Free Import openNURBS (3dm File Data) - By Case (Updated)

This free add-in reads the OpenNURBS file format (Rhino 4.0 *.3DM) and imports curve objects as Revit Model Lines in the project environment.

Learn more about this tool from Design Reform via Nate.

The free version (a paid subscription version due out soon will offer family form making) supports the following OpenNURBS geometry types:

• Lines
• Polylines
• Arcs
• Circles
• PolyCurves
• NURBS Curves (Drawn as approximated line segments)

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.

Add-in Manager - Another Free Case App (Updated)

"This tool is used to install and remove CASE Add-Ins from any version of Revit. We will no longer build ClickOnce installers for any of the free tools. You may also notice a little preview for our upcoming subscription tools... stay tuned to the www.case-inc.com site for announcements!!"

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.

CSiXRevit - ETABS and Revit Structure Link

Computers and Structures, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of CSiXRevit, a link that allows for data exchange between ETABS® and Autodesk Revit® Structure. CSiXRevit supports true round-tripping, specifically - four different workflows of data interchange:

• Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS/SAP2000 model
• Exporting from Revit Structure to update an existing ETABS model
• Importing from ETABS/SAP2000 to create a new Revit Structure model
• Importing from ETABS to update an existing Revit Structure model.

The CSiXRevit link is a powerful integration tool, allowing you to maximize the capabilities of ETABS/SAP2000 and Revit® Structure.

There's more information available on the CSi website.

FABmep Import for Revit MEP

The FABmep Import for Revit MEP is a free* technology preview that enables users to import Autodesk Fabrication FABmep models into Autodesk Revit MEP® software, providing round-tripping capabilities for as-built/record drawing purposes.

The import is intended to support geometry ‘only’ and does not maintain design or fabrication information.

FABmep Import for Revit MEP is available on the Autodesk Labs website.

Project Hummingbird - Grasshopper to Revit

Mario Guttman (of Whitefeet Utilities fame) and Tim Meador have developed a new geometry importer from Grasshopper to Revit.

David Light describes Project Humminbird very well over on his Revit blog:

"In a nutshell Project Hummingbird is a set of Grasshopper components that facilitate the creation of Revit native geometry. This process utilizes a simplied pseudo-language in Excel to describe all aspects of the Revit BIM geometry. Translating Rhino primative geometry to Revit has been vastly simplied without the need for linking or reference objects. This allows for the downstream Revit model to be modified and adapted for the project duration. This process is not only limited to grasshopper but could also include read/write methods for Robot structural analysis, Processing, Cinema 4d and many others."

There's more information available on the Project Hummingbird website.

Further reading: Grasshopper-related add-ins. 

Create Plan Views by Discipline (Free Case App for July 2012) (Updated)

This add-in creates plan views by level as Floor Plans or Reflected Ceiling Plans.

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.

YuZu

Yuzu is smart software for capturing existing conditions into the AutoCAD and Revit environment. With Yuzu, anyone with CAD experience is able to capture the measurements inside buildings easier and more efficient. We offer Yuzu in an edition for AutoCAD and one for Revit.

The Yuzu Tools
This software application encompasses a number of very helpful functionalities. We like to give you a short survey of each one.

Yuzu project data
The Yuzu project data function allows you to specify project details and client contact information.

Yuzu levels
The Yuzu levels function starts with showing an overview of the existing levels and offers the option to specify new levels, with their corresponding elevation and gives the user the option to import background drawings per level.

These drawings should contain the information of those particular levels only. Some building drawings have multiple levels on one drawing. They should be divided into separate drawings with the same point of origin as in the Revit-model.

Yuzu lease holders
The Yuzu lease holders function allows you to specify the lease holder contact details in the corresponding schedule view.

Assemble - Cloud-based BIM Software Integration

BIM the way you want it.

Assemble is a cloud-based BIM software integration platform that brings together your existing BIM software to enable interoperability, visualization, and change management.

Architecture.

Assemble provides enhanced design control and efficient coordination by fully integrating Revit, Navisworks, and Excel.

• Publish in minutes, not hours.
• Instantly review variance between model versions.
• Create your own estimate throughout design.
• Greatly reduce value engineering and RFIs.
• Enhanced design control

Engineering.

A user-friendly interface for enhanced data management and anywhere access to project management tools.

• Integrates Revit for architects and engineers.
• Quick access to parametric information.
• Easily review changes to design
• Compare iterations between models

BIMAssist for Revit

BIMAssist™ for Revit® adds a powerful set of productivity tools to Autodesk Revit. BIMAssist for Revit currently supports Revit 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Licensing currently available for issuing in the United States only.

BIMAssist for Revit Features

• Supports Revit Architecture, Structure, and MEP.
• Modular support for productivity tools. When new tools are added, they can easily be added to your BIMAssist for Revit menu.
• Automatic Update keeps your modules current.

BIMAssist Utilities

• Case Update    
• Door Mark Manager    
• Fire Rating Coordinator    
• Match Instance Parameters Features    
• Note Block Creator    
• Project Cleaner    
• Room Phase Replicator    
• Room Renumber    
• Room Surface Parameter Extractor Features    
• Sheet Number Update    
• Space Synchronize    
• Text Find and Replace Features

There's more information on the Advanced Solutions website.

CSG BIM Cloud

 Whether you're using a public cloud or your company is planning on hosting their own private cloud. CSG BIM Cloud is a set of rapidly deployable and scalable solutions that allows all project team members access to models and data from your server, regardless of physical location at production capable speeds!

CSG BIMcloud® allows you to:

• Collaborate in real-time using your existing model/centralized data workflow
• Deliver production capable speeds to project team members
• Provide access to consultants, branch offices and remote users, while maintaining data security
• Support existing, LAN based workflow
• Collaborate with no additional IT infrastructure
• Use your own software and custom content

CSG BIMcloud® is:

• Affordable - Implement for a single or many project teams
• Scalable - Two users or dozens; and only while the user needs access
• Risk free - Proof-of-Concept is available; know the solution works before you buy
• Rapidly Deployable - Utilize your existing hardware and software investments
• Easy to Use - No user training required; model centric workflow stays intact

There's more information on the CSG BIM Solutions website.

Revit[]Connect - Project Acceleration Environment

Fast. Reliable. Efficient.

Multi-team collaboration, seamless workflows and rapid information exchange are at the core of a successful BIM project.

Providing the support and infrastructure requirements can be challenging, Applied Software has developed a fast, reliable and efficient solution with Revit[]Connect™ and the Revit Server Appliance™ (RSA).

Revit[]Connect keeps your firm from being at the mercy of internet data connection bandwidth limitations between satellite offices, and your partner company’s offices when your project incorporates shared Revit project files. Until now, the best method of providing adequate performance has been to implement expensive hardware based WAN accelerators. Revit[]Connect solves this significant and costly problem for your projects.

Applied Software’s Revit[]Connect, in combination with Revit® Server 2013, is a purpose built solution that will improve and accelerate your collaboration process. The solution provides a scalable and secure environment that will allow you to add additional offices, partners or projects as required.

There's more information on the Applied Software website.

RTC NA 2012 Wrap Up - With an Eye Towards Add-ons

This was my second year attending RTC North America. I departed Seattle on a cool Wednesday morning when it was perhaps 53°. Two days later I was absolutely melting at the RTC BBQ event as the thermometer topped 103° in sweltering Stone Mountain, GA. The image to the left shows the temperatures in Seattle and Stone Mountain at 4pm on the last day of the conference. (Purple's not a good color on a temperature map...)

There was a nice vendor turnout this year, with many of them marketing Revit add-ons either as their primary or supplemental businesses. I trawled the floor looking for ones that I was previously unaware of and was rewarded with a few…

PopIcon is interesting for being the first commercial add-in to take full advantage of the more integrated Revit interface access enabled in the 2013 API, documented so well, as always, by Jeremy Tammik on his The Building Coder blog.

BIMAssist caught my eye; I would’ve sworn that I had blogged about this reseller-developed suite of tools previously but couldn’t find a prior post…

CSG BIM Cloud is an interesting cloud-based collaboration solution because it is from a long-time Steelhead reseller and is designed to leverage the Steelhead WAN accelerator appliances.

There were also other cloud-based solutions that I was previously unaware of in the form of Revit[]Connect and Assemble.

Speaking of cloud-based collaboration solutions, RTC did something very forward thinking this year in setting up their two labs using private cloud servers, one provided by BIM 9 and the other by Advance 2000. It was an innovative way to introduce many of us to working on such a setup. I had multiple sessions in each room. BIM 9 performed almost flawlessly, with the exception of one blade server dropping Internet access during a session, affecting perhaps a quarter of the class – but overall the user experience with BIM 9 was indistinguishable from a routine desktop session.

Chameleon - Grasshopper & Revit Interoperability

Chameleon is a plugin for both Grasshopper and Revit with a focus on interoperability, simulation, and efficient practice workflows. Chameleon’s main advantage is its ability to facilitate easy transfer of geometric data between Grasshopper and Autodesk Revit, but also includes other valuable tools to make life easier, both in Grasshopper and Revit.

There's more information on this free add-in on Hiroshi Jacobs' website.

Further reading: Grasshopper-related add-ins. 

New Dynamo WIP Released

A new Dynamo for Vasari work in progress was released just last night. I got to play with it in a lab at RTC today and was impressed; it's not as mature as Grasshopper but it sure is maturing quickly!

There's more information on the Autodesk Labs blog.

PopIcon Software for Interface Customization

Your humble blogger is trawlling the vendor area at RTC for fresh add-ins, and has found a few. First up: PopIcon:

PopIcon™ Software Puts Families and Icons at Your Fingertips

Overview

PopIcon™ Software is an application programming interface for Autodesk Revit that makes it faster and easier to create building models and documentation because you can easily find, select and place your components directly into your model without having to search and load additional families from your Revit library.

Product Features and Benefits

• Select elements to place from easy to understand icons on tabular ribbons—no hunting for families.
• Software includes six popIcon tabs plus popIcon families designed specifically for Revit Structure technology.
• Add your own custom tools to popIcon’s Custom Components panel for easy access to your own symbols and families.
• PopIcon loads along with Revit software. No additional waiting. It is simple to use—just click and place components directly into your drawing.
• Makes learning and using Revit software easier.
• Makes detailing in Revit software as fast and easy as CAD.
• Improves Q/A and drawing quality by giving users access to a common library with the same symbols and names.

Click image for a larger version

There's more information available on the PopIcon website.