Checking-out an AutoCAD License for Field Work

Checking-Out an AutoCAD License for Field Work

If you choose to complete your field verification with AutoCAD (as opposed to Revit), the following is the process for checking-out a license.

Open AutoCAD and click on the pull-down next to the question mark in the upper right hand corner.  

Click on About Autodesk AutoCAD 2017, which will bring up the About Dialog Box.  Click on the Manage License Button.

This will bring up the License Manager window.  Click on the Borrow Button.

A calendar will appear.  Select the day for which you need to borrow the license - Licenses should only be borrowed for 1 day at at time to avoid others from not having licenses available for working within the office.  Click on the date and hit the Borrow License button.

If done correctly, you will receive a message indicating that you have successfully borrowed a license and the scheduled return date.

Note that the license will return automatically at midnight on the day you have selected.

Understanding PAT Files

Understanding PAT Files

Filled regions are used on every Revit project that we do.  While our library has a large number of standard materials created as filled regions, a specific design may require a new filled region to be created.

Complex filled regions are created using PAT files.  If you are not familiar with PAT files, at first glance they can be somewhat confusing.  The below is a summary of what each number in the pat file means, so you can be better equipped to create your own custom PAT files for your projects.  

First, the default Revit .pat file is located here:  C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit Architecture 2016\Data.  When making new patterns files, I often find the best way to do it is to start a new notepad file for your specific filled region.  If you think your filled region should be incorporated into the office template file, please e-mail it to me and I will take a look and include in the next template update.

Here in an example of a new .pat file that was created for a project in the office last week, for a 24 x 36 cork wall tile, in a running bond pattern.

And now for the notepad file that was used to create this pattern.

*Cork Tile 36x24, 36 x 24 Tiles Stagger

;%TYPE=MODEL

0,     0,     0,      0,      24

90,   0,     0,     24,     18,     24,     -24

The first row of numbers creates the horizontal lines for the pattern:

Angle            = 0         -->  lines are horizontal

x,y origin       = 0, 0    -->   defines the starting point of the lines

shift               = 0        -->  line pattern is not shifted

offset            = 0         -->  consecutive lines are 24 inches apart

no line pattern            -->  the line is solid

The second row of numbers creates the vertical lines for the pattern:

Angle            = 90      -->  lines are vertical

x,y origin       = 0, 0    -->  pattern begins at the same point as the horizontals

shift               = 24      -->  line pattern is shifted by 24 model units for consecutive lines

offset            = 18       -->  consecutive lines are 18 inches apart

dash             = 24       -->  each line is built of 24" dashes and 24" spaces

space           =24        -->  this pattern repeats until the face boundary