Interactive Visualization with Revizto for Revit

Revizto uses 3D gaming technology to provide an easy-to-use interactive visualization platform for the AEC industry.

Revizto provides a simple, cost-effective way for architects, engineers and builders to communicate before, during and after the construction of a building. Unlike heavyweight 3D tools, Revizto doesn't require a big upfront investment or a long learning curve. Revizto is specifically designed to be the easiest way for anyone to communicate in 3D.

REVIZTO converts Revit Building Information Models into lightweight, interactive Visual Information Models. REVIZTO with Revit Add-In retains the BIM object data, including Family metadata and custom materials. After creating the VIM, users of REVIZTO Viewer can access the object data.

To create a VIM from Revit just install REVIZTO Add-In or if you work with SketchUp models, simply import it into REVIZTO Editor. You may adjust visual quality and geometry for speed; change exterior and interior lighting, control materials and etc.

Next to editing your VIM, you may save it and export as a standalone file. After that you may send to your project team or upload it to the REVIZTO Workspace, where you can invite anyone to view your project and collaborate using markers with real-time chat and screenshots.
REVIZTO allows creating virtual voice-rich walk-throughs and exporting them as videos.

Anyone can easily view VIM-files for free in any web browser using the Unity3D plugin. REVIZTO Viewer is cross-platform application and available for Windows,  Mac and Web, as well as iPad and Android tablets. Application ensures simple collaboration tools and good visual communication, as well as advanced features for AEC professionals.

There's more information available on the Revizto website.

Family Security Guard Add-in

This add-in password protects families.

The user will be prompted for a password in two situations:

1. In the project environment when they attempt to open the Family Types dialog
2. When they attempt to open a family file

You can control if you want this check enabled for all Revit family files or not as follows:

1. The password will be required to edit and open all family files if there is “AlwaysRequirePassword.txt” file in the BoostYourBIM-FamilySecurity.bundle\Contents folder.
2. If this file does not exist, the password will only be required for families that contain an integer parameter named “AccessRestricted” with a value of 1 (or Yes, if you choose to make it a Yes/No parameter)

After the password is successfully entered, the user will not be prompted again for the password during that Revit session. If you purchase a license (for $2.99), a custom password can be set in the pwd.txt file in the BoostYourBIM-FamilySecurity.bundle\Contents folder.

NOTE: This app only protects families when this app is installed. There is no protection when someone without this app attempts to modify families.

There's more information available on the Boost Your BIM blog.

Change & Replace Family and/or Type Names - A Free Add-in from Case (Updated)

"This is a handy little tool that goes out and renames families and/or type names in your project model. Be careful though, because this version does not offer a means of isolating the renaming scope, it is all or none."

This free add-in may be downloaded from the Case Apps website.

Update 5/8/2016: CASE and the CASE Apps website are no more but, courtesy of WeWork, the CASE Apps are now open source. They may be accessed on GitHub.

I'll Be Presenting on Revit Add-ins at RTC NA 2013

Over the weekend I received confirmation that I will be presenting at the Revit Technology Conference North America 2013, to be held in Vancouver BC July 11-13, 2013.

My session will be a lecture titled "75 Revit Add-ins In 75 Minutes", and will feature a deep dive into a handful of some of my favorite add-ins from this blog.

The Revit Technology Conference is extremely well done, and over the past couple of years it's become my favorite conference. I hope that you'll be able to join me there.

Move To Analytical

Move beams and floors to the location of their analytical model.

How to use:

1. Move the analytical model of a floor or beam away from the physical model with the Analytical Adjust command in the Revit UI
2. Run the “Move to Analytical” API command
3. Select the analytical model of a beam or floor that has been moved with the Analytical Adjust command
4. The element will move into the position of its analytical model (this command will move a floor but does not change the shape of its sketch)

There's more information available on the Boost Your BIM blog.

See other Revit Structural-related add-ins here.

BIM Manager Suite from CTC

CTC have apparently bundled their Revit add-in products into a couple of suites, including the BIM Manager Suite...

The fastest way to manipulate Revit families and make consistent changes to materials and parameters programmatically.

The tools included in this suite:

Family Processor

The fastest way to update your Revit families programmatically.

• Change, delete, and add family materials and parameters
• Make changes individually or for an entire content library
• Instant OmniClass number population

Watermark

The safest way to protect your Revit Content from unauthorized use.

• Add encrypted information to family files
• Scan for watermarked content in a project or network
• Password-protected data cannot be removed
• Apply a transparent overlay to family previews

BIM Project Suite from CTC

CTC have apparently bundled their Revit add-in products into a couple of suites, including the BIM Project Suite...

Help adhere your documents to the standards of COBie2 during project workflow and minimize the time required for creating project handover data. This package also includes all the tools in the BIM Manager Suite Premium and Standard.

The tools included in this suite:

COBie2 Link

Help adhere your Revit documents to the standards of COBie2 during project workflow and minimize the time required for creating project handover data.

• Parameter creation
• Schedule creation
• Bi-directional parameter mapping to any external Excel standard

BIM List

The most advanced, yet easiest to use Revit family browser for finding, organizing, and leveraging Revit families.

• Locate and insert families into a Revit project
• Search parameter data using filters
• Administrative controls enforce company standards

Revit Keyboard Shortcut Tutor

• Become a Revit speed demon
• Leave your co-workers in the dust
• Increase your productivity

Boost Your BIM’s keyboard shortcut tutor gives you a friendly reminder in a small modeless dialog box when you use the mouse to click on a command that has a keyboard shortcut. A button in the dialog lists all shortcuts.

A full-functioning version of the Keyboard Shortcut Tutor is $4.99. There's more information available on Harry Mattison's Boost Your BIM blog.

Via Luke Johnson's What Revit Wants blog.

Maxwell Render Plugin for Revit

The newly released Maxwell Render plugin for Revit includes:

• Support for Revit lights, including IES
• Support for many built-in Revit materials
• Ability to override scene materials with MXM files
• Maxwell Grass
• Multilight read back: changes made to lights in Multilight can be imported back into the Revit scene
• Easy access to the Maxwell material library and gallery from inside the Revit UI

There's more information available on the Maxwell Render website.

See other rendering-related add-ins here.

Via: Luke Johnson's What Revit Wants blog.

Window Studio from Andersen Windows

Window Studio is a powerful, stand-alone design support tool for installation on your Windows-based PC that generates CAD symbols and BIM support, including elevations, detail and plan symbols, with your Andersen® windows and doors.

• Create single or multiple unit designs visually, and quickly get elevation, detail or plan symbol of your design
• Plug-ins for Autodesk Revit and SketchUp are installed with Window Studio
• Generates native 3D symbols in AutoDesk Revit 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and SketchUp 8 and 7 
• Click and drag units to size and position visually on interactive workbench  
• Select and configure exterior trim on single units and combinations
• Automatic snapping, alignment and joining for easy combination design
• Specify joining materials for accurate unit spacing and joining details
• Save window and door designs in a project file for editing, report generation,  and reuse
• Generate schedules and reports for designs:
• Window and door schedule
• Unit information report
• Elevation report
• Energy report
• Product performance report
• Sustainability report
• Energy, performance and sustainability attributes included in Revit families and Google SketchUp components
• Comprehensive help content and simple online tutorials to get you going quickly
• Workbench guidelines available to align and space units in combinations and for sizing custom units

 There's more information available on the Andersen Windows website.

Credit: Luke Johnson's What Revit Wants blog.