Revit 2012 Deployment Creation

[jrostar]

With the 2012 Release, Autodesk changed the Deployment Creation Process for the entire Revit line. This has created some major headaches for me as I plan to roll 2012 out to the rest of the office. Perhaps others have run into the same problems and have found some solutions

1- There is no place to define the Default Project Template. After installing the Deploy, the New Project Template it points to is 'Default.rte'.

2- In the Deploy Creation Process, I pointed it to the various Library / Template Locations. In Each of those instances it added additional directories on as a 'suffix'... meaning all of the paths are not correct

3- I cannot locate any place in the Deploy folder that allows me to change these paths, they can only be changed on the client machine after the deploy has been installed. The ini file on the client machine that is copied during the deploy process can not just be replaced with a generic ini file because it has the computer name as a line item in the ini file

I am baffled as to why they would drastically change the deploy process like this. It worked great before and they lost a lot of the deploy creation benefit in this latest release.

I have submitted a Support Request and the Tech recreated the problems and has forwarded the problem to the Software Developers to try and get some solutions.

Any similar stories? Problems? Solutions?

[jdrews.254394]

Yikes, that doesnt sound good.

Keep on making things more confusing. I usually wait a few months to deploy until i can read up on all of these problems and hopefully there is a good solution before i take the plonge.

[sfoulkes]

We had the same issue. In the end I had to repath each individual machine. Quick, but annoying. Let us know if you recieve any feedback.

[Baldwin_4-6-0]

From experience, I DO NOT run the latest version of Revit on any active projects, I always wait until at least the 1st (maybe 2nd) Web Update, when a majority of the bugs are worked out. Autodesk has burned me 4 too many times on this.

But I would like to thank all you live beta testers out there. :)

[jrostar]

Well there are two separate problems here-

Even when you uncheck the Content Packs, It magically Rechecks the boxes when the Deploy is Created. It does not actually copy the content, but it think it does in the Directory Structure, so it adds the Content Pack names onto the File Paths (See Included images)

Second is the lack of Default Project Template path.

The Tech Support Team Member I worked with said


I just wanted to let you know that I have a logged a defect on this issue and have notified the developer and QA tech assigned to the defect to see if we can get this moving quickly. I will update you as soon as I have any information/news from them.

So here's to hoping it can get fixed quickly... for now I am editing the paths manually after the program has been installed.

[jsnyder.68308]

I have experienced the issues you describe. Except that when I uncheck the content creation box, and dimiss the dire warning, it still seems to spray the actual content, not just the folders, all over my content folder. I will also log a suport request - maybe we can get some kind of hotfix before service pack 1 comes out in July.
Hard to believe that they didn't test this first.

[Misteracad]

It should go without saying, but for those who are, um <clear my throat> lazy, and would rather have someone else worry about it, we need your feedback as well. The more support tickets you submit to Autodesk the quicker we will see a fix.

To the Moderator, shouldn't this be moved to the Revit - Platform thread? It's obviously impacting ALL flavors of Revit :roll:

[david.metcalf]

Hello all,

May I suggest you take a revit.ini file from a working client pathed to the server content location and use that to drag and drop into each client machine? Works pretty well, it's not 100% hands off though.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Installation-Licensing/ContentInstalled-section-of-Revit-ini-file/td-p/2749686

Regards,
David

[jrostar]

Dealing with the Network Library Paths are only the minor part of the problem...

Problem I have with that route is the new 2012 Revit.ini file has some changes. First it has the Computer name in it. It also has a second line:

InstallGUID={C1A6B790-940B-48DD-B7F8-0A60BD3ED4E4}

This is part of making of Citrix Ready. Each user that uses Revit on a machine has their own Revit.ini file now.

The major problem is even if the content packs are unchecked in the deploy creation, when the software is deployed (and if you go back to edit the deploy, they content packs are checked again), it will still download and install the content. If the person getting the new deploy doesn't have write permissions to the Library folders on the network, the Deploy fails. Not to mention, if you are deploying to a large user base, each machine will be downloading the content from Autodesk.com...

Right now I altered the deploy to install the content on the user's local drive and then have a small script that will edit the existing Revit.ini to the correct paths (thus maintaining the computer name and InstallGUID fields). The trick is to edit the Revit.ini in the C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit Architecture 2012\Program\UserDataCache location BEFORE Revit 2012 is opened for the first time. Then all subsequent users will get the correct paths.

Edit- All of this has been verified / recreated by Tech Support. The Tech I was dealing with said he had 3 other Support Requests matching the above problem. They have filed a request with the developers to get it fixed but who knows how long that will take...

[DaveP]

jrostar:
Sounds like you've probably gotten past this point already, so this may not do you much good, but in case someone else finds this thread:

Harlan Brumm has a post about where the INI files are in 2012 on his "Revit Clinic" blog:
http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/04/who-moved-my-files-important-file-location-changes-for-revit-2012.html

[Baldwin_4-6-0]

It should go without saying, but for those who are, um <clear my throat> lazy, and would rather have someone else worry about it, we need your feedback as well. The more support tickets you submit to Autodesk the quicker we will see a fix.:

Did I just get called <clear my throat> lazy. lol
If so, no offense taken. :) it was funny.

I would say we are <clear my throat> cautious & vigilant. ;)
We are more than just a 2 person firm & we cannot afford to be running a prematurely released version of any CADD software. We will test newly released versions of any CADD software before we implement it on active projects, then decide if the platform is stable enough to run on active projects and as we test we will send in crash reports & support requests on the tests if needed.

I definitely agree, it is important to report crashes and send in support requests. :)
However, we pay a lot of money for all the licenses we have to be "live beta testers" and unless they are willing to give us huge discounts on the 50+/- licenses we own, or start paying us to be beta testers, we are not just going to put our firm at risk to help a CADD software company fix their software issues that should already be fixed before releasing the new version.. just saying.... ;D

So far our tests of Revit 2012 reveal that it is working pretty good, (still more tests to be done).

[jrostar]

I understand what you're saying and that is close to the same 'lecture' I received yesterday from our IT staff here yesterday...

The kicker is, as a Beta Tester, I have been using / testing / evaluating Revit 2012 for quite some time and I found the software to be quite stable and found remarkably zero problems in the time I spent with it. However, in that situation, I was installing a single seat and I wanted the Library installed locally. In the four years I've been managing deploys & new software releases, I never had a problem with content installation or file path settings. I never figured that I would need to give the deploy creation a run through in the beta process... Guess we live and learn.

On the above found defects, still no news from the Developers. The tech said they are trying to figure out a workaround / hotfix to eliminate the 'required' content pack download & installation

[heath.simone]

jrostar - i was on the beta for a couple of products and Autodesk didn't want to know about issues with the network deployement side of things during the beta testing, they where more concerned with how the software worked...

[brethomp]

Here is a Revit Clinic article (http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/05/deploying-revit-2012-with-a-customized-revitini-file.html) on customizing the Revit.ini file for a deployment. This will take care of the issues in the first post.

To stop the deployment of content there is another XML file that you need to update. I have attached a version that will skip deploying any content for RAC.

[jrostar]

Thanks for posting the link. I ran across it this morning and have been messing around a bit with it since.

A big thanks for the content solution. Big erasing the paths for the various content, the deploy essentially skips over? I thought about messing with that but I was worried the deploy would just fail

[cphubb]

Still not sure it address ALL the issues people are experiencing.
First the only documentation on the issue is Harlans Blog. REALLY??
Second it only address the issues of the ini file creation. Does not address custom Places for libraries.
Also because of the GIUD issue you need to edit the XML file perfectly or no INI will be created. We have been looking at that file now and are just guessing at the Key syntax and hoping it will work. I suspect we will spend HOURS reinstalling 2012 on test boxes to get it right.
The Places, which previously were in the ini file and the Registery are now only in the Registry. We aer looking a a VBscript to update each machine to the proper Places.

NOW if ACAD can set over 100 setttings in its deployment why not Revit? There are only about 12.

SAD on lack of planning and lack of documentation.

[Rustle]

Thanks Bret. Worked like a charm and saved me a lot of headache.

[cphubb]

Here is a Revit Clinic article (http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/05/deploying-revit-2012-with-a-customized-revitini-file.html) on customizing the Revit.ini file for a deployment. This will take care of the issues in the first post.

To stop the deployment of content there is another XML file that you need to update. I have attached a version that will skip deploying any content for RAC.

Bret,

We copied that file over the content XML and got an error when running the deployment. any idea why? Replaced the previous and it ran fine. (Installed content)

[brethomp]

Bret,

We copied that file over the content XML and got an error when running the deployment. any idea why? Replaced the previous and it ran fine. (Installed content)

Instead of using the file I posted, edit your existing file to be similar. It's basically just deleteing everything between the Content tags.

[cphubb]

Did you also edit the XSD file to validate the XML? I wonder if that is the problem?

[jsnyder.68308]

Did you also edit the XSD file to validate the XML? I wonder if that is the problem?

You are kidding, right?
Hopefully everyone affected (which is anyone creating network deployments) by this situation has submitted a support request to help get this fixed.

We should not have to be computer programmers to install this software. I hope this is HIGHEST on the Factory's list of items to fix. While I can appreciate the individual support staff's efforts to help solve it, I cannot help but think how much time is being wasted screwing around with a broken process.

I have spent too much time on it already and will not be deploying RAC 2012 until the deployment issues are solved. It may seem unreasonable to some, but I have little confidence in software that cannot even be properly installed.

[brethomp]

Did you also edit the XSD file to validate the XML? I wonder if that is the problem?
No. I only had to edit the one file to stop the content install.

[hermeytheelf]

Bret,

We copied that file over the content XML and got an error when running the deployment. any idea why? Replaced the previous and it ran fine. (Installed content)

Are you sure you got the syntax correct for RAC, RME, RST? I'm just starting to look at this and I find it strange that regardless of what flavor of deployment that I look at there are three master.xxx.xml files, one for each flavor. Do I need to edit all of them? Can I delete the two that are not relevant to the flavor of deployment that I am working on? Sheesh!

[heath.simone]

Just wondering if any of you guys have editted the installation ini files to include the installation of add-on programs like the Space Naming Utility for MEP?

[patricks]

Well I just installed 2012 last Friday, and for the first time decided to try creating a deployment. Our firm is very small with only 5 Revit seats, and I've always been the go-to guy who does all the testing, installs the software on all our machines, etc. I've never bothered with deployments until now. I thought I'd give it a shot.

I did think it odd that it did not let me specify various places and locations as part of the deployment. That's the MAIN REASON I wanted to do the deployment in the first place! It pretty much makes the deployment useless if I still have to go around to each machine and set up the same junk time after time. :roll: I actually went back and tried to modify the deployment to make sure I had not missed anything, and I had not.

And yes I have filed a support request. ;)

[cphubb]

And yes I have filed a support request. ;)

Well that makes 15 people I know that filed the same support request.

My Response

Thank you for choosing Autodesk Support. My name is Douglas and I am a Support Specialist on the Install and Licensing Team. Your Service Request has been assigned to me and I will be working with you to resolve this case.

Product support is in the process of aggregating some instructions on this. Regretfully I do not have any more information to provide at this time. I will have a status on Monday and should be able to send you some documentation or an update on availability during the first part of the day.

[patricks]

huh that's weird. Mr. Chris Aquino with Autodesk contacted me directly by phone at my office within an hour of me creating the support case. We discussed the issue a bit, and then he sent me an e-mail with some links to the Revit Clinic blog with some solutions.

http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/04/who-moved-my-files-important-file-location-changes-for-revit-2012.html

http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/05/deploying-revit-2012-with-a-customized-revitini-file.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=Blog&utm_content=Revit

[cphubb]

huh that's weird. Mr. Chris Aquino with Autodesk contacted me directly by phone at my office within an hour of me creating the support case. We discussed the issue a bit, and then he sent me an e-mail with some links to the Revit Clinic blog with some solutions.

http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/04/who-moved-my-files-important-file-location-changes-for-revit-2012.html

http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/05/deploying-revit-2012-with-a-customized-revitini-file.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=Blog&utm_content=Revit

Patrick,

Yes we have all seen the"so called" solution in the blog. First I find it reprehesnible that we have to "program" the install. Why remove already functioning options.

Second the blog gives only 2 examples and we have to interpolate the rest. We have been trying that for some time now with limited or no success. We are not the only ones with the problem. Support needs to fix the installer and do it fast or people may skip 2012 like we skiped 2010.

[jeffh]

Earlier this week I brought this thread and the deyployment/install issues to the attention of our User Assistance group. Currently we are working with one of the install developers to create a more comprehensive document addressing the install/deployment issues.

I don't have a specific time table for when the document will be completed. I just wanted to check in and let people know this is being worked on currently.

[patricks]

Skip 2012 just because of deployment setup shortcomings? That seems rather hasty to me. But then again we only have 5 seats to deal with.

I read through those blogs and decided I would just set up the network locations on each machine as I always have. I don't care to deal with all that programming mess. But I definitely don't want to skip 2012 just because of that. 2012 has many MEP enhancements that our consultants need, and as a result we would have to be on 2012 as well. Plus there's the fact that RAC has enhancements that we need/want also.

[Simon.Whitbread]

Earlier this week I brought this thread and the deyployment/install issues to the attention of our User Assistance group. Currently we are working with one of the install developers to create a more comprehensive document addressing the install/deployment issues.

I don't have a specific time table for when the document will be completed. I just wanted to check in and let people know this is being worked on currently.

Always good to get a response from where it matters - looking forward to getting an update

[DaveP]

Don't know how much effort it would take to pull this out, but it would be nice to have a stand-alone version of the interpreter for inifile.xml.
As far as I know right now, the only way to test any edits to your xml file is to run a full install and see what happens. So if you have one typo, you have to find a clean machine and spend another half-hour doing a full install.

If we could at least test any edits to inifile.xml just to see what the resultant Revit.ini file looks like, it would be a whole lot easier to learn. Especially since our only method at the moment is trial and error.
Just stick the Revit.ini file in the Temp folder.
Then, once you've got the inifile.xml behaving, you could move it into the Deployment.

Oh, and just to pile on: Can we get the Deployment to copy the KeyboardShorcuts file, too?

[DoTheBIM]

Guess I picked the wrong version to learn about deployments, We only have 3 users including myself, but I wanted to set the paths to our libraries and projects... mostly to see if I could do it in case I find myself in a position of supporting more users. Ah well, I got time, we're slow. Guess I'll learn about the xml files a little.

[patricks]

Guess I picked the wrong version to learn about deployments, We only have 3 users including myself, but I wanted to set the paths to our libraries and projects... mostly to see if I could do it in case I find myself in a position of supporting more users. Ah well, I got time, we're slow. Guess I'll learn about the xml files a little.

Pretty much the same for me (5 seats/users), but we're busy and I don't have the time!

[DaveP]

Revit 2012 Deployment Utility from Autodesk


There's a new post up at the Revit Clinic
Revit 2012 Network Deployment Utility: Custom Revit.ini Settings and Content Supression
http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_we...t-utility.html (http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/06/revit-2012-network-deployment-utility.html)

Looks like Autodesk has developed a program that will build the inifile.xml for you !
Here's the direct download from Autodesk:
Revit 2012 Deployment Utility
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...linkID=9273944 (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=17169612&linkID=9273944)

[patricks]

lol thanks, AFTER I just got done installing it on all our machines last week! :p

I liked using the deployment I created solely for the purpose of not having to look up and type in the serial every time. But I still had to set up all the defaults on all the machines individually which was a pain in my arse.

[hermeytheelf]

Lucky me, my first time creating deployments also. Too bad I'm doing it for about 1000 Revit users! Getting ready to run the deployments AGAIN now that I have this spiffy little tool. FYI, make sure that your inifile.xml file is not set to be read only or the utility will fail. I posted a comment about it on Ryans post on Revit Clinic