Model Archive Using eTransmit Addin

Revit comes with some nice addin through the subscription center.

A good one recently would have to be eTransmit for Revit. This little gadget was first introduced in Revit 2012 as lab plugin and transitioned to a bonus addin from subscription site (In my opinion, this should be a standard tool already after 2 releases.)

The intent for eTransmit is to copy a Revit model (worksharing or standalone file) and other dependent files to a single folder for internet transmission. Using it like uploading a Revit file to different consultants (say Structural and MEP) for coordination will be very useful.

Lately, I have been asked by several new team members and they want to know what's the best way to archive some Revit files (For major milestone or design changes, we usually save a copy and date it). I immediately thought of using eTransmit is a better way to go. Compared to the traditional process of creating a detach model and save it as a new central file; if you have more than one model, you have to do it one after another. It is just tedious.

eTransmit setup is so easy and intuitive to use, you can choose to include other Revit linked models as well as .dwg linked files or even keynote (.txt) file as part of the transmit. The setup will also DETACH the Revit file during the process. In other words, this makes it perfect for archiving.

One suggestion though is I would go through a purge unused process before using eTransmit. Doing so would result a leaner file for archive purpose.

Minnesota University Conference Next Week

Next week on March 20-21, I will be presenting 2 classes at MU (Minnesota University). MU is "a Midwest Professional Development conference for Autodesk Users seeking opportunities to learn, connect and explore the industry they influence. Explore the latest Autodesk software, network
with peers, and learn from industry experts."

This is the first time for me to attend this event. Based on some of the comments I read from last year, this seems like a good, mini-version of AU (Autodesk University). I hope the weather will be nice to me during the conference. If you happen to attend MU this year, please come to say hi.

More Fun with Randomized Plug-in and Curtain Panel

Continue to do more studies with the dp Stuff Randomizer. This time I add a little twist to the curtain panel family. Pretty much using the same principle from the last example with nested family within the curtain panel and have an integer parameter driving the nested family types, I have added a rotation parameter using one of my tricks to create the nested family. Again, let the plug-in do the rest and see the result...

I overlooked one thing from my last experiment using this plug-in. As it turns out, it can perform this randomization with more than one set of parameter simultaneously. I also notice one strange thing the Randomizer does to the "Rotation" parameter. Since I have the minimum angle and maximum angle set to 0 and 360 respectively, all the "angle rotation" parameter from the panels should stay within the range. It, however, sets the angle to 4 digits value to many of the panels.

Applying the same panel to the Slope Glazing system (roof version of the Curtain Wall system) and I was able to make an interesting form as ceiling.

Throw it to the cloud rendering and get a nice perspective view for a group of random "ceiling" panels

I didn't stop there. I went on and used the same concept to come up with a "pattern" out of it. I create 4 different shapes of nested families and nest them to the curtain panel.

Click "Randomize" again...

Coincidentally, the result of this "pattern" reminds me of a famous monogram pattern from Louis Vuitton; maybe this could open up some good use for further study in the future. I am interested to investigate more by using curtain pattern based panel and adaptive components along with Dynamo. After taking the tex-fab workshop last week, I see a great potential of using Dynamo in Revit. Stay tuned to see my future post about my experiment.