So what’s the deal with Stingray? Basically we are talking about a realtime rendering engine that talks to 3ds Max. As we know, Max talks to Revit. Autodesk is essentially providing (another) realtime rendering workflow from the BIM environment, and that is obviously a good thing…

Here’s a snippet from In the Fold:
To understand the impact of this new capability within 3ds Max, let’s take a look at the state of a BIM workflow using Autodesk solutions before today’s announcement.

The  Stingray engine allows designers, owners and stakeholders to access and  visualize a building model in real-time to fully understand the scale,   feel and experience of the building before construction starts.

Building designers using Autodesk Revit software have had the ability to easily import models into 3ds Max to create stunning, photo-real images and animations to communicate design intent. It’s a workflow that’s been widely accepted in the AEC industry and plays an integral part in the design process. Now, with the Stingray engine, Revit models can be brought into 3ds Max to be made visually stunning and then imported to the Stingray engine to be made fully interactive, allowing users to explore “what if” design changes in a compelling visual environment not unlike a first person walk-about in a physical building. The real advantage of this is that it allows designers, owners and stakeholders to access and visualize a building model in real-time to fully understand the scale, feel and experience of the building before construction starts. 

Read the whole post:
Autodesk Stingray Real-Time Engine Takes Design Visualization to a New Level for AEC Industry

We’ve talked about exporting shared parameters before, but when you are editing a Titleblock (that you have inherited from somewhere) you may find that the Family Types dialog does not list all of the parameters that may already be in use in Labels in that Titleblock family.

So, how do we export those parameters? Easy:

  1. Select a Label
  2. Click Edit Label
  3. In the dialog that appears, select the parameter you want to export in the list on the left
  4. Click the tiny pencil and paper button
  5. Click Export. Done!

via email:
… updates to IFC for Revit 2015 and IFC for Revit 2016, which you can get to using the links below:

IFC for Revit 2015 (v15.5):
http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/Index?id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com%3aifc2015_windows32and64%3aen

IFC for Revit 2016 (v16.2):
http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/Index?id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com%3aifc2016_windows32and64%3aen

Updates from the previous version are listed below. Please upgrade to the newest version!

resized_6c20dfe8-5576-4f70-b2a8-d02ccb236397_-7776641

NOTES:
1. IFC Exporter for Revit 2013 and IFC Exporter for Revit 2014 will no longer be getting regular updates.
2. IFC for Revit 2015 and 2016 includes export, import and the alternate export UI. There is no need for separate installs of each.
3. This update will work for both Revit and Revit LT.

What’s new for IFC for Revit 2015 v15.5.0 and IFC for Revit 2016 v16.2.0:
General:

– This is the IFC2x3 Coordination View import certified version of Revit for Link IFC, as seen on http://www.buildingsmart.org/compliance/certified-software/. At the time of this writing, it incorrectly lists “Autodesk Revit Architecture” as being import certified instead of “Autodesk Revit”.

– Both Link and Export will use the IFC4 Addendum 1 schema instead of the IFC4 schema if the IFC4_ADD1.EXP is loaded in the EDM sub-folder of your Revit executable folder.

New Export Functionality:

– Allow setting of IfcBuildingStorey element composition type via IfcElementCompositionType shared parameter for levels.
– IFC4: handle elliptical edges for IFC4 Design Transfer View export.
– Support export of volumes as liters (a.k.a cubic decimeters)
– Support export of volumetric flow rates as liters per second (a.k.a. cubic decimeters per second).

New Export UI Functionality:

– Better progress messages in the status bar.
– Remove list of “Current Options” from the starting UI dialog; only display the IFC Schema and MVD as “IFC Version”
– Remove path from “Projects to Export” list; the path is now a tooltip.

Export Bug Fixes:

– Correctly toggle between SLIDING_TO_LEFT / SLIDING_TO_RIGHT for flipped doors.
– Use the element type “Function” parameter when setting the “IsExternal” common property for all element types, not just wall types.

New Import Functionality:

– Add “IfcElement HasPorts Name” and “IfcElement HasPorts IfcGUID” parameters to show port information for elements. There will be multiple shared parameters created if the element has multiple ports.
– Add support for more thermal transmittance units.
– Entities that are decomposed by IfcBuildingElementPart will now be visible if either the top level category or the Parts category is enabled by default.
– If attempting to create an IfcShellBasedSurfaceModel as a Solid results in any dropped faces, import it as a Mesh instead.
– (2016 only) If processing an IfcBooleanResult entity results in a failed Revit Boolean operation, try again by slightly shifting (by 1mm) the second of the two geometries in the operation.
– Improve import of IfcSweptDiskSolid when the geometric description of the entity would create a self-intersecting surface. In this case, create the minimum number of solids possible to import as much as the geometry as possible.
– Read in IfcSystems that aren’t associated to the building via a IfcRelServicesBuildings relation.
– Read in IfcPropertyBoundedValues (including support for IFC4 version).
– Support import of volumes as liters.
– Support import of volumetric flow rates as liters per second.

Import Bug Fixes:

– Add a message to the log file if we skip importing an IfcProduct that neither has geometry nor is decomposed by other entities.
– Fix a potential crash if a file contains a large number of elements in system joined by ports.
– Improve log message when an entity can’t be imported because it has no geometry.
– Improve log message when an entity can’t create all of the facets of its tessellated geometric representation.
– Move some MEP entities from Generic Models category to the appropriate categories by default.

In Revit, you cannot easily transfer Dependent views from one Revit project to another. Here’s one way you might workaround this issue:

  1. Make them Independent by using Duplicate with Detailing (resultant duplicate is Independent), you can do this for a batch of Dependent Views using Bonus Tools. Or you can do it slowly, one by one, using the right click and Convert to Independent option.
  2. Select those new independent views and save as selection set with Dynamo (see image below). Load the selection Set and Ctrl+C. Note: this method allows you to Copy all of the required plan Views directly to Clipboard, without having to select Crop Regions as would normally be required…
  3. Paste Aligned – Selected Levels into the target model
  4. Copy View Templates if necessary, you can use this method for individual templates
  5. Reapply any View Templates as necessary

Note: applied Scope Boxes should automatically be copied with the views

Here’s how:

  1. Make a View parameter (Text) in Revit that will hold the list of RVT Links that are visible in a given view
  2. Install Dynamo and my Bakery package
  3. Go to the required View
  4. Set up your definition as below and run it:

This will create a list and convert it to a single string with a line break between each entry, meaning that the resulting view Label in your View Title needs to account for it to ‘grow’ (vertical align to Top or Bottom as required).

 This will need to be run each time you want to ‘update’ the visible Revit link parameter.

Download links:
Installer
Readme
Release Notes

As can be seen in release notes below, most of these are “Improves stability…” fixes.

Platform
 Annotation
  Improves stability when creating dimensions.*
 Family
  Improves stability when editing families*.
 IFC
  Improves placement of the site on Open IFC if the site is located away from the origin, or rotated.
 Schedules
  Improves data integrity of a schedule instance on a sheet with the schedule view.*
  Corrects the name of the Default Structural Area Reinforcement Schedule.*
 Selection
  Improves stability when attempting to use the Selection Box tool in Reveal Constraints mode.*
 Upgrade
  Improves stability when upgrading a model containing corrupt families.*
  Improves stability when upgrading projects which may have some corruption.*
  Improves stability when opening or upgrading a Revit 2015 project which contains stairs.*
 Views
  Corrects an issue causing view filter names to be automatically appended when workshared models are synced.
  Improves stability when editing selection sets in a workshared model.*
  Improves data integrity of Project Address for upgraded projects.*
  Improves stability when selecting a viewport with the Select by ID tool.*
  Improves stability when canceling out of the view templates dialog.*
 Worksets
  Improves stability when deleting an element which may have an invalid ID.*
 Worksharing
  Improves stability when using the Options dialog to log into A360 from a workshared central file.*

Architecture
 Wall
  Improves stability when editing stacked wall types*.
  Improves stability when cutting rooms to the clipboard.*
  Improves stability when clicking Edit Preview in the wall structure dialog.*
  Improves stability when editing the structure of walls.*

MEP
 Annotation
  Improves placement fidelity with wire tags when upgrading a project.*
 Electrical
  Improves stability when no panel schedule template is assigned as the default.*
 Fabrication
  Improves connection consistency of taps.
 Groups
  Improves visual fidelity of lighting fixtures within a copied group after the original group is modified.*
 Mechanical
  Improves stability when using Mechanical Settings.*
 Pipe
  Improves stability when upgrading a project that contains user-created pipe types.*

Structure
 Analytical Model
  Improves stability when opening a project which contains a Structural Isolated Foundation with an invalid analytical model defined as a column.*  
 Families
  Improves stability when placing a slanted column or a beam based on a Generic Model Line Based family.*  
  Improves stability after reloading an annotation symbol family used as a symbolic representation of brace elements on plan views.*  
 Scheduling
  Improves stability when selecting a viewer element associated with Graphical Column Schedule.*  

API
  Improves stability when using Dynamo and the function: Select Divided Surface Families.*  
  Improves stability when DimensionSegment ValueOverride API is called when the dimension value was not overridden.*
  Improves error handling with element’s methods/properties.*
  Improves consistency of UIApplication.PostCommand for pre-selection.*
  Improves error handling with ElementCategoryFilter.*
  Improves stability when editing families which use external resources for keynotes.*
  Adds a validator to the Rotate Tap API to guard against creating invalid models.
  Improves error handling with UIDocument.PromptToPlaceViewOnSheet() function.
  Improves consistency of the RebarContainer element.*

Links for Revit 2015 UR9 for R2:
Download link
Readme
Enhancements List

Download link for Revit 2015 UR9 not for R2:
Download link

Enhancements List (plain text):
Improvements made in Update Release 9
 Revit 2015 build: 20150702_1515
 Revit 2015 R2 build: 20150704_0715

Autodesk® Revit® Platform 2015 Updates
 Improves stability when deleting an element which contained an invalid partition ID.*
 Improves visual fidelity when exporting to DWF.*
 Improves data consistency between a schedule view and a schedule instance on a sheet.*
 Improves stability while upgrading Revit 2012 projects.*
 Improves stability while editing families.*
 Improves stability when using the Options dialog to log into A360 from a workshared central file.*

Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2015 Updates
 Improves stability when upgrading a project that contains user-created pipe types.*

Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2015 Updates
 Improves stability while when placing a slanted column or a beam based on a Generic Model Line based family.*
 Improves stability when reloading an annotation symbol family used as a symbolic representation of brace elements on plan views.*

Autodesk® Revit® API 2015 Updates
 Improves stability while when editing families which use external resources for keynotes.*

Aaron Maller, aka twiceroadsfool, has been sharing his Revit door family package on RevitForum for the past few years. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can check out his post in the thread here:
http://www.revitforum.org/architecture-family-creation/1242-doors-download-nested-panels-nested-frames.html

In the thread, he gives instructions on how the door families work, and a link to download the 179mb zip package:
First important part. The way they work is you only place the ones that say DOOR at the beginning of their name, obviously.

Download Link for the v4 Doors, a sample file with the doors in them, and the Door Schedule accompanying them, is here:
 https://www.dropbox.com/s/lcr5gobpuv…015v4.zip?dl=0

Thanks for sharing Aaron!

Older posts:
Doors for download, Nested Panels and Nested Frames..

Heads-up via http://notanotherrevit.blogspot.com.au/

With this free addin, you can view a graphical representation or summary of all the elements in your Revit model, based on various different filters. You can then also export a CSV of that data.

We can use this for workset validation, like “are any elements are on the wrong workset?”

Here’s how:

  1. Start Jolsoft ModelSTAT
  2. Click Elements – Workset
  3. The resulting graph will show you how many elements on each workset
  4. Click Export – CSV
  5. Open the CSV
  6. You will see a list of workset names, along with a count of how many items exist on each workset

Now, if you actually want to do more specific model interrogation, like finding those elements on the wrong workset, you can use one of these methods:

  1.  My Copy Workset Name to Target Parameter node in Bakery Dynamo package. Copy Workset name to a target parameter and then view it in a Revit Schedule
  2. Use Kiwicodes Bonus Tools, 3d Views for Worksets tool. If you double click on a workset row, it will show a list of elements on that workset
  3. Make your own Dynamo node to get the answer you want

Download modelSTAT at:
ModelSTAT | Autodesk Revit | Autodesk Exchange Apps