Revit Tool - Save All Families in a Project to RFAs and Folders AUTOMATICALLY

This is a great tool to aid build the Revit family library!

Source: http://whatrevitwants.blogspot.com

Save All Families in a Project to RFAs and Folders AUTOMATICALLY

This is awesome.  Let's say you have a project with heaps of families in it, and you want to save them to individual files.  There is an API add on that does exactly this.  How do you get it and use it?

First of all, download this file (Chapter 24) from the Sybex resource page for the book  Mastering Revit Architecture 2011.
Now:

1. This is a ZIP file, so unzip the file.
2. Browse in the contents to:
   \c24\ExampleApplication\ExampleApplication\bin\Debug\
3. Copy everything from this folder to:
   C:\Revit Projects\
4. Copy the two .addin files from the \c24\ folder to the correct location as shown below:
       * For a specific user:
             o For Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\2011
             o For Vista/Windows 7 -C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\2011 
       * For all users:
             o For Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\2011
             o For Vista/Windows 7 -C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\2011 
   Refer to this post at The Building Coder for more information.
5. Restart Revit 2011

Now, on the Add-Ins ribbon, there will be a new section for the Revit Family Export Utility:

When you run this with a Project open, it will prompt you for a directory, and then it will save all the families from the current Project to .rfa family files, and it will put them into appropriate directories (by Category) for you!

This is a very cool tool - thanks to Don Rudder for his great chapter in the book, and for this excellent API demonstration.

Consider some ways you could use this:

• Load a bunch of families into a project and get this tool to sort them into appropriate folders for you.
• You have an RVT but you do not have the RFA files for families loaded into the RVT - use this tool to get them all out quickly.
• Transfer all RFAs from one RVT to another by saving them out and then loading them all in at once.

BIM News: InPro Completes Extensive BIM Library Build-Out

Direct Link: http://www.inprocorp.com/Products/BimObjects.aspx

Article Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/11/prweb4795724.htm

InPro Completes Extensive BIM Library Build-Out

Building information modeling objects available for all major software platforms; company posts to Reed SmartBIM library.

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Enter to Win the BIM with Rims Sweepstakes for a Harley-Davidson® Motorcycle

“We realized early on that BIM was going to be the wave of the future for architecture and construction. That’s why we committed early to our object build-out,” said Larry Dronek, InPro’s Vice President of Marketing.

Muskego, WI (PRWEB) November 17, 2010

Taking another big stride forward as the leader in architectural building products, InPro Corporation today announced it has completed an extensive build-out of building information modeling objects. The company’s products are now modeled for Autodesk Revit in both standard and high definition, as well as for the Graphisoft ArchiCAD and Bentley MicroStation platforms.

In addition, InPro has placed its objects in the Reed Construction SmartBIM Library. This makes InPro BIM objects available to architects at any one of four sources: InPro’s website, CADdetails.com, Autodesk Seek and Reed SmartBIM.

"Listening to architects was the lynchpin to the build-out,” said Larry Dronek, InPro’s Vice President of Marketing. “They told us they want flexibility to choose the definition level when placing and using objects in Revit. And we are keenly aware that both Graphisoft and Bentley users wanted access to our BIM objects. This long-term project is now complete.”

Dronek added this puts InPro well ahead of many companies, and thrusts the company squarely into the BIM lead for its industry. “We realized early on that BIM was going to be the wave of the future for architecture and construction. That’s why we committed early to our object build-out,” he said.

BACKGROUND
InPro Corporation – Based in Muskego, Wisconsin, InPro is the nation’s premier manufacturer of building products, offering the most choices and best service in door and wall protection, decorative surfaces, expansion joint systems, cubicle track & privacy curtains and signage & wayfinding. InPro products are used in the healthcare, senior living, hospitality, education, government, marine and retail sectors.

InPro Corporation also operates an exclusive Color and Design Center that employs a professional, licensed interior designer who assists customers in coordinating InPro products and custom environments that integrate color, style, function, comfort and life safety.

For more information on InPro Corporation, visit http://www.inprocorp.com, or call 800-222-5556.

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Project Vasari... Info & Download - Yes, it's FREE

The Project Vasari technology preview is now available from Autodesk Labs.

Select the image above or click here to be taken to Autodesk Labs to download for free!

What is it, you ask?
It's everything designers wanted AND a bag of chips!!!
Check out this great article on David Light's blog to find out.

What If.... Autodesk Project Vasari - Conceptual Design

A video teaser from Autodesk on a striped down Revit for Conceptual Modeling and Analysis.
May be showing up soon... in The Lab?

Source: http://insidethefactory.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Inside the Factory: We've been busy

Revit Tutorials - Getting Started to Advanced Detailing to Massing

Source: http://therevitkid.blogspot.com/2010/11/revit-tutorials-getting-started-to.htm

A bunch of great tutorials for your pleasure...

Getting Started Video Tutorials for Revit Architecture 2011
This tutorial is conceived to allow an easy start with Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 and to get an extensive overview of the power of building information modeling.

The creators of these videos asked if I could publish them on my blog... so... of course I did!!  I did not watch every single one of them but from what I saw it looks to be a good resource for those of you learning Revit.  Don't forget to send me an email if you have any questions not covered here, on my blog, or anywhere in the world...

For your pleasure....

• Step00/14 Introduction (2:13)
• Step01/14 User Interface (4:07)
• Step02/14 Grid & Levels (6:50)
• Step03/14 Wall, Columns, Floor Modifications (6:06)
• Step04/14 Split Element, Match Properties, Attach Elements to Top (3:47)
• Step05/14 Interiors Walls, Trim / Extend Elements, Doors (5:42)
• Step06/14 Windows, Stairs, Shaft Opening (5:14)
• Step07/14 Railing, Modification of Curtain Walls (5:29)
• Step08/14 Import Site, Building Pad, Place Site Components (5:17)
• Step09/14 Groups, Rooms & Rooms Tag, Color Scheme (7:05)
• Step10/14 Dimensions (6:32)
• Step11/14 Wall Constuction & Wall Wrapping, Schedules & Tag Elements, Section (5:45)
• Step12/14 View Template, View Properties, Sheets (5:50)
• Step13/14 Freeform (6:13)
• Step14/14 Sun Path, Camera & Navigation Wheel, Render Properties (6:39)

Download Datasets & Handout
http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=revit2011_english



Advanced Detailing Tutorial for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011
This tutorial is dedicated to the detail planning. In the next 12 steps you will learn how to draw details and create detail components.

• Step 00/12 - Introduction  (0:48)
• Step 01/12 - Project settings (5:11)
• Step 02/12 - Override graphics in view, link a Revit project, import a dwg (3:39)
• Step 03/12 - Bearing structure (5:23)
• Step 04/12 - Roof and roof joins (7:12)
• Step 05/12 - Renovation plan (6:21)
• Step 06/12 - Wall sweep and reveal, create in‐place component (5:59)
• Step 07/12 - Sloped insulation, multi layered wall and wall joins (5:02)
• Step 08/12 - Lines, create line type, callout (4:40)
• Step 09/12 - Masking region, filled region, repeating detail component, detail component (5:03)
• Step 10/12 - Cut profile, tag material, element keynote (4:47)
• Step 11/12 - Linework, view range, plane region (4:50)
• Step 12/12 - Title block, legend component, print and export (4:42)

Download Datasets & Handout
http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=revit2011_english



Professional Mass Modeling & Render Video Tutorials for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011In this Tutorial you will learn a variety of methods to sketch easy and complicated freeforms with Autodesk Revit Architecture. To be able to present effectively architectural drafts, we will also show several ways to visualize your architectural design.

• Step 00/12 – Introduction (1:21)
• Step 01/12 – Extrusion – Work Plane – Void (5:16)
• Step 02/12 – Conceptual Mass – Blend Mass – Edit Mass Profiles (5:31)
• Step 03/12 – Reference Lines – Freeform Surface – Revolve Mass (6:37)
• Step 04/12 - Swept Blend Mass – Dissolve Mass – Spline Through Points (5:02)
• Step 05/12 – Divide Surface – Surface Patterns – Adaptive Elements  (4:30)
• Step 06/12 – Panel by Pattern (Part 1) Type – Parameter (6:40)
• Step 07/12 – Curtain Panel by Pattern (Part 2) Instance – Parameter (5:38)
• Step 08/12 – Autodesk Mass Floors – Floor Area and Volume Calculations – Place Floor, Wall, Curtain System and Roof by Face (6:00)
• Step 09/12 – Walkthrough (7:03)
• Step 10/12 – Render Materials – Exterior Daylight Render – Background Image (6:49)
• Step 11/12 – Night Render – Adjust Exposure – Render without Textures (7.26)
• Step 12/12 – Graphics Display Options – Shadow Settings – Interior Daylight Render (4:59)

Download Datasets & Handout
http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=revit2011_english

What should be Modeled? A Table of Contents...

Mark Kiker, over at BIMManager.com, posted a table of contents with suggestions for what each discipline should be modeling. Please select the links and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Table of contents for What should be Modeled?

1. What should the Architect Model?
2. What should Structural Model?
3. What should HVAC Model?
4. What should Electrical Model? 
5. What should Plumbing Model?

Link: Really Important Revit MEP Resources - The Good Stuff

Great post for Revit MEP users from Inside the System

Really Important Revit MEP Resources - The Good Stuff

Every year I travel all over the U.S. & Canada and meet with many MEP firms. Some are just starting to implement Revit MEP and others are well on their way, but every one appreciates something I share from the bag of the juiciest Revit and Revit MEP resources I have acumulated over the past three years. They all find something new, something they had not known about previously These are topics that anyone working with Revit or on a BIM project would want to know, so if you see something below that you haven't seen before, you'll probably want to have a look at it.

Link: Revit OpEd - Delete Checked

By Robert Alayeto

Steve Stafford, over at Revit OpEd posted a good tip to look out for regarding "Delete Checked" prompt.  Check it out by selecting the link below.

Revit OpEd: Dept. of Woe - Delete Checked: "A short post while hoping power is restored in my hotel. A sad yet amusing tale with sympathy... Our intrepid 'victim' was dutifully reviewi..."

View Templates...

By Robert Alayeto.

Here is a link to a tutorial for creating and sharing view templates you may find very useful.

Source: The Revit Kid.com

Tutorial - Sharing View Templates

Here is a little tutorial that you may not think will help you until you run into this problem deep into a project... First, I would like to [...]

Geek Stuff... The Best Of: Windows and Mac Software

By Robert Alayeto

Here is a great list from MakeUseOf.com on the best free software for your windows or mac.
Anti-Viruses, Spyware, Email Clients, System Maintenance, Productivity, Tools for creating or reading PDFs, and more!
A great tool not in the list is FreeMind a free mind mapping software which I think is worth a look

Source: MakeUseOf.com
MakeUseOf just got better.

After reviewing 1000+ software products and reading dozens of user reviews we put together 'The Best Of Software' page for you. 
Check it out: http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/best-free-windows-software

The page is for Windows users only. Mac users check following page for now,
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/roundup-15-free-must-install-programs-for-your-new-pc

Enjoy!

What do you think?  Is there other tools you recommend? Let us know in the comments.