ELI6: Autodesk Revit 2015 Updates Demystified

One might be tempted to think that you could do brain surgery more easily than figuring this out. After getting a few queries, I decided to draw a Google Drawing (click on the image) to illustrate the various update paths for the software for clients who have various updates of Revit 2015 currently installed. Please click Yellow colored Triangles to see the appropriate links to Autodesk Web-pages. If you still have questions, please reach out to us.

WHY DO YOU NEED UPDATES: Updates patch known vulnerabilities in the software. If you don’t have the latest update, you are very likely to experience an application crash. In keeping with Murphy’s law, these crashes occur when you don’t need it the most eg: when you are on a deadline.

DISCLAIMER: This diagram was constructed based on the ‘Readme’ documents of each update. From past experience, the installation may not always be straight forward. Sometimes you may have to install all the preceeding updates before being able to update to the latest (in spite of the Readme advising the contrary).

Using the Autodesk Virtual Agent to Download Current and Previous Versions of Autodesk Software

Autodesk Virtual Agent is an alternate way for one to download and activate both current and prior versions of Autodesk software in the case of not having access to Autodesk Account.

Once you download your Autodesk product within Autodesk Virtual Agent you will  need your license serial number and product key to proceed with installation and activation.  Contract administrators (Contract Manager/Software Coordinator(s))can locate this information within Autodesk Account. Customers can also feel free to call us at 888-768-7568 for us to provide this information.

To get started:

How to change option from Install now to Download now in Autodesk Account

While one of Autodesk’s catchy taglines is ‘Anytime, anywhere’ we’ve received feedback from numerous clients that they haven’t been able to access the Download now feature for their Autodesk product(s) within Autodesk Account and are only able to view the Install now option.  The Download now option is highly favored because not only does it reduce the time it takes to get applications up and running by decompressing product files during the download, files downloaded using Download now can be installed at a later time, on a different computer or as a deployment.  We’ve discovered a workaround that’s fairly simple and straightforward as outlined in steps below: 

Five Installation Tips For Autodesk Software

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Autodesk Software is complicated. When one thinks that one is installing a single application, the reality is that there are at least four or five other applications and services being installed at the same time. Multiply this number a few more times when you are installing a Suite of products.

So what can go wrong? Almost everything! From a technical perspective, between Microsoft Windows updates, anti-virus software, Windows User Account Controls, and malware from  shady websites (that you weren’t supposed to visit at work), it is a miracle that one is able to install anything at all.

How to Locate and Manage Group Names for Product Serial Numbers in Autodesk Account

A group is a customizable value used to sort and filter the subscription products you manage. Autodesk in their zeal to offer up everything one would need to manage all their Autodesk products in one single destination may make you wonder where went what.  I am a firm believer in there is a place for everything and that everything has a place but while a far improvement over the now retired Subscription Center interface; Autodesk Account still has some unpacking to do.  For now; if you are wondering how to associate a serial number with a group name please follow the directions outlined below:

AutoCAD 2016 Installation Error 2203

While nobody likes getting error messages when installing software, getting one that isn’t that descriptive makes things far worse. Luckily we can rely on installation logs to fill in the missing pieces, though, truth be told, sometimes a little sleuthing is required as well. At the end of the day people are generally happy when a problem is fixed, but often are curious as to why the issue happened to begin with. So while this blog post has an easy answer, the steps to arrive at the answer are worth knowing.

Modeling Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge in Autodesk Infraworks 360 – Part 2

In my previous blog, we saw how we could use Project Boulder for Infraworks 360 to simulate a storm surge similar to the one experienced during Hurricane Sandy and observe its effects on Lower Manhattan. What if we now wanted to start conceptualizing ideas for designing a system to protect the areas most affected by the storm surge? How would we approach that design process and how could we communicate it effectively?

Modeling Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge using Autodesk Infraworks 360 – Part 1

For those of you who love experimenting with technology, Project Boulder for InfraWorks 360 is available on Autodesk Labs, giving you the ability to create two-dimensional (2D) flood simulations alongside your immersive Infraworks 360 models. The video posted by Autodesk demonstrating the preview is definitely informative, but the dataset isn’t useful for seeing how this technology preview could be used in an urban environment. Being a New Yorker, I knew exactly the data set I wanted to use, but to test out the software I needed to come up with a scenario that could not only show Project Boulder in action but also tie-in the simulation with something quantifiable. After mulling it over, I came up with the overzealous idea of modelling Hurricane Sandy!