AutoCAD vs. Revit Revit. But Revit offers another powerful feature: the ability to collect the parameters as inventory from these Table/Chair components.
the Revit model, I was always able to see the latest and greatest information. For example, when there was a change in space planning, (i.e.: placing a set of conference table and chairs back or removing a set of bookshelves replacing them with system furnishings), I always had current sets of inventory lists that showed upper management exactly what was going to happen based on the changes.
REVIT EXPERIENCE Unfortunately, my Revit skills never matched with the expertise I had achieved in AutoCAD. But I’m still glad I had gone through the transition from being an expert at AutoCAD to also being a bit proficient with my experience at Revit.
Using Revit’s Schedules command you can retrieve the Table and Chair component parameters and have them positioned into columns in an Inventory Schedule. Revit also offers the option to quantify the total number of items with a Count column. I first learned of Revit’s powerful inventory feature when I had to plan for an office move. This presented the need to generate an inventory of all the non-fixed furniture and equipment components in the office. Second, a separate inventory list of the furniture and equipment to be left behind would also be needed. Lastly, a final inventory list would show which of the components are kept and re-used in the new office location. This would be extremely difficult to do in AutoCAD alone. But with Revit, I was able to use the Schedules command to generate various kinds of inventory schedules. For example, I was able to show a schedule of just the system furniture or desks the office currently used. I also used the same Schedules command to list all the bookshelves, wire racks and chairs that would be re-used in the new office. Since the schedules updated dynamically as changes occurred inside 20 AUGIWORLD Magazine | March 2022
Mr. Paul Li graduated in 1988 from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. He worked in the Architectural field for small to midsize global firms for over 33 years. Throughout his tenure in Architecture he has mastered the use and customization of AutoCAD. Using AutoLISP/ Visual Lisp combined with Dialog Control Language (DCL) programming he has developed a number of Apps that enhance the effectiveness of AutoCAD in his profession. All the Apps actually came out of meeting challenging needs that occurred while he worked in the various offices. He has made all the Apps available for free and can be downloaded from the Autodesk App Store. Though he recently retired from the Architectural profession, Paul continues to write articles depicting his past work experience. Some of these articles can be found in AUGIWorld Magazine where he shares his knowledge learned. Paul can be reached for comments or questions at PaulLi_apa@hotmail.com. augi.com
