Every year we reach out to our customer base to make sure we’re adding value with each iteration of Ideate BIMLink. Our development team just completed another point release for both 2013 (yes, you heard correctly – new features added to the old version!) and 2014. You can learn more about the improvements in our What’s New in Ideate BIMLink video.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, you can make your voice heard for any new features you’d like to see. All existing Ideate BIMLink users should have received their user survey form via email on 14 August. Those who complete the survey are automatically entered into a drawing to win an iPad mini. The survey ends September 23rd, so if you haven’t filled yours out yet, take a few minutes and let us know what you’d like to see in the next version of Ideate BIMLink. The winner will be announced on August 27th.
If you are an Ideate BIMLink owner and have not received your survey, you can request a copy of the survey.
Showing posts with label Ideate BIMLink for Revit 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ideate BIMLink for Revit 2013. Show all posts
August 15, 2013
March 25, 2013
Renaming and Renumbering in Revit, Simplified with Ideate BIMLink
One of the more tedious and labor-intensive BIM tasks confronting architects and engineers is the act of renumbering or renaming elements. We’ve had customers who require that all of the system families, for example, are prefixed with their company name. So instead of “Wall: 1-HR” we need “Wall: ABC_1-HR.” Likewise, even simple design changes can set off a chain reaction that requires significant renumbering of details, views, or equipment. Many times furnishings, fixtures, and equipment need to be renumbered in the middle of a project because new rooms or floors have been added, and the equipment numbering needs to align with the room and floor numbering schemas.
Naming and numbering tasks can also be driven by an owner requirement for external database compatibility. The COBie specification, which is now mandated for federal government projects in the US, is a prime example of this. For those of you not familiar with COBie you can learn more at the Whole Building Design Guide website. The COBie Guide* makes it clear that “During design, the Architect shall be responsible to resolve all conflicts in duplicative naming by their own staff and all consulting engineers.” This sounds like a very daunting task but with Ideate BIMLink you can turn a day-long project into a (5) minute task.
This video demonstrates how Ideate BIMLink can be used to create and manage the unique type, component, and space naming requirements mandated by this COBie specification.
(View video on YouTube)
For information on other kinds of renumber tasks, refer also to our Door Numbering blog post.
A typical COBie project will require at least (4) iterations:
Whether your renaming/renumbering task is driven by COBie or any other reason let Ideate BIMLink + Excel do the heavy lifting and put your architects and engineers onto higher order tasks.
Glynnis Patterson is a registered architect and the Director of Software Development at Ideate, Inc. In a previous life Glynnis spent many hours looking at blueprints with a scale, highlighters, and a scratch pad to develop detailed cost estimates.
Naming and numbering tasks can also be driven by an owner requirement for external database compatibility. The COBie specification, which is now mandated for federal government projects in the US, is a prime example of this. For those of you not familiar with COBie you can learn more at the Whole Building Design Guide website. The COBie Guide* makes it clear that “During design, the Architect shall be responsible to resolve all conflicts in duplicative naming by their own staff and all consulting engineers.” This sounds like a very daunting task but with Ideate BIMLink you can turn a day-long project into a (5) minute task.
This video demonstrates how Ideate BIMLink can be used to create and manage the unique type, component, and space naming requirements mandated by this COBie specification.
(View video on YouTube)
For information on other kinds of renumber tasks, refer also to our Door Numbering blog post.
A typical COBie project will require at least (4) iterations:
That’s a lot of data entry!
- one for 35% Design Development,
- another at 100% Construction Documentation,
- another at the Beneficial Occupancy stage,
- and lastly within the As-Built documents
Whether your renaming/renumbering task is driven by COBie or any other reason let Ideate BIMLink + Excel do the heavy lifting and put your architects and engineers onto higher order tasks.
March 14, 2013
eLearning – Upcoming Classes
Join the Ideate
Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your
entire organization with easy access to premium education.
Upcoming classes include:
Upcoming classes include:
3.18.13::Ideate Software 101:Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.
Revit Project Management with Ideate BIMLink
3.26.13::Revit 201:
Worksharing Best Practices
4.15.13::Civil 101:
Civil 3D for Beginners
Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com
Get It. Know It. Use It.
March 7, 2013
eLearning – Upcoming Classes
Join the Ideate
Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your
entire organization with easy access to premium education.
Upcoming classes include:
Upcoming classes include:
3.12.13::Revit 201:Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.
Revit Import Into 3ds Max
3.18.13::Ideate Software 101:
Revit Project Management with Ideate BIMLink
Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com
Get It. Know It. Use It.
February 13, 2013
Free the Walls – Publishing Unconnected Wall Height Data with Ideate BIMLink
It’s hard to do a detailed analysis or cost estimate if you don’t know the height of the walls in your Autodesk Revit project. Ideate BIMLink exposes this information as well as other hard to access wall data such as phase, design option, orientation, and location data (XYZ). Many of our VDC customers take this data and move it forward, but of course it can also be pushed back into Revit for use in tags or schedules, if needed.
This video shows the simple process of extracting all of the wall height data and then pushing it back into a project parameter so that it can be displayed in a schedule.
While the technique shown here relates to the unconnected wall height values, this same procedure is being used by many Ideate BIMLink customers to push other kinds of data into schedules or tags. Managing occupancy data is another very similar workflow that can also be used to save time and improve accuracy.
Glynnis Patterson is a registered architect and the Director of Software Development at Ideate, Inc. In a previous life Glynnis spent many hours looking at blueprints with a scale, highlighters, and a scratch pad to develop detailed cost estimates.
While the technique shown here relates to the unconnected wall height values, this same procedure is being used by many Ideate BIMLink customers to push other kinds of data into schedules or tags. Managing occupancy data is another very similar workflow that can also be used to save time and improve accuracy.
February 4, 2013
Autodesk Exchange Apps!
In a recent class here at our Ideate Seattle office, one of our customers had requested a custom code that adds drawing tabs to their AutoCAD application. They had created this in the past to show drawing tabs at the top of the AutoCAD drawing window so their users would have an easier time switching from file to file with multiple drawings open.
What many AutoCAD users may not know, or simply may not have taken advantage of, is that the Autodesk Exchange site (built-in to AutoCAD programs) has both free and paid Apps for many of the features that users have been requesting. These add-ons are not part of the out-of-box applications, but can be easily installed onto existing products on your workstation.
One of these features just happens to be Drawing Tabs.
Here are a few more Apps that may be of interest:
Autodesk Exchange also includes Apps for additional Autodesk products. In fact, we at Ideate have two of our own programs available through Autodesk Exchange. If you’re a Revit user, look for Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Revit.
If you’re considering some custom code to add a feature or function to your application, check out the Autodesk Exchange site first. Chances are there may be someone out there who’s already done the work for you!
Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE
Get it. Know it. Use it.
What many AutoCAD users may not know, or simply may not have taken advantage of, is that the Autodesk Exchange site (built-in to AutoCAD programs) has both free and paid Apps for many of the features that users have been requesting. These add-ons are not part of the out-of-box applications, but can be easily installed onto existing products on your workstation.
One of these features just happens to be Drawing Tabs.
Here are a few more Apps that may be of interest:
SketchUp Import (.SKP) Files
QR Codes (Converts text to a QR code in your drawing)
Screenshots (Adds a plug-in to take quick and easy screenshots of your drawing file)
DWG Compare (compares two versions of a file to display differences in the drawing area)If you’ve never used Autodesk Exchange you can sign-in directly through the application using the blue and grey “X” in the upper right. Once you’re logged in, pick a product and you’ll be able to search through the available apps. The price ranges depend on who created the App and what it can do. Many of them are free, including the five mentioned above.
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Sign-in directly from AutoCAD and other Autodesk Products
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If you’re considering some custom code to add a feature or function to your application, check out the Autodesk Exchange site first. Chances are there may be someone out there who’s already done the work for you!
Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE
Get it. Know it. Use it.
January 17, 2013
Ideate BIMLink in the Cloud – Now non-Revit Users Can Edit Revit Data Too!
A great reason to use Ideate BIMLink for Autodesk Revit is that it allows non-Revit users to contribute to the data side of the model. What do we mean by this? We mean that interior designs or consultants who don’t have Revit can fill out important space and room information such as a finish schedule or the Specified Airflow values using plain ‘ole MS Excel. We mean that the project manager who is busy traveling to job sites can edit the sheet list information from the job trailer without having to access the project’s .RVT file. Or, maybe it’s the building engineer, onsite, who is reading barcodes from each installed piece of mechanical equipment and wants that data stored back into the as-built model. Ideate BIMLink is the perfect solution for all these scenarios.
How does it work? We’ll use the example of filling out the manufacture and model number for the mechanical equipment or specialty equipment. Bob is the engineer who owns Revit and uses a workstation, while Sue is the general contractor completing the as-built information. Sue is onsite with an iPad walking through the building to confirm each piece of data. Here’s the basic procedure:
Glynnis Patterson is a registered architect and the Director of Software Development at Ideate, Inc. In a previous life Glynnis spent many hours looking at blueprints with a scale, highlighters, and a scratch pad to develop detailed cost estimates.
- Bob exports the list of mechanical equipment from the Revit model using Ideate BIMLink.
- Bob saves the .XLSX file into Dropbox.
- Sue uses CloudOn with Dropbox on her iPad and sees the file Bob just posted.
- Sue opens the .XLSX and walks around to verify the Manufacture and model number for each piece of equipment that’s actually installed.
- Some of the model number fields are missing or incorrect. Sue edits them on the iPad.
- When Sue is done Bob uses Ideate BIMLink to import the edited .XLSX data and push it back into Revit.
- Now the Revit file data matches the as-built information and the owner gets a high-quality deliverable!
December 5, 2012
Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013 User Survey Winners
Congratulations to our Ideate Explorer for Revit Survey Winners:
We take your input very seriously - You ask, we listen. Our newest release of Ideate BIMLink will ship soon and contains all three of our top user survey requests from the 2012 Ideate BIMLink survey. See the Sneak Peek before it ships!
- Anders Alverfeldt of Yellow AB in Sweden
- Jeremy McMartin of Kirkor Architects
and Planners in Canada - Shawn Harriman of Roebbelen Construction
in the United States - Clark Morgan of WG Clark Construction
in the United States
We take your input very seriously - You ask, we listen. Our newest release of Ideate BIMLink will ship soon and contains all three of our top user survey requests from the 2012 Ideate BIMLink survey. See the Sneak Peek before it ships!
November 14, 2012
Part 1: Loaded Type Has Been Renamed… to Protect the Innocent
Copy/Monitor Quirkiness Between Revit MEP and Revit Architecture
While researching an issue for an Ideate BIMLink customer, I ran into some quirky issues with the Revit MEP Copy/Monitor tool as it pertains to the copying of the “Architecture” families into the MEP project.
Major Problem: My copy/monitored Revit Architectural families that show up in the Revit MEP project is not in the exact same location, nor does ALL of my parameter information come across and it does not get updated if I make a change!
To properly answer the above question we need to separate it out into its individual problem statements.
Problem 1: Families are not in the same location.
The reason for this is twofold. One is this statement from the Revit MEP help file itself: When copied, the host-based fixture type is automatically converted to a face-based fixture type in Revit. (The geometry of the original fixture family is copied to a face-based family in Revit.) This conversion enables easier hosting of these fixtures on surfaces in linked models.
Family Changed From Ceiling to Face
The second has to do with how the Revit family itself was built. Most, if not all of the out of the box Revit MEP families were created with reference plans that are set to “act” or “define” the origin. Whereas not every Revit Architecture family has reference plans set that way. This is very apparent when a Revit Architecture family is swapped out for a Revit MEP family, as shown in the following video:
Family Changed to Type Mapping
As you notice in this particular video the height of the Revit Architecture outlet is 9.75" - which does carry over to the Revit MEP outlet, however, due to the way the Revit Architecture and Revit MEP families were built, the heights cannot be relied upon to match.
Problem 2: All of my Parameter information does not come across from the Linked model.
This issue is a bit more problematic. One would assume that if a parameter exists on a Revit Architecture family then the information will come across into the Linked family. Alas, it is not to be, as demonstrated:
Family with Custom Parameters Copied
Problem 3: Parameters do not get “updated” when changed in the Linked model.
When parameters are changed regardless of copy/monitor or type mapped – those changed values do not come through at all – only the initial copy/monitor will transfer the parameters and only those that are “type” and “system” – as noted. If the offset value (which is a parameter) is changed in the Revit Architecture file while item is copy monitored it does not cause the Revit MEP linked project to consider the fixture moved when using the Copy Monitor feature. Only if the fixture is “physically” moved (in the xyz) then Revit will generate a coordination warning.
Stay tuned because in December we’ll share information about using Ideate BIMLink as a way to push this instance data from the Revit Architecture to the Revit MEP file.
Bill Johnson
Ideate Senior MEP Application Specialist
While researching an issue for an Ideate BIMLink customer, I ran into some quirky issues with the Revit MEP Copy/Monitor tool as it pertains to the copying of the “Architecture” families into the MEP project.
Major Problem: My copy/monitored Revit Architectural families that show up in the Revit MEP project is not in the exact same location, nor does ALL of my parameter information come across and it does not get updated if I make a change!
To properly answer the above question we need to separate it out into its individual problem statements.
Problem 1: Families are not in the same location.
The reason for this is twofold. One is this statement from the Revit MEP help file itself: When copied, the host-based fixture type is automatically converted to a face-based fixture type in Revit. (The geometry of the original fixture family is copied to a face-based family in Revit.) This conversion enables easier hosting of these fixtures on surfaces in linked models.
Family Changed From Ceiling to Face
The second has to do with how the Revit family itself was built. Most, if not all of the out of the box Revit MEP families were created with reference plans that are set to “act” or “define” the origin. Whereas not every Revit Architecture family has reference plans set that way. This is very apparent when a Revit Architecture family is swapped out for a Revit MEP family, as shown in the following video:
Family Changed to Type Mapping
As you notice in this particular video the height of the Revit Architecture outlet is 9.75" - which does carry over to the Revit MEP outlet, however, due to the way the Revit Architecture and Revit MEP families were built, the heights cannot be relied upon to match.
Problem 2: All of my Parameter information does not come across from the Linked model.
This issue is a bit more problematic. One would assume that if a parameter exists on a Revit Architecture family then the information will come across into the Linked family. Alas, it is not to be, as demonstrated:
Family with Custom Parameters Copied
Problem 3: Parameters do not get “updated” when changed in the Linked model.
When parameters are changed regardless of copy/monitor or type mapped – those changed values do not come through at all – only the initial copy/monitor will transfer the parameters and only those that are “type” and “system” – as noted. If the offset value (which is a parameter) is changed in the Revit Architecture file while item is copy monitored it does not cause the Revit MEP linked project to consider the fixture moved when using the Copy Monitor feature. Only if the fixture is “physically” moved (in the xyz) then Revit will generate a coordination warning.
Stay tuned because in December we’ll share information about using Ideate BIMLink as a way to push this instance data from the Revit Architecture to the Revit MEP file.
Bill Johnson
Ideate Senior MEP Application Specialist
Bill has over 20 years experience in applying AEC design solutions for large commercial companies. A graduate of Pasadena Institute of Technology, he has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill has also had the opportunity to act as Lead AutoCAD Designer for multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley.
Get it. Know it. Use it.
November 12, 2012
Quantifying Reinforcement in Revit Structure and Ideate BIMLink
One of the benefits of modeling reinforcement in your Revit model is that you can quantify it via a schedule. However, it is common practice for rebar schedules to typically include element cross-sectional geometry mixed with the actual rebar specification. As you know, in Revit Structure these two types of data can be extracted into separate tables i.e. – host element table and Structural Rebar table. The two can have relational parameters but cannot be combined into a single table.
Ideate BIMLink exposes this data and lets you extract information from the host object that the rebar is placed in, thus allowing you to create a schedule that contains both rebar information as well as information about the elements it is placed in. Creating such a schedule using Ideate BIMLink is easy:
1. Launch IdeateBIMLink from the Add-Ins tab
2. Create a New Link with Structural Rebar as the category
3. In the Properties dialog box, notice how you can add data about the objects that the rebar is hosted in
You can export this data to Microsoft Excel, Edit it if need be and bring it back into the Revit Model.
Shruti Harve, LEED AP
Ideate Senior AEC Application Specialist
Shruti holds a Master of Science degree in Architectural Computing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and is LEED accredited. Her experience includes working in Architecture and Construction firms in India and the United Kingdom as well as Structural Engineering firms in the Bay Area providing design, 3D modeling and drafting services. At Ideate, Shruti provides training and support for Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, 3ds Max, Ecotect and AutoCAD Architecture.
Get it. Know it. Use it.
Ideate BIMLink exposes this data and lets you extract information from the host object that the rebar is placed in, thus allowing you to create a schedule that contains both rebar information as well as information about the elements it is placed in. Creating such a schedule using Ideate BIMLink is easy:
1. Launch IdeateBIMLink from the Add-Ins tab
2. Create a New Link with Structural Rebar as the category
Shruti Harve, LEED APIdeate Senior AEC Application Specialist
Shruti holds a Master of Science degree in Architectural Computing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and is LEED accredited. Her experience includes working in Architecture and Construction firms in India and the United Kingdom as well as Structural Engineering firms in the Bay Area providing design, 3D modeling and drafting services. At Ideate, Shruti provides training and support for Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, 3ds Max, Ecotect and AutoCAD Architecture.
Get it. Know it. Use it.
October 17, 2012
Autodesk Revit Database Management and Ideate BIMLink
A customer recently asked us for information about using Ideate BIMLink in conjunction with MS Access. Before I share information about how this can be done, I’ll outline some important information about how Revit can connect, out-of-the-box, with an Access database. Revit is a database of building information and this information, or at least a portion of it, can be exported to ODBC which can in turn be opened within Access. You can learn more about this process in the Wiki.
This process is one-way, meaning that the data can leave Revit via Export, but there is no corresponding import. This is most useful as a way to manage data that can logically remain separate from the building objects, such as construction cost data or for managing HR data relative to spatial data.
For people who are interested in a more fluid, two-way data exchange, Autodesk also provides a free tool for subscription owners, called Revit DB Link. This tool permits both an import and an export and can be used for a wider variety of tasks. A common usage might include editing volumes of Room- or Space-based parameters within Access and then importing the changes back to Revit. I should clarify that this tool does not permit a “live link” between Revit and Access, meaning that both the import and the export processes within Revit are manual. It should also be noted that for 64-bit users, the setup for the MS Access will require a 64-bit ODBC driver which wasn’t provided by Microsoft until the release of Office 2010. You can learn more about the setup on this 2010 Typepad Blog (recent Autodesk posts imply that this information is still valid).
Ideate BIMLink also provides and import/export capability but is aimed at the average user who does not want to setup an Access database or who has found that the Revit DB Link tool cannot manage the volume or type of data needed for a specific task. Excel provides a simple and elegant way to manage the large volumes of data within the Revit project. This chart explains some of the differences between Revit DB Link and Ideate BIMLink.
Now, back to the question at hand… can you use Ideate BIMLink with MS Access? You can, here’s how: http://www.screencast.com/t/ayYInfVSg. I think the primary reason you might consider this workflow is that Ideate BIMLink lets you deal with smaller chunks of data and, again, does not require Access knowledge. The Revit user or consultant can manage a small chunk of the database within Excel. For example, they could fill out important COBie-related fields for specialty equipment items then handover that chunk of Excel-based data for incorporation into the larger, Access database. Ideate BIMLink uses the Type and Instance IDs as the database “key” to help coordinate the information between the Building Model and the database model. It’s the right tool for keeping it simple and fast.
Glynnis Patterson is a registered architect and the Director of Software Development at Ideate, Inc. In a previous life Glynnis spent many hours looking at blueprints with a scale, highlighters, and a scratch pad to develop detailed cost estimates.
For people who are interested in a more fluid, two-way data exchange, Autodesk also provides a free tool for subscription owners, called Revit DB Link. This tool permits both an import and an export and can be used for a wider variety of tasks. A common usage might include editing volumes of Room- or Space-based parameters within Access and then importing the changes back to Revit. I should clarify that this tool does not permit a “live link” between Revit and Access, meaning that both the import and the export processes within Revit are manual. It should also be noted that for 64-bit users, the setup for the MS Access will require a 64-bit ODBC driver which wasn’t provided by Microsoft until the release of Office 2010. You can learn more about the setup on this 2010 Typepad Blog (recent Autodesk posts imply that this information is still valid).
Ideate BIMLink also provides and import/export capability but is aimed at the average user who does not want to setup an Access database or who has found that the Revit DB Link tool cannot manage the volume or type of data needed for a specific task. Excel provides a simple and elegant way to manage the large volumes of data within the Revit project. This chart explains some of the differences between Revit DB Link and Ideate BIMLink.
Now, back to the question at hand… can you use Ideate BIMLink with MS Access? You can, here’s how: http://www.screencast.com/t/ayYInfVSg. I think the primary reason you might consider this workflow is that Ideate BIMLink lets you deal with smaller chunks of data and, again, does not require Access knowledge. The Revit user or consultant can manage a small chunk of the database within Excel. For example, they could fill out important COBie-related fields for specialty equipment items then handover that chunk of Excel-based data for incorporation into the larger, Access database. Ideate BIMLink uses the Type and Instance IDs as the database “key” to help coordinate the information between the Building Model and the database model. It’s the right tool for keeping it simple and fast.
October 1, 2012
New Point Release for Ideate Software 2013 Now Available
The Ideate Software team has released version 2013.1 for both Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Autodesk Revit. The point release, for use with Autodesk Revit 2013, has minor installation changes that improve network installations (including Citrix deployments) and enhancements that allow the standalone installation to be accessed by all users. This point release should be implemented only if you are having installation concerns. Contact support@ideateinc.com if you need installation assistance.
Ideate Explorer – 2013.1 Download
Ideate BIMLink – 2013.1 Download
Note: Ideate Software is available for network use. The network version can utilize your existing FlexLM setup and support virtualized environments such as Remote Desktop and Citrix. For questions or pricing information contact ideatesoftware@ideateinc.com
Ideate Explorer – 2013.1 Download
Ideate BIMLink – 2013.1 Download
Note: Ideate Software is available for network use. The network version can utilize your existing FlexLM setup and support virtualized environments such as Remote Desktop and Citrix. For questions or pricing information contact ideatesoftware@ideateinc.com
September 17, 2012
Ideate BIMLink and Revit MEP Space Type Modification
In Revit MEP in order to properly mine the Building Model for Energy information you need to verify the building, space, and zone information, and view graphical representations of the spaces to verify space boundaries and volumes. One of the most time consuming tasks of verifying, assigning and correcting space type information can be quickly done in Ideate BIMLink.
As an example, in Revit MEP the most direct way to verify, assign and/or correct Space information is by manually selecting the space and then making the appropriate changes in the Space Properties Dialog, as shown:
Within the above Properties dialog box, once the Space Type area has been selected, it will open a completely new dialog box titled the Space Type Settings from which you will be able to select the appropriate Space Type:
A more visual way to accomplish the above on more than one space, is to create a Space Type schedule and then make the changes directly in the schedule itself, which will then reflect directly in the building model, but again in selecting the Space Type in the schedule, it will then open up the Space Type Settings dialog box to apply the appropriate Space Type:
In either of the above cases the average time to select and change two (2) spaces from the default <Building> definition to a completely different definition is roughly 20 seconds. So, if we extrapolate that number , the average time for changing 200 spaces is 2000 seconds which works out to be roughly 30 minutes. This value must be changed if correct Energy Analysis information is to be expected from the Spaces and Zones.
The same process in Ideate BIMLink would be roughly 5 minutes and it does not have to be an individual who is accustom to Revit it can be someone who is comfortable with Excel and editing.
I will now demonstrate how easy it is with Ideate BIMLink to export out the Spaces with the appropriate information, edit the values in Excel, then simply re-import the information back into Revit MEP.
The one and only Caveat to using Ideate BIMLink to do this work is that you should take note before hand of what the name of the Space Type is in the Space Type Settings dialog box. The reason for this is that when the value gets exported through Ideate BIMLink, the name of the space type gets translated into numbers. For example the default value in the Space Type selection of <Building> is translated by Ideate BIMLink to be the value of -1, whereas the value of Active Storage is 1. The value of Active Storage - Hospital/Healthcare is 2, and then so on. I found it quite easy to have a spreadsheet with the names and appropriate incremental numbers next to it.
In this video I have already created a Space Type schedule and will then use Ideate BIMLink to export out the values. Then I will open up the exported excel spreadsheet, make my changes then re-import the results back into Revit MEP.
Bill Johnson
Ideate Senior MEP Application Specialist
In either of the above cases the average time to select and change two (2) spaces from the default <Building> definition to a completely different definition is roughly 20 seconds. So, if we extrapolate that number , the average time for changing 200 spaces is 2000 seconds which works out to be roughly 30 minutes. This value must be changed if correct Energy Analysis information is to be expected from the Spaces and Zones.
The same process in Ideate BIMLink would be roughly 5 minutes and it does not have to be an individual who is accustom to Revit it can be someone who is comfortable with Excel and editing.
I will now demonstrate how easy it is with Ideate BIMLink to export out the Spaces with the appropriate information, edit the values in Excel, then simply re-import the information back into Revit MEP.
The one and only Caveat to using Ideate BIMLink to do this work is that you should take note before hand of what the name of the Space Type is in the Space Type Settings dialog box. The reason for this is that when the value gets exported through Ideate BIMLink, the name of the space type gets translated into numbers. For example the default value in the Space Type selection of <Building> is translated by Ideate BIMLink to be the value of -1, whereas the value of Active Storage is 1. The value of Active Storage - Hospital/Healthcare is 2, and then so on. I found it quite easy to have a spreadsheet with the names and appropriate incremental numbers next to it.
In this video I have already created a Space Type schedule and will then use Ideate BIMLink to export out the values. Then I will open up the exported excel spreadsheet, make my changes then re-import the results back into Revit MEP.
Bill Johnson
Ideate Senior MEP Application Specialist
Bill has over 20 years experience in applying AEC design solutions for large commercial companies. A graduate of Pasadena Institute of Technology, he has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill has also had the opportunity to act as Lead AutoCAD Designer for multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley.
Get it. Know it. Use it.
September 11, 2012
Ideate, Inc. Publishes Jasmax and BVN Use Case Study in Success
SAN FRANCISCO, California – 09/11/2012 - Ideate, Inc., a leading Autodesk® Authorized Developer and Autodesk solutions provider offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to the AEC industry, today announced the publication of a Study in Success specific to a use case of Ideate-developed software, Ideate BIMLink for Autodesk Revit.
The study, “BVN with Jasmax Makes 3.5 Million Combinations Workable in Minutes with Ideate BIMLink for Revit,” details how with the assistance of Ideate BIMLink, BVN Architecture of Australia in strategic partnership with Jasmax, New Zealand’s largest architectural practice, were able to manipulate, manage and harness about 3.5 million sunscreen element combinations to create a randomized pattern for a large building façade. The endeavor would have been next to impossible before the advent of Ideate BIMLink.
Specifically designed sun screens were required to maximize the shading efficiency of the façade, minimize the need for mechanical systems, and provide natural light while reducing glare and eye strain for building occupants.
Melanie Tristram, Jasmax Associate–Revit Manager, says of the use case, “The time saving represents more than the hours we did not have to spend. No one, certainly not our Revit users, wants their valuable time caught up in days of data entry. That process is unsatisfying and it is open to error. Ideate BIMLink improved our efficiency and accuracy.”
Jasmax Associate–BIM Specialist Michelle Leonard adds, “On each and every occasion that we wanted to explore a potential set of interactions, without BIMLink, we would have spent a day and a half of tedium. With BIMLink, we achieved each exploration in about half an hour.”
Bob Palioca, President, Ideate Inc. says about the Study in Success, “We take special pride in supporting sustainable design innovators such as Jasmax and BVN with Ideate-developed solutions for BIM, and we take special delight in sharing their successes with the worldwide AEC community.”
Ideate has published “BVN with Jasmax Makes 3.5 Million Combinations Workable in Minutes with Ideate BIMLink for Revit” online. Download the Study in Success at http://www.ideateinc.com/ideas/case.html.
About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk solutions provider, offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to AEC professionals. Established in 1992 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ideate is recognized as a Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk’s highest levels of authorization. Ideate, Inc. operates five Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATC): San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose, California; Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Ideate facilities are Autodesk Authorized Certification Centers, providing globally recognized certification courses for professionals who sell, service and support Autodesk products and solutions. For more information visit www.ideateinc.com
Ideate, Inc. is also a member of the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) with 25+ years experience in software development and specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM). Ideate BIMLink lets users pull data from an Autodesk Revit file into user-friendly Microsoft Excel and push Excel data into Revit with equal ease. www.ideatebimlink.com
Ideate Explorer for Revit is a simple, powerful Autodesk Revit add-on to explore, quantify and manage the 100,000+ building elements in a Revit model. www.ideateexplorer.com
Autodesk, ATC, and Revit, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
The study, “BVN with Jasmax Makes 3.5 Million Combinations Workable in Minutes with Ideate BIMLink for Revit,” details how with the assistance of Ideate BIMLink, BVN Architecture of Australia in strategic partnership with Jasmax, New Zealand’s largest architectural practice, were able to manipulate, manage and harness about 3.5 million sunscreen element combinations to create a randomized pattern for a large building façade. The endeavor would have been next to impossible before the advent of Ideate BIMLink.
Specifically designed sun screens were required to maximize the shading efficiency of the façade, minimize the need for mechanical systems, and provide natural light while reducing glare and eye strain for building occupants.
Melanie Tristram, Jasmax Associate–Revit Manager, says of the use case, “The time saving represents more than the hours we did not have to spend. No one, certainly not our Revit users, wants their valuable time caught up in days of data entry. That process is unsatisfying and it is open to error. Ideate BIMLink improved our efficiency and accuracy.”
Jasmax Associate–BIM Specialist Michelle Leonard adds, “On each and every occasion that we wanted to explore a potential set of interactions, without BIMLink, we would have spent a day and a half of tedium. With BIMLink, we achieved each exploration in about half an hour.”
Bob Palioca, President, Ideate Inc. says about the Study in Success, “We take special pride in supporting sustainable design innovators such as Jasmax and BVN with Ideate-developed solutions for BIM, and we take special delight in sharing their successes with the worldwide AEC community.”
Ideate has published “BVN with Jasmax Makes 3.5 Million Combinations Workable in Minutes with Ideate BIMLink for Revit” online. Download the Study in Success at http://www.ideateinc.com/ideas/case.html.
About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk solutions provider, offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to AEC professionals. Established in 1992 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ideate is recognized as a Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk’s highest levels of authorization. Ideate, Inc. operates five Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATC): San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose, California; Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Ideate facilities are Autodesk Authorized Certification Centers, providing globally recognized certification courses for professionals who sell, service and support Autodesk products and solutions. For more information visit www.ideateinc.com
Ideate, Inc. is also a member of the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) with 25+ years experience in software development and specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM). Ideate BIMLink lets users pull data from an Autodesk Revit file into user-friendly Microsoft Excel and push Excel data into Revit with equal ease. www.ideatebimlink.com
Ideate Explorer for Revit is a simple, powerful Autodesk Revit add-on to explore, quantify and manage the 100,000+ building elements in a Revit model. www.ideateexplorer.com
Autodesk, ATC, and Revit, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
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July 18, 2012
Translate Your Revit Project
Many of our customers are realizing that Ideate BIMLink can be used not only to manage Revit project data or to manage custom families, but that it can also be used to translate their projects from one language to another. I couldn’t resist giving it a spin.
It took me about 20 minutes to translate a sample Revit project. The trick is to recognize the array of elements that represent “text.” This video tutorial shows how I translated the Views/Sheets, Text, Schedule Data and Annotation objects within an Autodesk Revit project.
In this example I have translated these elements from English into Chinese, German, Spanish and French. I didn’t have access to a quality translator and cheated by using this fun online translator.
Let me know if the translations are any good!
June 19, 2012
Ideate BIMLink at RTC-USA
RTC Australia has wrapped up and is on its way here to the States. In case you weren’t able to catch her presentation “Iterative Design with Ideate BIMLink” at RTC Australia, do not despair because Michelle Leonard of Jasmax, Ltd. will also be presenting at RTC-USA. Michelle will be covering some of the techniques behind the modeling of a complex sunscreened-facade using both Autodesk Revit and Ideate BIMLink.
You can read about the project or you can head to RTC-USA and learn about it directly from Michelle.
While you’re at RTC-USA you should also sign-up for classes by our own Ideate staff. Shruti Harve will be presenting “Concrete Modeling using Revit Structure”. This Intermediate level session will cover tips for modeling concrete, precast concrete, reinforcement, tilt-up panels, expansion joints, control joints and more. Bill Johnson will be moderating “Working with the Frenemy” which is an advanced level discussion on the struggles and benefits of collaborative workflow within a Revit modeling environment.
We’ll also be hosting a booth so stop by to learn more about Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Revit.
May 15, 2012
Ideate, Inc. Announces New Workflows in Ideate BIMLink 2013
SAN FRANCISCO, California - 05/15/2012 - Ideate, Inc., a leading Autodesk Authorized Developer and Autodesk solutions provider offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to the AEC industry, today announced an update to Ideate BIMLink, the popular application for Autodesk Revit software. Expanded content and improved performance give users of Ideate BIMLink 2013 unprecedented access to and control of BIM data.
With Ideate BIMLink 2013 the Revit project team and non-Revit using data contributors can access information appropriate to their needs within a platform that safeguards the BIM model against error. Ideate BIMLink is used for a wide variety of data management tasks and now in 2013 supports several new important workflows including the ability to automatically generate consultant sheet lists, automatically populate with unplaced spaces, export detailed information about parts and materials and assist with view template implementation.
“We recognize the importance of a timely product delivery and are pleased to be able to deliver both Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013 within a few days of the official Autodesk Revit product launch this year,” said Ideate Inc. president Bob Palioca.
“We’ve included many new features and improvements thanks to all the great customer input we’ve had,” remarked Ideate director of Software Development Glynnis Patterson, “And we’ve also re-tooled Ideate BIMLink with significant performance improvements that will bump our customer’s ROI even higher.”
Ideate BIMLink is priced at US$850 with an upgrade from version 2012 priced at US$250. Ideate BIMLink is currently available via download from www.ideatesoftware.com/bimlink and from authorized Ideate reseller partners. For information on network pricing, contact sales@ideatesoftware.com.
Ideate BIMLink works with Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Revit MEP, and Autodesk Revit Structure software in conjunction with all versions of Microsoft Excel. A no-charge 30-day trial version of Ideate BIMLink software is available at http://www.ideatesoftware.com/download
Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Revit will be shown at the upcoming Revit Technology Conferences (RTC); one in North America on June 28-30, 2012 and another in Australia May 24-26, 2012.
About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a member of the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) with 25+ years experience in software development and specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM).
Ideate BIMLink lets users pull data from an Autodesk Revit software file into user-friendly Microsoft Excel and push Excel data into Revit with equal ease. www.ideatesoftware.com/bimlink
Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk solutions provider, offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to AEC professionals. Established in 1992 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ideate is recognized as an Autodesk Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk’s highest levels of authorization. Ideate, Inc. operates five Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATC): San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose, California; Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Ideate facilities are Autodesk Authorized Certification Centers, providing globally recognized certification courses for professionals who sell, service and support Autodesk products and solutions. For more information visit www.ideateinc.com
Autodesk, ATC, and Revit, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
With Ideate BIMLink 2013 the Revit project team and non-Revit using data contributors can access information appropriate to their needs within a platform that safeguards the BIM model against error. Ideate BIMLink is used for a wide variety of data management tasks and now in 2013 supports several new important workflows including the ability to automatically generate consultant sheet lists, automatically populate with unplaced spaces, export detailed information about parts and materials and assist with view template implementation.
“We recognize the importance of a timely product delivery and are pleased to be able to deliver both Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Revit 2013 within a few days of the official Autodesk Revit product launch this year,” said Ideate Inc. president Bob Palioca.
“We’ve included many new features and improvements thanks to all the great customer input we’ve had,” remarked Ideate director of Software Development Glynnis Patterson, “And we’ve also re-tooled Ideate BIMLink with significant performance improvements that will bump our customer’s ROI even higher.”
Ideate BIMLink is priced at US$850 with an upgrade from version 2012 priced at US$250. Ideate BIMLink is currently available via download from www.ideatesoftware.com/bimlink and from authorized Ideate reseller partners. For information on network pricing, contact sales@ideatesoftware.com.
Ideate BIMLink works with Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Revit MEP, and Autodesk Revit Structure software in conjunction with all versions of Microsoft Excel. A no-charge 30-day trial version of Ideate BIMLink software is available at http://www.ideatesoftware.com/download
Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Revit will be shown at the upcoming Revit Technology Conferences (RTC); one in North America on June 28-30, 2012 and another in Australia May 24-26, 2012.
About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a member of the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) with 25+ years experience in software development and specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM).
Ideate BIMLink lets users pull data from an Autodesk Revit software file into user-friendly Microsoft Excel and push Excel data into Revit with equal ease. www.ideatesoftware.com/bimlink
Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk solutions provider, offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to AEC professionals. Established in 1992 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ideate is recognized as an Autodesk Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk’s highest levels of authorization. Ideate, Inc. operates five Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATC): San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose, California; Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Ideate facilities are Autodesk Authorized Certification Centers, providing globally recognized certification courses for professionals who sell, service and support Autodesk products and solutions. For more information visit www.ideateinc.com
Autodesk, ATC, and Revit, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
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