IMAGINiT Building Solutions Blog

Do you really listen?

Something a little lighter for a Friday... a Ted presentation on listening. We are in a profession that is all about communication - do you take time to hear what everyone else is really trying to tell you?

In our louder and louder world, says sound expert Julian Treasure, "We are losing our listening." In this short, fascinating talk, Treasure shares five ways to re-tune your ears for conscious listening -- to other people and the world around you.

Follow this link or go ahead and play the video below:

http://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better.html

 

Enjoy your weekend!

Revit 2012 Keyboard Shortcuts

Revit previously stored keyboard shortcut definitions in a simple text file - Keyboard Shortcuts.txt.  In Revit 2012 this information is stored within the compiled program files making it slightly more difficult to standardize Revit keyboard shortcuts.

 

This explanation can be found in the Revit Wiki Help -

• Migrate a keyboard shortcuts file from a previous release (Revit 2010 or later). For Revit 2010, the keyboardshortcuts.txt file resides in the Program folder of a Revit installation. For later releases, KeyboardShortcuts.xml resides in the following location (only after you make changes to your keyboard shortcuts):
  • Windows XP:
    %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\Revit\<product name and release>
  • Windows Vista or Windows 7:
    %LOCALAPPDATA%\Autodesk\Revit\<product name and release>

 

In Windows 7 or Vista that translates to - C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012.  Unfortunately all you will find there is journal files.  Revit will create the file in C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012, but only after the user has made changes to the keyboard shortcuts in Revit.

 

Properties Palette VS Option Bar

The options bar displays the most commonly modified properties for objects during their placement, but does not contain all of the properties for an object that is found in the instance properties palette. The introduction of a modeless properties palette in Revit revolutionized our ability to define object properties during their placement.    

It has generally been accepted that you can change object properties from the options bar or the instance properties palette. The definition/modification of Room and Space object properties in Revit are an exception. If you define or modify Room or Space properties in the options bar while placing them in a project the instance properties palette becomes disabled.    

This is another example of Revit's dependency on order of operation. Changes made in the Option Bar super cede the newer data entry capability of the properties palette...maybe it's a seniority thing?

A 12 Step Program for AutoCAD Addicts

With all due respect and admiration for those who are truly recovering addicts, here's a light-hearted bit that I put together (actually, part of an AU class proposal that was not accepted) for AutoCAD Addiction... the cure for which, of course, is Revit. :)

--

Step 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable

Step 2 - Came to believe that a power greater than AutoCAD could restore us to sanity

Step 3 - Made a decision to turn our design and drafting over to the care of Revit as we understood it

Step 4 - Made a searching and fearless inventory of our processes and standards

Step 5 - Admitted to our boss, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of the shortcomings of our current system

Step 6 – We are entirely ready to have a migration to Revit remove all these defects

Step 7 – We humbly configured Revit to remove these shortcomings

Step 8 – We made a list of all projects we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all

Step 9 – We made direct amends to such projects wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others

Step 10 – We continue to take inventory of our Revit setup, and when something is found to be wrong, promptly admit it and improve upon it

Step 11 – We seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with a better BIM as we understand it, searching only for knowledge of BIM and the ability to carry it out

Step 12 - Having had an awakening as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs

--

joe

Project Specification Updates - Plant 3D

Plant 3D creates a copy of the currently defined specifications into a folder in the project directory call "Spec Sheets". This can prevent inadvertent updates to the specification for a project, but what if the specification for a project changes and needs to be updated?    

This article assumes that Plant 3D has been installed with the default settings and the location of Project Specification Sheets has not been altered.    

By default Plant 3D stores catalog data and the corresponding specification files in the following directory - C:\AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011 Content.    

   

Each of the sub-folders are specific to a pipe standard and will contain a catalog file .PCAT as well as any default or custom pipe specification files .PSPC & .PSPX.

The Victaulic standard shown here is part of a recent content update by Autodesk. See your subscription site for details.

Now you have to determine the scope of the specification change that you are about to make. Does the specification change affect a specific project only or all projects current and future?

 

If the change affects a specific project only...then use the Specification Editor to open the specification file from the projects "Spec Sheet" folder as seen here. You can then edit the specification within this specific project without affecting other projects or your standard.

If the changes are global for all new projects open the specifications from the appropriate sub-folder within C:\AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011 Content. Changes made and saved here will be reflected in all future projects.   

And finally. If the changes apply to several existing projects you can copy the .PSPC & .PSPX files of an updated piping specification into the "Specs Folder" of any project affected by the change. You can use this methodology to copy new pipe specifications into existing projects as well.

Extensions for Revit Available in your Subscription Center

Autodesk's Extensions for Revit 2012 have been released and should be available for download from your Autodesk Subscription page. (http://subscription.autodesk.com) The screen cap below outlines the Revit-based 2012 downloads that should be available to you.

And as long as we are talking about extensions, have you downloaded and installed your IMAGINiT Utilities for Revit??? :)