Revit Stairs Interesting fact about risers

If you create a stair that starts at Level 0 and rises to Level 1 using the boundary and riser method of skeching (or probable any method, then change the height of the first floor, the stair risers will only change if the stair type has a maximum riser height set to an amount that can accomodate the change. In other words make sure you have the maximum riser height set already to an amount that works for the building.

If you want to change the maximum riser height later, you will need to duplicate the stair type. If you try to change the maximum riser height of the existing stair, nothing will happen. Beware.

Revit Model into 3D pdf

http://blogs.adobe.com/acrobatforaec/2007/06/how_to_get_autodesk_revit_mode.html

Adding the 3GB switch to the startup .ini to give Revit the chance of more RAM

In lay terms, Windows usually allocates 2 gigs of RAM to programs and 2 gigs to the system. With the switch it changes it to 3GB for programs and 1GB for other things.

This is how you do it.

a) Access the boot.ini file by opening the System Properties dialog on "My Computer". Under the Advanced tab and Startup and Recovery press Settings. In the startup and recovery dialog press the edit button. This should open a text file with something close to the following content:

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin

b) Were are going to modify it and make a failsafe so that if the mod doesn't work we can go back to the original setting:

Copy the last line and add /3GB to the end of it (make sure you spell it right). Between the parentheses type 3GB at the end so you'll be able to recognize it when XP restarts. Also if you don't have noexecute=optin add that too. The whole thing will look like this

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 3GB" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin /3GB

c) Save the file and restart the machine. Now you will have 2 choices when booting. Pick the '3GB'. If it crashes or you experience any other problems go back to the first option. Later try adding the userva=2500 switch to the last line of boot.ini and save. Personally I didn't have to use it. This is how the last line would look:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 3GB" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin /3GB /userva=2500

Also check System Properties and make sure that under the General tab it say Physical Address Extension at the bottom

Revit Renders Unable to Save Image to Project or Export

You set your machine to render (at least above the draft setting) and it renders without problems but when it has finished rendering you are unable to Save the Image to the Project or Export. It seems to be something to do with a memory leak. The only current workaround is to make sure you reboot the machine and open Revit and render straight away (without doing any work or opening other files). Also make sure that you have as little running as possible and as much memory freed up. Also make sure you have the 3GB switch on allowing Windows to use more than 2GB for one application.

Showing Masses in 3D View Window in Revit

To create a context model in Revit you can import DWG (or Sketchup 5 if you are lucky) into Revit. If you import it straight in, the geometry does not work well as a massing model to render. The trick is to create a new Mass and import the DWG into the Mass. This works well. However, by default the Masses will not show in a 3d View if referenced into another Revit File. There is an obscure tickbox called Imports in Families within the visibility Graphics for the view. This needs to be ticked in addition to the Show Mass button as well as the Mass section of the visibilty Graphics.

I have found the tick box in VG and Imports in Families. I realised that because you have to import geometry into a Mass to create a decent context model this is considered to be an Import in Families. Therefore this must be ticked for the view. The template for view creation does not have this on by default whereas the 3D view does. So we are happy again.

REVIT

Getting the right orientation for Curtain Wall Panels

1. Place a curtain wall from right to left and the exterior is above

2. Place a curtain wall from left to right and the exterior is below

3. If you place a panel in these curtain walls you will end up with the exterior of your panel in the right place (on the side that shows the up and down arrows for flipping the orientatation

4. If you place a curtain wall by face on to a Mass, the panel will be mirrored about the centre. Therefore everything that is on the left of the panel will be on the right.

5. If you flip the wall so that the exterior and interior swap places, the panel will be correct. However you will then have to rotate the wall by 180 so that the exterior is again on the exterior. The face will no longer be updated to the mass

6. Drawing the wall normally (without putting it on to the face of the mass) makes the curtain wall panel correct and the exterior is identical to the exterior of the family.

I am sure there is a solutiont to this but I have not been able to find it. I am guessing that the solution is within the panel family that we have created.

Converting youtube videos

http://vixy.net/