CAD Management - Revit and AutoCAD

To start off with Revit, we used it out of the box (OOTB) and as the projects have been progressing I've been working on our template based on one specific project.  In our transition plan, how I've set things up, is to make our output of both AutoCAD and Revit look very similar if not the same.  We use AutoCAD 2008 and Revit 2009. 

The main change I made was chosing to use the Arial font.  Because I've been told over and over by resselles I've worked with to not change Revit, to use it OOTB, as is because it's great!  So Arial font it is!   But now, as I'm getting deeper into setting up our template and searching and dialoguing with others, I don't see why we should keep it looking so plain - OOTB.   We have a look that we'd like to achieve for presentation and legibility, and we can achieve it with Revit, so why not?

I've been editing the Object styles, but also the Lineweights settings. By default the majority of Revit objects use lineweight 1, we like 3 to be the default so where would it be best to change it? Change most object styles to lineweight 1?  Or bump up the actual weight (setting) of lineweight 1?  In my apporoach, I will change the setting of lineweight 1, and of course the rest 2 through 5, (we won't use 6 and on). Of course don't think it's that simple, the setting needs to change per scale, that's a lot of changes!  But in my thought process it makes more sense to make that change, versus changing all object styles.  in this way we can keep the majority of the objects styles at the default weight, and we will change a few here and there that we would like to be different. 

All of this can be saved in our template, and when Revit 2010 comes around we upgrade our template so there is no need to redo all the settings changes; we work on new ones!

AU Show Guide

You have to check this out!   Thanks to Mr. AU's Twitter update.

Check out the show guide for this years AU, everything that will be happening is listed, if you haven't been before, if you want to see more details check it out.

AU 2008 Show Guide

There's still time to sign up.  See you there!

AU Update: AEC BIM Mixer

When I first went to AU in 2004, they had their first (I think) Revit Mixer, there were about 150-200 people, it was really cool to learn new things about Revit. I didn't know they continuted it after that and now I'm in the know again!

This year it's the AEC BIM Mixer and it will be open to 1200 people!!  How exciting!  I will definitley be there!

Here's the information I saw on AUGI posted by Jeff Hanson, Revit Architecture SME/Technical Writer, Autodesk:

AEC BIM Mixer: Open to All AEC Campus Badge Holders
Date/Time: Monday, December 1/7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Location: Palazzo M, Level 5

It’s back... and bigger and better than ever! Join AEC customers and Autodesk employees for a great evening that includes a light dinner, drinks, and plenty of networking. Don’t miss this excellent kickoff to a great week at AU!

Want to meet fellow AEC software users? Discuss issues with development, product support, and other staff for all AEC disciplines? Talk one-on-one with our AEC technical experts including Armundo Darling, Lucy Kuhns, Amy Fietkau, Scott Hammond, and Eddie Perlberg (in a roped-off area so you can’t miss them)? Then come!

This event is open to AU 2008 AEC Campus registrants only—your AU name badge must show you are part of the AEC Campus—and is limited to the first 1,200 people through the door. If you are number 1,201, we will ask that you wait for someone to leave before we admit you.

Invitations will be sent prior to the conference so be on the lookout.

You can find it on the AU website also

If you're registered, look out for the invite!  Hope to see you there!