At Lands End

Update your schema in order to provide more descriptive attributes and classes in AIM

A couple of month back Chris posted on how to actually work around the xml based file which defines your data base schema in AIM.

Today I would like to take the chance to update you on some changes in order to let you be able to update your schema as you please.

First of all we are not generating an im_schema.xst file in the model.file folder anymore. The default schema is provided within the code and can also be localized. Also it might be safer instead of having a file which can be destroyed or updated in a strange way :-).

If you now want to update your schema you need to create this xml file by yourself. Let's take a look at the Download New_schema_def file that I've updated to add some more descriptive categories and attribute names.

According to Chris’ post I did as well enter some <Class> items which are mainly the asset classes appearing in the model explorer and its attributes. In my case only the CITY_BUILDINGS have additional attributes.

In order to provide some more descriptive names to the new as well as existing attributes I entered some <Display> items.

Note that the "priority" attribute identifies the display order of the attributes in the interface (lowest to highest) as Chris mentioned previously.

Now there are two ways of how you want to get this schema change in place. First you want to setup a new model. Secondly you want to update an existing model.

While creating a new model you simple need to refer to the advanced options in the new model dialog and search for the definition file. It will then be copied automatically to the model.files folder of your infrastructure models place. Here you can update it as you like.

In the scenario were you want to update your already existing model you just need to copy the file to the model.files folder and restart your model. Everything is in place and you can enhance your model.

Hope it helps to overcome some recent changes to the schema handling.

Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2013 R2 & Autodesk 360 Infrastructure Modeler Web & Mobile Released!

We are (VERY) excited to announce the official release of Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2013 R2 & Autodesk 360 Infrastructure Modeler Web & Mobile Released.  These releases bring many enhancements and new ways to view AIM models for engineers, designers and planners as well as stakeholders. 

Key Enhancements and Features:

Autodesk® Infrastructure Modeler 2013 R2 software delivers several enhancements to our Autodesk® Infrastructure Modeler 2013 desktop software and our Autodesk® 360 Infrastructure Modeler cloud service. With Autodesk® Infrastructure Modeler 2013 R2, Autodesk® Subscription customers will gain new tools designed to help better communicate their designs and produce high quality, low-touch design presentations in addition to new publishing options.

• Storytelling Tools – Enables users to better convey the details of their designs to non-technical audiences with the ability to create camera paths, fly-through animations, and videos that include titles, captions, points of interest and storyboards.
• Rendering More Realistic Models – Helps users produce higher quality renderings with new photorealism tools like progressive ray trace, more realistic sun/sky models, and high and low definition range output.
• Open Standards Support – Enables user to access CityGML, the standard many municipal bureaus in Europe use to store city data. CityGML data may contain a whole city’s structure (including detailed 3D models), roads, pipes, and textures in different levels of detail. The inclusion of CityGML can greatly improve our user’s ability to incorporate detailed data into their designs that was previously unavailable.
• Autodesk 360 Infrastructure Modeler for Mobile* – Now, infrastructure professionals can share their models as well as specific scenarios in a more secure cloud environment - via Autodesk® BIM 360™ cloud-based services- with public stakeholders who want the ease and convenience of using an iPad® mobile digital device. Available via the Apple iTunes app store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autodesk-360-infrastructure/id557267648?ls=1&mt=8
• Autodesk 360 Infrastructure Modeler for Web* – The new Web application enables interested parties who are not Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2013 users to view models and specific scenarios via a link using their Web browser, giving broader access to project proposals and more. To download the web plug-in, please go here: http://autodesk.com/aim360webdl.  You can also view a list of published scenarios via the Autodesk 360 Infrastructure Modeler Web portal: https://aim360.autodesk.com/portal/

 Here's something to wet your whistle...