New Drawing Extensions for Revit

WOW! After reading Nicholos & Wai's current blog post on BIM & BEAM they report on a great new drawing extension available from Robobat.

This extension is a very convenient tool that can be used in any of the Revit products: Revit Architecture, Revit Structure or Revit MEP.

"With this tool you can easily in a couple of clicks generate drafting views out of the model views so if the model changes then you can freeze your details and reuse them on the same project or even on a new project by transferring the drafting view..."

New Revit Blog

Reading Shaan Hurley's blog "Between The Lines" earlier today, he announced Another New Autodesk Blog: BIM and Beam - a Revit Structure blog.

So don't forget to bookmark (or add to your favourites /feeds) BIM and Beam

Woo Hoo Its Arrived!

Well Friday the 13th has always been good to me...

and this time is no exception as earlier today, Revit Architecture 2008 arrived by courier

oh joy! oh bliss! life is good...

No need to download now... although as reported on the AUGI Revit Community Forums...

There is if you use worksets. The web download contains an important bug fix. Install off CD and then install the updated version skipping the content installation is the easiest way to minimise downloads.

Revit Architecture 2008 Now Available

For those of us just waiting for Revit Architecture 2008 - it is now available for download on Autodesk's website

It certainly has increased in file size download, previously it hovered around 120Mb - now its a whopping 260Mb.

Revit Architecture 2008 (exe - 260 Mb)Build Number: 20070404_1700

Autodesk Usability Team Needs Your Help

Project objective:

AutoCAD product design is gathering a collection of screenshots to broaden our view of our customers work environment.

We are looking for a screenshot that best captures your normal toolbar arrangement, palette setup, dashboard position, etc. We will use these screenshots to aid our design decisions concerning the user interface of AutoCAD and any other Autodesk products.

As a participant in this Project, we ask you to take a screenshot of your working environment; preferably while you have a project/drawing open and email it to screenshot@autodesk.com.

If the project contains sensitive material, please use a non-sensitive project or scale the model so vulnerable details can’t be seen. Autodesk respects the confidentiality of our customers and will only use your screenshot as a part of our internal design process.Here are a couple ways to make a screenshot (the instructions are the same if you are using a single monitor or dual monitors):

• Using Outlook. With the Autodesk application active, hit the Print Screen (PrtSc) key on your keyboard. Paste the screenshot directly in the message pane of Outlook. Send to: screenshot@autodesk.com
• Using word processing program or image editor. With the Autodesk application active, hit the Print Screen (PrtSc) key on your keyboard. Paste the screenshot in an image editing program such as Paint or Photoshop. You can also paste the screenshot directly into Word. Save the file as a BMP, PNG, or if using Word, DOC. Attach to an email and send to: screenshot@autodesk.com

Thanks for your support!

AutoCAD Product Design & Usability Team

Blads footnote: I would highly recommend the use of Snag It - the best ever Windows Screen Capture Utility, barr none!

Upcoming Revit ATP courses

AUGI Training Program (ATP) classes offer supplemental training to all AUGI members in an easy-to-use, online environment. New classes are offered monthly and members can join a class in progress at any time during the month. No advance registration needed!

Upcoming Revit ATP courses include:

• ATP180 How to access and use Accurender materials for rendering inside of Revit (staring March 5, 2007)
  
• ATP176 Understanding Autodesk Revit Building (Beginning) (starting April 9, 2007)
• ATP175 Understanding Autodesk Revit Building (Intermediate) (starting May 7, 2007)
• ATP178 Understanding Autodesk Revit Building (Advanced) (starting June 4, 2007)

REVIT Animated Shadow Study

Daryl, from the RevitRocks Blog fame has posted a great little CADClip on animated shadow studies, and he has even based the study on an aussie site...

Nicely done Daryl

Dinner @ Chez Lynn's

What a great start to the new year... a great BoD meeting finishing off with a fantastic dinner and floor show from Tiffany & Blinky Bill the Koala (a present for Lynn Allen) but Lynn's dog had other ideas...

Invited guests included Richard Binning (AUGI President), Mike Perry (AUGI Director & Forum Manager) & Melanie Perry, Steve Stafford (new AUGI Director member & fellow Reviteer), Donnia Tabor-Hanson (AUGI Treasurer) , our lovely host's Craig & Lynn and yours truly ("Print Me!"). The sumptuous dinner was served by waiter Conner McCurdy.

Happy New Year

Wow what a year 2006 has been... and it ended a high note for me at least, attending Autodesk University for the first time in November / December 2006... meeting a lot of the Revit gurus in AUGI - Jim Balding, Steve Stafford, Wesley Benn to name just a few...

and then the highlight of our US trip - the watching of the night launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-116

next week its back to the States for the beginning of the 2nd half of my first term as AUGI Director... so February is looking to be a good month for our first 2007 User Group meeting

Earth Connector for Revit - updated

Just recieved via email...

Updated Version

In response to your feedback, as well as to support Revit 9.1, we have released an updated version of Earth Connector, downloadable here. This version provides:

• Improved Material Colors on Compound Structures, such as walls and roofs
• Improved handling of curved surfaces
• Support for Revit 8.1, 9.0 and 9.1

AU Feature

I've just been informed that I've been one of a selected bunch chosen by the Autodesk University committee and they'll be highlighting me on the autodesk.com home page as part of a 2 week AU feature that will be live from Oct. 31-Nov 15

So you'll get to look at my ugly mug online very soon...

ain't life grand ... a very happy blads :)

Next Meeting

Our next meeting is scheduled for
Tuesday 24th October

at the usual time (6:10pm). We will be providing pizza and softdrinks/water for attendees. We'll begin arriving at approx 6, but, don't worry if traffic will keep you, come along anyway, you'll still be welcome!

New Build of Revit 9.1 available for downloading

As mentioned in the AUGI Revit Forums:
A new build of Revit Building 9.1 and Revit Building Series 9.1 has been posted to the Autodesk Revit web site(refer to link above).

Build 20060810_2300

(10th August, 2006 at 11:00pm - for those that didn't know what the build numbers stand for)


Happy Downloading!

AUGI BoD 2007-2009 Term Nominations

October 3rd is just the beginning... of what? A fantastic and rewarding experience for any hardworking volunteer!

So what’s happening that Tuesday? Members are given yet another way to be involved with AUGI. You can do this either by nominating someone for the Board of Directors or throwing your own hat into the ring for the next term.

Being a Director requires some work, effort and carries responsibility, but it offers many rewards as well. So how do I apply, you may ask? All the details can be found in the AUGI Bylaws located at AUGI.com. under Article IV.

If you are considering running for the Board, keep in mind that they meet in person three times per year. In January, June and at Autodesk University near year's end (for a combined total of about two weeks minimum). There are also monthly teleconferences to keep everyone on the same page. So, you can anticipate about 15-20 hours per month (maybe more, depending on the level of your involvement).

Nominations need to be submitted to the AUGI Secretary no later than 5pm EST Tuesday, October 24, 2006.

Revit to Google Earth Plugin...

As I was cruisin' the various Revit blogs, I came across this great article featured on David Light's blog
David mentioned you can now post your Revit Models into Google Earth, thanks to a plugin provided by Avatech Solutions. Further details can be found at:

http://www.avat.com/products/software/avatech/earthconnector/

I believe it's pretty cool that we can interact with a world map and our beloved Revit software

AU 2006 LUG Offer

As my role as AUGI LUG Manager, I had the privilege of annoucing AUGI's "AU2006" Special Offer to LUG's (Local User Groups).

Below is a copy of the letter that was emailed out to all LUG Presidents...

Dear Local User Group President

It is AUGI's pleasure to report that once again we have negotiated a deal with Autodesk regarding free passes to Autodesk University (AU).

An overview of the program is as follows:

When three (3) paying members of a local user group indicate during the Autodesk University 2006 full conference registration process that they belong to a specific local user group, the President, or a member designated by the President, of that local user group will be awarded a free full conference registration pass with hotel accommodations to this year's conference.

However, I must stress to get this to work effectively we need members to use their official User Group Name. In order for me to review the list of eligible members, I require as many members as possible to use the same naming convention as possible to help determine which groups will be receiving a free pass.

After the list has been reviewed, I will contact the indicated user group President to determine whether to apply a credit to a registration or to send a pass code good for a new registration. The responses sent back to me will be collated and forwarded to Autodesk.

I stress again, I need your cooperation for this program to work. Hoping to hear from you soon regarding this matter.

Cheers Bill Adams
Secretary, AUGI Board of Directors
LUG Manager
See you @ AU2006

So what does this mean for our group - well if 3 of our members register for AU, the free pass could be given away as a special door prize/membership incentive or whatever...

a topic for discussion at the next meeting
see you there...

Autodesk Revit Building 9.1 is on its way!

WOW! it was certainly a nice surprise to recieve this piece of information via email . Definitely just one of the benefits of Autodesk Subscription is the automatic delivery of the latest version of your Autodesk software.

I can hardly wait...

Autodesk University Registration Opens

Just a reminder to everyone that Autodesk University 2006 Registration began on August 7th. For more information, visit http://www.autodeskevents.com/au2006/

For those of you who haven't been before, AU offers a finely tuned program of training, meetings, and informal activities to give you the best bang for your training budget.

An overview of the Highlights and Special Events can be found here.

See you all @ AU2006, Nov 28 - Dec 1, The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, USA.

New Revit Forum

SteelSelect.com has been developed with the needs of the building professional in mind, featuring many tools created to make the process of researching, selecting and specifying steel construction solutions easier. They feature both Revit and AutoCAD CAD profiles of the products displayed amongst a vast array of other useful CAD resources and design tools.

One of the new design tools is a Forum for users - subcatergories include Revit, Autocad, Microstation, Vectorworks, Archicad, Architects and Building Designers.

Maybe we will see you there...

New Build of Revit 9 available for downloading

As mentioned in the AUGI Revit Forums:
A new build of Revit Building 9.0 and Revit Building Series 9.0 has been posted to the Autodesk Revit web site(refer to link above).

Build 20060426_2300

(April 26, 2006 at 11:00pm - for those that didn't know what the build numbers stand for)

This build resolves a conflict within Autodesk Revit Building 9-based software products where files utilizing Links was found to impact on application performance. In addition, the updates resolve an issue within cascading network licensing for the Autodesk AutoCAD Revit Series—Building 9 product discovered when only Autodesk Revit Building 9 was installed from the Series bundle; a condition found to prevent license access.

Happy Downloading!