18 November 2008
The book has arrived!
I got my fingers on my complimentary copy of the Mastering Revit Structure 2009 book published by Wiley! This puppy is nearly 800 pages - whoa. I am positive this manual will really knock the industry and spawn a lot of interest. So often it is the theme for engineers to just do things, you know, the hard way. That is how they are wired. But with this book they stop for a second and let someone else tell them how something should be done for a change!
13 November 2008
What you may not know about RST
As part of the advertising effort for the Mastering Revit Structure 2009 book coming out, my fellow author Jamie Richardson penned a list of 10 things you might not know. I know it may sound a little goofy but it actually is a pretty good list. To save you click time, here is the list:
Ten Things You Might Not Know About Working in Revit Structure
1. Structural Slab Properties: One of the instance properties of a slab is for it to be a structural slab. This is the default setting but can be set to be non-structural. If a slab’s layer function is set to display Structural Deck and its properties is set to be a Structural Slab, the flutes or profile of the deck will be visible in section views that are set to medium or fine detail levels. A slab with these characteristics can be copied into Revit Architecture which will take on the properties of a Structural Slab, thus displaying the flutes of the deck. This allows both structure and architecture to take advantage of the deck profile display.
2. Edit Structure Assembly Dialog: The bottom of slabs can be set to be flat while the top surface slopes. This can be done by setting the layer of the slab that is to be flat to be “Variable” in the Edit Structure Assembly dialog. The overall thickness must be as thick as the distance from the highest point of the top surface to the bottom of the slab.
3. Pressing the Spacebar: Pressing the spacebar while placing elements such as Structural Walls and Structural Columns will flip the wall about its location line or rotate the column about its insertion point prior to placing it in its final location. Pressing the spacebar after these elements are placed will perform similar behavior.
4. Selecting the Appropriate View: Dimension the outside face of an HSS Tube Steel member cannot be done when the view is set to a fine detail level. To place these dimensions, first set the view to a medium view, place the dimension by selecting the outside faces of the member, then set the view back to the fine detail level.
5. Callouts: Callouts can be placed to reference other views the same way Sections can be placed by selecting “Reference other view” from the Options bar prior to placing the Section or Callout. Callouts are a bit different in that views must be set to crop the view in order for them to display in the Reference other view pull down. If views are not showing up, check this setting.
6. Options Bar: When selecting the sketch lines while editing a slab shape, the Options bar displays additional information for adjusting the steel and concrete cantilever distance. Adjusting these settings allows for the steel deck to pull back from the concrete slab edge in a composite slab scenario.
7. Span Direction Tag: Rotating the direction of steel deck in a slab can only be done by using a Span Direction tag. If the slab is not tagged with a Span Direction, you must do so prior to rotating the steel deck direction. Once a Span Direction tag is in place the deck can be rotated by rotating the tag or by selecting the tag and choosing “Align Perpendicular” from the Options bar. Select the edge of slab to align the deck.
8. Breaking Stacked Walls: Stacked walls can be broken up into Basic walls by selecting them and right-clicking to select “Break up”.
9. Splitting Walls Horizontally: Walls can also be split horizontally. In a 3D or section view select “Split” from the Tool bar. Select the location for the wall to be split. When using this tool, the wall automatically creates a lock which locks the walls together vertically and horizontally. If one wall moves they will all move.
10. Reference Planes: Reference planes can be placed to attach elements to or used to cut elements by using the element attachment tools or the cut geometry tools on the Tool bars. After the reference planes are placed, it is recommended you give them a name so they are not mistakenly deleted. If they are deleted, the attachments or cut relationship to the elements are lost.
Ten Things You Might Not Know About Working in Revit Structure
1. Structural Slab Properties: One of the instance properties of a slab is for it to be a structural slab. This is the default setting but can be set to be non-structural. If a slab’s layer function is set to display Structural Deck and its properties is set to be a Structural Slab, the flutes or profile of the deck will be visible in section views that are set to medium or fine detail levels. A slab with these characteristics can be copied into Revit Architecture which will take on the properties of a Structural Slab, thus displaying the flutes of the deck. This allows both structure and architecture to take advantage of the deck profile display.
2. Edit Structure Assembly Dialog: The bottom of slabs can be set to be flat while the top surface slopes. This can be done by setting the layer of the slab that is to be flat to be “Variable” in the Edit Structure Assembly dialog. The overall thickness must be as thick as the distance from the highest point of the top surface to the bottom of the slab.
3. Pressing the Spacebar: Pressing the spacebar while placing elements such as Structural Walls and Structural Columns will flip the wall about its location line or rotate the column about its insertion point prior to placing it in its final location. Pressing the spacebar after these elements are placed will perform similar behavior.
4. Selecting the Appropriate View: Dimension the outside face of an HSS Tube Steel member cannot be done when the view is set to a fine detail level. To place these dimensions, first set the view to a medium view, place the dimension by selecting the outside faces of the member, then set the view back to the fine detail level.
5. Callouts: Callouts can be placed to reference other views the same way Sections can be placed by selecting “Reference other view” from the Options bar prior to placing the Section or Callout. Callouts are a bit different in that views must be set to crop the view in order for them to display in the Reference other view pull down. If views are not showing up, check this setting.
6. Options Bar: When selecting the sketch lines while editing a slab shape, the Options bar displays additional information for adjusting the steel and concrete cantilever distance. Adjusting these settings allows for the steel deck to pull back from the concrete slab edge in a composite slab scenario.
7. Span Direction Tag: Rotating the direction of steel deck in a slab can only be done by using a Span Direction tag. If the slab is not tagged with a Span Direction, you must do so prior to rotating the steel deck direction. Once a Span Direction tag is in place the deck can be rotated by rotating the tag or by selecting the tag and choosing “Align Perpendicular” from the Options bar. Select the edge of slab to align the deck.
8. Breaking Stacked Walls: Stacked walls can be broken up into Basic walls by selecting them and right-clicking to select “Break up”.
9. Splitting Walls Horizontally: Walls can also be split horizontally. In a 3D or section view select “Split” from the Tool bar. Select the location for the wall to be split. When using this tool, the wall automatically creates a lock which locks the walls together vertically and horizontally. If one wall moves they will all move.
10. Reference Planes: Reference planes can be placed to attach elements to or used to cut elements by using the element attachment tools or the cut geometry tools on the Tool bars. After the reference planes are placed, it is recommended you give them a name so they are not mistakenly deleted. If they are deleted, the attachments or cut relationship to the elements are lost.
11 November 2008
Going to AU08?
You going to AU2008 in early December? If so, look me up, I'll be there! Aside from taking classes based on programs I don't know all that well, I'm teaching a class on developing Revit Structure standards which I am actually looking forward to. Standards have always been a fun topic for me - I guess because I have strong feelings about what looks good or not. Back in the day I was trained on manual drafting techniques so whenever I can I try to bring 'sexy back' to the CAD world.
Also while at AU, Wiley publishing is hosting the Mastering Revit Structure 2009 book authors in their booth at various times. Want to say hi? That might be the best way to find me. Another to option is the AUGI Booth. If I'm in the exhibit hall and not at Wiley's, I'll be over at the AUGI Booth hanging with the members. ;)
Also while at AU, Wiley publishing is hosting the Mastering Revit Structure 2009 book authors in their booth at various times. Want to say hi? That might be the best way to find me. Another to option is the AUGI Booth. If I'm in the exhibit hall and not at Wiley's, I'll be over at the AUGI Booth hanging with the members. ;)
10 November 2008
Back...again
Last week I traveled to Las Vegas to conduct Revit Structure training for engineers in that office of Walter P. Moore. It all went pretty well, no major suprises. The only real hickup was that I was out of sync with the beam tag family WPM was using in our default template. It was kind of a shock, leading the students down the tagging path only to not find the tags I was expecting. Luckily we stored the old tags on the server so we loaded those and kept on going. Then in the evening I asked others and looked at our internal RST change posts and learned we had moved to a newer single tag with multiple value capability. So then on the following day I brought the students up to speed and continued on.
I think this internal class was my 9th conducted. So far so good.
I think this internal class was my 9th conducted. So far so good.
30 October 2008
Worst blogger ever
I do feel that way - I have so ignored this thing it is pathetic! Anyway, I'm setting a reminder to myself to post more often so we shall see.
So what is new? Well the Mastering Revit Structure 2009 book is done in writing and off in production with expected street date late in November. You check it out at Wiley's web site for the book here. It came out really good IMHO, I hope it gets a great reception in the industry.
AUGIWorld is offline for the moment. AUGI and SolidVapor are producing an issue for AU (Nov/Dec08) but after that is unknown. I've done technical editing for AUGIWorld for quite some time so I will miss it but no doubt find something new to do.
Workwise I have a number of projects underway, most notably a new baseball stadium with a retractable roof. Doing a large roof like this in Revit is interesting to say the least! Also, back in August Walter P Moore opened an office in San Francisco and Washington DC. So literally, WPM, spans coast to coast now.
22 September 2008
BAAACCCCKKKKK!
Whoa, it has been a while since I visited my poor little blog site. I have recently been traveling and training people on Revit Structure. I went to Kansas City, Atlanta, Orlando, and San Francisco. Plus I had to 2 hurricanes mess up my plans at various moments. I am still amazed at how few hotels offer free internet. As such I have been out of touch with many things except email on my phone.
This week I go to Houston and then I hope to take a break for a month at least. I have to begin planning for AU 2008, get my flight and write my paper for the Standards class I am teaching.
I also at the end of August I finally moved into a 'new' home. It was a short sale - wow, what an aggravation that was. Anyway, so I have lots on my 'Honey do' list - especially with all my recent travel taking me out of the house!
This week I go to Houston and then I hope to take a break for a month at least. I have to begin planning for AU 2008, get my flight and write my paper for the Standards class I am teaching.
I also at the end of August I finally moved into a 'new' home. It was a short sale - wow, what an aggravation that was. Anyway, so I have lots on my 'Honey do' list - especially with all my recent travel taking me out of the house!
09 August 2008
AU or bust!
The registration is now open for Autodesk University 2008. The premier annual event for Autodesk, here is the chance to rub (leader) shoulders with the brightest in the industry - and I'll be there too!
http://au.autodesk.com/event/
http://au.autodesk.com/event/
08 August 2008
AUGI and SolidVapor part ways
A bit of a shock, AUGI and SolidVapor are ending their partnership after 4 years. The organization grew a lot in this time and is much more professional now than ever before. I hope AGUI can take the best of what SV was able to do and continue to expand on it. Volunteers, now is the time to put up.
http://augi.typepad.com/augi_news/2008/08/augi-news.html
http://augi.typepad.com/augi_news/2008/08/augi-news.html
I got BIM&BEAMed...
The people over at Autodesk invited me and I accepted to be interviewed for the current BIM&BEAM series on Revit-ready companies. Way cool!
http://bimandbeam.typepad.com/bim_beam/2008/08/interview-with.html
http://bimandbeam.typepad.com/bim_beam/2008/08/interview-with.html
19 July 2008
It's time for some campaining!
Sorry for the lack of postings. I, like everyone else I know, is busy as ever. But I do sense a slowing enough to begin again to post on a regular basis. I'm not ready today for anything meaningful but I might as well offer up a laugh for those who actually read this thing.
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/owner/X8ksReTKnbkvgByy
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/owner/X8ksReTKnbkvgByy
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