Network, Multiseat or Standalone – How to utilize downloadable software for repair, reinstall, clean installs or updates.

We have been getting a few cases on helpdesk regarding downloaded software and what it means to keep the downloads on hard drive and why. This article attempts to strategize ways by how to utilize the downloads for the future.

In with the new – Using software downloaded from Autodesk Subscription website entails a little forethought where repair, reinstall, clean installs and updates are concerned. If many users are like me I will download and extract from an executable file, this is an example of one that is downloaded Autodesk’s subscription site:

Autodesk_Revit_MEP-B_2011_English_Win_32-64bit.exe

After downloading the executable file and extracting the contents of the executable file, the default folder is usually along the lines of the example below:

C:\Autodesk\Autodesk_Revit_MEP-B_2011_English_Win_32-64bit\RevitSetup\RevitMEP\

Users have the option to select the browse button to point to a folder on the external drive or the server that will extract the contents of the executable file. This will then create the contents of a DVD to the hard drive.

Out with the old – Now if DVD media was the deliverable source, for the purpose of repair, reinstall, clean install or update, the installer program would call for the location of the contents of the DVD in seeking an .msi file. Hence, I would have specified the alternate in the Use Source to be the contents on the Autodesk Revit MEP 2011 DVD. Contents remain on the DVD media to be utilized by popping the DVD back into the drive when Repair/reinstalls or clean reinstalls and updates are needed.

With deliverable DVD media replaced with subscription downloads; installations, repair, reinstall, clean install or update processes will instead call for the .msi file in the extracted contents folder. While it looks and behaves the same as the DVD installation, it will instead require the contents to be in a path on the hard drive, external drive or server. This will be specified in the use source field. (see image below)

This means if the executable and the folders are deleted after install, they have to be downloaded and re-extracted for the purpose of having to perform that subsequent repair, reinstall, clean install or update processes.

For Network or Multi-seat deployments; this is not necessarily a problem because, the software will be bundled as an “image” on a server location by which a initial deployment process will use the location of the image to install the networked or multi-seat program on the client PC. The image has to remain on the server so that subsequent repair, reinstall, clean install or update processes will transparently utilize the image for these operations. If you use a path of your choosing, it should be on a shared folder on the network server.

Single seat users, after installing products, are inclined to delete the extracted files on the local drive to save space. This fine with the exception that when repair, reinstall, clean install and applying updates are needed, the contents extracted to a folder are no longer available to utilize during these tasks when called for by the installer script. In addition to the msi file there may be a need for some of content of the extractions to be available when performing repair, reinstall, clean install and applying updates. So once again, the executable file needs to be extracted to a folder either default or user specified to utilize the Autodesk Revit x64.msi or Autodesk Revit x86.msi file.

Just for fun, I have attempted to use a Revit Architecture Autodesk Revit x64.msi file with my Revit MEP update to see if I could get around the need to keep or extract both of the program files on the server or my local drive. This was unsuccessful as it seems even similar named files are structurally different in some way in the code and the Revit Architecture and Revit MEP msi does not work across one another.

Being on subscription allows the benefit of using downloads of older versions, extensions and getting updates. When on subscription; regardless if a network, multi-seat deployment or single user, product downloads and extensions are available online and contract management is available online for the company’s contract administrator.  Where ever possible try and use a multi-seat standalone if network license is not an option in the firm. Because a multi-seat standalone allows the use of a single license serial number with deployment image configured at one time. It allows applying service packs to deployment image once and using the deployment on the server for repairs, reinstalls, clean installs and updates. Link to Autodesk Multi Seat Standalone

So to summarize how best to use downloaded executables in three scenarios:

Standalone installation – Extracted content can remain on users own hard drive or the server to use for repair, reinstall, clean installs and updates for more than one seat. This scenario uses a different serial number for each seat. At the users discretion, extracted content can be removed leaving the zipped executable to extract again if needed for repair, reinstall, clean installs and updates.

Multi-Seat Standalone installation – Deployment image can be left on the server to be used for repair, reinstall, clean installs and updates for more than one seat. Deployment image allows a single serial number up to the allowed number of seats licensed.

Network Installation – Like multi-seat deployment, image can be left on server to be used for repair, reinstall, clean installs and updates for more than one seat. Deployment image allows a single serial number up to the allowed number of seats licensed to be administrated by a license server.

If are any questions you can contact us at support@cadsoft-consult.com or call us at (480) 820-0408 and we can help you with your licensing, updates and managing your subscription options.

Take Advantage of Extensions for Revit Structure 2010

Subscriptions users…if you haven’t downloaded and installed Revit Structure 2010 Extensions and/or the Subscription Advantage Pack for Autodesk Revit Structure 2010, you are missing some additional, valuable features that may provide time-saving functionality.

While there are several add-ins, I’ll focus on two for structural detailing. It is true in a Revit Structure model that connections do not need to be detailed to take advantage of the analysis capability, but at times it is advantageous to represent a connection in 3D for communication, presentation, etc. The following screen shots show tools for and “End-plated Column to Beam” connection, and a “Column Base” connection. Both tool sets use a dialog-driven approach that simplifies a three-dimensional detailing process by selecting from a “catalog” of choices to define the connection.

Extensions Manager

After selecting the column and beam to detail a connection for, launch the Extensions Manager and select Beam to column – end plated. Then select appropriate settings for each tab in the dialog to define the connection. Materials will be used from the template so your settings may need alteration if you do not find settings you are wanting.

Settings Dialog

Added Connection

To edit settings of the connection, select the assembly, launch the Extensions Manager and double-click on the tool again to access the dialog.

A second modeling feature is for column base detailing. The process is similar with selections to define the specifics you need.

Settings Dialog

Added Base Plate

Even though connections aren’t usually needed for documentation purpose by Engineers, Detailers and Fabricators using Revit Structure 2010 can take advantage of these and other extension tools to streamline their workflow.

Access your Subscription account today and see what is available for you to enhance how you work with Revit Structure 2010.

Convert model lines to detail lines in Revit 2010 with Subscription Advantage Pack

You’re excited about all the great new tools in the Subscription Advantage Pack, right? Well, sometimes it’s the little things that really make us happy.

We’ve all been there: you’ve created some lines (probably a bunch of them) without really thinking about whether you wanted them to be detail lines or model lines and, Murphy’s Law, you created the wrong ones.

Up until now, we had to use the famous trick popularized by Steve Stafford on his OpEd blog.  This worked in a pinch, but was far from desirable. I also found that it didn’t always work in all types of families. Why couldn’t there be a simpler way?

Well, grab that Revit 2010 Subscription Advantage Pack that everyone has been raving about and make your life a whole lot easier. Here’s how simple it is:

1. Select the lines you want to change.
2. The Ribbon changes, revealing the Convert Lines tool. Click it.
3. Smile!

Thanks, Autodesk!

Autodesk Gives Subscription Members a New Set of Amazing Visualization Tools!

Since Autodesk aquired the companies that brought us great visualization tools such as ImageModeler and MatchMover (REALVIZ, aquired May 2008) and Mudbox (Skymatter, aquired October 2007), we’ve waited to see how these products will truly be integrated into the Autodesk family and how they will be used by a new group of artists. Mudbox has had a huge buzz about it and was already being used by character modelers and concept artists, even before its shipping release. ImageModeler and MatchMover have been in a bit of limbo, though. Well, in August, Autodesk announced a great surprise! These software applications are being made available to 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design Subscription customers. From the looks of the details on the Subscription site, ImageModeler and MatchMover are free, however, Mudbox is available as a 6 month trial. Still pretty generous, if you ask me!

In addition to these tools, Autodesk also announced the availability of a Connection Extension for 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design that really opens up the visualization workflow for architectural projects that utilize models created with other 3d applications such as Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Inventor, and even Google SketchUp. This Extension includes a SKP (SketchUp) file translator that makes it a snap to bring in native SketchUp files, making it a breeze for projects that model in SketchUp from the beginning, and also making it easy to utilize the tons of free 3d content available in the 3d Warehouse on Google’s site.

If you’ve ever seen ImageModeler in action, you probably know how beneficial it could be for an architectural project. If you are doing a rennovation, TI, or as-built, ImageModeler is a dream. Check out these great examples of how ImageModeler can be used for architecture: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=11983371

However, designers and architects may be wondering, “How could I use Mudbox or MatchMover? Aren’t those tools just for game designers or Hollywood effects?” Well, sure, they’re used for those sort of projects, but Mudbox can be used for all sorts of organic or detailed types of modeling. Its toolset is so powerful and flexible that it can be used to design a site, grading, topo, ponds, basins, roads, sidewalks, etc. in realtime. It’s not engineering software, of course, and can’t begin to do what Civil 3D can, but for a designer who just wants to be able to model or sculpt how they’d like their site to look to see how the building fits in with its surroundings, it’s an amazing tool and a big time saver.

What about MatchMover? If you’ve ever seen an animation produced by one of the top architectural visualization firms like Spine3D, Neoscape, or Uniform, you’ve seen tools like MatchMover in action. Matchmoving is a process that allows the computer to figure out how a real video camera moves through the real world. Once this data has been calculated, it can be applied to a virtual camera in your 3ds Max scene, so that the movement of the cameras match exactly. It is now possible for you to composite the real world video with the computer generated content (your proposed building, etc.) for a very convincing animation. Combining the real with the CG really makes things come alive and get your clients excited about your design. MatchMover was previously sold for as much as $1600! Thanks Autodesk! Be sure to log in to your Subscription center and start having a blast with these great tools!

Check out this great overview of MatchMover: