Workflow - Creating a Loadable Family

Depending on the complexity of the family, the creation process can be time-consuming. If you can identify a family that is similar to the one you want to create, you can save time and effort by copying, renaming, and modifying the family to create the new family.

For best results when creating a family, use the following workflow.

1. Before beginning family creation, plan your family. Identify requirements regarding family sizes, how the family displays in different views, whether a host is required, the detail level to be modeled, and the origin of the family

2. Create a new family file with the appropriate family template.

3. Define subcategories for the family to help control the visibility of the family geometry.

4. Create the family skeleton, or framework:

- Define the origin (the insertion point) of the family.

- Lay out reference planes and reference lines to aid in sketching component geometry.

- Add dimensions to specify parametric relationships.

- Label dimensions to create type or instance parameters or 2D representation.

- Test, or flex, the skeleton.

5. Define family type variations by specifying different parameters.

6. Add a single level of geometry in solids and voids, and constrain the geometry to reference planes.

7. Flex the new model (types and hosts) to verify correct component behavior.

8. Repeat previous steps until the family geometry is complete.

9. Specify 2D and 3D geometry display characteristics with subcategory and entity visibility settings.

10. Save the newly defined family, and then load it into a project for testing.

11. For large families that include many types, create a type catalog.


Source: Autodesk site

Roombook Areabook Extension for Autodesk Revit 2013 and Autodesk Revit LT 2013

The Roombook Areabook Extension for Autodesk® Revit® 2013*, Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2013, Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2013, Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2013, and Autodesk® Revit LT™ software helps calculate the surface area of walls, floors and ceiling elements, room circumferences and the total number of furnishing elements within a project. 

In addition to the automated detection of room areas and surfaces, this extension helps users configure these elements manually to local requirements, as well as achieve more accurate model take-offs. Quantified results can be exported to Microsoft® Excel® software and Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff (QTO) software.

*Autodesk Revit 2013 software is only available as part of the Autodesk® Building Design Suite 2013 Premium and Ultimate Editions.

Release Date: 2012-11-01
Source: Autodesk Subscription Page

Revit Structure 2013 Update Release 2

Revit Structure 2013 Update Release 2 is now available for download from Autodesk site. 
Update Release 2 (Build: 20121003_2115) is not a full install; rather it is using service pack technology similar to AutoCAD®- based products. Prior to installing the Update Release 2, please verify that you have already installed the First Customer Ship build of Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 (Build: 20120221_2030) or Update Release 1 for Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 (Build: 20120716_1115).


Link for more details:
Revit Structure 2013 Update Release 2

Source: Autodesk Site

Autodesk 360 Structural Analysis for Autodesk Revit 2013

Autodesk® 360 Structural Analysis for Autodesk® Revit® 2013 enables structural engineers to conduct analysis in the cloud as a part of the BIM process. With Structural Analysis, engineers and designers can extend design models from Autodesk® Revit® 2013 or Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2013 software directly to the cloud helping to minimize disruptions to workflow and allowing users to continue to design as analysis is completed. Once the analysis is conducted, results can then be visualized and explored within Autodesk Revit 2013 or Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 software. To take advantage of the integration, the Autodesk® 360 Structural Analysis for Autodesk® Revit® 2013 plug-in must be downloaded.

Release Date: 2012-03-27
Source: Autodesk Subscription Page