From Revit to OBJ to DAZ Studio to U3D to Adobe 3D PDF

Luke Johnson

I couldn’t decide whether to call this “Yet Another Way to make a 3D PDF” or “Adobe Acrobat 11 and adding 3D objects“, so I went with a more descriptive title … here we go.

Almost none of our clients use DWF, almost all of them use PDF.  Its just a simple fact.

PDF inherently supports the embedding of 3D data.  I have previously posted two methods of going from Revit to a 3D PDF for free:

  1. Using the i-model plugin
  2. Converting a DWF,
    And now…
  3. The method below

Actually, the method below does require Acrobat … you can download a trial.

After going on a mission to find yet another way to make a 3D PDF from Revit for free, here is how I got there:
This post led me to DAZ Studio.  Failing to get an FBX import (exported from Revit or Max) to show materials in DAZ led me towards using the OBJ format.  Running up against brick walls when trying to get materials from Revit to Max to OBJ, led me to the OBJ exporter from The Building Coder, which doesn’t have materials, but it does have coloured approximations.

Ok, Luke, tell me how to do it!

First, let’s export a clean OBJ file from Revit:

  1. Setup a 3D view and put it on a sheet.  Make a View Template from it.
  2. Group and then Save out the elements you want in the 3D OBJ (untick Exclude options and do a Right-to-Left selection to get everything you want).  The reason we do this – the OBJ Exporter does not respect visibility settings related to Design Options.
  3. Transfer Project Standards (all, overwrite) to the Group
  4. Apply the View Template from step 1 to a 3D view.
  5. Download and then compile this add-in from The Building Coder.  Put the .add-in and other files (.dll and .pdb) in the appropriate add-in folders.  You basically just have to open the SLN (solution) file and then add the appropriate Revit 2013 Program directory to the referenced folders, and then Build.
  6. Restart Revit
  7. Run the OBJ export add-in
  8. This tool is blisteringly fast.  You will get a dialog like this:

  9. Then, download and install DAZ Studio.  Register and login to their site.  ‘Buy’ DAZ Studio Pro 4.5 for free from the site, checkout, and you will get the serial number under My Serials on the My Account page.  Open DAZ Studio and put your serial number in.
  10. File – Import.  You have a nice range to import from, see image below:

  11. Choose the OBJ you exported from Revit.  I used these XYZ settings to get things oriented properly:

  12. You will end up with something that looks like this:

  13. Now, you can using File – Export – Universal 3D (.U3D) file
  14. Then, Create a PDF in Acrobat IX Pro.  Select the U3D file you just exported from DAZ Studio 4.5
  15. These are some settings that I used:

  16. Finally, here is the 3D model in Acrobat, from Revit via OBJ then U3D:

You can also Add the 3D file to an existing document using the Interactive Objects tool pane in Acrobat:

I guess this is a ‘proof of concept’ that not a lot of people will choose to employ, but hey, I love a challenge!  Hope some of you found this interesting… there are some more links below if you want to keep reading.

There have been some recent posts about a 3D PDF converter add-in for Revit, such as:
http://bim4scottc.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/i-recently-downloaded-app-from-autodesk.html
and
http://paulcrickard.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/3d-pdf-converter-for-revit/

More info:
What is PRC?
also
https://wrw.is/2012/07/what-is-prc-file-format-used-in-3d-pdf.html

Trying to make an OBJ from Revit with materials?
http://area.autodesk.com/forum/autodesk-3ds-max/autodesk-3ds-max–3ds-max-design-2011/material-maps-onto-obj-model/

OBJ exporter:
Here is ObjExport3.zip including the entire source code, Visual Studio solution and add-in manifest for the updated OBJ exporter version 3 including transparency support. 
via
http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2012/07/obj-model-exporter-with-transparency-support.html

FBX Converter

Transfer files from one file format to another quickly and easily with the FBX Converter. This utility enables you to convert OBJ, DXF™, DAE, and 3DS files to or from multiple versions of the FBX format. New tools are now available with the FBX Converter 2012.1. You can view FBX animation files in real time with the FBX Viewer, explore and compare FBX file contents with the FBX Explorer, and manage animation takes with the FBX Take Manager.

Mac *

FBX 2013.3 Converter for Mac (tgz – 35959Kb)

Railing families – November 2012

Luke Johnson

I recently downloaded the Revit (railing) files from Moddex Systems.  If you want to access them, go to the following page and follow the links to register:
Moddex – CAD Support
(you can also go direct to this registration page)

These files do not yet take advantage of some of the advances made in Revit 2013, that I posted about last week.  However, Moddex are “looking into fast tracking the upgrade”.

I also recently downloaded the free Railing families from BIMstore.  Again, these are not upgraded for 2013.

Don’t forget to check out the online ‘master list’ of Revit content at Links to Revit Content online.  If something is missing, please register and add it to the page.

A while ago, I posted some in-place and component Stairs and Railings.

If you have any particularly great Railing families that you would like to share, feel free to reply using the comments!

Section Box persistence and 3D View Orientation

Luke Johnson

Twitter led me to a new technology / Revit / BIM blog at http://www.jarodschultz.com/

One recent post about Section Boxes included two great tips:

  • In a 3D view, you can re-orient the view, adjust the Section Box, and then use Rewind on the Steering Wheel to get back to a previous orientation (the Section Box remains as you modified it)
  • When you use Orient to View to grab a section cut plane from a Section view and apply it to a 3D view, you can then re-orient the 3D view (by using ViewCube etc) and the Section Box remains.

Read more at:
Jarod Schultz: Section Boxes in Orthographic/Perspective Views | Jarod Schultz

Project Chronicle up for download on Labs

Luke Johnson

I saw some information on this Project a while back – it looked very cool indeed.  Essentially it allows you to record and replay a tutorial or workflow in extreme detail.  For Autodesk products, it may likely replace tools like Camstudio, Hypercam, Screencast and SnagIt.

(embedded JWPlayer)

There are already a stack of tutorials uploaded at https://chronicle.autodesk.com/

From the Labs site:
Project Chronicle is a free technology preview from Autodesk Research that makes it extremely convenient and easy for users to capture, share, and learn from software workflows. Project Chronicle consists of a recording utility to capture recordings, and a website that displays the recordings as Chronicles, interactive video tutorials.
The Chronicle Recording Utility allows users to capture workflows from within Autodesk products. The utility records a continuous video screen capture and optionally voice narration. What makes Chronicle unique is that is also records the timing and details of workflow information, such as the tools, settings, and dialog boxes that are used during the workflow.
Captured data is then uploaded to the Chronicle Website where other users can view a video of the workflow. Additionally, the captured workflow events are displayed on an interactive timeline, enhancing the viewing and learning experience.
In essence, Project Chronicle will allow software experts to showcase their expertise and will allow other users to view and learn from their real-world expert examples.
Please visit the Project Chronicle Website: https://chronicle.autodesk.com.

via
Autodesk Labs Project Chronicle

Some other info:

Paper
Chronicle: Capture, Exploration, and Playback of Document Workflow Histories

Tovi Grossman, Justin Matejka & George Fitzmaurice. (2010).
Chronicle: Capture, Exploration, and Playback of Document Workflow Histories
UIST 2010 Conference Proceedings:
ACM Symposium on User Interface Software & Technology.
pp. 143 – 152.

Download PDF

You can use the Insert 2D Elements to bring in Annotation …

Luke Johnson

from the currently opened file!

So if you want to copy annotation and detail elements from one Plan View to another (without having to fiddle around with filtering of selections etc), just go to:

Then, browse to the currently opened file, select it, and then select the source view.  Click to place.  Done.

Also very cool:

  • ● this command has intelligence with regard to Detail lines vs Model lines!  Even though the Filter command cannot tell you if a line is Detail or Model, this Insert 2D Elements command will only bring detail lines
  • ● running this command places the items onto the Clipboard as well.  In certain situations, you can use the Paste Aligned command (such as between aligned Plan Views) AFTER you have finished placing the first instance of the 2D elements …

Revit 2013 railings – almost 7 months old, but have you used them?

Luke Johnson

To be quite honest, I haven’t really used the new 2013 features for Railings, perhaps because my recent work has been more on a master planning level rather than construction documentation.  In any case, there are plenty of resources out there to get you started. 

Here is a quick crash course – in the Type Properties for Railings in Revit 2013, you will see new options for ‘Top Rail’, ‘Handrail 1’ and ‘Handrail 2’.  You can set the Type and Height of these.

To make new Types, go to the Project Browser under Families -> Railings and you will see nodes for Handrail Type and Top Rail Type.  Duplicate and edit the type definitions you see here to make new 2013 ‘continuous’ railing types.

Once you have applied a Top Rail Type to a Railing Type definition, you can now Tab to select the Top Rail!  It is basically separating the Top Rail out as a component so that you can perform advanced edits to it.  From here, you can access the real awesomeness of Revit 2013 Railings – a sketch mode to extend and adjust the Railing …

Click Edit Rail and you are in business.  It will look something like this:

So, if you haven’t used this feature in the past 7 months, hopefully this post will help you get started with it.

I also found the audio interview linked below quite insightful.  It describes the reason railings are undergoing upgrade, including the requirement of railing extensions for accessibility.  For me, this has probably caused the most pain with regard to railings in pre-2013 versions.

Also, this interview gives the following ‘insight’ into Revit 2014 and future versions:
Railing features would be upgraded over several Revit releases

    Railings: Hear Jean Foster, Senior Interaction Designer, speak about railing enhancements.  Jean describes how the top rail and hand rail elements have been changed to better accommodate continuous conditions.  She explains how additional controls allow you to add extensions and different types of extensions to a railing, and how making components within the railing system makes the system more flexible as a whole. Speaker_Icon.png         Interview  6m 09s

    Listen to more interviews at:
    New Features Interviews – WikiHelp

    O n e m i l l i o n

    Luke Johnson

    Somewhat of a milestone for What Revit Wants – 1,000,000 pageviews were reached over the weekend.

    If you want to show your continued support for this website, please Like What Revit Wants and Dimond Architects on Facebook.

    You can also follow me on Twitter.

    Something you might have noticed about What Revit Wants is that there is no ad banner and no Donate button.  However, I really do enjoy hearing and responding to your comments – so if you have something to say, please feel free to use the comments box below every post.

    Here’s a thought to start your Monday with:
    A license of Revit is just like a ticket on a plane.  You have to use it to get anywhere.  The final destination? 
    BIM excellence.

    Using the Load as Group command to update Edited Groups without saving them

    Luke Johnson

    Have you noticed this little gem?

    If you use the Edit command from the Project Browser for a Detail or Model Group, like this:

    … then you can use the Load as Group into Open Projects to update the group.  Upon clicking the button, you will be presented with a dialog like this:

    Once you click OK, you will be prompted to Update the group:

    Pretty handy feature isn’t it?

    Install Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 update on Windows 7 SP1

    Luke Johnson

    Basically this enables rich client access to Windows Server 2012 … you can install it via Windows Update or:
    Download Update for Windows 7 (KB2592687) from Official Microsoft Download Center

    Quote:
    To install this update, you must be running Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

    How to enable RDP 8.0 on a remote computer that is running Windows 7 SP1

    To enable RDP 8.0 on a remote computer that is running Windows 7 SP1, follow these steps:

    Note The following instructions are applicable only for remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1.

    1. Install the appropriate version of the update package by running the Windows6.1-KB2592687 update file.
    2. Restart the computer.
    3. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
    4. Enable the Remote Desktop Protocol policy. The setting for this policy is under the following node:
      Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsRemote Desktop ServicesRemote Desktop Session HostRemote Session Environment
    5. If the UDP functionality is necessary, enable the RDP Transport policy, and then set the value to Use both TCP and UDP. The setting for
      the RDP Transport policy is under the following node:
      Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsRemote Desktop ServicesRemote Desktop Session HostConnections

      Note Configuring the RDP Transport policy also enables firewall rules to allow the 3389 UDP port.

    6. Restart the computer.

    via
    Description of the Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 update for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1