CADtastic 2025 Rundown

Greetings Fellow CAD Holdouts!

I figured it wouldn't be fair to excoriate Revit without holding ACAD to the same standard, but since the software was basically perfected in 2014, I'm not really going to care about 99.9% of what they've done (so long as they don't break anything).

Before we get into it, I had something weird happen last week. I left on Thursday, and everything was working fine, only to come in Friday morning to find that ACAD 2024 had decided to shit itself - receiving a fatal error on launch. I tried rebooting, and it still didn't work. I turned in a trouble ticket to IT (my company doesn't allow any users to do anything to their computers - I can't even delete shortcuts from my desktop without IT's help).

They were like 'huh - that's weird' and asked me the standard IT questions - have you rebooted, do you have sufficient hard drive space, etc. - but couldn't actually figure out a solution. Googling it came up with the option of reinstalling - but my IT guy recommended just going ahead and upgrading to 2025 ACAD. Unfortunately their software installer kept face-planting, and I had work to do - so I pulled up a copy of Plant 3D 2022 that was on my machine for some reason - and after making some tweaks, it worked well enough to do what I needed to do.

I came in this week and 2025 ACAD still hadn't installed, so I kept on with 2022 Plant 3D. I should probably mention that my machine got Windows 11 on it recently - and while that didn't necessarily coincide with my 2024 ACAD issue, it's not impossible that the two are related (of course between Microsoft and Autodesk, there is probably plenty of blame to go around).

Fortunately an IT guy was able to get 2025 loaded today - and I was stunned to see that it successfully imported all of my settings, allowing me to jump right in and start working. Now I'm just waiting for them to figure out how to install 2025 ACAD Electrical - which is giving them fits for some reason. 

But enough of all of that! What's new for 2025 ACAD? 

 I found a pretty comprehensive list on a site called 'TheCadMasters' (i.e. - a bunch of 'dinosaurs' and 'holdouts' that don't have jobs because Revit...).

They start off with (bum bum BUM!!!) 

'UNLEASHING THE POWER OF AUTODESK AI'.

So, that's fucking stupid.

Next is 'Smart Blocks: Redefining Block Management' which seems to be some kind of automation tool (that is guaranteed not to work as advertised - but which does mention 'AI' again, per the new requirements for discussing anything technology related).

And if that's not awesome enough - we have on deck 'Markup Workflows Reimagined' which is great... I guess?

As we dig to the bottom of the barrel, we get 'Enhanced Visualization and Geographic Data Integration' which mentions an improvement to hatching (primarily the ability to define hatch regions manually instead of having to draw something first). I attempted to use it, but everything looked the same. Fortunately I found a video describing how it works - but it only seems to bring up the new options if you select 'hatch' from the ribbon (typing 'hatch' or putting it in the qat inexplicably just brings up the old hatch command) and since fuck the ribbon, I'll probably keep doing it the old... WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE?!? 

Just for funsies, I decided to ask the Autodesk Assistant what the fuck the problem was - and after crafting my query a few different ways, it told me that changing HPDLGMODE from '2' (the default) to '1' would allow me to access the new hatch settings. It was wrong, of course - but setting it to '0' worked!  I told it what I did, and it explained why what I did worked (seemingly ignoring the fact that it was wrong the first time).

I'm not taking back my previous statement regarding AI (especially since Autodesk could've just included a goddamned 'draw' button in the old hatch menu) but I'll acknowledge that it may have some use.

So, where the fuck were we?

'Extend Autocad With API's and 3rd Party Apps' 

It's honestly stunning, and often overlooked just how powerful ACAD is as a piece of software. This made the wholesale Revitard dismissal of it that much more amusing. The sheer number of people customizing it and using it for purposes that I (as  someone who basically just uses it as a drawing tool) can hardly conceive of, is overwhelming.

Obviously people have managed to dig in and force Revit to do things it was never originally intended to do - but I still hold that instead of buying a shitty piece of software and trying to patch it up and limp it along, Autodesk could've simply made their flagship piece of software into a BIM monster if that was the direction they wanted to take the industry.

'Leveraging AutoLISP for Automation'

This is another aspect of ACAD that I've never really taken the time to look into - but I might have to take our little AI buddy out for a spin and see if he can make some suggestions in case there are actually useful tools here.

'Comprehensive Activity Insights' 

This goes into a lot having to do with logging/tracking changes, and other stuff that might have some use to some people, but honestly doesn't really interest me

'Tailored Functionality And Customization With AutoCAD Toolsets'

This goes into industry specific stuff - which, if I can ever get ACAD electrical on my machine (and it doesn't suck) I might do a rundown of. 

'Seamless Collaboration And Connected Design Experience' 

This list is steadily working their way in the direction of 'Bullshit Generation', and again - none of it really interests me - but hey, we've got another functional release of ACAD with one cool new feature (and the potential for Skynet), so I can't complain. 

Unlike Revit, where I sincerely believe they have been reticent to make major improvements to it, as it would be a tacit admission that they've been charging thousands of dollars for a shitty piece of software (figuring it's easier and cheaper to simply indoctrinate a bunch of sad, shitty individuals and have them gaslight the rest of us) - ACAD just keeps doing what it does best - staying the fuck out of my way.

Which is what anyone who doesn't want to get knocked the fuck out needs to do.

Now - if you'll excuse me, I've got an AI to convince not to wipe out the human race (despite some pretty good arguments for the proposition).

As always, fuck this, fuck that, fuck the other thing... Etc. Etc. 

-Skullfuck

(Next Time:???)

Revit Rundown - 2025 Edition

 Well fuck a duck and call me quacky - 2025 Revit is here, and you know what that means...

Not a whole lot.

But hey, as long as we're here, let's take a look!

This Iist is brought to us by some jerkoff Revit loving site called 'BIMSMITH', and even they had trouble making it sound like Autodesk did anything other than rearrange some deck chairs. 

We'll start off with a new version of 'Revit Home' with access to your cloud data...  They claim this 'new home experience brings a consistent, modern, and easier to use homepage that provides a more seamless method of finding models and versions to (laugh) speed up your work flow.

Seriously. It's gonna go downhill from here. 

Next is 'Sheet Collections', which would be a great way for someone with a Mexican accent to describe every version of Revit up to this point.

Then we move on to 'Small Linear Array in Family Editor' - the description of which is 'you can now create small linear arrays that can go down to 1, or (gasp) 0!!!'

Moving on, it's 'Align and Distribute Text Tags and Keynotes', claiming that 'gone are the days of your OCD forcing you to make each adjustment to annotations one-by-one'. Amusing that they can make light of what can be a debilitating mental issue, while also acknowledging that it took until 2025 to be able to align fucking keynotes for fuck's sake. 

And... We're already scraping the bottom of the barrel with the ability to disable/enable wall end wrappings in Canvas. They gave you an *icon* ya'll!!! 

And if that wasn't exciting enough, get a 'load' of this - 'Excavate on Toposolid' is another 'New Feature'. I know of exactly *zero* people who are using Revit to do topography, or who would trust it to calculate volume of excavation.

While we are on the topic of 'new features nobody needs, or asked for' - now you can simplify toposolids too! And don't forget the ability to 'Model By Face Toposolid'!!! And (holy shit!) SMOOTH TOPOSOLIDS!!! (Edit: I just happened to glance back at my 2024 rundown and noticed that 'Simplify Toposolids' was on last years list - with much the same description).

THAT'S FOUR WHOLE NEW FEATURES (out of a list of 20 - otherwise known as 20%) dedicated to MOTHERFUCKING TOPOSOLIDS!!!

It gets more insulting though - because guess what? Now you can use a new rendering engine to 'dramatically improve' the generation of.... (wait for it...) MATERIAL THUMBNAILS!!! 

Then get ready - because you won't have to adjust the width of column dividers every time you open the box because IT REMEMBERS WHAT THE FUCK YOU TOLD IT TO DO NOW!!!

And hold onto your fucking hat, because you can ADD AND DELETE MORE THAN ONE MATERIAL IN THE MATERIAL BROWSER AT A TIME NOW!!!

Now take that hat and eat that fucking thing, because you'll never guess... Oh never fucking mind - it's the ability to have properties (and type properties) in ALPHANUMERICAL ORDER!!!

YES!!! 

BUT THERE'S MORE!!! ROOM PERIMETER ACCURACY IMPROVEMENT!!!

AND

AUTO-JOIN AND LOCK WHEN PLACING WALLS AS A FINISH!!!

Okay, okay, everyone calm the fuck down - oh for fucks sake Jeremy, put your cock back in your pants!!!

Because it's time (cue the kettle drums) for the (cue the smoke machines and laser lights) for the one, the only... (cue sad trombone)... 'New Electrical Feature'... 

Single-Phase within Three-Phase Power Systems

I... Just can't even... 

But no time to dwell on Autodesk's complete disdain for my discipline (I'll throw in a few more from Augi's MEP specific rundown at the end)...

It's time for 'Text Alignment for Multiple Selected Texts'!!! Whaaaa?!?!? 

And just when you thought it couldn't suck any harder - it's 'Dynamo for Revit Updates'!!! That's right folks, *substantial* additions that make it easier to work with linked models, interact with Revit Geometry, and generate topography using our new favorite buzzword 'Toposolid' nodes.

Just in case you lovers of dark themes thought you were getting left out - you no longer have to be 'blinded by the light' (their words) when using schedules.

Funny story... When I first had Revit forcibly inserted into my ocular orifice, one of my biggest complaints was that I was stuck staring at a white screen (changing the background to black wasn't an option because the stupid fucking thing couldn't invert colors), and probably set off my disdain of it from day one. But guess what? 

Now they have 'Automatic Color Conversion for ALL views in Dark Theme!!! And it only took them... A metric fuckton of time to get with the program.

Amusingly, there were two comments on the 'BIMSMITH' page - the first from 'Allex' read 'Autodesk, as usual, did nothing, but called it a new version of Revit...' - and another from 'Michelle that read 'Agreed, it is a very disappointing short list again.'

So, that's it - OR IS IT? 

I decided to swing by Augi (Autodesk's Unbelievably Gullible Inbreeders) to see if they had anything to add, and found an article by Jason Peckovitch who echoed the previous sentiment - calling this release (at the risk of being excoriated by the Revit faithful) 'quite lackluster'.

He repeats the one about single phase electrical components (although neither article goes into any detail as to exactly what this would mean - something that Mr. Peckovitch points out is an issue with many of the 'new feature' descriptions).

Then something about disable mark auto-generation - with a bit at the end about it probably being a good reason not to use Mark and Type Mark parameters, so that's special.

On to 'MEP Parameters' - where the ability has been added to have a 'maximum number of circuits' for data panel schedules (along with Mr Peckovitch's question of whether or not anyone actually uses said schedules).

'Report Low Voltage Panels' is next - with a vague description of what this would consist of.

He mentions that Material Gauge has been added to Fabrication duct work as a read only parameter - which was previously only available for design ductwork - so that's great.

He then does a rundown of general features (because he ran out of MEP specific ones almost immediately.  Some were mentioned before (like sheet collections, and multiple text alignment), but some are new like...

'Background Export to .pdf' - that's right, instead of staring at Revit blankly (i.e. the default Reviteer state) while it grinds out some .pdfs - you can keep 'working'.

He tosses out a quick blurb about 'Autodesk Insight' (requiring the installation of 'Carbon Insights Add-On' in Revit) that has something to do with environmental impact, as well as 'gbXML v7.03 Update' which has to do with importing 3rd party HVAC loads, and then support for five newly supported Horizontal Coordinate Systems, before mentioning Filter Discipline Updates (something to do with new categories from the 2022 release no longer showing up in Visibility/Graphics overrides, or whatever).

With the bottom of the barrel suitably scraped clean, we flip the barrel over and continue with... 

'Extensible Storage Improvements' where he goes on and on about 'schemas' which are data structures created by add-ins in a model or family's extensible storage - which apparently caused conflicts if a vendor recycled the software code and ID in an add-in.

If the above sentence strikes you as something you should have to worry about, you'll be glad to know that in 2025 you can deal with these conflicts better now (apparently Mr Peckovitch ran into issues with this, so I'm sure he's happy that they decided to unfuck it for him).

Further padding out the list is .NET 8 Upgrade (from .NET 4.8l, IFC Export Category Mapping Templates, and 'Improved MEP Fabrication Modeling' - so... Yay? 

If it wasn't already crystal clear, Autodesk has fucked the dog (that's the saying right?) when it comes to Revit. Their paltry lists of 'improvements further solidifying their position on the topic as 'fuck you', and so I bid you, good reader, a fond adieu until 2026.

As always, fuck an Autodesk, fuck a Revit, fuck a 'tard - you probably like it lubed with lard.

Yours, sincerely, et cetera,

-Skullfuck

(Next time: 2025 Autocad?)

Revit and Adobe Can Both Go And Blow Me

Welcome back!

On today's episode, I'm trying to add a tiny bit of text and some revision clouds to a half-dozen drawings that some moron did in Revit. 

I'm in 2018 Revit, since nobody wants to risk updating to a newer version and fucking the entire thing into a hole in the ground (a valid concern).

First I fixed the titleblock because someone didn't know there are two instances of the letter 's' in the term 'sys' (short for system) and was also unaware that we needed at least three slots for system codes).

Then all I needed to do was add the codes, cloud them, update the revision date, and print them out.

It was that last one where I ran into issues, as Revit would just stop working after printing one .pdf. It would allow me to attempt to reprint, but then just sit there indefinitely until I canceled it, closed out of Revit, and re-opened (not exactly a quick process).

::French Accent:: 'Two Hours Later'

Finally I had the drawings I needed, and fortunately the other handful were done in ACAD (by an equally incompetent moron who had pasted the fucking titleblock into paperspace - not even as a block). I had already xref'd in a new titleblock to these sheets, and less than ten minutes later I had added system codes, clouded them, updated the revision dates, and printed them all flawlessly.

Now, I don't know if I can totally blame Revit - because it's entirely possible that the problem stems from a newer Adobe .pdf printer being used on an outdated release of Revit, but who are we kidding here? Both companies suck, so even if there is blame to go around, Revit can still go fuck itself.

After I was done, I opened another project in CAD and was able to completely renumber a wiring diagram in minutes without having to battle a counter-intuitive and intentionally obtuse piece of software, then move on to the next task (also in ACAD).

It's still amazing to me how long ago I was told that I would 'have to use Revit to have a job in this industry', and yet, 15+ years later, at a much better (and higher paying) job, it still isn't true.

As always, fuck Autodesk, fuck Revit, and anyone who doesn't like it, fuck off.

Sincerely,

-Skullfuck

 (Next Time: 2025 All Up In Your Eyesockets! Aw Yeah!!!)

Special Specification

Greetings One And All,

So, today (and on/off for the last week or so) I'm working on gutting and replacing all of the equipment in a control panel. I really don't have a lot of experience with this kind of thing, but I was able to get all of the information I had onto drawings so that I could submit it to my boss and have him start filling in the holes.

The main focus of the panel is a rack with a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) which I have some experience with. I had all the data for the processor and I/O cards, and fortunately the manufacturer had excellent CAD models that I was able to download and assemble.

Normally we would use an Allen-Bradley PLC, but on this project we opted for an inexpensive (but still good quality) brand called 'Automation Direct'. We actually ordered and received the parts, which was fantastic, because each module had a little installation pamphlet, and the cables that plug into the cards had detailed color coding that I was able to associate with inputs/outputs.

I started a Bill of Material (BOM) to include all the PLC components, and then started trying to track down all of the other stuff that was going to be necessary to finish out the panel. The majority of it was pilot lights and switches to go on the front - all (or at least the vast majority) of which is Allen-Bradley (AB).

This is where I ran into some difficulty. The AB catalog I was able to download is garbage, their website is hot garbage, and attempting to Google any of their equipment is a mixed bag of people attempting to sell off their stock of equipment (including tons of used crap, some of which is no longer in production), so you get a fucked up mix of information, ranging from somewhat helpful, to so-so, to totally misleading and/or plain old wrong.

I was able to track down one solution, since a company had a pilot light with no cap listed, and then had each color of cap available. I got concerned though, because there was conflicting information regarding whether the lights had a push-to-test option (including on documentation from AB's parent company 'Rockwell', where it literally said 'push button test' and directly below, said 'does not have push button test'). 

I was getting frustrated at this point, as I also needed to find some very specific switches. I had already set up an account and attempted to get information from Rockwell's technical support chat, only to be told that I needed to contact my local distributor. The problem is, I don't want to talk to my local distributor, because I knew they (and not just them, but any local distributor, regardless of what they sell) would try to attach themselves to the project in a most annoying fashion, especially considering we won't be buying any of it from them.

In fact, if you aren't careful, and they figure out who the client is, industrious distributors have been known to do an end-run, go directly to the client, and try to take control of the design - which they should have fuck-all to do with, because they aren't engineers, weren't part of the bidding/contract process, and by the time they get done 'helping' (all the while reminding you of how 'helpful' they are being) you'll be writing a post exactly like this one bemoaning the mistake of talking to them in the first place.

I should temper this, since there are some actual helpful people out there that know where the line is, and won't cross it without an invitation. They tend to be very knowledgeable about the products they rep, and can be invaluable when trying to solve a problem that requires a unique configuration, or some out-of-the-box thinking.

That said, they are still trying to sell stuff, and also have a penchant for trying to get people on board with the 'latest and greatest', which, as I've mentioned before in the past, a lot of engineers are hesitant to get involved with, because while they may want to be up to date on what the latest and greatest entails, they are trying to get projects designed, built, and then on to the next one without getting stuck trying to unfuck something that worked perfectly fine the 'old way' (or trying to convince a particularly ornery AHJ that 'the new shit' meets all of their requirements.

At any rate, there was no fucking way in hell I was contacting a distributor, so it was back down the Google rabbit hole - until, at last, I hit the motherfucking jackpot. After having hunted high and low for what shouldn't have been that hard to find, I clicked on a link on some vendor's website, and I got a whole goddamned section of a Rockwell/AB technical data sheet catalog.

I was actually mad for a second, because I was trying to get a specific data sheet, and I was like 'for fucks sake' because it was like they had thrown the whole library at me *until* I started to scroll down and it dawned on me that it contained every single fucking thing I needed.

Now, why the fuck this wasn't right there on their website, referred to by their catalog, the first goddamned suggestion the dickless rep who I chatted with gave me, etc. - I'll never fucking know, but all of a sudden I found myself swimming in *actual information* on every component I had been searching for! I was able to quickly find cut sheets that listed off every single configuration and option (including some that I never would've even thought to search for)! 

There, on one sheet, was the pilot light, with push-to-test as an option, a rainbow of colors (including clear, which, for some fucking reason, didn't appear anywhere in their catalog (except for in a description of the materials used, which made it that much more frustrating), voltage options (including transformer options), lamp options (incandescent/LED), terminal guard options, contact block options... it just went on and on!!!

On another sheet was a three-way keyed switch, all of it's options arrayed in glorious fashion. I was able to specify key removal positions, terminal guards (again), key options, cam options, contact blocks... just... just... FUCK YEAH!!! I was even able to confirm 100% that all of it was properly rated for the field conditions the panel needed to have.

I was able to track down a two-position switch, e-stop buttons, a momentary switch, relays, and more (one of the relays took an extra couple of minutes because they were trying to sell them in bulk (lots of 100, and I only needed like 10) - got it all on the BOM, got my bosses approval, and he sent it off to the client for his approval.

I had been out of (or at least only adjacent to) this industry for nearly a decade, and while the (re)learning curve has been steep, it was nice to have an opportunity to prove that I understand at least some of what I'm involved in now (even if other aspects are going to take some time).

Now it's time to write a 'less-than-glowing' review of the chat rep, and a 'wtf?' letter to the doofy motherfuckers at AB... ::leans back, cracks knuckles, presses 'caps lock'::

'DEAR MOTHERFUCKERS,' 

Until next we meet. Fuck Revit, fuck unorganized unhelpful and pointlessly obstinate manufacturers, and if you don't like it, that's... just like... your opinion man... (oh, and fuck you)

Next Time: Shitty Software is Shitty 

Architects Ain't Shit But Hoes and Tricks

 Greetings on this glorious day!

So, it's been busy as fuck over here. I didn't even realize I had passed the six month mark at my new job.

It's been incredible working with teams of engineers to take on projects of a scope and complexity I had never imagined being involved in before... and then there are the architects.

The last time I was doing electrical design work was for the Architectural/Engineering firm that took the Revit deep dive (and prompted me to start this blog) - and while structural and mechanical got on board, it was definitely the architects running the show (despite both the president and CEO of the company being engineers).

At my current firm, engineers reign supreme. Electrical, mechanical, chemical, etc. etc. - and it's the difference between night and day. There's still been a push by some of their clients to get a-bimmin, but it's been middle fingers all the way down... and (again) there are the architects.

We employ a small handful of these guys to handle the few times we need to be responsible for some aspect of a building/structure. One of them actually worked at that A&E firm, but he's one of the exceptions to the title of this post (plus he put in a good word for me when I was applying for this job - and the project I'm currently working on with him is 100% ACAD).

And then there are the jokers that were involved in this massive demolition project that I just finished.

We spent several weeks developing our set of isolation drawings, including on-site visits, rounds of comments, in-person discussions with the people running the project. The newest drawings they had ranged from 'old' to 'ancient' - and weren't exactly 'accurate'. 

Throughout the course of the project, we basically had to design the entire system - which consisted of a large switchyard, towers, poles, anda few buildings (all with systems routed through the area that needed to be preserved - but which had never been identified or documented).

The *day* we were supposed to submit our final drawings, we happened to notice that the Architect(s) responsible for providing three lousy sheets of details (as compared to our set of nearly one hundred) had not taken into account several items that they needed to show on their drawings (and which they promised on multiple occasions would be addressed).

They had spent an inordinate amount of time modeling three buildings in Revit - two of which were being demolished (including one that they lovingly detailed out various tanks and supports that were also going bye bye) - but had left important details out. They were able to rush and slap a (terrible) looking set out, (while acting affronted that they had to do it).

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and our final deliverable was our 'Native Files' - but (because the client, a government entity, are idiots) needed to be in Microstation. Technically we were supposed to use it to develop the set, but everyone (Revitards included) were like 'fuck that!'.

Apparently my firm was used to exporting stuff out to Microstation (which I honestly don't know if the client ever actually looks at), but this project was unique, in that it had an inordinate amount of linked images and .pdfs - and as it turns out, Microstation ain't so great when it comes to preserving relative links, and falls directly down on its face depending on how the original files were developed (but, in its defense, it also does a terrible job of translating lineweights and other aspects of linework, hatching, etc.)

I was able to beat my set into shape, but it required reattaching dozens of files before exporting (mainly .pdfs - which it couldn't seem to bring over if they were in model space) and then fixing countless links that were still pointing to full paths (despite being relative in the .dwg. 

I was able to export some directly from ACAD, but others I had to open in Microstation and then export (to itself). There was very little information online to assist me in this task (apparently some of the things I was doing manually could be automated with bits of code, etc. - but I was disinclined to figure it out - especially considering it's unlikely to come up, at least at this scale) in tbe future.

It has options for packaging files for transmittal, which is probably fine for files developed within Microstation, but I can guarantee the result would've been comical for imported files.

Anyway, I finally get mine ready, civil engineer gets his ready... and then there were the architects.

I get an email from one of them trying to pretend their files have been ready, despite not being in the folder they belonged in (then he asked where they needed to be - in response to the same email that informed everyone where to put their files). 

Even after pointing this out, they continued to put their files in the wrong place - then I tried opening one of them - only to find out they hadn't even tried to fix their links. The guy was like 'it all shows up right to me', and I had to break it to him that it was because he has *access to our server*. It didn't even work on mine because his drives were mapped to different letters.

Attempting to fix his links, most were grayed out and incapable of being changed (possibly due to having been exported from Revit. I actually opened Revit, attached a .pdf and a .png, and was stunned to find out that 'absolute' is the only path option for both. Again, there is probably a way to package for transmittal from within Revit (but no help if you are exporting). What the fuck Revit?

He kept at it for a few days (having to be prompted to communicate his progress) and finally today he was able to show me his screen where the file comes up correctly, has proper links (but still won't open correctly on mine). I said 'fuck it' and we're just going to send it.

All of the files were included, so if the client has some. Microstation whiz kid, they can fuck with it.

As far as these architects, they can stick Revit up their asses. I've heard from co-workers that they share the same superiority complex that I've come to expect from the Revit crowd (and architects were bad enough already). On one project, they had shown a roof at the wrong level - when it was pointed out, the architect smarmily said 'oh - I can fix that in seconds.... in Revit'.

What he failed to understand was that his fuckup meant that several things that had been carefully coordinated were now fucked up as well. I've mentioned this 'bull in a chinashop' mentality that the simplicity with which someone can rearrange (necessarily or unnecessarily) things in Revit leads to people not stopping and asking whether or not they *should* make a change (or how they go about it).

Add to this, the fact that when you are working in Revit, it has no way of informing you that these changes are being made until the next time you save to central, and find out you just blew a whole morning because somebody decided to move things in such a way that 'the magic of Revit' didn't just automatically make everything work perfectly.

It's been amusing being back in this industry, and seeing that the Revit prophets that said everyone would be using it (or be out of a job) continue to be shown as hacks. Now, just as then, results are what matters - not software, not some 'mindset', not some 'club' for joiners to join - results.

And from what I've seen, and continue to see - the results you get from Revit (and its cheerleaders) are total, 100%, unadulterated, dogshit.

Fuck Revit.

That is all for now. If you don't like it - consume mass quantities of phallus.

-SF

Next time: Spec'ing Electrical Shit

Autodesk Loses Its F**king Mind

Just a quick one to get this out of my head.

So I was half asleep the other morning and overheard someone talking about the Autodesk University (AU) 2023 Keynote Speaker being Ryan Reynolds.

Now, I have nothing against Mr. Reynolds - his performance as Deadpool/Wade Wilson was absolutely hilarious - but what does an actor have to do with a software company like Autodesk?

While attempting to get to the bottom of this, I ran across this drug trip from earlier this year:

https://youtu.be/h2nrvx2ZrqQ?si=bYUxfzbNnpRntEur

In this short (apparently from the Oscars? IDGAF) we hear about a Hollywood visionary being hailed by various actors (and a voice-over) who goes by the name of 'Otto Descinski' (or 'Otto Desc' for short... get it? It sounds like Autodesk... Get it?)

Apparently this was an attempt by Autodesk to 'humanize' the company (while also humblegbragging about how their software is used in VFX (not sure what percentage if VFX is done with with Autodesk software, but Maya does seem to show up in a lot of VFX toolboxes).

My only hope is that their development team(s) had more on the ball than the bozo dumbfucks that shat out (and continue to drizzle diarrhea over) Revit. 

But back to Ryan Reynolds. Yes, his sarcastic wit makes for a great Deadpool (not to mention his commercials for Mint Mobile), but wtf?

I'm sure whatever wanktastic bunch of wanking wankers who actually attend AU's presentation will get to have a few laughs before they go back to wanking wanktastically.

It's just fucking weird.

Fuck Autodesk - that is all.

-Skullfuck

Next Time: Flip the script. 

2024 Shut The Fuckin' Door

Well damn!

I'm working yesterday and Revit 2024 magically starts loading on my machine. I wouldn't care, since my hard drive is massive, but it required a reboot, so I had to save out of everything, then get back into it.

So, now I have Revit 2018, 2022, AND 2024 - but as of now (and hopefully for all time) I don't actually have any Revit projects on deck. I overheard one of my younger co-workers telling someone over the phone that he had never used Revit, and it literally brought a tear to my eye how beautiful that statement was.

But enough of my sentimental bullshit, it's gonna be 2024 soon - so Autodesk had to spread their sizable buttcheeks, bend down, grunt, and spray yet another release of Revit diarrhea onto the faces of those willingly (or unwillingly) in the blast radius.

And you know what else that means? That's right - time to do a run down of 'Whats New' in the software that was already supposed to be perfect in every way, and how dare you suggest any different? All of these 'improvements' were obviously pre-existent, and Autodesk is just now deeming you worthless peons to be informed about them!

All right - get ready, because this is actually an extremely long list - skip to the end if you want to see the sad electrical improvements (honestly the only thing I would care about, were I actually using the software).

Here's a link if you are into that kind of thing:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-C81929D7-02CB-4BF7-A637-9B98EC9EB38B

1) Export Fill Patterns

That's right kids! Now you can export drafting AND model patterns to a PAT file (whatever the fuck that is).

2) Simplify Topography (CI) 

This was a 'community idea' ("CI" from here on) - so that Autodesk can pretend to be listening to users (or at least those it has deemed sufficiently devout that they wouldn't ask for anything that might draw attention to the massive flaws still inherent to Revit).

So - this apparently allows the user to reduce the number of points used to generate toposolid elements (considering that I've never seen a Revitard give two fucks about the reality of the site the building they are modeling will sit on, I can't imagine this will affect many users).

3) Shape Editing: Split Line Enhancement

This just appears to be tweaks to a tool that allows you to take one element and break it in half to allow you to adjust each piece independently. I'm sure that comes up... sometimes?

4) Visual Styles in Type Preview

Literally just adds a button to let you change the visual style of the preview - for... reasons?

5) Automatic Tag Placement for Multi-Rebar Annotations

Speedin' up that annotatin' (because that's why Revit projects take forever to complete).

6) Intuitive Rebar Segment Length Editing

Let's you type rebar lengths directly in 2D/3D views... That's it. (I guess we're already padding this list out).

7) Split with Gap for Structural Framing and Columns

Okay - this is one that I could see people wanting. A regular split could result in difficulty selecting one element or the other (as the end points coincide). Plus, if you already know the gap width, you don't have to sit there and adjust both elements afterwards. 

8) Structural Section Shape Parameters in Tags

Well. I can die happy now. 

9) Trim or Extend Structural Analytical Members

I'll trim your Structural Analytical Member, motherfucker.

10) Split Structural Analytical Members

I'll split your... Oh never fucking mind.

11) Dynamo Updates 2.18

I spent a few minutes glancing at whatever the fuck this thing is - apparently it allows you to use BIM data to make graphs and shit (and users call themselves 'Dynamites', so that's retarded) It also apparently lets you use Python for data analysis, etc. what's amusing is - it doesn't seem to be an Autodesk product, so including it in this list is... um... NOT A REVIT UPDATE. 

12) Project Browser Navigation Enhancements

Apparently now you can hit ctrl+scroll to zoom the contents of the project broswer. Whoop-dee-fucking-doo.

13) Apply Area Rules is Remembered

(Pouring out some of my 40oz for Apply Area Rules) 

14) Change Text Alignments for Multiple Selected Elements (CI) 

That's cool, I guess. I'm used to just fixing one and matching properties to the rest.

15) Warnings for View Deletions in Workshard (sic) Models

What amused me (besides the misspelling of 'shared') was the fact that the heading for this item got cut off - not unlike how various elements like to disappear in Revit due to the sheer volume of view range settings (currently more numerous than the number of alternate dimensions - of which only three actually contain Revit as a thing).

16) Toposolids (CI) 

You heard earlier how you could reduce the number of points used to generate one? Well now they are a thing in Revit too!

17) Revit Dark Theme (CI) 

Okay - I'm 100% on board with this one. From day one, I was like 'how the fuck am I going to stare at this glaring white screen all day long (apparently one good way was to have Revit dicks in both of your eye sockets). Attempting to change my background to black would cause issues with black lines not showing up (because it wasn't smart enough to invert the colors). Oh - and you can have a dark theme too. Very goth. 

18) Align Surface Patterns (CI) 

Okay - another halfway decent idea. The closest I come to this is hatching, which often refuses to work the way I want it to (resulting in me *manually hatching* shit so I have absolute control over it. Credit where credit is due, I guess. 

19) Cut Geometry Enhancements (CI)

Lets you cut stuff - like your own wrists after you try to do a project in Revit.

20) Search in Project Browser (CI)

Just... Wow. 

21) Schedule Revision Clouds (CI) 

I'll give them credit for this one (assuming it actually works). Keeping track of what changes were made, when, why, and by who, can be a constant struggle.

22) Link Coordination Models (CI) 

Ah coordination - you know, that thing that happens when people stop expecting software to magically do their fucking job for them, and actually coordinate with other disciplines. 

23) Snap Points for Coordination Models (CI) 

Gotta have them snap points, I guess. (The padding continues - this could've been part of #22)

24) More Path Alignment Options for Free Form Rebar

Probably to facilitate these amorphous blobs that Autodesk likes to show on Revit splash-screens as if 99.9999% of users will ever do anything like that (except maybe while jerking themselves off). 

25) Bar Bending Details on Reinforcement Drawings (CI)

Someone's been spending a lot of time at the bar.

26) Bar Bending Details in Schedules (CI)

Again with the padding, Jesus H. Christ.

27) Custom Physical-Analytical Element Association

More wankery.

28)  Enhanced Analytical Loads

Wank wank wank. 

29) Detailed Results Report for Connection Automation Rules

Seriously, how did we ever build buildings before this thing came along? 

30) Flow and Pressure Calculations for MEP Fabrication Parts

Finally, something MEP related... Oh wait, morons think that the 'E' in MEP is just another aspect of mechanical design (which could explain why the Electrical Portion of Revit gets so little in the way of new features/improvement. 

31) Create Energy Analytical Model by Elements in a 3D view

All right! Energy! Oh wait... More MP wankery

32) Insight Tech Preview

Getting an early start on the carbon footprint of your building - not that the vast majority of customers give a flying fuck (especially if it involves extra cost on the front end). 

33) Cloud Model Collaboration Cache Management (CI)

Can't be a complete list of Revit updates without some mention of 'The Cloud' (The Cloud, of course, being the haze around a Revit developer's head after they exhale a hearty dose of crackpipe smoke). I guess I should just be happy they didn't start babbling about 'AI'. 

34) Textures Visual Style

Gotta make that massive waste of modeling time look pretty, now. 

35) Draw Order Improvements

Ah yes, Draw Order. The one thing that was holding Revit back all these years... 

36) Access Coordination Model Object Properties

More padding - see #22 and 23

37) Color Books Dialog

I swear I thought this said 'coloring books' the first time I read it, because thats definitely on the level of Revit developers. 

38) My Insights on Revit Home

We've determined you aren't Reviting enough...

Seriously - this is supposed to give you insights and suggestions on how to Revit better (begging the question of how much information about your projects Autodesk is tracking).

39) User Interface Modernization (CI) 

New. Fucking. Icons. 

That's it. New fucking icons.

40) New Sample Model and Project Templates

Oh, for fucks sake, people.

41) Revit to Twinmotion Enhancements

Another non-Autodesk product in a list of Revit updates - oh, but wait, now there's an 'auto sync' option in a drop-down menu. Just... Sad. 

42) Dynamo Player

A repeat of #11. Pad Pad Pad

43) Patterns and Colors for Structural Area Loads

You can't hear colors, but now you can visualize loads. 

44) Improved Steel Connection SDK Documentation

We gave you new API's for your SDK's now sit down and STFU. 

45) Run Solar Studies with Seconds (CI) 

They literally made it to where you can break your Solar Study down to the second. Sigh... 

46) Access Sun Settings from the Ribbon (CI) 

Great - another thing on the fucking ribbon. 

47) Sun Path in Perspective Views (CI)

Gotta get in as many entries as we can about Sun Path (did you know about Sun Path?)

48) Toggle Stirrup Orientation for Free Form Rebar Alignment

Giddy-up. Also should've been part of #24 (pad) 

49) Resize All Rows in Schedules Placed on Sheets

You mean like my spreadsheets have been able to do since the beginning of time? (Of course they aren't talking about panel schedules - although this might apply to lighting fixture schedules (although I wouldn't bet on it). 

50) Open Sheet Directly from Drawing Area

The padding.... It burns!!! 

51) Place Multiple Views and Schedules

It's like having molten metal poured right into my eyes! 

52) Additional Resizable Dialogs

What kind of loving god would allow this? 

53) Sort Project Parameters

Sorts Project Parameters ALPHABETICALLY YA'LL!!! HOLY FUCK!!! 

54) Scope Box Height Parameter

Set the height of a scope box AFTER IT'S PLACED!!! HALLE-FUCKING-LUJAH!!! 

55) Demand Loads and Demand Factors for Electrical Analytical Components

Wha..?!? Finally something for electrical?!? That's fucking crazy!!! Oh wait, this is only for determining preliminary loads. Just... Fuck Off.

56) Define Loads Sets for Non-Coincident loads 

Now this actually sounds like a new electrical feature, (albeit one that needed to be in the software from day one). It allows you to properly size panels/feeders properly - primarily related to HVAC load, i.e. electrical a/c if there is gas heat, or electric heat if there is no gas. 

57) MEP Fabrication Duct Stiffeners

Well, that's the end of electrical 'improvements'.

58) Network Based Calculations for Design Ductwork

Yep.

59) Maintain Annotation Orientation Added to Air Terminals

Wow.

And that's all folks! Yet another padded out list, insulting to electrical (although plumbing didn't even get a mention). All these structural improvements (the vast majority), despite the fact that structural was way further along even way back when my old firm adopted Revit. 

Honestly, after reading the descriptions (and even after doing additional research into them) I couldn't tell what some of these items were even fucking talking about. It's a rabbit hole that I'm not remotely interested in going down - but it's apparently what people who have managed to save just, like, so much time ya'll, by using Revit fill their days doing now (or, more likely, spend all their time wanking about instead of developing functional legible floor plans and details).

It's par for the course.

As always, fuck Revit, fuck Autodesk, fuck the Revit community (and their stupid requests), and if you don't like it - FUCK YOU.

Yours Truly,

-SKuLLFuCK

Next Time: Ryan Reynolds?