Friday, April 16, 2010
Update to the Update
As an author, you never want to have to submit an update. This is like admitting you goofed the first time. But having to update the update... That's a little more than a goof... Well, looks like that is exactly what I have to do. Seems the update I posted a while back for Chapter 10 metric (in Paul F. Aubin's Mastering Revit Architecture) contained the wrong file. (Not a very useful update then was it?) I have corrected that and posted the correct file now. In fact, I added ALL the metric files to the ZIP file for Chapter 10. Enjoy.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Revit Curtain Walls and Demolition
I received an email from a client this week asking about how to demolish part of a Curtain Wall in Revit. They included the following image:
While the phasing tools in Revit are pretty useful, it is unfortunately not possible to demo part of a Curtain Wall. The phasing parameters can only apply to the overall Wall object, not the Mullions, or Panels or Grids.
So what to do? Well cheat of course!
What you need to do is create the Curtain Wall in pieces. Since you cannot add phasing to a portion of the overall Curtain Wall, make several smaller Curtain Walls based on what phase they need to be. It is more work admittedly, but it does do the trick.
The basic process is as follows. Look for where you can break up the Curtain Wall. Don't simply use the split tool in plan, because this will split the Curtain Wall along its full height. Rather, use the Add/Remove Grid segments command and the Empty System Panel to remove just the portions you need to remove. Then go back and draw new small Curtain Walls in the locations that you removed from the main ones. These smaller Curtain Walls can then be assigned any phase as needed.
It is very important to use the System Panel: Empty panel type where you want to "delete" panels. Do not simply try to delete them. This does not work. Revit will keep adding a default panel back again after you delete. Use the Empty panel and it will appear like it has been removed.
I have prepared a short video of the steps. You can watch it here. Enjoy!
So what to do? Well cheat of course!
What you need to do is create the Curtain Wall in pieces. Since you cannot add phasing to a portion of the overall Curtain Wall, make several smaller Curtain Walls based on what phase they need to be. It is more work admittedly, but it does do the trick.
The basic process is as follows. Look for where you can break up the Curtain Wall. Don't simply use the split tool in plan, because this will split the Curtain Wall along its full height. Rather, use the Add/Remove Grid segments command and the Empty System Panel to remove just the portions you need to remove. Then go back and draw new small Curtain Walls in the locations that you removed from the main ones. These smaller Curtain Walls can then be assigned any phase as needed.
It is very important to use the System Panel: Empty panel type where you want to "delete" panels. Do not simply try to delete them. This does not work. Revit will keep adding a default panel back again after you delete. Use the Empty panel and it will appear like it has been removed.
I have prepared a short video of the steps. You can watch it here. Enjoy!
Echo - Off topic Hotel Rooms
Just reading Steve Stafford's blog and his off topic musing about a recent hotel stay.
Ah yes. I can relate! I thought I would continue his train of thought here with few observations of my own. I tend to stay in Marriott properties, nothing too fancy. I like Residence Inn the best. It is a good blend of comfortable space, free Internet and Breakfast (and sometimes dinner) included at a reasonable price.
My comments here are not about a specific hotel as Steve's were as I am home right now, but I have seen plenty of trends myself. For example, I totally agree with you Steve about the poorly placed outlets. Why can't they just have a few well placed UNUSED outlets right near the night table? Steve mentioned the lights in the bathroom, I always seem to find the light in the main room too dim. If you get back to your room early enough, you can open the shades and let some real light in, but if it is later and getting dark outside, my experience is that the small lamps scattered about the room never seem to be bright enough.
But here's the one that always gets me: Almost every hotel these days has a little sign saying something like "Go Green" or "Help us Protect the Environment" or something like that. You go on to read that if you want to save water and waste less detergent and such, that you can reuse your towels. If you want to reuse your towels, hang them on the hook. If you want them washed, leave them on the floor. OK, seems reasonable. Most of the time I travel alone. there are three towels in the room to begin with. If I use each one twice, that is 6 days, and I usually only travel 3 - 5 days at a time. So I ALWAYS hang my towel. I figure, no need to wash these, its just me. I do not think I have EVER come back to my room to find the towel I left hanging still there. They always replace them anyway. So why have the sign? I remain baffled by this.
Anyhow, thanks Steve for the amusing post and the opportunity to commiserate.
Ah yes. I can relate! I thought I would continue his train of thought here with few observations of my own. I tend to stay in Marriott properties, nothing too fancy. I like Residence Inn the best. It is a good blend of comfortable space, free Internet and Breakfast (and sometimes dinner) included at a reasonable price.
My comments here are not about a specific hotel as Steve's were as I am home right now, but I have seen plenty of trends myself. For example, I totally agree with you Steve about the poorly placed outlets. Why can't they just have a few well placed UNUSED outlets right near the night table? Steve mentioned the lights in the bathroom, I always seem to find the light in the main room too dim. If you get back to your room early enough, you can open the shades and let some real light in, but if it is later and getting dark outside, my experience is that the small lamps scattered about the room never seem to be bright enough.
But here's the one that always gets me: Almost every hotel these days has a little sign saying something like "Go Green" or "Help us Protect the Environment" or something like that. You go on to read that if you want to save water and waste less detergent and such, that you can reuse your towels. If you want to reuse your towels, hang them on the hook. If you want them washed, leave them on the floor. OK, seems reasonable. Most of the time I travel alone. there are three towels in the room to begin with. If I use each one twice, that is 6 days, and I usually only travel 3 - 5 days at a time. So I ALWAYS hang my towel. I figure, no need to wash these, its just me. I do not think I have EVER come back to my room to find the towel I left hanging still there. They always replace them anyway. So why have the sign? I remain baffled by this.
Anyhow, thanks Steve for the amusing post and the opportunity to commiserate.
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