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Release of Far Manager and Bim Manager

December 6, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

CAD Enhancement Inc. is announcing the release of the FAR Manager and BIM Manager tool sets for use with Revit Architecture 2010.

The FAR Manager is a Content Manager that allows the users to:

  • Import the whole family
  • Import just the type
  • Add parameters and types
  • Access to RevitCatalog
  • Search for families within the users network by Category, Sub-category, Types, Parameters and their values

The BIM Manager is a tool set that allows the BIM Managers to:

  • Add/edit parameters by batch
  • Control the folders that the users can use with the Far Manager
  • Catalog the family for quick search

The best part is that CAD Enhancement Inc. is providing these tool sets for Architects to download and use for FREE.

Read about the whole process that includes these two tool sets at http://www.cadenhancement.com/labels/FAR.html

To download the FAR Manager and the BIM Manager http://www.cadenhancement.com/2001/01/far-manager-bim-manager.html

Take a look at some of our video clips of the FAR process:
1.) BIM Manager Utility Tool capabilities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwp6XqQQm9s
2.) FAR Manager Search capabilities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAW3HdOTodY
3.) FAR Manager – Importing Types capabilities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1qwWZnz0_o
4.) From an Inventor file to Revit Family http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBwXiRpw6hM

Contact us with your comments, feedback and suggestions as you begin working with the FAR Manager and BIM Manager tool sets.

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – Release of Far Manager and Bim Manager
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.


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What is the proper way to market on the web

September 10, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

What is the proper way to market on the web?

The web is a powerful tool for getting the word out but also can be detrimental if one is not careful.

As we have been marketing the FAR Process on the web I have received comments that we are not explaining it in enough detail to potential customers.

Our approach from the beginning was to intentionally provide a ‘high level’ description of the FAR Process in order to intrigue people about how we developed a process to automate the creation of Revit Families. We did this so they would ask what it was and if they could see a demo. Frankly, this approach has worked beyond our wildest dreams. We have been providing demos for some of the largest architect firms in the US and across the globe.

However, we feel we are walking a fine line between providing enough detail for potential customers interested in the product while guarding the proprietary information from competitors. We do not want to ‘show all of our cards’ before we are ready to do so. If you have been following me via Twitter or my blogs you will notice we are providing more detailed information about the FAR Process with each blog. We plan to continue providing more details through these blogs until it is released, which will be occurring in the near future.

My question to you is, “What do you think about marketing on the web and the most effective approach that should be taken?

Do you think we have taken the right approach?

What would you recommend?

Any and all comments would be appreciated.

Here is an example of the new approach we are taking.

We have a video on Searching for a Revit Family
New blog on the BIM Manager Utility

Thank you.

Patrick Johnson

President – CAD Enhancement, Inc

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – What is the proper way to market on the web
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.

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BIM Manager Utility

September 10, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

Within the FAR Manager there is a utility exclusive for BIM Managers allowing specific capabilities that general FAR Manager users can not utilize. The login will allow only the BIM Manager to gain access into this utility.

Some of the exclusive capabilities within this utility allow the BIM Manager the ability to:

· Set the path(s) of where the users will be able to read and/or save families from within the FAR Manager.

· Add parameters and values in a batch mode. The general user will have the ability to add parameters one at a time; following a similar process as is found inside Revit. (We felt this ability was better suited for BIM Managers to handle than giving that kind of control to the general user.)

· Set up the search functions for all users allowing the ability to search not only items such as family name but also reaching inside the families and searching data inside the family quickly.

Attached is the BIM Manager Utility video file which demostrates these capabilities in greater detail.

Patrick

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – BIM Manager Utility
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.

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Inventor ilogic and Far

September 10, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

As we continue moving forward with our development of the FAR Process we have been digging deeper into automating the creation of Revit families from Inventor. Inventor iLogic (a free product add-in for Autodesk subscription users) will play a huge role in the ability to make this happen. I look at iLogic as a ‘rules based’ logic that is attached to the models within Inventor. To me, this is one of the best moves Autodesk has made in a while. I look at iLogic as a tool that is very simple to use but very powerful – oh yeh, there is even a help document with it.

The ability to return and pass data to outside applications and databases is one of the true powers of iLogic. The way we intend to use iLogic for the FAR Process is only one method for using this ‘rules based’ tool. Once you understand how this tool works, its use will be limited only by your imagination.

I know we are only scratching the surface when it comes to utilizing the capabilities of iLogic for our use with the FAR Process. iLogic is worth looking at for the capability to put rules on any or all parts and assemblies, as it will only make your model that much smarter.

Contact us if you are interested in scheduling a demonstration of the FAR Process using Inventor iLogic.

Patrick K. Johnson

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – Inventor ilogic and Far
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.

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Far Creator

September 10, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

The FAR Process is built from 3 main components; the FAR Manager, the FAR Data and the FAR Creator. The FAR Creator is the piece of the puzzle for the Manufacturers that will take their product data whether it originates in Inventor, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Pro E, etc. in order to create the FAR Data set required to automate the creation of a Revit Family.

The FAR Creator really is not one application but a set of API’s that will be built for each Manufacturers, based on their software and their industry. The ultimate goal is to get the FAR Creator set up for the Manufacturer so they will not be dependent upon an outside provider for creating and maintaining their Revit families. Each Manufacturer will be able to use their own set of API’s to create the FAR Data necessary for automating the creation of their own Revit families using the FAR Process for custom and future product developments.

Another cost advantage with the FAR Process is that the FAR Creator allows the Manufacturer to have the ability for updating architect data automatically when changes are made to the engineering data – thus eliminating the need to manage multiple sets of data.

In addition, we feel one of the greatest advantages of the FAR Process for Manufacturers and Architects is found when working with customized product data. The FAR Creator allows the ability to create the FAR Data set for customized products for Architects automatically, thus eliminating the cost and reducing the amount of time for both the Manufacturer and the Architect to create this data.

The FAR Creator creates the data and automates the creation of the Revit Family to appear as if it were done manually. The FAR Process has the ability to automatically create an efficient, effective and high quality Revit family consistently, each and every time.

Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in seeing a demonstration of the FAR Process.

Patrick Johnson

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – Far Creator
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.

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Far Process and Manufacturing

September 10, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

As we started putting together the plan for the FAR project one objective we were trying to accomplish was to automate a process where Manufacturers could create Revit families without the investment of purchasing Revit software, training, and the staff to manage Revit. Our original plan was to create a way for the product data from the Manufacturer to be passed to the Architect who has the FAR Manager and Revit software so Architects could create the Revit family on their side automatically, since Manufacturers were focused on producing products instead of creating data.

For the past 6 weeks we have been presenting demos of the FAR process. Those initial demos were designed to get feedback from both Architects and Manufacturers. One item that we were hearing from the Manufacturers is the desire to create the Revit families themselves. The reason behind this was coming from the marketing side as they want the ability to decide where the Revit families reside in order to get the most exposure for their families and ultimately, their products. As a result of that feedback we are now offering the option for Manufacturers to implement the entire FAR process which includes both the FAR Manager and the FAR Creator to enable the capability for automating the creation of their own Revit families.

I think this was the beauty of these demos, not only did we obtain feedback regarding the concept of the FAR process but we also learned how companies plan on managing their architect data moving forward.

Again, I would like to thank everyone who participated in our initial demos of the FAR process and welcome other Architects and Manufacturers to contact us if interested in scheduling a FAR demo.

Patrick Johnson

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – Far Process and Manufacturing
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.

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Updating Sheet numbers

September 10, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

Updating sheet numbers in your Paper Space tabs automatically can be a challenge and time consuming when doing it manually -especially if you do not use the simple approach of 1 thru 10. Updating of your sheet numbers happens any time automatically when a template is added, deleted or changed. If you are using the scheme to give each sheet the same name as the Sheet Number (e.g. M1, M2, M3 for Mechanical drawings and E1, E2, E3, E4, E5 for Electrical drawings) and you want to label your drawings as (M1 of M3) or (E1 of E5) a new challenge arises when you remove a sheet or add a sheet and need to be able to update all the remaining sheets correctly (e.g. M1 of M4 when adding one additional Mechanical sheet).

CAD Enhancement Inc. has developed an application that automates the process of updating sheet numbers as described in the previous examples. This is one of those tools we have found helpful to eliminate the need to go into Paper Space objects and is extremely cost effective with a quick ROI.
If you are interested in implementing this tool at your facility all we would need is to review your sheet number standards.

Feel free to contact us if you have comments, questions or interest in this application.

Patrick K Johnson

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – Updating Sheet numbers
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.

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FAR Demo Summary

September 10, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

Throughout the past 5 weeks CAD Enhancement Inc. has been presenting demos of the FAR (Family Automation Revit) Process which is a tool that automates the creation of Revit families. One of our intentions with the initial FAR demos was to obtain feedback from manufacturers and architects to improve this application to best meet your needs.

The concept of the FAR Process was well received resulting in outstanding feedback that is definitely having a positive influence in the outcome of the FAR Manager and the FAR Creator.

We wanted to share the following feedback and updates with you as a way to keep you informed of the progress we are making with FAR.

Feedback / Suggestions to create:

  • Searching capabilities for existing Families (to be included in the 2nd Release of the FAR Manager)
  • Shared Parameters (to be included in the 3rd Release of the FAR Manager)
  • Ability to add Parameters (to be included in the 1st Release of the FAR Manager)
  • Alphabetize Groupings and Parameters (to be included in the 1st Release of the FAR Manager)
  • Ability to save Families or save Types (to be included in the 1st Release of the FAR Manager)
  • Ability to add Types (to be included in the 1st Release of the FAR Manager)
  • BIM Manager Tool Set (to be included in the 2nd Release of the FAR Manager).

Will Include ability to set the file directories
· Will include the ability to set-up the search tool
· Will include the ability to batch process the adding of Parameters

  • Turn-key ability for manufacturers to create Revit families to market their Revit families where they see fit (available with the development of the FAR Creator and set-up of the FAR Manager)
  • Available standard naming conventions (will be an ongoing process as we add content and receive additional feedback)
  • Ability to state comments on a family from within the FAR Manager instead of only going to RevitCatalog website (to be included in the 1st Release of the FAR Manager)

Updates:

  • The FAR Process has a Patent Pending status
  • 1st Release of the FAR Manager is scheduled for the week of August 17th – 21st
  • 2nd Release of the FAR Manager is scheduled for mid-September
  • 3rd Release of the FAR Manager TBD (Fall 2009)

Thanks to all that have participated

Patrick K Johnson

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – FAR Demo Summary
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.

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Interesting

September 10, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

One of my last FAR demos was quite interesting. The gentleman suggested I should just create the content and sell it to Autodesk Seek so he could download it for free. It goes without saying, he was missing the point of what we are trying to do with the development of the FAR Process.

However, his comment got me thinking and recalling Autodesk’s last try at providing data in the ‘90′s. Does anyone remember PartSpec? I remember getting that CD and saying, ‘Right, like I am going to use this junk?’ and it was a complete utter failure. It is my opinion they began heading down the same path with the way they have started Autodesk Seek and how they are spending incredible amounts of money to clean it up. My hat is off to them for trying.

I’ve also been thinking, ‘Why is Autodesk spending so much money on this endeavor?’ I truly believe they are trying to monopolize the market in order to gain the market share, which in the end, they will be able to raise the price of their software – what do you think?

Patrick Johnson

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – Interesting
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.

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