KiwiCodes Bonus Tools Add-in - Over 30 Time Saving Tools for Autodesk Revit!

From KiwiCodes comes the unassumingly named Bonus Tools add-in...

Simple time saving tools that can help any practice. The two primary tools found in this API are the Window Watcher and Family Tracker: The Window Watcher allows you to either block and/or report on the activation of Revit Windows as part of a Company Standard. - The Family Tracker lists all Loaded Families and/or Groups in the Project and the date of insert and the date of reload...

3d Views for All Levels

Create a 3d View for each level in the Project.

Note: depending on the number of levels, this may take a while.


3d Views for Worksets

Create a 3d View for each Workset and hide all other Worksets in the view.

Note: depending on the number of Worksets, this may take a while.


3d View for Selected Elements - Updated

Remembers the last view created if prompted to do so by the user (to reduce the number of new 3D views created)and Revit 2014 allow for multiple dimension input types.

• Create a 3d View with a Section Box around the currently select elements.
• Specify a margin around the elements to extend the Section Box by.

Add Points to Topography

• Use a Families X, Y and Z location to add Points to a Topography Surface.
• Use this tool to make a Topography Surface follow the underside of a Floor.
• Step 1: Use the Setting Out Points tool to create Points.
• Step 2: Select the desired Points and the Topography Surface.
• Step 3: Run the tool.
• Step 4: Edit the Topography Surface to remove excess points.

Change Text Case

• Change text case between Title, UPPER and lower.
• This applies to Annotation Text, Model Text, Room Names, Area Names, View Names & View Titles on Sheets.

Create Floors from Rooms - Updated

• Revit 2014 allow for multiple dimension input types.
• Create Floors using rooms as the perimeter.

Note: You must be in a plan view. The level associated to the view you are working with is the level the new floor will be placed on. You can choose the floor type & the floor offset from the level.

Dimension List (2014)

• Lists all Dimensions within the project.
• Go to the view hosting the Dimension. Delete the Dimension. See if it has a text override.

Elements on Level

• Lists all elements on a selected level.
• Cycle through the levels in the Project to see what elements are hosted to it.

Element Selector - By Id

• Enter an element Id or element name get the element and choose to delete the found element if wanted.
• Find the Name of a corrupted element in the project file.

Excel Tools - Updated

Better reporting, minor fixes

• Export and Import schedules to and from Excel.
• Utilize Excel to speed up repetitive schedule manipulation.

Export Category to Excel - Updated

Better reporting, minor fixes

• Export any Category to Excel.
• Select the Category, phase and parameters to export to Excel.
• First row in Excel is the Parameter Name used during Import (Do not delete or modify this row)
• Second row in Excel is the Parameter Type (Do not delete this row)
• First column in Excel is Element Id used during Import (Do not delete this column)
• Delete any other rows and columns after Export as desired (except for those mentioned above)

Export Room Template - Updated

Better reporting, minor fixes

• Export a Room schedule template in Excel.
• Exports a formatted template ready for new Room data.

Export Sheet Template - Updated 

Better reporting, minor fixes

• Export a Sheet schedule template in Excel.
• Exports a formatted template ready for new Sheet data.

Family Tracker Window

• Lists all Loaded Families and/or Groups in the Project and the date of insert and the date of reload (modification). Note: the insertion and modification date are only recorded if Kiwi Codes Bonus Tools or Family Browser are installed and running.
• From the list, highlight families that are out of date in the project file, reload or repath them.

Import from Excel - Updated

Better reporting, minor fixes

• Import any Element changes from Excel.
• Select any Excel file that is formatted as per the Export function.
• The first row in Excel must be the Parameter Name (Text case must be identical)
• The second row in Excel is the Parameter Type. The row must exist.
• The first column in Excel is Element Id

Import New Rooms - Updated 

Better reporting, minor fixes

• Imports an creates placeholders for Rooms.
• Select any Excel file that is formatted as per the Export Room Template function.
• The first row in Excel must be the Parameter Name (Text case must be identical)
• The second row in Excel is the Parameter Type. The row must exist.

Import New Sheets - Updated 

Better reporting, minor fixes

• Imports an creates placeholders for Sheets.
• Select any Excel file that is formatted as per the Export Sheet Template function.
• The first row in Excel must be the Parameter Name (Text case must be identical)
• The second row in Excel is the Parameter Type. The row must exist.

In-Place Family List

• Lists all In-Place Families within the project.
• Go to the view hosting the In-Place Family. Delete the In-Place Family.

Navisworks to Revit - Updated 

Revit 2014 allow for multiple dimension input types.

• Convert a Navisworks XML report into clash points and 3D views placed on sheet(s).
• Select the Generic Family to use as the clash point and enter the desired shared parameters to use in a schedule. Choose whether to also create 3D views with bounding boxes and whether to place them on Sheets. Note: create views and sheets can take time. (now hides scope boxes)
• Suggestion - do this in a blank project file. Multiple views and sheets will be created.

Place Points on Topography

• Use a Families X and Y location to place Points on a Topography Surface.
• Use this tool to insert points at a X,Y location on a Topography Surface, the Z location value is the height of the Topography Surface at the specified point.
• Step 1: Use the Setting Out Points tool to create Points.
• Step 2: Select the desired Points and the Topography Surface.
• Step 3: Run the tool.
• Step 4: Edit the Topography Surfaces.

Referencing File List

• Lists all Revit, DWG and Image references within the project.
• Go to the view hosting the Referencing File. Delete the Referencing File.

Reference Plane List

• Lists all Reference Planes in the project.
• Go to the view showing the Reference Plane. Delete the Reference Plane.

Remove All Views

• Removes all views from the Project except for the active view.
• Help reduce the file size before issuing to consultants or archiving the model.

Remove Unused Views

• Remove unwanted views that causes the file size to bloat.
• Removes views:
• Other than the active view.
• Not placed on a sheet. Note: retains the primary views not placed on a sheet but reference secondary views that are.
• Without a parameter of your choice. Retain views that are not placed on sheet but are working views that you do not want delete.

Ribbon Settings

• View and change the Ribbon Settings.
• Select and re-order the tools you want to see on the Ribbon.

Section Creator

Creates a perpendicular or parallel section to the selected wall.

Note: a wall must be selected before activating this command.


Setting Out Points

• Position setting out points on structural elements in the project. (The code to this tool can be found on The Code Builder website. If you would like a stand-a-lone free version of this please contact us.)
• Select the Generic Family to use as the setting out point marker and enter the desired shared parameters to use in a schedule.
• Choose your selection set:
• Current View.
• Current Selection.
• Entire Project.

Sheet Duplication

• Duplicate one or many sheets.
• Quickly duplicate sheets by:
• Selecting from a list of current sheets those to duplicate.
• Choosing the title block to be assigned to the duplicated sheets.
• Choosing whether to duplicate the views on the current sheets and place them duplicated sheets. Note: schedules and legends are not duplicated, the originals are placed on the duplicated sheets.

Swap unwanted Groups out for Families

Use any of the below combinations and more.

• Swap Detail Groups for Annotation Symbols.
• Swap Detail Groups for Detail Components.
• Swap Model Groups for Generic Models.
• Swap Model Groups for Casework.

Note: ensure the base points are the same before swapping Groups for Families.


Topography Surface Edge

• Creates Lines around the boundary edges of the select topography in: Plan, 3D or Section.
• There are 3 selection types available:
• In Plan - the lines are created as Detail Lines.
• In 3D - the lines are created as Model Lines.
• In Section - the lines are created as Detail Lines.

Note: a topography surface must be selected before activating this command.

Update Referencing Sheets

Updates Sections Referencing Sheets.

Note: you must be in a Section or Elevation view before activating this command.


View Template Map

• Lists all view templates, and views using those view templates.(The code to this tool can be found on the Boost Your BIM website. If you would like a stand-a-lone free version of this please contact us.)
• Before modifying a view templates settings gather a list of all views that will be affected by the changes.

Views to Sheets - New!

• Place views on Sheets in bulk.
• Quickly put views on sheets by:
• Dragging views to their desired sheet.

Note: The views are placed using the same origin.


Window Watcher Settings

• View and change the Window Watcher Settings.
• Add Revit Window names you would like to either block and/or report on the windows activation as part of a Company Standard. This tool is primarily used to block/report on "In-place Families" and "Importing of CAD files".
• Blocking a window does just that, blocks it and replaces it with a warning message.
• Reporting on a windows activation writes to a log file listing the project and users name who activated the window. It also warns the user the window activation is being recorded.
• Change the report path to suit.

The Bonus Tools add-in may be purchased from the KiwiCodes website for USD 35.00.

Credit: Luke Johnson's What Revit Wants blog.