Revit 2014 Graphics issue - disappearing ribbon and filled regions

So there is a knows issue when installing Revit 2014 on computers that already have Revit 2013 and 2012 installed, apparently the earlier versions (2013-2012) have ribbon graphics issues....

Well were experience graphics issues with Revit 2014...
We were having a problem with graphics, filled regions and then the ribbon started acting up and disappearing....

We downloaded and installed the .net framework 4.5 and the graphics issues seem to have been resolved now.

We were getting issues like this:

All fixed now...

Resume workflow!

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Autodesk Apps for Android!

I read today on Shaan Hurley's Blog about a new Autodesk App for use on Android Devices.

Autodesk FormIt for Android... check out the web site for more info on this app... I haven't use it yet, I'm just excited that Autodesk are weaning themselves off Apple after being connected at the hip for the last few years (after vehemently saying that they'll never have ACAD for Apple for years).. oh how times change!! Dont blame them though, got to keep up with the young fellas!

I'm looking forward to even more apps coming from Autodesk for Android.... it's a huge market, just need to be a little quicker on the uptake AD...

I've got all my bases covered, PC Laptop, i-phone and my Nexus 7 tablet running Android!!!

Now if I can get Google Glass before Shaan I'll be LAUGHIN!

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Book Review: Shutting Up!

I just recently ordered two books from Amazon called 

Shutting Up: Listening to Your Employees, Leading by Example, and Maximizing Productivity

"Hey, manager: please shut up already! Too many new managers, often promoted from the best of the front-line workers, lack the basic ability to interact effectively-speaking when they should be listening, and listening . . . well, not much."

I've followed Eric Wagners Blog Shutting Up! for a while now and found it a great resource.

It's essential to read books like this as it helps remind you not only how to be a good manager or leader but basically how to work with people both professionally and personally.

We should always seek ways to improve ourselves and this book should be added to your tool kit of self improvement!

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Oh! 

FYI... I do not receive these book from publishers or writers, I do not get paid or receive any form of compensation for writing these reviews.... I occasionally do hear from the author and that's always fun, but otherwise I review these books because I feel they are a crucial part of being a BIM Manager... knowing the software is only a part of the job, you have to learn how to work with the people at the other side of the screen!!

Check out these book as well:

The Zen of Steve Jobs

Work Happy - What Great Bosses Know

Interior Design Using Revit Architecture 2013

Displacement Sets in Revit 2014

One of the new features of Revit 2014 is the ability to create “Exploded” 3D views.

This image taken from Revit Help Wiki

This feature is called “Displacement Sets”. This tool allows you to control the position of one or more model elements in a 3D view independent to all other views.

For example you can show the assembly sequence of a specific area of a building.

To utilize this tool first save a 3D view by renaming the view.

 Ie: Displaced View.

Select the objects you wish to displace. After selection the Displaced Elements tool becomes active on the view panel on the Modify tab.

Once you've made your selection the “Gizmo” will appear allowing you to drag the element in the X-Y or Z axis.

Once you have the element in position you can use the “Path” tool to place Projection lines between the displaced element and the original position.

Or… if you need to reset the position of the Displaced Elements use the “Reset” icon and Revit will automatically place the elements back to the original position.

 Displaced Elements do not affect any other views, you can also have displaced elements within other displaced elements. You can also Orbit around while in this view.

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BIMbc Victoria

Update 23rd Sept: 
Sorry, you missed it.....but keep posted.... I plan on attending and presenting again in Victoria and the Vancouver BIM User Groups in the near future...

If your in the Victoria area on Vancouver Island on Thursday the 19th head on down to the BIMbc User Group meeting at Core Drafting Services....

BIMbc

Victoria
Best Tips and Practices from CEI Architecture’s BIM Manager, Scott Chatterton

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Please join us for to the upcoming BIMbc meeting in Victoria. Please review the details and feel free to share this email with colleagues and coworkers.  If you plan on attending, we appreciate it if you can RSVP beforehand.

Date: Thursday September 19th, 2013
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Core Drafting Services – 647 Dupplin Road Victoria, BC
Please RSVP here

The schedule for the meeting will be as follows:

5:15pm Doors Open

Socializing/Networking.

5:30pm Welcome and Introduction

 

Scott Chatterton, BIM Manager at CEI Architecture will present the following:

BIM Standards - Tips on Streamlining your Drawing Process.

Making your Project Templates work for you, compiling Families and Warehouse files, tips on setting up your project team.

Tracking Model Changes – How are you communicating changes in your model with your consultants?

How to use a “Model Change Tracker” family.

Revit Tips and Tricks - You don’t know what you don’t know!   Here I’ll be showing live some of my Secret Tips and Tricks of Revit 2013 and 2014.

6:45pm Open Discussion and Refreshments

Open session where users are encouraged to discuss technical issues and best practices when using Revit. Bring a question; start a discussion and the group will weigh in!

Thank you to our generous BIMbc Victoria presenters and sponsors.

How about Renting your Software??

Autodesk now has available a more flexiable pay as you go purchase option.... and frankly about time too.
Their competition has had this available for quite some time now already and it's about time Autodesk caught up and offered a more flexible licencing option for their software...

It only makes sense, as your project needs increase and decrease so should your software resources. 

Here's how it works.

There are three options...

Perpetual License
Probably what you use to have. you bought your standalone license years ago and every three or four years you would look at upgrading your software to the new version. You would typically get a discount for upgrading your old software depending on how old it is.

Perpetual License plus Autodesk Subscription
Probably what you have now... you've upgraded your standalone license to include Subscription and every year you pay a smaller amount of $$ (compared to buying a new license) and every year you download or are sent an upgraded version of your software (typically multiple software). 
Works great, you get bonus software and it's a manageable cost wise.

Software Rental Plan
"Software rental plans let you pay as you go for access to Autodesk software and includes basic support, access to the latest software and product enhancements, and in some cases, access to select cloud services." 
You can rent either monthly, Quarterly or Annually.

• Pay-as-you-go access—A rental license gives you the flexibility to manage costs without an up-front license investment or long-term commitment. In some cases, you may be able to bill the cost of a software rental plan back to your clients, making it easier to treat software costs as an operating expense rather than a capital expense.
• Scalable licensing—Rental plans help enable easier license addition and removal. You can scale up and down to manage project and staffing needs, such as the addition of consultants, interns, and part-time employees.
• Access to the latest tools—With an active rental plan, you always have access to the latest software releases and product enhancements.

Check out their web site to see what products are available and they've got some good pdf's on FAQ on the rental plan and pay as you go infographic.

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Project Chronicle - Training Videos

I first tried out Project Chronicle when if first came out. It was a little buggy but certainly something to keep watch on.

I tried it again today after downloading the latest version, they've fixed any of the problems I experienced in the earlier version. You can now download your own video,share a link in web pages, blogs, facebook, twitter, linkedin as well as email a direct link.

"The Chronicle Recording Utility allows users to capture workflows from within Autodesk products. The utility records a continuous video screen capture and optionally voice narration. What makes Chronicle unique is that is also records the timing and details of workflow information, such as the tools, settings, and dialog boxes that are used during the workflow."

If you want to try Chronicle yourself sign up for Labs and download Project Chronicle.

Try it out it's a great training took for Autodesk products as it shows the picks and clicks as you go through the exercise.

Below are links to the training videos I've done so far, there is a group of exercised I did from a session I attended at RTC 2013. The other is on Design options I did today.... it was a "one shot" recording... no fine editing done here!!

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Getting to know the Stair

Creating a Stair

Stair Annotations

Working with Railing

Design Options - The Basics

"No Plot" Lines... Aghhhhh!

Why is it so hard to create a line type that does not print in Revit!!!!

I want to see the line in plan view but I dont want it to plot!
why cant Revit do this?.... or am I seriously missing something here???

All the things I've thought of so far include, making the line type "White"... this doesn't help! I cant see it! I don't want to use Reference planes!!!! and I don't want to hide the lines... I want to see where they are, I just don't want them to plot!
Perplexing!

Any suggestions?

I'm going to add this to my "Why cant I move my View to another screen" wish list!

Sc...

And .... What's up with showing directional arrows or ramps!!!
Really... been a problem since 2008 !!!

Work Plane Viewer - by "What Revit Wants"

Here's a link to a great post by Luke over at What Revit Wants

Here he discusses "Why Should you use the Workplane Viewer"

I never really use the Workplane Viewer but Luke puts up a good argument as to why you should use the Workplane Viewer..

"Revit Wants you to be understand workplanes, and to host things on correct workplanes in the model.  Virtually the entire model in Revit is built up on a series of 2D planes.  Additionally, being comfortable working in 3D views is an important Revit and BIM skill.  This is why you should use the Workplane Viewer..."

Go check it out, he lists a number of good points on the benefits of using the Workplane Viewer.

Great tip Luke...
FYI; Luke is also a Revit Jedi! 

;-)

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Some of my most Most Popular Posts

For those of you new to my Blog, here are a couple links to some of the more popular posts...
Or, like me you would like a reminder of what information is out there!!

How to Create a Material Takeoff Shows you in detail how to create a material Take off.

Wrapping at Inserts - Explained 
Wrapping at Ends - Explained
Wrapping Wall Components - Explained
A series of three Blogs explaining how "wrapping" of elements and components apply to walls.

Phasing, Phases and Phase Filters
Here is my attempt to explain Phasing and Phase Filters.. a very complicated thing to try and explain and this is a primer to help you understand it better. 

How to Use the Copy Monitor Function On the Collaborate tab you’ll find the Coordinate panel where the copy monitor tools reside.

Cloud Rendering Vs Revit Rendering I love the Cloud rendering feature Autodesk offers to Subscription members!
It's fast and easy to use.    BUT!.......

the Revit Viewer  You are able to install Revit 2013 to be used as a Revit File “Viewer” without having to purchase a license.

Removing Revit Add-In's If you need to remove or disable an Add-On tool here are the steps you need to take.

Box Cornice with Overhang Rake Here is the process of creating a "Pork Chop" roof line

Disallow Join I recently ran into an issue where we had a interior stud wall that butts up to a Curtain wall or a Store Front wall.

Curtain Wall in a Wall Just a quick tip on inserting a Curtain Wall into a Regular Wall.

This is just a short list of some of the most popular, you can always do a search in the "Search this Blog" field if there is something specific your looking for... or drop me a line through the comments and I'll see what I have for you or create a new Blog posting..  :-)

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Local File – Overwrite or Append Timestamp?

To miss-quote Shakespeare…”To Overwrite or to Append Timestamp, that is the Question!”

You may often receive this message when creating a new local File and wondered what it really means.

Here is an explanation…

Overwrite existing file: All the backup files for that local file get deleted. Helps keep your computer hard drive space free.

Append Timestamp: Another Backup of the local file is created allowing you to develop an archive copy of the project locally.

My recommendation is to always create a new local file when you first open the project first thing in the morning. This helps keep problems with work sharing to a minimum. During the day as you work on the project it may be ok to append timestamp.

Basically your “Local File” is a temporary file while you’re working on the project, you make changes then push “Sync” back to the central file.

Remember… Sync often and create a new local file every day.

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