Beyond Design

Additional Currencies for QTO

 
I thought I'd share this quick tip I've just found out for how to add additional currencies to Autodesk Quantity Takeoff (QTO).

All default currencies are stored in a configuration file (Currencies.xml), which for users of QTO 2012 running Windows 7 can be found here:

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Autodesk, Inc\Autodesk Quantity Takeoff 2012\5.0.16.0\Currencies.xml

The contents of which look like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>

<qto>

 <definitions>

 <default unit="" currency="" />

  <currencies>

   <currency prefix="$" suffix="USD" default="imperial">US Dollar</currency>

   <currency prefix="€" suffix="EUR" default="metric">Euro</currency>

   <currency prefix="£" suffix="GBP">Pound Sterling</currency>

   <currency prefix="SFr." suffix="CHF">Swiss Francs</currency>

  </currencies>

 </definitions>

</qto>

To add another currency, simply add another 'currency' line to this file.

NOTE: It's advisable to make a backup copy of the Currencies.xml file prior to making any modifications

Here are a few examples of additional currencies:

   <currency prefix="¥" suffix="JPY" default="metric">Japanese Yen</currency>

   <currency prefix="R$" suffix="BRL" default="metric">Brazilian Real</currency>

   <currency prefix="AU$" suffix="AUD" default="metric">Australian Dollar</currency>

   <currency prefix="NZ$" suffix="NZD" default="metric">New Zealand Dollar</currency>

Similarly, if you want to change the order of the listed currencies in QTO, simply reorder the currencies in the XML. Alternatively, if you always use a particular currency, then you can set any listed currency to be your Default:

 
Let us know how you get on, and share with us the currencies you add!

‘One Size Fits All’ Quick Properties

We know you work with models from various disciplines and CAD applications, we also know that they come with a multitude of different properties and property names, which can make setting up Quick Properties (formerly Smart Tags) for each model you load in a real pain point. For those that haven't seen them before, Quick Properties when switched on, appear when you hover over an item with a list of pre-defined properties for that item.

As you can see, there's a long list of possible properties that can be used, and a smart tag in action. They can also be used in 2D sheets as below.

To set these up you need to load a model and go to Options > Interface > Quick Properties > Definitions. You will then be able to add Quick Property Definitions dependent on the properties available in the model.

You can save these for use in other models by going to Export and selecting Quick Properties > Definitions, which will save an XML with those saved properties.

Opening the XML you can see the file structure comprises of an Optionset, Option Name, Data Type and Internal Name, before moving on to the next option.

The problem many people now come across is that the majority of (in this example) DWF properties, will be completely ignored by models from other applications such as Revit, Civil3D, Inventor, AutoCAD. This is where you might want to create a 'one size fits all' Master XML file that can be imported into any project that will contain the relevant properties from each model type.

You will need to open example models from each discipline (Revit MEP, Revit Architecture, AutoCAD, Civil 3D) and create Quick Property Definition XML files containing Properties for each type of model.

Then open the XML in Notepad or other editing application and copy the relevant properties from there to a 'master XML' file. Just ensure you don't copy across duplicates, otherwise they will later appear multiple times when available in the model.

You will then be able to Import this Master XML to each users machine and it can be used in multiple projects.

Now when hovering over an item when Quick Properties is switched on, Navisworks will ignore all the irrelevant Properties for that model and only display those available.

Let us know how you get on and Submit a Tip if you have any other ways you manage to repurpose data and settings between projects.

Increasing Productivity and Collaboration with SMART solutions

Check out this great video of how Turner Construction Company are using SMART solutions with Navisworks to increase collaboration and productivity: 

See the SMART website for more details:

http://smarttech.com/Home%20Page/Solutions/Business%20Solutions/Business%20Videos/Turner?WT.ac=HPB1_turnerVideo_080911

Free Autodesk Virtual Event – See the Suite Advantage

You've probably heard about Autodesk design suites, but would you like to find out more?

Autodesk is hosting a free Virtual Event on September 7, so you can attend from the comfort of your desk with zero travel expense, and see how the various design suites can help you deliver more innovative designs better and faster than ever?

Follow this link for registration, more information on the event and details of the available sessions:

http://aec.experience.autodesk.com/all/

There's something for everyone, regardless of industry, so worth a look I'd say. And if you haven't previously attended an event like this, then here's a sneak preview of the virtual environment:

 

Why not drop us a comment to let us know what you think of the event?

Free Excerpt from new "Mastering Autodesk Navisworks 2012" book

We know you love freebies; we saw how many of you downloaded the free ground planes we offered a few weeks ago. Well here's another one, a few pages from the newly released 'Mastering Autodesk Navisworks 2012' book by Jason Dodds and Scott Johnson. Both these guys have years of experience working with Navisworks in the field with you guys, implementing workflows, pushing the limits of the product and doing things we didn't even realize Navisworks could do!

We've saved an important part of the book for you. Lots of people ask how they should work with NWC, NWD and NWF files for their workflow, these pages explain a little more about what each file format is, how it is used and a more detailed typical workflow, something many people would pay thousands of dollars for a consultant to do for them! Download these pages here

Now if you think that's a valuable bit of information then you should get yourself a copy of the book from here: -

Mastering Autodesk Navisworks 2012

I've got a copy sat here next to me and just picked up a couple of handy things about Timeliner I never knew, I'd tell you what they are but you'll have to get the book to find them out yourself!