Free Webinar Jun 29 – Assemble 2D SmartSheets and New Viewer

From the Assemble Systems website:

Assemble 2D SmartSheets™ & New Viewer

The Hits (from customer requests) Keep Coming!

Thursday, June 29th @ 1pm CT

ASSEMBLE WEBINAR!

It was only last month that we delivered support for Revit Parts, PCL PartsLab, curtain walls and other system families in Assemble. We couldn’t just stop there…This month we are introducing Assemble 2D SmartSheets™ that are dynamically connected with the components in the 3D model as well as the Assemble inventory. And that’s not all, the latest release of Assemble Insight™ also includes a New Viewer that allows you to cut sections and explore the model with improved performance.

Join us for a quick 20 minutes session to see all that’s new this month!

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There's more information available on the Assemble Systems website.

Flipbook – Create Animations with Key Frames

From the Autodesk App Store:

Create animations with Flipbook for Autodesk® Revit®. Control movement of objects and cameras dynamically in a Revit project with the use of keyframes.

• Dynamic and easy to use interface - Modeless dialogue box.
• Visualize object movements directly in a Revit project.
• Animation of multiple object locations, length and angle parameters with the use of keyframes.
• Animation of multiple cameras and section boxes with the use of keyframes.
• Move keyframes, control parameter values and velocities.
• Animate an object along a Model Line.
• Animate Object color.
• Paste frames from one object to another.
• Save Animated gifs.
• Send Flipbook animations to Maxwell Render engine version 3.2.56.
• Export some animations to Autodesk® 3ds Max®.

Free Webinar Jul 5 – BIM 360 Team Overview

From the registration website:

BIM 360 Team overview

Wed, Jul 5, 2017 4:30 AM - 5:30 AM PDT

BIM 360 Team

Find, Share, View & Review - Anywhere! Collaborate in the Cloud with BIM 360 products.
Paul Hewitt, Senior Application Specialist, guides you through some of the choice features of BIM 360 Team.

Purpose-built for the needs of architects, engineers and their project stakeholders, BIM 360 Team gives design teams a central location to communicate, view, mark-up and review  2D and 3D project design files from anywhere—simply using a web browser to a mobile device. By giving project access to all team members who need it, design teams are able to gain consensus faster, make decisions together and build stakeholder engagement using BIM 360 Team.

Paul will also be showing the benefits of Collaboration for Revit in conjunction with BIM 360 Team.

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There's more information available on the registration website.

Initial Levels and Grids

From the Autodesk App Store:

Initial Levels and Grids  helps you to define the levels and grids that will be used in the project. For grids, allows you to create the orthogonal grid frame defining a different X and Y distance. For levels, it keeps the elevation of the first level in the project, allows you to choose a total number of levels and a standard space between them. You can choose to create the plan and ceiling views along with the levels. Grids can only be created in plan and 3D views, Levels can be created in sections, elevations or 3D views. You can choose to create only grids, only levels, or both at the same time (only on 3D).

This application is designed to be used in new projects, if the file already have several levels the application will give you an alert about posible information loss and element disasociation. There is no problem with creating grids in files with previous grid information, the application will skip the existent grid names.

Free Webinar Jun 29 – Connecting Project Teams with Collaboration for Revit

From the CADD Microsystems website:

Connecting Project Teams with Collaboration for Revit Webinar 

Event Details
Date: June 29, 2017 - 1:00pm EDT
Location: Online
Cost: Free

Register

Building projects are never simple. There are numerous stakeholders, different teams delivering on different schedules, working on multiple models, with each model progressing independently within each firm’s network. Join us as we show you how building project teams can connect with centralized access to BIM project data making it easier to access all project data – anytime, anywhere. Learn how to:

• Enable project team members in all disciplines, from multiple firms, or sites to concurrently author a model using the BIM process.
• Connect team members with direct, real-time chat within project models to free teams from traditional, limited tools, such email and phone.
• Access Autodesk A360 Collaboration for Revit with a centralized cloud-based workspace, and improve efficiency on projects. 

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There's more information available on the CADD Microsystems website.

Free Webinar Jun 29 – Capturing Current Conditions with ReCAP Pro and Creating Point Cloud Models

From the CADD Microsystems website:

Capturing Current Conditions and Creating Point Cloud Models Webinar 

Event Details
Date: June 29, 2017 - 2:30pm EDT
Location: Online
Cost: Free

Register

Renovations of an older building or project can be tedious. Months can be spent simply looking for the old documentation, plans, files, and inspection of the site. Reworking of offices, relocation of key components and equipment, material changes, and code updates are just examples of the many things that could have taken place during the buildings lifecycle. This is where the use of Reality Capture comes into place. Reality Capture allows a team to capture current conditions of a site and build an accurate point cloud model based on the observed and captured data. Autodesk ReCap Pro is software designed to process point cloud data files for use and register these files to process a better point cloud data file. The point cloud data file can then be used in other pieces of software for design and production purposes.

The Week that was in Revit and Navisworks Add-ons for June 19-25, 2017

Here on Revit Add-ons, we published eighteen posts during the week of June 19, 2017. See below for details.

New

From the Autodesk App Store, for Revit, we posted about Face Painter, a substitute for the Paint tool that works on systems families, Hanger Generator, for creating hangers for MEP objects, the free Quick Commands Search, an autocomplete for key-in commands, and the free R AutoSave, an auto-save utility for Revit.

From around the Internet, we posted for the first time about Assemble Insight, a cloud-based data-management and collaboration platform that includes rapid model-based takeoffs and visual variance reporting.

Roundup – For June 19-25, 2017, New and Updated Revit and Navisworks Add-ins on the Autodesk App Store

The week of June 19, 2017 was a moderately busy one on the Autodesk App Store for Revit and Navisworks add-ins.

For new add-ins for Revit, Face Painter is a substitute for the Paint tool that works with systems families, and Hanger Generator is for generating hangers for MEP objects.

For updates, BIM Track, for use with both Revit and Navisworks, received a relatively significant update, as did the Revit add-in External Access Links Manager.

Revit

New

Face Painter
Allows you to "Paint" or "Remove Paint" on several elements at the same time | USD 5.00
☆☆☆☆☆ (0 reviews)
About This Version: Version 1.0.0, 6/20/2017 – Initial version.

Hanger Generator
Generate hangers for MEP linear elements | USD 20.00
☆☆☆☆☆ (0 reviews)
About This Version: Version 1.0.0, 6/20/2017 – Initial version

Free Quick Commands Search – Autocomplete for Key-in Commands

From the Autodesk App Store:

Quick Commands Search for Autodesk® Revit® is a plugin which enables users to find and run commands by typing the command name in an autocomplete box. The plugin is designed to help Autodesk® AutoCAD® users make an easier transition into Revit as well as for existing user looking to increase their work efficiency. This plugin is a must have tool for all Revit users and AutoCAD lovers.

• When installed in Revit, Click F2 to open the box
• Quickly finds and executes any Revit command.
• Smoother transition between AutoCAD to Revit.
• Efficiency increasing plugin - Saves an average of 7 seconds (!!) per command.

Face Painter – Paint Tool for Systems Families

From the Autodesk App Store:

Use this application whenever you need to use the “Paint” tool on several system elements. The system elements are the ones that cannot be saved as external families, such as: floors, ceilings, walls and roofs. You can filter the faces by orientation, such as: vertical, horizontal and diagonal. You can use any material element in the current project. You can also Remove Paint of elements by the same filters. While you are in the settings window, the application will update the amount of element selected and faces to paint.

Screenshot of the interface

Free R AutoSave – Auto-Save for Revit

From the Autodesk App Store:

Every Autodesk® Revit® user has been faced with a situation of emergency shutdown and loss of data at some point. No one wants to lose time and work done. This inspired us to create the "R AutoSave" application - auto-save for Revit!

The main task of R AutoSave is to minimize the loss of data. You just need to install R AutoSave, set the auto-save interval and that's it!

Examples of use.
Normal work.
For example, you specify an interval of auto-saving of 5 minutes. This means that R AutoSave will automatically save your project every 5 minutes (completely without your participation).
You can still make a "manual" file saving (the "Save" button) when you need it.
The backup files created during the "manual" saving (files like "Project Name.001.rvt") will be stored by default in the "Backup" folder in the project directory.

WhiteFeet Tools for Revit 2018

Mario Guttman has announced the updated release of his WhiteFeet Tools for Revit 2018. (Sorry we don't have more information on this update for you.)

#Revit users: New #WhiteFeetTools for Revit at https://t.co/qJqbTZh2en supports Revit 2018.

— Mario Guttman (@MarioGuttman) June 13, 2017

Assemble Insight – Includes Rapid Model-Based Takeoffs and Visual Variance Reporting

From the Assemble Systems website:

The Industry’s Most Advanced Model Data Management Solution 

Assemble Insight is a cloud-based data management solution for AEC professionals that unlocks the power of BIM to create intelligent building information for use across the entire project lifecycle.

PUBLISH

Assemble extracts model information from authoring tools and sends it to the cloud so your team can access and use BIM data in a web browser. Publish models in minutes, using the Assemble Add-in for AutoCad or Revit, to quickly visualize the model, it’s quantities and other mission critical information without being a BIM expert.

Scan to BIM 2018

From the IMAGINiT Technologies website:

Scan to BIM 2018 is Here

The Scan to BIM™ add-on for Autodesk Revit enables you to create and validate a model from a point cloud with automated recognition and placement of architectural elements such as walls and columns, as well as MEP elements such as pipes, ducts, conduits and more.

We're pleased to announce the latest release of IMAGINiT's Scan to BIM solution, Scan to BIM 2018.

Our latest release features the ability to send a subset of your point cloud to another user, lets you quickly jump between stored section box definitions of the 3D view, and offers enhanced orthographic adjustment tools as well as support for working in perspective views..

Free Webinar Jun 28 – Revizto 4.4 "The Rocket Fuel for Coordination"

From the registration website:

Revizto 4.4 the rocket fuel for coordination

Wed, Jun 28, 2017 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT

In this global webinar we will run through the new features in Revizto 4.4 and the workflow strategy behind them.  This new version 4.4 is all about coordination, how can we better assign, communicate and resolve clashes. We will walk through this improved process. The ability to coordinate different trades by file type, category, level or phase is now just one click away.

You will also learn  how to isolate or color code different aspects of the model and how this ties into the Issue Tracker.

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There's more information available on the registration website.

Review of the Free Tools in the CTC BIM Batch Suite

Over on his BIM Chapters blog, Dan Stine has published a review of the free tools in the CTC BIM Batch Suite add-in. Read the review here.

Nice job Dan!

AGACAD's Summer Special: Until Jul 31, Buy Smart Details and get Smart Browser & BIM Tree Manager Free

From the AGACAD website:

AGACAD‘s Summer Special!

June 20, 2017 by Gitana Černiauskienė

As summer gets underway, we have a unique 3-for-1 offer. From now through July 31, when you purchase Smart Details, you’ll get BIM Tree Manager and Smart Browser Manager for FREE for 1 year!

Furthermore, by purchasing Smart Details, you get three pieces of software that can be used by two people simultaneously.

Get Your Free Content Library Audit

From the UNIFI website:

Get Your Free Library Audit

Make informed decisions to get the most from your investment in BIM content.

How valuable would a complete view of your BIM content libraries along with the ability to drill down deep into specific areas be to assessing the quality of your firm’s existing content?  UNIFI Insights provides you with a comprehensive dashboard enabling you to visualize your entire library at scale and receive in-depth reports that outline specific details about parameters, CAD files and the overall health of your library, along with highlighting areas for improvement.

Take advantage of a FREE library audit now – we’ll review one of your libraries and then go over the results with you in a brief consultation.  

Free Webinar Jun 27 – What’s New with Collaboration for Revit & BIM 360

From the Microsol Resources website:

What’s new with Collaboration for Revit & BIM 360?

June 27, 2017 11:00 AM EDT - 12:00 PM EDT

COLLABORATE & ACCESS PROJECT DATA USING COLLABORATION FOR REVIT & BIM 360

How do you collaborate and access project data throughout the building construction lifecycle? Join this free webinar to learn how Collaboration for Revit and the BIM 360 Team service from Autodesk can empower a project team to collaborate, those in the field to better anticipate and act, and those in the back office to optimize and manage all aspects of construction performance.

Free External Access Links Manager Version 3.0 – Now Includes Batch Tool

From the Autodesk App Store:

About This Version

Version 3.0.0, 6/20/2017

• Updated to work with Autodesk® Revit® 2018
• Batch Tool Added (Process All Revit® Projects in a Folder)
• Check All / None Checkboxes Added for Loading / Unloading Links

Description

The 'External Access Links Manager' addin enables Revit users to view the links in Autodesk® Revit® project files without having to open them.

Once a Revit project file is selected, the 'External Access Links Manager' interface populates with data about the links in that project. Actions can then be performed on those links including repathing and setting the links to be loaded or unloaded the next time the project is opened. The user can also generate TXT reports which will list out information about every link associated with that Revit project file.

Batch Tool Interface (Annotated)

Hanger Generator

From the Autodesk App Store:

With Hanger Generator, you can create hangers on linear MEP elements, such as pipe, duct and Cable tray. You can define on which structural elements you want the hangers to hang, it can be on an element on the project or on an Autodesk® Revit® link. If there is nothing to hang, they will be created anyway, but with a uniform height. You can personalize things such as: Layout rules, measures, position offset, levels, on which elements they hang and internal parts.

Screenshot of the interface

BIM Track Version 1.11 for Navisworks and Revit

From the Autodesk App Store:

About This Version

Version 1.11, 6/20/2017

This release aims at vastly improving the 3D viewer’s performance. By introducing new technologies such as progressive rendering and frustum culling, we have pushed the limits of our viewer to an higher level. A variety of changes were also introduced to increase the user experience in general. See below for a full list of changes.

New Features:

• Progressive rendering was added to the 3D viewer. This should vastly increase the viewer’s performance on complexes models. Please note that it’s possible to increase/decrease the progressive rendering strength in the option menu. When needed, the viewer will hide some elements in the model to allow a smoother navigation on complexes models and these elements will reappear progressively depending on your rendering priorities preferences as soon as the navigation stops.
• An option menu was added for the progressive rendering where it’s possible to specify your own rendering order preferences. If you are currently reviewing HVAC issues, moving the HVAC to the top in the rendering priority will ensure that HVAC elements are displayed first.
• An option called ‘Frustum culling’ was added to the 3D viewer. This option aims to improve the 3D viewer performance on large scale projects. When enabled, every element that lies outside of the viewing area will not be systematically rendered.
• The ‘Fullscsreen’ option within the 3D viewer will now act as a real fullscreen instead of simply collapsing the left hand-side panel.
• It is now possible to upload and display multiple models that use different unit systems.
• To enlarge the viewing area, the left-hand panel will now collapse automatically upon entering the 3D viewer.
• Improved error handling in the 3D viewer. The viewer will also try to recover its previous state when the browser runs out of available resources in an attempt to prevent crashes and a ‘loss of context’ from occurring.
• Other small various changes were made to the 3D viewer to improve the user experience in general.
• It is now possible to save a section plane with an issue in Navisworks 2017 & 2018. Interoperability for this feature is somewhat limited due to API limitations for Revit and pre-2017 versions of Navisworks.
• Images contained in the comments of an issue are now displayed in the report.

Free Webinar Jun 26: RPC Creator Tool How-To

From the registration website:

ArchVision How-To: RPC Creator Tool

Mon, Jun 26, 2017 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PDT

Join us for "ArchVision How-To: RPC Creator Tool"

Live Q&A will take place after the presentation.

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There's more information available on the registration website.

New Wombat Package for Dynamo

From the Dynamo website:

Announcing Wombat for Dynamo by Woods Bagot 

Woods Bagot is excited to announce their new public package "Wombat" for Dynamo.

Wombat expands the range of operations available when scripting Revit. It opens up new ways of creating and querying Revit elements like walls, columns, roofs, and curtain wall systems, and provides handy utilities for managing data.​

Enjoy!

The Week that was in Revit and Navisworks Add-ons for June 12-18, 2017

During the week of June 12, 2017, here on Revit Add-ons, we published 24 posts.

New

From the Autodesk App Store, Boomerang is for driving element properties from Excel, Concrete Zone Quantity is for quick concrete volume quantities by zone, CopyFamilySharedParam is self-explanatory, Copy Sheets is for copying sheets with viewports, and the free Mosa Converter is for converting signature tile surfaces created with the Mosa Pattern Generator for Revit.

From around the Internet, CS ArtisanRV is web-integrated landscape BIM software for Revit, Family + Detail Warehouse (F+DW) is a stock library of native-built non-manufacturer-specific Revit families, components and details, Helix is for converting Sketchup models to Revit, the free Mosa Pattern Generator is for making endless tile wall and floor patterns, and PointSense for Revit is for converting laser scans to BIM models.

Roundup – For June 12-18, 2017, New and Updated Revit and Navisworks Add-ins on the Autodesk App Store (Updated)

The week of June 12, 2017 was a busy one for Revit add-ins on the Autodesk App Store. Seven(ish) new add-ins were published, and another fifteen were updated.

For new add-ins, Concrete Zone Quantity is for quick concrete volume quantities by zone, Copy Sheets is for copying sheets with viewports, CopyFamilySharedParam is self-explanatory, the Mosa Converter is for converting signature tile surfaces created with the Mosa Pattern Generator for Revit, the free Quick Commands Search is auto-fill for key-in commands, and the free R AutoSave is an auto-save utility for Revit.

Boomerang, which we've known about for a couple years, also made it's debut on the App Store.

Of the updated add-ins, A400 Licenses Monitor, BOM to Excel, and LightUp received relatively significant refreshes.

New

R AutoSave
Autosave for Autodesk® Revit®. Just specify the autosave interval and work as usual. In case of an unexpected termination, you will not lose data! | Free
☆☆☆☆☆ (0 reviews)
About This Version: Version 1.4.0, 6/16/2017 – Original release

Quick Commands Search
Execute Autodesk® Revit® commands by typing the command's name. Similar to Autodesk® AutoCAD® Command Line | Free
★★★★★ (2 reviews)
About This Version: Version 1.1.0, 6/16/2017 – Usability Improvments.

Free A400 Licenses Monitor for Revit and Navisworks Version 1.0.1

From the Autodesk App Store:

About This Version

Version 1.0.1.0, 6/13/2017

• The server now also saves the log path to the .config file (previously this was saved to the machine registry). If updating from previous versions, the first time running the client please set the log file again in Server > Settings even if it shows the correct path to force it to write the path to the .config file.
• The log parser compatibility was been improved (log file syntax may vary with FLEXnet version).
• The log monitor now auto starts if the service was forced to restart while the monitor was running (useful to servers installed in pcs with scheduled reboots).
• The client only shows the server's activity log’s last 100 lines. This should avoid a reported error where the text was to long and retrieving the info should be substantially faster. You can check the full activity log by opening the file in the server's computer.

Description

This application consists of a client that provides a graphical interface to consult network license usage and a server that monitors the network license server log and records license utilization.

CopyFamilySharedParam

From the Autodesk App Store:

Do you regularly utilize Autodesk® Revit® families but find you need to add your own office standard shared parameters? On the other hand, do you simply need to copy multiple shared parameters from one family to another? If so, this solution will save you hours of work and turn the mundane into a pleasure.

This application allows you to copy multiple shared parameters from one Family to another with as few as two mouse clicks.

You also can amend the binding Type/Instance as well as the group the shared parameters are displayed under.

PointSense for Revit – From Laser Scans to BIM Models

From the FARO website:

PointSense for Revit® 

Fast and precise BIM modelling from point clouds inside Revit®

From Laser Scans to Revit® Models

You work with Autodesk Revit® and use a 3D laser scanner for fast data acquisition? In Revit® you miss the functionality of being able to process 3D laser scan data? You are looking for a quick and simple workflow that doesn‘t require any training?

The solution is PointSense for Revit® !

• Tools for automatically fitting and aligning walls
• Create directly in the point cloud using 3D construction aids and real 3D point snap
• Fit Revit® work planes in the point cloud
• Calculate from ortho images directly in the Revit® project
• Process scan data in the Revit® families editor
• Simple and intuitive navigation in the photo like scan view

CS ArtisanRV – Cloud-Based BIM for Landscape

From the CS Design Software website:

CS ArtisanRV

The first Cloud-based software solution to enable landscape Revit® integration

BIM for landscape

CS ArtisanRV: The FIRST web-integrated landscape BIM software for Revit®

Launched in 2015, CS ArtisanRV enables the landscape professional to fully embrace Building Information Modelling, offering specialist BIM for landscape tools to collaborate with the industry leading Revit® solution.

Helix – Convert Sketchup To Revit

From the EvolveLAB website:

Convert Sketchup To Revit

We are excited to introduce to you Helix, the first Sketchup To Revit tool that converts Sketchup faces and components to Revit walls, doors, windows, roofs, and curtainwalls without the use of dynamo.  The components are fully schedulable and use your template and your content.  Simply map your sketchup file using the Helix interface, and send your geometry over to Revit as real Revit information.

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Helix is brought to you by EvolveLAB. It's priced from US $1,500.00 to US $2,500.00.

There's more information available on the EvolveLAB website.

Free Mosa Converter – Import from the Mosa Pattern Generator

From the Autodesk App Store:

Make your contemporary interior design more realistic and easier to create with the Mosa Pattern Generator. The Mosa Pattern Generator allows you to make endless combinations with new and existing wall and floor patterns. You are free to choose from all available formats, grids, textures, and colors. The patterns can be fully integrated into standard design and construction software packages. Your sketch is instantly transformed into a feasible and personalized design.

Whether your design is complex or simple, geometric or rhythmic, or demure or bold: whatever the room calls for, you can adjust and compare patterns and even adjust tiles individually. The designs can be easily exported to SketchUp, Autodesk® AutoCAD®, Autodesk® Revit®, and other BIM and CAD software. This makes it even easier to present your ideas in an attractive and appealing way.

The Mosa Pattern Generator precisely calculates the amount, format, and percentages of the required tiles. It also generates a working plan with instructions for the tiler. Moreover, it combines the latest modern web-based techniques, allowing you to work in real-time. A floor or wall can be drawn into a photograph and includes that realistic gloss.

The Mosa Converter lets you import the information from the Mosa Pattern Generator directly into your Revit model. All dimensional, visual, and technical data is imported at once and with a few steps your tile surface is set up and you are ready to create floors and walls into your model. All basic information is included in the system family, and all other information is available via the link in the system parameters.

Free Mosa Pattern Generator – Make Endless Tile Wall and Floor Patterns

From the Mosa website:

Creative freedom

Make your contemporary interior design more realistic and easier to create with the Mosa Pattern Generator. The Pattern Generator allows you to make endless combinations with new and existing wall and floor patterns. You are free to choose from all available formats, grids, textures, and colours. The patterns can be fully integrated into standard design and construction software packages. Your sketch is instantly transformed into a feasible and personalized design.