We just got the new version. We will be installing it and giving it a go. We’ll see what happens.

Revit is a powerful tool, but like any powerful tool you need to know how to handle it or you can loose control very quickly.

I find frustration in hearing about issues that have relatively simple solutions, but a quick workaround was formulated just to get the job done.

If all you are going to do is draft then Revit, or any modeling application for that matter, isn’t the software for you.

If you want to create images to help your client understand your intent or if you want to make sure of the constructability of your design then download Sketchup, which is free and easy to use. Nothing is wrong with 2D drafting, but try to extract content rich data from a 2d element.

I think if you are not seeing value in BIM then you might not understand what BIM is. BIM isn’t building a model, the industry has been doing that for 15 + years. BIM is building a content rich model that can be used to analyze and simulate.

Don’t give up!

Great blog – I’ve enjoyed reading!

I’ve had the very same frustrations. We have been using Revit as a schematic design tool quite effectively, but when it comes down to CD’s, nothing has been more efficient for us than good old AutoCAD. Trust me when I say that I think the future is clearly going to be BIM based and each day, we try to push further into that learning. But until Autodesk provides the level of customization for production drawings that they offer for ADT, We’re stuck just like you. And like you, we still don’t have enough staff to justify a CAD manager or an in-house team of people to deal with all of the brain damage – that would be me. And unfortunately, the small firm just doesn’t have time of budget to deal with the brain damage. And because we also do structural engineering in-house, that’s another $5,000 package for us to commit to Revit structure. Who designs without structure anyway??

Anyway, it has it’s use, but has a long way to go before we can use it the way we would like to, IMO.

Revit needs alot of customization which software resellers have no clue about. They just know the overall product of what it can do, they have no REAL WORLD Experience.

To get the right look you have to customize each and every item from the line settings, annotation settings to the views itself and then have no one play with it.

As for the setup needed to export to CAD files, its easy once you know the steps and it took a while to figure out the interoperability between CAD & Revit.(Revit used to be an independent company but bought out by Autodesk, platforms are totally different.)

I was in charge of the biggest project ever done in Revit and our MEP consultants in Europe used AutoCAD 2000.

It is tedious initially to setup but can be done effectively.

Also i may add you can export them DWF’s.

The last 5% is tedious but once set correctly it will be a breeze on future projects.

Many of our clients have reduced their workforce per project and as well have made it easier for plan, elevation and 3d Reviews.