Navisworks gets stuck in Select mode

Several times this has happened to me, where Navisworks will get stuck in "selection mode" which prevents me from selecting any of the viewing functions from the Navigation bar. I recently was teaching a class, where several folks in the class had the same problem. I have tried several actions to clear the problem and have found the most reliable: right-click in the background and select SCENE. Seems to clear the problem everytime.

Duct and Pipe Systems in Revit MEP 2012

One of the biggest changes in Revit MEP 2012 is the addition of Duct and Pipe System Families.  Although it appears to be a small change, it actually creates a major improvement in how projects can be set up.  Prior to 2012, MEP Engineers relied heavily on View Filters to control the graphics of different duct and pipe systems.  For example, a View Filter would be created to distinguish the difference between Domestic Cold Water pipes and Domestic Hot Water pipes.  Ducts and pipes were simply ducts and pipes, and not part of a system until they were connected to a connector.  The connector contained all the information about the system.

In Revit MEP 2012, we have the ability to create duct and pipe systems before modeling and connecting to connectors with the addition of System Families.  The new System Families can now be configured prior to the project start to indicate graphical differences in the systems.  In addition to presetting up the System Families, as ducts and pipes are being modeled, the System is specified in the Properties palette before connecting to fixtures or equipment.  This change will all but eliminate the need to rely on View Filters to control the graphics.  System Families can now be configured in the Revit Templates so that all views will represent the correct graphics no matter if View Filters are used or not.  If View Filters are still desired, they will override any graphical settings that are set in the System Family settings.

This new approach will also make it easier to switch if needed from one system to another.  Although this is typically not the desired result, it is very useful when trying to switch from Sanitary piping to Vent piping.  Prior to this release it was difficult to make this switch with in the same run of pipes.

Another plus to this added feature is that we can now create additional System types.  In prior releases we were stuck with the out of the box system types.  If we were trying to create a system for Gas, we had to use the 'Other' system.  Now, with System Families, we can simply duplicate an existing System Family and name it anything we want.  This allows us to have system names that actually match our systems.

I see this as a major improvement in how we create our systems.  Now we are defining our systems as we model our pipes as opposed to first modeling everything and then having to go back and create our systems.

RMEP Parallel Pipe and Parallel Conduit Command Buttons

I have had several clients mention that they could not find the command buttons for the functions: Parallel Pipe and Parallel Conduit. The easiest way I have found to get the buttons back is to learn the keyboard shortcuts for each command, where upon, once used the buttons themselves seem to magically reappear in the ribbon. The keyboard shortcuts are PE for Parallel Pipe and PO for Parallel Conduit.

The Hermit Crab Housing Crisis

Often times, as the “least technical” (or at least “industry identified”) member of the Applied team, I’m intrigued by fairly off beat aspects of the BIM/Technology conversation….

Last Sunday afternoon I was listening to “Living on Earth.” This week’s show featured a segment called “The Hermit Crab Housing Crisis.” Seriously. But stick with me here. The interesting thing was as a response to a shortage of natural-material housing (i.e., shells) for hermit crabs, aficionados are turning to more high tech solutions. In this case the CEO of a 3D-printer manufacturer began exploring using his firm’s printers to create housing for crabs! I encourage you to give the show a listen—Click here to read a transcript of “The Hermit Crab Housing Crisis” and links to other links to sites fascinating uses for 3D printers. Take a minute to consider that amazing ways that familiar technologies can be turned on its head to provide an answer to a perplexing problem.

Network license file - parser

Did you know there is a nice way to read your license file?


Autodesk License Parser - shows your license file in an easy to read report. This report will contain the full name of the licensed product, the serial number along with the number of seats. It will also show you the date the serial number was issued.

Revit? Why, when I have AutoCAD?

I loved drafting as a kid. Give me my T-square, triangle, and french curve. Drawing a perspective view was SO COOL!

I learned AutoCAD in 1987 and it was AutoCAD v2.6; what a cool program! I then used AutoCAD R9 when I graduated; loved it! Kept moving forward with AutoCAD R14; did everything I needed it to do. I customized AutoCAD like crazy. Why because I could and my users loved it. In 2000 I saw a program called Revit. It did 3D and was cool. Tried it on a project and it just didn't work for us. Revit could never replace my AutoCAD and the way I customized it for my users. I refused to consider Revit because AutoCAD did EVERYTHING I needed it to do. Then came AutoCAD Architectural Desktop and then AutoCAD Architecture; cumbersome but wow it had some nice features; I still don't need Revit, I now had ACA. Then I was forced to use Revit. Really? Are you kidding? AutoCAD does EVERYTHING I need it to do! So I went to Revit Architecture training.

Revit Training Day 1: I was convinced Revit is a toy and I can still work faster in AutoCAD.

Revit Training Day 2: hmmm.... This program seems to have it's advantage. My elevations, sections, and schedules are partially done. How'd that happen? Wait my schedules are done? My schedules are done! Hey, wait, what? MY SCHEDULES ARE DONE! Oh, no. I have to make a design change. Now what? Make the change and my plans, elevations, sections, and schedules are updated. I can't do that in AutoCAD! Well I can if I setup ACA Project Navigator with my constructs and elements and train my users what they are. What is a construct? Isn't it obvious? Nope. What is a Revit wall, a door, a window? I know what those are.

Revit Training Day 3: I setup my sheets. Drag my plans, elevations, sections, details on to sheets and all my section tags, elevations tags, callout tags are filled in for me! Wait, that means less time setting up CDs and more time spent designing! Should I continue to use AutoCAD or use Revit?

Should I ride my bike to work or drive my car? I think I'll drive my car.

Mark Petrucci

Cutting Walls into Walls

I was previously asked how to create a wall that not only changed materials but also changed thicknesses. As with most things in Revit, there are multiple ways to do this.  You could create a compound wall type that had multiple material types, but that would be restrictive in that it would be continuous through out the entire length of the wall.  You could create a Stacked Wall, but again, you would only see the material and thickness change at the point where it was assigned in the properties of the Stacked Wall.  You could simply use the Paint tool to change the material, but this would not change the thickness and would not show on sections correctly.  

My solution is to draw a wall within a wall and use the Cut tool to cut one out of the other.  This allows the user to create any type of wall desired at any thickness and place it in any location in as many places as they need.  To accomplish this, you draw the main wall first. Then in plan view, draw the secondary wall right on top of the main wall. You will get a warning that Highlighted Walls Overlap, which is is exactly what you want it to do for now.  

Next go to the Modify tab, and use the Cut tool and select the main wall and then the secondary wall.  

This will cut the secondary wall out of the main wall.  

To modify the elevations of the secondary wall, either adjust the Base Offset and Top Constraint or go to an Elevation View and simply use the grips to pull the wall top or bottom up or down.  The main wall will fill in when the secondary wall is modified.  

This approach will allow users to have two completely different wall types within each other that they can control separately.