Monday, January 31, 2011

Space Naming Tool - In the Box Please

Revit MEP users are hopefully aware of the available (via subscription only) tool cleverly called Space Naming Utility. I've been places though that are not and they deal with the unpleasant disconnect between Revit Architecture's Rooms and Revit MEP's Spaces, without the tool. Quite frustrating to have to coordinate these. The tool makes that process much simpler, if you know about it that is. If you didn't, now you do.

I have a simple request, let's have it "in-the-box" for the next release of Revit please? Why is an integral piece of the puzzle an "extra"?

I've been befuddled for decades now at the Express Tools part of AutoCAD. Why those weren't just rolled up into the application years ago... I've heard that people want "their" Express Tools so they've remained where they are as a "separate and special" addition so to speak.

Well I'd like no such thing, bundle-em-up! One installation please, no chasing off to subscription for more goodies. If it can't be done for this next release, at least give us a chance to deploy/install it at the same time??

Thanks!!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Revit Memory Usage and Performance

I read about this video on Erik van Eck's blog the other day. He's Dutch but he writes a number of his posts in English just for me! (not really) I try to read the other posts in Dutch and some words are more memorable than others, but I was only nine when I spoke it. A couple years since...have ... past...

The video is 14 minutes and 49 seconds (14:49) so you'll need to set aside a little more time than for my normal posts. It took me several days to get back to it to watch myself.


This video is from Microsol Resources and runs six minutes twenty seconds (6:20).

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Review Warnings

I wrote the following at AUGI the other day:

First a silly message from the Management

  • Procedure Item: Review Warnings
  • Steps: Review and FIX them!!
  • Thank you, the mgmt!

More seriously, do focus on warnings that:

  • Affect calculations, rooms/areas & wall/boundary errors
  • Duplication (multiple elements in the same place)
  • Affect documentation - Type Marks/Marks/tagging accuracy

A team needs to know they exist and why they are there. The quantity of them varies wildly as a design evolves. If the team is aware and tracking them then they don't turn into thousands of errors that negatively affect the project.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Sample How-To Video Clips

Here's quick post to mention that the Revit 2011 product has a has a folder called "video-clips".

Here's the path:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit Architecture 2011\Program\video-clips

Here's a list of what twenty three (23) videos that I find in RAC (same list in RME):

  • Add Remove Segments
  • Add Split Line
  • Align
  • Arc Center End
  • Arc Fillet
  • Array
  • Building Pad
  • Copy
  • Edit Sweep
  • Edit Swept Blend
  • Edit Witness Lines
  • Ellipse
  • Grid Line Mullion
  • Mod Sub Element
  • Move
  • Partial Ellipse
  • Rotate
  • Split
  • Tangent Arc
  • Trim Corner
  • Trim Extend Corner
  • Trim Multiple
  • Trim Single
Jeff Hanson wrote in a comment that these are Toolclips videos. Hover over a feature long enough and if there is a corresponding video, it will play.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Annotation Symbol as Schedule

Sometimes you just need a way to store/present some information that may/may not be obtained from the model itself. You could create additional parameters (project parameters) and create a schedule to report the information if you assign them to a category you may not be likely to use in your normal scope, something that you won't use and won't likely have a schedule stumble on that same category if there are linked files.

Years ago I made the following family and I just stumbled across it again after getting asked about this situation and doing a search at AUGI (I posted it originally at Zoog Design and it migrated with the merge to AUGI).


It's pretty simple: lines, text and labels using instance parameters for each "XXXX" value I want to enter. When I put it in a project, it is "full size" for printing and I can put it anywhere I need it, view or a sheet view. I can select it and click on "X's" to fill out the form. A few years ago Jake Boen (at Autodesk University 2006) presented more clever examples that include calculations to do all sorts of things that we'd normally reach for a spreadsheet to do. Put your thinking cap on and I'm sure you can find a nice way to use the concept.

If you'd like to download the family 

Monday, January 24, 2011

Revit MEP–Plenum Spaces and Ceilings

I’ve noticed that Spaces and Ceilings can affect Revit MEP’s ability to display the Space element. I’ve seen it happen and then later correct itself magically. Not likely that it is magical, more like something was adjusted that changes the conditions in the first place. I admit I don’t know yet what that “magic” is.

The conditions for this to occur begin with the addition of a new Level to manage plenum areas in the building. When this new level is added and a view is created it’s a good idea to adjust the view range so it matches the available distance between boundaries. Initially it would be easy to expect this to be the reason that a Space doesn’t show up. When we add a space this error message will usually pop up.

RME Spaces Ceilings01
Changing the elevation of the ceiling or the level or some combination will result in Revit being able to show them again. I created a VIDEO that DESCRIBES how the ceiling elevation and the space properties conflict with one another.


[Addendum: January 25,2011]
The issue described above has to do with the Room Computation Height of the Plenum Level, which is a Level Type parameter. The typical Level Types in Revit Templates set the Room Computation Height to be “Automatic”. This really means that the default is 4’ from the Level unless Revit encounters objects in/at the 4’ level. If Revit find issues, it adjusts the Room Computation Height to the Level plane instead.

In this case, the Level type (used for all the levels) uses the Automatic setting, so Revit defaults (when dealing with the Plenum Level) to the Ceiling Level to find the Space extents when it encounters the slab at the 4' elevation. When the bottom edge of the Ceiling Element gets nudged to align with the Ceiling Level, Revit can no longer find a closed circuit.

The solution here, and one that can be generally used, is to create a new Level Type to use for Plenum Levels, and explicitly set the Room Calculation Height to something like 0’ 6”, so the Space will always be cut inside of the Plenum Space.

Thanks to Kyle Bernhardt for the explanation!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Dept. of Reviteristics - An Opening isn't a Door

I posted THIS in April of 2010 but it's been a recurring question for many years.

Responding to a recent question, the Cased Opening family provided by Revit is assigned to the Category: Generic Models because many architects do not want these included in door schedules. At the time is seemed like an easy way to segregate them, yet when they shipped them they put them in the same folder with doors. New users for years have been clicking Door to add their newly loaded cased openings and been flummoxed when they aren’t there.

It might have been more appropriate to put them in the Door category and use a parameter value to filter them out of a schedule. They picked a solution and here we are.

Another issue we all face before we know, the where to find things can get fussy, like a Refrigerator. Ask ten people where they’d expect to find one and if none of them have any Revit background you probably won’t get a single "in Specialty Equipment > Domestic".

In my earlier post I vented a bit about a better way to place components. We still don't have any "factory" supplied solution. Kiwi Codes Family Browser however is a pretty elegant way to go and if Autodesk isn't paying attention to it, they should be! They've got some new features either about to be release or have just, check them out!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Advance2000 Webinar - Cloud Computing 2.0

I received an invitation to a webinar that this company is hosting on January 25th. I spoke to them at AU and talked to Chris France for a little while. You may be familiar with him as the author of BIM in the Cloud which he wrote for AECbytes while he was the CIO for Little Diversified.

Here are the details:
(note the space limited part, apparently the internet doesn't have a big enough room? I know...webinar's hosting charges by attendance range... If you can't get in I'm sorry to have teased you!)

Advance2000’s BIM Cloud 2.0

Please join us for a Webinar on January 25
Space is limited - Reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/234093062

Our BIM Cloud expert, Chris France, will conduct the presentation and from this seminar you will:
  • Learn the basics of the BIM Cloud
  • Understand how your firm will benefit from utilizing this next generation type of environment
  • Have ample opportunity to ask questions and discuss with our expert your organizations challenges
About our speaker
Chris France is the president of our North Carolina office and most recently a CIO for a large architectural firm so he sees technology from the owners perspective. He has experience in both developing and implementing Cloud solutions. Additionally, he is an accomplished speaker and most recently presented at the 2010 Autodesk University Conference.

All participants will be entered to win a complimentary 4 hour BIM Cloud Assessment.

Webinar Title: Advance2000’s BIM Cloud 2.0
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

To particpate, your Computer's System Requirements are:
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Contact Information:
Toll free: 1-800-238-2621
Email: info@advance2000.com
www.advance2000.com

Dept. of Huh? - A New Little Guy?

I've been dealing with getting Windows 7 installed and rebuilding my life on the PC during this past week, finally! A continual experience of, "oh, let's take care of this! Oops, I didn't install that yet...hello Firefox let's download some software!" Like the video I wanted to record for another post next week, oops don't have Jing installed yet.

I fired up Revit Architecture 2011 this morning and I'm greeted by this new little guy!


It lingers there on screen until I actually click on it to close it. I'm thinking it is supposed to be hidden and related to getting authorization/licensing? Can't imagine what cool setting I've triggered to get it!

Anybody else seen this?? Say hello to my little friend?

[Added 5:40 PM - January 21, 2011] Thanks to Ryan Duell's specific comment about graphics card managers I remembered that I did play with settings in my nvidia Quadro FX1600m configuration using their nView Properties tool. Turns out that checking the option: Prevent windows from opening off-screen was the culprit. Disable that and no little friend, bye bye. Sorry, but I won't miss you.


Thanks Ryan!! and the other comments too!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Revit MEP Book - The Aubin Academy Master Series

I received a review copy of Paul's latest effort. He teamed up with three other guys, Darryl McClelland and his other brothers Larry and Darryl. Sorry couldn't resist the Bob Newhart reference (dating myself). Actually his partners were Darryl but also Gregg Stanley and Martin Schmid. I know of Martin because of his role at Autodesk. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Gregg or Darryl yet. Enough meandering...


My first honest reaction was, "Uh oh! This book is thin!" It may be disappointing at first glance but don't let that dissuade you. Despite weighing in at just 368 numbered pages include front and back matter it packs a lot in. The book format is a bit larger than other books, a tiny bit smaller than a full sheet of standard letter size paper (8.5x11 inches).

It isn't intended to be the complete story on Revit MEP either. It's a solid introduction that tackles basic stuff like the user interface (do we really have to do that with every book? I guess so!) and digs into worksets, linking files, copy/monitor...murky stuff fearlessly too.

I can see someone starting from scratch with this book and getting off to decent beginning with enough exposure to more involved things that it won't intimidate them as much when that stuff gets real for them on a project. It helps that it is bolstered with lots of exercises that delve into practically everything it discusses.

There a some things said that I might quibble with but considering the audience it is focused on I get their purpose. Paul's compiled a great deal of experience and information into a small package that delivers. I'd say it's a must have for anybody looking to add to their Revit MEP resources and library.

Amazon show its list price at $76.50 but they tell me I could have it for just $48.20 and free shipping using Super Saver Shipping.

[Added: February 3, 2011 after a comment about finding the data set]
Visit the book's Webpage at Paul's site
Download the Data Set
Download the Readme file

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Family Editor Tools - Free from CAD Technology Center

CAD Technology Center (CTC Products) has decided to make their tools free to Family Editors who wear authorized uniforms.


Actually they didn't make that distinction but I think they should! I used that image in a slide for a Autodesk University session in 2006. It comes from the Rev'IT! site, a Dutch motocycle clothing and accessory company that has the distinction of owning Revit.com originally (and selling it to the Revit we know).

CTC's tool set has the nice price of $0.00 listed on their site.


Included for this nice price is:
  • Delete Backup Files
  • Type Catalog Tools
  • Compare Shared Parameters
  • Merge Shared Parameters
  • Family File Version Detector

I'll leave it to their site to explain the tools and their purpose but I think anyone whose made more than a couple families will recognize some value just from their description?

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Marvin Window Content Updated

Received an email this morning letting me know that Marvin Windows has update their Revit content, they wrote:

We are happy to inform you that we have posted about 41 different Revit families to our Marvin Revit Page.


We want to thank those of you who helped us test these families and for spending the time to write and tell us your comments. We were able to incorporate many of your requests in our families. We hope these families will be an asset to you. Take care and please let us know if you have any comments, complaints or questions.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Worksets - The Case of the Person is No Longer

It happens often enough, the person that Revit tells you "owns" something you need to deal with either isn't working on the project actively now or in some extreme cases doesn't even work at the firm anymore. Before I describe how to cope with this don't apply it to a team who has a rogue member who seems to borrow stuff and not return them all the time. That's a separate kind of issue, I'll address that situation at the end of the post.

Most often this missing person has a view, project standard or some other relatively "minor" element checked out. Otherwise it would have caught someone's attention sooner. One way to check for rogue users is to open the Workset Dialog, check all four Workset filters and scroll the list looking for usernames that shouldn't be there. This would be true even for regular team members if you are the only one in the project at the moment, say after hours for example.

When you need to remove a person that is no longer part of the team you need to write down the username(s) listed in the warning message that tells you "no, you can't have it because Bubba does".

Take the following steps if you are a timid Reviteer, this uses a Local File.
  • Open Revit (if it isn't already, don't open any files yet)
  • Close your own Local File (if Revit is already open)
  • Change your Username to match the missing person
  • Open the Central File, check the Create New Local File option (2010/2011)
  • You now have a local file assigned to this past user
  • Synchronize with Central (SwC)- relinquish all worksets
  • Close the Local File
  • Reset your Username - Open your previous local file
  • Resume work
Take the following steps if you are a brave Reviteer, this opens the Central File.
  • Open Revit (if it isn't already, don't open any files yet)
  • Close your own Local File (if Revit is already open)
  • Change your Username to match the missing person
  • Open the Central File (don't check the local file option)
  • You are now working in the Central File (most reliable if no other users are working in Local Files, if they Synchronize with Central while you are doing this Revit may insist on having you create a local file before being able to Synchronize with Central)
  • Synchronize with Central - relinquish all worksets
  • If there are other users involved - change your Username to match another
  • Repeat the process (again, other users might force you into a Local File, most reliable if no other users are actively working in the project)
If you'd like to take a brute force approach, definitely after hours, you can:
  • Open the Central file - Check the Detach from Central option
  • Save the file - provide a new name when prompted
  • You now have a new central file
  • Synchronize with Central - relinquish all worksets
  • Close the file
  • Have users create a new Local File based on this new Central File to begin work
If you have a co-worker that didn't relinquish everything before leaving the office the kindest/gentlest approach is to open their Local File on their PC and SwC for them.
  • This means you have to be able to log onto their PC as yourself
  • Change the Revit username to theirs if isn't already
  • Then you have to know where their Local File is, open it and SwC
  • Reset their Username
  • Close Revit
  • Log off their PC.
  • Let them know what you did! They'll probably see your log-on-name when they return and wonder.
You can also use either of the first two methods described above, as if they are no longer part of the team. The reason I suggest the kinder/gentler approach is that it protects any changes they made but didn't publish via SwC. That assumes they just saved the Local File but didn't opt to use SwC, which does happen from time to time when people get rushed off to a meeting or emergency. If someone is a repeat offender and shows no remorse you might consider the negative reinforcement of using the less kind and gentle approach.

Now if you are part of a big project, many central files and collaborating with other people that are referencing your files and theirs...slow down, take a deep breath. The same rule apply but before creating a new central file you'll need to consider file naming agreements. You'll also need to be mindful of who else is cranking away on the project when you decide to deal with this situation. Go slow, methodical...the turtle may win this race as opposed to the rabbit creating some havoc.

...elementary my Dear Watson!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Dept. of Bugs - Revit Framing Does Not Play Nice

Avan Amalsad wrote to me today asking me if I could corroborate her observations and those of one of her clients, she works with Microdesk and specializes in Revit Structure. She was asking about that version but I had Revit Architecture open. The two applications share these features so if it happens in RST I expected it to happen in RAC, it did! Okay okay...what is it?

If you have a grid, column and framing layout and adjust the position of a grid by a value of around six inches or less (150mm) you'll find that the framing doesn't follow the grid.


If you change the spacing by a value greater than six inches (150mm) then it seems to wake up and follow the grid. If you keep changing it by small increments the framing may not wake up until you've move it enough that it does again. Odd foible. Avan's client says that they saw a larger increment of failure back in Revit 2009 so it is better now. I guess we have to define better loosely? I recorded a little video to demonstrate it to make it easier to see.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Sketch Again

No I don't have a new plug-in to create that napkin sketch look in Revit, sorry! I did write a post in January 2008 to describe a neat technique that the Introducing Revit Architecture 2008 book showed in a couple images. I made my own examples, like this one.



When Revit got its start, round about tens years back, one of the intentional concepts it hoped to bring back to us is sketching. Again not necessarily the napkin-sketch-look but at least the idea that we can draw something without being too hung up (at first) with accuracy, exact dimensions or precise wall types.

You can draw walls that loosely define rooms/volumes/spaces and shapes. After messing around with the general form and arrangement you can force more rigor or rules on the concept. You know, like a grid layout, masonry brick/block coursing/modules or assumptions about minimum clearance or sizes. I still encounter users now and then that start out by drawing "lines" to decide where walls should go. No, No...missing something big here...

The key thing to appreciate is that you can just sketch first and refine next/later.

I realized shortly after starting to use Revit that I was conditioned to try to draw really accurately FIRST with AutoCAD and Microstation because it was a pain to adjust things. Don't get me wrong, some change is painful even in Revit. Completely throwing out a concept will inevitably require a lot of rework. Starting with a rectangular building and switching to an oval probably isn't going to just update nicely, completely.

With Revit routine adjustments to clean up a concept IS much more friendly. Some of the tools that let you refine your work are temporary dimensions, permanent dimensions, levels, grids, reference planes and parameters, editing tools like move, align, rotate, the Type Selector and a little smarts and intuition thrown in.

To support the somewhat arbitrary state of ideas that are not fully formed yet you can also work with placeholders for walls, doors and windows etc. This means that you CAN draw a nominal wall that is 4 inches (100mm) or 6 inches (150mm) or even 8 inches (200mm). We don't need anything bigger than that do we?? 8-)

As the design get resolved you can replace these nominal walls with ones that represent framing sizes, gypsum wall board choices and even finishes if you choose to. One excellent suggestion that I think was first offered by Phil Read in a session at Autodesk University several years ago is to use specific materials for all generic "placeholder" elements. He suggested a common color that used some sort of transparency setting so they were clearly different from "real/resolved" things. Since we tend to spend a fair bit of time looking at the model in 3D views with Revit these unresolved elements stand out in the crowd.

To further explain this stuff I recorded a short video embedded here and posted at OpEd Videos and You Tube.


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Locking Stuff

I've written about Automatic Sketch Dimensions before, April 2006 and August 2009. I'm bringing them up again because every now and then I run into someone who doesn't know about them and thinks that Revit is a bit magical, it just seems to know how to keep things in place, groovy! I recorded this Video awhile back but I'm dredging it up again just in case a reader missed it before.

Unable to display content. Adobe Flash is required.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Dept. of Subtle - Type Catalogs and Quotation Marks

I was recently asked to provide a couple sample family files that used Type Catalogs and imperial units. I made them and shipped them off. I got a reply back shortly thereafter asking about some odd behavior. Here's what one Type Catalog looked like:

,Length##LENGTH##FEET,Width##LENGTH##FEET,Height##Length##FEET
2'0"x 2'0x 2'6",2'0,2'0,2'6
3'0"x 3'0x 3'0",3'0,3'0,3'0
4'0"x 4'0x 3'0",4'0,4'0,3'0
5'0"x 5'0x 4'0",5'0,5'0,4'0

If you look closely you'll see that I left out the "inch" mark for the middle dimensions of the Type Name. I didn't do it on purpose. When I load the family I get this dialog:


When I realized (more accurately, was asked why...) I left the "inch" marks out I fixed it. The result was this:


The Type Names were squished together into two types instead of four. Curious. The answer lurks in The Families Guide (separate download, not in Help unfortunately). Methinks that the Families Guide ought to be available in the same online format as the rest of the help documentation too!

Listed among the rules on page 85 of the Creating a Type Catalog chapter is:
You can use single or double quotes. If you are using double quotes, you need to enter "" for Revit Architecture to understand it as double quotes.

All I had to do was add a second set of " marks to the middle Type Name. I could also use two single quotes instead. If you get some weirdness with Type Catalogs take a quick trip to the "rules". The fixed file looks like this:

,Length##LENGTH##FEET,Width##LENGTH##FEET,Height##Length##FEET
2'0"x 2'0""x 2'6",2'0,2'0,2'6
3'0"x 3'0""x 3'0",3'0,3'0,3'0
4'0"x 4'0""x 3'0",4'0,4'0,3'0
5'0"x 5'0""x 4'0",5'0,5'0,4'0

Revit doesn't seem to mind the others but technically I should add the extra quotation marks to the others too.

AUGI Forums are ON!

Clear your cache and cookies! The AUGI Forums are now back online! I find my shortcuts to the forums are working again.

Friday, January 07, 2011

Revit MEP - Sanitary Venting and Fixture Units

Revit will push drainage/waste fixture units downstream to the end of the system. If three water closets are assigned four (4) waste fixture units each (WFC is the parameter in stock content), the pipes that are attached directly to each water closet will show four (4) WFC as a read only parameter value. As you check each pipe that is closer to the end of the system you'll find the fixture units incrementally increase after each water closet. If you assign the water closets to a sanitary system you'll see that they also add up in the System Browser (you can show Fixture Units). So far so good.


Venting is often required at each fixture and each vent is then routed over to the associated sanitary riser. This is where things go awry. The fixture units calculation inside Revit can tolerate a closed system where the contents of the pipe and the air in the vent can't circulate via a loop (see later images). As soon as you create a loop condition fixture units cease to accrue to piping layout.

Most of the engineers I've met want to use a fitting that has an integral vent connection. The one you see in the images in this post was created by Scott Johnson and he shared it with me a couple years ago and it works nicely. Attempting to simulate this isn't a problem until you try to connect them all together.

The solution in the images here involves placing a cap at the top of each Vent riser to close the system. To complete the venting (that isn't really venting anymore) you just run additional piping above the cap elevation. The different appearance for the vent pipe and fittings is done with a filter. The vent pipe you see is a separate Pipe Type so simpler fittings can be used as it is sketched. A Type Comment parameter value of "Vent" makes it easy to use a Filter. In plan views I'd be inclined to hide the vent pipe using the same Filter so they don't compete with the sanitary pipe graphics, the fittings above tend to obscure the fittings below. If you place these caps as high as possible it might not be necessary to fuss with a filter. This image shows the System Inspector results after using this technique.


System Inspector won't even work until you create a situation that doesn't allow for this loop. By loop I mean this condition.


I've experimented with changing the nature of the connector in the wye fitting itself but unfortunately as soon as Revit detects an alternative path that creates a loop, no fixture units past that point.

I suppose you could argue, "What's the point? Since you can't use the sizing tool on sanitary pipe anyway?". It might not really matter to some, but if the pipe knows what fixture units are present it should help you do the sizing in-canvas. It will help because you can touch a pipe and see the value (in the Properties Palette). You can then refer back to your cheat sheets to choose the best diameter for the pipe.

Made a video too, watch at OpEd Videos or You Tube or listen and watch here (my graphics card goes haywire at the end a bit).


Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Revit MEP - Sanitary Pipe and Sizing

Note to self - Next time I'm trying to figure out why the Pipe Sizing routine doesn't activate for a Sanitary Pipe System... remember that it isn't available for that kind of system.

From the Help Documentation, Using the Pipe Sizing Dialog:

Note: The Pipe Sizing dialog cannot be used to size Sanitary system piping.

Personally I think that this note should be on the previous page, called Pipe Sizing.

While I'm at it, just to help me remember this bit too, regarding the branch sizing constraint options in the Pipe Sizing dialog (via Using the Pipe Sizing Dialog help page too):

  • Calculated Size Only - The size of the selected pipe segment(s) is determined by the selected sizing method and is not otherwise constrained.
  • Match Connector Size - The size of the selected pipe segment(s) in the branch is determined by the size of the connector used between the branch and the main, up until the first junction in the network. (emphasis mine)
  • Larger of Connector and Calculated - The size of the selected pipe segment(s) is determined by larger of two (emphasis mine) determinants. If the connector size is smaller than the size calculated by the sizing method, then the calculated size will be used. If the connector size is larger than the size calculated by the sizing method, then the connector size will be used. For example, select this option to avoid supplying a plumbing fixture with a pipe segment that is smaller than the size of the connector on the fixture.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

AUGI | AEC EDGE Fall 2010 Available

The newest issue of AUGI | AEC EDGE, Fall 2010, is now available. There are high and low resolution pdf copies available now.


I'm not sure what the status of the online reader version is right now. I'll post again when I know more.

Fwiw, the naming of the issues has been a little confusing even for me at times. The intention was to publish each issue at the "end" of the season it is named for. The timing has been a bit later than the literal end of some seasons. This issue is the last one that will use this approach.

This year AUGI intends to have six issues instead of four. The naming for each will be based on months. That means the next issue will be for Jan/Feb 2011 (accepting proposals now!) and be release at the end of February, if I have my facts straight. AUGI also has been discussing taking the production internal and using the same graphics and publishing team that has been handling AUGI World. Change is the only constant!

Download the High Resolution PDF (33.1 MB)
Download the Low Resolution PDF (6.9 MB)

New Year Post - Note to AUGI Board

The AUGI board will be welcoming a new member, Shaun Bryant of the UK, as today is his first day on the job. Welcome and good luck! In light of the recent web site and forum issues I thought I'd share, as the basis for a note to the new Board, links to six posts by Seth Godin. These all appeared on his blog in the several days following the arrival of the new AUGI web site at the beginning of last month.
I find that Seth has the uncanny nack for writing and posting something that resonates with something occurring in my life or things around me. When I put new Board in italics earlier I did so because this note isn't just for Shaun. The other members are returning but some are in new roles, for example David Harrington is now the President of AUGI (congrats!).

I include the "World's Worst Boss" because being part of the Board of Directors requires a lot of self-motivation and dedication. It tends to come after everything else going on in your life and that means very often the organization gets "less" of you.

"The Open Road" is where you are now. Will you slow down and become ineffectual or maintain your speed and direction? Do you rely on competition around you to stay motivated? Who is your "competition"?

"Where's your platform" is meant to inspire bigger thinking. Where could AUGI be, because you are there in "that seat"? Do you hope to maintain AUGI as a caretaker (important too) or do you dream a bit as well?

It is perhaps a bit more obvious why I include "The Appearance of Impropriety". In this role your actions always take on larger implications. The things you used to be able to write in a forum response and get a chuckle may now incite anger because you are not who you were anymore. This takes some getting used to, at least it did for me. You feel the same but somehow people see you differently. You are a leader now and the rules have changed for you, how you act, what you mean when you write/say something. Leading to...

Amen, "You Will be Misunderstood". No matter how you write it or say it or show it...it's going to happen. Expect it and be gracious when it happens, and try again.

No the "Answer isn't Simple" but that's usually what someone really wants from you. Explaining difficult things, simply, takes effort and some talent. The recent situation regarding the web site and forums is a good example of not either explaining things well or explaining things at all.

And a bonus one that appeared today! Insurgents and Incumbents.

I encourage you all to be better this year than last, better than previous Boards were, raise the bar for future Boards.

All the best, Happy New Year and Good luck!