According to RevitWorks' product page, DOOR FACTORY is...
The quickest & easiest way to make doors and curtain panel doors in Revit
- Create standard or unique doors in minutes
- Any user – novice or expert
- Consistent functionality and scheduling
Setup
I received two emails from RevitWorks, one with a download link and one with my activation key.
Once downloaded, the installation was smooth, featuring a professional installation wizard.
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| The DOOR FACTORY installation wizard |
Once I launched Revit, a new tool was available in the ribbon on the Add-ins tab.
The DOOR FACTORY icon is attractive and unobtrusive.
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| The DOOR FACTORY tool in the Revit ribbon |
When I launched the add-in, I was prompted to activate my license.
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| The license activation wizard |
Setup grade: A
Discoverability
Upon launching the application, one is presented with a Start screen.
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| The DOOR FACTORY Start screen |
On first blush, the Start screen may seem a little overwhelming, but I equate this to how some use the starting view in Revit to present useful project information to team members. Here there are links for an overview video on the RevitWorks website, a "New Features in 2020" PDF, feedback, online Help, and several "Technical Data Sheet" PDFs, including "DOOR FACTORY Family Specifications" and how to create custom panels, handles, trims and user components. There's also a link to contact RevitWorks via email, and the bottom of the window has a what's new section.
The DOOR FACTORY Family Specifications document is especially useful for a couple of reasons:
- It tells users what to expect from the delivered DOOR FACTORY content, such as how it was built, what parameters are used, what parameters can be changed by the user during placement, etc.
- It can be used as a resource for creating custom content consistent with the delivered content.
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| Page 3 from the 4-page DOOR FACTORY Family Specifications document |
The Help button is context-sensitive; it opens the online help to the tab that one is currently on in the dialog box. The level of detail provided in the online help seems adequate.
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| The online help |
Architects, engineers and technicians are smart people, and I've often thought that the smartest people don't necessarily know the answers offhand; they know where to go and find them. By including this wealth of resources upfront, DOOR FACTORY sticks the landing on reducing the learning curve.
Discoverability grade: A+
Usability
On the right side of the Start screen there is a Start a New Door tab with a handful of options. One isn't likely to change several of these frequently though, such as the Units or Elevation Swing (this latter being used to simply define if the swing elevation triangle points to the hinges or to the handle).
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| The Start a New Door tab |
On the bottom of the window there is a Default Settings button that opens a corresponding dialog box.
In the Default Settings dialog box, one may set the default values for all the parameters.
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| The Default Settings dialog box |
At the bottom of the Default Settings window, there's a Default Naming button. It opens the Default Naming window.
In the Default Naming dialog box, one can setup the default naming for the doors created with the DOOR FACTORY. This default pre-populates the name of the door in the Name tab.
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| The Default Naming dialog box |
The remaining setting on the Start tab is used to create a Standard Door or a Curtain Panel Door.
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| The Action tab with Double Swing selected |
The next tab is Jamb where the user selects the type of jamb required. Again, options are plentiful and on-screen tips make the selection process easier.
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| The Jamb tab |
Next is the Panel tab. Here the user selects the panel type and size of panel(s) needed.
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| The Panel tab |
Next is the Handle tab, where the users selects the type of handle(s) to be used.
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| The Handle tab |
Next is the Trim tab. Here the user can select trims for the interior and the exterior of the door.
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| The Trim tab |
On the User tab, the user can select two “extra” components to be included in the door. The DOOR FACTORY comes with a number of user components, including sills and sliding door pelmets.
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| The User tab |
On the Identity tab, the user can fill in Revit system parameters to populate the door with.
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| The Identity tab |
Lastly, on the Name tab, the user is presented with a summary of selections made and is able to name the family that the DOOR FACTORY will create, as well as the type within the family.
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| The Name tab |
Clicking on the Build Door button creates the family and loads it into the project. The door may then be placed using the native Place Door tool.
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| Placement of the created door |
Doors created with DOOR FACTORY have parameters that allow for advanced functionality, including the ability to add American ADA 2010 or Australian AS1428.1 2d clearance diagrams to doors, and the ability to change alignments of doors within walls.
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| Clearance diagram options |
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| Door with clearance diagram |
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| Wall alignment options |
Recently introduced is the ability to show door swings in 3D.
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| Parameters used to enable door swings in 3D |
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| Door swings in 3D |
After reading through this review, it should be fairly obvious that the appropriately named RevitWorks DOOR FACTORY creates new door families from combinations of existing component families such as panels, jambs, trim, etc. A wealth of this component content is delivered with the DOOR FACTORY. One can also create new custom content, and links to "how tos" are littered throughout the documentation.
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| How to create a custom panel |
Usability grade: A
Value
The RevitWorks DOOR FACTORY starts at 395.00 USD for a single license and then gets progressively less expensive per seat the more that you buy.
Value grade: A
Final Grade
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