Aussie Meat Pies... not in Revit though!

Yeah! I finally found somewhere in Canada that makes a proper Aussie Meat Pie !... and they're here in Kelowna!  :-)

Real Deal Australian Meat Pies

Here is a quote taken from the'yre home page... it's soo true!

After suffering 6 long years of deprivation from anything close to a true blue Australian meat pie, the back bone to any Aussies diet, it became evidently clear that the only way to solve this problem was to get out there and make our own.....

Check out their web site...they even have a photo gallery of their pies!

And a good selection of flavours!

Sc

Worksets by Colour

I recently found this blog by Applying Technology to Architecture written by Doug Bowers on assigning colour to your Worksets.

Check it out, it's a handy took to check what objects are on which Workset.
You could even use it for basic clash detection in your Revit model as well...

Why rewrite something that's already been well written?

Sc...

Point Layout

I was recently sent a link to software Autodesk recently purchased called Point Layout.

After checking out their website I sent an email to the construction companies we work with letting them know about this new software now available.

Point Layout allows you to create points, either automatically or manually, from your BIM model (Revit, ACA, ACAD, Navisworks) and export them to a Robotic Total Station so you can accurately lay out the building on site.... 

Not only are you able to lay out the building accurately but you can also push points from the BIM model for such things as slab penetrations for mechanical, lighting fixture layout, plumbing fixture placement to name a few possible benefits.

AND.... you can import points taken from the field into Revit for exact field conditions......for example you can accurately import points of an existing building or fixtures within that building, or key elements on site... That's fantastic!

At the time of writing this Blog cost of the Point Layout has not been released but I expect that it'll end up being bundled with one or more of the suites.

Beyond Design wrote a excellent blog about the software, you can read it here.

Sc.

Central States Revit Workshop - Well done!

Big thanks and congratulations to the CSRW committee.
Job well done....

It was a great Revit conference with knowledgeable speakers presenting a higher level of instruction and who were  accessible throughout the event. !
Well worth attending!

Some session of note that I attended were: Advanced Scheduling Techniques, Creating Intelligent Details, Revit for Interior Designers and Navisworks for Designers...

I especially liked the "Ask the Expert Panel" discussion.
Panel discussions can be very tricky depending on the participants, fortunately there was a great mix of expertise and industry experience with panel members such as Paul Aubin, Steve Stafford and Steven Shell. The discussions that eventuate are priceless.

Hope to share some of the nuggets of information with you all as I start to process the information...

Sc

File Upgrader - Update

UPDATE: JAN 14th 2016
this app is no longer available.. :-(

Here's an update to an earlier post regarding the Content Batch Utility upgrade tool that comes with your install software...

I have found something better....

The File Upgrader App from Autodesk works soooo much better!

Download this app and it installs under the Add-Ins tab on Revit.

When you start the tool simply browse to the folder location of the files you want to upgrade and then select the destination where you want the new upgraded files to be located and the file types you want to upgrade. Revit will open each file and save as new version then close the file.

I just did over 450 families and it took about than 40 minutes...without errors, unlike the Content Batch Utility!

Very nice...

Sc 

Cool App

I just came across this cool app that allows you to access your Autodesk software remotely on your ipad on the Autodesk App Exchange while I was looking for the Navisworks Export Utility... Apparently the export Utility is not on the Exchange, you have to go to their web site.... 

Anyway... this cool app will allow you to remotely access your Revit (or any other Autodesk Software) on your ipad....Autodesk Remote

Autodesk® Remote is a stand-alone application for Microsoft Window 7 and 8 and is compatible with all Autodesk products. It lets you drive Autodesk software installed on your primary computer from a remote computer or iPad for fast access to native design data over standard networks. To use it, simply install Autodesk Remote on the PC you want to share. Install it again on the machine you want to connect from and start your connection. Autodesk Remote currently works in North-America only

Sounds really cool... if you have an ipad!
Now if they released that for my obsolete Playbook which they don't make anymore.  :-(

I'm either going to have to buy a ipad (ugh!) or maybe go buy myself a new Nexus 7 2013   ;-)

Android Vs Apple.. would make a good movie like the Clone Wars !!

Sc

Update: August 2013.

So I bought my self a Nexus 7, 32 Gb.

It's nice, thin light with all the bells and whistles..... but I really like my playbook... It's probably because I'm use to it but I like the ability to swipe to start it, the swipe down to bring up properties, swipe across to access other open apps and when you close an app... it's closed!

Also there's a plug in for mini HDMI which is nice to hook up to my TV. Cant do that with my Nexus 7!

I'm sure I'll get use to the Nexus 7 but it's a shame Blackberry didn't have the resources to continue this great tablet!  

So I have a iPhone, a PC laptop and now an Android tablet!

I'm multi-platform....

Sc.

Revit to Showcase

I just found this great document by DCCADD on importing Revit models into Showcase.
It explains how to bring it into Showcase via 3DsMax in a way that you can work with the Revit materials as well as explore design options.

It will take you step by step through the process, really one of the best instructional documents I've read in quite some time...

Here's an image of my model in Revit, realistic Visual Style.

Aghhhh.... it takes soooo long to bring into Showcase!!!!

This is what it looks like in Showcase with a background and Ray Trace.
Looks great but is slow and clunky on my laptop....I'm sure with a powerful desktop it'll perform much better.

One benefit I do like is being able to change materials in Showcase...

There is a direct export from Revit under "Suite Workflows".
The document explains how to use both methods of importing into Showcase.

Not sure if we'll use is as typically when presenting were either doing it from a laptop or "remoting" into a computer....We'll see...

Sc

Central States Revit Workshop

Just a reminder about the Central States Revit Workshop.
http://www.revitworkshops.com/

The conference is to be held at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha from August 15th and 16th.

 
Sessions include:

• Architecture
• Interiors
• Mechanical/ Plumbing/ Electrical
• Structural
• Construction (for Contractors/Sub-Contractors)
• BIM

The line up of speakers and sessions looks awesome.

Guest speakers include people like Paul Aubin and Steve Stafford, Steven Shell to name but a few.

Definitely a conference worth checking out, and its very affordable!

Check out the list of sessions Here.

Under BIM - Construction Descriptions there is a real interesting session called "BIM Management - More than Just Managing the BIM Model" 

Come and say "G'Day"

Sc