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.

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!

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.

Looking for feedback on Mastering AutoCAD MEP 2010 Book

We are fast at work on the 2011 version of Mastering AutoCAD MEP and I figured this would be a great time to solicit some constructive feedback about the book.
First, I do want to thank all of you who have sent in emails with the typos and corrections needed, it is a great help.
So, back to the reason of the post, since we are in the middle of writing the update, are there any suggestions or comments that would help us make the update more useful?

One idea we have been tossing around is creating a set of questions to answer either for each chapter or discipline or functional area to help users gauge what they have learned. So, the question for you is does this sound like a good idea? What format would you like? or any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Gregg

Mars in 3D

My buddy Jim Smell tipped me off on this awesome video. WOW is all I can say:



The complete article is here.

Update to Mastering Revit Architecture Metric Dataset

A reader pointed out to me that the metric files for Chapter 10 in Mastering Revit Architecture 2010 were incorrect. Many apologies for the confusion. I have posted a new version of the 10 Commercial-Metric.rvt file online. If you are using metric units in Mastering Revit Architecture, please download and unzip it to your Chapter10 folder. Thank you very much.

Also, related to Chapter 10 and the Family Editor, be sure to check out the Mastering the Family Editor series on DVD. You can find more about them at www.paulaubin.com/lrt (Enter coupon code: EYFEBJ7Q at checkout for 10% off of all DVDs).

Off Topic - Minor Pet Peeve

On the subject of social media.

I am formulating a more complete post on social media, but in the meantime, a quick pet peeve of mine. I have been a member of Plaxo and Linked In for several years. (I only just got on to FaceBook and Twitter). In general, my policy with respect to requests on Linked In is to accept them. (You never know when new business will come your way...) However, please, if I have never met you, or we just shook hands at AU, do not request to join my network as a "friend." Despite what FaceBook says, in my mind to be a friend, you must be someone who I have spent time with socially (real time, not virtual time), or someone I would choose to spend time with even if there was no business incentive to do so, and/or someone I have known longer than the existence of the the aforementioned social media sites.

So, by my way of thinking, if I have never met you face to face, or only met you in passing, I cannot define that as: "Friend." Please use one of the other options when reaching out. "We've done business together" or "We belong to the same group" are both excellent choices. If you use those, and promise not to spam, I will gladly accept the connection.

OK, rant over. Thanks for reading and humoring me.