HIVE Standards is a system that helps BIM managers check and maintain the quality of Revit family content for the organization. It is set up in the HIVE Portal and runs automatic checks on the content in chosen libraries. It can also be modified to fit the organization’s own standards.
Qualified content in a library has the checks performed. If you have 500 items in a library, there may be only 100 items that qualify.
What qualifies a piece of content?
families of versions greater than Revit 2020
families that can exist outside of a Revit project model
families that have not been automatically upgraded (checks the source version only)
Select the “Standards” tab and select the “Family Ruleset” on the left side bar.
Select the applicable settings to be used for checks.
Include Shared Parameter Use in Automated Rating: if a shared parameter file has been uploaded to HIVE, it will be used in this check
Include Custom Parameter Use in Automated Rating: checks for parameters not typically found in families (such as built-in parameters)
Include Custom Parameter Naming in Automated Rating: checks that custom parameters meet the established naming rules
Include Parameter Grouping in Automated Rating: checks that parameter groups follow established rules
File Size: set a maximum size for the family file and include it in the rating
Include Mapping in Automated Rating: check that the mapping used follows established standard
Include Unused in Automated Rating: check if there are unused sub-categories
Reference Plane Naming in Automated Rating: check if the reference planes are named according to established standard
Exclude Public Content with Combined Rating Less than Minimum: content from public libraries rated below this threshold will not be shown in search results
Exclude Org Content with Combined Rating Less than Minimum: content rated below this threshold will not be shown in search results
Along with the Family Ruleset settings, additional options with the Common Standards can be applied. Common Standards are organization specific standards that apply to both projects and families. To access the Common Standards, in the left side bar select Common Standards.
Configuring Common Standards
You can upload your organizations Shared Parameter file to be used for various features within standards such as family checking.
You can use Parameter Grouping to establish valid parameter groups to be used with standards, select it from the left tree and use the arrow to add it to the right.
In addition to the Common Standards, you can set Parameter Name Rules and Custom Sub-Categories
Valid Parameter Name Parts: put valid parts of names that should be used when naming parameters. ie. ARCH E_ LC-
Invalid Parameter Name Parts: combinations of letters and symbols of names that should not appear in parameter names.
Running Family Standard Checks
Select the libraries you want from the organization list by ticking the boxes next to them. A green button will show up on the top right corner of the list when you do that. Press this button to start the process.
The checking process runs silently, without requiring any input from the user.
A scoring process is used during the check (Ex: Identity Data, MEP Connectors, Warnings etc.) to validate the content against the Family Standards settings (Family Ruleset and Common Standards).
You will receive a email with the review results and have the ability to download a Excel file that consists of all the results from the checks.
You can access and review the data in multiple ways.
Directly using the Excel spreadsheet, leveraging PowerBi and utilizing the WebAPI are a few examples.
For more information on CTC HIVE Family Standards visit www.ctcsoftware.com.
For any questions reach out to your sales rep or contact us at info@solidcad.ca.
Architecture is not merely about designing structures; it’s an intricate blend of art and science that shapes the built environment, reflecting the cultural, social, and technological nuances of its time. Most importantly, it’s a collaborative process where designers focus on bringing to life the visions of their clients. Strasman Architects is an experienced Canadian Architecture and Interior Design Firm, who is widely recognized for their highly collaborative approach to award-winning designs. For over forty-five years, they have focused on providing elegant, sustainable solutions for technically complex projects. They are driven by discovery – meaning they listen to their clients to fully understand their vision and the challenges they will face, long before they begin to resolve a design. The emphasis on discovery is derived from their respect for their clients’ priorities and the project’s needs, rather than enforcing preconceived notions of what their design should be. This approach respects budget and schedule as well as form and function, and layers in an inherent sense of stewardship for the environment and the community they work in.
Strasman is one of Canada’s leading architects for transit facilities. With 200+ transit projects already completed, they are recognized and sought after for their expertise in transit maintenance facilities for buses and light and heavy rail systems as well as their extensive experience with transit station development, including new and existing stations across Toronto and throughout southern Ontario. Strasman has executed landmark and critical infrastructure projects for transit authorities such as Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Metrolinx, VIA Rail, York Region Transit, Grand River Transit, BC TransLink, and Calgary Transit, among many others.
Their firm continues to grow with over 40 team members, located in their head office in Toronto and their studio in Vancouver. By leveraging a diverse range of expertise and technical skills, they can tailor project delivery to meet the unique requirements of each client. Their approach involves employing a versatile set of technical tools, including but not limited to Revit and Revitzo for model coordination and clash detection, as well as AutoCAD and MicroStation. Additionally, they use an extensive suite of visualization tools such as Rhino, V-Ray, and SketchUp to enhance the overall project experience.
Their team’s use of these tools is not just a static process, but a dynamic one. Strasman’s employees are actively involved in continually discovering powerful methods to harness the capabilities of their software and do so by seamlessly integrating new tools as they become available. In an ever-evolving technological landscape, Strasman fosters a culture of innovation and effectiveness in software usage.
Strasman is actively shaping the Canadian architectural landscape through several impactful projects. Currently, the firm is spearheading the design for the TTC Waterfront East LRT (Queen’s Quay to Union Link), contributing to the modernization of the VIA Rail Toronto Maintenance Centre as part of a design-build team, and designing key facilities within the new Skytrain Operations and Maintenance Centre 4 (OMC 4) in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Additionally, Strasman is also involved in the phased revitalization of TTC Warden Station, overseeing bus maintenance and storage facility renovations for two York Region Transit facilities, and playing a pivotal role in the development of a new maintenance facility at the Mid-Halton WWTP.
After more than 500 projects, and 25 awards for their designs, we are eager to see how they continue to contribute to the evolution of architecture through their work.
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Navigating through the intricate world of Dynamo, it is crucial to stay updated on its continuous enhancements and refinements. In this part, the first of a series dedicated to Dynamo updates, we’ll delve into six (6) user-centric new features and enhancements aimed at enriching the user experience and broadening the horizon of what is possible with visual programming.
This blog aims to nurture curiosity about Dynamo, encouraging the reader to explore its capabilities and experience with its features.
In this part 1, we will discuss the Six (6) New features and enhancements.
Enhanced Node Autocomplete
New Dynamo settings with Import/Export and Deployment
In-Product Node Documentation
Insert Graph into an Open Workspace
Enhanced 3D Node Preview in Dynamo
Improving Workspace Organization with Advanced Grouping
Each of these enhancements is designed to cater to different aspects of the Dynamo experience, whether you are an architect, engineer, designer or a passionate Dynamo enthusiast, these improvements have the potential to elevate productivity and deliver more efficient BIM projects, saving valuable time.
The world of visual programming is continually evolving, equipping developers with more refined tools and functionalities. Among the recent enhancements in Dynamo is the “Recommended Nodes” feature in Node Autocomplete.
Dynamo’s Node Autocomplete, once enabled, now features a “Recommended Nodes” enhancement driven by machine learning. This improvement provides more relevant node suggestions based on Confidence Level. Suggestions are derived from extensive training on real-word Dynamo patterns. Users have the flexibility with Low Confidence suggestions can easily switch suggestions methods.
A Deeper Dive
Introducing the “Recommended Nodes” Feature in Node Autocomplete
Dynamo’s Node Autocomplete has been enhanced with a significant feature: the “Recommended Nodes”. This feature, driven by advanced machine learning, it offers precise node suggestions to optimize the visual programming workflow.
What is “Confidence Level” for Precision in Suggestions?
Once the Node Autocomplete is enabled in the Preferences, it can be activated by double-clicking on an Upstream or Downstream node port in the graph. the Autocomplete node ranks suggestions to ensure the most relevant and appropriate connections are prioritised. Each suggested node is assigned a Confidence Level, reflecting the algorithm’s certainty about its relevance and suitability within the given context. A higher confidence rating (percentage) prioritises nodes that are more pertinent, further prioritising the design process.
What are node rankings and suggestions from Real-World Learning?
The node rankings and suggestions are derived from the algorithm’s extensive training on the Dynamo dictionary, Dynamo host samples, and real Dynamo graphs. By understanding real-world patterns, it can make informed recommendations. As a result, the Autocomplete node offers customised and reliable suggestions, that can significantly improve the visual programming experience in Dynamo.
What is “Low Confidence” nodes?
Nodes assigned a lower ranking percentage are considered nodes that the algorithm have less confidence in their usability/match with the selected port and are conveniently categorized under “Low Confidence”. They are available for optional selection, ensuring flexibility in node choices. The criteria for which nodes fall under “Low Confidence” can be adjusted.
How to swiftly alternate between the Ranking Methods?
Regardless of the Preferences settings, users can effortlessly switch between the Recommended Nodes and the previously existing Node Type Match method directly from within the Autocomplete node. This ensures a seamless workflow, eliminating the need to delve into separate settings or menus.
Enabling Node Autocomplete – Step-by-Step
From the Dynamo tab, select Preferences.
Under Features, locate the Node Autocomplete option and expand it.
Toggle the switch to ‘On‘ to the left of Enable Node Autocomplete.
Select the Default Ranking Method
Type the number of nodes that will show in the Autocomplete node
Toggle the switch for Hide nodes below a specified confidence level to ‘On‘
Close the Preferences Panel
How to Select nodes from the high-ranking List – Video
Beginning with a single node:
Autocomplete node is initiated by double clicking on one of the node’s input ports
Top ranked node is selected from the list
This process is repeated for the other ports
How to Select nodes from Low Confidence list – Video
Beginning with a single node:
Autocomplete node is initiated by double clicking on the Category input port of the All Elements of Category node.
The top ranked Category.ByName node is selected from the list and automatically connected
Autocomplete node is initiated by double clicking on the Name port of the Category.ByName
The String node is selected from the Low Confidence list and automatically connected
How to Select nodes from Low Confidence list – Video
Beginning with a single node:
Autocomplete node is initiated by double clicking on the Category input port of the All Elements of Category node.
The top ranked Category.ByName node is selected from the list and automatically connected
Autocomplete node is initiated by double clicking on the Name port of the Category.ByName
The String node is selected from the Low Confidence list and automatically connected
Feature summary
The introduction of the “Recommended Nodes” feature, enhances the functionality of Dynamo’s Node Autocomplete. Utilising machine learning and data from real-world usage patterns, this user-centric enhancement allows users to create graphs with greater efficiency. With the added flexibility to feature aims to provide ore relevant and reliable node suggestions. Alongside the ability to adjust confidence criteria and switch suggestion methods, users have tools at their disposal to refine their visual programming experience.
New Dynamo setting with import/export and deployment.
Feature Overview
In the vast spectrum of visual programming tools provided by Dynamo, the ability of exporting and importing settings using XML files stands as another practical addition, accessible right from the Preferences panel. This feature not only facilitates the sharing, deployment, and transfer of preferences, but also serves as an efficient backup mechanism. Ensuring consistency in Dynamo settings across the company, it provides a safeguard against unintended changes and streamlines collaboration efforts.
Exporting Settings in Dynamo from the Preferences Panel – Step-by-Step
Note: Before making changes or importing existing preferences, exporting current configurations to an XML file is a prudent step. This acts as a backup, allowing importing them back if needed.
From the Dynamo tab, select Preferences.
In the “Preferences” dialog box, click on the section (that contains the specific settings to export.
Expand Subsections: Expand subsections to reveal the individual preferences.
Review and Set Preferences: Review the individual preferences and ensure they are set according to your desired configurations.
Export Settings: Once you have reviewed and set all the preferences you want to export, click on “Export” within the “Preferences” panel to initiate the export process.
Choose Export Location: A file explorer window will appear, allowing you to choose a location for saving the exported settings file.
Rename File: The first exported settings file to that location, will be automatically named “DynamoSettings.XML”, otherwise the file of the being exported will have a suffix appended to it (i.e. DynamoSettings_12345678.XML). Renaming the exported file or adding/replacing the suffix will help identify the settings later.
CloseFile Explorer Window: After providing the file name and selecting the export location, close the file explorer window.
The exported XML file will contain the chosen configurations and can be used later to import the settings into Dynamo or share them with others who might benefit from the same configurations.
Importing Preferences – Step-by-Step
Weather reapplying exported settings, deploying them across multiple instances or incorporating received ones from another user, the effort is minimal. Simply use the Import tool in the Preferences panel to integrate them.
From the Dynamo tab, select Preferences.
In the “Preferences” dialog box, click on Import
Locate the XML file: Locate and select the XML file that contain the configurations you want to apply and select it
Import Success? Click OK
With these few steps, the settings in the Preferences panel will update to reflect the ones imported thru the chosen XML file.
For settings outside the Preferences panel in Dynamo, it is necessary to restart both Dynamo and its host program for the settings to take effect.
Deployment with XML files
Using XML files for transferring preferences, offers a structured method for sharing, transferring, or reverting settings in Dynamo. It supports uniformity, collaboration, and quick settings adjustments.
How to Export and Import Settings – Videos
Here are two short videos that demonstrate how to export and import setting using XML files:
The Node Autocomplete feature is enabled, and the Auto-Backup Interval time is modified
The preferences settings are exported to an XML file that is renamed
The preferences settings are exported to an XML file that is renamed
An existing XML Dynamo settings file is imported in which the Node Autocomplete feature was disabled, and the Auto-Backup Interval was set to 1 minute
Feature Summary
Utilizing XML files, Dynamo’s export and import tools offer a straightforward approach to managing configurations, remaining a user-centric environment by enabling users to both preserve and modify their setup.
In-Product Node Documentation
Feature Overview
Dynamo’s revamped Documentation Browser simplifies node understanding with improved in-product node documentation. The Documentation Browser Accessed by right clicking a node and selecting Help…, it organizes information into three main parts: Node Information, Inputs and Outputs and Node Issue Help when things don’t go as planned.
A feature familiar to many, the Documentation Browser is Dynamo’s in-product node documentation designed to give users quick access to node details without leaving the application. It is now reimagined and refined to provide more organized and detailed per-node documentation.
Feature Details
The Documentation Browser is now segmented in 3 sections:
Node Information: This section provides information about the selected node. While the aim is to offer clarity on a node’s functionality, some nodes have In Depth information.
Input and Outputs: This section presents a breakdown of the nodes inputs and outputs complete with their type, a brief description, Inputs Default Value and Outputs Data type.
Node Issue Help: This section appears only when a node error is detected. It is intended to offer guidance to address the error.
The enhanced in-product node documentation provides structure and efficient way for users to access and understand vital information. This streamlined approach addresses the fundamental need for clarity and accessibility in Dynamo’s complex environment.
In-Product Node Documentation – How it Works – Video
Showcasing the improved in-product node documentation within Dynamo offers just a glimpse. It is recommended to dive into the improved documentation firsthand, allowing for a richer understanding of its advancements and nuances.
Insert Graph into an Open Workspace
Feature Overview
Dynamo’s “Insert” tool, amplifies the modular assembly approach in visual programming., by streamlining the integration of graphs within graphs or within empty workspace. This enhancement ensures a boost in workflows efficiency, reusability, modularity, and clarity within the Dynamo ecosystem.
The optimization of the user experience in Dynamo is enhanced by the “insert” tool. While copy-pasting graphs served as a functional method, this new tool provides an elegant, integrated, and straightforward approach for optimizing the workflow even further.
Feature Benefits
Precision: Minimize manual errors and ensure that graphs are integrated correctly
Efficiency: Speed up the process by bypassing the older copy-paste approach.
Streamlined workflow: This tool’s introduction fits seamlessly with established workflows, simplifying the integration/nesting process.
Enhanced Collaboration: Ensures that graphs to be nested maintain their functionality and integrity when shared among different users
Workflow enhancements
This functionality goes beyond nesting graphs, it reshapes how professionals approach their graphs creation in Dynamo. While enabling efficient integration, it offers:
Modular approach: Emphasizes the discrete unit of design, promoting a design as you go approach and encouraging decomposing complex tasks into distinct graphs and seamlessly stitch them together in one file as needed.
Reuse & Recycle: Once a graph is created, it can be reused repeatedly across different multiple projects, maximizing efficiency.
Maintained Clarity: It promotes preserving a tidy and organized library that is ready for integration.
Inserting a Graph into an Open Workspace – Step-by-Step
The introduction of the “Insert” graph tool in Dynamo, elevates the visual programming experience of both novices and seasoned users, fostering better organization and collaboration leading to an increased efficiency.
Start a new graph or open an existing one in the workspace.
Navigate to the File tab and select Insert.
Locate the graph you want to insert and select it. (Note: If the graph is inserted in an existing graph, it will be located below it)
Review and connect the newly added graph as desired.
Feature Demonstration – Video
Like other tools in this version, this tool has also to be experienced firsthand.
In this demonstration 2 graphs will be inserted in a new file, and stich together to export door’s data from a Revit project to an Excel file.
Enhanced 3D Node Preview in Dynamo
Feature Overview
Dynamo’s 3D Watch node ensures the geometry remains in sight, even when the connected node preview is turned off. This feature provides an uninterrupted spatial understanding without distractions
In certain cases, there may be no need to toggle node preview of a node on just to see the spatial context. Watch 3D now shows geometry for all directly connected nodes, even if their preview is turned off. With this update designers can remain immersed in their workflows while still retaining visual clarity.
How it Works – Step-by-Step
Right click the node connected to the 3D Watch node and uncheck Geometry Preview.
Run the graph. The geometry will stay visible in the 3D Watch Node after the graph.
This enhancement is not merely a technical update; it is a thoughtful design decision. It acknowledges the core principle that visual continuity is a must in spatial design tools like Dynamo.
How it Works – Video
In this demonstration the Geometry Preview is turned off in the GeometryColor.ByGeometryColor node. After the graph is run, the color disappears in the background but remains in the 3D Watch node.
Improving Workspace Organisation with Advanced Grouping
Feature Overview
Another enhancement in Dynamo is group functionalities. Custom Group styles, resizable headers, intuitive color adjustments, various customization option, together with the added convenience of dragging nodes into groups and, removing them using Alt+Left Click, makes organising the workspace a more intuitive endeavor. Additionally with settings exportable from within the Preferences panel, sharing. Backup, or deployment becomes smoother and more consistent.
Feature Details
Resizable Headers: Customize to content’s needs. Adjust the headers size for better readability or a neater visual look.
Automatic Text Color Adjustment: Dynamo toggles between black and white text based on group’s background color, ensuring readability.
Direct Access, Drag & Drop and Easy Removal:
Quick Style Change: While Styles are created and set in the Preferences panel, Adjustments like color and font size are just a click away with the context menu.
Direct Node Organisation: Dragging a node straight into a group for swift organisation.
Easy Node Removal: Removing a node from a group is made easy using Alt+Left Click.
Exporting Settings Via Preferences: Groups Styles Settings can be backed up, shared and deployed by using the Export tool in the preferences panel. Consistency is ensured across teams and projects.
Why it Matters
The enhanced grouping functionality in Dynamo emphasize:
Efficiency: With intuitive nodes organisation, direct style customization and easily readable group labels, workflows become faster and smoother.
Collaboration: he ability to export and share settings ensures that teams work with a consistent visual framework, enhancing collaborative effort
Personalization: With a wide range of customisation options, Dynamo allows users to create a workspace that reflects their styles and project needs.
Dynamo’s advanced grouping features in this update increase clarity and efficiency, adapting as workflows grow in complexity. The result is potentially a better organised, efficient, and customized visual programming environment.
How it Works – Video
In this demonstration, a new Group Style is created and applied to a group and text size is changed.
Part 1 Conclusion
The six Dynamo enhancements we explored in this blog are clearly geared towards refining the user experience a boosting efficiency in visual programming. From Node Autocomplete to the revamped group functionalities, each feature aims to empower design professionals even further.
Keep an eye for the part II of this Dynamo for Revit 2.17 series where we’ll keep spotlighting more of Dynamo’s updates throughout. Until next time!
The latest version of Autodesk Revit (2024.1) is just out!
Soon after the last release of version 2024 in April this year, Revit 24.1 continues to promote some of the most intriguing and much awaited enhancements. This release includes features and enhancements for data management, visualization capabilities, more accurate documentation, design efficiency and reduce re-work. Let’s take a look:
Search and zoom in the project browser.
The latest update introduces improved zoom functionality in the Project Browser by utilizing the CTRL key + mouse scroll. This allows users to easily zoom in and out, providing a seamless and consistent zooming experience throughout the application.
2-Up/Down navigation after searching in Project Browser
Explore Project Browser search results using the Up and Down arrow keys. Get faster to a selected search result.
3- Apply Area Rules setting
In Revit 2024.1, Revit now remembers the “Apply Area Rules” settings shows up in options bar when creating or modifying Area Boundaries. The remembered values is stored in the Revit.ini files, under the ‘AreaBoundary_ApplyAreaRule’ variable.
4- Add visual style in type preview
To better visualize how an element is displayed in your model, apply a visual style to the element in the Type Properties dialog.
Use the control in the lower left corner of the preview pane of the Type Properties dialog to change the visual style of the preview.
5- Site Design- Simplify Toposolid
You can adjust the number of internal points in a Toposolid by inputting the percentage of points to preserve.
Input number ranges between 0-100% Revit will provide instant point number changes responding to the input text. Input 0% will remove all the internal points, but please note the points on boundary will be preserved and remain untouched during the simplify process.
6- Site Design- Add Split Line enhancement and Chain Line Selection
Now users can have consistent behavior between Add Point and Add Split Line
Split Line Enhancements
You can create Chain lines Along the surface with the same offset to create Path along the existing Topo. You can create Chain lines with Absolute height to easily shape the Topo to a flatten area.
Chain Selection on Split Line
In the previous version of Revit, you were limited on selecting the uppermost split line in a triangulation facet, or select a triangulation facets.
In Revit 2024.1, you can Chain select any split lines. The splines do not need to form a closed loop. You can also modify the elevation of a chain line selection at once.
7- Export Patterns to a .pat file
In Revit 2024.1 you can export drafting and model patterns from your model to a PAT file.
In the Fill Patterns dialog, accessed from the Manage tab, select a pattern or multiple patterns to export to a PAT file. The exported file contains pattern definitions of each pattern selected. Drafting patterns and model patterns must be exported to separate PAT files.
8- Performance improvement on placing
Provided a fix to reported lag when placing, pasting, and moving floor-based families and room, area and space tags
9- Enhance Link IFC fidelity
Autodesk is using ATF (Autodesk Translation Framework) to better support the resolution of external geometry for large IFC models, and accurately represent geometry edited with Boolean operations.
10- Change text alignment property for multiple selected elements using the ribbon
This improvement allows users to the control text alignment property for multiple selected text elements – this could be done previously in the properties palette, but that was difficult for users to discover and had difficult drop downs without icons.
11- Warning for Delete Views in workshared models
Deleting views in a workshared environment cannot be undone.
To prevent any accidental loss of data, Revit now displays a warning for deleting views from the Project Browser. The warning message can be optionally disabled.
RAW is one of Toronto’s most vibrant and respected architectural and design studios. Cited as the 2009 Ontario Best Emerging Practice, we possess an international design sensibility and wisdom combined with a wealth of recent local experience. Unconcerned with stylistic expectations, RAW focuses on both the understanding of site opportunities and client-specific objectives. We take an open-minded approach to design, encouraging a fluid and collaborative process. RAW is not a hierarchical corporation. We are a medium-sized design studio delivering creative responses to design problems.
Building Consistency and Efficiency: RAW Design Inc. Successfully Implements BIM Processes
The Challenge
RAW Design’s BIM leadership set key objectives for BIM technology, including enhancing staff efficiency in producing crucial outputs and standardizing visuals and graphics across projects for consistency.
SolidCAD conducted a thorough BIM Process Assessment and identified the following challenges and desired results for RAW Design:
Adopting a uniform approach to project processes
Establishing a central, approved source for BIM content
Utilizing models for better coordination
Barriers included:
Different Revit usage among staff
Inconsistent use of templates and project processes
The unfulfilled potential of BIM/Revit for coordination
The Solution
To achieve the desired outcomes, SolidCAD proposed a long-term partnership, working together with RAW Design’s BIM admin team as a strategy consultant. Collectively, the team achieved the goals, implementing the optimized standards and processes by mentoring staff as they worked on projects.
SolidCAD’s structured approach achieved the efficiency and quality standards RAW Design was looking for. The completed Revit template and content libraries will ensure consistency of deliverables, streamlining staff workflows through better organization. Documentation was provided to support the adoption of the enhancements and to serve as a guide during the onboarding of future new hires. Finally, targeted training in specific Revit topics resulted in the advancement of staff skills, adopting best practices, and making it easier for them to achieve the full potential of BIM.
The Results
RAW Design achieved the following outcomes:
Optimization of BIM Processes and Documentation. Workflows are more efficient, and staff have guidelines to follow the intended process.
Consistency of Graphics Standards and Content. Deliverables produced using the enhanced template achieve RAW Design’s quality standards on all projects.
Advancement of skill levels was achieved through custom training and project-specific mentoring where best practices were reinforced. As result, staff are more capable of using Revit, allowing them to create deliverables in less time.
Testimonial
We brought in the SolidCAD team to help us update our Revit template, while also teaching staff new ways to use the software
SolidCAD’s extensive knowledge was a great asset in achieving both goals. They assessed our existing template, identified areas that could be improved, developed a plan to get everything done, and executed what we needed. Staff were very pleased with the tutorials they received, coming away with both gained Revit knowledge and applicable skills. Now we are getting to use new resources to benefit projects and workflow.
– RAW Design Inc.
Products & Services Used
Using the Revit Software
Warnings & Model Health / File Corruptions
Family Creation (Curtain Walls)
Stairs & Railings (Detailing)
Conceptual Massing (Design Options, Using Revit customized to RAW)
Schedules Beginner (Schedules Advanced (including site statistics))
Site and Coordinates (Assemblies Advanced (walls/floors/roofs, sloping, sweeps/reveals))
BIM Execution Plans, setting up a new Project
Model Groups & Keynotes (Phasing)
Working with Doors and Windows (Collaboration, coordination, copy/monitor)
Dynamo – beginner
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Modifying and updating a room finish schedule in a Revit project can be a tedious task. Working in an itemized Revit schedule makes it time consuming to modify data cell by cell. Have you been tasked with this assignment?
If only Revit can allow you to manipulate large amounts of data in an efficient way. There is a solution! CTC Spreadsheet Link. CTC Spreadsheet Link allows users to export data from Revit to a spreadsheet where the data can be edited and then pushed back into the Revit model.
CTC Spreadsheet Link allows users to export data from Revit to a spreadsheet where the data can be edited and then pushed back into the Revit model. You can create your own saved settings for repeated workflows. Using the Room Finish Schedule example, you would select your category (Rooms), available parameters (Ex: Number, Name, Wall Finish, Floor Finish, Base Finish, Ceiling Finish) and Sorting (Sort Rooms by Number).
You can use Excel/spreadsheet like functions. Copy and paste, copy a cell or range of cells by holding down CTRL, you can add formulas to make calculated values and many more.
What if you are a non-Revit user? CTC Spreadsheet Link allows you to save the spreadsheet to multiple formats (Ex: Microsoft Excel Workbook). Data can be manipulated in the exported native program and then imported back into Revit.
To learn more about CTC Spreadsheet Link, CTC tools, or if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us and one of our representatives will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
Starline Windows is an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of architectural aluminum window systems, as well as residential vinyl windows and doors for over 50 years. They have completed thousands of contracts and worked on multiple award-winning buildings across North America.
Their commitment to customer service is and always will be a pillar of their success. With a highly experienced team, they work with their customers on every stage of the project, from initial consultation and design through to installation.
As part of their business, they work with architects to design structural façade glazing features, provide on demand customized manufacturing capabilities in-house, and have a crew to construct and install windows and doors on site.
Rising to the Challenges of the Industry with Vault, Revit, Inventor, Autodesk Construction Cloud and PLM software!
The Challenge
Today’s push for remote work and custom designs have exposed some logistical difficulties for Starline Windows. To continue providing services in every step of the process, there is a constant need for better tracking and traceability of project commitments, product manufacturing and installation life cycles. Starline Windows faces business challenges that many other businesses face such as (1) lack of design collaboration engagement with external architects and contractors, (2) lack of design revision visibility for field personnel, (3) lack of project cost clarity, (4) limited data transfers between operating systems from the office to the field and (5) lack of cross department visibility in their overall coordination for logistics management.
First and foremost, Starline Windows has always sought to improve granularity and accuracy related to their costing takeoffs. Due to software limitations, they often had to manually manage their takeoffs and Bill of Materials (BOM). This resulted in other departments working with manually generated data reports on a regular basis which are prone to human error.
The Solution
Starline Windows first connected with SolidCAD in late 2019 to provide insight to the concerns and challenges they have been facing. SolidCAD helped organize a detailed plan that would organize their pain points and provided a solution into four key phases:
PHASE 1: Improving their Product Lifecycle Management
Starline needed a solution that would better manage their projects for employees working in office and provide visibility over the progress of those projects. SolidCAD implemented Fusion Lifecycle Manage PLM to achieve this and set-up automatic notifications to any team members, to ensure they are always staying on track with any project changes.
PHASE 2: Enhance their Design process with Revit and Inventor
Outside of the issues with their workflows, they also struggled with their current 3D design process. Starline was looking to better automate their workflow between their Revit models and how they would be imported into Inventor for further manufacturing design. SolidCAD automated model creation based on their Revit schedule into Inventor, speeding up their entire design process.
PHASE 3: Document Management with Vault
With the seamless connectivity between Revit and Inventor, it was important that all teams were working with latest design files. It was critical to integrate Autodesk’s Vault Professional to ensure that everyone at Starline was working from a central source of organized data. As a result, Starline noticed an immediate improvement in being able to easily manage the revisions that slowed them to automatically tracks changes, maintains past file versions, and capture the entire history of their designs. This also reduced the amount of time and rework that often happened when they worked with outdated files.
Most importantly, Starline wanted a seamless integration between their newly implemented Fusion Manage PLM system and their Autodesk Vault, which SolidCAD was able to achieve through a managed service delivery team.
PHASE 4: Collaboration on field and in office with BIM 360/Autodesk Construction Cloud
Although it was important for SolidCAD to help Starline Windows integrate systems that would better connect their internal departments and processes of design management, they also needed a solution to collaborate with their on-field and in-office employees. SolidCAD introduced Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) and specifically Autodesk Build and integrated it with their PLM solution to manage their Revit models and provide project visibility. Starline Windows was able to easily record, capture and manage the exchange of design data between their project teams and on-field contractors, ensuring that all teams were working from the latest model designs produced in-office.
The Results
Over the past year, SolidCAD has successfully implemented these various solutions and continues to support Starline throughout each phase. Although many of these processes do not give instant results, Starline Windows have already seen initial improvements and are on track to many more successes in later stages of their journey, such as:
Improved project management for office staff, allowing for visibility over processes and projects.
Introduced Revit and Inventor to streamline their design process.
Automation between Revit and Inventor allowed for automatic model creation based on Revit Schedule.
Implementing Vault and connecting it to PLM software has led to accurate data sharing to be available remotely.
Automation between ACC and PLM software meant that projects can be visible in personal productivity applications as well as project and organizational management allowing for improved resource management from beginning to end of projects.
To learn more about the solutions implemented and the ways that Starline Windows have recognized and overcome some of the biggest challenges facing their industry today, check out the recording from our online event, “The Digital Thread – A Customer Journey” with Catherine Walmsley, Business Analyst at Starline Windows and Autodesk’s Queen of Prefab, Amy Marks.
Testimonial
We first reached out to SolidCAD to ask for an initial consultation after having searched worldwide for experts in design to manufacturing automation. The management team at SolidCAD listened to our biggest challenges and helped connect us with multiple experts in several disciplines to answer all our questions, however technical and detailed they became. SolidCAD not only helped the Starline Windows management team formulate a strategic plan to increase our ability to deliver productivity tools to our users while simplifying change management; they also provided key resources to configure and integrate new systems, onboard new users and train key players to help us accomplish our goals in record time.
-Catherine Walmsley,
Solutions Analyst at Starline Windows
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When you are looking at inserting a family, you will want to get the most amount of information about the family file in the shortest amount of time. Without tools like HIVE you are limited to 2 sources of information, the name of the family and the preview image.
Figure 1. Multiple preview directions in the Door Family Folder on my computer
You can control the family naming convention for your company, so why not do the same with the preview image.
Do you know how the preview image for a Revit family is defined? Its very simple, it’s defined in the File Save Options for the family:
Figure 2. Setting the thumbnail manually
The default in the Generic Model Template is that the Active view/sheet is used for the Thumbnail. This means that anytime you save the file you need to make sure that the view is setup for the presentation you want to see, this takes time and if most often overlooked.
The Family Preview Manager from CTC enables you to control the preview image for multiple files:
Figure 3. Free tools have the lighter tool image
It is also one of the Free tools within the CTC BIM Manager Suite.
Settings for the tool are found within the Options.
There are general settings for things like whether to create backup files as well as which item should be hidden, for example, text and reference planes.
Then there are Appearance settings and here you can select the View direction, Style, Detail level and more. So here you can define that it will be in the Realistic graphic style from the 3D Left Front Top view with the Fine Detail level. You can define the Default Appearance which will be for any categories that do not have an Appearance Template defined.
Appearance Templates are then used for any catalogs that will not use the Default Appearance, for example Tag categories would be best saved in a Plan View rather than a 3D Isometric view.To use an appearance template, setup the template then assign categories to it. Note that you can assign templates for different hosting methods of families, this is important when you think of the orientation of content when face or wall based.
You can select between the Active Family Document or multiple family files with the Document Batch option, however, Active Family Document will of course require that you have a family as the current open file.
Once you have selected the files to be processed you will have the option to overwrite the family or save to a new location, I recommend using the save to new location when you are testing the tool, once you are comfortable with the results then use the Overwrite Family option.
The end result of this tool? Consistency in your family library, all with a free tool from CTC, here is the link to download the tool:
The CTC BIM Project Suite is geared towards users doing the project work, the included tools aim to make everyday project work easier and more efficient that using Revit tools alone. There are 5 free tools accessed from the ribbon while working in Revit, as well as Revit Properties which is access from the File Explorer to allow you access to Revit file properties, such as the Revit version. The paid version of the Project Suite has an additional 13 tools to add to the Revit workflow. The 2022 release of CTC BIM Project Suite saw the addition of a new free tool, View Aligner.
This tool allows you to select any view on a sheet and align the other views to it based on your project needs. The greatest advantage to the View Aligner tool is that it works across sheets.
When selected from the tools on the ribbon the floating tool bar appears and can be repositioned to a convenient location.
You have the option of 7 alignments, based on the crop boundary of the views. You can align by each edge; top, bottom, left or right, by either horizontal or vertical centerlines, or by levels.
Upon selection of the desired alignment, instructions for ending the operation appear at the end of the toolbar.
If you click back on the toolbar before pressing Esc you will need to click back into the view (so the toolbar goes white again) before you can press Esc to exit.
Align Horizontally by Top Edge
Select the Align Horizontally by Top Edge icon.
Select the view with the position you want to align to.
Every view you click will now align horizontally top edge to top edge of the crop region.
Press Esc to complete the operation.
To keep crop regions the same size for all plan views, use a scope box to control the edges.
Align Horizontally by Centerline
Select the Align Horizontally by Centerline icon.
Select the view with the position you want to align to.
Every view you click will now align horizontally centerline to centerline of the crop region.
Press Esc to complete the operation.
For details that don’t show the crop region try using centerlines to get the massing relatively aligned then adjust view names for a nice symmetrical look.
Align Horizontally by Bottom Edge
Select the Align Horizontally by Bottom Edge icon.
Select the view with the position you want to align to.
Every view you click will now align horizontally bottom edge to bottom edge of the crop region.
Press Esc to complete the operation.
Align the bottom of images to help determine the spacing for other elements on the sheet.
Align Vertically by Left Edge
Select the Align Vertically by Left Edge icon.
Select the view with the position you want to align to.
Every view you click will now align Vertically left edge to left edge of the crop region.
Press Esc to complete the operation.
Align images along the edge of a page for a nice crisp line.
Align Vertically by Centerline
Select the Align Vertically by Centerline icon.
Select the view with the position you want to align to.
Every view you click will now align vertically centerline to centerline of the crop region.
Press Esc to complete the operation.
Vertical alignment by centerline works best with the unrelated views that Revit can’t snap alignment to.
Align Vertically by Right Edge
Select the Align Vertically by Right Edge icon.
Select the view with the position you want to align to.
Every view you click will now align Vertically right edge to right edge of the crop region.
Press Esc to complete the operation.
Using a right edge alignment (or left) for elevations results in a cohesive look when grid bulbs for all views are aligned to the same side.
Align By Levels
Select the Align by Levels icon.
Select the view with the position you want to align to.
Every view you click will now align by levels.
Press Esc to complete the operation.
To use this alignment the scale of the views must be the same.
TIPS:
Use the View Alignment tool to align ‘like’ items.
Assign a scope box to the crop regions to make alignment quicker.
Open each sheet you will be working on before starting the tool to use alignment across the sheets. You cannot access the project browser once the tool is active. Use the view tabs to flip between sheets to align the views horizontal across each sheet, then do the same to align vertically.
Alignment works best on views of the same type. As seen below when you align an image and a schedule the space between visible content and the outermost edge of the crop boundary are not the same so despite being aligned the appear “off”.
Get your 2022 release of CTC BIM Project Suite and try the FREE View Aligner tool on your next project. Reach out to us at info@solidcad.ca
Having troubles keeping your MEP notes from Excel in Revit up to date? Schedule XL is the right tool for you.
Schedule XL allows you to create schedule views (drafting view or schedule view) within Revit from your Excel worksheets. Simply create an Excel file with your MEP notes in the format you’d like and push that information to your Revit project.
Within Revit, select the CTC Schedule XL tool and add your Excel file that you’d like to be placed in the project.
Once added, you can override/preserve any graphics or formatting of the Excel file
As you make your modifications to the graphics, select “OK” and Schedule XL will create a new Revit view for you. Place the view onto the desired sheet.
As your Excel notes update and change, you can use Schedule XL to verify if your project has the latest updated notes. Schedule XL has a “Status” feature to indicate if your Excel note files are up to date. With the “Status” showing “Out of Date”, simply click “Update” to apply the new changes.
Schedule XL is a great tool for including outside data from other sources (Excel) to be a part of the Revit environment. With a simple Excel to Revit workflow, you can get any information across to a project with minimal effort. Schedules can also be configured to automatically update when the Revit project is opened if the original spreadsheet has changed.
