ph-tool: The Easy Way from Revit to PHPP

ph-tool is the easy way to export Passive House information out of a Revit model into the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP).

"Entering data manually in PHPP can be quite a time consuming task when dealing with complex architectural projects. Especially when your Revit model already contains those required areas, dimensions and heights.

"This is where the ph-tool (passive house tool) comes in.

"The ph-tool is a smart and easy installable add-in to Revit. When exporting from Revit, you have to choose which data to export, eg. areas, windows- and door dimensions and wall heights. These data are now easily imported to PHPP, which saves you a lot of time entering the information manually. Additionally the error source related to manual data-entering is avoided."

This add-in may be downloaded from the ph-tool website.

Free SOFiSTiK BiMTOOLS 2014

SOFiSTiK BiMTOOLS are a set of free tools for Autodesk Revit Structure which enhances the productivity for elaborations of views up to 50%.

SOFiSTiK BiMTOOLS are available in German, English and French.

The tools contain the following functionality:

• Substitution of Font Type
• Read out of Coordinates
• Create Views of Elements
• Positioning of Elements
• Family Creator
• Automatic Dimensioning
• Selective tagging
• Hiding of categories not to be plotted
• Altitude of Openings
• Formwork area

This free add-in may be downloaded from the Autodesk Exchange Apps website (in 32 bit or 64 bit flavors).

Roombook Areabook Extension for Autodesk Revit 2014 and Autodesk Revit LT 2014

"The Roombook Areabook Extension for Autodesk® Revit® 2014*, Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2014, Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2014, Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2014, and Autodesk® Revit LT™ 2014 software helps you with the quantification of your projects:

"Roombook calculates the room-related surface area of walls, floors and ceiling elements as well as room circumferences and furnishing elements within a project for a complete material calculation of the interior finish.

"Areabook calculates living areas, unfinished areas, net floor areas as well as gross and construction floor areas of rooms and room groups for a comprehensive floor area calculation.

"In addition to the automated detection of room areas and surfaces, this extension helps users configure these elements manually to local requirements and country-specific standards, as well as achieve more accurate model take-offs. Quantified results can be exported to Microsoft® Excel® software, comma-separated CSV text files, and Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff (QTO) software.

"Release Date: 2013-06-24"

This add-in may be downloaded from the Autodesk Subscription website.

FormIt 4.0 Released

Autodesk® FormIt mobile app helps you capture building design concepts digitally anytime, anywhere ideas strike. Use real-world site information to help create forms in context and support early design decisions with real building data. Experience a continuous Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflow by synchronizing designs in the cloud for further refinement using Autodesk® Revit® software products and other applications.

What’s new in FormIt 4.0

• Create your own texture-mapped materials using the Photo Library or iPad camera
• Materials now support transparency
• Modify colors and transparency with the updated Color Picker
• Import geometry from other applications using either SAT or OBJ file formats
• Explore sun shadows using an updated user interface 
• Send an image to Photo Library or email
• Resize and apply different materials to arrows
• Delete an edge on a flat face

FormIt may be downloaded from iTunes.

Credit: David Light's Revit blog.

Pixyz: Create Surfaces from Pictures with this Add-in for Autodesk Revit

Create surfaces and topographies with Revit using pictures and drawings with the Pixyz add-in.

There's more information available on the Emanuel Favreau website.

Crowd 2.0 Add-in: Now Place Multiple Elements Randomly on Topography

"Crowd is a tool for Revit that allows the user to place multiple elements randomly in an area defined by an ajustable box. Create a forest in a few seconds, add hundreds of components like people, vehicules or other on a straight or irregular topography with this new version (trial version for Revit 2013 and 2014)."

Licenses are $20 Canadian.

There's more information on the Emanuel Favreau website.

 

Rebuild Walls 2.0 Add-in: Now Convert Curved 2D Lines to Walls

"RebuildWalls 2.0 allows the user to convert Autocad 2D lines into Revit Walls and Model Lines (trial version for Revit 2013 and 2014). It is now possible with this new version to convert curved lines from Autocad to Revit Walls and Model Lines, from single lines or doubles lines."

Licenses are $40 Canadian.

There's more information available on the Emanuel Favreau website.

Free BCF Revit Plugin: Interoperability with BIM Collaboration Format Files

BIM Collaboration Format Plugin for Autodesk Revit. Allows the import/export, creation and modification of BCF files.

Tekla Corporation and Solibri, Inc. have introduced to the buildingSMART organization an idea of using open standards to enable workflow communication between different BIM (Building Information Modeling) software tools. These firms have developed such a XML schema, called BIM Collaboration Format (BCF), to encode messages that inform a software package of issues found in the BIM model by another software tool. The implication is that only those issues and not the entire BIM need to be communicated between software and that this simple capability will enable a degree of collaboration.

This XML schema and capability have already been built into several software package including, Tekla Structures, Solibri Model Checker and DDS Architecture. BCF has also received interest from other vendors as Autodesk, Eurostep, Gehry Technologies, Kymdata, MAP, Progman, and QuickPen International.

The BIM Collaboration Format is currently a pre release, submitted to buildingSMART under the new “Affiliation Scheme” to become an official buildingSMART specification.

The free BCFRevit Plugin may be downloaded from the Matteo Cominetti website.

Naviate from CAD-Q: Norwegian Standards Built Into Autodesk Revit

The Naviate products are discipline-specific add-ons for Revit that help you quickly create accurate documentation. The Norwegian standard is built and everything is made agile for you to be able to work directly in a BIM model.

"The solutions are based on requests from our customers and consists of six main elements: Tools (programmed functions), Library (made by generic or specific content), Configuration (templates and databases), Interaction (yield of information between platforms and formats), Methods (efficiency processes) and Community (forum for handling user questions)."

There's more information available on the CAD-Q website.

Free NBS for Autodesk Revit plug-in 2.0: Integrating Specifications, Technical Guidance and National BIM Library Objects

NBS, the national standard specification company in the UK, has released their NBS Autodesk Revit plug-in 2.0 that integrates the Revit design model with the NBS specification model, technical guidance and National BIM Library objects.

I had previously blogged about the NBS Autodesk Revit plug-in 1.0 here.

Version 2.0 offers the following new features:

1. Drag-and-drop objects direct from National BIM Library
2. Synchronised design guidance
3. Automatically create an outline specification
4. Improved specification navigator
5. Improved object navigation
6. Improved association report
7. Combined IFC generation (Beta)

More information about these new features can be found on the Construction Code blog.

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

Lastly, over on Jeremy Tammik's The Building Coder blog, Stephen Hamil, director of NBS, along with Chris and Calum from the NBS software development team, give a little insight into some of the API functionality they used when developing this software.

Drag and drop generic objects directly from the National BIM Library

Synchronised design guidance

Dynamo 0.5.0 Released

To correspond with the release of Vasari Beta 3, Dynamo 0.5.0 has been released.

"This version includes a combined installer for Revit 2013, 2014, and Vasari Beta 2 and 3:  install once for all your  'Revity' products."

A comprehensive list of fixes and new features can be found here.

Dynamo 0.5.0 may be downloaded here.

Credit: Zach Kron's Buildz blog.

Vasari Beta 3 Released

Autodesk has released Vasari Beta 3. New features include Windows 8 and Revit 2014 compatibility. A full list of new features may be found here.

Vasari Beta 3 may be downloaded here.

Credit: David Light's Revit blog.

Connect to CET Designer with the RevLink Add-in for Autodesk Revit

Why you’ll love CET Designer: A single, industry-wide solution. You can accurately design and specify, create specials, render with photorealism, make movies, and generate quotes and install drawings. CET Designer is used by design, sales, marketing and customer service people at kitchen and commercial furniture dealerships.

RevLink in Revit Architecture

By downloading and using the RevLink Extension you will be able to create families and synchronize drawings back and forth between Revit and CET Designer using a TCP/IP connection. Manufacturers and dealers can use the Family exporter feature to create components from CET Designer objects that they can distribute on their webpage or directly to the architects. The architect can then use these components in Revit.

When the dealer synchronizes the drawing from Revit to CET Designer, the objects retains its intelligence. With the synchronization tool the dealer and architects can cooperate without having to use more than their own application.

RevLink is now supported in Revit Architecture 2010/12/13 and 2014.

RevLink may be downloaded from the Configura website.

Family Searching with the Revit Plug-in for Vault Professional 2014

This plug-in offers direct communication between the Revit server and Vault Server, provides family search capabilities, and enhanced linking functionality. Users are now able to display multiple family details within the load family dialog grid, filter by family types and conduct federated searches.

 The Revit Plug-in for Vault Professional 2014 may be downloaded from the Autodesk website.

There's a nice blog post from Adam Peter about configuring Revit content searching with Vault over on the Revit Clinic blog.

KCL Toolbar Add-In for Revit

Information About The KCL CADalog

The KCL CADalog offers unequaled convenience by replacing hundreds of diskettes with a single CD-ROM. The KCL CADalog contains 115,189 CAD drawings from 212 foodservice equipment manufacturers product lines. These drawings represent accurate plan, elevation, 3d and detail views of foodservice equipment models.

Revit Users

If you already have Revit 2011/2012/2013/2014 Architectural/Mechanical installed
(add-ins will not work with Revit LT) you can follow the steps below.

Quick Start Instructions

• Open your Revit project and then click the "Add-Ins" Menu
• Select the "KCL Web" button
• Click Login or Sign up
• Click the "R" button on the 2d, 3d or rfa view you wish to load into Revit

There's more information available on the KCLCAD website.

eTransmit for Autodesk Revit 2014

With eTransmit for Autodesk® Revit® 2014 software products, you can copy a Revit model and dependent files to a single folder for Internet transmission. You can transmit any model that has been upgraded to Revit Release 2012 or later and saved.

With eTransmit for Autodesk Revit, you can:

• Copy and detach a Revit model and associated files to a single folder for internet transmission. This removes the typical error messages when you copy central files using the operating system.
• Locate dependent files automatically and include them in the transmittal folder, helping to reduce the possibility of error. All dependent files are automatically converted to use relative paths so the dependent files can be located by the model.
• Choose to include related dependent files such as linked Revit models, CAD files, DWF™ markups, decal images, and external keynote files. You can transmit any Revit (.rvt) model that has been upgraded to be compatible with a Revit 2012 software product or later. 
• Choose to Upgrade the Revit (.rvt) model and linked models to the current release.
• Choose to remove unused families, materials, and other objects from the Revit projects to reduce file size.
• Transmit models that are using file-based worksharing or server-based worksharing. eTransmit for Revit can also work with non-workshared Revit models.

This add-in may be downloaded from the Autodesk Subscription website.

Free SuperFilter Add-in for Autodesk Revit from KartsUP

"SuperFilter add-on expands standard Revit filtering functionality and allows you filter elements by category, family and type . SuperFilter UI consists of panel where you may select elements grouped in dropdown lists. You may toggle selections using appropriate Checkboxes."

This free add-in may be installed from the Autodesk Exchange Apps website.

Free Cut Opening LT Add-in from Tools4Revit

FREE Autodesk Revit add-on Cut Opening LT provides a set of tools for creating and cutting openings in building constructions. Extension works with Ducts, Pipes, Cable Trays and Conduits.

Cut Opening LT easily cut holes automatically in the places where MEP ducts, pipes, cable traces or conduits intersect walls, floors or ceilings. This extension manages the creation of openings using Revit® "Interference Check" results. Compatible with Revit 2014 and 2013.

Main features:

• Cut Opening LT automatically creates openings where ducts, pipes, cable trays or conduits intersect walls, floors or ceilings;
• Adds opening offset if needed;
• User can change the type and shape of opening;
• The cut offset and shape of opening can be locked;
• Ability to change/delete existing openings if needed.

This free add-in may be installed from the Autodesk Exchange Apps website.

Free SOFiSTiK Reinforcement Detailing 2014 Add-in for Revit Structure

SOFiSTiK Reinforcement Detailing 2014 significantly accelerates the creation of 2D reinforcement sheets out of  3D models in Revit. The product consists of software and a set of families, which can easily be modified to meet local or company standards. Creation of bar lists, bending schedules and cut lists for wire meshes is included as well.

This version is a promotional software free of charge, but with full functionality. The license fee for future updates or major releases is not yet determined.

Visit our homepage to get access to the online help, tutorial videos and other resources.

Functionalities at a glance

• Automatic numbering using bending shape detection with two modes: Bar Marks per project or per sheet.
• Customizable fully automatic annotation of reinforcement elements.
• Creation of bending shape details.
• Hide individual rebars of a rebar set (especially for beams and columns).
• Hide and tag rebars in areas (especially for walls and floors).
• Creation of bending schedules for rebars and cut lists for wire meshes.
• Several utility commands for creating and manipulating reinforcement.

There's more information available on the Autodesk Exchange Apps website.

New Revit 2014 SDK Samples

Over on his The Building Coder blog, Jeremy Tammik has posted a list of new samples that have been added to the Revit 2014 SDK. From Jeremy's post...

The following samples were added:

• DisplacementElementAnimation
• DockableDialogs
• DuplicateViews
• ExtensibleStorageUtility
• FreeFormElement
• PostCommandWorkflow
• ScheduleAutomaticFormatter
• ScheduleToHTML
• SinePlotter
• Site
• Units
• WinderStairs

Another exciting addition is the Structural Analysis SDK, which includes several sub-directories providing extensive documentation and the following samples covering the new code checking API and other areas:

• Concrete
• CodeCheckingConcreteExample
• ConcreteCalculationsExample
• ExtensibleStorageDocumentation
• ExtensibleStorageUI
• ResultsInRevit
• QueryingResults
• StoringResults
• SectionPropertiesExplorer

I wish you lots of fun and excitement and many new ideas exploring all of this!

YourRibbon Add-in for Autodesk Revit

HotKey

• Assign a HotKey to a specific component
• Saves time of having to scroll through the list of components to place each one
• HotKey can place any family that you can open in the family editor

Color

• Bring color back to your working environment in Revit
• Turn color on while working in Revit and back to black when it's time to print
• Assign line styles and object styles to match your firm's standards

There's more information available on the YourRibbon website.

Extend Design Intent to Detailing with SysQue for Revit MEP

Now you can extend design intent to detailing using SysQue intelligent data content for Revit MEP 2014. SysQue managed data content, powered by Building-Data.net, enables designers and contractors to design in Autodesk® Revit® MEP with real-world, manufacturing-specific content that’s ready for fabrication, and helps meet MEP contractors’ detailing, fabrication, manufacturing, and installation requirements.

By creating a path from Revit MEP to Autodesk Fabrication 2014, contractors can take design-intent models from designers and engineers and efficiently create models that are built from the same, integrated managed content database, improving collaboration and workflows between design, detailing, fabrication.

Using SysQue, Revit MEP 2014 is enhanced to model systems with materials and sizes based on actual manufacturer products by name and part number. SysQue web services extend the Revit MEP BIM data to include material cost, labor values, submittal documents and procurement part numbers, and also includes Excel reporting – making your model data-rich and ready for a multitude of additional functions – including cost analysis, prefabrication, manufacturing and installation.

Revit MEP with SysQue services supports level of development (LOD) 300 and 400 as required to produce both construction and fabrication-level documentation.

SysQue™ Pipe enables real manufacturers‘ content to be modeled by designers and contractors in systems with construction and fabrication levels of development (LOD 300 and 400) including pipe connectivity, true cut length, fitting counts, and auto flanges. With SysQue, Revit MEP is able to support saddle taps on pipes. The associated PDF with specifications is also accessible directly in native Revit.

When you draw with SysQue Duct, you’re using industry verified* HVAC Duct Construction Standards, including Ductwork Pressure Classes, directly in Revit. SysQue also includes saddle taps and allows flat/round or round/round in one system. The associated PDF with specifications is also accessible directly in native Revit.

* TSI’s shop standards have been verified by the SMACNA Testing & Research Institute to the SMACNA/ANSI HVAC Duct Construction Standard – Metal & Flexible, 3rd edition.

Free CADtoEarth 2.0 for Autodesk Revit Released

CADtoEarth 2.0 for Autodesk Revit extending a family of add-ins that establish a bi-directional connection between CAD environments and Google Earth or Google Maps. The CADtoEarth 2.0 add-in now allows users to create personal accounts on the CADtoEarth web application and provides individual control over the visibility of uploaded data.

Here is the partial list of what you can expect from the tool:

• Import a section of surface from Google Earth into modeling session as Toposurface;
• Import a pre-drawn sketch from Google Earth or GoogleMaps into a modeling session;
• Get information about building layer from Google Earth;
• Place your 3D structure on the imported toposurface within modeling session and then upload it back to Google Earth;
• Upload your 3D structure directly from a modeling session onto Google Earth;

This free add-in may be installed from the Autodesk Exchange Apps website.

RevitRubyShell

From Jeremy Tammik's ever so useful The Building Coder blog...

"I repeatedly pointed out the power of being able to interact directly with the Revit API using Daren Thomas' RevitPythonShell, originally implemented for Revit 2010, then for Vasari, and updated for Revit 2012 and Vasari 2.1 last autumn.

"Here is another interactive interactive Revit programming environment by Håkon Clausen of Nosyko AS.

"His RevitRubyShell is based on the interpreted language Ruby programming language, which is more modern than Python and inherently object oriented.

"According to the introductory blurb on its home page, Ruby is a dynamic, open source programming language with a focus on simplicity and productivity. It has an elegant syntax that is natural to read and easy to write.

"Kean Walmsley also had a look at it in its IronRuby incarnation for use in programming AutoCAD. He presents a first overview and introduction to Ruby in his initial post on using IronRuby with AutoCAD.

"Here is the RevitRubyShell source code.

"Håkon says: I hope you will find this useful. I use it a lot for rapid prototyping and testing when programming against the Revit API.

"It sports the simplest installation I have ever seen for any Revit add-in whatsoever, the absolutely ultimate one-click RevitRubyShell installer, which should be opened IE and will install the add-in directly, setting up an external application creating its own simple single-button panel:
RevitRubyShell add-in panel

"Clicking the button launches the Revit Ruby shell including a snippet of sample code that can be immediately executed by pressing the blue 'Run' arrow button:

"Well worth looking at, and might prove a huge programming productivity booster.

"Many thanks to Håkon for developing and sharing this!"

And thank YOU for sharing this information Jeremy!

Free Multiple View Duplicator Add-in from Case (Updated)

"Have you ever wanted to duplicate a ton of views all at the same time? Are you sick of how Revit names new duplicated views with a prefix of 'Copy of...'

"Well here's your new favorite tool (the good kind)! You can set an optional prefix or suffix to your new view names as well as set the kind of duplication that you want... you can filter views to duplicate by name, family type as well as the kind of view...

"If this doesn't save you time, something is wrong... Enjoy!"

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.