In Canvas

In Canvas is a viewport control for View, Viewport, and Visual Styles. If you have used 3ds Max before, this feature will look familiar. It has been in 3ds Max for several releases. But will be very helpful in AutoCAD to have the same kind of functionality.

Located in the upper left corner of each viewport, this is a quick access tool to change settings within the viewport. See image above.

Project Folder

Project folders in 3ds Max are a great helpful tool! By setting the project folder, this allows 3ds Max to search or look in the folder of that project directory. This works well for when other people are working on a project with you or if you have to come back to a project after a few weeks. Setting the project active re-paths the search folders in 3ds Max to look for presets, scenes, import/export and other project specific folders.

Found under the Application big "M", and then Manage setting the folder is easy either to an existing folder or creating a new one.

Content Explorer

Have you checked out the Content Explorer in AutoCAD and AutoCAD Architecture (ACA). It is pretty cool. It can be accessed from the Plug-ins Tab in AutoCAD or the Add-ins tab in ACA, both look like binoculars.

With Content Explorer you can catalog content for speedy access, index the objects in each file, and search for content in local drives, network locations, and the Autodesk Seek.

Click on the side image for a better look.

3ds Max Design - Stripe Material

I had a client ask about making a custom stripe material. Like for a roof canopy.

The easiest way is to do this is in in Photoshop I made a material. 2'x2' image size, with 1' red stripe and 1' white stripe vertical. And saved it as a JPG.

To apply it, copy that to your desktop or project folder. Drag into an open slot in Mat. Browser. Name it Stripes. Change tiling to 2'x2'. Drag material onto your object. Should be good to go. You may have to apply it to sub-object or rotate it depending on your specific object.

See example image above.

Revit - Move vs. Copy

During a Copy command, hold down the “ctrl” key to turn the move into a Copy.

Revit Architecture - RCP

If you don’t want a level to have a ceiling plan, right click on it in the Project Browser and select delete.

Revit 2012 - New Features

Here is a great link to Revit 2012 New Features from Autodesk: http://usa.autodesk.com/revit-architecture/features/