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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Excel for Architects – 9 Steps to Beautiful Spreadsheets
This is part 4 of the Excel for Architects series. You can find links to the other parts of the series here. Architects are visual people – we love drawings and images. We’ll spend hours selecting just the right shade of blue for a colored plan. We’ll argue over the proper relationship between door and […]
Excel for Architects – Part 3
This is the third part of the Excel for Architects series. You can find the first part of the series here and the second part here. Linking Excel Files Much like you can use Xref in AutoCAD to create links between drawings, you can link cells in an Excel worksheet to another worksheet or another […]
Excel for Architects – Part 2
This is the second part of the Excel for Architects series. You can find the first part of the series here. Excel Pivot Tables Up until a few months ago, I had no idea how to use Pivot Tables in Excel. I had heard the term before but I didn’t know what they did, how […]
Excel for Architects – Part 1
Next to BIM and CAD software, my bet is that Microsoft Excel is the next most-used software in the architect’s toolbox. I probably use Excel at least once a day. If you’re like me, no one ever showed you how to use it – you just figured it out on your own. Spreadsheets are easy, […]
Which architectural software is right for me?
Which CAD or BIM software should you use? Well, that depends. What functionality to you need? What are your priorities with regard to cost, comparability, interoperability? Are you using a Mac or a PC? Determining which software to use can be a tricky process. There are a lot of choices our there and the marketing […]
