Free Rhythm Package for Dynamo, with Some Keen Updates from RTC NA

"The girl's got rhythm – Rock 'n Roll rhythm!" AC/DC

How 'bout your Revit model, does it have Rhythm?

One of the really interesting things about Dynamo is its open-source nature. An active community means frequent updates. And, since Package Manager, built by Peter Boyer, was introduced in version 0.6.0, custom packages have proliferated. I've posted about a couple before, Mantis Shrimp, for Grasshopper and Dynamo interoperability, and Rhynamo, for Rhino and Dynamo interoperability. The common thread between these two is Rhino and, when I posted about these packages, Rhino got clicks. Nowadays, it's Dynamo that gets the clicks.

Clockwork is another package I've posted about previously.

As of this writing, there are 591 packages from 131 authors available from the Dynamo Package Manager. A few I've been aware of and meaning to post about. I enjoy Luke Johnson's seemingly daily posts on "what's cooking in the Bakery" over on What Revit Wants. LunchBox, and DynamoSAP are a couple others that I've read about, at least in passing, and DynaWorks, for Navisworks and Dynamo interoperability, is one that I've definitely been planning to post about.

One of the packages that was not on my radar until I saw a tweet while monitoring RTC NA post-goings-on is Rhythm by John Pierson of 60 Second Revit. In his own post-RTC NA post, John added a node to make Revit parameter getting and setting from Dynamo NOT case sensitive.

Graph for Case Insensitive

Damn but that's clever...

Teaser: CTC Adds BIM Batch Suite and Mechanical Productivity Pack (Updated)

Today Oliver Turan teased "a few new tools" and a Mechanical Productivity Pack. From the photo, it looks like a new BIM Batch Suite has joined CTC's BIM Manager Suite and BIM Project Suite. We'll get you the details as they become available.

Update 7/24/2015: Looking closer at the image, it looks like the BIM Batch Suite contains the following tools:

• Batch Exporter/Plotter
• Batch Family Loader (Free)
• Batch Upgrader

And, behind Oliver, is one of the new tools (Net)work Configurator?

We've just launched a few new tools and a new mech pro pack! Come see us @RTCNA just inside exhibit hall! @RET_BIM pic.twitter.com/fEnaopWf21

— Oliver Turan (@OliverTuran) July 23, 2015

Coming Soon: Online Analytics Portal for Unifi

Steve Germano recently teased a new online analytics portal for Unifi. We'll get you the details as they become available.

Coming to #RTCNA next week? Stop by the @DiscoverUnifi booth for a sneak peek at the new online analytics portal! pic.twitter.com/8wQfQtfcBL

— Steve Germano (@SG_MontanaBound) July 20, 2015

Unifi Gets Revit 2016 Compatibility with Release 1.6

From the Unifi website...

We are very happy to announce the release of Unifi v1.6. Highlighted in this release is the compatibility for Autodesk Revit 2016! A 2016 version of all your content is now readily available in the Unifi cloud. If your teams are inserting content into a Revit 2016 project, Unifi will automatically download and insert the 2016 version of that content.

There's more information available on the Unifi website.

CTC BIM Suites 16.0.1 Released

Just in time for RTC NA 2015, the CAD Technology Center has released new versions of their popular BIM suites. 

From the CTC website...

BIM Manager Suite 2016 Updates: 

New Feature: Batch Family Loader can now reload only the selected or all families in the currently open project or family.

New Feature: Import and Link Manager now allows saving a report to a spreadsheet file

New Feature: Import and Link Manager now breaks down the imports and links into separate lists by these filters:  All, All Links, All Imports, Revit Links and CAD Links.

BIM Project Suite 2016 Updates:

New Feature: Model compare allows filtering snapshots to include only selected types of information, which can dramatically speed up the process of taking a snapshot and can simplify the resulting report.

Enhancement: Model Compare’s engine for comparing two snapshots runs amazingly faster (about 10x faster).

New Feature: View Creator can now create and/or update sheets.

New Feature:  Schedule XL allows including only the Print Area on each sheet to be placed in the schedule view.  If no Print Area is defined, the entire sheet is used.

New Feature:  Schedule XL allows specifying whether or not Auto Update should be on when adding new worksheets to the project.

Another Major FormIt 360 Update

From the Autodesk FormIt 360 website...

Just in time for Revit Technology Conference – North America, the FormIt 360 team has yet another great update to the product! You may have also noticed that our website has gotten a face-lift. Here is a run-down of the recent changes to the app:

Graphics
First off, just take a moment to look at how beautiful FormIt 360 looks now:

Our graphics wizards have been hard at work to make FormIt 360 look great right on the screen. We now support 2X “retina” style displays on desktop machines. You can also independently control the weight of edges and silhouette edges.

Axes and Work Planes
Instead of just rotating the grid on the ground plane, you can now move and rotate the world axes to change the origin point and to create 3D work planes. The work plane will stretch out to infinity and provide a plane to sketch on without snapping or inferencing to elements behind it. The main sketch and individual groups have independent axes and coordinate systems – allowing for maximum flexibility. Here is a quick video demo:

Revizto Editor Now Free to Use! Version 3.5 Released Too

In case you missed the previous announcement, the Revizto Editor is now free to use! Cloud Collaboration becomes paid on July 30.

What is Revizto? It's used to "convert BIM and CAD models into navigable 3D
and share it for visual collaboration." It has a built-in Issue Tracker which allows you to "assign tasks and check their accomplishment, as well as generate regular reports." It also features Revision Control; "you have access to all revisions of your project synced to the Cloud right from the Editor." You have access to the model metadata too, and even the ability to edit it. All this and much, much more.

What applications does Revizto support? Revit, Navisworks, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, SketchUp and more.

And, just in time for RTC NA 2015, version 3.5 has been released.

From the Revizto website...

Version 3.5 has the following updates and improvements:

• Import Clashes from Navisworks
• Now you can import all your clashes in Revizto Issue Tracker.
• Improved Merging functionality
• We significantly improved Merging scenes feature. Now you can override federated model directly from Revit, Navisworks, etc., without having to combine the model all over again after each change.
• Improved Collaboration on 2D Sheets
• A lot of stability improvements.

Go get it at Revizto.com.

Chatter: 

@REVIZTO Love the new #Revizo and love the fact it is free now too. Even during my holiday I wanted to try it. Simple and fun.

— Robin Deurloo (@RobinDeurloo) July 23, 2015

Love to see #Revizto through our users’ eyes. Check out a brilliant review by @lukeyjohnson in 'What #Revit wants' http://t.co/oNnJy4cLL8

— REVIZTO (@REVIZTO) July 17, 2015

Screen share is another AMAZING feature of @REVIZTO #RTCNA

— Jason Rostar (@jrostar) July 24, 2015

V-Ray for Revit to be Announced at RTC NA (Updated)

This is a big one: Chaos Group purportedly will be announcing V-Ray for Revit today at the Revit Technology Conference North America in Washington DC. I'll provide the details when I have them. Mark this one as developing...

Updated  7/28/2015 to include a tweet from Jason Howden of RTV Tools.

Sometimes dreams do come true: Introducing #Vray for #Revit #sogood #RTCNA pic.twitter.com/sr5LbZ0860

— Jason Howden (@RTVTools) July 25, 2015

Credit:

#rtcna kicking off ... Still so excited about @ChaosGroup announcing VRay for Revit. Can't wait to see it in action. pic.twitter.com/25l5tftPzR

— Jeffrey A. Pinheiro (@TheRevitKid) July 23, 2015

Milestone: 1,000,000 Pageviews!

Revit Add-ons surpassed 1 million pageviews today. That's quite a ways from the modest 5,000 or so pageviews that the site received in its inaugural year.

It took about 4-1/2 years for Revit Add-ons to reach this milestone, the last 500,000 pageviews coming over just the past 18 months.

Thank you readers for making this site a bigger success than I ever expected!

And a special thank you to our advertisers for helping make Revit Add-ons a going concern:

3Dconnexion
Designers of powerful, ergonomic hardware and smart, easy-to-use software that combine to make working in design applications fast, comfortable and fun

ArchVision
Authors of image-based content creation, management and delivery solutions

CAD Technology Center
Authors of the popular Revit Express Tools

Ideate Software
Authors of popular products like Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer

INVIEWlabs
Authors of the popular Unifi content management solution

RevitWorks
Authors of the popular Door Factory product

RTVTools
Authors of popular products like Xporter PRO

Xrev
Authors of popular products like Xrev Transmit


Also thanks to our former advertisers: 3DA Systems, CGS Plus, Content|Studio, IMAGINiT, Kiwi Codes Solutions, Revizto, Revolution Design, and YourRibbon.

(Speaking of advertising, check out our summer sale and save 20% for a limited time!)

One of the things I enjoy most about the site is the international nature of our readership, with, in addition to North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia being well represented...

Other stats:
Total posts: 868
Posts featuring free add-ins: 357
Blogger followers: 29
Facebook followers: 91
Twitter followers: 66
Top post: Revit Extensions for Autodesk Revit 2014 (35,198 pageviews)

Thanks a million folks!

Announcing AutoCAD Add-ons!

I'm pleased to announce the launch of AutoCAD Add-ons, wherein we'll cover all manner of plugins for Autodesk's flagship CAD product.

AutoCAD Add-ons joins Revit Add-ons and Civil 3D Add-ons to round out our coverage of add-in applications for Autodesk's popular A/E/C products.

I hope that you'll join me on AutoCAD Add-ons for coverage of applications that extend Autodesk's flagship CAD product.

It will take quite some time for me to whip AutoCAD Add-ons into a comprehensive resource, but I hope that you'll be patient while I attempt to do so.

The URL for AutoCAD Add-ons is:  http://www.dwgaddons.com/.

Thanks to my colleague Van Woods for the suggestion that led to the creation of AutoCAD Add-ons!

Roundup – New and Updated Revit Add-ins on Autodesk Exchange Apps for the Week of 7/12/2015

It was a moderately busy week of Revit add-ins on Autodesk Exchange Apps. Three new add-ins dropped, including Unity, a free add-in to connect Revit with the Unity game development platform.

Eight add-ins were updated, including Autodesk updating the Lighting Analysis add-in for Revit 2016.

NEW

Vabi Daylight Ratio Evaluator
Vabi Daylight Ratio Evaluator™ automates daylight requirement checking for building rooms via status checks of daylight area ratios within your BIM model | Trial

CADforum BIM-Families
CADforum BIM Families is a tool for convenient access to the online BIM block catalog at CADforum.cz. Directly insert any of the thousands free families | USD 10.00

Unity for Autodesk® Revit®
"Unity for Autodesk® Revit®" is an add-in to connect Revit and Unity gaming development platform | Free



UPDATED

Enscape™
Enscape™ – Realtime 3D rendered walkthrough for your projects in Autodesk Revit. It enables you to show and communicate designs in your team or to your customers effortlessly | Trial

Lighting Analysis
Lighting Analysis for Autodesk® Revit® is a fast cloud service that uses Autodesk® 360 Rendering to expose electric and solar lighting results directly on the Revit model | Free

ReviTea Select Tools
ReviTea Select Tools includes a set of tools that can help you browse, select and filter Autodesk® Revit® elements efficiently | Free

Vabi Financial Simulator
Vabi Financial Simulator™ App enables Return on Investment (ROI) calculations, monitors the financial impact of design decisions and supervises achievement of owner and developer financial goals | Trial

SupportAndHanger
Support And Hanger tool provides you a quick and easy way to layout supports and hangers. It applies to all MEP curves including pipe, duct, cable tray and conduit | Trial

CADforum BIM-Families Add-in

From the Autodesk Exchange Apps website...

CADforum BIM Families is a tool for convenient access to the online BIM block catalog at www.CADforum.cz. Directly insert any of the thousands free RFA families. Managed downloaded families for local reuse. A similar tool is also available for DWG and Autodesk® AutoCAD®.

The CADforum BIM-Families add-in is brought to you by CAD Studio and is priced at 10.00 USD.

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

Vabi Daylight Ratio Evaluator

From the Autodesk Exchange Apps website...

Vabi Daylight Ratio Evaluator™, working as a plugin within Autodesk® Revit®, automates daylight area ratio checking of your BIM model. As a result optimal design decisions can be made regarding floor areas, glazing, glass area, windows, lighting, comfort, brightness, darkness – better working and living spaces are produced. It is especially relevant to architectural designers and building engineers but also useful to all the design team.

The Daylight Ratio Evaluator™ App:

• Scans the BIM model and reports daylight ratio compliance against required minimums
• Accepts input of required minimum daylight area ratio per room area
• Uses floor areas of rooms and glass areas of windows, doors, and curtain walls.
• Synchronizes with Revit units of measurement.
• Automatically adds and saves the daylight area ratio values per room in the Autodesk Revit® model.
• Displays your daylight ratio results
• Creates a Daylight Performance Indicator in the Vabi Building Performance Dashboard.

Vabi Daylight Ratio Evaluator™ takes Revit to a new higher performance automation level to deliver more of the promise of BIM by providing automated daylight checking and decision support for your integrated BIM design approach. It is available to Revit users in a modern SaaS (Software as a Service) model under annual or monthly subscription.

Free Unity Add-in – First Person Shooter Game-Like Experience for Revit

From the Autodesk Exchange Apps website...

"Unity for Autodesk® Revit®" is an add-in to connect Revit and Unity gaming development platform.

The add-in supports export of 3D model geometry from Revit to Unity gaming development platform allowing users to have first person 3D shooter game like experience while using Revit created model as the 3D environment.

The main features of the add-in are the following:

• Export of 3D model geometry with materials and textures from Revit to "Unity for Revit".
• Manipulation of the resulting 3D model in a similar fashion to a 3D first-person shooter game.
• Generation of the standalone executable package to view the exported Revit model in a three-dimensional representation that does not require neither Revit nor Unity installations.

"Unity for Revit" supports Autodesk® Revit® 2016, Autodesk® Revit® 2015 and Autodesk® Revit® 2014.

Autodesk Exchange Apps Store Surpasses 1 Million Downloads

Autodesk Exchange Apps recently marked its 1 millionth download. Congratulations to the Exchange Apps team! Congratulations also to all the developers who have distributed their add-ins through the site!

You can read all about the accomplishment on Autodesk's In the Fold blog.

Roundup – New and Updated Revit Add-ins on Autodesk Exchange Apps for the Week of 7/5/2015

It was another busy week for Revit add-ins on Autodesk Exchange Apps. 16 apps were updated and a new free one debuted, the External Access Links Manager.

Notable updates include Enscape, the Editor's Choice award-winning real time 3D rendered walkthrough app, updates to the popular Ideate BIMLink and Xrev Transmit add-ins, and the replacements from Autodesk for the built-in IFC import and export capabilities in Revit 2016 and 2015.

NEW

External Access Links Manager
Interrogate and Manage Links in a Autodesk® Revit® project without having to open it | Free



UPDATED

Enscape™
Enscape™ – Realtime 3D rendered walkthrough for your projects in Autodesk Revit. It enables you to show and communicate designs in your team or to your customers effortlessly | Trial

Family Manager Basic 2016
This tool helps to directly load families from one Autodesk® Revit® project to another and to easily save families from a Revit project as ‘rfa’ files in a local PC path | USD 2.99

SupportAndHanger
Support And Hanger tool provides you a quick and easy way to layout supports and hangers. It applies to all MEP curves including pipe, duct, cable tray and conduit | Trial

Ideate BIMLink 2016 - Trial
Ideate BIMLink lets you pull data from an Autodesk® Revit® file into user-friendly Microsoft Excel and push Excel data into Revit with equal ease | Trial

LazJS
Assign JavaScript formula to parameter and use JavaScript as a simple scripting tool | Trial