Tag: spreadsheet

Using Dynamo to create a live Link between Excel and Revit

Luke Johnson

There are a myriad of ways to link spreadsheet data into Revit, including numerous addins to import and export data to Excel. There is also the Google Sheets connection. Recently, the BIM Troublemaker posted about using Dynamo because, as he puts it, “this was the tool that could give me an on the fly, bi-directional excel link…”

I enjoyed reading the post, because it explains Dynamo use starting from a basic level, and yet shows a practical example of something that can be built on and adapted to suit your needs.

Excel out dyn

The working example uses Dynamo commands to extract data from Revit family instances into Excel, and then push data from Excel back into Revit. Nice job!

Read the whole post:
http://bimtroublemaker.blogspot.com/2014/09/practical-dynamo-excel-linking.html

BIMFrame Connect – Google Cloud addin for Revit

Luke Johnson

Daniel Monsén has created one of those addins where you just have to say “this makes sense”. The key feature of Bimframe Connect?  It allows users to import and export data from Revit to a Google Spreadsheet.

The overall concept is that you can export data to a Google Spreadsheet, collaborate using a web client or mobile device, then import the data and update the Revit model.  Collaborators obviously don’t need Revit – just access to the Google spreadsheet.

Personally, I love the idea.  The more transparent the Revit building database is, the easier it is to add intelligence to the model, share the model, and detect design problems.

Overview:

The above video includes the following info:
Email: daniel@bimframe.com to get trial key.

Download the version 0.8 beta trial add in here:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BxQhjQerGcutN3RCV0lCS2pmeFk&usp=sharing

There is a series of tutorials on Youtube here:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_8PPGYG2g576rssp9ykCw/feed

Link Excel spreadsheet data into Revit

Luke Johnson

There is a way to link Excel data into Revit, and retain the ability to ‘update’ that data when it changes.  Essentially, it involves using AutoCAD as a middle-man to get the job done.  In simple terms:

  1. Link Excel into AutoCAD DWG
  2. Link DWG into Revit

When you want to update the Excel spreadsheet in Revit, you have to:

  1. Save Excel spreadsheet
  2. Open AutoCAD DWG and update Data Link
  3. Save DWG file
  4. Reload DWG link in Revit

This all works surprisingly well.  Check out the video below as a demonstration:

Here is a little diagram of the concept:

Process via
RevitCity.com | Importing Excel into Revit

In words:

  1. Save Excel File
  2. In AutoCAD – Insert – Data Link – new Excel Data link
  3. TABLE command
  4. From a data link – select Data Link, Ok
  5. Use 0,0 as insertion
  6. Save DWG file
  7. New Drafting View in Revit, link the DWG in Origin to Origin
  8. Its a two step update process whenever you change Excel.  Save, in AutoCAD / update link, Save DWG, in Revit – reload. Done.

Quickly review Error Report by parsing Element ID in spreadsheet

Luke Johnson

I find the Error Report – Warning – Select by ID process to be a little unwieldy in Revit (at the moment).

Here is a little process that may speed things up for you when reviewing a Error Report in Revit.

  1. Save Error Report to HTML

  2. Open HTML Error Report

  3. Copy data to Excel spreadsheet.

  4. Use RIGHT formula to extract only the id number to a new column.
    eg =RIGHT(C3,7)

  5. Copy the cell containing the id number to the ‘Select Elements by ID’ dialog in Revit.

Copy Spreadsheet tool updated

Luke Johnson

If you are having problems with the ‘Copy Spreadsheet’ utility, it is likely because you are running 64 bit Revit or you have recently updated Revit. If you haven’t heard of this tool, it is a simple program made in Autohotkey, and it automates the ‘copying’ of data from a spreadsheet into a Revit schedule. The Revit schedule will need to be a key schedule, and you will need to add the columns and rows before starting the utility.

Head over to http://forums.augi.com/showpost.php?p=950435&postcount=1 for the updated version.

Direct link http://www.nichitecture.com/downloads/Copy%20Spreadsheet%20for%20Revit%202010.zip

You may need to login to AUGI to access the above.