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Amy's Video Responses
Amy handpicks the top questions she receives and demonstrates how to solve the problem in these short videos.
Creating Walls Based on Splines in Revit Architecture - Week of March 15, 2010
I want to create a yacht, and can’t seem to find the information on how to create curves or spline walls. Can you help?
Controlling External Reference Faded Display in AutoCAD Architecture - Week of March 8, 2010
I just started working on AutoCAD Architecture 2010 at my firm and when I bring an Xref into a drawing it is at grayscale. The layer manager shows the layers as the colors in the original Xref drawing. Is there a setting so I can see the Xref with colors?
Modifying the Top Slope of a Floor Slab in Revit Architecture - Week of March 1, 2010
I tried to create the slope at the top of a slab in the shower area, and I tried to use the "Add Split Line" and "Modify Sub Element". It worked, but it sloped the bottom of the slab also. How can I modify just the top of the slab?
Recreating the Site Plan View in Revit Architecture - Week of February 22, 2010
Hi Amy, I lost "site plans" in views. How do I get it back?
Topography Cut and Fill in Revit Architecture - Week of February 8, 2010
Hi Amy, I drew elevations of a ditch using the toposurface and inputting elevation markers. Now that I have this surface area is there an easy way to get the volume of the ditch?
Origins of BIM and tie-in to 3ds Max Design - Week of February 1, 2010
Hi Amy, I am wondering who is the original owner/inventor of the term "BIM" and what does 3D Studio Max have to do with Autodesk or BIM? I always thought 3D Studio Max was an entirely separate program and separate owner and don’t understand the relationship.
AEC Objects & Custom Settings - Week of January 25, 2010
I would like to be able to customize the settings on some of the AEC objects, in particular on bubble calls and sections cuts. Is there a way that I can dictate what layers they come in on. I know I can change that layering after-the-fact... but I would like to be able to change layer, layer colors and linetypes somewhere permanently.
Low Slope Roofs in Revit Architecture - Week of January 11, 2010
Several of your videos talk about working with pitched roofs, but what about low slope, flat roofs that can have numerous buckled surfaces that slope to drains? These buckled surfaces are typically triangular, and can have all three edges not parallel to the plane of the roof level. It is also possible there would be a rectangular surface that is sloped in two directions from the roof plane. I have tried modifying slope arrows, but Revit seems to need at least one edge parallel to the roof plane. It won't let me create the roof. Any insights?
Creating a Key Plan in Revit Architecture - Week of December 14, 2009
I need to make a key plan for our drawings in Revit. Can you help me out or give me some direction?
Subscription Advantage Packs - Week of November 9, 2009
I'm wondering what an Advantage Pack is? And where do I get it? I heard it can be used to check standards on a Revit Model.
Restoring Tool Palettes in AutoCAD Architecture - Week of November 2, 2009
I just started using AutoCAD, but I don't have my tool palettes. I can open Tool Palettes, but I don't know how to add Design, Detailing, Document and Visualization. Can you help me?
Linear Feet of Walls in Material Takeoff - Week of October 26, 2009
Is it possible to do the calculation of the total linear feet of the walls in the material takeoff schedule?
Revit Architecture Design Options - Week of October 19, 2009
How simple is it to set up design options and move modeled components between different design options?
AutoCAD Architecture Door and Window Assemblies - Week of October 12, 2009
Hi Amy, For years we've been using the ADT for 2D drawing only. Now we are trying to design in 3D and need to create a custom door and sidelite in a contiguous frame assembly. We tried to use the door/window assembly feature but to no success. Is it possible to have the whole assembly act as one object? Any tips?
3D Masonry Arch for a Window in Revit Architecture - Week of October 5, 2009
Hi Amy, I used the split face and paint to show different colored brick on a church building design. I was able to do the split face on the half round windows and used the paint for soldier course - but it did not turn out like the design at all. I want to show this in 3D, not just 2D elevation. Any suggestions?
Rendering in AutoCAD Architecture - Week of September 28, 2009
I am a frequent webcast viewer and have learned a lot about AutoCAD Architecture and 3 dimensional drawings. I would like to see a webcast on how to apply colors to a siding or roof. I am aware that it is probably a very simple solution and hope to achieve more advanced renderings by watching a webcast for these aspects. Is there one on this subject or will there be one?
Autodesk Certified Professional Program, Week of September 21, 2009
Hello Amy, something important to me is how to achieve an "Autodesk Certified Professional" in Revit Architecture. Can you please give me the best guidelines of how to prepare for and enter the exam?
Editing Fonts in Revit Architecture - Week of September 14th, 2009
Is there a similar font to ArchQuik that can be used in Revit? I use it in AutoCAD and understand it is not a ttf. I liked the Berks font in your webcast, so can you tell me the font type you used?
Adding Trim to Windows in AutoCAD Architecture - Week of August 31st, 2009
Dear Amy, Is there an easy and fast way to place trim around the windows in AutoCAD Architecture, or do you have to create them from scratch every time? When I view my house model it never shows any window trim.
Changing the size of Temporary Dimensons in Revit Architecture - Week of August 24th, 2009
Is there a way to change the size of the text in temporary dimensions? They are so tiny I cannot read them at all, and because they are relative to screen size, the more I zoom the smaller they seem to be.
View, Print and Markup with Design Review - Week of August 17, 2009
Hi Amy, I need to email plans to a client who can't open DWG files. Is there a way to change the file extension so he can open them? He has no CAD type programs.
Custom Roofs in Revit Architecture - Week of August 10, 2009
Hi Amy, How do you construct a birdsmouth type roof over a hip roof? Specifically, a roof that is about half way up the hip roof and has a gable in it with a window or a louver? It's like a dormer except the roofs extend down to the hip roof and blend in. I've tried everything and nothing seems to work!
Wall Angles in Revit Architecture - Week of July 27, 2009
Amy, How does one create a 45 degree from vertical wall in Revit Architecture? I've tried to rotate it in a section view with no luck. Thanks!
Roof Gable with Differing Heights - Week of July 20, 2009
Hi Amy, I am making a gable roof in Revit, and each of the 2 sloping sides are at different heights. Can you help me to draw this roof?
Scheduling Curtain Walls as Windows - Week of July 13, 2009
Hi Amy, How do you tag a curtain wall so it will show up on the window schedule in Revit Architecture?
Recovering Files in AutoCAD Architecture - Week of July 6, 2009
Amy, I am working in AutoCAD Architecture 2009 and Navigator has lost a sheet! It is in the sheet directory under the job. How do I recover the sheet without recreating it all over again?
Revit Toposurface - Week of June 29, 2009
Amy, I am new to Revit and am trying to create a realistic model for a rendering. I would like to create a parking lot that interacts with the landscape, and includes a curb that follows the toposurface. Can you create a family in Revit that will host inside a toposurface, toposurface subregion, or toposurface parking element?
Roofs and Dormers in AutoCAD Architecture - Week of June 22, 2009
Hello Amy, Thank you for the webcast "Best Practices for Roofs in AutoCAD Architecture". With it, I have been able to create the roof of my home. However I'm having some issues with the dormers, more specifically the roofs or walls around the dormers. This was not addressed in your webcast. On the roof construct, I'd like to trim the in front of the windows of the dormers. How can I do this?
Sketch-Up Models in Revit
Dear Amy, After you import a Sketch-Up model into Revit Architecture, how can you change the elements over to walls, roofs, windows, etc.?
Changing Dimension Numerical Value to Text
Dear Amy, How do you change Dimension Numerical Value to text?
Dividing Up an Open Floor Plan
Dear Amy, I need to create separate areas or rooms in an open floor plan. I know how to create rooms when there are walls creating the separation between the rooms, but I need to create separate areas with no walls. Is there a way to draw an 'invisible' line that the Rooms Tool will recognize as separate areas?
Room Tags
Dear Amy, I am using Revit Architecture 2009 for the first time to create construction documents. I am hVideo nameng issues matching our AutoCAD Standards with Room Tags. I use the standard from Imperial Library and thought I would be able to edit the family, but when the open the family the box disappears. All I need to do is make the box around the numbers smaller. Am I missing something?
Sharing Wall Types Among Projects
Dear Amy, We are hVideo nameng trouble sharing wall types among our projects. Is this possible? How can we do it? Do the walls have to be created in the project or as a family?
Adding Custom Parameters to a Title Block
Dear Amy, I am trying to put together a title block family that will automatically be filled in when one edits the Project Information of the project for things that are repetitive throughout the sheets. I have created labels in the title block family, but I cannot get them to connect to the Project Information family when I load the title block into the project. Furthermore, I cannot add more parameters to the Project Information. How do I do that?
Hardware Requirements for Revit Architecture
Dear Amy, What are the minimum requirements to run Revit Architecture on my computer and what video cards do or do not work well with the software?
Display Controls
Dear Amy, I have a problem with my walls in my sheets tab. In low detail, I only see the stud walls in my views and construct tabs. I then move my cut plane up or down in my view tab drawings so all the windows show up. I think CAD's default cut plane is 3'6", but I have windows that are above this so I adjust it to 4'6" in my view tab drawings. The problem is, this change does not show up in my sheet view. I have "match sheet view layers to view" marked as YES and I also have "visretain" as 1. There is no cut plane option in the sheets tab drawings.
Modeling Custom Walls
Dear Amy, How do I model a wall this is in an eclipse shape with a sloped wall? How do I model a hexagonal wall that is slanted? I've imported some data items from AutoCAD and would like to model entirely in Revit.
Sheet Properties
Dear Amy, I have a project where the house is not situated on a north/south axis. The front face of the house is at 16.82 degrees off of true north. Is there a way to rotate the view of plans on the sheets - not the site plan - so they are square to the page (16.82 degrees)? I see there is a way to do this at 90 degrees but haven't located a way to do a number other than 90.
Software Trials for Students
Dear Amy, I found out about a software trial from the college I attend. The instructor claimed it was a 13-month trial. Is there anything out there like that for AutoCAD Architecture?
Window Tags
Dear Amy, The firm I work with would like to change the icon on the window tag from diamond shaped to a 6-sided polygon. Can this be done, and if so would you provide step-by-step instructions on how to change the image on the project tools and CAD drawings?
Custom Walls
Dear Amy, I cannot figure out how to add a stucco exterior wall to revit, or create the wall with stucco. Can you help?More Questions & Answers
Amy highlights her answers to some of her favorite user submitted questions.Q: Does 3ds Max play nice with AutoCAD Architecture?A: Yes, these two products are fully compatible! A companion product to AutoCAD Architecture, 3ds Max allows you to create high-quality visualizations of your designs. To see this great product in action, click here to check out my tutorial, 3ds Max Interoperability with AutoCAD Architecture.
Q: I need to create high-quality visualizations of my AutoCAD Architecture designs, but I'm concerned that it'll take too long. Can you help?A: Absolutely! 3ds Max works seamlessly - and quickly - with AutoCAD Architecture to help you create advanced visualizations. If you'd like to see and hear about more improvements, click here to check out my tutorial, Speed & Workflow Enhancements in 3ds Max.
Q: How do you find answers to all the questions you receive?A: When questions come in, I utilize several resources to find answers. Below I've listed my favorites.
- Join AUGI.com for Autodesk discussion groups. Usually, someone else has had the same question and posted an answer to it - saving you a lot of work!
- Also check out Autodesk.com/discussion. Can't find what you're looking for on AUGI? Odds are that you'll find it here.
- Try Autodesk.com/products for product info and resources, such as FAQs, white papers, and demos.
- Search Google.com. You'll be surprised by all the relevant hits you'll get back on blogs, articles, and web sites.
Q: How do you get space objects and room finish objects to show up in the properties as shown in your tutorial?A: The room finish data shown in properties is attached when the space entity is tagged. Space tags can be found in the content browser under the Documentation catalogs (Imperial and Metric).
Q: I found your page by chance and am so happy! I have bookmarked it and go thru it almost everyday, even repeating the lessons - so clear and pleasant. Is there a way to contact you with specific problems?A: Thank you! It's really nice to know that the web site is helping you better understand AutoCAD Architecture. I will continue to add more content to make it an even better resource for you in the future. Let me know if there are specific topics you are interested in - you can continue to contact me with questions through the web site!
Q: My company primarily produces architectural details, not floor plans or elevations. Is AutoCAD Architecture right for me or should we use a normal version of AutoCAD?A: The Detail Component Manager in AutoCAD Architecture is absolutely essential to a company that spends most of their time producing architectural details. The extra investment for AutoCAD Architecture would pay for itself quickly in time saved with just the detailing tools.
Q: Is there a better, easier way to create interior elevations?A: Good news! There is. You can easily and quickly create them using some of the 3D features in AutoCAD for architects. Check out my Interior elevations tutorial to see how!
Q: What is the meaning of life?A: I don't know, but I do know that the life-saving drafting features in AutoCAD for architects will give you more time to look for it.
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