Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Populating a Space Schedule via Lookup Info from an Excel Spreadsheet

I have been struggling with wanting to take a Room parameter from the Arch's model and have it populate in our Space schedule to a corresponding parameter. Currently in 2013 there is no direct route. However, I believe I have found a workable solution for us.

I am posting this solution so that perhaps some of you will find it helpful for things that you are trying to do as well.
This is based off of having the Subscription tools from Imaginit. They have a newer version out for R-MEP 2014 that will eliminate some of the need for the activity I have listed below b/c you will be able to pass some user parameters from the Arch's Rooms to Mech's Spaces with the updated tool. You can go here to investigate that further: http://www.imaginit.com/software-solutions/building-architecture/imaginit-utilities-for-revit

Initially I looked into Schedule Keys, but this was not the easiest way for me....however, I would like to point out that that is a very plausible solution for other things, so you all might keep that in mind when you are wanting to send information back and forth.


I used a small example project that I threw together that was only 7 rooms big.
This will obviously be more cumbersome with larger projects.
I am hoping to find a smoother way to do this, but I haven’t figured that out yet.

**This will *NOT* automatically update when the spreadsheet is changed. You will have to go through this process all again.
If the room names/numbers/codes in the Arch’s model changes, you must go through all of this process again to update everything.
I have a Space parameter called “Room Code Manual” inside the Space, it will NOT automatically update when the Arch’s Room Code updates, you must go through all of this process again to update everything again.
Watch the cell formatting, it didn't want me to bring in "+" or "EX" values on the PRESS columns, it had to be a numeric value.
When copying from the Referencing spreadsheet and pasting it into the Space worksheet make sure you paste it in as Paste Special/Values, and then click on the “!” and convert it to Numeric.
Another note: if you happened to copy/paste info down below the info on the Space Excel sheet make sure you Deleted the info along with Clearing Cell contents and deleting those rows/columns...otherwise you will get an error when you try to bring that back into Revit.
0) Reload the Arch’s Link in your model.
1) Create a Room Schedule that has the Room Name, Room Number, and Room Code (this is the parameter that we
       will use to pass back into the Space's Room Code Manual parameter) from the Arch's model.
        Make sure the schedule linked files check box is selected
2) R/Export that room schedule
3) Open that room schedule in Excel
4) Use the desired reference worksheet you have already set up in Excel that does the look up information to
      another tab in the worksheet, I copy paste the info from the Room Schedule I exported into this worksheet 
      “Room Schedule” tab, it will then populate a bunch of columns
5) Use the Imaginit Tool to Create an Export template for a Space that includes the desired items such as:
        The Room Code Manual is intended to bring back the Room code from the Arch's model, you will copy/paste that from the Room Schedule you exported earlier. Choose the desired parameters. Always include Element ID so Revit can track the items it is sending back and forth.

6) Export the Project Data from that Space Template you made in the Imaginit tool
7) Open up the Info that it exported in Excel
8) Copy/Paste into the Space worksheet the info you gathered from the worksheet you used the Room Schedule on
9) Save the Space worksheet
10) Imaginit/Excel/Import Project Data with that Space info

Hello Readers!

I know it has been quite awhile.
Hopefully some of you are still out there.
As an update...we are on Revit-MEP 2013 at the moment.
I am hoping we get switched over to 2014 in the near future, it sounds like there are some really cool tools involving schedules and some parameter tools as well.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Back from AU 2012!

I made it back safe and sound from AU 2012!

Another great year and another great round of information on Revit MEP 2013, AutoCAD MEP 2013, AutoCAD 2013, and more!

Had a great time nerding out with friends that I only get to run into there.

Special thanks to Davit Butts ( @dabutts7 ) and Lynn Allen ( @Lynn_Allen  ) for some rockin classes and excellent tips!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

AU 2012

Hoping to learn lots and lots at AU 2012!!

See you all there!! :D

Safe journey!

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

R-MEP 2012: Reloading Links Not Automatic with Syncing

Let's start off with a little Revit tid-bit that seems to surprise people a lot. ...And by surprise I mean irritate and disappoint.

Many of you are past CAD users. You are used to having to go reload your cad file backgrounds manually. You are also probably used to seeing a pop-up in the lower right-hand corner that tells you your cad file background (aka xrefs) are out of date and you need to reload them.

Revit (atleast 2012) does not work that way. There is no pop-up to tell you your links need to be reloaded. Ok, I get it, Revit isn't CAD so we shouldn't make too many comparisons. The part that surprises many people is if you have File Sharing set up and you are working in a Local copy and you Synch with Central, it does *not* reload any of the files you have linked to your model. Nope. It just doesn't happen. I have watched several people when I tell them to reload my model (separate file than the file they are working in) into their model and all they do is go to Sync with Central and they are surprised when they do not see my updates. You *have* to go to Manage Links and Reload from there. Synching with Central will *never* reload the Links.

I have found I do this so much (due to constant changes) that I added the Manage Links button to the Quick Access Toolbar at the very top. { I also threw the Reload Latest (for Synch with Central), Synch with Central, Align, and Spell Check buttons up there as well. }

So there you have it. If you can't figure out why you are not seeing the latest and greatest of the Linked files...make sure you've actually Reloaded them. On the flip side of that...make sure the file you are reloading had been Synch'ed with Central before you reload it, otherwise only that person's Local file has the changes in it and no-one can access them.

Switching it Up!

Now that I have my blog switched over to cover CAD and Revit and anything else along the way I thought it best to throw a little post out.

I am here to discuss the issues that I see people struggle with on these different software packages. I am by no means here to bash the products. You can do some seriously powerful and awesome things with them. However, along the way there are bound to be sticking points..areas that just frustrate you. I think for the most part it is because you see how much these products can do and you get disappointed in some of the areas that you find lacking. I know I do at times.

Also if I find cool tricks to make things go faster and more efficient I'll post them here as well.

So let's get started..... :D

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Ta-Da!!

Here's the new layout!
What do you think?
I might do some more tweaks if I find something cool, but for now I think this will do.

Have a good week people!

Upcoming Changes to the Look of the Blog

I am going to try to work on the template for my blog.
In the process of that I may lose links and/or some functionalities for awhile...
Hopefully I can get it all put back together successfully.
I haven't looked at HTML code in a couple of years, so I'll be winging it!

Wish me luck!

Wow, Even Longer Time No Post, Eh?

Wow...so contrary to what you all might think, I have not forgotten I had a blog. It just seems that everything I do these days does not really replay to why I initiated this blog. I'm well into the Revit-MEP side of things these days. I've set up and built content for R-MEP 2011 and am using 2012. Word on the street is we might be upgrading to R-MEP 2013 in the next couple of months if all goes well. I'm also at a different job now. No longer a CAD Manager in title. I'm a "Mechanical Engineer" by title (and degree for that matter). I usually embrace the more IT/Technical side of myself than the Mech Eng side.

So...what should I do with my little blog now?

Wonder if i can swap out the name of it to something a little more appropriate to what I do these days?

Perhaps it won't take me another year and 8mos to post again?

In the mean time, you all be good to yourselves and others!!

Maybe I'll bump elbows with you at AU 2012!!! :D

Monday, September 03, 2012

Heads Up!

Heads up!

Hopefully the old bookmarks you had for my Ab's AutodeskBuildingSystem blog brought you to my updated blogspot here. I thought it might behoove me to convert this to just a general Nerd Discussion and not pin myself down to just one software. Autodesk likes to mix things up now and again and ABS didn't remain the name of the old software...also I shifted for the most part out of A-MEP and into more R-MEP.

So enjoy the nerd-yammer followers! :D

PS - It doesn't look like the bookmarks you had will send you to the updated location...bummer. Hope everyone can find me!

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Wow, Long Time No Post, eh?

Yeah, that's what I said!
I have not given up on my blog...it's just so hard to post these days.
As a progress report, we are shifting into Revit - MEP 2011.
I'm excited and challenged.
There is a possibility that we may update our ABS 07 to A-MEP 2011, but that is purely speculation (and hope) at this time.

So I debate about posting items here for both R-MEP and A-MEP.

What do you all think?

{ Or does anyone read this any more? }

Friday, December 04, 2009

AU recoup time

I survived another great run of classes at AU 2009 this year!
A big shout out to some of my favorite speakers: Todd Shackelford ( http://cadshack.blogspot.com ), David Butts, and Robert Green. Great job guys!

My only complaint...where the heck was the Dr Pepper?! I finally found it over at the Luxor. It was worth the walk ;)

Perhaps I'll post some cool info from my classes!

Thank you again to all who made AU 2009 happen this year!!!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Who's Ready?

Who's ready for AU 2009??!!

I'm pumped.
Been keeping up w/ AU 2009 info on Twitter.
Look for the #AU2009 tag and you can stay in the loop as well!

From Twitter: @AU_Online :
Some Pre-AU Reading - The AU Show Guide: http://bit.ly/4Q2Sgd | #AU2009

Only one more work week to go!

Friday, November 06, 2009

AU Update & TweetUp Scheduled!

AU 09 approaches!

ATTENTION TWITTER PEOPLE:
Per an email from Shaan Hurley: There will be a Twitter Tweetup event on the exhibit hall floor Tuesday night Dec 1, 2009 at 7PM (Las Vegas Time) in the AUGI area.

Follow Shaan at @mrcadman for more fun spur of the moment Twitter stuff during AU. Also if he gets people to donate $2000 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (http://ww5.komen.org/) AND he gets over 2000 followers to his Twitter account, he will shave his head at AU for the good cause!

Now who doesn't want to see that??!!!

So let's see what we can all do to help him out! :D

Only 25 more days until AU!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

AU Virtual & Subscription

For those of you who can't go to Autodesk University in person and you're on subscription they are offering FREE Autodesk University Virtual Premier passes.
  • Autodesk University Virtual Premier Passes

  • You will need to have your Subscription number handy.

    For those of you who don't know what AU-Virtual is check out more info here:
  • Autodesk University Virtual
  • Twitter CAD People

    For those of you who are on Twitter, you may be interested in following these people:

    @Lynn_Allen Lynn Allen of Autodesk http://lynn.blogs.com/

    @mrcadman Shaan Hurley of Autodesk & AUGI

    @AU_Online Info/Updates for Autodesk University

    @AUGI AUGI (Autodesk Users Group International)

    Monday, September 14, 2009

    Wipeout Blocks

    It's been a bit.
    Thought I might post a couple tid bits on wipeout blocks for ya.

    Wipeout Block:

    When working on wipeout blocks you need to be very aware of draw order.
    If you do not set your draw order correctly they will not do what you want them to do.
    Draw a closed polyline.
    Type "wipeout" at the command line.
    At the command line type "p" for polyline.
    It will then ask you to "select a closed polyline".
    Click on the closed polyline you created.
    It will then ask "Erase polyline" choose "yes".
    Immediately it has been converted to a wipeout block.
    You will most likely need to manipulate the draw order of things for it to hide properly.
    Also you will want to double check this when you get into and out of the drawing.
    You can place wipeout blocks into an xref and they will work through that.
    Again, you will need to watch the display order in order for them to work correctly.

    Wipeout Block Frames:

    If you want to completely hide the frame that is around the wipeout block this is the process you will need to use.
    Keep in mind if you turn off the frame you will not be able to move/select/edit it.
    When you run this command it will manipulate all the wipeout blocks on the drawing (and xref'ed into the drawing).
    Type "wipeout" at the command line.
    Type "F" for frames.
    To turn them off type "off".
    To turn them back on type "on".
    It will blink and process the entire drawing.
    This could take a bit of time.

    Friday, August 21, 2009

    AU 09

    Open registration for AU 09 has begun!

    Get in there and get signed up!

    If you are a Revit MEP person, I highly suggest Todd Shackelford's #MP322-1 Implementing Autodesk Revit MEP: A to Z class!

    Todd Shadkelford is the "author" of the "Cad Shack" blog, which rocks!

    Creating Automatic Gap on Crossed Lines

    This is for our basic lines/arcs/circles friends out there.
    Sometimes we have to isometric or schematic sketches and need to use ye old lines/arcs/circles commands. When they cross I'd like to have a standard gap created so that from drafter to drafter they will look the same.

    Thanks to a fantastic person on the Autodesk Discussion Groups (Big shout out of thanks to Mep09Developer !!!!) I now have a snappy little tool to do this.

    First I will give the lisp code, and then I will tell you how I pushed it into a button/drop down in the cui.

    Enjoy!!

    Lisp file (Again....huge thanks to Mep09Developer!!!):

    ;;; C:GAPLINE - creates gaps at line intersections so that one of the lines remains unchanged
    ;;; From http://discussion.autodesk.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=739827&tstart=0
    ;;; By "Mep09Developer" on 08-10-09

    (defun C:GL (/ gap intpt gapent circle)
    (prompt "GAP LINE")
    (while 'T
    (setq gap 4
    intpt (osnap (getpoint "\nSpecify intersection point: ") "INT")
    );setq
    (if intpt
    (progn
    (setq gapent (car (entsel "\nPick entity to gap: ")))
    (setvar "CMDECHO" 0)
    (command "CIRCLE" intpt gap)
    (command "TRIM" (setq circle (entlast)) "" (list gapent intpt) "")
    (command "ERASE" circle "")
    (setvar "CMDECHO" 1)
    (prompt "\n")
    );progn
    );if
    );while
    (princ)
    )

    Info to get it onto a drop-down or button in the cui, use "/" for the file path name, the file name for the lisp was called "GapLine2":

    ^C^C(load "[file location]/Support/GapLine2");(C:GL);

    Wednesday, August 12, 2009

    AU 09 Sign-ups Open!

    The sign ups for Autodesk University 2009 are Officially Open for Early Registration!
    (If you have an AU account, you can early register)

    Autodesk University 2009 (AU!) Link

    I'm signed up and excited to be taking a bunch of Revit MEP classes.

    Who knows...perhaps I'll begin posting about Revit MEP in the upcoming year?! :D