IMAGINiT Building Solutions Blog

NEW Home for the IMAGINiT Building Solutions Blog

We truly enjoy writing blog posts and sharing them. But that’s not all we do. Our new blog site lives on the IMAGINiT Resource Center. 

The IMAGINiT Resource Center offers a searchable index of our older posts, on-demand webcasts, tips and tricks, case studies, whitepapers, and more.

Content from our amazing technical team will continue! We hope you’ll join us: https://resources.imaginit.com/building-solutions-blog 

[Infographic] Top IMAGINiT Clarity Tasks

[Infographic] How Does IMAGINiT Clarity Work?

Revit for Landscape Architecture: Halftone Off-Site Elements

Katrina Vea Rodriguez | Senior Application Expert

In Revit, one method to halftone off-site elements in a view is to utilize Parameters and View Filters.

The first step is to set up a Parameter that helps differentiate elements that are on-site versus off-site.

1. Go to the Manage tab > Settings panel > Project Parameters tool
2. Select the ‘Add’ button and create a parameter similar to that shown below. (Note: In the Categories section, make sure to check all necessary elements that the parameter will be used for.)

The next step is to input the value of this new Parameter for the various elements that are located off-site. In the example below, multiple trees are selected, and the value of the new Parameter found in the Properties Palette is filled in as ‘OFF-SITE’.

Next, create a View Filter that allows control of visibility settings for all off-site elements.

1. Go to the Properties Palette > Visibility /Graphics Override parameter and select the ‘Edit’ button.
2. In the dialog box, switch to the ‘Filters’ tab
3. Select the ‘Edit/New’ button and create a Rule-based Filter similar to the one shown below. Then select OK. (Note: In the Categories section, make sure to check all necessary elements that the filter will be used for. These must match categories checked when first creating the parameter.)

4. Back in the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog, select the ‘Add’ button. Then select the new filter and hit OK.

1. Back in the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog, the visibility settings can now be overridden for all off-site elements. As an example, check the box under the ‘Halftone’ column for the new filter. Then hit OK. (Note: Projection and Cut settings can also be overridden.)

In the view, all off-site elements should now display halftoned, similar to the image below.

Additionally, for more efficiency, the new View Filter can be included in View Templates.

Revit for Landscape Architecture: Scheduling Floor Paving and Understory Planting Areas

Katrina Vea Rodriguez | Senior Application Expert

The floors tool in Revit can be utilized for modeling, and scheduling, both paving and understory planting areas.

In the example below, floor elements were used as paving areas, and assigned Type Marks with a prefix ‘P’. Floors elements were also used as understory planting areas, and assigned Type Marks with a prefix ‘U’.

The difference in prefixes allows separate schedules to be created for Paving and Understory Planting areas. This can be done by assigning schedule filters based on the Type Mark prefix. See images below.

Q&A Session for Standardizing Out-of-the-box and Manufacturer Revit Families

Thank you everyone that attended the webinar, Standardizing Out-of-the-box and Manufacturer Revit Families.  There were several questions we were unable to address live in the webinar, so we have addressed them below.  If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local IMAGINiT representative.

Q: Will the Family Processor swap the new parameters in formulas too?

A: The processor is swapping the parameters themselves.  Revit will automatically swap the parameter in the formula to match the replacement parameter.

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Q: Can we replace an outdated shared parameter with another shared parameter using the IMAGINiT Family Processor?

A: Yes, if a family has an old Shared Parameter and you are using a new Shared Parameter (file), then you can use the Family Processor to swap parameters.

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Q: Am I understanding correctly that this maps the replaced parameters to connectors?

A: If the original parameter was already mapped to the connector, then the replace parameter will automatically be mapped to the connector as well.  If the parameter was not mapped to the connector, then the Family Processor will not map it to the connector, that will still need to be done manually.

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Q: Revit doesn't seem to be good at managing data if we have to rely on third-party addons like this.

A: Revit provides the function to swap and add parameters as needed manually, add-ins are simplifying the process and allowing batch processes to occur.

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Q: How much does the IMAGINiT Add-In cost?

A: If you have your Autodesk subscription through IMAGINiT, you are entitled to the utilities at no cost.  If you don’t have your Autodesk subscription through IMAGINiT, the tools are available for purchase.

Subscriber download: https://www.imaginit.com/Support/utilities-request

Free Trial download: http://rww.force.com/software/RWW_Software_Trial_Request

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Q: Could you touch on the Concatenator Tool?

A: Videos for all Utilities for Revit, can be found at https://www.imaginit.com/software/imaginit-utilities-other-products/utilities-for-revit

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Q: Is IMAGINiT Utilities available for all Revit version?

A: 4 new tools were added to the 2021 release and 10 new tools were added to the 2020 release of IMAGINiT Utilities for Revit, but they work with all versions from 2016-2021 except for Fabrication Parts which is compatible from 2018-2021.

A complete list of the tools can be found here: https://resources.imaginit.com/brochures/imaginit-utilities-for-revit#

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Q: Are the IMAGINiT tools included with Productivity Now subscriptions?

A: If you have your Autodesk subscription through IMAGINiT, you are entitled to the utilities at no cost.  If you do not have your Autodesk subscription through IMAGINiT but have our Productivity Now subscription, the utilities are available for purchase.

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Q: Is there a way to mass add names and family types?

A: At this time there is not an IMAGINiT Utility that will do this.  This could however possibly be accomplished through Dynamo.

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Q: Does any of this work with Revit LT? Or is it only full Revit?

A: Revit LT does not support Add-ins so unfortunately, the IMAGINiT Utilities is not available.  The process of swapping parameters and adding parameters can still be done manually.

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Q: Is there a program that we could use in Revit for panel schedules?

A: Panel Schedules are little different as they are built in Revit using Panel Schedule Templates that are embedded into the Revit Project/Project Template.

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Q: Is there a way to do this without a 3rd party program?

A: Revit provides the function to swap and add parameters as needed manually one at a time, add-ins are simplifying the process and allowing batch processes to occur.

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Q: Can you clear out the other parameters that you do not want in the project or in your schedules?

A: The parameter can be deleted from the project through the Project Parameters dialogue or parameters associated to schedules can be removed from a project through the fields setting within the schedule, they can also be hidden from the schedule through the formatting settings.  The Family Processor does not work in projects, only in families.

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Q: With this workflow, if one device in the entire project does not have the shared parameters, it will either be filtered out of the schedule, or you will get a blank field, as that equipment will be different than the others, true?

A: Correct, if an element does not have the appropriate parameters in the family, then the line item in the schedule will be blank and the fields will not be editable.  A filter can be applied to limit which items display in the schedule.

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Q: Can you explain again how to change the parameter from an OTB family to your shared parameter. ie voltage

A: Manually the parameter can be swapped out by selecting it, selecting the pencil and then selecting the new shared parameter, refer to video above.  For more information on the Family Processor, https://resources.imaginit.com/revit/utilities-for-revit-family-processor#:~:text=The%20Family%20Processor%20automates%20several%20actions%20across%20one,Complimentary%20for%20IMAGINiT%20customers%2C%20but%20available%20to%20everyone.

Additionally, the recording to the webinar is available for review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rUB_mB7vW0.

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Q: Is it possible to do vertical schedules?

A: Revit only allows for schedules to have the categories along the top and the line items down the side.

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Q: Are you going to have another seminar on the other IMAGINiT Utilities?

A: Yes, there will be future webinars on other tools.  Videos for all Utilities for Revit, can be found at https://www.imaginit.com/software/imaginit-utilities-other-products/utilities-for-revit

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Q: Do you have any tricks or tools for cleaning up subcategories within various families?

A: Unfortunately, that is one of the challenges of using subcategories.  There might be a possibility in Dynamo to edit those, but that also plays on your view templates.

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Q: Can this be used for panelboard schedules?

A: Panel Schedules are little different as they are built in Revit using Panel Schedule Templates that are embedded into the Revit Project/Project Template.

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Q: Can I add parameter data to all types in a family at once?

A: If you set the formula value for the parameter, it will populate to all types.  Then delete out the formula and it will be editable in the different types as needed.

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Q: Can you show folks how to export the Shared Parameters file?

A: A Shared Parameter that is part of a family and not in your current Shared Parameter file, can be exported out of a family or project to the current Shared Parameter file.

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Q: Can a formula feature be added to a parameter/shared parameter in the Family Processor as well as carry "Tooltip description"?

A: The Family Processor does have the ability to create new Shared Parameters, but adding a Tooltip is not an available function.  If the Shared Parameter is already created with a Tooltip, then it will come with as it is part of the Shared Parameter.  Formulas and Default values can be added when adding new Shared Parameters to the family via the Family Processor.  If you are replacing parameters, you cannot add default values or formulas.

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Q: Can you save these parameter mappings to use on multiple similar families instead of doing the mapping manually multiple times?

A: Yes, the Replace Parameters actions can be saved out and used in other projects as well.

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Q: How do we remove duplicate parameters?

A: The only way to remove duplicate parameters from a project is to replace them with a common standard parameter in each of the families.

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Q: Are the shared parameters by project? Does this mean these should be placed within our project templates?

A: Creating a project template that has your standard schedules will make the documentation process much easier; alternatively you can create a holding file that has all your schedules in it, then bring them in as you need.  The Shared Parameters are centralized in a Shared Parameter .txt file, but it is not linked, but rather parameters are loaded as needed.  Preloading common parameters into the project template will help significantly.

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Q: How do we make a shared parameters file and share that between users and projects?

A: Storing your shared parameter file in a common secure location is strongly recommended, that way users creating content or schedules can easily access but can't edit it.

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Q: Most of our scheduled items end up being custom or not within the family without manually entering each value. (CFM, design temperatures, etc.) How could these tools be used to speed up that process? The time it takes to do this still seems to outweigh the benefits.

A: Depending on where that data is being driven from, it will need to be manually entered or could possibly be pushed in with Dynamo.

The webinar can be found on IMAGINiT’s Resource Center here: https://resources.imaginit.com/revit/standardizing-out-of-the-box-and-manufacturer-revit-families

Thank you for your time and hope these answers help you in your Revit standardizing endeavor.

~Jamie Owens

Coordinate Confusion with Levels in Revit!

Coordinates are vital for many aspects of any Revit project. In fact, coordinates are a part of every Revit project, whether you intentionally interact with them or not. In most smaller projects, and even sometimes in bigger projects you may not even worry about coordinates… at least not that you intentionally think about. But there is one area of every project you do interact with coordinates, and that is with Levels. In a Level’s Type Parameters, you have the ability to set the “Elevation Base” to either Project Base point, or Survey point.

So, what does this mean? This will control the datum Revit uses to display the elevation of a Level.

The default location of the Project Base Point is in the same place as Revit’s Origin (or 0,0,0). If you move it, let’s say down in the Z axis, the elevation dimension on the Level will change (assuming of course, the Level’s Elevation Base is set to Project Base Point.)

note: previous to Revit version 2020.2 the functionality was the same, you just had to unclip the Project Base Point before you moved it.

This comes in handy when you need to set the construction datum to something other than 0’-0”. For example, if you want this to read 100’-0”, you simply move the Project Base Point down 100’ and voila!

If you edit the Level’s Type Parameters and change the “Elevation Base” parameter to Survey Point, the Level’s dimension will instead read based on the location of the Survey Point … Maybe!

This is where there is confusion, and you DON’T EVEN REALIZE IT! The truth is the dimension shown on the level is not actually using the Survey Point as its reference. The Level is actually using the current Shared Coordinate! If you move the Survey point (just as you did the Project Base Point), but leave it clipped, you are also moving the Shared Coordinate location, and in this scenario everything seems to be copasetic and working as intended.

BUT if you unclip the Survey Point, then move it, the location of the Shared Coordinate does not change and neither does the dimension of the Level! So, in fact, the Level’s dimension is not reading from the Survey Point as advertised! It’s actually reading from the the Shared Coordinate location.

This probably doesn’t make a difference in most Revit projects, and you may have never even dealt with this. But you might get frustrated or confused and think something is “broken” if you ever need to set the Levels to read from the “Survey point”, then unclip the survey point and move it to another location.

By the way, the same hold true for the Spot Elevation and Spot Coordinate dimensions!

IMAGINiT Clarity 2021, Now Available!

We are excited to announce the release of IMAGINiT Clarity 2021! Clarity is like having a Revit robot; automating repetitive tasks, providing analytics, and keeping your project healthy. 

What’s Inside the New Release?

Clarity 2021 contains a number of new compelling features!

• Support for Revit and Revit Server 2021
• Integrations with Google Drive and Procore
• A new PDF Driver (PDF-Xchange by Tracker Software)
• Improved BIM360 support (more tasks, nicer user interface)
• Centralized management of task servers and offices for larger deployments
• Model Health  / Model Metrics improvements, including:
• Model Scoring, based on firm standards
• Visibility of live metric graphs outside of Clarity like the BIM360 project page, Microsoft Teams, etc.
• The first version of “Community Model Health Data Sharing” – an opt-in service to anonymously share metrics about your Revit models, and to see how your models compare to other firms.
• And more.

See the new Clarity 2021 features in action on May 27th! Register today

 

Now Available at IMAGINiT, Twinmotion Real-Time Visualization

Twinmotion, from Epic Games and powered by Unreal Engine, is now available at IMAGINiT Technologies!  

Bring Your Designs to Life

Twinmotion brings a whole new level of visualization to AEC projects allowing users to create an immersive experience for project reviews, stakeholder approvals, and to boost the perception of innovation and quality for their firm.

Twinmotion's intuitive drag and drop options like single and multi-drop, make covering terrain and applying other materials quick and easy. The dock includes
text and visual aids to help users make fast changes on the fly. Twinmotion offers the ability to create stunning scenes in just a few clicks with direct integrations with popular 3D software, including Revit.

Quixel recently joined Epic Games, adding a massive library of thousands of photorealistic objects, including trees with the ability to age and interact with the weather, moving characters, furniture, terrain objects, and much more. 

You can visualize how your project appears today, or in 20 years, with organically growing trees evolving from saplings to mature towering adults. See how the sun affects shadows and light when it rises and sets. Play the role of Mother Nature as you control the weather in your project. Make it a beautiful sunny day, or unleash a storm to create puddles and change the appearance of interactive material like asphalt. A simple adjustment of the date turns the rain to snow softly falling from the sky, just as it would in the real world.  

One-click virtual reality with the realism offered by Twinmotion allows an experience you'll never forget, and neither will your clients! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notice: Family Corruption in Revit 2020.2

Please be aware that the Revit Team at Autodesk identified a defect in the 2020.2 update/build that is corrupting families in some projects.

On February 4, the team published the notification on Autodesk's Knowledge Network (AKN) along with four suggested workarounds.  Here is the link to the article:  Family Corruption in Revit 2020.2

The team anticipates delivering a hotfix to resolve this issue very soon.  In the meantime, please take note of the workarounds in the above article should you encounter an issue in one of your projects.