Extra: Free Tools to Measure Total Lengths, Perimeters and Areas of Elements

Summary

Extra is a free productivity add-in for Autodesk® Revit® focused on automating small but repetitive measurement and calculation tasks that many architects, engineers, designers, and BIM users still perform manually. The add-in is built around a simple idea: users should not need to leave Revit or use an external calculator for basic totals such as line lengths, filled-region areas, room areas, or perimeters. Instead, Extra provides quick commands that calculate selected geometry and report the results directly, helping users save time during everyday production work.

Core Purpose

The core purpose of Extra is to remove unnecessary manual math from Revit workflows. W7k describes the tool as a response to the common situation where project teams manually add the lengths of lines or calculate areas and perimeters using a calculator. Extra addresses those small friction points by providing lightweight commands that perform the calculations automatically from selected Revit elements. While the individual tasks may be simple, automating them can improve speed, reduce transcription errors, and make day-to-day documentation and checking tasks more efficient.

Key Capabilities

• Measure length of selected lines: Adds together the lengths of selected Revit lines and reports the total length.
• Measure total area of selected regions: Calculates the combined area of selected filled regions.
• Measure outside perimeter of selected regions: Calculates the exterior boundary length of selected regions, focusing on outside loops.
• Measure total perimeter of selected regions: Adds together the full perimeter values of selected filled regions.
• Measure total area of selected rooms: Calculates the combined area of selected rooms.
• Measure total perimeter of selected rooms: Adds together the perimeter values of selected rooms.
• Copy results to the clipboard: The calculated values are automatically copied to the clipboard, making it easier to paste results into notes, schedules, spreadsheets, markups, or correspondence.
• DWG import warning: Version 1.2 adds a warning that alerts users when DWG files are being imported into a project, helping teams avoid an action that can introduce coordination, file-size, and standards issues if not managed carefully.

Viewer: Create and Document Room Elevations

Summary

Viewer is a productivity add-in for Autodesk® Revit® designed to automate the creation of interior views and the placement of those views onto sheets. Its current focus is generating internal elevations from selected rooms, a task that can be highly repetitive on interior design, fit-out, hospitality, workplace, residential, and tenant-improvement projects. Instead of manually creating elevation markers, configuring each view, naming the outputs, creating sheets, and arranging views one by one, Viewer allows users to select rooms and let the add-in generate the required elevation documentation with controlled settings.

Core Purpose

The main purpose of Viewer is to reduce the time and manual effort required to create consistent room-based elevation packages. Interior elevation production can become tedious when a project contains dozens or hundreds of rooms, especially when each room requires four elevations, a consistent view template, coordinated naming, sheet placement, and title-line alignment. Viewer addresses this by turning a repetitive drafting and documentation task into a guided automation workflow that gives users control over both the views and the resulting sheets.

Key Capabilities

• Generate internal elevations from selected rooms: Viewer automates the creation of room-based interior elevations, helping eliminate repetitive manual view setup.
• Choose elevation type: Users can select the elevation type used during generation, supporting better alignment with project or office documentation standards.
• Apply view templates: The add-in can apply the correct view template to generated views, helping keep graphics, annotations, and display settings consistent.
• Control view naming: Viewer provides controls for naming generated views so the output can follow project conventions and remain easy to organize in the Project Browser.
• Handle rotated rooms: When rooms are rotated, Viewer can align the generated views so the elevation set remains coordinated with the room orientation.
• Create sheets automatically: The add-in can create sheets using a selected title block, reducing the need to manually prepare documentation sheets after the views are generated.
• Control sheet quantity and sheet names: Users can manage the number of sheets and their naming, which is especially useful when producing many room-elevation sets.
• Position elevations on sheets: Viewer lets users control the placement of all four elevations, helping standardize sheet layout and presentation.
• Align title lines: The tool includes options to align title lines and control their length, supporting cleaner and more consistent sheet documentation.
• Set top and bottom extents: Users can control elevation top and bottom limits based on offsets from selected levels, allowing the views to reflect the desired vertical range.
• Extend elevations left and right: Viewer can extend elevation views horizontally to capture the required room context.
• Save layout settings: The add-in can save title block positions and sheet sizes, reducing setup time for repeated use.

Leveler: “The Ultimate Tool to Control Levels and Grids”

Summary

Leveler is a productivity add-in for Autodesk® Revit® developed by W7k that provides a focused set of tools for managing levels and grids more efficiently. Its primary value is helping users change element level assignments without unintentionally moving elements in the model. In typical Revit workflows, changing a reference level can require careful offset calculations to keep elements in place. Leveler automates that process by recalculating and applying the correct offsets, allowing users to reassign levels while preserving existing element elevations.

Core Purpose

The add-in is designed for Revit modelers, BIM coordinators, project teams, and production users who need better control over model levels, level names, and grid naming. It is especially useful on projects where elements were modeled against the wrong reference levels, where level naming standards need to be cleaned up, or where multiple levels and grids must be renamed or adjusted consistently. Instead of manually reviewing each element and calculating offset values, Leveler helps automate repetitive level-management tasks and reduces the chance of coordination errors.

Key Capabilities

• Reassign reference levels: Change the level associated with selected elements while keeping their physical location and elevation unchanged.
• Automatic offset calculation: Let the add-in calculate the correct offset values instead of requiring users to determine them manually.
• Closest-level assignment: Automatically assign elements to the closest level based on their elevation.
• Closest level above or below: Assign elements to the nearest level above or below their current position, depending on the desired modeling standard.
• Move level assignment up or down: Change selected elements to the level above or below their current reference level.
• Rename levels: Use tools to rename levels through menus, find-and-replace operations, upward or downward renumbering, and prefix or suffix additions.
• Edit multiple levels: Move multiple levels at the same time, which can help when making coordinated adjustments to project datums.
• Rename grids: Apply similar naming operations to grid lines, including menu-based renaming, upward or downward renumbering, and prefix or suffix additions.

Boxer: “Your Friend When Working with Section Boxes”

Summary

Boxer for Autodesk® Revit® is a productivity add-in designed to make section box creation, adjustment, reuse, and view coordination faster and more intuitive. It focuses on one of the most common navigation and coordination challenges in Revit: moving efficiently between 2D documentation views and 3D model views while maintaining precise control over the area of the model being reviewed. Instead of relying only on standard section box workflows, Boxer gives users a more direct and flexible way to isolate model areas, convert views, and manage section box geometry with fewer manual steps.

Workflow Purpose

The primary purpose of Boxer is to help Revit users work more confidently with section boxes during modeling, coordination, review, and documentation tasks. Section boxes are essential for isolating parts of a model, but they can become time-consuming to create, adjust, rotate, or reuse. Boxer streamlines these actions by placing section box controls into a more accessible workflow, allowing users to focus on reviewing design intent, resolving coordination issues, and navigating the model rather than repeatedly resetting view extents manually.

Key Capabilities

• 2D-to-3D view conversion: Boxer enables users to quickly transition from 2D views such as plans, sections, or details into focused 3D views, helping teams validate design conditions spatially instead of relying only on flat documentation views.
• Section box creation from views: Users can generate section boxes directly from view-based selections, making it easier to isolate the exact portion of the model they are working on.
• Section box memory: Boxer allows section boxes to be saved in memory for quick reuse, reducing repetitive setup when reviewing the same areas across multiple tasks or coordination sessions.
• Geometry control: The add-in supports moving, mirroring, aligning, rotating, resizing, and resetting section boxes, giving users more control over how model areas are isolated and presented.
• View-focused productivity: By simplifying section box setup and navigation, Boxer helps users move between analysis, modeling, and documentation workflows with fewer clicks and less friction.

Drafter: 180+ Productivity Scripts “By a Drafter, for Drafters”

Summary

Drafter is a Revit-focused productivity toolset designed to improve the speed, precision, and overall quality of drawing production. Created “by a drafter, for drafters,” it packages more than 180 Dynamo-based scripts into an accessible collection intended for users who want the benefits of automation without needing to learn visual programming or scripting. Its core purpose is to help teams produce cleaner, more consistent, and better-organized documentation with less repetitive manual effort.

Purpose and Design Philosophy

The tool is built around the idea that high-quality drawings depend on clarity, consistency, and attention to detail. It targets common drafting frustrations such as misaligned tags, inconsistent annotation placement, poorly organized views, and visual issues that become noticeable in exported PDFs. Rather than requiring users to build their own Dynamo workflows, Drafter turns those automations into easy-to-use tools that support everyday documentation tasks.

Key Capabilities

Drafter includes a broad set of scripts that assist with many parts of the Revit documentation process, including title lines, project browser organization, vertical views, viewports, sheets, scope boxes, title blocks, legends, schedules, revisions, text notes, tags, dimensions, filled regions, and family editor tasks. The collection is organized into 20 tool groups, making it easier for users to find scripts related to a specific type of drafting or documentation work.

Workflow Benefits

• Faster drawing production: Automates repetitive documentation tasks that would otherwise require manual setup, adjustment, or cleanup.
• Greater precision: Helps reduce visual inconsistencies such as misaligned tags, text notes, leaders, view elements, and other annotation-related issues.
• Improved consistency: Supports more standardized drawing output across sheets, views, tags, notes, dimensions, and schedules.
• Reduced need for Dynamo expertise: Gives users access to Dynamo-powered workflows through ready-made tools rather than requiring them to create scripts from scratch.
• Better documentation quality: Helps drafters and BIM teams produce drawings that appear more polished, organized, and professional.

Exclusive: Interview with BIMdance CEO Aleksandr Sutyagin

Editor's Note: Aleksandr Sutyagin of BIMdance recently reached out to us and was gracious enough to do an interview.

Can you please describe your services and tools in a quick, elevator pitch?

BIMdance tools focus on simplifying the day-to-day workflows for Building Controls engineering teams. We replace manual spreadsheets and static drawings with automated visual design, bidirectionally syncing control system logic directly with Autodesk Revit models.

What is your Smart Building DataHub?

Smart Building DataHub is a unified cloud platform and Autodesk Revit plugin that automates the design and configuration of building control systems, also known as BAS, BMS, or BACS. It allows engineers to visually design control logic in a web browser, automatically generate point lists, schematics, and bills of materials, and sync device placements and cable routing natively inside Revit.

Exclusive: Interview with Nonica Co-Founder and CTO Jaime Alonso

Editor's Note: Here on Revit Add-ons, we've documented NonicaTab Free and NonicaTab PRO previously. However, since then, both versions have undergone significant changes, especially with the additions of AI. Instead of simply documenting the add-ins again, we reached out to the good folks at Nonica for an interview, and Jaime Alonso, co-founder and CTO, was kind enough to oblige.

Can you please describe your two add-ins in a quick, elevator pitch?

NonicaTab actually started back in 2020 as a Revit Add-In to make custom Revit toolbars easier, we ended up building over 36 tools that people can mix and match depending on what they need. Then, in early 2025, when MCPs [Model Context Protocols] came out, we saw an opportunity and shifted toward AI, specifically, an A.I. Connector for Revit that lets AI extract, review, report on, and document your models using natural language.

We offer it in two versions: there is a Free version, which includes a solid set of our most-used tools plus a limited version of the AI Connector, so people can really get a feel for what it does. And then there is PRO, which unlocks the full toolset and unlimited use of the AI Connector for those who end up relying on it more heavily.

Jaime Alonso

In more detail, what are the differences between the Free and PRO versions?

On the toolbar side, Free includes a curated set of our most popular tools, the ones people reach for most often [13 tools]. PRO gives you all 36+ tools, so if there's something more specific or niche you need, it's probably in there.

On the AI Connector side, Free lets you use it too, with some usage limits, so you can genuinely try it out on real work and see how it fits into your workflow. It is mostly geared toward extracting, reviewing, and reporting from Revit, asking questions, pulling data, generating reports. The editing side, like setting parameters or adding views to sheets, is reserved for PRO.

So honestly, a lot of users do just fine on Free, especially if they are mostly doing lighter documentation and review work. PRO makes more sense once you want AI to actually make changes in the model, not just report on it.

What popular 3rd party add-ins are baked into the Pro version?

A few tools were inspired from some well-known third-party add-ins such as Align or Room Finishing. For instance, for the tool Color Elements by Parameters, we converted the Color Splasher from C# to Python, and added a few features (e.g. the option to create view filters for the colors or automatic legends). After releasing in Nonicatab, it was also included in pyRevit set of tools, so especially proud about that one. The idea was to build native versions inside NonicaTab that we could keep supporting long-term, so users aren't stuck depending on something that might not get another update.

Free Maestro: Create, Organize, Deploy, & Manage Custom Autodesk Revit Tools

Summary: 

Maestro is a platform for creating, organizing, deploying, and managing custom Autodesk Revit tools without building a traditional compiled add-in. Rather than functioning as a fixed productivity pack, Maestro gives AEC teams a flexible framework for turning firm-specific workflows into accessible Revit ribbon tools. It is designed to help BIM, VDC, digital practice, and software development teams package automations, scripts, documentation, and resources directly inside Revit in a way that feels familiar to end users.

Purpose and Positioning

Maestro is intended for teams that need custom Revit functionality but do not always need or want the overhead of developing, compiling, distributing, and maintaining a conventional add-in. It allows workflows to be assembled around the actual needs of a firm, project team, or production group. Users can place scripts, websites, folders, documentation, and other resources into custom Revit ribbon interfaces so that important workflows are easier to find, launch, and standardize.

Custom Revit Ribbon Creation

One of Maestro’s primary capabilities is the creation of custom Revit ribbon interfaces. Teams can build their own structured ribbon environment using custom tabs, panels, individual buttons, button stacks, pulldown buttons, split buttons, and panel slide-outs. Each ribbon item can include custom naming, descriptions, and icons, helping teams create a polished and intuitive interface for their internal tools.

Ribbon items can be configured to launch Python scripts, websites and web applications, files, folders, documentation, and other workflow resources. This reduces the need for users to search shared drives, remember command names, or locate scripts manually. Instead, Maestro places the workflow directly where Revit users already work: inside the Revit interface.

Python-Based Automation and Future Support

Maestro currently supports Python-based Revit workflows, allowing teams to create reusable automations that can be launched from the custom ribbon. These scripts can support a wide range of Revit tasks, including parameter review and modification, view and sheet management, annotation workflows, element selection and filtering, model audits, repetitive model changes, report generation, and enforcement of company standards. Support for C# scripts and Dynamo workflows is currently in development, which suggests the platform is intended to expand beyond its current Python-focused automation model.

3Dconnexion Keyboard Pro

From the 3Dconnexion website:

The 3Dconnexion Keyboard Pro with detached numpad is engineered to help you create digital 3D models and professional designs. Its compact width enables a better position of your mouse or pen resulting in a more natural and comfortable posture. Twelve programmable 3Dconnexion keys automatically provide access to app-specific commands you need most – saving time and keeping you focused.

3Dconnexion keys adapt to the app you are using

The 3Dconnexion Keyboard Pro features 12 additional function keys located above the standard keys. The keyboard instantly recognizes the applications you are using, as well as their environments. Commands you use most are automatically assigned to the individual keys, so you can access them directly. You can also easily personalize the 3Dconnexion keys according to your preferences.

An on-screen display lets you know which commands are assigned at all times.

Product Roundup: PARS-BIM

From the Autodesk Design and Make Marketplace:

We are making construction easier.

Editor's Note: Ratings are static and accurate at press time. Please see the Autodesk Design and Make Marketplace for latest ratings.

PARS-BIM: Architecture Tools

Accelerate your architectural workflow in Revit. From rapid sheet management and rule-based modeling to advanced CAD-to-BIM conversion, PARS-BIM Architecture Tools empowers you to complete projects faster. | $30.00/month or $250.00/year

★★★★★ (5 reviews)

PARS-BIM: MEP Tools

The ultimate MEP productivity suite for Autodesk® Revit®. Solve complex clash detection, automate pipe/duct routing, and fix common Revit bugs with one-click professional MEP tools. | $35.00/month or $300.00/year

No ratings yet

PARS-BIM: Architecture Tools & MEP Tools Bundle

The complete BIM solution. Get the full power of PARS-BIM Architectural and MEP toolsets in one professional package. Your ultimate competitive advantage in Autodesk® Revit®. | $40.00/month or $400.00/year

No ratings yet

Product Roundup: Avant Leap

From the Autodesk Design and Make Marketplace:

At Avant Leap, our mission is to revolutionize the engineering landscape by providing cutting-edge digital solutions.  We empower engineers to achieve excellence through seamless integration of technology, automation, and intelligence. Our commitment is to lead the way in transforming industries, optimizing practices, and creating a sustainable impact on the world. 

We are a team of passionate thinkers and strategists in the building industry. Utilizing cutting-edge technology and innovation, we tackle intricate challenges. Our collaboration with architects, engineers, contractors, and owners ensures optimized project delivery across the entire lifecycle.

Editor's Note: Ratings are static and accurate at press time. Please see the Autodesk Design and Make Marketplace for latest ratings.

Ecco

Ecco is an Autodesk® Revit® add-in that creates unified proxy solids from assemblies, families, and groups for logistics planning — enabling QTO, delivery sequencing, and truck assignment. | $39.00

★★★★★ (1 review)

Enlazo
The Enlazo is an add-in that automatically assigns parameter values from parent structural elements to nearby child elements using proximity detection. | $39.00

No ratings yet

Sequenza: 4D Construction Sequence Exporter

Summary

Sequenza is an Autodesk Revit add-in designed to automate the extraction of construction sequence information from a Revit model and convert it into structured files for 4D construction simulation. It bridges Revit model data with downstream tools such as Navisworks TimeLiner and 3ds Max by generating the task, component, and animation data needed to build a construction timeline.

Core Purpose

The primary purpose of Sequenza is to eliminate the manual effort required to create construction sequence data for 4D workflows. Instead of building Navisworks TimeLiner task hierarchies and element assignments by hand, users can generate structured CSV outputs directly from the Revit model. This allows project teams to spend more time refining the actual construction logic and less time assembling the underlying data structure.

Model Reading and Grouping Workflow

Sequenza reads the active Revit project and organizes model elements by level and category. This grouping creates a practical construction-oriented structure that reflects how work is commonly planned and sequenced in the field. By grouping elements into level-category packages, the tool can generate a manageable hierarchy for construction simulation while still preserving a clear relationship between model elements and schedule tasks.

As part of the process, Sequenza assigns shared parameters that encode each element’s position in the construction timeline. These parameters help identify sequencing information inside the Revit model and support consistent export into the downstream simulation files.

Export Outputs

Sequenza generates three primary output files for 4D coordination and visualization. The Simulations Identification CSV is used for importing tasks into Navisworks TimeLiner. The Simulations Components CSV links Revit model elements to those construction tasks, creating the relationship between the geometry and the timeline. The MaxScript Animation file supports playback in 3ds Max, allowing the exported sequence to be used for animated construction visualization.

Ostacolo: Clash Detection & Tracking in Revit

Summary

OSTACOLO is an Autodesk Revit add-in designed to manage clash detection, tracking, and resolution directly inside the Revit environment. Instead of relying entirely on external coordination platforms and repeated export/import workflows, OSTACOLO keeps clash identification and issue management within the active project model. It stores clash data persistently in the Revit file using Extensible Storage while also maintaining a structured JSON database for sharing and offline coordination.

Core Purpose

The primary purpose of OSTACOLO is to turn clash coordination into an in-model workflow. Traditional clash detection often requires moving data between Revit and separate coordination applications, which can create extra steps, disconnected issue records, and coordination overhead. OSTACOLO addresses this by detecting clashes, placing visual markers, storing issue data, and managing clash status changes without requiring users to leave Revit.

Detection Protocols

OSTACOLO detects geometric conflicts using five configurable discipline protocols. These include Structural vs MEP, Architecture RC versus Structural and MEP, Architecture WD versus Structural and MEP, MEP Internal, and a combined All protocol. This structure allows users to target specific coordination scenarios rather than running only broad, unfocused clash tests.

The Architecture RC protocol focuses on roof, floor, and ceiling elements, while the Architecture WD protocol focuses on windows and doors. MEP Internal checks conflicts within MEP disciplines, and the All protocol provides a broader combined coordination review. Each protocol can be configured to suit the coordination goals of the project team.

Hard Clash and Clearance Modes

Each detection protocol supports two clash modes. Hard Clash mode identifies physical intersections between element solids, flagging situations where elements overlap in the model. Clearance mode identifies elements that do not intersect but fall within a user-defined minimum distance, measured in millimetres. This allows teams to detect both direct conflicts and spacing violations that may affect constructability, maintenance access, code compliance, or coordination requirements.

Mostra: Parameter Colorization

Summary

Mostra is an Autodesk Revit add-in designed to help BIM teams quickly visualize model data by grouping elements according to shared parameter values and applying color-coded graphics across the model. Instead of manually creating filters, assigning colors, or building separate coordination views, users can select a category, choose a parameter, pick a color palette, and generate visual results in seconds.

Core Purpose

The primary purpose of Mostra is to make model information easier to understand, review, and communicate. Revit models often contain valuable parameter data, but reviewing that data element by element or building visual filters manually can be slow and error-prone. Mostra turns parameter values into immediate visual groupings, making it possible to see patterns, gaps, inconsistencies, and distribution across a model without writing filter rules by hand.

Workflow and Interface

When Revit loads, Mostra adds two ribbon buttons to the AvantLeap Tools tab: MOSTRA and MOSTRA PRO. The standard MOSTRA button supports a focused, single-category workflow. Users choose one element category, select one visible parameter such as Level, Phase, Fire Rating, Assembly Code, or another available Revit parameter, choose a color palette, select an operation, and click Execute.

MOSTRA PRO expands the workflow by supporting multiple categories and named presets. This allows BIM teams to save recurring configurations and reload them in future sessions with one click. Presets are especially useful for repeated coordination checks, design reviews, or quality-control workflows that rely on the same categories, parameters, palettes, and output operations.

Visualization Operations

Mostra offers four main operations: Create Views, Apply Filters, Apply Overrides, and Reset View. Create Views can generate isolated 3D views based on parameter groups, helping users separate model elements by shared values. Apply Filters creates persistent parametric filters so the visualization can remain part of the Revit view setup. Apply Overrides directly changes graphics in the active view for quick visual analysis. Reset View removes the applied visualization changes when the review is complete.

Schema: View Layout Manager For Project-to-Project Organization

Summary

Schema is a Revit add-in designed to streamline BIM project setup by automating the reuse of standard sheet and viewport arrangements. It addresses a common source of repetitive work for BIM managers, template administrators, and project teams: rebuilding the same drawing set structure on every new model. Instead of manually laying out sheets, viewports, and schedules project after project, teams can define a standard arrangement once and apply it consistently across future Revit models.

Core Purpose

In many BIM environments, drawing set organization is standardized across projects, but the setup process still requires substantial manual effort. Sheet names, viewport placements, schedule locations, and drawing arrangements are often recreated from scratch even when a proven layout already exists. Schema captures the structure of an established drawing set and converts it into a portable schema file that can be reused without transferring model geometry, project-specific content, or full template files.

Two-Step Workflow

Schema works through a two-step process: first capturing a layout from a source model, then assembling that layout in a target model. This approach separates drawing set standards from project-specific data, allowing teams to maintain reusable documentation layouts that can be safely shared, versioned, and applied across different projects.

Edit Schema: Capture the Source Layout

The workflow begins in a Revit model that already contains the desired sheet and viewport arrangement. Using the Edit Schema command, Schema scans all sheets, viewports, and schedule instances and displays the complete drawing set on an interactive canvas. Viewports appear as gold rectangles, while schedule instances appear in blue, giving users a visual representation of the exact geometric arrangement of their documentation set.

Within the Schema Editor, users can review the detected layout and make adjustments to viewport or schedule positions if needed. Once the layout is approved, it is saved as a portable .schema.json file. This file stores sheet names, viewport positions, viewport sizes, view types, and schedule placement data, but it does not include model geometry or sensitive project-specific information. As a result, the schema can be safely shared across teams, archived for future use, or managed in version-control systems.