The H-Factor

A customer asked last week: How do I properly use a 4×3 Bell Reducer so that it lists correctly?

The answer, according to my co-worker Bill McKenna:

1. A coupling should already be on the pipe intersection where the diameters are changing

2. Select the coupling type required for the Bell Reducer being used:

The Diameter selected at right will fill in the ? mark – IE picking 4" will complete the 4 x 3 Reducers

3. Use Single Coupling to insert the Bell Reducer

Select the SMALLER diameter pipe for the insert. A coupling should already be on the pipe intersection where the diameters are changing. The command will break the pipe selected and add a block representing the reducer and a coupling.

Result: An OVERRIDE block will also be inserted. The 0'-3" long pipe inside the reducer will not be included in the stocklist created by AutoList.
Note: The diameter found in the reducer should be the larger of the two sizes. The point of the reducer should always be towards the smaller diameter pipe.

In HydraLIST:

 

You buy an Autodesk Subscription, but are stymied when trying to install it on a user's machine? Yeah, so are a lot of people. Autodesk does not do a good job of explaining how user access works, IMHO.

Here is a typical scenario:

ABC Sprinkler Company buys two AEC Industry Collections. Johnny B. is the Contract Manager. He got that designation by being the one who ordered the software or who we understood to be the one who is going to handle the deployment of the software. He downloads the software from Autodesk Account and puts the install files on the company server. He then tells Bobby D. to install it. Bobby does so, but cannot actually use the software because he is told…

Contact your administrator to request permission to use this product.

…when he tries to use it. What happened?

This page from Autodesk explains it a bit, but i will try to go further than that.

Why did it fail?

Because each user must be specifically and explicitly given access to each product they are expected to use.

Why does Autodesk do this?

Because without user access being specified, users would be able to 'hoard' as many products as are available (i.e. AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks), possibly leaving those that really need it out in the cold.

What must be done?

User Access must be granted. This is done by the Contract Manager. They must log into their Autodesk Account and give the users access. Tips on using the Autodesk Account can be found on this earlier post: Navigating Autodesk Account

1. From the list at left, Pick User Management:

2. A list of users will appear:

3. Pick Edit Access for the user you are working with. Check the Assign box for all products you want to give them access to

4. Pick Save. In a few moments the User screen will update with the Products and Services showing the number of programs they can access

Now, the user will be authorized to use those seats. They must log in with their own Autodesk Account information in order to get that authorization.

In the last month or so Autodesk has released updates for AutoCAD 2017 and 2018, as well as Revit 2017 and 2018. These areavailable for download in your Autodesk Account or Autodesk Desktop App.

The following links direct you to the instructions for the updates and the new features added/problems fixed  for each update. I encourage you to read through these.

 

AutoCAD 2018.1.1

Feature	Feature Comments
Xref Layer Property Enhancements	To provide more flexibility for controlling xref overrides, the Layer Settings dialog box, which is accessed from the Layer Properties Manager, includes new controls for managing Xref layer properties. When the option to retain overrides to xref layer properties is turned on with the VISRETAIN system variable, you can now specify which xref layer properties that you want to reload. The various layer property options are stored in the registry as specified by the new VISRETAINMODE system variable. The Layer Properties Manager also includes a new status icon to indicate when a layer associated with an xref includes overrides. Primary commands and system variables: LAYER, VISRETAIN, VISRETAINMODE, XREFOVERRIDE
Views and Viewports	You can now easily create, retrieve, and place model views together with automatically sized and scaled layout viewports onto the current layout. When selected, layout viewport objects display two additional grips, one for moving the viewport, and the other for setting the display scale from a list of commonly used scales. Primary commands and system variables: MVIEW, NEWVIEW
High resolution (4K) monitor support	Support for high resolution monitors continues to be improved in the Update. More than 200 dialog boxes and other User Interface elements have been updated to ensure a quality viewing experience on high-resolution (4K) displays. For the best results, use the Windows 10 operating system and a compatible video card.
3D Graphics Performance	The 3D graphics performance for the Wireframe, Realistic, and Shaded visual styles continues to increase depending on the content of the DWG files tested. For example, the median value for the frames-per-second performance in the six large benchmark models used increased by 37% in the Update as compared to AutoCAD 2018. Primary commands and system variables: 3DORBIT, ZOOM, PAN, VSCURRENT

Readme Page and Release Notes

AutoCAD 2017.1.1

Feature	Feature Comments
Import PDF	PDFSHXTEXT is a command that you can use after you import a PDF file that contains SHX geometry. It converts any selected PDF geometry into multiline text objects that use a matching SHX font. Several popular SHX fonts are supported. However, Asian Big Font SHX geometry is currently not supported. Commands: PDFSHXTEXT , -PDFSHXTEXT , TXT2MTXT
High Resolution Monitor Support(High Pixels per Inch)	In the AutoCAD 2017.1.2 Update, common user interface elements, such as the Layer Manager, Command Line window, Property Palette, File Navigation dialog box, pick box cursor, grips, View Cube, and UCS icon, are correctly adjusted to the Windows setting for the display scale. Note: For the best results, use Windows 10 due to operation system limitations. Use a compatible video card for the best results. Some dialog boxes in vertical products are not optimized for viewing at scales greater than 100% on high resolution monitors.
Object Selection	Objects that are moved off screen during selection in remain in the selection set. All linetype gaps can be selected and available for object snapping when High Quality Geometry is turned on. System variables: SELECTIONOFFSCREEN, LTGAPSELECTION
3D Graphics Performance	The performance and reliability of 3DORBIT is improved for rendered visual styles, especially for models with a large number of small blocks containing edges and facets. Command: VISUALSTYLES

Readme Page and Release Notes

Revit 2018.2

• Annotation
  • Fixed an issue in which tags moved when a linked file was reloaded.
  • Fixed an issue causing image files to incorrectly mask label text.
  • Removed the Model Groups category from the Load Tags & Symbols dialog.
• AutoCam
  • Improved stability when clicking context menu items in the View Cube while the Steering Wheel is on.
• Color Fill
  • Fixed an issue that could cause incorrect results when using a color fill scheme set to By range.
• Content
  • Improved accuracy when opening projects that utilize families in plan view.
• Copy/Monitor
  • Improved stability when interacting with the type selector and then completing Copy/Monitor.
• Dynamo Player
  • Improved Revit performance after Dynamo Player is launched and closed.
  • Improved expand/collapse behavior of Watch nodes in Dynamo Player.
  • Improved behavior of Watch nodes in Dynamo Player by collapsing consecutive spaces from String inputs.
• Edit
  • Improved stability when using the split tool.
• File Open/Save/Upgrade
  • Improved stability when upgrading a project that includes a corrupt family.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause unresolved pointer reference errors when opening projects.
  • Improved stability when the pointer pUser of Sketch is null.
  • Improved family loading by remembering the location of the last family loaded into the project.
• Linked Files
  • Improved stability when inserting a Revit link containing invalid or missing phase data.
• Materials
  • Improved stability when exiting painting material in a 3D view.
  • Improved stability when when replacing a material texture in material dialog.
  • Improve stability after creating a new material and dragging it into the local library through material editor.
  • Improved stability when editing materials.
  • Improved stability when quickly double-clicking on the OK button on the Material Browser.
  • Improve stability when working with materials browser to edit material properties and generate thumbnail images.
  • Fix an issue to display the correct material appearance preview.
• Parts
  • Added the ability to copy reinforcement in parts when mirroring the original element.
• Print
  • Fixed an issue with the Print Setup dialog so that work planes print as expected when the option 'Hide ref/work planes' is cleared.
  • Fixed an issue in which the Print dialog became disabled when choosing the Print to PDF print driver with Windows 10 anniversary edition.
• Schedules
  • Improved stability when upgrading the parameter ROOM_SPACE_TYPE_PARAM integer type to ElementId type.

• Sign In/Sign Out - Improved stability when quickly signing out of A360 and closing Revit.
• Sketching
  • Fixed a crash that occurred when editing multi-segment grids.
• User Interface
  • Fixed an issue in which ribbon menus disappeared after performing a print preview.
• Views
  • Improved stability when a view filter included analytic or space categories and the energy analysis tools are disabled in the user interface.
  • Improved stability when reloading an active view that was deleted by another user.
• Worksharing
  • Fixes an issue in the Synchronize with Central operation that mistakenly reports the model is corrupted.
  • Improved stability in workshared files containing sun and shadow settings saved in view templates.

• Architecture
  • Floor
    • Improved stability when setting the thickness of a floor to 0 while in the floor preview dialog.
  • Stair
    • Improved stability when upgrading projects with multistory stairs from Revit 2017 and earlier to Revit 2018.
  • Wall
    • Improved stability when deleting wall elements.
    • Fixed an issue so that wall core edges can be referenced when using the Pick Lines sketch tool.
    • Improved stability when activating auto-dimension and selecting a split edge in the wall preview dialog.
• MEP
  • Conduit
    • Improved stability when editing conduit to connect conduit surface connector.
  • Content
    • Resolved a constraint issue in the Pile Cap family, which caused it to not update correctly after the diameter of Pile-Steel Pipe was changed.
  • Duct
    • Improved stability when connecting a rectangular duct branch to a main run in a section view.
  • Duct/Pipe
    • Fixed an issue that could cause instability when modifying the size of a set of pipe or duct elements.
    • Improved stability when editing size of pipe or duct elements in the Options bar.
  • Electrical
    • Improved stability when changing an electrical circuit frame value.
    • Improved stability when selecting electrical wires.
  • Fabrication
    • Fixed an issue that was preventing pattern 2966 from inserting as a 45 wye.
    • Added support for exporting assemblies through the Export to Fabrication addin.
    • Improved support for mechanical tees in MEP Fabrication autofill tools.
    • Improved the sticky move logic with Fabrication parts to reduce the amount of unwanted downstream propagation.
    • Fixed an issue that caused parts to fail to resize on optimized systems.
  • Linked Files
    • Improved performance when opening a file containing MEP fabrication hangers.
  • Lookup Table
    • Restored ability to use the number type parameter to define a lookup size table column.
  • Mechanical
    • Improved stability when associating a P&ID project with a Revit project.
  • P&ID Modeler
    • Improved stability when exiting Revit after utilizing P&ID Modeler functionality during session.
    • Improved ability to map pumps in a P&ID project.
• Structure
  • Rebar
    • Fixed an issue where the value of the rebar partition parameter was deleted when upgrading from Revit 2017 and earlier projects to Revit 2018.
• API
  • Enabled the FabricationPart.GeometryChecksum property to simplify the checking of fabrication part geometry.
  • Fixed an issue so that the crop box is correctly set using the API.
  • Improved stability when placing a wall-hosted family on a ceiling through Dynamo.

Improvements

• Added support for changing service and/or size on MEP Fabrication parts.
• Improved the offset tag to use the string defined in the centerline duct settings.
• Improved filter color consistency with fabrication parts.
• Improved PCF output to report out the material specification.
• Added support for user defined notes in the PCF output.
• Added support for elbow angles in the PCF output.
• Added support for Instrument angle parts in the PCF output file
• Improved the usability of the Section Box shape control to more reliably detect cursor adjustment.
• Added the API RevitLinkType.GetLinkedFileStatus() to determine whether a Revit link is loaded, unloaded, or missing
• Added arrows in canvas to indicate which duct or pipe connector is highlighted in the Select Connector dialog while placing analytical pipe connections or using the Connect Into command.
• Improved P&ID modeler performance when associating a rvt project with a P&ID project.
• Improved task dialog to let users edit P&ID settings if no mapping relationship between P&ID class and Revit family is found.

Readme Page

Release Notes

Revit 2017.2.2

• Annotation
  • Improved display of generic annotation within families when placed above color filled region, such as a room or area.*
• Families
  • Improved the stability of project files when copy-pasting families across documents.*
• File Open/ Save/ Upgrade
  • Fixed an issue that could cause unresolved pointer references errors when opening files.
• IFC
  • Improved stability while exporting IFC files.*
• Keynotes
  • Fixed an issue to improve the accuracy of keynotes near the crop region boundary.*
  • Improved consistency for keynotes when the numbering method is set to By Sheet and elements exist above the view cut plane.*
• User Interface
  • Improved stability when pressing and holding the mouse button and interacting with the Properties panel on button release.
• Worksharing
  • Improved stability in workshared files containing sun and shadow settings saved in view templates.

• File Open/ Save/ Upgrade
  • Improved a performance issue that occurs when opening a file includes MEP fabrication hangers.*

Readme Page

Release Notes

There are many ways of adding loose material and kits to a HydraCAD drawing in order to get them listed. Some are old(er) and many are newer. All of these are on the Listing Toolbar. These do not need to be attached to pipes or sprinkler heads in order to have them list. They simply need to be inserted within the system boundary you are using (if one) on your drawing.

The first one of these is the Add Loose Material (2DS) command found on the fly-out associated with the fifth button on the Listing toolbar.

This command includes a diversity of items, of which three are listable:

• A complete set of Victaulic master details, courtesy of that manufacturer – not listable
• A table of 2D fittings and valves
• Miscellaneous loose items and kits
• Prebuilt 2D Risers

Victaulic Master Details

These details were furnished by the Victaulic Corporation. They include a library all their water supply and fire sprinkler valves and fittings. Insert these as needed into the drawing. Please note – these details will not be picked up by the AutoList command

Loose Fittings

This command opens up a drawing containing many individual valves and fittings. These are AutoList ready. Simply copy and paste them from the opened drawing into your drawing, or right-click and drag and drop them from here to there.

Miscellaneous Fittings

Opens up a different drawing, from which items can be copied and pasted exactly like the Loose Fitting command above. However, unlike the Loose Fittings command, these are not graphic details, but blocks containing text. 

These 'details' are notable in that they:

1. The text is not text but a block that uses text as it's attribute
2. The text used corresponds to the part or kit as it is defined, by default, in HydraLIST
3. The part number corresponding to the text description is also contained within the block, as is the diameter, if relevant

Take a look at the upper left of the Misc-Items drawing:

Double click on the PIPE GREASE item, below

Note the DESCription and the Part Number (P/N) (and SIZE). If you were to look at the data in HydraLIST, you would find this part listed under that number.

Again, select the items you want to list and copy and paste (or drag and drop) into your drawing to have them listed.

Note: You can make your own additions to this archive of items by copying and pasting any one of the text/blocks to another location in the Misc-Items drawing. Then, just double click and change the settings to something you want to list, keeping in mind that the P/N is how it finds the items in HydraLIST, not the description.

Looking at the right side of the Misc-items drawing, you will notice not individual items, but kits.

Likewise, these work just like the individual items at left (and described just above) but they correspond to kits or assemblies of items, also defined in HydraLIST.

2D Risers

This is an older command, but one that works like the above two commands. It contains risers that are pre-built for both Imperial and Metric unit systems, Wet and Dry. This command has largely been superseded by the 3D Riser tools found in the toolbar of the same name.

Again, copy and paste, or drag and drop these in your drawing.

From a customer:

"I have a question about modifying hanger symbols. Here’s the issue, many times the Lister's complain that our plans are too busy, because pipe diameters lay over hanger numbers, etc. I know we can use the auto cleanup but I really want to eliminate the hanger # & either modify an existing symbol or add a new one let’s say an X instead. Then I want to be able to access it from the menu in setup, is that possible & how do I go about it?"

Modifying the hanger is a different issue – I will go over that at some time in the future. But, right now, there is a lot that can done concerning the data shown by the hanger!

Here we have the Hanger Setup dialog box:

Note the three check boxes circled.

The first two let you hide the following:

Hanger Number (#3, i.e.)
Hanger Length (1-0), i.e.)
Both Hanger Number and Length (showing just the tick mark)

The third check box lets you show the info, but reduce the footprint of the text by stacking it

Some pictures of what these look like:

From left to right:

Nothing Hidden
Number Hidden
Length Hidden
Number and Length Hidden
Nothing Hidden, but with Stack Text checked

One or more of these should take care of the problem

Note: If you change your mind about the display of these attributes, you can always change it later by using the Hide Attribute command found in the HydraTools menu. This command can also be used to Unhide the Attributes:

 

Q: A Customer asked today: "I need to add some head symbols into the (classic) flex head selector options. We are using head 18 and head 9 which are not found in the selections.  Can you help me add them so they are available?"

Here are the simple steps to do that with ours or your newly created head symbols. Please note this is for the Classic Flexible Sprinkler Connection tool, not the new one. The new one does not require separate head details.

A: If you look in the C:\HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\HEADS\FlexHeads\Flex Representations folder you will see all of the standard head the symbols:

1. Open the heads you want as FSC representations by opening them from the \HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\HEADS folder
2. In each drawing, do a SAVEAS to the \HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\HEADS\FlexHeads\Flex Representations folder. Use the next name in the sequence (Flex_O, Flex_P)
3. Change all the items in each new drawing to be in the DETAILS layer
4. Save the drawings

A few years ago I posted the basics about setting up a network version of AutoCAD and/or a Building Design Suite. A customer called today asking how to do it with a new AEC Industry Collection he just bought. I told him I wasn't sure how to do that, as I wasn't sure myself if the procedure changed. We found the procedure very quickly in Autodesk Account, however!

First Rule: Buy a network version of the product you want to use! (he had)

Procedure:

In Autodesk Account, note the Network License Manager Quick Link

 

Pick that and you will be brought to this page: Install Network License Manager

This page has instructions for two paths –

1. Installing from Autodesk Media

2. Download from Autodesk and Install

Pick the proper path and follow the instructions. Any help you need can be obtained through the help system and contacts within your Autodesk Account