#$&%! - why can't Autodesk at least provide at least the BASIC REVIT family in MEP?

[wboyanton]

geeze how about something as rare as a wall mounted thermostat?
The more I use REVIT the more I'm conviced AutoCAD is screwing all of us that purchased this software, it is no where near a finished usable product. Yet we foolishly and blindly follow them....

This is one un-productive peice of software. I'm about ready to send it back to Autodesk!

How long before we can do something a simple as placing a thermostat?
Oval duct?
etc. etc.
etc.

If we're just Autodesk's BETA testers why don't thy provide this software FREE
Would it be too much to ask for a written manual?

[Chad Smith]

Two things;


geeze how about something as rare as a wall mounted thermostat?
...
How long before we can do something a simple as placing a thermostat?
I can't speak for MEP, but in Architecture a lot of the Autodesk content is next to useless, and it is missing a lot of things. This is to be expected as Autodesk can't satisfy everyone and their family standards.
You're best to learn how to use the Family Editor and create your own. Something as simple as a thermostat shouldn't take long at all.

Would it be too much to ask for a written manual?
While the product doesn't come with them, you can order free books online here (http://www.autodeskstore.com/home/store.pl). I like that they don't ship with them for two reasons.
1. They can get the product out earlier and finish off the docs a little later.
2. We really don't need a book for every single license in the company. It's a waste of paper and would end up throwing most of them out. In my office I have 2 copies that sit at my desk for all users to borrow when they like.

[Beancud]

geeze how about something as rare as a wall mounted thermostat?
The more I use REVIT the more I'm conviced AutoCAD is screwing all of us that purchased this software, it is no where near a finished usable product. Yet we foolishly and blindly follow them....

This is one un-productive peice of software. I'm about ready to send it back to Autodesk!

How long before we can do something a simple as placing a thermostat?
Oval duct?
etc. etc.
etc.

If we're just Autodesk's BETA testers why don't thy provide this software FREE
Would it be too much to ask for a written manual?


well they did add some contents, all based on american market which looks totally strange.

If your a insert block - click click tracer, Revit MEP is not for you. You must learn to customize.

and Oval duct? which country use oval duct if I may ask.

[Michael.c]

and Oval duct? which country use oval duct if I may ask.

Australia
(isn't Queensland part of Australia, beancurd?)

[RobertB]

and Oval duct? which country use oval duct if I may ask.It is used in the US.

[bcgatti]

Two things;

...While the product doesn't come with them, you can order free books online here (http://www.autodeskstore.com/home/store.pl)....

Unfortunately there is nothing available for Revit 2010 (any flavor), 3dsMax Design 2010, Ecotect 2010, Navisworks 2010....all of the software packages that we use.

[Chad Smith]

No, not yet, but they will show up soon'ish. Refer to my point 1.

[RevitNinja]

Even in AutoCAD, symbols were used for thermostats. Maybe an arc or spline to designate the corresponding zone, but they were just annotations.

Why not do the same in Revit?

[mjdanowski]

It has always been my advice to new users to get familiar with the family editor and the way families are created and constrained. If you do this, you will find that working in a Revit project is a lot easier.


Even in AutoCAD, symbols were used for thermostats. Maybe an arc or spline to designate the corresponding zone, but they were just annotations.

Why not do the same in Revit?


You can do this!

Just create a generic annotation family of your thermostat and add it to the project.

[cporter.207875]

It has always been my advice to new users to get familiar with the family editor and the way families are created and constrained. If you do this, you will find that working in a Revit project is a lot easier.


You can do this!

Just create a generic annotation family of your thermostat and add it to the project.

We've created a model element with a nested annotation for our thermostats. This way the thermostat is "really" in the model. When the Arch gets the MEP model, it is normal to open the MEP model and delete most of the MEP views, leaving just the model for coordination. As such, all components that are shown with annotation families simply do not exist in the model.

[sec-k]

geeze how about something as rare as a wall mounted thermostat?
The more I use REVIT the more I'm conviced AutoCAD is screwing all of us that purchased this software, it is no where near a finished usable product.

Has Autodesk provided you with every AutoCAD block you've ever needed? Probably not. Learn to use the family editor. You can easily create a wall mounted thermostat by starting off with a light switch family.


Yet we foolishly and blindly follow them.....

The "foolish and blindly" part is up to you. I'm using Revit because 1) I enjoy using it and 2) I like being employed. Like it or not, the industry is shifting from AutoCAD (2D) to Revit (3D). Many of the architects in my area are switching to Revit, and therefore, MEP firms who are using Revit MEP are going to have the edge. Sure, Revit MEP is far from perfect, but it will only improve with constructive criticism instead of ranting and raving.

[sgermano]

Well said...


Has Autodesk provided you with every AutoCAD block you've ever needed? Probably not. Learn to use the family editor. You can easily create a wall mounted thermostat by starting off with a light switch family.



The "foolish and blindly" part is up to you. I'm using Revit because 1) I enjoy using it and 2) I like being employed. Like it or not, the industry is shifting from AutoCAD (2D) to Revit (3D). Many of the architects in my area are switching to Revit, and therefore, MEP firms who are using Revit MEP are going to have the edge. Sure, Revit MEP is far from perfect, but it will only improve with constructive criticism instead of ranting and raving.

[RevitNinja]

It has always been my advice to new users to get familiar with the family editor and the way families are created and constrained. If you do this, you will find that working in a Revit project is a lot easier.


You can do this!

Just create a generic annotation family of your thermostat and add it to the project.

I know, I was just suggesting it to the OP.

Its not very BIM, its just the way I've been drawing thermostats in Revit and AutoCAD.

[Michael.c]

Sure, Revit MEP is far from perfect, but it will only improve with constructive criticism instead of ranting and raving.


It is human nature to 'rant and rave'. I admit to a degree of ranting and raving myself. It's no different to, say, shouting at the kids to hurry up and get ready for school! :)
Have you never shouted at anyone? It's called emotion, and I'm sure no-one here means anything malicious. I would have thought that if we are all restricted to "talking" placidly here then there is a danger that the message will not get accross!:)

[sec-k]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I've wanted to throw my computer across the room on many occasions because Revit was acting up. However, that wouldn't get me anywhere. Maybe I'm just beyond that point since I've been using Revit when it first came out as Revit Systems. There just comes a point where it seems a little childish I guess.

[Beancud]

Australia
(isn't Queensland part of Australia, beancurd?)


Michael I have yet to see anyone use Oval duct in all the leading consultants in New Zealand and Australia.




It is human nature to 'rant and rave'. I admit to a degree of ranting and raving myself. It's no different to, say, shouting at the kids to hurry up and get ready for school!
Have you never shouted at anyone? It's called emotion, and I'm sure no-one here means anything malicious. I would have thought that if we are all restricted to "talking" placidly here then there is a danger that the message will not get accross!


If you shout at kids, chances are they grow up to become a shouting and raving adult, cutting their pocket money works better.

I think if you are in a consultantcy people expect your to find solutions, fix problems and be positive, if I was raving and shouting and played the blaming game I would have been sacked long time ago.

[Michael.c]

Michael I have yet to see anyone use Oval duct in all the leading consultants in New Zealand and Australia.




If you shout at kids, chances are they grow up to become a shouting and raving adult, cutting their pocket money works better.

I think if you are in a consultantcy people expect your to find solutions, fix problems and be positive, if I was raving and shouting and played the blaming game I would have been sacked long time ago.

1. Re the oval duct....it's not commonly used but it is required every now and then.
2. I don't see a problem with a bit of harmless venting of frustration with a product which is unarguably recognised, at the very least, as not being up to scratch:)
(....and I just noticed that you refer to yourself as "The angry revit monster":))

[Steve_Stafford]

Michael I have yet to see anyone use Oval duct in all the leading consultants in New Zealand and Australia.Most of the firms I've worked with use Oval duct as a preference here in the US. It is more efficient than rectangular and "looks nice"...so in exposed ceiling conditions they prefer oval. I hear about the lack of this capability from the majority of HVAC engineers I meet in the US.

[wboyanton]

but damit I like to rant and rave....

Besides a Bitching (former) Marine is a happy Marine....

[gkaline]

Most of the firms I've worked with use Oval duct as a preference here in the US. It is more efficient than rectangular and "looks nice"...so in exposed ceiling conditions they prefer oval. I hear about the lack of this capability from the majority of HVAC engineers I meet in the US.

Yes here in the US, Oval duct is widely used. It is more efficent and very usful if you have a low ceiling or a small plenum space.

[joshn]

We are out of Washington and we use oval ducts on almost every job.

[crenaud]

We use Flat Oval alot, here in Kentucky.

[dmb.100468]

Most of the firms I've worked with use Oval duct as a preference here in the US. It is more efficient than rectangular and "looks nice"...so in exposed ceiling conditions they prefer oval. I hear about the lack of this capability from the majority of HVAC engineers I meet in the US.

and yet it still doesn't exist in Revit MEP....

With all the "ranting and raving" maybe we should hold a Town Hall Meeting in the wish list forum. :)

[MichaelBear]

I agree with the original post. Revit MEP is very lacking. Almost everything in the building industry requires a work-around. It is not a productive tool unless your are doing super-simple tenant-finish type proejcts. I just spent 2 hours routing one 3/4" pipe about 20 ft., which would take about 1 minute in AutoCAD. Now I want to put in a thermostat symbol - just a circle with a T in it - and nothing! the idea that we have to spend the time to make a family for that is nuts. Most people I talk to, including architects, are using Revit for coordination and "aesthetics", and it does make sections quickly, but not for details. Consultants are avoiding it like the plague. Not only does Revit not have oval ductwork (yes we use them in the USA), but even the rectangular ductwork has very little flexibility in fittings. Fees in this industry are exceedingly tight, and the lack of productivity using Revit is an extreme problem. Autodesk would do well to create lots and lots of useful families if they want the Owners of engineering and architectural firms, the ones who pay the bills, to actually like the product.

[RevitNinja]

Not only does Revit not have oval ductwork (yes we use them in the USA), but even the rectangular ductwork has very little flexibility in fittings.

Revit MEP has had oval ductwork for 3 releases. Nice rant.

[Steve_Stafford]

It is a reply to a thread that faded in September 2009...