The H-Factor

HydraCAD V51.10 (and by extension, V52) added a new function – Generate RCP Heads to the Cleanup toolbar.

What does this do? From the OlderChanges.rtf document:

(N)New command added (Generate RCP Heads) to help with the plotting of pendent heads for a Reflected Ceiling Plan. This command will generate a copy of any sprinkler heads that the user selects. These copies go into a new RCP_HEADS layer that can be turned on while the traditional SPRNKS layer is turned off for plotting. This will only work on new drawings, due to changes required in the way sprinklers heads were defined

All of our sprinkler heads were redefined in that update. They were switched to be based in Layer 0. In the drawing, they are still in SPRNKS. This allowed us to change their properties after running this command, so as noted, it may not work properly on older drawing. Check it out!

Autodesk has created a reduced feature version of Revit (with a much reduced price) that will allow you to open Revit drawings, but not do much else. It will allow you to open Revit files from other sources and turn them into DWG files, but there is no ability for it to be programmed by us (or anyone else). It has trimmed down Architecture and Structural tabs, but no MEP functionality.

The bottom line? We will not be selling or supporting Revit LT. If you are interested to see what it can do, donwload a free 30-day trial from: RevitLT Trial. On that site you will also find an FAQ and a comparison between full Revit and Revit LT

From a customer:

Q: When we tag our threaded branchlines for fabrication using pipe type “S” (XL pipe) and then run the AutoList command, the pipe always shows up as type “A” (Schedule 40) in the Hydralist program. Is there another setting that we are missing?

A: Yes, there is another setting. HydraCAD stores a list of pipe types that are threadable. By default, pipe type “A” (Schedule 40) is the only one in the list to begin with. You may add others as necessary. See the example below:

1. Pick Start AutoList or type in SAL

2. Pick the Options button

This brings up the Listing Options box

3. Pick the pipe type that you want treated as threaded from the list at lower right. In this case I picked S – XL Pipe

4. Pick the Add button. Both A and S will now be in the list. Pick OK to back out and proceed with your AutoList

AutoCAD, for some inexplicable reason, removed the dialog box for the ARRAY commands in AutoCAD 2012 (and 2013)

If you want the older dialog based ARRAY command, just type in ARRAYCLASSIC!

Occasionally, after a new install, some users report various troubles with HydraCAD/AutoCAD. These can be missing toolbars, missing pull down menus, ? marks on buttons, unknown commands or others. Many of these are caused by the Support File Search Path being all messed up. Either there are additional paths in there that conflict with ours, or some paths are missing. One cause of this is allowing AutoCAD to Migrate Settings when running a new AutoCAD version for the first time. We always recommend NOT allowing AutoCAD to migrate settings. Allowing it to do so when running AutoCAD 2020 for the first time, for example, migrates the setting for V55 as well as adds in the setting for V56. This is bad.

So, we often recommend the following steps. They are easy and usually solve the problems:

Step 1 – Reset AutoCAD to its default state (ie, no HydraCAD or other items in the support paths

    B. These will launch the following dialog box. You may choose either option, but the Reset custom settings option is the most used

    C. This dialog should display:

    D. When you pick OK, a configuration tool will launch. When it is completed, AutoCAD will open. You will see a dialog like this. Pick Do Not Load. You will need to repeat that pick on four or five more dialogs

    E. Close AutoCAD

    F. When you go back into AutoCAD for the first time after running this tool, you will see the AutoCAD Migrate Setting. Pick Clear All and then the check mark (√)

Step 2 – Reconfigure HydraCAD

AutoCAD 2012 and 2013 use a default setting of the Sysvar OSOPTIONS that makes it impossible to select the intersection of the ceiling grid, or any osnap within any other hatch pattern, for that matter. To correct this, Go into TOOLS->OPTIONS and go to the Drafting tab. Then, uncheck the Ignore hatch objects selection in the Object Snap Options part of the dialog box.

Or, type in OSOPTIONS and enter 2 as the new value. Also, type in SNAPGRIDLEGACY and set it to 1. A future update will correct both of these automatically.

There are times when exporting and importing workspaces seems not to work. The following steps explain another way to save your customized workspace so you can restore it after updating your HydraCAD.

1. Open HydraCAD, set up your workspace as you like
2. From the AutoCAD workspace tool select Tools->Workspaces->Save current as
3. Give the workspace a name (ex. Joe)
4. Close HydraCAD
5. Open windows explorer and browse to C:\HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\50.1, 50.2 or 50.3 folder (depending on your version)
6. Locate and copy the Hcadwin.cuix file to this same folder and then rename it (i.e. Myhcadwin.cuix)
7. Run the HydraCAD update
8. Open HydraCAD
9. Type CUI at the command line
10. Pick the Transfer tab
11. From the customizations in new file screen (right side) pick the folder icon (open customization file)
12. Browse to the 50.1, 50.2 or 50.3 folder (as before) and select the Myhcadwin.cuix file you created and pick 'Open'
13. From the customizations in new file screen (right side) select the workspace named Joe and drag and drop it to the workspace category in the customizations in main file screen (left side)
14. Right click on the Joe workspace that you just dropped (left side) and select 'Current', Right click the Joe workspace again and select 'Set Default'
15. Pick 'apply and OK

Your customized workspace should now be present.

This topic builds on my previous topic: Creating Drawing Views from 3D Fittings Models using VIEWBASE and is a new command to AutoCAD 2013 as part of the Model Documentation tools Autodesk is bring over from Inventor.

Once you have the parent view inserted (as in that example), you can now create section views quickly and easily.

Starting with that earlier parent view:

You can now create sections:

1. Type in VIEWSECTION
2. Pick the parent model (the first one placed in the previous blog entry)
3. You will now be asked to begin placing section lines. You can pick any number of points. To draw a simple section, just pick two. For an offset section, pick more. Press Enter or right-click when complete
4. When the section line is complete, you will be asked to place your section view. Under default conditions, the crosshairs will be constrained orthoganally. To move to some other location, hold down the SHIFT key. Where you place you model determines the direction of the section arrows, and therefore the section itself

You will be given an option menu. If you want to include geometry beyond the cutting plane, select Distance and specify the depth to which you want include details. Annotation will let you specify what Identifier to use for the section, and whether or not it should get a label. 'hatCh' will let you specifiy if objects that are cut will be filled with a hatch pattern.

To change the annotations, double-click on them or select their grips and check out the options.

The VIEWBASE command allows you to quickly spawn multiple views of your 3D risers (or any AutoCAD Solids). This technology was borrowed from Autodesk Inventor and is available in AutoCAD 2012 and newer as part of the Model Documentation enhancements.

Open the PUMPROOM.DWG from HydraTools->Tools->Training Drawings. We will use this detail to create our views.

In Model Space, Type in VIEWBASE. This will create the first (TOP) view, from which all other views will be created from. If any usable objects exist which can be used to create the views, then you will be asked to select model space objects. Non-usable objects will not be able to be selected.

Next, you will be asked for the layout name that you want to place the views on. In my case I chose Layout 1. If you are already on the layout tab that you want to add the views to and type in VIEWBASE, then all model space objects that can be portrayed in a view will automtically be selected.

Next, you will be asked to place the base view, which will follow your cursor. Try placing it in the middle of your viewport for this exercise. You will see an option drop list appear. I selected Hidden Lines and told it to show only Visible Lines. Feel free to experiment with other options, especially those under Visibilty and Annotation.

After you place one view, the command will ask you for the placement of the next view. As you move around, you will see the view reorient itself. You can use this or pick Orientation to select the view angle. This command repeats until you press Enter, at which point AutoCAD will generate those views. The below picture is from the AutoCAD Help file:

For the Pump Room example, I chose these four views:

You can change the views later by using the VIEWEDIT command. For example, you could make the view be shaded nicely by choosing Hidden and 'Shaded with visible lines' as the option. I did this with the view on the upper right. You can also click on the view and then pick the blue arrow that appears and change the scale of the view.

VIEWPROJ will create further views – you will be prompted to pick the parent view first.

VIEWUPDATE will update your views to the current state of the drawing detail you are modeling (i.e. the 3D Pump Room)

Play around and enjoy this cool little tool. My next post will cover how to create sections from these views!

This is a really simple, really cool, tool. And it has been around since AutoCAD 2007. It will create a model space 2D block of the 3D objects found in your drawing. You can insert that block into your drawing, replace one that is already there, or create a new drawing file of that block. I used the PUMPROOM.DWG from HydraTools->Tools->Training Drawings.

Type in FLATSHOT:

Select you options and pick your objects. In the example below, I chose to not show obscured lines. I set my current view at SE Isometric and did one FLATSHOT. I then went to a TOP Isometric view and did another FLATSHOT. This created two blocks of my pump room that I could annotate or add dimensions to.