26 Sep

Engipedia 3d Room Tags, Revit® Add-in

Tool is available on Autodesk App Store 

The Problem: No Native 3D Spatial Information in Revit

Revit is a robust tool for architectural, engineering, and construction design, but users often face challenges when it comes to visualizing spatial information in 3D views. While 2D room and space tags work effectively in plan views, Revit lacks an easy, built-in way to display spatial data directly within 3D views. This limitation can complicate model reviews and coordination tasks, especially in complex or large-scale projects where clear spatial identification is essential.

The Solution: A Revit Add-In for 3D Room & Space Tags and Volumes

This Revit add-in addresses this gap by enabling users to generate 3D tags and spatial volumes for Rooms and Spaces directly in their models. The tool extracts spatial information from Rooms and Spaces in the current model, while also pulling data from any linked models, and generates 3D tags displaying Room or Space names and numbers. Additionally, the add-in creates spatial volumes that enhance visual context and clarity in 3D views, streamlining model reviews and improving coordination workflows in platforms like Navisworks®.

Why Use 3D Room & Space Tags and Volumes?

When performing 3D model reviews, particularly for design validation and coordination, having spatial information readily accessible is invaluable. Navigating large projects becomes easier with identifiable room and space data in the 3D view, eliminating the need to switch to 2D views or rely on cumbersome workarounds. When models are exported to coordination platforms like Navisworks®, this integrated spatial data enhances design and clash detection efficiency by embedding spatial context into the 3D environment.

Key Features of the Add-In

1. Spatial Information Across Phases and Models:
The add-in retrieves spatial data from Rooms and Spaces in the current model and all linked models, organized by phase. Users can specify whether they want to generate 3D tags, 3D spatial volumes, or both, and can select the elements they wish to process.

2. View Filters Based on Room Names:
The tool automatically generates view filters for spatial volumes based on room names, making it easier to organize and filter spatial data within 3D views.

3. Automatic Family Loading:
If the model lacks the required 3D Generic Model tag family, the add-in automatically loads a default family, saving users from manual family management. Users can also create custom families or modify existing ones, provided they include “Name” and “Number” instance text parameters.

4. Control Over Worksets and Phases:
The add-in allows tags and volumes to be created within specific Revit worksets and phases, giving users full control over visibility and collaboration workflows.

5. Shared Parameters for Enhanced Data Management:
The add-in adds shared parameters to the Generic Model category, enabling users to list room data directly within the Revit model. This enhancement makes it simple to access and organize room information without needing additional views or annotations.

6. Customizable Deletion of Tags, Volumes, and Filters:
Users can delete 3D tags, spatial volumes, and associated view filters by selecting specific families or tag types, or remove all at once. This feature includes a cleaning option to clear the model of view filters, model filters, and shared parameters, keeping models clean and up to date. In case of errors, such as when certain room geometries cannot be created, the add-in logs these instances for user review.

Pro Tip: Fine-Tuning Visibility and Alignment Control

  • Enhanced Visibility Control: While Revit’s API doesn’t support automatic manipulation of Design Options, users can manually place 3D tags and volumes in non-primary Design Options for refined visibility control, keeping primary views uncluttered. Additionally, the default 3D tag family includes a subcategory that can be toggled off if needed, providing further flexibility in managing how tags and volumes appear in the model.
  • Ceiling Grid Projection for Coordination: Generating 3D spatial volumes within mechanical or electrical models allows the ceiling grid to be projected on top of these volumes. This feature supports precise alignment and coordination of air handlers, lighting fixtures, and other ceiling-mounted elements, enhancing layout accuracy and simplifying coordination.

Conclusion

This Revit add-in significantly improves spatial data visualization by allowing users to generate 3D tags and spatial volumes for Rooms and Spaces across multiple models and phases. Whether working directly in Revit or exporting to Navisworks for coordination, this tool streamlines workflows and enhances clarity by making spatial data visible in 3D views. With features like automatic family loading, shared parameters, customizable deletion, and view filters, this add-in is essential for any Revit user looking to elevate the way they visualize space in their 3D models.

11 Jun

Engipedia Layers Manager PRO, Revit® Add-in

Overview

Engipedia Layers Manager PRO is a powerful add-in designed to enhance your experience with Revit®. It allows you to easily tag, annotate, and schedule layered materials and their thicknesses in various Revit® categories, including Walls, Floors, Pads, Ceilings, Structural Foundations, and Roofs. Additionally, the add-in provides the ability to export material layers to Excel or CSV for further analysis.

 

Try it now on the Autodesk® App Store! A 30-day free trial is available.

 

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11 Jun

Engipedia Structural Layers, Revit® Add-in

Engipedia Structural Layers is a powerful Revit® Add-in designed to extract structural layers from layered structures, including Walls, Floors, and Structural Foundation Slabs.

 

This unique workflow allows users to derive a structural model from existing Revit® elements, which can then be utilized as a standalone structural reference or as a basis for creating formwork plans in architectural designs.

Update 2023-05-11: The latest version (v1.1.23.0501) now supports Revit® 2016 through 2024, featuring minor bug fixes and user interface improvements.

Add-in is available on Autodesk® App Store.

How the Add-in Works:

  1. Analysis: The add-in analyzes the current types of Walls and Floors in the model. Note that Structural Foundation Slabs function similarly to floors.
    • Types without a “Structural” checkbox checked are highlighted in green, indicating they are not considered structural.
    • Types with only one structural layer in the core appear in blue.
    • Types with structural layers and additional layers are shown in white; these can be “peeled” to isolate the structural components.
  2. Selection: Users can select types from which the structure will be extracted. When the tool is run, the output model will consist solely of the structural layers from the selected Walls and Floors.
  3. Structural Layer Identification: The tool selects only types that contain one structural layer in the core, indicated by the “Structural Material” checkbox being checked. A list of these types will be displayed on the right side of the interface, with all types selected by default.
  4. Layer Composition Overview: Selecting a type in the table displays its layer composition in the bottom table. Here, users can set the core layer as a structural material without exiting the tool, and any changes will automatically update the right-side table.
  5. Changing Types: By selecting types in the right table and running the “Change Selected Types” command, users can modify the selected types to retain only the structural layer. This process will maintain the position of the structural layer as it was originally configured.

Warning: This process significantly alters the model. To prevent data loss or unwanted outcomes, it is advisable to:

  • Save a Copy: Create a new model file with a different name.
  • Run Engipedia Structural Layers: Extract structural layers from Walls and Floors.
  • Save the Model: Secure your changes.
  • Continue Working: Either continue on this structural model or link it back into the original model.

 

Additional Features:

  • Each type change is recorded as a separate Undo command for easy reversibility.
  • The tool can automatically set every instance as “Structural,” a feature that can be toggled in Settings.
  • Users can opt to modify types with zero instances by adjusting the settings to display them.
  • Utilize the “Update Structural Checkboxes” feature to ensure all Walls/Floors with structural materials have the Structural instance parameter checked, which aids in later filtering.

 

Add-in is available on Autodesk® App Store.

10 Jun

Engipedia Topo Shaper, Revit® Add-in

Overview
The Engipedia Topo Shaper tool enables users to manipulate topography instances using model lines in Autodesk® Revit®. This tool adds additional topography points along selected model lines, allowing for precise topographical modifications. Line division can be based on either the number of points or the distance between points. If multiple topography instances exist, the tool will prompt the user to select only one.

Download

The tool is available for download on the Autodesk® App Store

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06 Jun

Dynamo: Use Excel Coordinates to Create Model Lines in Revit®

If you have many coordinates in Excel spreadsheet or in other table format, it’s easy to use the power of Dynamo to get those coordinates into Revit®.

In our example, we will use x, y, z coordinates to create model lines within Revit® project.

There are two ways to approach this problem:

  1. Coordinates represent continuous points (like in polyline)
  2. There are pairs of coordinates, each pair representing single line

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10 Jul

Rotate Revit® family into any direction

Don’t you hate “Can’t rotate element into this position.” error message in Revit?

Let’s say you need to rotate element into a position in which Revit will not let you. There is a simple solution, but it includes creating additional family.

For our example we will take a book family with “Always vertical” parameter turned on. It does not matter, we do not need to switch it off. Read More

30 Aug

Cannot select multiple elements in a Plan View

Common “problem” I see my coworkers stumble upon is the problem with selection of multiple elements in a Floor Plan (and other Plan Views in Revit®).

What’s the problem: “Look, I have no problem with selection of elements one-by-one, but when I try to select few of them at the same time, nothing happens! What’s going on?”

So, point is you CAN at least select something. That eliminates element selection controls as potential problem (you know, those little switches in the lower right corner of the Revit®).

Solution: Check if elements you are trying to select are not in the Read More