if it works for you - if you want to know how to use this data in your door schedule, let me know and I'll add to the post.

Happy Documenting!

David B.

Support for Windows Vista and Autodesk Products

This just in from Autodesk...

Windows Vista™ support for Architectural Desktop and Building Systems

Published date: 2007-01-30 ID: TS1067708

Applies to:
Autodesk® Architectural Desktop 2007
Autodesk® Architectural Desktop 2006
Autodesk® Architectural Desktop 2005
Autodesk® Architectural Desktop 2004
Autodesk® Building Systems 2007.1
Autodesk® Building Systems 2007
Autodesk® Building Systems 2006
Autodesk® Building Systems 2005
Autodesk® Building Systems 2004

Issue
You want to know if the Windows Vista™ operating system supports Autodesk® Architectural Desktop or Autodesk® Building Systems.

Solution
Windows Vista does not support Architectural Desktop or Building Systems.

And the same goes for:

Autodesk® AutoCAD® Revit® Series—Systems Plus 2
Autodesk® AutoCAD® Revit® Series—Systems Plus 1
Autodesk® Revit® Building 9.1
Autodesk® Revit® Building 9
Autodesk® Revit® Building 8.1
Autodesk® Revit® Building 8
Autodesk® Revit® 7
Autodesk® Revit® Structure 4
Autodesk® Revit® Structure 3
Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2
Autodesk® Revit® Structure 1

I don't know if or when this is going to change, but be aware of it when you are thinking about purchasing a new system. We're currently selling new systems with Windows XP SP 2 that include a coupon for an upgrade to Windows Vista, but as of 1/20/2007, most of the Autodesk products will not run on Vista...but stay tuned....

thanks - David B.

Kristen's Techtips!

Here's a couple of techtips from Kristen Blume, our Revit/Architectural Desktop/AutoCAD specialist and all-around cool AE.

Architectural Desktop 2007
Where is my….?

If you’ve just installed ADT 2007, you may be missing your Viz Render link and your Express tools. With this version of ADT it’s best to do a “custom” install. This would allow you to include these two items in your installation. Don’t worry you haven’t totally missed the boat if you’ve already completed your install.

To fix your installation:
1. Place the original media in your drive.
2. Go to Add and Remove programs under your Control Panel
3. Select ADT 2007 and hit Change
4. Select Add and Remove Features
5. Select Viz Render and choose “Will be installed on local hard drive”

Expand out Program files and choose Express tools and choose “Will be installed on local hard drive”. Try this one out!



Revit Building
Getting ‘real’ colors in 3D views.

You might fight with getting accurate colors out of 3d shaded views. One way to get closer to ‘real’ is to modify your sun and shadow settings.

1) Turn on shadows and set the sun to 95%
2) Set the shadows to 0
3) Also try changing your sun profile so that the sun in directly overhead.

Have some fun in the sun!

Got Sketchup?

Now you can link Sketchup files into Revit. Don’t forget that you can dress up your 3d images with components such as trees and cars downloaded from the Sketchup website.

You can also download a free copy of Sketchup from http://sketchup.google.com/ - there's a lite version for free and the full version is $495 - and you can download both from this website.

Have a happy CAD Day - from Kristen!

And 2007 Begins....

It's a new year, and things are really off to a blazing start...the real world of "work" has kept me from making a few posts, but there's some business to take care of.

Opportunity knocks - CADRE is hiring, and we're look for a few good application engineers:

- Civil and Infrastructure Application Engineer - seeking a Land Desktop/Civil 3D application specialist to work in the Cary, NC office. Applicant must have extensive experience with AutoCAD, Land Development Desktop and Civil 3D products - through the 2007 release is preferred. Civil Engineering degree is preferred, but not required if the applicant has substantial experience. This job requires lots of energy, a willingness to get up in front of a crowd, and above all, patience. Benefits include insurance, travel expenses, mobile phone, access to company vehicle, and annual travel to Autodesk University and other Autodesk events.

- MEP Engineering Application Engineer - seeking a Building Systems/Architectural Desktop/Revit application specialist to work in the Cary, NC office. Applicant must have extensive experience with AutoCAD, Architectural Desktop, Building Systems and/or Revit products - through the 2007 release is preferred. Mechanical Engineering degree is preferred, but not required if the applicant has substantial experience. As with our civil opening, the job requires lots of energy, a willingness to get up in front of a crowd, and above all, patience. Benefits include insurance, travel expenses, mobile phone, access to company vehicle, and annual travel to Autodesk University and other Autodesk events.

CADRE is widely recognized for the quality of our professional services and support and are looking to expand our staff as our client base grows. If you're interested, please email your resume to jobs@cadresys.com

Other Opportunities:

Our client base is rapidly migrating into the 3D world and several companies are seeking qualified applicants - which means that you have to be an expert at the products we offer. The Building Solutions division of CADRE is trying to help our clients find the right people for the following positions:

CAD Manager - Architectural Desktop/Building Systems Expert in Charlotte NC
CAD Designers - Revit/Architectural Desktop/Building Systems in several NC cities

Applicants must have extensive experience with these products, and a minimum of an associate of Applied Science degree is required. If you are interested in moving to North Carolina, or are seeking to move out of 2D CAD and start working in the BIM environment, send your resume in confidence to jobs@cadresys.com.

AU 2006 - A Big Success

Autodesk University lived up to my expectations this year, with over 7500 attendees showing up in Las Vegas. Even at the large Venetian Resort facilities, there were so many guests that several overflow hotels were used. My hats off to Joseph Wurcher, Chris, June, Lynn Allen and the rest of the crew for pulling of one of the best-run events in recent memory.

My classes contained a pretty interesting mix of students, (what a crowd in such a small room - and they played along so well, even with my weak attempt a singing "Tequila") and was really impressed by the turnout. Interest in Revit System is starting to grow, and Building Systems continues to attract users who want to use an "AutoCAD for Engineers" (thanks Amy F for the idea). It really interested me to see the level of use for ABS and ADT - more users are into the walls doors and windows mode, and the crowd seemed pretty interested in moving beyond that level - which is great news.

A couple of suggestions for next year - secondary screens in the labs to show the handouts or presenter's powerpoints at the same time as the lab exercises. The food selection was a little weak a couple of days, sometimes a sandwich works on lunchtime just fine - mainly because a good number of users were going "takeout" with their meals. The meal rooms worked really well, handling large numbers with very few delays.

I also thought the idea of the learning labs run by staff other than just Autodesk staff in the exhibit hall was a great idea - gave me a great opportunity to talk to users from around the country - and wear this funky headset at the same time...thanks Nancy Tremblay for inviting me to work in the booth - and the fleece fits fine.


Thursday night's events including the comedian Don Williams (right on the money - only an engineer can understand) and the Blue Man group - guess I need to come up with a pipe routing definition to do what those guys were doing - awesome show!

I plan on adding several posts over the next few days, including a few new features (including links to downloadable files - my datasets will be available from the AU website) and some suggestions I picked up from the usual sources (the great longtimers at AU such as Matt Dillon, Bill Glennie and more) - it never fails, I always learn something new at the these events.

Thanks to Autodesk for giving me the opportunity to speak this year - and I plan on returning next year with a whole new set of jokes...!

thanks - David B.

Michael Z's Next Big Tip?

Ever wanted to print out the CTB file? From the Autodesk Web Site:

CTB and STB Printing Tool for AutoCAD 2007

This tool provides a way to export CTB and STB plot style tables to a comma-delimited text file. The comma-delimited text files can be imported into a spreadsheet program (e.g.Microsoft Excel) and be printed or compared with another. The text files can also be printed out directly.

This works only with 2007 products - follow the yellowbrick hyperlink:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=8083957&linkID=2475161

If the link above is truncated, cut and paste the pieces together into your address bar, or search Autodesk's support side for "CTB Printing Tool" to find the executable.

Have Fun! - Michael Z.

New Add-ons for Architectural Desktop

If you're a subscription client of Architectural Desktop, there are a couple of items you can download that may be helpful. Here are some notes from the subscription center for Autodesk (if you don't know how to login, check with your account manager or local application engineer).

Spaces and Drawing Compare Subscription Module -

Download The Subscription Module: Spaces and Drawing Compare is available exclusively for Autodesk® Architectural Desktop 2007 customers participating in the Autodesk® Subscription program.

Download this module now to get the enhanced Spaces feature and the new Drawing Compare feature. The Architectural Desktop Spaces feature is used to track the area and other data associated rooms or other spaces in the building design. With the enhancements in this Subscription module, Spaces can now update automatically if the bounding elements are changed, saving you time and making documentation more accurate. And Space definitions can now also include offsets from bounding elements based on pre-set or user-defined rules, enabling area calculations based on various industry standards, including BOMA, DIN, or SIS. The new Drawing Compare feature enhances collaboration by using color-coded displays to show items on a drawing that have been changed, added, or deleted by other members of the design team. Changes to items such as styles, fire ratings, or other non-graphical properties are also tracked. Combined with redlining features, such as revision clouds, the Spaces and Drawing Compare features help make communication across the design team clearer than ever.

Important Note: Service Pack 1 must be installed before the Spaces and Drawing Compare Module.

VREZAudit?

VREZAudit is a command that will audit an entire folder of drawings and properly handle external references. It will also optionally purge the drawings resulting in a significant drawing size reduction. VREZAudit can save a lot of time for Architectural Desktop and Building Systems Project Navigator drawings and can also be used on AutoCAD Sheet set drawings in AutoCAD Revit Series—Building and AutoCAD Revit Series—Structure .

This product can be downloaded through your subscription center login under Building Solutions Applet of the month.

There are also Nordic Content libraries available for ADT and ABS users available through the subscription center - I don't need these as I'm not doing any work in a Nordic country, but someone will....

thanks - David B.

Issues with the Project Navigator

We're hearing reports of issues with the project navigator tool that could potentially affect your projects. Most of the errors we're seeing have been tracked down to improper use of constructs, elements and views. However, I did hear from an Autodesk employee that large projects that have references files included in the file structure that were not created as elements, constructs or views could potential cause errors in the project database. Since I don't have all of the details yet, I'll try to post more information as I can track it down.

Be aware that when you manually load images, dwf's and dwgs into a drawing that's part of a Project, they are not necessarily linked to the project, and will not be automatically repathed when a project is copied or moved to a different location - be aware of this if you're updating or replacing servers. It's a good idea to check the relative path options when attaching files manually, or even as a default option in the Project properties.

A common issue that's been occurring has to do with ABS and ADT 2005 and 2006 and slow performance with views and other files. Autodesk has published a tech support document that deals with these performance issues. You can find this solution at the following link:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=5911331&linkID=2476059

The techdoc id # is TS1052972, you can also search Autodesk's support site for this information.

If anyone is having issues along these lines feel free to post here so we can discuss. We may not have all the answers but can definitely post issues with Autodesk and hopefully help to resolve some of these issues.

thanks - David B.

New Releases coming for Building Systems and Revit Systems.

Autodesk announced this week that there are new releases pending for Building Systems and for Revit Systems. These releases should be available by mid-October. Keep an eye on the Autodesk web site or most of the ABS/Revit based blogs for information on these updates.

The Revit Systems 2 version will incorporate American metric content, among other features. At this time I don't have a lot of specifics on ABS 2007.1, but we'll cover it as soon as I get more details.

Service Pack 1 Available for Architectural Desktop 2007

Autodesk has release Service Pack 1 for Architectural Desktop 2007. You can download the file from Autodesk's web site at the following link:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=8128744&linkID=2475897

If the link is truncated in this window - cut and paste both lines into your address bar for Internet explorer. You can also go to support.autodesk.com and browse to the support page for Architectural Desktop.

Be sure to download and read the Readme file prior to installing the service pack.

thanks - David B.

Service Pack 1 Available for AutoCAD 2007

This service pack repairs many issues that occur with the shipping version of AutoCAD prior to September 7, 2006 - check your CD or DVD case to see if the version includes SP1 (do not use this for verticals such as Architectural Desktop, Building Systems, etc). It repairs customer reported items as well as addresses performance issues, issue with mtext, plotting etc.

For AutoCAD 2007 go to this link:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=7974178&linkID=2475161

For Revit Series including Revit Building and Revit Structure, go to:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=7974188&linkID=2475161

There will be versions available soon for ADT and ABS - to keep up, check here or go to Autodesk's main support page at support.autodesk.com.

thanks - David B.

Ramping up for AU 2006 and miscellaneous Stuff

Autodesk University 2006 is headed back to Las Vegas this year. Autodesk is expecting one of the largest crowds ever, with a greater focus on advanced techniques and tricks this year. I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to teach, and look forward to working with some of the best instructors on the planet.

On related note, there are a few blogs you may find helpful. I've spent some time on Robin Capper's site and it's jammed with extremely helpful tips. While he may be on the other side of the planet, he's definitely on the right page. Here's a link to his blog: rcd.typepad.com

Another great link is Matt Dillon's site - I've got a link for him on the side bar. Matt is definitely one of the top dogs on the Architectural products from Autodesk - check out his recent commentary on Architectural Desktop vs. Revit (or is it Revit vs. ADT)? You can see Matt at AU this year as well - I had the honor of helping him with a lab a couple years back and had a blast. Check his site out at modocrmadt.blogspot.com

As I come across other cool sites that relate to our topics, I'll put them in the sidebar. In the meantime, keep up with these guys - they provide some extremely helpful info!

thanks - David B.

Creating Tapered Columns in Architectural Desktop

To create a column that tapers from top to bottom, you’ll need to create a custom shaped structural member. Follow these steps to create the member:

Create the starting and ending profiles. This can be accomplished by drawing a closed polyline shape and creating a profile definition, or by using the Structural Member Catalog to bring in an existing shape. To import a shape from the catalog, go to the Format menu, choose Structural Members, and then choose the Catalog.

Right click on the shape you want and choose generate member style – when the dialogue appears, choose OK to add the shape to the current drawing. Add a larger and smaller size to your current file.

Go to the Format menu and choose Style Manager. In your current drawing, go to Architectural Objects and choose Structural Members, Right click on the Standard style, and choose Copy. Right click and select Paste to create a duplicate style, and then right click on the style and rename the duplicate to Tapered Column.

Select the Tapered Column style – the right pane of the style manager will show the options. Choose the Design rules tab.

At the bottom right, choose Show Details. From here you can change the shape of the column at both the start and end of the column.

Once the style is created, you can use the Add Structural Column tool to add a column, and then use the properties dialogue to select the tapered column style. You can also drag the Tapered Column style from the Style Manager to a tool palette for regular use (note: make sure you place the style either in a template or master drawing if it’s going to be regularly placed by a palette tool).

While the Style Manager behaves a little differently in ADT 2005 (you have to double click the style to edit it), the feature works the same way for 2005, 2006 and 2007 versions.

Make those columns 3D! - David B.

Changing the Position of a Duct Takeoff Fitting in ABS 2006

When placing ductwork and using the autolayout features (i.e. choose a plus sign on a duct segment to place a branch), takeoffs are automatically centered in the sides of the duct segment. However, if you want to place a takeoff that is offset from the center of the segment, you need to manually place the takeoff fitting first, then continue duct from the fitting.

To place an offset takeoff:

1. Draw the main duct segment first.

2. Use the Add Duct Fitting tool (from the Duct tool palette), and choose the type of takeoff you wish to use.

3. The command prompt will ask you to select an insert point or ductwork – choose the duct at or near the location you want the take off placed.

4. Before choosing the rotation of the fitting, go back to the Add Duct fitting dialogue and choose the Off Center tab.

5. Check Enable off-center placing, change the side to the side of the duct (top/bottom/left/right) where the take off will be placed, then choose the offset distance. Note that for a takeoff on the right or left side of a duct, a positive distance will place the takeoff up towards the top of the duct, while a negative number will place the takeoff towards the bottom of the duct, if the Center justification is set. The distance is measured to the centerline of the take – make sure you don’t try to place the takeoff beyond the size of the duct segment you’re attaching to.

This will place a takeoff at a location other than the centerline of duct. To adjust after placement, right click on the fitting and choose Duct Fitting Modify from the pop-up menu (note – the off center tab is not available for fittings placed during autolayout).

Try this out and let us know how it works!

Thanks - David B.

The Basics on Creating MEP Drawings

Autodesk has two products for the MEP engineering market. Building Systems is the AutoCAD-based solution that has been around for a few years, and is built on the Architectural Desktop platform. Revit Systems is the true BIM solution that is built on Revit Building and is in its first release, and includes ductwork, piping and electrical tools (sorry, no plumbing specific stuff just yet).

Both products are very similar in how they produce MEP drawings. An architectural background is either referenced in (for ABS) or linked to (in Revit Systems), and the engineering items are drawn over top of the background. The keys to success with both packages are very similar:

- In both cases, you need a template that defines standards for items such as text, styles, families, etc. The Building Systems template setup is a bit more involved in terms of setup, but Autodesk has provided some good starter templates to use. We typically start from the AEC Model (Imperial - CTB).dwt as it has good variety of system definitions and display settings to start from, then add to it more commonly used systems. Revit Systems includes a variety of templates that include basic system families for items such as diffusers, duct, pipe and more, that are geared towards specific uses such as residential versus commercial. In either case, spend time setting these up so they user is not having to create too many of these items on their own. Both programs include data information that can be associated with the objects and used for analysis or generation of schedules.

- It's a 3-step process with both packages. Place equipment first, then the connecting geometry such as duct, pipe and wire, then annotate last. This makes the drafting process very fast, and helps the programs easily maintain connection information (which is used for sizing and analysis in both packages). Building Systems uses the standard AutoCAD method of breaking buildings down into levels and divisions that are separate files, but items such as ductwork can connect across reference files, maintaining the connection information. Building Systems includes two types of documentation objects - labels (which are placed with the object, and resize themselves with the scale setting at the bottom of the drawing window - even in reference files) and block based tags, which can read through a reference file, allowing them to be placed in view drawings rather than in coordination drawings. In Revit Systems, all objects are placed in one file, and the display of this information through views (which can be predefined in the template file).

- Both packages have tools that allow users to work in 3D views as well as section and elevation views of the objects. The Revit Systems views are easier to manipulate by simply selecting an elevation view; ABS uses an Isolate Object feature called Edit in Section or Edit in Elevation to change the user's work plane to a section or elevation orientation, then exiting out of the view when completed. Both programs incorporate the use of grips to manipulate the location of objects in the drawing, making it easy for users to not only move items in an X-Y plane but in the Z axis as well.

So which do you use? It really depends on a couple of factors:

- If you're accustomed to an AutoCAD workflow and want to continue to have that platform simply for ease of customization, stick with Building Systems. There is some limited customization for items such as macros, etc., but the AutoCAD-based ABS has had the open interface to work with for many years, where as customizing the user interface in Revit Systems requires someone with a programming background.

- For the same reason, the lack of customization for the interface is what makes Revit Systems such a strong product. All users will have the same look and feel, as well as approach to creating objects for engineering design. Revit Systems is the engineer's and designer's tool, focusing much more on the design of the systems rather than the drafting. The R1 release is much farther along than the R1 release of ABS (including a panel schedule that actually looks and acts like a panel schedule should!), but the guys at Autodesk learned from the first go-round in ABS. The content isn't as extensive as ABS, but it's coming.

- Consider the consultants - if they want files in AutoCAD (especially if the designer is using Architectural Desktop), use ABS. If they're working in Revit, then definitely use Revit Systems. Autodesk did get another thing right - for Revit Systems, you also get Building Systems as a part of the bundle, giving the designer the flexibility to choose at a minimal cost. Since the daily workflows are very similar, it can be easy to train users to get up to speed with either product - as long as they're not allowed to "run home to mama AutoCAD" and start drawing lines, arcs and circles.

There are trial versions available for both versions, so contact your account manager or Autodesk if you want to give either product a try - the days of 2D drafting for the engineering world are definitely numbered!

Happy CADDING - David B.

Creating Custom Endcaps for ADT

Overview

In Architectural Desktop, you can customize how a wall displays endcaps at either openings or wall ends. Out of the box, the wall styles have endcap styles created and assigned to end conditions as well as for openings for doors, windows and assemblies. To see what endcap styles are assigned to a wall, you use the Style Manager to browse to the wall style, then go to the Endcaps / Opening Endcaps tab to see what t default styles are used. Standard can also be substituted for these predefined styles if you don’t wish to go to this level of detail in a 1/8” scale view of a drawing.

Endcaps/Opening Endcaps Tab:
- Assign endcaps to wall start/endpoints
- Can assign different endcaps for openings, windows, doors, assemblies
- Can edit or add endcap style
- Can view endcaps in previewer













Occasionally the endcap style doesn’t reflect what’s actually happen, so you might want to create a custom endcap style. The following exercise walks the user through creating a custom endcap style for the CMU-8 Rigid-1.5 Air-2 Brick-4 that ships with the program.

To Create a Custom Endcap Style

The image below shows a wall endcap condition that is not correct. The quickest method to correct this is to draw polylines over the top of the condition, then use the pick and right click menus to edit the endcap.










Incorrect endcap with insulation extending past brick return

1. Examine the wall style and note the index number and width of each component you wish to edit the endcap for.













2. Draw an open pline for each component (including air spaces). Draw the plines in the order they appear in the wall style example above. Use the example wall to trace how the endcap should appear in the drawing


4 open segment plines, drawn counter clockwise (since the left side of the wall is the example – for a right side, draw clockwise) – each component must have a pline segment, even if the segment is just two points.






3. Right click on the example of the wall and choose Endcaps > Calculate Automatically

4. Use a selection window to choose all of the plines.













5. Erase the layout geometry to remove the plines

6. You can now choose to either modify the current endcap style assigned to a wall style as default condition, or you can create a new style. You can also choose whether this endcap style applies to wall ends and/or wall openings.












The “endcap” result

Note: Once an endcap is created, you can also use the right click menu options Endcaps > Edit in Place to make adjustments to this style.

You can draw more than just rectangular ends - play around with the shapes and make all kinds of opening conditions!

thanks - David B.

The New 2007's are Here....

Well, I've finally had a chance to spend some time with our new line of software, and thought I'd publish a few opinion points - here's a few bullets:

AutoCAD 2007:

- New modeling tools are great - having grips on solids makes like easier.
- New Dashboard is nice, but seems to slow down the system - used it all throughout my demos and acclimated to it fairly quickly - love the new loft and sweep tools
- Performance tuner - this would be nice if it actually worked properly. I'm running a high end video on my notebook (nVidia GeForce 6600 with 256mb of RAM) but the tuner didn't recognize it as an OpenGL card, and tuned the graphics down to the lowest level. After experimenting with openGL on and off, I'm really getting some mixed results, especially with shadows on and off, material appearances, etc....think the tuner needs a little tuning itself, with a better list of card info incorporated. Stick with the old displays for a while (service pack?)
- New Xref manager is much nicer than old dialogue, love the changes that show up below the dialogue immediately
- DWF references - finally!!! and if you're plotting or publishing to an image file just so someone can't manipulate your files, STOP - print to a DWF instead - it works, it's small, and users can snap to the geometry.

ADT 2007

- Space tools - being able to generate all spaces at once without picking inside of boundaries - very nice!
- Anchor tools - i.e. anchor a space to a wall, so they both update - that's nice, haven't tried it too much but would love to hear how others would use this tool.
- List definitions will cut down on the guess work involved in filling out schedules - even more standards control....
- Schedule header overrides - finally we can have headers that are both vertical and horizontal!
- Images in schedules - making legends a pleasant place to go!
- Had some weird errors - when choosing object commands, the command would cancel itself - anyone else had this problem? very erratic, but scary.

ABS 2007

- Pipe Connectors! Pat the ABS boys on the head - key to helping create an accurate bill of materials - getting a true length on a pipe is cool, and having two different ends on a pipe is critical. Catalog organization is 100% better. It would be nice if the pipe would automatically extend to the face of a fitting if the pipe end fitting is deleted, but grip editing will work just fine for now.
- Had a couple of inconsistent behaviors when connecting duct - the snap shows up but the duct doesn't stay connected (stretch the duct and the connected parts are not going with it). Happens with a 2006 ABS file is used in ABS 2007, but worked 2 out of 3 times.


All products - make sure you are using at least these parts in your systems:

- Pentium 4 2.8ghz or higher
- RAM - 1gb minimum get as much as you can in the system - keep RAM chips matched!
- Video - 128mb OpenGL or higher, the nVidia chipset works best, stay away from gaming cards.
- hard drive - the faster the better, set virtual memory to 10% of hard disk space as a minimum - defragment the drive if you haven't done it
- Windows XP - use it!
- Keep an eye on your anti-virus - real time scans will affect performance. Make sure it's off when you install the software
- Make sure you've applied all service packs to the previous versions before installing the new versions - go to support.autodesk.com and check for your software version.

Go ahead and post any issues you're having here as comments here - we may not be able to answer questions in the forum, but I'd like to hear how others are doing.

I'll follow up with more on Revit later, go to run for now.

thanks - David B.

Assemblies Versus Curtain Walls – When to Use

Assemblies Versus Curtain Walls – When to Use

There are two ways to approach storefront conditions on a building – by using window assemblies or by using curtain walls. Before choosing, you need to understand the differences between the two objects:

- Window Assemblies are typically placed in a wall, similar to a door or window. The assembly is simply a frame for doors, windows, spandrel panels, etc. that need to placed as one object, rather than a series of individual objects placed side by side in a wall.
- Curtain Walls are independent objects. For example, if the storefront is self-bearing, and the frames/mullions are the structural elements, then a curtain wall object should be used. Similar to assemblies, the curtain wall is simply a frame for doors, windows, spandrel panels, units, etc.

Therefore, how the component behaves structurally really dictates which object you’re going to use. If you’re placing a frame in the plan that is supported by a wall or other means of framing, then you’d use an assembly. If the frame is self-supporting, then you’d use a curtain wall. Here are some examples of what each will look like in plan.



Example 1 – Use an Assembly!

In the example above, the plan is showing a cleaned, filleted corner. Since a curtain wall treats itself as one continuous object, the cleaned corner can’t be made, as it would have to include a line indicating the mitered frame. Example 1 is the correct way to draft when the storefront is NOT a load bearing item. On the other hand, the below example would typically be built in two pieces, and would ship to the site as such – so the image would really have to look something like this:


Example 2 – Use a Curtain Wall!

So, if you’re looking for your plan to look like example 1, you need to use an assembly as part of a wall. If the storefront is load bearing, then it needs to look like example 2 and be created with a curtain wall object. To get the curtain wall to show a mitered corner correctly you’ll need to edit the profile for the frame. The following is a series of steps to use to get a frame to show the mitered corner or a boxed corner correctly.

Draw the segments of a curtain wall. The style example is a manually spaced grid, with horizontal and vertical mullions. Move the individual segments using end point snaps if you want to clean the curtain walls up along an inside or outside edge.














After lining up the curtain wall, right click on one object and choose Frame/Mullion – from the flyout, choose Add Profile. The program will prompt you to pick an edge; in this case I chose my vertical wall, the top edge of the frame. A dialogue will appear:
















Leave Profile Definition set as start from scratch – if this change is only going to apply at this location, then check As Frame Profile Override under apply profile. I also give this profile a unique name, like Front Façade Left Edge.















The edit-in-place features will now appear. Use the grips to stretch and edit the edges of the frame to the shape you need. In this case, we’re simply making this one corner larger and using a butted frame for our horizontal curtain wall.














And here’s the example with a mitered corner:














This gives us a technically correct corner condition that reflects how the frame will ship, and addresses how a storefront that is a bearing object can be created in Architectural Desktop. Hopefully this will help the users decide when to use each object – enjoy!

Got Desktop? Use It!

It still amazes me how many users buy software, then never get around to actually using what they've purchased. Since I'm from the South (North Carolina to be specific), I liken this to buying that brand new Ford F250 pickup truck with all the bells and whistles, then hooking it up to horse to pull it around because "I don't have time to learn how to drive". That's a sad and unfortunate excuse. At some point, you had to make time to learn how to use CAD in the first place - was it really a waste of time, or would you be better off still drafting on the board?

Of course not - the proof is in how much CAD is used today. While there may be some specific features in a program that we either don't need or think are too difficult to learn to use, there are always improvements to most software programs that are worthwhile tools - and it's you, the user, that are driving companies like Autodesk and Microsoft to improve their products.

Let's address the "I don't have time" issue first. Using plain AutoCAD and drafting with lines, arcs and circles worked great when comparing your work to what you did on the board. You could make changes to lines and adjust penweights, relocate items quickly, etc. in dramatically less time than it took to using the electric eraser to wipeout what you've drawn and re-draft. You're also not wearing out a sheet of paper (although you are wiping out a lot more trees now!) when using CAD. At some point most people had to sit down and learn CAD, as opposed to board drawing. You also had to learn how to use a computer, and Windows, and how to set up a printer, and how to back your files, etc. So the learning curve of going to CAD from the board was dramatically larger than what we're talking about now, which is simply fine tuning methods. You made time to learn before, and the end users were demanding CAD files - that's ultimately why most users switched (you know - the guys who write the checks).

Now the idea is take the repetitive tasks such as setting layers, offsetting lines to make walls, creating and maintaining blocks for symbol libraries to use for doors, windows etc., and instead of spending all that time creating and maintain those items, programs like Architectural Desktop take care of that for us. The time savings is in the little tasks - how many times does an AutoCAD user set a layer current each day (which is roughly equal to how many times a woodchuck chucks wood - you get the picture). Other time savings from using a program such as ADT that has display controls and the Project Navigator wind up drawing the building once and creating views from that base plan - thus eliminating the need to make multiple changes to the same objects.

How long does it take to learn ADT? Most of users that go through training get pretty proficient within 6-12 months with the whole package, usually with 2-4 days of training and follow up support. They start with learning drafting basics such as adding walls doors and windows, then move on to other features such as scheduling, sections, elevations. ADT is not a program that requires you to use every feature when you use it - same as AutoCAD. The overwhelming number of companies we work with that fail do not invest in training - either by buying book or by investing the time, or by working with their reseller or consultant to get training on what they really need. They don't see a return because buying the tool is like buying the car - at some point you have to learn how to drive - who taught you? The other failures occur when time is invested in training, but the users don't follow through immediately by putting what they've learned to use - try remembering every conversation you had last week - can you remember everything you did or said?

There's been a ton of studies of how much more productive BIM and object based programs are than line-based drafting, so I won't go into too much detail here (email me if you want some links), but most clients get a minimum of 15% increased productivity within the first year. Do the math - if I usually spend 60 hours on a project at $60 per hour, that's $3600 - if I do the same project in 45 hours, I'm at $2700 - the difference alone on one project usually saves you enough money to get some basic training. Add that up over a year with a dozen products - and you've paid for the software (a FULL SEAT price) and a year's worth of training.

The biggest benefit to me was that I found that I was leaving work at the end of the business day - instead of pulling all nighters. My home time is a heck of lot more valuable to me than a dollar figure - since you can't buy that time back. How many days are you going to be able to buy back this year from your kids, your wife, your boat, all the great reality shows on TV....???

I'll address some of the other issues and other products later - think about and tell me what you think.

And go home - it's quittin' time, and the fish are biting....!

David B.

Here's a couple of quick tips for Architectural Desktop from Mike Zeeveld in our Charlotte office:

Architectural Desktop Users…
Here are some helpful hints for producing images in Architectural Desktop to show your client or take further and/or apply color for a better presentation look.

Napkin

Do you need to make your drawing(s) look like it was hand drawn? Create freehand sketches from objects in a drawing. There are 3 options which include Tight, Loose and Messy.

Command:_AecNapkin




Hidden Line Projection

Create a 2D block type image from a 3D view. Rotate your view to the position you want. Exectute the Hidden Line Projection command. Specify an insertion point, answer yes to show in plan. You're done!

Command: _AecCreateHLR



You can also use these tools in Building Systems - just type in the commands and you're off to the races!