IMAGINiT Technologies Support Blog

Inventor 2012 sp2 now available

Inventor 2012 Service Pack 2 was released this week on May 28th 2012 and is available for download here:

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL19164683

The service pack includes the latest hotfixes and Service Pack 1.

Please have a have a look at the Read Me before installing.  It also includes a breakdown of what's fixed in Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2.

 



 

 

 

ACA/AMEP: Section Generation Issue in AutoCAD Architecture 2013 and AutoCAD MEP 2013

When generating a section when using AutoCAD Architecture or AutoCAD MEP 2013, you notice that they are not generating correctly or some lines are not hidden you will need to follow the AEC Section Display Hotfix Read Me file to add the AEC Section Display Hotfix to your software.

This Hotfix requires you to find a .crx file and replace it. This next piece of information was taken directly from the Read Me:

To Replace the AecCore.crx File

1. Close all software applications.
2. Navigate to your product installation folder; for example C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013.
3. In the product installation folder, Rename the following file by adding .bak to its filename:
   • From AecCore.crx to AecCore.crx.bak
4. Download the file for your application to a location on your local computer:
   • Double click on ACA2013_section_display_hotfix_x86.zip or ACA2013_section_display_hotfix_x64.zip and extract AecCore.crx to the folder specified in Step 2 and replace the old file.

Click here to read all of the Read Me file.

Attri-bute to Text

I have attribute data and I want it as text

What is an Attribute?
Attributes are Data that can be held inside a Block. When you insert the Block this data may ask for information such as Title Block informtion or simply insert with data already added. This data can be displayed, however this is not Text. This is an Attribute that stays as long as the Object is still a Block. However if the Block is exploded then the data is lost.

So what can we do to get this as text so we can get rid of our Blocks but still keep the information.There is an Express Tool called "EXPLODE ATTRIBUTES TO TEXT" This is located under the Express tools tab or pulldown.

Pulldown
Express->Blocks->Explode Attribues to Text

Tab
Express Tools-\Blocks-\ (Explode Attributes to Text)

Command Line
Type: Burst

Usage
1.) Select the Block to burst
2.) Select the <Enter> Button

Now the Block has been Exploded and the Attribute data are now Text.

For more information on Autodesk products please see
www.imaginit.com

Revit: Wall Header Not Showing with Underlay set to RCP

Scenario:  You have a portion of your building that has a raised header, similar to below, but you are unable to see it when you set the properties of the view to show an underlay set to Reflected Ceiling orientation.

The reason the header is not visible in this case, is due to the fact that the wall was modified using Edit Profile.

The examples below will show you the various ways the information will show up in the different views depending on how you build the model.

In Elevation Views:

In plan view, without an underlay on:

In plan view, with an underlay on, set to Reflected Ceiling Plan orientation:

In plan view, with an underlay on, set to Reflected Ceiling Plan orientation with linewieghts overridden:

If you know how they will look in all views, this will help you decide which way is the most effective way to model.

Autodesk Vault 2013 Revit Integration Enhancement

Now available for Revit 2013 from the Autodesk Subscription Site.

This extension provides enhancement to the Revit Integration for Vault Workgroup, Vault Collaboration, Vault Collaboration AEC and Vault Professional.

These enhancements include functionality for:

• Better adding and managing Revit families.
• Smarter "check-in" and "check-out" of Revit files using new Save to Vault and Open from Vault features.
• Establishing linked files to Revit files within Vault, and downloading missing children.
• Additionally, the user experience is streamlined for working in a single file or worksharing environment.

A few things to be aware of:

• Currently the extension is only available in English
• There is a hotfix included (DL190535830) that must be installed prior to installing the extension
• Known issues:   
  • Using the Add Sheets on a Revit file outside a mapped folder will cause an error.
  • Using the Save to Vault command after attaching a file to a Revit file with Vault Explorer will cause the attached file link to be broken.

Please make sure you review the readme file for additional information.

System Requirements

• Autodesk Vault Workgroup 2013 Hotfix
• Autodesk Vault Collaboration 2013
• Autodesk Vault Professional 2013

 

ACA/AMEP: How to create a new Layer Style Key

If the out of box layers are not what your company wants to use, or you have created new system definitions or wall styles and need to create a new layer for them here is an outline that can help guide you on your way.  You will want to do this inside your company template file, if you don't have one either make one or use the out of box .dwt. 

NOTE: You can do this in your AutoCAD Architecture but to reduce confusion I am using ACAD MEP as my example.

To open the Style Manager, click on the Manage tab  > Style & Display panel > Style Manager drop-down > Style Manager.

 

In the Style Manager dialog box, you will see two panels. One the left side, it shows your drawing file and the styles within it.  The right side is going to show you information about the selected style.

 

In the left Panel expand Multi-Purpose Objects.  Expand Layer Key Styles. You should see MEP Object – AIA 256 Color. You will need to make a copy of this so you can start to customize your own Layer Keys for your System Definitions.

To make a copy of MEP Object –AIA 256 Color, select on it then right click > copy. Right click again and click paste.  Rename your new Layer Key Style.

Select on your new Layer Style, from the right side click on the Keys tab to start adding your Layer Keys.

NOTE: In order for you to use the MEP Object AIA standards you need to keep within the layer key standards which is the P-SY-PIPE-, if not, your layer key and system definition will not marry up.

 

To add Layer Keys to your new  style, click the Add button and enter in a name for the new Layer Key and click the OK button.

 

Navigate to your newly created Layer Key in the list to modify the layer settings. Hint- click on the Description column twice to sort by description. All new Layer Keys will not have a description so it will sort it to the bottom of the list to make it easier for you to find.

You will need to modify the following layer settings for each layer key:

• 1- Description – this can be anything describing this layer.
• 2- Layer
• 3- Layer Color- Click on the Color to change the layer color.

When clicking on the Layer browse button you will see a Layer Name dialog pop up, where you can modify the Layer Name. Remember it’s very important to keep the standard Layer Name which is the P-SY-PIPE-.  Click the Apply then the OK button.  I suggest creating a layer key applying it to a system definition and then testing it in the drawing file before completely creating all your layer keys inside your layer style. 

 

Verify that your drawing or if your company has a template open that up and set the Layer Key style to the one you just created.

At the command line type UNITS

Click on the Layering Tab.

Make sure that your Layer Key Style is set to the correct Layer Key Style.

 

Make sure the you put a check mark next to, Always import layer key styles when first used in drawing and Save as Default.  This will help to ensure you are always using your custom Layer Key Style.

 

ACAD/ACA/AMEP: Array Command in AutoCAD

I have received a lot of users who are using one or all of these applications AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP, AutoCAD Mechanical or Civil 3D, and they complain about the new Array command.  As of 2012 the Array command went from specifying all your settings within the Array dialog box, to specifying the settings directly at the command line.

If you want to use the the array dialog box you can type ARRAYCLASSIC at the command line.  Now the next question I get is I want to be able to click it from the ribbon or from my toolbars so I have an answer for this;

How to create a custom command:

At the command line type CUI to go into your Customization User Interface editor.

In the bottom left corner is the Command List Panel.  Click on the S tar with the sun burst on it. 

You will see "Command1" in the command list. Select on it then right click and click on Rename.

Now that you have created a new command, you will need to modify the macro from the Properties on the right.  You will need to type ^C^C_ARRAYCLASSIC

you can then add an icon from the Images section below so that you have an icon once its placed on the ribbon or toolbar.  I found the original Array commands icon, then clicked on the Edit button to add/modify the icon to look different.  Its nothing special but sometimes just adding a color to it will separate it from the other icons.  Once you are finished you just need to click on the Save...button and give your icon a name and click the OK button > then the close button.  From within the Customize User Interface editor, click the Apply button. But we are not done yet.

You will now see your new command in the Command List on the left.  You will now add this to your toolbar or ribbon by simply dragging and dropping it into place.  I want to add mine to my ribbon in the same spot that the Array command is at which is on the Home tab > Modify panel.  (You can add it anywhere you want)

While still in the CUI you will expand Ribbon under the upper left panel called "Customizations in All Files" , then expand Panels and look for the Home-Modify.  (depending on which workspace you are using you will expand Home - Modify 2D or 3D)

If you are questioning which Row, or sub-panel to put your new command under you can simply click on "Row 1" and on the upper right side you will see a "Panel Preview" so you will be able to tell about where you will be putting it.  For more information on the definitions of Row, Sub-panel and their arrangements click HERE.

AutoCAD 2012 service pack 2 is now available!!

Just posted May 24th 2012!

You can access it from:  http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL19500680

 AutoCAD 2012 Service Pack 2

You can apply this update to AutoCAD 2012 running on all supported operating systems and languages. Consult the readme file for installation instructions and be sure to install the correct update (32-bit or 64-bit) for your software and operating system.

NOTE: You can also use Autodesk Exchange to install the Live Update Maintenance Patches, which will automatically show the correct Service Pack for your product.

 AutoCAD 2012 SP2 (32-bit) (exe - 25853Kb)
 AutoCAD 2012 SP2 (64-bit) (exe - 37996Kb)

Readme (select language version):

 English (htm - 62Kb)

 

AutoCAD LT 2010, Fatal error when launching

Had this call recently, AutoCAD LT 2010 was running find yesterday, but when trying to run it today we received a "Fatal error: unhandled e0434f4dh exception at fcf5cacdh".  This is more or less a generic error that you could get in other versions of LT or even AutoCAD or some of the verticals. We found that if we logged in under a new/different user it worked.

To resolve the problem we reset the AutoCAD LT profile.

See the Autodesk technical solution below on how to reset the program so it kicks off the secondary installer again.  Each version has basically the same structure in the registry, but just a little different. Therefore, the following solution for 2009 is still relevant for LT 2010, but the number ACAD-7001:xyz  will not be the same, Autodesk used "xyz" as a placeholder for the number.

 Resetting default user settings in AutoCAD 2009

Issue
You want to reinitiate the secondary installer to reset the default AutoCAD® 2009 or AutoCAD LT® 2009 user settings.

Solution
Running the secondary installer will reset AutoCAD 2009 or AutoCAD LT 2009 to the default settings.

First, you must first delete your application files and registry entries for the program. Follow these steps:

Important! Make sure that you back up any customized AutoCAD 2009 or AutoCAD LT 2009 files before performing this procedure.

Click Start menu (Windows) > Run.
In the Run dialog box, enter regedit
In the Registry Editor, locate the following subkey and delete it:
 
AutoCAD 2009:
 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R17.2\ACAD-7001:xyz
 
Where xyz are numbers and characters that vary depending on the installed language version of AutoCAD 2009.
 
AutoCAD LT 2009:
 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT \R14\ACAD-7001:xyz 
 
Where xyz are numbers and characters that vary depending on the installed language version of AutoCAD 2009.

Exit the Registry Editor.
In Windows Explorer, locate and delete the following application folders:
 
AutoCAD 2009:
 
C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2009 
C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2009
 
AutoCAD LT 2009:
 
C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT 2009 
C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT 2009 

Start AutoCAD 2009 or AutoCAD LT 2009.
The files and folders that were deleted will be recreated by the secondary installer.

Warning! Problems caused by improperly editing the Windows registry could render your computer operating system unusable. Microsoft provides a wealth of critical information that you need to know about the registry in the Microsoft Knowledge Base a thttp://support.microsoft.com/support.

Use the Microsoft® Registry Editor only at your own risk and only after backing up the registry as well as the system.dat and user.dat files as outlined for your operating system in the Microsoft Knowledge Base and in the related solution, TS66513. Additional information about the registry is also contained in the Help topics in the Microsoft Registry Editor.

 Ensure you use the 2010 paths and verify the registry key is for 2010 and you'll be fine.  The same applies to 2011, 2012 and 2013. 

Revit Curtain Walls: How to Add a Curtain Wall Door

For those of you experienced Revit users, this is not going to be big news to you, but for those new to Revit, or if you haven't worked with curtain walls in Revit before, this will get you on your way to adding a door to a curtain wall.

The first thing to be aware of when adding a door to a curtain wall, it is completely different than adding a door to a regular wall.

Difference:

• Curtain wall doors are not created with standard sizes like a standard door, their size is controlled by the grid spacing.
• You cannot use the door command to place a curtain wall door.
• You cannot place a curtain wall door in a standard wall.
• Curtain wall doors must be created using the curtain wall door template.

 Similarities

• Curtain wall doors have flip controls to change the direction and swing of the door (if applicable).
• Have material parameters (generally) 

Getting your curtain wall ready for the door:

In the example below, I have created a very basic curtain wall, or storefront with the following type settings:

 You will notice that I left the grid layouts set to none...this gives me the most flexibility so I can add grids where I need them.  If this is a storefront condition, make sure you put a checkmark in Automatically Embed.

I have drawn a wall in the length that I need.  In this example I have just drawn a wall on it's own, the process would be the same for a storefront.

You can add your vertical grids from either a plan or elevation view, horizontal grids must be added from an elevation or section view.

What you need to know in advance:

• Mullion size
• Door clear opening size

The video link below will show you how to add a curtain wall door to a curtain wall.