Standards

I like being a CAD Manager, I don't love it.  I love doing architecture and working on projects, but I like organization that's how I got involved in being a CAD Manager.

I've been working on our template, I've realized I'll need more than one and I do and don't like that.  More for me to manage, and I'm not a control freak so I'd rather have less to manage.  I've started a Basic Practices document to give to all my users, and I'm starting to create a Standards Manual, which isn't very long  and for now it's more of a "what not to do" document.

I thought I'd list some of the few things I've found to be important: (in no particular order)

• Purge the model, often
• Review warnings (often!)
  
• Close hidden windows (we have a shortcut for that=XX)
  
• Create a workset for each linked file
• Create working views (one for each user)
• Recreate the local file weekly
• Local files should be created by copy/paste in windows explorer not by opening the central file and doing a save-as
  

There's more, especially with families.  Fun part is I'm learning so much as I go along, as far as setting standards that my list is 3 pages now!  I don't like it's length but I like that I'm learning and especially understanding!

New toy - ILoveSketch

This link was forwarded to me by a fellow co-worker, a designer of course.

This is really neat, it would be great to use something like this with Revit, I could convince more designers that Revit can be a tool used for schematic design!

If anyone knows more about this tool, please let me know, this is the first I've seen of it.

http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/~shbae/ilovesketch.htm

Thanks for reading!

AU Updates

From Shaan Hurley:

·         AU is going to be bigger and better than ever! We have already exceeded 7000 registrations and I project we will see over 10,000 attendees this year.

·         We have a record number of exhibitors in the exhibition hall at over 650.

·         Design Leadership including Gensler Program http://au.autodesk.com/event/campusclass/leadership/

·         Keynotes, Carl Bass, Eddie Paul , Burt Rutan and more http://au.autodesk.com/event/campusclass/keynotes/

·         AU Unplugged  http://au.autodesk.com/event/campusclass/unplugged/

·         Free Autodesk product certification offered on limited basis http://au.autodesk.com/event/campusclass/certification/

·         AU Design Slam - http://au.autodesk.com/event/campusclass-event/AU_Design_Slam/

·         Community Leadership Conference http://au.autodesk.com/event/campusclass-event/

My First Post

I started my blog because I signed up as a Blogger at AU, I was curious about what that was about because I have been keeping up with many many blogs now, so I wanted to be included with them :o)  So my first post will be about AU.

For those of you who haven't attended before, you're missing out. I've attended 4 times now, because of Revit, once it was purchased by Autodesk it was a must to attend at least that year.  But once I was there, amongst other fellow coworkers it was obvious it was a necessity to attend every year!  There is so much to learn, not just from the sessions and lunches and dinners but from other attendees.  I didn't get to know very many people, or keep in touch with anyone I did meet but I did learn something from most of the people I came in contact with.   The last couple of years I've attended I've been able to gauge how well I know Revit, because I can help others and answer their questions! That's been a great feeling, to know I can help others as I was helped when I first started.

Reading and subscribing to many blogs about Revit, this year I hope to meet some of the authors I've learned from.   AU is a great event to attend, no matter how well you know any of the Autodesk software.  I think it's a must especially for CAD/BIM/IT managers to attend.