Revit. Mac or PC Platforms?

An architect in our Seattle office recently shared his successful experiences using Revit on a Mac. I did a little investigating from his email and found this blog article which I sent to him.

Blogger David Light, from Winchester, Hampshire, United Kingdom published this post on his successful experiences with Revit on the Mac

Cheers!

Download Autodesk University 2007 Class Handouts

Couldn't make it to AU 2007. Login to the Autodesk University website to download Autodesk University 2007 class handouts or view AU 2007 session screencasts.

Choose from hundreds of class handouts from a pool of training talent that scored a rating average of 8.85 by attendees for their presentations.

Free Workout With Revit Worksets - AUGI ATP Director

Eric Wing, AUGI ATP Director provides a 2-part series of free Workouts With Revit Worksets.

His first installment; Worksharing in Revit, Part 1 - September 2007 is now available.

Eric has also written (the first in a 2 part series) a Revit tutorial for AUGI's Magazine; AUGI World.

Eric's article; The Missing Link: How to Leverage Building Model Content Across Platforms is published on page 26 of September/October 2007 AUGI World. He outlines the process for linking and coordinating changes with Revit models from different disciplines.

Eric and I work together in the same company. Eric lives in New York. I first met him when we took/passed our Revit Implementation Expert (ICE) exams in Chicago earlier this year.

Eric’s activities within AUGI include: ATP Director, Survey Manager, ATP instructor, HotNews columnist and AUGIWorld columnist.

BIM and Beam - Revit Structure Blog

A Chicago architect asked for a couple alternative methods for creating non-planar roofs. While browsing, I found this short Revit Structure tutorial; "Structural Framing Underneath a Warped Slab" that I forwarded to him

Credit goes to the Revit Structure blogging team of Nicolas Mangon and Wai Chu authors of BIM and Beam.

I first came across their blog with a May article; "Amazing Structures from China". It was a photo journal of two of the most complex buildings under construction in the world. The "Twisted Donut" and "The Nest". Their construction photos and renderings define a level of engineering and design that raises the bar for future buildings.

You can feed your RSS reader with their subscription link; http://bimandbeam.typepad.com/bim_beam/index.rdf

Free Revit MEP Tutorials-Streaming Media Format

Free audio-video Revit MEP tutorials have been posted on this site. They are presented in a general overview format. Consider using them for your next company "lunch and learn", prepare for an instructor-led class or to provide users/management with an idea of Revit functionality.

The site includes a Revit MEP Tutorials RSS/XML feed if you want to plug this link into your RSS reader. Your reader can monitor the site and alert you when new tutorials become available.

Currently the site has posted archived Revit MEP demonstration webcasts and these short overview tutorials:

Electrical

• Electrical Lighting and Power Circuitry
• Electrical Lighting Calculations
• Electrical Power Load Balancing, Wire Sizing and Panel Schedules
• Electrical Wire Tags and Lighting Switch Topology

Fire Protection

• Fire Protection Sprinkler Placement

Heating and Cooling

• Heating and Cooling Load Analysis

Mechanical

• Mechanical Design Criteria
• Mechanical Duct Sizing and Inspection
• Mechanical System and Duct Layout

Plumbing

• Plumbing System Layout

Free Revit Structure Tutorials-Streaming Media Format

Free audio-video Revit Structure tutorials have been posted on this site. They are presented in a general overview format. Consider using them for your next company "lunch and learns" or to provide users/management with an idea of Revit functionality.

The site includes a Revit Structure Tutorials RSS/XML feed if you want to plug this link into your RSS reader. Your reader can monitor the site and alert you when new tutorials become available.

Currently the site has posted archived Revit Structure demonstration webcasts and these short overview tutorials:

Top Features

• Single Model for Both Structural Analysis and Documentation
• Bidirectional Associativity Between Model and Views
• Construction Documents Structural Details
• Import/Export in DWG/DXF/DGN/IFC and CIS/2 formats
• Bidirectional Links with Analysis Packages
• Multiple Materials
• Structural Parametric Components
• Multi-users Worksharing Interoperability with Revit Architecture

Free Revit Architecture Tutorials-Streaming Media Format

Free audio-video Revit Architecture tutorials have been posted on this site. They are presented in a general overview format. Consider using them for your next company "lunch and learns" or to provide users/management with an idea of Revit functionality.

The site includes a Revit Architecture Tutorials RSS/XML feed if you want to plug this link into your RSS reader. Your reader can monitor the site and alert you when new tutorials become available.

Currently the site has posted archived Revit Architecture demonstration webcasts and these short overview tutorials:

Building Information Modeling

• Creating Sheets and Changing Numbers
• Starting a Project Easily
• Generate Views

Documentation

• Creating Annotation and Changing Scale
• Simple North Arrow Creation
• Scheduling with Ease

Visualization

• Conceptual Massing Studies
• Exporting Models to 3ds Max
• Quickly Create Presentation Visuals

A Grand Entrance Requires a Graceful Exit

You can expedite the loading of a Revit project file by following these guidelines when you exit a Revit project.

1. Always exit a Revit project file from a 2D view. Such as a floor plan, elevation, or drafting view.
2. Do not exit (leave) a project from a 3D (isometric or perspective) view.
3. Do not exit a project from a view that has "Shadows turned on". Typically, I suggest turning Shadows off when they are no longer needed in a view.

Use these steps to save and exit a Revit project (*.rvt) file.

1. Go to a 2D view
2. Go to the Window Pulldown Menu > Select Close Hidden Windows
3. Now Select the Save Command
4. Exit the project or software.

Revit component families (doors, windows, furniture) are 3-dimensional. In this case, you'll find Revit family files are intentionally saved from a 3D isometric view. Most familes are set to a default southeast isometric view.

The Revit OPEN dialog box and the Windows file manager (Explore) have a view type called "thumbnails". With thumbnails enabled, you can view family files in a folder using the 3D isometric thumbnail views.

Use these steps to save and exit a Revit component family (*.rfa) file.

1. Set your view to a 3D isometric view.
2. Use the View Pulldown Menu > Orient > Southeast
3. Go to the Window Pulldown Menu > Select Close Hidden Windows
4. Now Select the Save Command
5. Exit the Revit family file.

Auto-Rotating Revit Components: Revit Productivity Techniques

Revit provides two methods for rotating components as you place them into the project.

The easiest technique is to "tap" the SPACEBAR prior to placing a component.

Each time you tap the spacebar, the family component will rotate 90 degrees.

Use this same technique to place components parallel or perpendicular to building elements that are not on a 90-degree angle.

For example, as you insert a component, hold the cursor on the "linework" of an angular oriented building element or component.

While the linework is highlighted (not selected) by the cursor, tap the spacebar. The component attached to your cursor will pick up the angle of the reference object and will begin rotating at 90 degree increments, relative to the reference object's angle. The component is now parallel or perpendicular to the reference object.

The last method for rotating components prior to placement is located in the Options Bar.

Select the Component command and check the "Rotate after placement" checkbox in the Options Bar.

You can dynamically set the angle by picking a point on screen...or just start typing the value of the angle and press the Enter key. Done!