Revit Zero is not the same as Project Base Point

Luke Johnson

Often, it is.  But if Project Base Point has ever moved in the life of the Revit project, then it probably won’t be.  Revit Zero (sometimes called the Internal Origin) affects things like FBX and NWC export (IFC too) when using Project Coordinates.

One way to find it is to make a DWG file with a couple of lines at 0,0,0 and link in Auto – Origin to Origin.  Another way is to make a Spot Coordinate that reports based on the “Relative” option.

You can theoretically  have 3 different coordinate records for a single geometric point, as this image shows:

You can read a bit about this at Revit Landscape.

RevitLookup for Revit 2015 – compiled version for download

Luke Johnson

Jeremy Tammik has upgraded RevitLookup for Revit 2015.  I compiled the latest version and have provided it here – please note it comes with no guarantees, but it worked for me.

  1. Download this and extract
  2. Run the .bat file, which will copy the .addin and .dll to your ProgramData addins folder

Or, you can manually download and compile from:

https://github.com/jeremytammik/RevitLookup

  1. Use github link above and click Download Zip
  2. Extract it
  3. Open the RevitLookup.sln in Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows Desktop
  4. Add C:Program FilesAutodeskRevit 2015 to Reference Paths
  5. Build > Build Solution (note – this should automatically copy to Appdata folder, so you should be good to go…), or
  6. If you want to use ProgramData instead, copy RevitLookup.addin and RevitLookup.dll to:
    C:ProgramDataAutodeskRevitAddins2015 and remove them from:
    %appdata%AutodeskRevitAddins2015
  7. Open Revit 2015 and test

Original post:

The Building Coder: RevitLookup for Revit 2015

Etransmit enhancements for Revit 2015 – nice!

Luke Johnson

Steve picked up some very interesting points from Revit Help about updated Etransmit, including:

  • eTransmit for Autodesk Revit 2015: When you transmit a model, you can now select to:
    • include supporting files such as documents and spreadsheets
    • disable worksets
    • delete sheets
    • include only views that are placed on sheets
    • include or exclude types of views such as detail views or sections

    See Autodesk Revit eTransmit.

Interestingly, it is now recognized as a valid way to cleanup and archive models, as per this page:

Common uses for eTransmit for Autodesk Revit 2015:
  • Internal archiving
  • Sending deliverables to clients
  • Model exchange between consultants/partners
  • Model cleanup
  • Sharing models between disciplines
  • Upgrading models

Steve’s post:

Revit OpEd: Revit 2015 Help is Online

Auto NWC View Exporter (realtime watcher addin) for Revit, by Kyle Morin

Luke Johnson

In the past, some users have automated Revit to NWC export to happen overnight using customized journal files. Kyle Morin has now created an addin that monitors model changes and automatically keeps your NWC up to date, essentially in “real time”.

You can download it for Revit 2014 here, and view / contribute on the open source page here.

Check out his post at:
Revit to Navisworks: Auto NWC View Exporter – kylemorin.co Blog

via
https://twitter.com/kylemorin/status/455437946330423296

Workaround to fix "Explorer.EXE cannot run because there is no registered version of Autodesk Inventor…" caused by Navisworks 2015 installation

Luke Johnson

I experienced this error after installing Navisworks Manage 2015:

Basically, a right-click shell extension for ZIP files was looking for Inventor and not finding it. I logged it with Autodesk and was notified that it was a genuine, repeatable issue.

To fix it on my system, I did this:

  1. Download and install ShellExView
  2. Run it
  3. Click Options, Filter by Extension Type
  4. Only select Context Menu and click OK
  5. Look for the 5 results with Description “DtBridge”, all starting with Autodesk Inventor…
  6. Select them and right-click, Disable Selected Items
  7. Click Options, Restart Explorer

The right-click menu for ZIP files no longer shows the error.

Copy a Directory Tree to a single Folder (copy flat) with this script

Luke Johnson

Have you ever wanted to copy a directory tree of family files to a single directory? Once you do this, you can load them all into a Revit instance in a single “Load Family” operation – just go to the directory and then Ctrl+A to select all, then click Open.

The following script will copy a directory tree to a single directory – essentially discarding the directory structure. It also filters by file type and only includes RFA files. Copy the code to Notepad, save as CMD or BAT.

dir “sourcedirectory” /A:D /B /S > tempListOfDirs.txt
For /F “tokens=*” %%A IN (tempListOfDirs.txt) Do (
If Exist %%A* (
XCOPY “%%A*.rfa” “targetdirectory” /Y /R
)
)
del tempListOfDirs.txt

Once you have a single directory of RFA files and have loaded them all into Revit, you could then use the categorizer to sort them all into directories by Category… its really an automated and free way to upgrade and sort your family library.

Note: I had previously posted a similar script using Robocopy at

What Revit Wants: Copy a Directory Tree “Flat” – all files into one folder, no subfolders

This code modified from:

Commerce Server Guy: Tree-To-Flat Copy Using XCopy

Autodesk Application Manager is already helpful – Revit 2015 Update Release 1

Luke Johnson

Depending which Revit 2015 installer you used, you may need to install this. More info at:
http://download.autodesk.com/SWDLDDLM/Updates/2015/REVIT/Revit_2015_Update_1_Readme.htm

Revit 2015 Update Release 1 Enhancements documentation:
http://revit.downloads.autodesk.com/download/2015RVT_RTM/UR1/Enhancements_List_RVT_2015_UR1.pdf

Autodesk® Revit® Platform 2015 Enhancements

  • Improves data integrity when editing nested families.
  • Improves stability when editing nested families. 
  • Improves stability when editing when expanding schedule columns.
  • Improves upgrade of projects which contain rebar elements.
  • Removes format constraints for assembly codes.
  • Improves data collection when Customer Involvement Program is enabled

Just remember – the application manager will by default store downloaded packages in:
C:UsersUSERNAMEDocumentsAutodesk Application Manager

Listen to a conversation about Virtual Construction and the Effect on Team Dynamics and Communication

Luke Johnson

I was approached by Reza Hosseini, who is currently completing his Phd, to have an interview about virtual construction. 

It is embedded here:

Some of the topics covered:

  • virtual teams
  • technological challenges of trying to work ‘live’ on a cloud model
  • effects of virtuality in teams
  • cultural background and project experience and the effect on teams
  • the size of teams (number of disciplines / stakeholders)
  • accountability for action items (for example, clashes)
  • Revit interoperability (including with Tekla), and using IFC
  • new roles for contractors to do model conversions (as Virtual Built is doing)
  • change management, and the instigators of change
  • is the Client or Head Contractor requesting BIM?
  • using Aconex
  • conflict creation
  • IP issues and contract rights for BIM team members
  • team identity and affiliation
  • level of importance of social interaction
  • skills shortage of BIM users
  • researching BIM, determining unique topics of discussion
  • building trust relationships
  • level of importance of face-to-face contact
  • frequency of communication
  • scaleability of BIM to small projects

I hope the background noise and sounds of cutlery aren’t too distracting 🙂