DWF Takes Revit & AutoCAD Users "Beyond the Paper"

Lock and load your feeders and readers into this blog; Beyond the Paper by Scott Sheppard. You can tell he has a sense of humor when you check out one of last week's posts.

Scott Sheppard has worked for Autodesk for 14 years depending on if you count acquisitions and dot coms. Scott recently accepted the position of Engineering Project Manager for Autodesk's DWF-based Quantity Take Off application that is under development.

• As most of the major plotter manufacturers' plot drivers are able to plot DWF files, the use of DWF is soaring for reprographic service providers. DWF files are grossly smaller than PLT files.
• AutoCAD 2007 can use a DWF file as an XREF rather than a DWG file.
• In Revit, ADT and Civil 3D we can create 3D DWF files. This provides us with a lightweight format for 3D client presentations and design analysis. Which elimintates the need to drag Revit, ADT or Civil 3D to a client presentation. I've been a fan of DWF for years...it just keeps getting better.

No one is saying PDF is dead...after all, there's a PDF driver in AutoCAD 2007 platform products. Now we can choose the best tool to use for the task. You'll enjoy Scott's sense of humor that he's sprinkled throughout his blog. Here's the RSS link to feed your reader. After last week's BootCamp in Dallas, there's been "no place like home" this week.

Autodesk BootCamp-Dallas: AutoCAD/ABS 2007-Day 1 & 2

Bootcamp Dallas - Its all about Revit on Days 3 & 4

BootCamp Dallas' Big Finale is ADT 2007!

e-SPECS Links Revit Projects to Specifications

At a time when building owners are tired of project schedules, performance standards, construction practices and project budgets not meeting their expectations, expanding the role of linking-synchronizing the construction specifications to the building model may change these outcomes.

No, I don't sell this solution. And this is not a personal endorsement for you to buy it.

It is however; a personal endorsement for you to spend some serious time evaluating its potential for your organization; architectural and/or engineering. I've watched e-SPECS grow over the last few years as our architectural and engineering clients began automating both their design and construction specifications processes. It seems to be a natural evolution to link-sync your Revit BIM model components to your construction specifications. Thus we have e-SPECS for Revit.

In January 2005 this press release was posted: MASTERSPEC and e-SPECS Software to be Integrated (link to full article) The agreement will allow InterSpec to bundle MASTERSPEC with its e-SPECS software to InterSpec's customers, while providing ARCOM the opportunity to offer e-SPECS' automation capabilities to MASTERSPEC Licensed Users. "This agreement will provide improved integration, automation, and error checking," said ARCOM President Edward F. Smith, D.Arch, FAIA, CSI, "and will facilitate the integration of construction specifications with the leading building information modeling programs in the AEC industry. All versions of MASTERSPEC will be available for integration and automation, making project manual preparation even easier."

Conduct your own research. e-SPECS has a press release page which outlines the Return On Investment (ROI) success stories of their clients. An e-SPECS online demonstration page is available to view their product in action for both Revit, ADT or AutoCAD.

The Construction Specifications Institute
The Construction Specifier - The magazine of the CSI

Free DWG Viewer-Revit-AutoCAD Users

Autodesk has updated their Free DWG TrueView & TrueConvert software tools. As DWG files are part of the collaborative process for Revit projects, these free tools allow everyone on the project team to work together digitally.

DWG TrueView—View and plot DWG and DXF™ files, and share full fidelity AutoCAD® drawings easily and accurately with DWG TrueView™. Then publish them as DWF™ files for quick review and markup in Autodesk® DWF™ Composer.

Download or research DWG TrueView here.

Revit 9-Free AutoCAD 2007 Giveaway

What a landslide month! Early on the morning of March 1st I wandered into the AUGI Revit forums & Revitcity and placed the announcement of Revit 9's release.

On Saturday, February 25, Autodesk sent out a special bulletin to its Authorized Reseller-Consultants that we could begin telling the world about Revit 9 on March 1st. For almost a week, we were the major news source providing spec sheets and data on the new Revit 9 and AutoCAD 2007 product line.

Since then, I've been jamming our news feed on our corporate site with Revit tips, news and announcements. Combine that with my speaking engagements, Revit client training and implemenation projects here in the Midwest, and this blog didn't have my full attention in March.

However; here are few significant Revit posts from my corporate blog including the one that really created our "March Madness".

Revit Site Tools: Architects and Engineers Playing in the Dirt

AutoCAD 2007-Revit 9: Are You Wasting Money On Standalone Licensing?

Revit 9 and AutoCAD 2007 Performance Benchmarks?

Google Earth Spins Into Revit

Revit 9 Sneak-Peek! Press Embargo Lifts March 1st! Woo-Hoo!

You can register to win a Free AutoCAD 2007 package of software on the top of our homepage.