Rushforth Tools for Revit

Rushforth Tools for Revit: Tools List

A collection of time-saving tools that have saved hundreds of users thousands of hours by automating tasks and simplifying workflows. Below are some of the included tools:

PARAMETER TRANSFORMER

The Parameter Transformer is the tool that generates more comments and praise by users than any other tool in the collection. The fascinating thing is that I have people constantly showing me ways they are using the tool that I had not even thought of.

User quotes:
 
“It comes with a bunch of other stuff, but as a customer I would pay $200 just for the excel link. Your tool is going to take a process that currently takes 4 days worth of a professional’s time and reduce it to less than 4 hours.” -Aryn Bergman, Facebook

"This tool has raised you to super-hero status around here!" -Bryce Wilson, Student, Northeastern University

“First, it’s a filtering tool that’s much more powerful than Revit’s, which is limited to just category. This allows you go 'grab' any objects and modify any parameter within those objects. Second, when modifying parameters, you can point it to an Excel file. Think of it like VLookup for Revit: It looks up a value in one column and returns a value in the same row of another column. It could be hugely beneficial to your work flow. I use it extensively for doing loads, passing information freely back and forth between Revit and Excel. Check it out, post haste!” -Phil Cunningham, Glumac International

Features include:

• Filter elements based on parameter values
• Set parameters of multiple elements of multiple families at the same time
• Find/replace values in parameters
• Auto number parameter values
• Automate creation of project shared parameters Use Excel to display and set element data including properties such as rotation, location, and element type

PROJECT FOLDER

Quickly open a windows explorer window in the central file location.

Image-O-Matic - Animate Models Via Parameters and Phases

Harry Mattison recently entered the world of Revit API blogging with his excellent Boost Your BIM blog. Harry currently has a single product available on the blog, Image-O-Matic...

"Do you want to animate your Revit model? Instead of a tedious process of manually changing parameters and exporting images, you can use Image-O-Matic to automatically create dozens, hundreds, or thousands of images to show phases or a range of parameter values. Use these images to easily review your design, create slideshows, consider alternatives, or merge them into a video file."

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

3D PDF for Revit from tetra4D

For Architecture, Structure and MEP 2012/2013.

3D PDF for Revit allows easy sharing and archiving of Autodesk® Revit® design and construction data with anyone, anywhere.  All they need is the free Adobe® Reader. Easily create and share interactive 3D documents enabling everyone from clients, to sub-contractors, building owners, and beyond, to participate in the building information modeling process (BIM). Share design information without putting your source model at risk or requiring recipients to download unfamiliar viewer applications. The free Adobe Reader is installed on 98% of desktops worldwide so it's easy to share all design data in the universal 3D PDF format. With up to 97% smaller files than the original 3D model, you can easily conduct design reviews electronically.

tetra4D is THE Source for 3D PDF Technology. As the exclusive provider of 3D technology for Adobe® Acrobat®, tetra4D provides customers best in class solutions to combine the value 3D CAD data with all the benefits of PDF document management and data archiving. Let tetra4D and its global partners help you configure a 3D PDF based solution specific to your unique business processes.

There's more information available on the Tetra4D website.

YeahSo SupportAndHanger

"YeahSo SupportAndHanger 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.  It has following features:

1. Support all MEP curves (Pipe/Duct/Cable Tray/Conduit)
2. Manual layout support or hanger
3. Delete support and hanger on selected MEP curves
4. Split MEP curves for a fixed length
5. Support to use customized support or hanger
6. Automatically layout support or hanger
7. Support two methods of auto layout
8. Support position update when host curve moves
9. Support elevation update when host elevation changes
10. Support geometry update when host size changes

"The first five functions are free, and the last five need to purchase a license. However they are all available during the trial period which is 30 days after you install."

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

3DPDF Converter for Revit® LTV

"3D PDF Converter for Revit® LTV is an integrated software working within the Revit® environment that enables users to publish rich, interactive, 3D PDF files that are significantly smaller than the original Revit® 3D models. The software uses the 3DA Technology as a one button file conversion that is easily exchangeable and viewed with the free Adobe Reader. ( The converter does not require Adobe XI Pro to create 3D PDF’s)

"The 3D PDF Converter for Revit® LT Visualization connects the extensive Building Information Modeling (BIM) community for the first time with a Revit plug-in that supports data sharing using 3D PDF based on the PRC file format. The software uses the same native 3D technology used by Adobe to create and consume 3D PDF files, ensuring that data generated from Revit design has guaranteed compatibility to Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader. The result is accurate, data-rich 3D models that are up to 97% smaller than the original Revit file."

There's a 15-day free trial of this add-in available on the Autodesk Exchange | Apps website.

Wiip Numbering

"Allows you to renumber rooms, doors, columns, text notes and all objects that can be numbered.

"All numbering system are supported: numeric, alphabetic, roman numerals, with a prefix and / or suffix. You can specify the starting value, the increment value and you can put zeros or spaces to the left of your number for easy sorting.

"An exclusive system allows you to include the row and / or the column number if the objects are arranged in rectangular arrays. No need to select each item one by one. Select a set of objects, a direction and the program renumbers automatically all elements."

There's more information available on the Autodesk Exchange | Apps website for the trial version here and the paid version here.

Migrate Parameter to Parameter - Free Case App for December 2012 (Updated)

"Have you ever needed to schedule an item of data that Revit would not let you? This is a common hurdle for many and now there's a free tool that you can use to get around this. Common uses include migrating Wall Base Constraint Element Names (Levels) into a schedulable parameter. I'm sure you guys will find lots of uses for this one."

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.

BIMstop Revit Tools - for Browsing Families

The BIMstop Revit Tools app allows you to easily browse and place families directly from a curated Revit only version of BIMstop.com

The app adds new buttons to your Revit ribbon that allow you to:

• Browse a smaller toolbar sized version of BIMstop's library within Revit and download families directly into your project
• Browse all of the families you have already downloaded
• Browse your own private library and the other shared libraries you have access to
• Create a quick schedule of all the families used in your project

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

SysQue™Supports for Revit MEP

This Autodesk® Revit® MEP ADDIN will allow you to easily add Hangers and supports to existing and new MEP Systems within Autodesk® Revit® MEP. The supports can be added to flat and sloped systems. User specific settings can be created and stored that include offset distances from fittings and joints as well as what hanger type to use. Hanger rods will automatically stretch to the above structure including floor above, concrete, and structural steel beams. Offsets from center of steel beams can also be given to provide an acurate position for a side beam clamp position. All of the hanger rod points can then be sent out in a point file for exporting to Trimble® MEP for onsite field point layout.

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

Revit Workflow Version 3.0 from Revolution Design Features Major Improvements

• General
• Licensing dialog has been upgraded to a new easy to use wizard interface.
• 2011 version has been discontinued, workFlow 3.0 is available for 2012 and beyond only.
• A 'Check for Updates' feature has been implemented. workFlow will check for a newer available build on startup and notify the user if a new build is available and give a download link. This dialog also contains a checkbox to disallow future checks.
• Install paths have been fixed so that uninstalling earlier versions does not break newer versions.
• Settings now persist from version to version.

Keynote Manager Version 12.0 from Revolution Design Features Major Improvements

Added

• The entire user interface (UI) of Keynote Manager has been given an overhaul to make it faster, cleaner, and more usable.
• Keynote Manager now allows opening of multiple files at the same time with a simple tabbed interface.
• The 'Insert from Other File' function now has an option to insert from other open files.
• Keynotes can now be edited on the fly without a dialog box.
• Keynote descriptions are a simple text box that can be edited at will; changes are committed upon pressing 'Enter' or moving to another text box.
• Key values can be edited by double click.
• Parents/Stacking can be edited with simple drag and drop.
• When the description value is committed the case will automatically be changed to match the auto casing setting (if applicable).
• The main interface for each text file now contains a vertical toolbar along the left side for quick access to basic commands.
• Comments and links are now listed in an expandable palette below their associated keynote.
• Comments and links can be added or managed for the selected keynote with toolbar buttons.
• Link display is directly clickable (with palette expanded) and will open the linked file or web location.
• The find/replace and spell check functions have been integrated into the interface as expandable palettes.  These palettes can be hidden completely with toolbar buttons.
• With the spelling palette expanded, simply select a single keynote and any words not contained in the dictionary will appear in the 'Not in Dictionary' list.
• Use the 'Next' button to find the next word not in the spell checker dictionaries.
• Character Map can now be opened from a toolbar button.

IMAGINiT Adds Three New Utilities for Revit 2013

IMAGINiT has added three new utilities to their 2013 version of their IMAGINiT Utilities for Revit:

Parameter Concatenater – Assemble multiple parameter values into a single text parameter using a custom expression.

Revit Excel Link – Export Revit project data to Excel and Import data from Excel to a Revit project.

Dim Text Update - Override multiple dimensions using chosen text options.

There's more information available on the IMAGINiT website.

Autodesk FormIt - Conceptual Design Modeling on an iPad

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.

Express design ideas with easy-to-use tools:

• Create forms quickly from a gallery of shapes
• Directly manipulate forms using gestures for easy model changes
• Save designs to the cloud and share with others

Easy access to site information:

• Set project location in a searchable maps interface
• Import satellite image of your site
• Design directly in the context of your proposed building location

PPI Group's Revit Briefcase

The PPI Group's Revit Briefcase is a series of add-ins for Revit® Architecture, Structure and MEP.  The Briefcase is able to extend the capabilities of the Revit® project in various key areas.  They are easy to use and make working with Revit® easier and more effective.

PPI's Revit Briefcase includes:

• Selection Filter - Displays a tree of elements in a project grouped according to your selection (e.g. by Category or by Level).
• BIM Manager - Generate a system of folders that is used in every new project, export/import tool, multi-type editor.
• Legends - Generate a legend of different elements in just a few steps.
• Modify - A set of tools for aligning text according to selected elements.
• Query - A set of tools for querying element properties.
• View - Edit Crop Region to current view.
• Build - Room to Floor command

New Features added regularly!

There's more information on the PPI Group's website.

Scan to BIM 2013 from IMAGINiT

IMAGINiT’s Scan to BIM (previously posted about here) was the first software to provide the ability to view and interact with point clouds inside of Revit.

You can now view point clouds directly inside Revit. Scan to BIM™ takes this one step further, enabling you to not only visualize point clouds in Revit, but also to interact with them, assisting 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

Features with this release include the ability to create native Revit geometry from the point cloud and to analyze differences between the model geometry and the point cloud.

Other new features in Scan to BIM 2013.1 include:

•     Create Arc Walls and Column
•     Manage the visibility and information for all your loaded point clouds
•     Measurement of Points and Point Density
•     Toggle Point Cloud Visibility – easily turn it on or off
•     Getting Started Videos – ramp up faster with our growing list of how-to videos

There's more information about this add-in on the IMAGINiT website.