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!

A Great "Work Around"...

For a great "work-around" for walls under spiral stairs, check out this ripper - well done BG

Revit Conference Update

Information gleamed from the AUGI Revit Forums:-

a basic webpage has been setup with some preliminary details of the 2006 Revit National Conference, and a form to register your interest (this will put you on our mailout list for conference info).

Click onto the above link for further infomation & registration...

Revit Building 9 New Features / SketchUp

One of Revit Building 9's new features is the ability to import SketchUp (SKP) files directly into a Revit Building mass or in-place family.

This is particularly helpful now that Google has just released a FREE edition of Sketchup3D for non-commercial use, as reported in Richard Binning's "Beside the Cursor" blog.

Heads Up - 2006 Revit National Conference

Once again, AUGI keeps us up to date with the latest news on Revit. In a recent posting in the "Revit Out There" forums details of the upcoming 2nd Revit National Conference were announced...

The second Revit National Conference is being held at the Shoal Bay Resort and Spa (2 hours north of Sydney) from October 26 - 29, 2006 (Thursday lunch to Sunday breakfast).

Stay tuned for more exciting developments...

May Meeting Reminder

Well, Revit Building 9 is out and about...so this is just a reminder that Tuesday 16 May is now our next User Group meeting. All visitors welcolmed to attend.

Featuring Revit Building 9 of course...

In the meantime, you may wish to check out REVITALIZE - featuring a great article on one of Revit Building 9 new features - 2 pick families.

Apologies to all for those planning on attending Wed 3 May but our technical guru, David Wills had been summoned to Queensland.

Ontario Revit Users Group- Welcome to the world of Revit Blogging

Congratulations Jay & the Ontario Revit Users... welcome to the Revit Blogging world. Hopefully our members can share experiences :)

A Great Idea...

Steve Stafford (of Revit OpEd blog fame & AUGI's Revit Community Forum Co-Manager) has recently created a blog to hold this subject for now. Anyone using the address www.revitinside.com will be redirected to the blog.

There is an initial post, a greeting, and a second that is the list. Those firms that have emailed me directly with a desire to be part of the list are included already. A short list but then this is only a few days old Hopefully more firms will find it is useful too? Time will tell...

Truely a great idea Steve... well done

2007 Autodesk Launch

Well it's almost April and heading up early in the month is KarelCAD's "Design City Autodesk 2007 Products Launch" on 5 April 2006 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. If you haven't done so already, book your now as spaces are filling fast!

Another month, another new lot of Revit classes on AUGI's ATP. This month features Landscaping without backbreaking: Creating really nice trees and entourage Families for Revit.

Revit 9 Sneak-Peek!

Once again, AUGI keeps us up to date with the latest news on Revit. In a recent posting in the "Revit Out There" forums, revitters were once again privaledged with up-to-date info on the upcomming releases.

It is your one stop shop to the latest Revit information.

Compliments to Mike Perry (AUGI Director) for supplying the last line

National Building Designers Conference

The National BDA Conference in Adelaide, 9-11 March 2006 is shaping up to be a great opportunity to become invigorated, inspired, informed and brought up to date on many issues relating to the work that we do...

2 International speakers, - Richard Binning (The Haskell Company, Austdesk Users Group International President (AUGI Board of Directors), sponsored by Karel*CAD) & Elrond Burrell (Architect & Revit User)

26 trade show stands offering all the latest in supplier info.

Large variety of other speakers on topical issues.

Representatives from NZ attending as well.

Plus

National Design Awards, mix with other interstate and international designers.


For registration details please check out the conference website

All welcome to attend...

Free Revit Classes on AUGI

Did you know that AUGI offers the ATP, the AUGI Training Program, which consists of a wide range of courses intended to provide supplemental training to CAD professionals? These courses are offered free of charge to AUGI members.

Coming in February is the following course for Revit users:
ATP107 Worksets Reloaded

A New Revit 8.1 Build Posted

a new build of Revit Building on www.autodesk.com/revitbuilding

The new build is primarily a service for the localized versions of Revit Building 8.1. There is one additional issue that has been resolved for the benefit of all users; the problem that the wall join on one end of a wall changes when the other end of the same wall is edited.

A New AUGI Board of Directors

For those of you who missed the big announcement, Autodesk Users Group International (AUGI) has a new Board of Directors including yours truly...

The board had its first meeting for the year in San Rafael, California at Autodesk Headquarters and what a buzz it was being inside the hallowed halls… let alone later visiting the Autodesk Useability Labs…

Anyways the board meetings started on Thursday 26th January, so I thought what better way to celebrate Australia Day is having a photo with the board holding a an aussie icon so dear to many of our hearts… the stubbie holder featuring the Australian flag and obligatory kangaroos. As an added bonus I got to meet Lynn Allen (AUGI Sweetheart and staunch AUGI advocate).

Revit Implementation

G'day All,

I just found this Revit Blog via the AUGI Revit Forums. It has a wealth of useful information and tips'n'tricks. Remember to bookmark this site for future access.