Revit Tips for use in Synchro Pro

Revit Tips for Use in Synchro

V 4.10 August 2014

CONTENTS 1.

Export as DWF/DWFx from Revit

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2.

Worksets, Phasing and Section Boxes

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3.

3D Object Identity Data

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4.

Shared Co-ordinates & Creating/Managing Revit Links

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5.

Organisation before Export

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6.

Resolving duplicate name issue from imported Revit models

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7.

Room Spaces from Revit

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8.

Export as IFC from Revit and Import into Synchro

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9.

Synchro Revit Plugins for 2013 & 2014

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1. Exporting Files from Revit as DWF/DWFx

Note: DO NOT Publish as this will create a 2D file rather than 3D. If you would like Rooms to be imported as a model that you will be able to use in Synchro select DWF Properties and enable Rooms and Areas in a separate boundary layer.

Synchro imports both DWF and DWFx files.

Remember that Revit ALWAYS exports DWF files with FEET as units (you will be requested to provide Units when you import DWF files)

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2. Worksets, Phasing and Section Boxes If you are creating your own models, Worksets and Phasing can be used as a way to group your model into relevant disciplines for ease of exporting later in the project. These can also be set up to export certain levels or zones depending on how they are grouped.

Here is an example of Worksets in use:

Above, the file is now split into the different categories as listed, ensure that when modelling 3D Geometry it is placed in the correct Workset.

Above, you can see that you can Show/Hide the individual Worksets before exporting to filter out and breakdown the model into a manageable naming structure within Synchro.

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Phasing is used in the same way as Worksets, however, you assigned the 3D Geometry to the different phases – Existing, New Construction & Demolished as standard. These can then be enabled/disabled through ‘Manage > Phases’ within the Revit toolbars.

Section Boxes If you haven’t created the model, but would still like to quickly and easily break out a zone or floor level then we would suggest using the section box tool.

Once you have cropped the model into the area you would like to see, simply follow the same steps as found in section 1 to export only the visible elements.

Enable ‘Section Box’ under 3D Properties

Section Box will now be visible around extents of 3D Model

Manipulate the section box to isolate desired zone for export

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3. 3D Object Identity Data If you select an object in Revit (for this example I will select the wall shown below) then select Edit Type you will see the Type Properties

The Identity Data will either be populated or you can add to this.

When you import the exported DWF file into Synchro ensure that you select Next on the Import 3D Window (after selecting the file) then enable DWF Format- Process User Fields

Select Navigator 3D (or Resources) then open the User Fields tab towards the bottom and you will see the data has been imported into Synchro with the 3D –

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4. Shared Co-ordinates & Creating/Managing Revit Links Many Revit users use Shared Co-ordinates to combine their models for projects.

DWF export does not allow you to use shared co-ordinates so you must link the RVT files using Shared Coordinates in a master RVT. The Shard Co-ordinates must be set up first in Revit.

1.

Select ‘Insert’ and then click

2.

Locate the .RVT file that is to be linked into the master file

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Manage Links/Visibility Graphics This is where you can adjust the settings of your RVT links.

Visibility Graphics – Here you can adjust visible model/annotation categories and also which views are visible in the master file. Worksets can also be altered through this menu of each link.

Manage Links- Here you can view the status of your links (see below) and also enable/disable individually linked files to filter for export.

Sometimes (especially if you receive the file from an outside source) you will find that you need to reload the linked files, this can be for various reasons such as model updates and design changes.

In the example below you will see that the status is ‘Not Loaded’ – this is usually when the location of the file has changed or it no longer exists.

Select the linked RVT file and select ‘Reload From…’ to locate the new file and replace the existing.

You can also reload an existing file and remove/unload links from this menu.

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5. Organisation before export Please consider the simple house model below-

This has been modelled in 3 separate RVT files with shared coordinatesSuperstructure Envelope Roof

If the procedure of linking these models in a Master RVT file with shared coordinates has been performed then all of the models are then exported as a DWF file this is how it will import into Synchro-

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Now this is workable but you can organise your export so you can gain advantages such asThe links are all named RVT Links so you cannot identify what geometry is contained in each RVT link (Superstructure/Envelope/Roof) You can use Visibility Graphics Override to hide/show RVT links before exporting.

If Shared Co-ordinates are present and not used the models will be exported as shown on your screen therefore they are likely to be in the wrong location compared with other models on this project.

Here is how the tree structures compare once inside Synchro-

SPLIT DOWN - REVISED ORIGINAL

You can see that the information on the right hand side is the same information as on the left. However, when exported and then imported as 3 separate DWFs, it gives greater clarity to the information available and makes the filtering process much clearer.

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6. Resolving duplicate name issue from imported Revit models When you import a 3D model that has been exported from Revit you will sometimes see the message below when you import into Synchro.

The reason for this is some of the models will have been copied in Revit & it will give 'SubPart' as its lowest tree level and these are classed as duplicate names.

The complications of this scenario are that if you try to synchronise the file at a later stage Synchro will not recognise which 3D resource is assigned as they have the same name therefore lose the link to the task you have assigned the 3D item resource.

You will notice that these 'SubParts' are 6 levels down in the tree structure depth-

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You can resolve this when importing1.

Select File>Import>3D>Add Files

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Select required file then Open

3.

Select Next and you will see the Import 3D window appear-

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Limit 3D Object tree levels by 5

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Enable Process User Fields then press OK (This will import the object’s parameters too)

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Select Import

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Select Feet for measurement unit (Revit always exports DWF in feet) then OK

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Select Assign to new Resource then Next

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Change Type and Name as required then Next

10. At the Resource Creation Window you will need to choose either Assign to this Resource, build tree or Add Resource underneath, build tree to create resource for each individual 3D item 11. Enter 0 for Resource tree maximum deep.

(This will restrict the tree level of the resources to the same as the 3D tree level, in this case it will be 5) (This will ignore the 6th level depth where the SubParts are found) 12. then select Finish

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You will still get the Duplicate Names in 3D file warning message but these will not have been resourced.

Select Finish 13. Select the Navigator Resource tab and you will see that the SubParts are no longer included in the list. The resource has been assigned to the next level up-

Now when you come to synchronise this file, follow the same procedure of restricting the depth to 5 for both the 3D and Resources and you will not lose any of your assignments.

NOTE The depth is not always 5 for example if you have included RVT links in your Revit model this will add another tree level therefore 6 will be required.

It’s always good to set the level to 0 then test the tree level into a blank SP file before importing into your required SP file.

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7. Room Spaces from Revit Set up rooms in Revit Open House.rvt Select Level then apply Room function to selected area

Export as DWF(x) from Revit File>Export>DWF/DWFx

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Select DWF Properties and check Rooms and Areas in a separate boundary layer

Next…

Rename file as House and select OK House.DWFx is created.

Import DWF(x) into Synchro Open Synchro Select File>Import>3D Add Files then Browse and select House.dwfx then Open then Import Assign to a new Resource then Next> Enter Resource details… select Next…

Add Resources underneath, build tree then Finish Rooms will be imported as the spaces shown isolated in the Filters window below

NOTE Rooms can also be exported from Revit through use of the Synchro Plugins. Rooms will display as Workspaces in Synchro.

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8. Export as IFC from Revit and Import into Synchro File>Export>IFC

Rename File (House) then select Save

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Import IFC into Synchro Open Synchro Select File>Import>IFC Then Browse‌ Select House.ifc then Open then Next> IFC import window appears Ensure that you change ifcSpaces to Import

Then Import then Finish Rooms will be imported as the spaces and a separate layer as shown isolated in the Filters window below

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Including Zones with IFC In Revit select Manage>Shared Parameters Edit Shared Parameters window appears Select Browse and search for IFC Shared Parameters.txt then Open For example- C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit Architecture 2013\Program The Parameters list will now populate Towards the bottom select ZoneName then OK

Select Manage>Project Parameters Select Add Parameter Properties appears In the right hand column scroll down and select Rooms Rename as ZoneName Change Type of Parameter to Text then OK

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Select a Level then when you select a Room you will see the new option in Properties to designate a Zone 00, 01, etc

File>Export>IFC

Rename File (House2) then select Save

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Import IFC into Synchro Open Synchro Select File>Import>IFC Then Browse‌ Select House2.ifc then Open then Next> IFC import window appears Ensure that you change ifcSpaces to Import and ifcZones to Import

Then Import then Finish This will import into Synchro similar to previous method but 3D Filters for each Zone will automatically be created *Note make sure HOT is deselected

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9. Synchro Revit Plugin for 2013 and 2014

Download Plugin  

Please visit http://synchroltd.com/downloads/ Select the version of plugin required (For example, Revit 2014 64-Bit Plugin)

Select Save or Save As and select an appropriate location for this install file Double click on the install file and follow the on screen instructions

Export Procedure from Revit 2014 using the Synchro Plugin 1.

2.

You will need to set up the 3D view according to how you wish to export it - as you would with the DWF/DWFX export. If you wish to include linked models, ensure that they are visible.

In Revit select Add-Ins>Export to Synchro

3.

If you attempt to export from a 2D view, you will receive the following message. Please export from an active 3D view.

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5.

You will receive the Save As window In File name type the required name then select Save

Once this is exported, you will have a .SP file containing the 3D geometry saved. This can be imported into an existing project or opened directly from the saved location.

NOTE You must import the SP file exported from the Plugin into another master SP if you wish to synchronise the file in the future.

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