RobiNZ CAD Blog

Why doesn’t Revit have a model browser?

Sometimes you can look at something for, literally, years without seeing the obvious. While using a 3D DWF (during a phone conversation) I gazed at the List, Thumbnail, Markups and Model panel and wondered, why doesn’t Revit have this? Why does a Building Information Model application only offer a document’centric representation of its model? The project browser is configurable, but only for view/sheet related items. I can see plenty of uses for the sort of model tree seen in Autodesk Design Review when you export a 3D DWF from Revit (or AutoCAD Architecture for that matter). One place a hierarchy... Read more →

Apple + computer

I got an email “Sent from my iPad” Which had been forwarded “Sent from my iPhone” So I replied “Sent from my Windows Mobile Workstation” Computer from HP,.Apple from the Dragicevich Orchard, Oratia near my home. “As well as freshly picked apples, Carmela Dragicevich and her son Mate sell the best juice ever.” Read more →

David Byrne, on the suburb

It’s from True Stories, 1986, but still seems relevant today except many of these ‘burbs are abandoned: “Look at this. Who can say it isn't beautiful? Sky, bricks. Who do you think lives there? Four-car garage. Hope, fear, excitement, satisfaction.” Read more →

Revit User Group Auckland – August & 2010 AGM announcement

At Jasmax, 2 Marston Street, Parnell, on Wednesday 18th August 2010 Meeting sponsored by Precision 5.30pm : Please join us from 5.30pm for Drinks and Nibbles 6:00pm : Welcome and Introduction (Kerry Thompson) 6:05pm : Presentation: Revit Rendering with Michelle from Jasmax (20mins or so) and open discussion re Rendering in Revit - please bring your examples for discussions. 7.00pm AGM 2010, Agenda: Minutes from the last meeting Treasury Report Past year's activities Election of officers (Nominations to the chair) General Business Please RSVP attendance by 5pm on Tuesday prior, for catering purposes, via the link at : http://www.rugakl.org/. A... Read more →

MindManager 9 for Windows will change your view of mapping

MindManager 9 was released recently and brings significant changes to my favourite mind mapping application. In fact, too many to cover in one post! This highlights my first impression of MindManager 9, based on experience with the pre-release version, and leaves the detail for future posts. User Interface Refinements MindManager adopts an Office 2010 UI “feel” with a File Tab replacing the version 7/8 Application Button. Some map items and views have been renamed to better indicate their behaviour for new users. Text Markers are now “Tags” (but work much the same). Ribbon/Tab layout has been refined, supposedly based on... Read more →

2001 at the Sci-Fi Airshow

This is a little off topic but I suspect many a CAD geek, not just this one, will like it. From the current selection my pick is The Orion. That’s because as a kid it's the sort of machine I hoped we'd be flying in today and 2001: A Space Odyssey is the best Science Fiction film ever made, yes ever. The Sci-Fi Airshow brings it and other movie machines to life, beautifully. Sci-Fi Airshow - www.scifiairshow.com The SCI-FI AIR SHOW’s purpose is to preserve and promote the rich and varied history of Sci-Fi/fantasy vehicles. Through display and education we... Read more →

I was fooled by ArchiCAD wipeouts, but Quick Select wasn’t

One of the joys of working “downstream” is you get what you’re given. Depending on the source incoming projects could be based on a Revit/ACA Model, AutoCAD file, Image/scan, PDF or export from another CAD system. Today an ex-ArchiCAD dwg fooled me when it started masking content below it in the draw order stack. In the screenshot below the line top left is continuous but disappears far from the edge of the site. Opening the file I expected to see a white hatch or attached image but selecting the area resulted in a completely empty selection set. Fool me once,... Read more →

24 Camtasia Screencasts, a day of Camtasi’crazyness!

Unfortunately I missed much of the live action but the (crazy?) Camtasia team captured their 24 hour, 24 episode screencast marathon to be reviewed at leisure. An impressive variety of artistic & technical advice delivered in a non-stop day! 24 Screencasts About Camtasia in 24 Hours... Starts Now! “Here's the schedule for the day: 8:00 am: Welcome, Meet Shane Lovellette, Camtasia Product Manager (13:53) 9:00 am: 11 years of Camtasia and counting... The history of Camtasia (15:55) - Dean Craven, Chief Technology Officer 10:00 am: Sketch Motion Callouts and How to Use them (12:13) - Jess Knott, Instructional Designer 11:00... Read more →

Revit User Group Manawatu - Notice of August Meeting

When: 5.30pm, Wednesday 4th August 2010 Where: @ Square edge fx2 theatre, Ground Floor to the rear of Square Edge Gallery, The Square, Palmerston North This month’s feature sponsor and presenter will be Resene. Thanks to Resene there will also be a $100 gift voucher door prize up for grabs. As always you must be there on the night to win it! Format for the evening will be; 5:30pm - Drinks, nibbles and chit chat session. 6:00pm - Welcome and introductions PRESENTATIONS: 6:05pm - It's in the detail! Discussion on various detailing techniques and tricks with your construction detailing by... Read more →