Ed's Independent Voice Resource

Ed's Independent Voice isn't a blog, but a newsletter. It does not contain training or support, but of high level overviews of various new software packages, new technologies, and where the industry is going. Check out past newsletter issues here.

WAN Access at LAN Speeds for Revit Worksharing

Whether you share Revit files across town or across the world, waiting has become a part of your day. Slow file access means lower productivity. Redundant files lead to accidental save-overs and lost work. Between the coffee breaks and costly re-work, the hidden costs are unimaginable...and we haven't even begun to talk about security or back-up.

Overcoming the challenges of multi-site collaboration
GlobalSCAPE WAFS allows users from all locations to access and share files over a WAN at LAN speeds. File replication ensures the same files exist at all locations while real-time file locking keeps users from overwriting files in use. As files are modified, changes are mirrored instantly using revolutionary byte-level differencing.

• Instant access to remote files with minimal bandwidth consumption
• File coherence with real-time file locking, file release, and synchronization
• Continuous back-up at the central server
• Instant access to newly created files anywhere on the WAN
• Offline availability with automatic sync upon re-connection
• Secure encryption keeps your sensitive data safe
• Completely transparent to end-users, no training required
• Easy installation, browser-based management, and firewall friendly(tunnel through HTTP/S)

Get started todayGlobalSCAPE WAFS can be set up and operational in a matter of hours. They want you to try it free for 30-days to see how well it can work for you. If you have any questions at all, please call them at 1-800-474-0116 (U.S.) or 978 474-9116 (international).

• Request a free trial
• Schedule a live demonstration
• Read our Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ)
• Contact our sales team

Vico Software to Integrate with Revit

Vico Software announced that its 5D Virtual ConstructionTM solutions and services will be integrated with Autodesk's leading technology and solutions for the AEC industry. With the adoption of BIM accelerating, it is advantageous for General Contractors and Owners to have the combination of Vico's integrated 5D capabilities within the Autodesk solutions environment.

According to Clay Freeman, chief product officer at Vico, the initial focus of the partnership has been integrating Vico's Virtual Construction Suite with Autodesk Revit for Building Information Modeling. "We have a growing number of customers requesting that our virtual construction solutions work in conjunction with an Autodesk Revit model," says Freeman. "Today we are happy to announce that the integrated solution with Revit is demonstrable, and our intent is to support a wider range of capability offered by multiple Autodesk products in the future."

Together the solutions from Vico and Autodesk will enable building owners, general contractors, and construction managers to produce:

• Constructability and Coordination
• Model-derived quantities and location-based quantities
• Optimized project schedules
• Model-derived cost estimates

Vico has not announced a date for general availability. Freeman adds, "Integrating our virtual construction solutions with Revit is a very high priority, and we will be going to customer beta test soon. Importantly, our internal Virtual Construction Services team is already contracting work on projects using Revit models in conjunction with our software, so we are quite confident in the quality of the integrated solution."

Vico will publicly debut the integration of its Virtual Construction solutions and Autodesk Revit at the Autodesk University Conference next month. To see the Revit-based Virtual Construction in action, visit Vico at Booth 397 at Autodesk University, December 2-4, in Las Vegas.

Vico Software's award-winning Virtual Construction™ software and services help building owners and general contractors reduce risk, manage cost and shorten project schedules.
Vico Software’s 5D technology provides unprecedented integration of design, construction and management processes, thus improving project predictability - providing early identification of constructability problems; and synchronizing design, cost and schedule. With over three hundred customers and more than two hundred projects completed, Vico Software has a proven track record of delivering results.

Revit MEP 2009 Web Update 3 Service Pack

Important Note:

• Web Update #3 is not a full install; rather it is using Service Pack technology similar to AutoCAD® based products. Prior to installing the Web Update #3 Service pack, please verify that you have already installed the First Customer Ship build or Web Update #1 build of Revit MEP 2009. The Web Update #1 full install is available below.

Before You Download

• Please read before downloading and installing:Service Pack Readme (pdf).

Get Started

• Read all instructions above, then click one of the following links to download.
• Revit MEP 2009 Web Update #3 Service Pack (32-bit)(exe – 431 MB)
• Revit MEP 2009 Web Update #3 Service Pack (64-bit)(exe - 54 MB)

Notes:

• The service pack contains changes from all previous service packs.
  The service pack can be applied to both the standalone and suite versions of Revit MEP 2009.

Files Patched by This Update

Imperial Content Files

• Rectangular to Round Duct Tee with Transition - Conical Tap.rfa
  Modular Motor Control Centers - Power Monitoring Section.rfa
  Sprinkler - Dry - Horizontal Sidewall - Fully Recessed - Hosted.rfa
  Pressure Regulator - Hand Knob Operated - 0.25-1 Inch.rfa
  WSHP - Downflow - High Efficiency - 2-5 Tons - Right Return - Bottom Discharge.rfa
  Structural Framing - Complex and Trusses.rft
  Electrical Equipment Tag.rft
  Mechanical-Default.rte

Metric Content Files

• Rectangular to Round Duct Tee with Transition - Conical Tap.rfa
  M_Modular Motor Control Centers - Power Monitoring Section.rfa
  M_Sprinkler - Dry - Horizontal Sidewall - Fully Recessed - Hosted.rfa
  M_Pressure Regulator - Hand Knob Operated - 6-25 mm.rfa
  M_WSHP - Downflow - High Efficiency - 7-18 kW - Left Return - Bottom Discharge.rfa
  Metric Structural Framing - Complex and Trusses.rft
  Mechanical-Default_Metric.rte
  Electrical-Default_Metric.rte

UK Content Files

• RevitKeynotes_Metric.txt
  Metric Structural Framing - Complex and Trusses.rft

Revit® MEP 2009 Enhancements

• Corrects issue where gaps in link file cannot be controlled by mechanical settings.
• Corrects issue when routing duct from rotated equipment where it caused risers to end up at odd orthogonal angles.
• Pipe runs are now always visible in section view.
• No gap existed when printed when a round duct or pipe with fittings crosses duct. The hidden gaps will now be present from within Revit and when the user prints.
• Side outlet pipe fittings with different connectors are now able replace each other.
• Corrects issue where routing duct from equipment as a riser connects from the wrong side.
• Improves stability when clicking on “Settings” button in “Layout” mode.
• Improves stability when selecting the drag end control after splitting 3D duct in the middle.
• Deleting an air terminal in a space now updates the actual flow and load values.
• Non-alphanumeric characters in a Revit MEP HVAC Zone are now properly translated to gbXML.
• The graphical representation of the flexible duct as seen in two different floor plan scaled views is now correct. The tick mark representation on flex duct has been changed to correctly reflect the view scale. This may cause existing projects to display flex duct differently, both on screen and when printing.
• Duct elbows no longer disappear and then reappear when hidden, both on screen and when printed. Instead, they will be displayed as hidden lines.

Revit® Platform Enhancements

• Slab Edges when joined to their hosting Floor will now be able to cut the floor when the user manually remakes the join.
• Improves visibility of Color Fills for certain interior wall conditions.
• Improves IFC Export for Walls and MEP elements.
• Improves stability when using the Split tool.
• Improves stability when using Temporary Hide/Isolate functionality in 3D view.
• Improves stability when binding a linked Revit file into a project.
• Improves stability when switching between views.
• Improves stability when selecting any of the column headers on the CAD Formats tab of the Manage Links dialog.

Revit MEP 2009 Content Extension for Subscription Customers

Release Date: 2008-11-24

Autodesk Subscription Website Login

The US Content Extension for Revit® MEP 2009 software provides MEP professionals with access to imperial and metric duct and pipe fittings designed specifically to meet US standards.

To meet the standards required by US-based projects, the duct fittings adhere to SMACNA standards and the pipe fittings adhere to ASME standards for Class 150 and 300 Malleable Threaded Iron and Flanged Cast Iron.

This extension provides additional building systems modeling capabilities for MEP engineers working on US-based projects.

Content is currently available in English only.

The content contained in the RME 2009 Content Extension will not overwrite any of the default content that was originally installed by Revit MEP 2009. All of the Extension content is new and have names different from any of the original content names. When you install the Extension to the same location as your existing content, many of the new content families will install in folders that already exist. A notable exception is that all of the new pipe fittings have been re-organized to be grouped by material type rather than by category. The end result is that your original pipe fittings will remain as is (organized by category folders) and the new pipe fitting folders will be adjacent to those folders and organized by material type.

IMPORTANT:
The fittings that are included in the RME 2009 Content Extension will not function properly if their associated lookup tables are not installed in the correct location. These lookup tables (.csv files) need to be installed in the same location as your current lookup tables. The default installed location for the "LookupTables" folder is:

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\RME 2009
Windows Vista: C:\Program Data\Autodesk\RME 2009

If you are unsure where your "LookupTables" folder is located, you can find this information in the "Revit.ini" file. This file is located in the same folder where Revit MEP 2009 is installed. In this file, search for "LookupTableLocation". This will indicate where your lookup tables are installed. For example:

LookupTableLocation=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\RME 2009\LookupTables

When you run the self-extracting ".exe" file to install the RME 2009 Content Extension, you will be prompted to choose a location to extract the content files. You should browse to the path indicated in your "Revit.ini" file, and stop one level above the "LookupTables" folder. In the example listed above, you should browse to and select the following folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\RME 2009

This will ensure that the new lookup tables contained in the RME 2009 Content Extension will be installed to the correct location.

Alternatively, you could extract the new content to any location that you desire, and then manually move the contents of the newly extracted "LookupTables" folder to the correct "LookupTableLocation" location, as specified in the "Revit.ini" file.