I posted a book review on my sister site – CADDManager.com.

Book Review – Autodesk Revit Architecture 2014 Essentials

Take a look at it over there.  I posted this Revit book review there since all of my book reviews are on that site.

Mark

Here are the system requirements for 2014 family of Revit products.  Most people are ramping up the RAM to the max they can afford/install.  It will pay off if you can do that.  So you should ramp up to the Performance level when you can with high spin rate Hard Drive for point cloud (if needed) and more RAM.

Revit 2014 Product System Requirements

For Revit 2014, Revit Architecture 2014, Revit MEP 2014 and  Revit Structure 2014

Minimum entry-level configuration

• Windows® 7 32-bit Enterprise, Ultimate, Professional, or Home Premium edition operating system
• Single- or multi-core Intel® Pentium®, Intel® Xeon®, or i-Series processor or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology (highest affordable CPU speed rating recommended)
• Multiple cores for many tasks, up to 16 cores for near-photorealistic rendering operations
• 4 GB RAM (Usually sufficient for a typical editing session for a single model up to approximately 100 MB on disk. This estimate is based on internal testing and customer reports. Individual models will vary in their use of computer resources and performance characteristics.)
• Models created in previous versions of Revit products may require more available memory for the one-time upgrade process
• 5 GB free disk space
• 1,280 x 1,024 monitor with true color
• Display adapter capable of 24-bit color for basic graphics, 256 MB DirectX® 11-capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 as recommended by Autodesk
• Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 7 (or later)
• MS-Mouse or 3Dconnexion®-compliant device
• Download or installation from DVD9 or USB key
• Internet connectivity for license registration and prerequisite component download

Value: Balanced performance

• Windows® 8 64-bit Enterprise or Professional edition, or Windows 7 64-bit Enterprise, Ultimate, Professional, or Home Premium edition operating system
• Multicore Xeon or i-Series processor or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology (highest affordable CPU speed rating recommended)
• Multiple cores for many tasks, up to 16 cores for near-photorealistic rendering operations
• 8 GB RAM (Usually sufficient for a typical editing session for a single model up to approximately 300 MB on disk. This estimate is based on internal testing and customer reports. Individual models will vary in their use of computer resources and performance characteristics.)
• Models created in previous versions of Revit software products may require more available memory for the one-time upgrade process
• 5 GB free disk space
• 1,680 x 1,050 monitor with true color
• DirectX 11 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 as recommended by Autodesk
• Internet Explorer 7 (or later)
• MS-Mouse or 3Dconnexion-compliant device
• Download or installation from DVD9 or USB key
• Internet connectivity for license registration and prerequisite component download

Performance: Large, complex models

• Windows 8 64-bit Enterprise or Professional edition, or Windows 7 64-bit Enterprise, Ultimate, Professional, or Home Premium edition
• Multicore Xeon or i-Series processor or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology (highest affordable CPU speed rating recommended)
• Multiple cores for many tasks, up to 16 cores for near-photorealistic rendering operations
• 16 GB RAM (Usually sufficient for a typical editing session for a single model up to approximately 700 MB on disk. This estimate is based on internal testing and customer reports. Individual models will vary in their use of computer resources and performance characteristics.)
• Models created in previous versions of Revit software products may require more available memory for the one-time upgrade process
• 5 GB free disk space; 10,000+ RPM for Point Cloud interactions
• 1,920 x 1,200 monitor with true color
• DirectX 10 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 as recommended by Autodesk
• Internet Explorer 7 (or later)
• MS-Mouse or 3Dconnexion-compliant device
• Download or installation from DVD9 or USB key
• Internet connectivity for license registration and prerequisite component download

In the last post, I discussed installing Revit Arch 2014 and now it is time to activate.

Once you have installed Revit Arch 2014, you will need to either continue using the 30 day trial or activate the license that you have purchased.  Activation is pretty easy to do as long as you are connected to the Internet.

When you first open the product, it will be in the Trial Version mode.  This is a 30 day period for testing the full install.  It is a full blow try before you buy option. Trial licenses are only available as Stand-Alone and are for demonstration or evaluation purposes only.  They are not to be used for commercial or for-profit purposes.

Activation is done via the Internet (or you can call them) by completing a 4 step process that is automatic when you are on the web, but manual if you call them.  You can also go online at https://registeronce.autodesk.com/prodreg/beginRegistration.action.

I would suggest the connected process that is completed with a few clicks.

Here is what is happening via the automated process:

1. Autodesk records the product name, serial number, product key and request code

2. It connects online to their licensing servers

3. The server generates an activation code

4. The activation code is registered with your software along with the machine you installed it on, license type and expiration date.

If you are connected to the Internet, then click the Activate button in the lower right side of the dialog box.  If you want to continue in Trial mode, then click the Try button on the left.  The clock starts ticking on the day you install and open the product the first time.

When you click Activate you will start the process…

Give it a minute or two to complete and you will be ready to go.

Once this is completed, the software is activated and you can start working. The URL link on the bottom of this dialog box will open the licensing info that was stored on your local system.

You can also see the licensing info by going to Help > Dropdown > in the upper right of your Revit screen

Then…

And you will see…

You should also get an email verifying activation.  Here is what it will contain.

NOTE: If you are working on a dual boot system, you will need to activate each install separately.

There are a few folks who have had crashes during authorization.  Check here if you do.  http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=21825687&linkID=16831209

I recently installed Revit Arch 2014 onto my machine.  I put it on my Dell Precision M4300 laptop 32 bit (forgive me).  So I created screen caps along the way and wanted to share them for those that may be new to Revit and looking to start at the very beginning.  I installed from download and not media.  The download took a while and actually stalled twice before I got the entire install file to work.  The download is 2.7 Gigs and it took a while for me to get it.  The download included 32 and 64 bit install files.

So after I got a stable install file I launched it.  The first thing it asked is where do you want to extract the install files.   I put it in a Revit2014 folder that I created for the process. You can use the default, but I changed it just for kicks.

If you get the dialog box below – don’t panic.  Just say yes and continue.  This may have come up since I had trouble downloading the install file.  Other installs that I have done do not have this dialog box.

The file will extract.

Once unpacked the folder was 5.4 gigs.  1.8 GB of that was the 64 bit files and 1.07 GB of content.

After the unpack is complete, the setup process starts automatically.

Choose Install to move forward.

When the install starts you have to first agree with the License and Services Agreement.  Like others, I do not read this stuff, but I have in the past.  Not that we really have an option.  If you want to install the software, you have to agree.

You will have to decide on the licensing model you want.  I chose Standalone for this install.  You also need to input your serial number and your product key.

When I started the install I got an Alert related to missing content.  It stated that there would be some downloads during my install for missing content.

After reading that I opened the install settings to see what I might be missing.

There was nothing that really stood out but I did notice that the install would actually include Service Packs if needed.  Since mine was a download and not from older media – nothing was needed.

Another thing I noticed was the option to install Architecture or Construction.  What this does is define the default templates used when creating new projects.  Arch uses a commercial template and Construction uses a construction based one.  They are mostly the same with some additional/differing views in each.

Once all of this is defined move on to the install and a progress bar.

Once it is done, you will see the Finish screen.  Click Finish.

Then go look for your desktop icon.

It should be that easy, but some of you may have troubles.  Next we move to Activation.

Autodesk has just provided a BIM Deployment Plan that is similar to others I have seen but is very much worth the read.

Here is the link…  http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=14652957&siteID=123112

The Autodesk BIM Deployment Plan offers tools and guidance for building industry professionals interested in implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM). Tools offered in this resource provide a practical framework for AEC stakeholders, and can be used by individual organizations on specific projects. The BIM Deployment Plan includes:

• BIM support materials for owners, architects, engineers, and contractors
  Templates to streamline multi-discipline communications
  Recommendations for roles and responsibilities
  Best business process examples
  Software suggestions for an effective BIM environment

While this list is not specific to Revit – It is linked from the Revit page on Autodesk’s site. It shows AutoCAD based reviews, so take that into account.

You can filter and search based on Vendor or specific cards (if you have one in mind)

Go to the list