Here’s the scenario – you’re heading out of town for a much deserved vacation. Before you leave, you spend some time cleaning up your project’s Revit model. You delete all the extraneous views, purge out unused families and compact the central file. You leave the office on Friday with your model looking neat and tidy. […]
Rename Rooms, Sheets and Views with these Revit Macros
A client of mine is working on a large multi-building project. As often happens on these big projects, the names and designations of the buildings changed mid-way through the project. This kind of thing happens all the time and it’s always a headache. Updating all those names is tedious and it takes a lot of […]
Are Computers Bad for Architecture?
I write a lot about digital technology and automation here on ArchSmarter, but deep down inside, I have a soft spot for all things analog. I still build physical models. I carry a Moleskine notebook with me everywhere. I also recently bought a Crosley record player. I can listen to any kind of music I […]
Revit Macro Updates
I just updated the Sheet Maker and View Maker macros I first wrote about here. These new versions are a lot more useful. The macro file includes graphic interfaces for both macros. You can now select the elements from the interface rather than rely on the hard-coded values. You can download the macro file at […]
RTC Europe Wrap Up
I have a love/hate relationship with conferences. I enjoy the presentations and learning opportunities but I don’t always like the pressure to network. I’m an introvert by nature so I tend to shy away from large gatherings. Plus, technology conferences can sometimes be a snore. Too much tech and not enough story. That said, […]
21 Ways Architects Can Work Smarter, Not Harder
Project schedules are getting shorter and shorter. Building types are getting more complex. We already work hard but there are only so many hours in the day. As architects, we need to work smarter, not harder. How can we maximize our effectiveness and our efficiency? How can we manage the increasing flow of information? How […]
Easily Convert Lines to Walls with this Revit Macro
Do you have an AutoCAD drawing that you need to convert to Revit? Wish you could just convert lines to walls in Revit? This macro makes the process a lot easier by automatically converting model lines to Revit walls. One of the first things I wanted to learn when I started writing Revit macros was […]
Excel for Architects – Using Names to Manage Your Data
Quick question – who’s easier to remember, “Bob” or “A1:D22”? My guess is you’d have an easier time with “Bob”. It’s easy, it’s familiar and it’s short. Now imagine you have a room filled with people named “B2:B33”, “C12:D24” and “E5:G33”. Aside from feeling like you’re in a futuristic sci-fi world, I imagine you’d have […]
How To Visualize Complex Data With BIM
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a tool to document and manage the construction process. But can it be used as a data visualization tool? Are there capabilities inherent to BIM software that make it a useful tool in this capacity? This post will show you how to visualize complex data with BIM. Data Visualization There […]
How I Saved 20 Hours (and my weekend) with Revit Macros
I do consulting work for other architecture firms. Much of this work involves customizing software or writing BIM and CAD standards documents. Occasionally, I’ll work directly on projects. I like this type of work best as I get to put into action the things I write about here on ArchSmarter. The Challenge I was recently […]
