AUGIWorld March 2012 - Tips, Tricks and Techniques | BLAUGI Blog of Autodesk User Group International

There's only one thing better than knowing that the latest edition of AUGIWorld magazine has been published and that's the fact that there's a great Revit article by the Jay Zallan.



The only thing better than that is that I'm lucky enough to be listed as a Revit resource in the article, along with some great other Revit BIM bloggers and tweeters.





Click here to go to a page listing all of the tweeters above to quickly add them to your follow list.  Warning, it will take a minute or so to load since it's updating data from Twitter if you're logged in to Twitter.
Follow @revit3d
Link: Tweeters To Follow - AUGI recommended
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AUGIWorld March 2012 - Tips, Tricks and Techniques | BLAUGI Blog of Autodesk User Group International

Autodesk product users - be they newbies or veterans - need tips & tricks. These little helpers allow users to work around a problem, to find a different means to an end so the work can continue to flow.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of places to find great tips & tricks. They are the subject of entire classes at Autodesk University, they abound on the blogosphere and in online discussion groups, they reside in the help menus of multiple software products, and they are here - in the March 2012 issue of AUGIWorld.

Murray Clack leads it off with "AutoCAD Tricks for MText: Beyond the Basics." In "10 Time Savers for AutoCAD Architecture," Melinda Heavrin delivers some serious productivity boosting tips. And Christopher Fugitt shares the documented and undocumented tricks for AutoCAD Civil 3D in "Stop and Smell the Tricks!"

Also in the March 2012 issue of AUGIWorld:

Gaining Ground in AEC – William Campbell compels you to take a closer look at AutoCAD MEP and discusses why it is rapidly becoming more accepted in the industry as an intelligent, parametric-based design tool for BIM industry leaders.

Everyday Tips & Tricks for Inventor – Inventor is easy to use, says author John Evans, but that doesn't mean users won't benefit from usage tips. He shares some of his favorites.

The Ultimate Revit Hand: Every Revit Tip, Trick, Technique & Workaround (known & unknown) - Author Jay Zallan delivers on the promise of this article's title in a surprising way.

Download the most recent issue:

March 2012

Low Resolution PDF (10.8mb)
High Resolution PDF (30.1mb)
Read it Online

Helpful Hint: To view, simply click the provided link and the pdf will open. To download, perform a right mouse click while hovering on the link. Select "Save Target As..." then choose the place to save the file on your hard drive in the pop-up window.

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120 Days to Uninstall Autodesk products

Did you know?

Move to an Autodesk  2013 Version from a Previous Release

If you have a previous version of Autodesk products installed on your
system, you can install  2013 products and keep other versions of
the program on the same system. This is called a side-by-side installation.
(This is when you have active subscription)

If you’ve purchased an upgrade version of Autodesk 2013 products , you are
required to uninstall the previous version within 120 days of installing
2013 product. See your license agreement for more information.

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Revit Services & Support - Location of journal files

I'm still finding people that don't know about journal files.  In theory and with luck, if  Revit has crashed on you, you can drag the journal file onto the Revit shortcut on your desktop and it will open the file and, like a macro or script, repeat all of your keystrokes and work since when Revit crashed.

You can also review a journal file and see what someone has done in a project.  We used it recently to see who had been the culprit on removing an item.

Also, in theory, you could make a sample model and use the journal file as a demo for other people to see how something needs to be done.  I wonder if there's a way to search and replace in a journal file to make an automated system to do certain tasks.


Source/Link: Autodesk - Autodesk Revit Architecture Services & Support - Location of journal files

Location of journal files

Journal files are TXT files that can be used to troubleshoot technical problems with Revit® products. These files are stored in the following folder:

For  2013 products:

• Windows XP: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\Revit\<Product name and release>\Journals
• Windows 7: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Autodesk\Revit\<Product name and release>\Journals

For 2012 products:

• Windows XP: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\Revit\<Product name and release>\Journals
• Windows Vista or Windows 7:%LOCALAPPDATA%\Autodesk\Revit\<Product name and release>\Journals

For earlier releases (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008):

Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7: C:\Program Files\<Product name and release>\Journals

Example:
Revit Architecture 2011 journal files are stored in the following folder:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit Architecture 2011\Journals

A new journal file is created each time that you use Revit. The journal file with the highest number was created the last time that you used Revit.

In addition to the journal file, the Journal folder may contain dump files for any crashes that have occurred. Dump files have the same name as the journal file and end with a .dmp extension. If a dump file exists, provide it to the Product Support Team along with the journal file.

Please Note: By default, the AppData folder is hidden in Windows Vista and Windows 7. If you have trouble finding the journals folder, please review this document on unhiding folders.

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Autodesk® Concrete Building Structures 2013 - New Product?

I've never noticed this before and I only saw it because it was referenced in the Revit Extensions notes.

Also, it's been around for a while since there was a Autodesk® Concrete Building Structures 2010 listed on a support page.

Anyone ever use or know about this?

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Revit Extensions for Autodesk Revit 2013 - Now Available for Download for Subscription Customers

Revit Extensions for Autodesk Revit 2013


In order to run the extensions, you must first install one of the following
products:
Revit 2013
Revit Architecture 2013
Revit MEP 2013
Revit Structure 2013

Release Date: 2012-03-29

Revit® Extensions for Autodesk® Revit® 2013 extend the capabilities of Autodesk® Revit® 2013, Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2013, Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2013, and Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2013 software in key areas, including structural analysis, modeling, reinforcement, interoperability and construction documentation. This download contains all previously released Revit Extensions and updates. In addition, this download includes enhancements to the positioning extension and improvements to the reinforcement extensions (dynamic model update, beam reinforcement). Refer to the “Feature Summary” for details.

Please note that the multi-language executable file contains the following language versions: English, French, German, Japanese, Polish, Russian and Simplified Chinese. 

Revit Extensions for Autodesk Revit 2013 are compatible with the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Revit 2013 software products.

Read This First

Feature Summary - English (pdf - 425Kb)

Download

Multiple Languages (exe - 434377Kb)

Autodesk ® Robot ™ Structural Analysis 2013      

Integration with Autodesk® Robot ™ Structural Analysis 2013 *

Integration with Autodesk® Concrete Building Structures 2013 ***

Load Takedown *

Composite Design *

Reinforcement Design *

AutoCAD ®Structural Detailing 2013

Integration with AutoCAD® Structural Detailing 2013 (Formwork Drawings) *

Integration with AutoCAD® Structural Detailing 2013 (Steel) *

Reinforcement Drawings *

Simulation

Beams (Static Analysis) *

Frames (Static Analysis) *

Trusses (Static Analysis) *

Slabs (Static Analysis) *

Conceptual Form Simulation *

Floor Vibrations Analyzer *’ ****

Gravity Column Designer *’ ****

Reinforcement

Beams *

Columns *

Continuous footings *

Pile caps *

Slab openings *

Spread footings *

Walls *

Walls corners *

Piles *

Parapets *

Slab corners *

Retaining walls *

Interferences of reinforcing bars *

Automatic Reinforcement Generation *

Bridges

Integration with AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2013 *

Roads and Terrain **

Bridge ‐ Concrete slab with girders *

Bridge ‐ Concrete box girder *

Bridge ‐ Concrete slab *

Documentation *

Customization of bridge families *

Steel connections

Beam to column ‐ end‐plated *Column base *

Timber

Wood Framing Walls **

Modeling

Excel® Based Model Generation **’ *****

Frame Generator **

Grids Generator **

Import/Export

CIS/2 Import *

CIS/2 Export *

SDNF Import *

SDNF Export *

Miscellaneous

Elements Positioning **

Freeze Drawings

Compare Models

Text Generator

Content Generator

Shared Parameters Converter

Notes:

* Available only in the structural context

** Available only in the architectural and structural contexts

*** Available after the Autodesk® Concrete Building Structures 2013 application is launched for the first time

**** Available for the English‐USA version of Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2013 only

***** Incompatible on the system using Microsoft® Windows® 7 64 bit with Microsoft® Office Excel® 2007 32 bit

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Autodesk Vault Basic 2013 - Subscription Download Now Available

Download Link: Autodesk Vault Basic 2013

Autodesk Vault Basic 2013

Release Date: 2012-03-28

Maximize return on your company’s investment in design data by driving design re-use with Autodesk Vault Basic software. A data management tool that helps manage and securely store design data, Autodesk Vault Basic allows users to organize all engineering data in a centralized location and reduces the time needed to find, reference, and re-use design data. As product designs evolve, version management in Autodesk Vault Basic provides protection from unintentional overwriting of good designs. In addition, users can save hours of valuable design time with the powerful copy and re-use capabilities that reduce the time required to start a new design.

Autodesk® Consulting Although Autodesk Vault Basic was developed as an easy-to-use tool, the very nature of a data management system requires that some planning be done to optimize file access and organization. We therefore recommend all customers not familiar with data management solutions to contact their Autodesk Authorized Reseller or Autodesk Consulting.

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Greater control over the analytical model in Autodesk Revit 2013

Source/Link:  Greater control over the analytical model in Autodesk Revit 2013

BIM -BIM & BEAM

Analytical floors, analytical foundation slabs, and analytical walls now have corner analytical nodes in Analytical Edit mode. If you select the analytical model of floors or foundation slabs, you will see controls posted at all corners and edges which allow direct manipulation of the analytical model. You may select individual edges by using the Tab key while hovering over an edge. Pressing the spacebar will cycle through edge local and global drag widget arrow orientations.

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Revit - System Requirements - Autodesk

Revit - System Requirements - Autodesk

For Autodesk Revit 2013, Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013, Autodesk Revit MEP 2013, Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 

• Minimum: Entry-Level Configuration

• Value: Balanced Price and Performance

• Performance: Large, Complex Models

• Revit Server

• Revit for Citrix

Minimum: Entry-Level Configuration 

Description	Requirement
Operating System*	Microsoft® Windows®7 32-bit Enterprise Ultimate Professional Home Premium Microsoft® Windows® XP SP2 (or later) Professional Home
Browser	Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 7.0 (or later)
CPU Type	Single- or Multi-Core Intel® Pentium®, Xeon®, or i-Series processor or AMD® equivalent with SSE2 technology. Highest affordable CPU speed rating recommended. Autodesk® Revit® software products will use multiple cores for many tasks, using up to 16 cores for near-photorealistic rendering operations.
Memory	4 GB RAM Usually sufficient for a typical editing session for a single model up to approximately 100 MB on disk. This estimate is based on internal testing and customer reports. Individual models will vary in their use of computer resources and performance characteristics. Models created in previous versions of Revit software products may require more available memory for the one-time upgrade process. /3GB RAM switch not recommended. Revit software and system stability can be affected by memory conflicts with video drivers when the /3GB switch is active.
Video Display	1,280 x 1,024 with true color
Video Adapter	Basic Graphics: Display adapter capable of 24-bit color Advanced Graphics: DirectX® 10 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 as recommended by Autodesk.
Hard Disk	5 GB free disk space
Pointing Device	MS-Mouse or 3Dconnexion® compliant device
Media	Download or installation from DVD9 or USB key
Connectivity	Internet connection for license registration and prerequisite component download

Value: Balanced Price and Performance 

Description	Requirement
Operating System*	Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit Enterprise Ultimate Professional Home Premium
Browser	Internet Explorer 7.0 (or later)
CPU Type	Multi-Core Intel Xeon, or i-Series processor or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology. Highest affordable CPU speed rating recommended. Revit products will use multiple cores for many tasks, using up to 16 cores for near-photorealistic rendering operations.
Memory	8 GB RAM Usually sufficient for a typical editing session for a single model up to approximately 300 MB on disk. This estimate is based on internal testing and customer reports. Individual models will vary in their use of computer resources and performance characteristics. Models created in previous versions of Revit software products may require more available memory for the one-time upgrade process.
Video Display	1,680 x 1,050 with true color
Video Adapter	DirectX® 10 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 as recommended by Autodesk.
Hard Disk	5 GB free disk space
Pointing Device	MS-Mouse or 3Dconnexion compliant device
Media	Download or installation from DVD9 or USB key
Connectivity	Internet connection for license registration and prerequisite component download

Performance: Large, Complex Models 

Description	Requirement
Operating System*	Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit Enterprise Ultimate Professional Home Premium
Browser	Internet Explorer 7.0 (or later)
CPU Type	Multi-Core Intel Xeon, or i-Series processor or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology. Highest affordable CPU speed rating recommended. Revit products will use multiple cores for many tasks, using up to 16 cores for near-photorealistic rendering operations.
Memory	16 GB RAM Usually sufficient for a typical editing session for a single model up to approximately 700 MB on disk. This estimate is based on internal testing and customer reports. Individual models will vary in their use of computer resources and performance characteristics. Models created in previous versions of Revit software products may require more available memory for the one-time upgrade process.
Video Display	1,920 x 1,200 or higher with true color
Video Adapter	DirectX 10 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 as recommended by Autodesk.
Hard Disk	5 GB free disk space 10,000+ RPM (for Point Cloud interactions)
Pointing Device	MS-Mouse or 3Dconnexion compliant device
Media	Download or installation from DVD9 or USB key
Connectivity	Internet connection for license registration and prerequisite component download

For Autodesk Revit Server 2013 

Description	Requirement
Operating System	Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 64-bit Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit
Web Server	Microsoft® Internet Information Server 7.0 (or later)
< 100 Concurrent Users (multiple models)	Minimum	Value	Performance
CPU Type	4+ cores 2.6 GHz+	6+ cores 2.6 GHz+	6+ cores 3.0 GHz+
Memory	4 GB RAM	8 GB RAM	16 GB RAM
Hard Drive	7,200+ RPM	10,000+ RPM	15,000+ RPM
100 + Concurrent Users (multiple models)	Minimum	Value	Performance
CPU Type	4+ cores 2.6 GHz+	6+ cores 2.6 GHz+	6+ cores 3.0 GHz+
Memory	8 GB RAM	16 GB RAM	32 GB RAM
Hard Drive	10,000+ RPM	15,00+ RPM	High-Speed RAID Array
100 + Concurrent Users (multiple models)	VMware® and Hyper-V® Support (See Revit Server Administrator's Guide)

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013 for Citrix **
Autodesk Revit MEP 2013 for Citrix **
Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 for Citrix ** 

Description	Requirement
Citrix System	XenApp® 6.0 or 6.5 Citrix® License Manager Citrix® Profile Manager
Authentication	Microsoft® Active Directory Roaming Profiles supported
License Server	Dedicated Autodesk license server for session-specific licenses
Client OS	Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (or later) Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP2 Microsoft Windows 7 32-bit Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit
Client Browser	Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (or later)
User Access	Client computers should be bound to the network domain. Each client computer should have either the full Citrix® or web client plug-in installed. Users should use their domain logins to access both the Citrix web console and the LAN.

*Learn more about using Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2013, Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2013, Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2013, and Autodesk Revit® 2013 software with Boot Camp®, part of Mac OS® X that enables you to install and run Microsoft Windows (and Windows-based applications) on a Mac® computer or with Parallels Desktop®, a system utility available from Parallels, Inc. that enables you to run applications in each operating system without restarting your computer.

**Revit Architecture 2013, Revit MEP 2013, and Revit Structure 2013 software products are Citrix Ready™ Applications. Disclaimer: The Citrix application is network-based and performance of Autodesk Citrix Ready Applications may vary with network performance. These Autodesk Revit software products do not include the Citrix application, nor does Autodesk provide direct support for issues with the Citrix application. Users should contact Citrix directly with questions related to procurement and operation of the Citrix application.

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