Closing NWC/NWD Files on Load

Ok, show of hands….How many of you work in Navisworks and also work in a “design” application (like Revit, AutoCAD, etc.) at the same time?  A few, that’s what I thought.  Of those that do, how often are you having to close out of your current Navisworks project (NWF) so you can save over the top of your existing/appended NWC (or NWD I suppose) so you can show the changes in Navisworks?  Or you’re (for example) a GC (general contractor) who is gathering NWC or NWD files and when you get a new one, you have to close out of project file in Navisworks so you can save the new version over the top of the previous?  Yeah, that’s what I thought…too many of you!

All kidding aside, this is a very common question I get about working with Navisworks….why do I have to close out of my NWF just so I can overwrite my appended NWC/NWD files?  The reason is one “little” checkbox in the Navisworks options….”Close NWC/NWD files on load”

With this options checked, you no longer have to close out of your current project to re-export your NWC files from the design applications, or when you want to overwrite a previous version when you get a new one from the “designers/engineers”. 

This little checkbox essentially removes the file lock that would get attached to the appended NWC/NWD file.  Without this checked, the file lock is applied and you can’t overwrite the file unless you close out of the NWF file the NWC/NWD is appended to.

Saving Back to Earlier NWD or NWF Versions

Navisworks allows you to save you files back to earlier versions, even back to JetStream v5 if you are running 2010.  Yes, sorry…2011 can’t natively save back to JetStream file format.  If you are running 2011, you’ll have to save it back to 2010, then open it in 2010 to save it back to a v5 format.

But, there’s a little something I ran into regarding published NWD files.  Had a customer needing to get their files to v5.  They were publishing their files to NWD, but publishing doesn’t allow you to publish to a different format.  So they re-opened the NWD’s to do a save-as to get to the v5 (or in the pull-down, it’s called Navisworks 5) format but they were only getting the option to save as a NWF file.  I noticed during the publish, the check box for “May be re-saved” was unchecked.  So I had them do the publish again but this time check that box.  When they opened the newly published file, they now got the option to save it as a v5 format.  Here’s the screen shots (from 2010) showing the difference, the publish box on the left and then the subsequent save-as dialog when the published file was opened…

Now, you can also get around this by just doing a save-as to your current project and choosing the earlier format.  Just have to be careful that you then close the file and re-open the current project file to continue working.  Otherwise, you’ll hit save and “upgrade” the file you just saved back to an earlier version.

Navisworks Doesn’t Start or Launch

We’ve had a few instances of folks contacting support over the past few weeks saying that when they go to launch Navisworks (Review, Simulate or Manage), nothing happens.  No splash screen, nothing.
It has seemed to fall into one of two issues…

1. Lastsession.xml
2. Corrupt CascadeInfo.cas

For the Lastsession.xml, follow these steps…

• Close Navisworks
• Locate Lastsession.xml
• (XP default location) C:\Documents and Settings\**username**\Application Data\Autodesk Navisworks **product** 2010
• (Vista default location) C:\Users\**username**\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk Navisworks **product** 2010
• Delete the LastSession.xml
• Try and open Navisworks

For the corrupt CascaseInfo.cas, see this link…
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13894457&linkID=9241177
From what I’ve seen/heard, either one of these will usually fix Navisworks from not starting.

Navisworks 2010 Subscription Advantage Pack

Along with many of the other Autodesk programs, Navisworks also got a Subscription Advantage Pack for the 2010 programs.  There are 3 enhancements available for download via the Subscription Center…

• Autodesk FBX File Format Support
• Batch Processing Utility

And Finally…something practically everyone has been asking for since Autodesk acquired Navisworks…

• (Shareable) NWC Export Utility

You can find the Advantage Pack by hitting Product Downloads in the upper left corner of the site. 

I haven’t really heard of many folks asking for FBX files, but it’s a nice addition to the allowable formats.  I watched a quick video on the Batch utility, looks like you can append files from multiple folder locations instead of just one folder at a time…so that I can see where that would come in handy.

As for the NWC Exporter, I’ve been sitting on knowing this was coming for quite a while…it’s been hard to keep my mouth shut!!  This is great news and many, many IT personnel will be happy that they don’t have to install an entire program just to get an exporter.  The  exporter works for more than just Autodesk software, so those collaborating with folks using MicroStation or ArchiCAD can also share the exporter with those companies.

Remember, you need to be a Navisworks subscription customer to actually download these enhancements. 

Navisworks 2010 Service Pack 1 Available

The first Service Pack for Navisworks 2010 is now available!  You can get the service pack here - Navisworks SP1 Page.  This update applies to all versions (Freedom, Review, Simulate and Manage) of Navisworks.

If you happen to have Navisworks for Manufacturing, there is a separate download HERE.  There is a known service pack installation issue for customers with Autodesk Navisworks 2010 and Autodesk Navisworks 2010 for Manufacturing installed side-by-side.  There is a txt file on the SP page, please read this if you are using Navisworks for Manufacturing.

***Please make sure you read the Readme file before installing the service pack***

General Updates

This service pack fixes the following defects.

• Clash Detective. Camera now transitions more smoothly between clash results.
• Object Animation. When adding a keyframe to the end of an animation the object movement now remains consistent.
• Comments window. The ID column in the Comments window is now labeled Comment ID.
• Hyperlinks and Smart Tags. Autodesk Navisworks now remembers Hyperlinks and SmartTags visibility settings between sessions. New Show Hyperlinks and Show SmartTags options have been added to the Options Editor (Interface node).
• Sectioning. The section bar slider now maintains correct settings when user switches between viewpoints.
• Collaboration. When using the collaborate function all window states now remain consistent.
• AutoCAD Interoperability. AutoCAD elements are now correctly displayed on the Properties tab of the Selection Tree window.
  Installing Autodesk Navisworks 2010 no longer causes issues with AutoCAD VBA customizations.
• Inventor Interoperability. You can now view Inventor 'surface models' in Autodesk Navisworks.
• IFC Interoperability. Improved support for IFC 2X2 files. Missing components and misplaced Geometry issues are now resolved.
• Revit Interoperability.
  Structural usage text designated in Revit is now displayed in Autodesk Navisworks.
  Window and door openings are now supported when exporting NWC files from Revit.
  Revit models modeled in mm now appear the correct size in Autodesk Navisworks.
• AutoCAD Visual LISP. Visual LISP feature of AutoCAD 2008 and 2009 now functions correctly after Autodesk Navisworks 2010 is installed.

 

Hyperlinks From Revit or AutoCAD to Navisworks

A few weeks ago I gave a little presentation regarding Navisworks and we got on the topic of hyperlinks in Navisworks.  We had a GC that also spoke and she mentioned that they use hyperlinks quite a bit for sending “final” models to the client.  Those NWD’s include a lot of hyperlinks to OE manuals, product cuts sheets, etc.  Someone then asked if you add a hyperlink to an object in Revit, does that come through into Navisworks?

Great question…that I didn’t have an answer for immediately.  I figured it would, but I wasn’t 100% sure.  So I did a quick check and sure enough, if you add a URL (hyperlink) to an object in Revit, it will come through as a hyperlink in Navisworks.  I also tested adding a hyperlink to an AutoCAD Arch door and it worked as well.

Note: I did this test from Revit Arch 2009, Revit Arch 2010 and AutoCAD Arch 2010 using the Navisworks 2010 exporter.

Hotfix – Revit Openings Are Solid in Navisworks 2010

Some folks have seen an issue come up when using an exported NWC file from Revit (using the NWC exporter add-in) where the openings (e.g. doors and windows) are being displayed as solid objects.  There is a hotfix available for Navisworks, not Revit to fix this problem.  The hotfix can be downloaded here…

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13379829&linkID=10382102

Again, this is a hotfix for Navisworks and how it’s exporting the objects to a NWC file exported out from Revit.  The problem isn’t really with Revit, it’s the exporters that are installed to allow Revit to export to Navisworks.