Author Archives: nmcclure

BIM and Risk Management

Posted on September 7, 2011 by nmcclure

First off, I’m not a lawyer, but I’ve sat through conferences with many of them, enough to know that the legal liability of an architect is at minimum, daunting, at maximum… well, let’s not (hopefully ever!) go there. A client … Continue reading →

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Introduction to the Revit .ini

Posted on August 18, 2011 by nmcclure

All of the default settings and operations in Revit are controlled by the .ini file in the install.  The ini file is the portal for any customization of your Revit environment, from changing the background color from white to black,  … Continue reading →

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Revit/CAD Hybrid Projects

Posted on August 17, 2011 by nmcclure

This topic came up in a consulting session today, and it echos an exchange I recently had over LinkedIn, so I’ll recap things here: LinkedIn email from a past colleague: How do you recommend to handle details and front end … Continue reading →

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MGMT views – Work those schedules!

Posted on July 14, 2011 by nmcclure

It’s taken me a while to get the more senior staff to open up a model file.  They are rarely ever ‘hands on’ in the production aspect of the project, and are (the unspoken truth) a bit intimidated that they’ll … Continue reading →

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Little Things Matter

Posted on June 22, 2011 by nmcclure

I’m still playing with the new features of Revit Architecture 2012, and while there are some new tools that are intriguing (parts, assemblies and analysis), THIS is what I’m currently appreciating the most: Ah, yes, the little things really do … Continue reading →

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ahhhh, ADA clearances! (fist shaking)

Posted on June 21, 2011 by nmcclure

Everyone wants to have accessibility clearances built into families. Sure, why not? Pop in that door or drinking fountain, and BAM! (sorry, Emeril!) you got your clearances RIGHT HERE! This topic came up in a recent AUGI post, and I … Continue reading →

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Understanding Family hosting relationships

Posted on June 2, 2011 by nmcclure

Component Family Template Hosting Options: When creating custom component families, be aware of which family template is selected at the onset, as each template can have built-in behaviors regarding required hosting conditions. Most common hosting options are: Wall-Based – Must … Continue reading →

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Troubleshooting Guide – sample

Posted on June 1, 2011 by nmcclure

Initial training a team on new software is one task – educating them on the often analytical means of troubleshooting issues as the model progresses is a completely separate one. I’m working on an extensive Troubleshooting Guide – divided up … Continue reading →

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Realities of Revit implementation (and why I won’t answer to ‘guru’)

Posted on May 27, 2011 by nmcclure

I consult for several architectural and engineering firms, and on occasion I hear the team(s) refer to me as their Revit ‘guru’. While the intention is innocent enough, it always makes me cringe. Guru seems to suggest someone who has … Continue reading →

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Proper application of a Type Catalog

Posted on May 27, 2011 by nmcclure

I recently replied to an AUGI posting from a user who was struggling with a test case for building a Type Catalog. Type Catalogs are great tools for families that need many types, each with new parameter values, such as … Continue reading →

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