Batch upgrade utility

[rosskirby]

Hi all.  I had been having some trouble using the batch upgrade utility for upgrading my 2010 families to 2011, and since I scoured the internet for 2 hours and didn't find a solution, I thought it might be beneficial to future users if I posted the solution I came up with.

In one step of this process, you're supposed to drag and drop the Upgrade_RFA.txt file onto the Revit shortcut, and then the upgrade process is supposed to begin.  However, after the first file opens, I was getting an error message about a journal error, and my only option was to enter "interactive mode".

As it turns out, the problem is that you can't drag and drop the Upgrade_RFA.txt file onto the Revit shortcut if that shortcut is on your QuickLaunch bar; it only works if the shortcut is on the desktop itself.

Hope this helps someone else.

[kathryn.langan]

Thanks for sharing!

[Dale.Bartlett]

Hi Ross,

Good of you to post this. I have exactly the same problem, however I am using the Desktop icon, not the QuickLaunch icon. I will experiment a bit further, but if you happen to have additional information I'd be appreciative. Regards, Dale

[rosskirby]

Hi Dale.

Are you sure you're getting the same error message that I was (something abut the journal entry, I think)?  I haven't had to do any batch upgrades since the 2010-2011 transition (obviously, since 2012 hasn't been released yet), but just on the off chance that you haven't already checked this: make sure that you have write-access to where the family library is stored.  If you're using a mapped network drive, then there's a good chance that it's read-only, except for your IT guy/BIM manager.  Just a thought...

[Dale.Bartlett]

Hi, I have all the files on my local drive, not read only, and I've tried dropping the txt file directly onto the Revit.exe. All kicks off ok, but stalls at the first file. I have tried finishing that file manually and removing it from hte list, but it stops at the next one. This is the first time I've run this utility, but it is all straighforward so I am a bit puzzled. Thanks again, Dale

[rosskirby]

Then I'm afraid I'm out of ideas.  I did a quick search on the topic to re-familiarize myself with the problem, and I saw that you posted the same question on AUGI.  You might also want to try it at revitforum.org as well, since a lot of the "experienced" users from AUGI went there after the whole AUGI update debacle.

If you find the solution, please remember to post it here to help others.  Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Good luck!

[Dale.Bartlett]

Hi All, I still haven't resolved the problem and the odd suggestion around hasn't helped. I have reviewed and compared manually created journal files with no luck. I'm wondering if it could be some timing issue with the file still being locked as part of the Revit version upgrade, while the journal attempts to continue to the next command (save etc). If i run the same upgrade journal on the files after an upgrade has been done manually, they all open, save, close etc as expected. I'm not sure how to add a timer loop in the journal, but I might try that. Regards, Dale

[Dale.Bartlett]

Hi All, I have the process functioning now so I thought I would put my solution up. It seems simple, but the whole journal process is a bit flaky it seems, so this was hard-won.

I changed the last line in the Upgrade_rfa.txt file.

FROM: Jrn.Command "Menu" , "Close the active project , 57602 , ID_FILE_CLOSE"
TO: Jrn.Command "Internal" , "Close the active project , ID_REVIT_FILE_CLOSE" 

In my entusiasm, I then embarked on a metrification upgrade to be incorporated, it worked flawlessly. Then with no changes to any part, it stopped working. That is for another day. Dale