Another reason to copy/monitor

Just in case last week's post didn't convince you why you should copy/monitor grids from linked models instead of just creating your own, here is another reason.

Wrap text in view titles

Have a view title that is really long?  Is it longer than the view is wide?  Does it go out of the view's 'assigned' area on the sheet?  There is a way to wrap text in Revit!

Why Copy/Monitor Grids/Levels

A little tip for a commonly and sometimes overlooked step, and the repercussions it can have down the road.  This was something I always did when starting a new project, but as my experience working with different teams has developed, I have learned that not everyone does it.

At the beginning of your project, one of the first steps I always recommend and make my teams do (that is when I am in charge of a model) is to copy/monitor my grids and levels. (along with acquire coordinates from the linked model, but that is another post all together which I believe I have commented on in the past)

Strangeness

Strangeness... explain this to me if you can.  The grid on a curtain wall is of the 'wall' category, but the actual wall (mullions, panels, etc) are part of the curtainwall categories.

Void Sweep Productivity Tip

I can't claim any credit for this tip as it was passed on to me by a colleague, but I thought it was very good so I thought I would pass it on. 

When creating void sweeps most all of us have probably done it via some sort of rectalinear shape (the profile we wanted subtracted out of a rectangle, meaning the other sides have straight lines joined 90 degrees)  This means one line for the arc defining the void and four lines creating the “box.”  I know I have personally never seen it done any other way, and know that I never do it any other way.

ipad app: Magic Plan

This app was actually suggested by a colleague who was familiar with it.  This simple but free app will use the onboard tilt sensors and camera to produce an accurate floor plan of a room or series of rooms.  I have only tested the app a little, but so far in my testing it is proving to be quite accurate.

ipad app: Sketchbook Pro

Another fun app from Autodesk, Sketchbook (which comes in both a free and paid version) is exactly what the app implies, a sketching application in which you use your fingers to draw on the screen.  It is a relatively simple app, intuitive and easy to use, but I also think it is very powerful and comes with great potential.

ipad app: Sunseeker

Sunseeker is a fun little program to play with, and is worth the small price tag.  It also has some real world applications.  This program falls in the augmented reality category.  It uses the onboard camera from the ipad and overlays data on the screen.  In this case, it is a sun path diagram for your current location.

ipad app: Bluestreak

The ipad app for this simply connects to the database and gives you the update stream of who has done what.  This can be useful for managers or others who are out of the office.  Used in conjunction with comments in the save to central operation, and connect with the update stream and show you.  You can see when important updates were completed, or at what point certain tasks are (assuming your end users leave comments to that effect). 

ipad app: One Note

One Note is a small, but overlooked piece of software that is now part of Microsoft Office.  You most likely have it installed on your local machine and probably don't even know it.  The program originally started out being marketed to students as an alternative to note taking by hand, but has since evolved to be something that's being marketed to everyone.