Revit MEP

Revit MEP

Monday, April 19, 2010

Upgrading Your Custom Revit MEP Library from 2010 to 2011 Format

Because some architects might be early adopters to 2011, and some architects might wait until the first service pack is released before upgrading their projects to 2011, engineers will find themselves working with architects using different versions of Revit.  Because Revit is not backwards compatible, engineers will have to run multiple versions of Revit MEP to match each architect that they are working with.

The history of this issue is that everybody working on a Revit project must be using the same version of Revit.  Architecture, Structural and MEP must all be the same.  If one team is using an newer version, the other teams who are using an older format won't be able to read the newer format.  The new format has new tools, new objects, and new settings that older versions don't understand, and weren't written to automatically know what new objects would be coming out in the future.  Now if one team is using an older version, the other teams will be able to open an older version, and upgrade that project to the newest version, but the team using the older version won't be able to open the new format version of the other team members.

So now that we understand why we have to install multiple versions of Revit MEP on our workstations, we will also need to have multiple versions of Revit Libraries on our server.  The 2011 directory, obviously will have the newest contect, and that content can only be used for 2011 projects.  That content cannot be used for 2010 projects.  So any 2010 project must use content from a 2010 content directory.  Any custom 2010 content can be copied, and the copies can then be upgraded and added to the 2011 directory.


To Use the Content Batch Upgrade Utility:


  1. Copy Upgrade_RFA.txt and Upgrade_RFA.bat into the root directory of the library that you want to upgrade.
  2. Run the Upgrade_RFA.bat to create the file list to upgrade, famlist_rfa.txt.
  3. To launch the utility, from the library directory, drag Upgrade_RFA.txt onto the Revit icon on your desktop.
  4. After upgrading, delete all backup files from the library.


Make sure all of your .rfa files are not read-only and delete all backup files from the library. If a particular family fails to upgrade properly, the utility will stop.  If this occurs, open famlist_rfa.txt in Microsoft Notepad, and remove all previously upgraded families and the failed family from the list. Save famlist_rfa.txt, and re-run the utility.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Autodesk Bluestreak - Design Collaboration for AEC Professionals

  Coordinate, analyze, and review designs with project group members.

Autodesk Project Bluestreakis a web-based collaboration environment that accelerates building information modeling through the open exchange of design information and ideas between desktop applications, web-based services and people.

Get Involved!
  • Create and join project groups
  • Communicate with your project group members
  • Share project designs and documents
  • Quickly respond to project activities

What's Available Now?

The basic building blocks needed to collaborate with your team -- user profiles, self organized private groups, file sharing, activity streams, notifications and comments -- are available now for testing and feedback. To get started and help build the next generation of AEC collaboration:

  1. Create your account and a project group, and try it out!
  2. Use the "Feedback" button within the application to give us your feedback and discuss the application with other members of the Bluestreak user community.

So Where is Project Bluestreak Headed?

Seamless Sharing of Design Information

Model based design in the AEC industry requires earlier interaction with more team members and enables more analytical tools to understand issues, evaluate alternatives, coordinate decisions, and ultimately deliver solutions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Social Collaboration Capabilities

Design and project Information is provided continuously in a consolidated stream. Know when designs are changed, when analysis is complete, and what teammates are thinking. Comment on anything to collaborate with your team.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Integrated Applications Help You Design

Visit the applicaiton gallery where you will be able to find and use tools to visualize, simulate, and analyze your design models. Get new results whenever designs are changed, and automatically distribute the results to your team.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consolidated Design Tracking

Go to one spot for the latest information and a complete rolling history of issues and design decisions. Easily track and share your concerns and resolutions with the project team from one location.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Work Where You Are

Wherever you are in the world, monitor your projects and collaborate with your team from your web browser, or the desktop applications and mobile devices that you use every day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An Open Platform to Deliver More

Industry standard application interfaces will enable a community of developers to deliver more applications and services to help you get the most out of your design and deliver higher performing buildings or civil works.
Read more about it here

The Future of Software for AEC? Autodesk's Direction Offers Some Clues

The Future of Software for AEC? Autodesk's Direction Offers Some Clues
April 15, 2010

By: Nancy Spurling Johnson

http://www.cadalyst.com/aec/the-future-software-aec-autodesk039s-direction-offers-some-clues-13236

At an international media event, the company reveals insight and trends that are driving its product development.

  • Building Information Modeling
  • Sustainable Design
  • Cloud Computing
  • 3D Scanning
  • Mobile Computing and Social Networking
  • Existing Building Design
  • New Building Design
  • Plant/Processing Industry
  • Infrastructure Design
Read details about it here