Printing Bug

I came across with this issue from one user the other day. They have some interior elevations on the sheet that didn't come out as expected.

After printing it as PDF file, one of the interior views just showed up blank! What's interesting is the texts and grid lines showed but everything else disappeared.

I ended up reaching out to Autodesk and they suggested to try Raster Processing; and sure it did the trick. Using Raster Processing mode in the Print Setup was able to fix this issue. Usually raster mode is not needed unless you are printing with shadows, decal images or have render view as part of the document. This is one of the situations that this sheet had no such thing but will need raster mode to address the issue. 

You can learn more about Vector Processing vs. Raster Processing from Autodesk HERE.

Wall by Face - Part 2. Creating a Slanted Wall Tool

Taking the same idea from the wall-by-face by using generic model family. This time I am tying to explore the possible use of making a generic line based family. I have come across many times Revit does not have a slanted wall tool after all these years. Even Structural column has a slanted column option many versions ago. Why can't we have that tool? Is that really hard to make this as an enhancement in Revit?

We have slanted column already, when will we have slanted wall tool?

So I tinker with this notion of making a slanted shape parametric line based family and use wall-by-face to generate the wall. Why line based family, you may ask? Line based family functions very much like drawing a wall with "Wall" tool. On the floor plan, you can pick two points to place this family much like drawing a wall.

The intent for the use of this "tool" is to allow user to create slanted wall without having the need to build a massing family in the first place. With the instance parameter "Angle" as well as "Height", one can use the same family with "wall-by-face" command to make the wall. 

**This is NOT massing family, I just apply the same material "Default Mass" to the generic family**

Any time you have to change the slope "Angle", all you have to do is to set a new angle parameter, then use "Update to Face" to adjust the wall. 

Inside the family, it is just a line based family with a parametric sweep geometry.

The sweep form is made out of a nested profile family with formula to drive the sweep. 

Set the formula inside the profile family so the form is controlled by "Angle" and "Height".

During the testing, I noticed there was a clean up (miter) issue when two walls are connected at angles that are not 90 degrees. 

I went back and add two sets of voids to the family and now I can adjust the end condition with a new parameter.

I thought it would be a good idea to have a curved version of the slanted wall tool as line based family, too. Autodesk, when will you grant us the wish of having a slanted wall tool?

Wall by Face via Generic Model Family

I learned something new yesterday from Brian Mackey in his monthly webinar "Revit Radio" with guys from CAD-1 so I thought I'd share it here. When dealing with non-vertical wall, you either have to model wall as in-place family or using massing and create Wall-by-Face. Either way is a valid method. What's new to me is that you can also use Wall-by-Face and pick a surface of a Generic Model family in a project and create a wall. This includes Adaptive Component created as generic model. This is such a good news to me. Why? Compare with Massing family, adaptive component has adaptive points where it can be very flexible to host on anything in the project. One will be able to create a surface with AC and use Wall-by-Face to generate this kind of free form wall.

Start with a simple 4 point adaptive component.

I am using this family to replicate the curve wall from Philip Johnson's St. Basil's chapel in Houston, Texas.

To do so, I will need one edge to be curve and set a shape handle point along the curve in order to adjust the location.

When finished, place the family like this in the project.

With the adaptive point (4) and shape handle point, I can adjust the edge very easy with no need to use formula or special parameter.

Next, use Wall-by-Face command under wall.

and pick face...

and DONE!

Revit Update Site - All in One Place

Have you ever had trouble finding Revit update from Autodesk site? Every time there is a new update Autodesk would create a new page hosting all the downloads. Today I saw they posted a new site where they put all updates in one place, finally! I hope this link stays because I will go there to find the update to download from now on!

They even have link for 2016 even there is no update posted yet.

For 2015

For 2014

For 2013

For 2012

Directing Your Beam System

This post has been long overdue and I just have been so busy lately. So here goes!

Beam system is one of my favorite tools in the recent days of using Revit. It is very easy to use, very flexible and you can apply it in many situations in one project.

For example, for any outdoor wood trellis, you can create them by using beam system and structural columns. Like anything else in Revit, beam system requires the user to place on work plane. By default, it will associate with your level (finish floor). With that in mind, you can use beam on slope and vertical surface, like exposed rafter underneath your roof and purlins on the vertical panel.

I came across and found out from many users who hardly heard of beam system or even know how to use them in the project. There is not a lot of online resource either to document how to best use beam system. I also have user who would create array group of a beam and use it in lieu of beam system.

To start with beam system, one of the first requirements is to have at least one existing beam family (structural framing family) loaded to the project. Click on the beam system command, and you will get in the sketch mode (much like modeling a floor) and drawing your footprint of the beam system. Notice there is always one edge of your sketch that has a double short lines hovering that side, that is the beam direction that indicating where the beam is "array" from. You will need to understand how to manipulate this for later.

Also notice on the properties dialog box where there are a few settings you can adjust. All of them are instance parameters. You can change your layout rule to your liking, which will give you different options of the "spacing" requirement. I use Fixed distance almost exclusively on the project since I want the beam to have the exactly spacing from one another. You can use change the justification to determine where the placement of the first beam in the system.

This is where the tricky part comes in. I can bet you almost every time no matter which options you choose from (Start, end or center), your beam is not going to align with your other element (i.e. in this case, your column family) You will probably try to nudge it from your sketch and hope your beam will fall onto the right location to match up your column.

Don't do it! Revit actually has another option where you can get your beam to the exact location every single time. First, go to properties, under the justification option, there is one last option called Direction Line. Choose that option, you will notice nothing will change.

The key is you have to go back to edit mode of the beam system, get into the sketch. Select Beam Direction, and use the line tool to tell Revit where your want the first placement of your beam is (see image) and click Finish. Now your beam will always align with your other elements.

You can see the difference after using the direction line with your own sketch.

Happy Beaming!